Eclesiastés 5:1-7

Hay que cumplir los votos

1 Cuando vayas a la casa de Dios, cuida tus pasos y acércate a escuchar en vez de ofrecer sacrificio de necios, que ni conciencia tienen de que hacen mal.

2 No te apresures,ni con la boca ni con la mente,a proferir ante Dios palabra alguna;él está en el cielo y tú estás en la tierra.Mide, pues, tus palabras.

3 Quien mucho se preocupa tiene pesadillas,y quien mucho habla dice tonterías.

4 Cuando hagas un voto a Dios, no tardes en cumplirlo, porque a Dios no le agradan los necios. Cumple tus votos:

5 Vale más no hacer votosque hacerlos y no cumplirlos.

6 No permitas que tu boca te haga pecar, ni digas luego ante el mensajero de Dios^[a] que lo hiciste sin querer. ¿Por qué ha de enojarse Dios por lo que dices, y destruir el fruto de tu trabajo?

7 Más bien, entre tantos absurdos, pesadillas y palabrerías, muestra temor a Dios.

Eclesiastés 5:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 5

This chapter contains some rules and directions concerning the worship of God; how persons should behave when they go into the house of God; concerning hearing the word, to which there should be a readiness, and which should be preferred to the sacrifices of fools, Ec 5:1. Concerning prayer to God; which should not be uttered rashly and hastily, and should be expressed in few words; which is urged from the consideration of the majesty of God, and vileness of men; and the folly of much speaking is exposed by the simile of a dream, Ec 5:2,3. Concerning vows, which should not be rashly made; when made, should be kept; nor should excuses be afterwards framed for not performing them, since this might bring the anger of God upon men, to the destruction of the works of their hands, Ec 5:4-6; and, as an antidote against those vanities, which appear in the prayers and vows of some, and dreams of others, the fear of God is proposed, Ec 5:7; and, against any surprise at the oppression of the poor, the majesty, power, and providence of God, and his special regard to his people, are observed, Ec 5:8. And then the wise man enters into a discourse concerning riches; and observes, that the fruits of the earth, and the culture of it, are necessary to all men, and even to the king, Ec 5:9; but dissuades from covetousness, or an over love of riches; because they are unsatisfying, are attended with much trouble, often injurious to the owners of them; at length perish, and their possessors; who, at death, are stripped quite naked of all, after they have spent their days in darkness and distress, Ec 5:10-17; and concludes, therefore, that it is best for a man to enjoy, in a free manner, the good things of this life he is possessed of, and consider them as the gifts of God, and be thankful for them; by which means he will pass through the world more comfortably, and escape the troubles that attend others, Ec 5:18-20.

Footnotes

• [a]. "mensajero de Dios" . Lit. "mensajero" .