Ecclesiastes · Geneva Bible (1599)
Ecclesiastes 7 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 Surely there be many things that increase vanitie: and what auaileth it man?
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 For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the nomber of the dayes of the life of his vanitie, seeing he maketh them as a shadowe? For who can shewe vnto man what shall be after him vnder the sunne?
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 A good name is better then a good oyntment, and the day of death, then the day that one is borne.
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 It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting, because this is the ende of all men: and the liuing shall lay it to his heart.
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 Anger is better then laughter: for by a sad looke the heart is made better.
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 heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.
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 Better it is to heare ye rebuke of a wise man, then that a man should heare the song of fooles.
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 For like ye noyse of the thornes vnder the pot, so is the laughter of the foole: this also is vanitie.
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 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the rewarde destroyeth the heart.
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 The ende of a thing is better then the beginning thereof, and the pacient in spirit is better then the proude in spirit.
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 Be not thou of an hastie spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.
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 Say not thou, Why is it that the former dayes were better then these? for thou doest not enquire wisely of this thing.
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 Wisedome is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sunne.
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 For man shall rest in the shadowe of wisedome, and in the shadowe of siluer: but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessers thereof.
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 Beholde the worke of God: for who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?
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 In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man shoulde finde nothing after him.
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 I haue seene all things in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his iustice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.
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 Be not thou iust ouermuch, neither make thy selfe ouerwise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?
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 Be not thou wicked ouermuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?
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 It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdrawe not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God, shall come forth of them all.
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 Wisedome shall strengthen the wise man more then ten mightie princes that are in ye citie.
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 Surely there is no man iust in the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
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 Giue not thine heart also to all ye wordes that men speake, lest thou doe heare thy seruant cursing thee.
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 For often times also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others.
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 All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.
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 It is farre off, what may it be? and it is a profound deepenesse, who can finde it?
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 I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,
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 And I finde more bitter then death the woman whose heart is as nettes and snares, and her handes, as bands: he that is good before God, shalbe deliuered from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
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 Beholde, sayth the Preacher, this haue I found, seeking one by one to finde the count:
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.”
30 And yet my soule seeketh, but I finde it not: I haue found one man of a thousand: but a woman among them all haue I not founde.
30 Not in this translation
30 Not in this translation
31 Onely loe, this haue I founde, that God hath made man righteous: but they haue sought many inuentions.
31 Not in this translation
31 Not in this translation
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)