Propovjednik 10
1 Uginula muha usmrdi mirisno ulje, a i malo ludosti jače je od mudrosti i časti.
Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 Mudrac kroči pravim putem, a luđak krivim.
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
3 Dovoljno je da luđak pođe putem: kako razbora nema, svakomu pokazuje da je lud.
Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
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 thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth 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, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
6 ludost se podiže na najviša mjesta, a veliki zauzimaju niske položaje.
Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Vidjeh sluge na konjima, a knezove gdje idu pješice kao sluge.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Tko jamu kopa, u nju pada; i tko ruši zid, ujeda ga zmija.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Tko lomi kamenje, ono ga ranjava; tko cijepa drva, može nastradati.
Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 Kad zatupi željezo i oštrica mu nije nabrušena, tada treba više snage; a nagrada mudrosti je uspjeh.
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Ako zmija ujede prije čaranja, ništa onda opčaratelj ne koristi.
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 Pune su miline riječi iz usta mudraca, a bezumnika upropašćuju njegove usne.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 On počinje svoje besjede ludošću i svršava ih potpunim bezumljem.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
14 Luđak previše govori: čovjek ne poznaje budućnost, i tko mu može kazati što će poslije njega biti?
A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which 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 wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how 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 boy, and thy princes feast 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.
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
18 S lijenosti se ugiblju grede, zbog nebrige prokišnjava kuća.
By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 Ali su gozbe radi zabave i vino uveseljava život, a novci pribavljaju sve.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20 Ni u svojoj misli ne kuni kralja, ni u svojoj ložnici ne kuni bogataša, jer će ptice odnijeti glas i kleveta lako okrilati.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
