< Propovjednik 10 >
1 Uginula muha usmrdi mirisno ulje, a i malo ludosti jače je od mudrosti i časti.
Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
2 Mudrac kroči pravim putem, a luđak krivim.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
3 Dovoljno je da luđak pođe putem: kako razbora nema, svakomu pokazuje da je lud.
Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
4 Ako se na te digne vladaočev gnjev, ne ostavljaj svoga mjesta, jer blagost sprečava velike grijehe.
If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
5 Ima zlo što ga vidjeh pod suncem kao prestupak koji dolazi od vladaoca:
Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
6 ludost se podiže na najviša mjesta, a veliki zauzimaju niske položaje.
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
7 Vidjeh sluge na konjima, a knezove gdje idu pješice kao sluge.
I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
8 Tko jamu kopa, u nju pada; i tko ruši zid, ujeda ga zmija.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
9 Tko lomi kamenje, ono ga ranjava; tko cijepa drva, može nastradati.
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
10 Kad zatupi željezo i oštrica mu nije nabrušena, tada treba više snage; a nagrada mudrosti je uspjeh.
If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
11 Ako zmija ujede prije čaranja, ništa onda opčaratelj ne koristi.
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
12 Pune su miline riječi iz usta mudraca, a bezumnika upropašćuju njegove usne.
The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, 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, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
14 Luđak previše govori: čovjek ne poznaje budućnost, i tko mu može kazati što će poslije njega biti?
Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, 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 toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
16 Jao tebi, zemljo, kad ti je kralj premlad i knezovi se već ujutro goste.
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
17 Blago tebi, zemljo, kad ti je kralj plemenit i knezovi ti u svoje vrijeme blaguju da se okrijepe, a ne da se opiju.
How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
18 S lijenosti se ugiblju grede, zbog nebrige prokišnjava kuća.
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
19 Ali su gozbe radi zabave i vino uveseljava život, a novci pribavljaju sve.
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —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.
Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.