Propovjednik 10
1 Uginula muha usmrdi mirisno ulje, a i malo ludosti jače je od mudrosti i časti.
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down wisdom and honor.
2 Mudrac kroči pravim putem, a luđak krivim.
A wise man's mind is at his right hand; but a fool's mind is at his left.
3 Dovoljno je da luđak pođe putem: kako razbora nema, svakomu pokazuje da je lud.
Yea, even when the fool walketh in 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 anger of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place! for gentleness pacifieth 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; an error which proceedeth from a ruler.
6 ludost se podiže na najviša mjesta, a veliki zauzimaju niske položaje.
Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a 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 on foot.
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 down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Tko lomi kamenje, ono ga ranjava; tko cijepa drva, može nastradati.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth 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 iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put forth more strength; but an advantage for giving success hath wisdom.
11 Ako zmija ujede prije čaranja, ništa onda opčaratelj ne koristi.
If a serpent bite before he is charmed, 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 man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool are his destruction.
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 is mischievous madness.
14 Luđak previše govori: čovjek ne poznaje budućnost, i tko mu može kazati što će poslije njega biti?
A fool also multiplieth words, though no man knoweth what shall be; and who can tell him what shall be after him?
15 Luđake mori njihov trud; tko ne zna puta, ne može u grad.
The labor of the foolish man wearieth him, 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 a child, 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 thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 S lijenosti se ugiblju grede, zbog nebrige prokišnjava kuća.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness 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 makes merry; but 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 bed-chamber! for a bird of the air shall carry the voice; and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
