Propovjednik 10
1 Uginula muha usmrdi mirisno ulje, a i malo ludosti jače je od mudrosti i časti.
Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
2 Mudrac kroči pravim putem, a luđak krivim.
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3 Dovoljno je da luđak pođe putem: kako razbora nema, svakomu pokazuje da je lud.
Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 Ako se na te digne vladaočev gnjev, ne ostavljaj svoga mjesta, jer blagost sprečava velike grijehe.
If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
5 Ima zlo što ga vidjeh pod suncem kao prestupak koji dolazi od vladaoca:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6 ludost se podiže na najviša mjesta, a veliki zauzimaju niske položaje.
A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 Vidjeh sluge na konjima, a knezove gdje idu pješice kao sluge.
I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 Tko jamu kopa, u nju pada; i tko ruši zid, ujeda ga zmija.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Tko lomi kamenje, ono ga ranjava; tko cijepa drva, može nastradati.
He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10 Kad zatupi željezo i oštrica mu nije nabrušena, tada treba više snage; a nagrada mudrosti je uspjeh.
If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
11 Ako zmija ujede prije čaranja, ništa onda opčaratelj ne koristi.
If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 Pune su miline riječi iz usta mudraca, a bezumnika upropašćuju njegove usne.
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 On počinje svoje besjede ludošću i svršava ih potpunim bezumljem.
The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 Luđak previše govori: čovjek ne poznaje budućnost, i tko mu može kazati što će poslije njega biti?
A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Luđake mori njihov trud; tko ne zna puta, ne može u grad.
The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
16 Jao tebi, zemljo, kad ti je kralj premlad i knezovi se već ujutro goste.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the 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 is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 S lijenosti se ugiblju grede, zbog nebrige prokišnjava kuća.
By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 Ali su gozbe radi zabave i vino uveseljava život, a novci pribavljaju sve.
For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
20 Ni u svojoj misli ne kuni kralja, ni u svojoj ložnici ne kuni bogataša, jer će ptice odnijeti glas i kleveta lako okrilati.
Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
