1 Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
2 A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.
3 It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to a house of feasting. For in the former, we are admonished about the end of all things, so that the living consider what may be in the future.
4 Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
5 The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
6 It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
7 For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.
8 A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.
9 The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
10 Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
11 You should not say: “What do you think is the reason that the former times were better than they are now?” For this type of question is foolish.
12 Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.
13 For as wisdom protects, so also does money protect. But learning and wisdom have this much more: that they grant life to one who possesses them.
14 Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.
15 In good times, enjoy good things, but beware of an evil time. For just as God has establish the one, so also the other, in order that man may not find any just complaint against him.
16 I also saw this, in the days of my vanity: a just man perishing in his justice, and an impious man living a long time in his malice.
17 Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.
18 Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.
19 It is good for you to support a just man. Furthermore, you should not withdraw your hand from him, for whoever fears God, neglects nothing.
20 Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.
21 But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.
22 So then, do not attach your heart to every word that is spoken, lest perhaps you may hear your servant speaking ill of you.
23 For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.
24 I have tested everything in wisdom. I have said: “I will be wise.” And wisdom withdrew farther from me,
25 so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal her?
26 I have examined all things in my soul, so that I may know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason, and so that I may recognize the impiety of the foolish, and the error of the imprudent.
27 And I have discovered a woman more bitter than death: she who is like the snare of a hunter, and whose heart is like a net, and whose hands are like chains. Whoever pleases God shall flee from her. But whoever is a sinner shall be seized by her.
28 Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation
29 which my soul still seeks and has not found. One man among a thousand, I have found; a woman among them all, I have not found.
30 This alone have I discovered: that God made man righteous, and yet he has adulterated himself with innumerable questions. Who is so great as the wise? And who has understood the meaning of the word?
Versículos relacionados com Ecclesiastes, 7:
Ecclesiastes 7 addresses various topics, such as wisdom, death, patience and goodness. The chapter also brings reflections on the importance of not being overly fair or wicked, but always seeking a balance in life. Below are five verses related to these themes:
Proverbs 16:32: "Better is long than the brave, and what dominates his spirit than what a city takes." This verse talks about the importance of patience and self -control, something that is approached in Ecclesiastes 7:8, where it is said that it is better to be patience than being proud.
Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to tell our days, that we may reach wise heart." This verse talks about the importance of valuing time and seeking wisdom. This reflection is approached in Ecclesiastes 7:8-10, which talks about the importance of enjoying each day and not worrying too much about the past or the future.
Proverbs 7:1-2: "My son, keep my words, and hide within you my commandments. Keep my commandments and live; and my law, like the girls of your eyes." This verse talks about the importance of keeping God's wisdom and commandments. In Ecclesiastes 7:12, wisdom is described as a defense and a benefit to those who have it.
Proverbs 28:13: "Which covers your transgressions will never prosper, but what confesses them and will reach mercy." This verse talks about the importance of being honest with oneself and others. In Ecclesiastes 7:20, the sinful nature of the human being is approached, and it is said that there is no righteous man over the earth who does good and never small.
Psalm 41:1-2: "Blessed is the one who meets the poor; the Lord will deliver him on evil. The Lord shall keep him, and keep him in life; he will be blessed to earth, and you shall not give him to will of your enemies. " This verse talks about the importance of kindness and generosity. In Ecclesiastes 7:15, the importance of avoiding wickedness and injustice is addressed, and it is said that wisdom can protect man from destruction caused by these things.
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