Propovjednik 10
1 Uginula muha usmrdi mirisno ulje, a i malo ludosti jače je od mudrosti i časti.
Dead flies cause the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honor.
2 Mudrac kroči pravim putem, a luđak krivim.
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his left.
3 Dovoljno je da luđak pođe putem: kako razbora nema, svakomu pokazuje da je lud.
Yea also, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all 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 submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
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 the ruler:
6 ludost se podiže na najviša mjesta, a veliki zauzimaju niske položaje.
Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
7 Vidjeh sluge na konjima, a knezove gdje idu pješice kao sluge.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—
8 Tko jamu kopa, u nju pada; i tko ruši zid, ujeda ga zmija.
He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
9 Tko lomi kamenje, ono ga ranjava; tko cijepa drva, može nastradati.
Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be 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 man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.
11 Ako zmija ujede prije čaranja, ništa onda opčaratelj ne koristi.
If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue [in charming] no preference.—
12 Pune su miline riječi iz usta mudraca, a bezumnika upropašćuju njegove usne.
The words of a wise man's mouth [bring] grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.
13 On počinje svoje besjede ludošću i svršava ih potpunim bezumljem.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing madness.
14 Luđak previše govori: čovjek ne poznaje budućnost, i tko mu može kazati što će poslije njega biti?
The fool also multiplieth words; [but] a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to be after him, who can tell him?
15 Luđake mori njihov trud; tko ne zna puta, ne može u grad.
The toil of the foolish will weary every one of them, because 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 lowminded, and when thy 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.
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—
18 S lijenosti se ugiblju grede, zbog nebrige prokišnjava kuća.
Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
19 Ali su gozbe radi zabave i vino uveseljava život, a novci pribavljaju sve.
For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth 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.
Even in thy thought thou must not curse a king; and in thy bed-chambers do not curse the rich; for a bird of the air can carry the sound, and that which hath wings can tell the word.
