Eclesiastés 2
Nova Bíblia Viva
1Eu disse a mim mesmo: “Vamos, experimente a alegria! Aproveite a vida ao máximo!” Mas acabei descobrindo que isso também era inútil.
2Concluí que é bobagem viver rindo o tempo todo; qual a vantagem disso?
3Assim, depois de pensar muito, resolvi entregar-me ao vinho e me divertir, sem, porém, deixar de procurar a sabedoria. Pensei que talvez fosse a melhor coisa que uma pessoa pudesse fazer debaixo dos céus durante a sua curta vida aqui na terra.
4Depois procurei encontrar a realização lançando um grande programa de obras: construí casas, plantei videiras para mim;
5fiz jardins e pomares, e plantei todo tipo de árvore frutífera.
6Mandei construir açudes onde ajuntei água para regar as minhas plantações.
7Comprei escravos, homens e mulheres, e muitos escravos nasceram em minha casa. E tive muitos bois e ovelhas, mais do que qualquer outro rei antes de mim.
8Recebi muito ouro e muita prata dos impostos que eu cobrava dos reis dos países próximos. Organizei também corais e orquestras, com bons cantores e cantoras. Além de tudo isso, eu tive muitas mulheres, as delícias dos homens.
9Com tanta riqueza, fui mais importante e poderoso que todos os outros reis que haviam reinado antes de mim em Jerusalém. Mas eu não abandonei a minha sabedoria.
10Tudo o que meus olhos desejaram consegui para mim. Provei todos os prazeres da vida. Cheguei a me alegrar em todo o meu trabalho; esse prazer foi a recompensa de todo o meu esforço.
11Contudo, quando vi tudo o que as minhas mãos haviam feito, e o trabalho que eu tanto me esforcei em realizar, compreendi que tudo era ilusão! Era como correr atrás do vento! Não havia nenhum proveito nisso debaixo do sol.
12Foi então que comecei a refletir na sabedoria, na loucura e na insensatez. O que pode fazer de novo o sucessor do rei a não ser repetir o que já foi feito?
13Reconheci que a sabedoria vale muito mais que a insensatez, assim como a luz é melhor que as trevas.
14O homem sábio tem olhos para ver, mas o tolo é cego. Apesar disso, notei que há uma coisa que acontece tanto ao sábio quanto ao tolo: ambos têm o mesmo fim!
15Pensei: “Um dia o tolo vai morrer, e eu também. Então para que serve a minha sabedoria?” Foi assim que compreendi que a sabedoria também não vale muita coisa.
16Tanto o sábio quanto o tolo morrerão um dia e logo serão esquecidos. Como o sábio morre, assim morre o tolo!
17Por isso, desprezei a vida, porque o trabalho que realizava debaixo do sol era muito pesado; tudo era uma grande ilusão, era como correr atrás do vento.
18E estou muito aborrecido porque tenho de deixar o fruto de todo o meu trabalho debaixo do sol para outra pessoa.
19E quem pode dizer se ele vai ser um sábio ou um tolo? Mas, mesmo assim, ele vai receber tudo o que realizei com a minha sabedoria debaixo do sol. Isso também não faz sentido!
20Cheguei a ponto de me desesperar por todo o trabalho duro que realizei debaixo do sol.
21Mesmo que eu trabalhe toda a minha vida e me esforce para ser sábio, para conhecer muitas coisas e saber executar qualquer trabalho, vou ter de deixar tudo o que ajuntei como herança para alguém que não se esforçou por aquilo! Ele vai receber de mão beijada o resultado de todo o meu esforço. Isso também é ilusão e uma grande injustiça.
22Afinal, o que é que um homem recebe como recompensa por todo o seu trabalho debaixo do sol?
23Durante toda a sua vida, seu trabalho é dor e tristeza, noites sem dormir, cheias de preocupação. Que vida sem sentido!
24Por isso, cheguei à conclusão de que não há nada melhor para o homem do que ter prazer em seu trabalho, comer e beber à vontade. Também vi que até mesmo esse prazer vem de Deus.
25Porque ninguém pode se alegrar, ou se alimentar, sem Deus.
26Deus dá a sabedoria aos que o agradam, além de conhecimento e de alegria; mas se um pecador fica rico, Deus tira dele a riqueza e entrega a quem o agrada. Tudo isso é ilusão. É como correr atrás do vento.
Reina-Valera 1909
1DIJE yo en mi corazón: Ven ahora, te probaré con alegría, y gozarás de bienes. Mas he aquí esto también era vanidad.
2A la risa dije: Enloqueces; y al placer: ¿De qué sirve esto?
3Propuse en mi corazón agasajar mi carne con vino, y que anduviese mi corazón en sabiduría, con retención de la necedad, hasta ver cuál fuese el bien de los hijos de los hombres, en el cual se ocuparan debajo del cielo todos los días de su vida.
4Engrandecí mis obras, edifiquéme casas, plantéme viñas;
5Híceme huertos y jardines, y planté en ellos árboles de todos frutos;
6Híceme estanques de aguas, para regar de ellos el bosque donde los árboles crecían.
7Poseí siervos y siervas, y tuve hijos de familia; también tuve posesión grande de vacas y ovejas, sobre todos los que fueron antes de mí en Jerusalem;
8Alleguéme también plata y oro, y tesoro preciado de reyes y de provincias; híceme de cantores y cantoras, y los deleites de los hijos de los hombres, instrumentos músicos y de todas suertes.
9Y fuí engrandecido, y aumentado más que todos los que fueron antes de mí en Jerusalem: á más de esto perseveró conmigo mi sabiduría.
10No negué á mis ojos ninguna cosa que desearan, ni aparté mi corazón de placer alguno, porque mi corazón gozó de todo mi trabajo: y ésta fué mi parte de toda mi faena.
11Miré yo luego todas las obras que habían hecho mis manos, y el trabajo que tomé para hacerlas: y he aquí, todo vanidad y aflicción de espíritu, y no hay provecho debajo del sol.
12Después torné yo á mirar para ver la sabiduría y los desvaríos y la necedad; (porque ¿qué hombre hay que pueda seguir al rey en lo que ya hicieron?)
13Y he visto que la sabiduría sobrepuja á la necedad, como la luz á las tinieblas.
14El sabio tiene sus ojos en su cabeza, mas el necio anda en tinieblas: empero también entendí yo que un mismo suceso acaecerá al uno que al otro.
15Entonces dije yo en mi corazón: Como sucederá al necio me sucederá también á mí: ¿para qué pues he trabajado hasta ahora por hacerme más sabio? Y dije en mi corazón, que también esto era vanidad.
16Porque ni del sabio ni del necio habrá memoria para siempre; pues en los días venideros ya todo será olvidado, y también morirá el sabio como el necio.
17Aborrecí por tanto la vida; porque la obra que se hace debajo del sol me era fastidiosa; por cuanto todo es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
18Yo asimismo aborrecí todo mi trabajo que había puesto por obra debajo del sol; el cual dejaré á otro que vendrá después de mí.
19¿Y quién sabe si será sabio, ó necio, el que se enseñoreará de todo mi trabajo en que yo me afané, y en que ocupé debajo del sol mi sabiduría? Esto también es vanidad.
20Tornéme por tanto á desesperanzar mi corazón acerca de todo el trabajo en que me afané, y en que había ocupado debajo del sol mi sabiduría.
21¡Que el hombre trabaje con sabiduría, y con ciencia, y con rectitud, y que haya de dar su hacienda á hombre que nunca trabajó en ello! También es esto vanidad y mal grande.
22Porque ¿qué tiene el hombre de todo su trabajo, y fatiga de su corazón, con que debajo del sol él se afanara?
23Porque todos sus días no son sino dolores, y sus trabajos molestias: aun de noche su corazón no reposa. Esto también es vanidad.
24No hay cosa mejor para el hombre sino que coma y beba, y que su alma vea el bien de su trabajo. También tengo yo visto que esto es de la mano de Dios.
25Porque ¿quién comerá, y quién se cuidará, mejor que yo?
26Porque al hombre que le agrada, Dios le da sabiduría y ciencia y gozo: mas al pecador da trabajo, el que allegue y amontone, para que dé al que agrada á Dios. También esto es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
King James Version
1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
3I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
14The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
18Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
24There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
World English Bible
1I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
2I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
3I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
4I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
5I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
6I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.
7I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
8I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts.
9So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
10Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
11Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
13Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
15Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
16For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
17So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
18I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
19Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
20Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22For what does a man have of all his labor and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
24There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
26For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.