Ecclesiastes · Free Bible Version
Ecclesiastes 7 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
1 MEJOR es la [buena] fama que el buen ungüento; y el día de la muerte que el día del nacimiento.
1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
2 It's better to go to a funeral than to a party. In the end, everyone dies, and those who are still alive should think about it.
2 Mejor es ir á la casa del luto que á la casa del convite: porque aquello es el fin de todos los hombres; y el que vive parará mientes.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
3 Mejor es el enojo que la risa: porque con la tristeza del rostro se enmendará el corazón.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
4 Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.
4 El corazón de los sabios, en la casa del luto; mas el corazón de los insensatos, en la casa del placer.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person than to hear the song of fools.
5 Mejor es oir la reprensión del sabio, que la canción de los necios.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.
6 Porque la risa del necio es como el estrépito de las espinas debajo de la olla. Y también esto es vanidad.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7 Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
7 Ciertamente la opresión hace enloquecer al sabio: y el presente corrompe el corazón.
7 Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
8 Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
8 Mejor es el fin del negocio que su principio: mejor es el sufrido de espíritu que el altivo de espíritu.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
9 No te apresures en tu espíritu á enojarte: porque la ira en el seno de los necios reposa.
9 Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
10 Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
10 Nunca digas: ¿Qué es la causa que los tiempos pasados fueron mejores que éstos? Porque nunca de esto preguntarás con sabiduría.
10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.
11 Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
11 Buena es la ciencia con herencia; y más á los que ven el sol.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
12 For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!
12 Porque escudo es la ciencia, y escudo es el dinero: mas la sabiduría excede en que da vida á sus poseedores.
12 For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
13 Mira la obra de Dios; porque ¿quién podrá enderezar lo que él torció?
13 Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?
14 On a good day, be happy. When a bad day comes, stop and think. God made each day, so you don't know what will happen to you next.
14 En el día del bien goza del bien; y en el día del mal considera. Dios también hizo esto delante de lo otro, porque el hombre no halle nada tras de él.
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
15 Throughout my life I've seen so much that is hard to understand. Good people who die young despite doing what is right, and wicked people who live long evil lives.
15 Todo esto he visto en los días de mi vanidad. Justo hay que perece por su justicia, y hay impío que por su maldad alarga [sus días].
15 All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.
16 Don't think you can make yourself right by a lot of religious observance, and don't pretend to be so wise. Do you want to destroy yourself?
16 No seas demasiado justo, ni seas sabio con exceso: ¿por qué te destruirás?
16 Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
17 No hagas mal mucho, ni seas insensato: ¿por qué morirás antes de tu tiempo?
17 Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
18 You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
18 Bueno es que tomes esto, y también de estotro no apartes tu mano; porque el que á Dios teme, saldrá con todo.
18 It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.
19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
19 La sabiduría fortifica al sabio más que diez poderosos la ciudad en que fueron.
19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
20 Ciertamente no hay hombre justo en la tierra, que haga bien y nunca peque.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.
21 Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
21 Tampoco apliques tu corazón á todas las cosas que se hablaren, porque no oigas á tu siervo que dice mal de ti:
21 Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
22 for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
22 Porque tu corazón sabe, como tú también dijiste mal de otros muchas veces.
22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
23 I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.
23 Todas estas cosas probé con sabiduría, diciendo: Hacerme he sabio: mas ella se alejó de mí.
23 All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.
24 Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
24 Lejos está lo que fué; y lo muy profundo ¿quién lo hallará?
24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
25 I turned my thoughts to discover, investigate, and to find out more about wisdom and what makes sense. I wanted to know more about how stupid evil really is, and how ridiculous it is to be a fool.
25 Yo he rodeado con mi corazón por saber, y examinar, é inquirir la sabiduría, y la razón; y por conocer la maldad de la insensatez, y el desvarío del error;
25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
26 I discovered something more horrible than death: foolishness like a woman who tries to entrap you, who wants to use her mind and hands to catch you and tie you up. Those who follow God will not be caught, but sinners will fall into her trap.
26 Y yo he hallado más amarga que la muerte la mujer, la cual es redes, y lazos su corazón; sus manos [como] ligaduras. El que agrada á Dios escapará de ella; mas el pecador será preso en ella.
26 I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
27 This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
27 He aquí, esto he hallado, dice el Predicador, [pesando] las cosas una por una para hallar la razón;
27 “Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation
28 Although I really searched, I didn't find what I was looking for. People say, “I found one man among a thousand, but not one woman.”
28 Lo que aun busca mi alma, y no encuentro: un hombre entre mil he hallado; mas mujer de todas éstas nunca hallé.
28 which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.
29 But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
29 He aquí, solamente he hallado esto: que Dios hizo al hombre recto, mas ellos buscaron muchas cuentas.
29 Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Revelation 14:13; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 4:2; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21–23
- 2 Psalm 90:12; Hebrews 9:27; Deuteronomy 32:29; Deuteronomy 32:46; Philippians 3:19
- 3 2 Corinthians 7:9–11; Romans 5:3–4; James 4:8–10; John 16:20–22; Hebrews 12:10–11
- 4 Matthew 8:14–16; Luke 7:12–13; 1 Samuel 25:36; Nehemiah 2:2–5; Jeremiah 51:39
- 5 Proverbs 15:31–32; Psalm 141:5; Revelation 3:19; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 17:10
- 6 Psalm 58:9; Psalm 118:12; Ecclesiastes 2:2; Luke 6:25; Jude 12–13
- 7 Deuteronomy 16:19; Exodus 23:8; Proverbs 17:23; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Isaiah 1:23
- 8 Hebrews 10:36; Psalm 126:5–6; Proverbs 14:29; 1 Peter 1:13; James 5:11
- 9 James 1:19; Proverbs 14:17; Proverbs 16:32; Ephesians 4:26–27; Proverbs 26:23–26
- 10 Psalm 14:2–3; Genesis 6:11–12; Romans 1:22–32; Isaiah 50:1; Judges 6:13
- 11 Ecclesiastes 11:7; 1 Timothy 6:17–19; Proverbs 8:10–11; Ecclesiastes 2:13; Ecclesiastes 9:15–18
- 12 Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:4; Judges 9:15
- 13 Ecclesiastes 1:15; Job 12:14; Psalm 107:43; Isaiah 14:27; Ecclesiastes 3:11
- 14 Ecclesiastes 3:4; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Deuteronomy 8:3; Ecclesiastes 12:13; James 5:13
- 15 Ecclesiastes 8:12–14; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Psalm 73:3–13; Matthew 23:34–35; Ecclesiastes 9:1–2
- 16 Romans 12:3; Proverbs 25:16; Colossians 2:18; James 3:13–17; Matthew 6:1–7
- 17 Proverbs 10:27; Job 22:16; Psalm 55:23; Acts 12:23; Acts 5:10
- 18 Ecclesiastes 12:13; Ecclesiastes 11:6; Malachi 4:2; Ecclesiastes 8:12; Luke 1:50
- 19 Proverbs 21:22; Colossians 1:9–11; Ecclesiastes 9:13–18; Proverbs 24:5; 2 Samuel 20:16–22
- 20 Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 1:8–10; James 3:2; Proverbs 20:9
- 21 Proverbs 30:10; Isaiah 29:21; 2 Samuel 16:10; 2 Samuel 19:19; 1 Corinthians 13:5–7
- 22 James 3:9; Matthew 15:19; Matthew 18:32–35; 1 Kings 2:44; John 8:7–9
- 23 Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:20; Genesis 3:5; 1 Kings 11:1–8; 1 Kings 3:11–12
- 24 Romans 11:33; Isaiah 55:8–9; 1 Timothy 6:16; Psalm 139:6; Job 28:28
- 25 Ecclesiastes 10:13; Joshua 7:13; Ecclesiastes 2:15; Proverbs 17:12; Ecclesiastes 3:16–17
- 26 Proverbs 22:14; Proverbs 5:3–5; Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 2:18–19; Ecclesiastes 2:26
- 27 Ecclesiastes 12:8–10; Ecclesiastes 1:1–2
- 28 Job 33:23; Psalm 12:1; 1 Kings 11:1–3; Isaiah 26:9; Ecclesiastes 7:23–24
- 29 Jeremiah 4:22; Genesis 6:11–12; Mark 7:8–9; Titus 3:3; Genesis 5:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… about eating and drinking, which he often repeats, and very much commends, does not savor the dainties of carnal pleasures, is made plain enough when he says, "It is better to go into the house of mourning than to go into the house of feasting." And a little after He says, "The heart of the wise is in the house …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For God, according to the Preacher, made man upright, and they have themselves sought out many inventions.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… is better to go into the house of mourning than to go into the house of feasting." And a little after He says, "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, and the heart of the simple in the house of feasting." But I think that more worthy of quotation from this book which relates to both …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)