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 I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.
2 Zato sretnima smatram mrtve koji su već pomrli; sretniji su od živih što još žive.
And I am praising the dead who have already died above 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.
And better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been 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 have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 Bezumnik prekriži ruke i izjeda sebe.
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
6 Bolja je puna šaka u miru nego obje pregršti mučna rada i puste tlapnje.
'Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.'
7 I još jednu opazih ispraznost pod suncem:
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing 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, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], 'For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.
9 Bolje je dvojici nego jednome, jer imaju bolju plaću za svoj trud.
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.
10 Padne li jedan, drugi će ga podići; a teško jednomu! Ako padne, nema nikoga da ga podigne.
For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!
11 Pa ako se i spava udvoje, toplije je; a kako će se samac zagrijati?
Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?
12 I ako tko udari na jednoga, dvojica će mu se oprijeti; i trostruko se uže ne kida brzo.
And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.
13 Bolji je mladić siromašan a mudar nego kralj star a lud, koji više ne zna za savjet.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
14 Jer mladić može izići iz tamnice i postati kraljem, iako se rodio kao prosjak u svom kraljevstvu.
For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.
15 Opazih kako svi koji žive i hode pod suncem pristaju uz mladića, uz nastupnika koji ga naslijedi.
I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;
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 is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
