Propovjednik 1
1 Misli Propovjednika, Davidova sina, kralja u Jeruzalemu.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Ispraznost nad ispraznošću, veli Propovjednik, ispraznost nad ispraznošću, sve je ispraznost!
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 Kakva je korist čovjeku od svega truda njegova kojim se trudi pod suncem?
What profit hath a man by all his labor with which he wearieth himself under the sun?
4 Jedan naraštaj odlazi, drugi dolazi, a zemlja uvijek ostaje.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; while the earth abideth for ever.
5 Sunce izlazi, sunce zalazi i onda hiti svojem mjestu odakle izlazi.
The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it arose.
6 Vjetar puše na jug i okreće se na sjever, kovitla sad ovamo sad onamo i vraća se u novom vrtlogu.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; round and round goeth the wind, and returneth to its circuits.
7 Sve rijeke teku u more i more se ne prepunja; odakle teku rijeke, onamo se vraćaju da ponovo počnu svoj tok.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return.
8 Sve je mučno. Nitko ne može reći da se oči nisu do sita nagledale i uši dovoljno naslušale.
All words become weary; man cannot express it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 Što je bilo, opet će biti, i što se činilo, opet će se činiti, i nema ništa novo pod suncem.
The thing that hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Ima li išta o čemu bi se moglo reći: “Gle, ovo je novo!” Sve je već davno prije nas postojalo.
Is there any thing of which one may say, “Behold, this is new”? It was long ago, in the times which were before us.
11 Samo, od prošlosti ne ostade ni spomena, kao što ni u budućnosti neće biti sjećanja na ono što će poslije doći.
There is no remembrance of former things, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.
12 Ja, Propovjednik, bijah kralj nad Izraelom u Jeruzalemu.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel at Jerusalem.
13 I trudih se da mudrošću istražim i dokučim sve što biva pod nebom; o, kako mučnu zadaću zadade Bog sinovima ljudskim.
And I gave my mind to seek and to search out with wisdom concerning all things which are done under heaven; an evil business, which God hath given to the sons of men, in which to employ themselves.
14 Vidjeh sve što se čini pod suncem: kakve li ispraznosti i puste tlapnje!
I saw all the things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after wind.
15 Što je krivo, ne može se ispraviti; čega nema, izbrojiti se ne može.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 Rekoh onda sam sebi: “Gle, stekao sam veću mudrost nego bilo tko od mojih prethodnika u Jeruzalemu. Duh moj sabrao je golemu mudrost i znanje.”
I communed with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have gained more and greater wisdom than all who have been before me at Jerusalem; yea, my mind hath seen much wisdom and knowledge.”
17 Mudrost pomnjivo proučih, a tako i glupost i ludost, ali sam spoznao da je to pusta tlapnja.
And I gave my mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.
18 Mnogo mudrosti - mnogo jada; što više znanja, to više boli.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
