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.
Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.
2 Zato sretnima smatram mrtve koji su već pomrli; sretniji su od živih što još žive.
Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.
3 A od obojih je sretniji onaj koji još nije postao, koji nije vidio zlih djela što se čine pod suncem.
Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work 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 all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
5 Bezumnik prekriži ruke i izjeda sebe.
The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.
6 Bolja je puna šaka u miru nego obje pregršti mučna rada i puste tlapnje.
Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.
7 I još jednu opazih ispraznost pod suncem:
Then I turned and saw other vanity 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.
There is one who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!
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 labor.
10 Padne li jedan, drugi će ga podići; a teško jednomu! Ako padne, nema nikoga da ga podigne.
For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help him up!
11 Pa ako se i spava udvoje, toplije je; a kako će se samac zagrijati?
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?
12 I ako tko udari na jednoga, dvojica će mu se oprijeti; i trostruko se uže ne kida brzo.
And if an enemy prevail against one, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Bolji je mladić siromašan a mudar nego kralj star a lud, koji više ne zna za savjet.
Better is a child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, who will no more be admonished.
14 Jer mladić može izići iz tamnice i postati kraljem, iako se rodio kao prosjak u svom kraljevstvu.
For out of prison cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.
15 Opazih kako svi koji žive i hode pod suncem pristaju uz mladića, uz nastupnika koji ga naslijedi.
I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood up in his stead.
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 to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
