Propovjednik 4
1 Opet stadoh promatrati sva nasilja koja se čine pod suncem, i gle, suze potlačenih, i nikog nema da ih utre; i nasilje iz tlačiteljske ruke, a zaštitnika niotkuda.
And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.
2 Zato sretnima smatram mrtve koji su već pomrli; sretniji su od živih što još žive.
So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
3 A od obojih je sretniji onaj koji još nije postao, koji nije vidio zlih djela što se čine pod suncem.
Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.
4 Nadalje iskusih da svaki napor i svaki uspjeh pribavlja čovjeku zavist njegova bližnjeg. I to je ispraznost i pusta tlapnja.
And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
5 Bezumnik prekriži ruke i izjeda sebe.
The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
6 Bolja je puna šaka u miru nego obje pregršti mučna rada i puste tlapnje.
One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
7 I još jednu opazih ispraznost pod suncem:
Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
8 Čovjek potpun samac - bez sina, bez brata, i opet nema kraja njegovu trudu; oči mu se ne mogu nasititi blaga; a ne misli: za koga se mučim i uskraćujem dobro sebi? I to je ispraznost i zla briga.
It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.
9 Bolje je dvojici nego jednome, jer imaju bolju plaću za svoj trud.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
10 Padne li jedan, drugi će ga podići; a teško jednomu! Ako padne, nema nikoga da ga podigne.
And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.
11 Pa ako se i spava udvoje, toplije je; a kako će se samac zagrijati?
So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
12 I ako tko udari na jednoga, dvojica će mu se oprijeti; i trostruko se uže ne kida brzo.
And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.
13 Bolji je mladić siromašan a mudar nego kralj star a lud, koji više ne zna za savjet.
A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.
14 Jer mladić može izići iz tamnice i postati kraljem, iako se rodio kao prosjak u svom kraljevstvu.
Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.
15 Opazih kako svi koji žive i hode pod suncem pristaju uz mladića, uz nastupnika koji ga naslijedi.
I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
16 On stupa na čelo bezbrojnih podanika i kasniji se naraštaji ne mogahu zbog njega radovati. I to je zacijelo ispraznost i pusta tlapnja.
There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
