Propovjednik 10
1 Uginula muha usmrdi mirisno ulje, a i malo ludosti jače je od mudrosti i časti.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 Mudrac kroči pravim putem, a luđak krivim.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Dovoljno je da luđak pođe putem: kako razbora nema, svakomu pokazuje da je lud.
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 Ako se na te digne vladaočev gnjev, ne ostavljaj svoga mjesta, jer blagost sprečava velike grijehe.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
5 Ima zlo što ga vidjeh pod suncem kao prestupak koji dolazi od vladaoca:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 ludost se podiže na najviša mjesta, a veliki zauzimaju niske položaje.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 Vidjeh sluge na konjima, a knezove gdje idu pješice kao sluge.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Tko jamu kopa, u nju pada; i tko ruši zid, ujeda ga zmija.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 Tko lomi kamenje, ono ga ranjava; tko cijepa drva, može nastradati.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 Kad zatupi željezo i oštrica mu nije nabrušena, tada treba više snage; a nagrada mudrosti je uspjeh.
If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 Ako zmija ujede prije čaranja, ništa onda opčaratelj ne koristi.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 Pune su miline riječi iz usta mudraca, a bezumnika upropašćuju njegove usne.
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 On počinje svoje besjede ludošću i svršava ih potpunim bezumljem.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
14 Luđak previše govori: čovjek ne poznaje budućnost, i tko mu može kazati što će poslije njega biti?
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 Luđake mori njihov trud; tko ne zna puta, ne može u grad.
The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
16 Jao tebi, zemljo, kad ti je kralj premlad i knezovi se već ujutro goste.
Woe to you, O city, whose king is young, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Blago tebi, zemljo, kad ti je kralj plemenit i knezovi ti u svoje vrijeme blaguju da se okrijepe, a ne da se opiju.
Blessed are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 S lijenosti se ugiblju grede, zbog nebrige prokišnjava kuća.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 Ali su gozbe radi zabave i vino uveseljava život, a novci pribavljaju sve.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
20 Ni u svojoj misli ne kuni kralja, ni u svojoj ložnici ne kuni bogataša, jer će ptice odnijeti glas i kleveta lako okrilati.
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
