Propovjednik 5
1 Kad odlaziš u Božji dom, pazi na korake svoje. Priđi da mogneš čuti - žrtva je valjanija nego prinos luđaka, jer oni i ne znaju da čine zlo.
Be careful when you go into God's house. It's better to listen and respond rather than offer meaningless sacrifices. People who do that don't even know they are doing wrong.
2 Ne nagli ustima svojim i ne žuri se s riječima pred Bogom, jer je Bog na nebu, a ti si na zemlji; zato štedi svoje riječi.
Don't say rash things, and think before you speak to God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so keep it short.
3 San dolazi od mnogih briga, a lud govor od mnoštva riječi.
When you worry too much, you get nightmares; when you talk too much, you say foolish things.
4 Kad zavjetuješ štogod Bogu, odmah to izvrši, jer njemu nisu mili bezumnici. Zato ispuni svaki svoj zavjet.
When you make a vow to God, with a curse on you if you don't keep it, don't be slow in keeping it, for he is not happy with foolish behavior. So do what you promised!
5 Bolje je ne zavjetovati, nego zavjetovati a ne izvršiti zavjeta.
Better not to make any vows at all than to make vow you don't keep.
6 Ne daj ustima svojim da te navode na grijeh i ne reci kasnije pred anđelom da je bilo nehotice. Zašto pružati Bogu priliku da se srdi na riječ tvoju i uništi djelo tvojih ruku?
Don't let your mouth cause you to sin. And don't tell the priest that your vow was a mistake, for why would you antagonize God by breaking your promise? He could bring your own curse down on you.
7 Koliko sanja, toliko i ispraznosti; mnogo riječi - isprazna tlapnja. Zato boj se Boga.
There are certainly many dreams, questions of meaning, and lots of different ideas, but you are to follow God.
8 Ako vidiš gdje tlače siromaha i gaze pravo i pravicu u zemlji, ne čudi se tomu, jer nad visokim straži viši, a nad njim najviši.
If you see poor people somewhere being oppressed, or truth and justice violated, don't be shocked at it, for every official is responsible to others higher up, and there are officials over them as well.
9 Korist zemlje je nada sve; i kralj ovisi o zemljištu.
However, what the land produces is for everyone—even the king benefits from what is grown.
10 Tko novce ljubi, nikad ih dosta nema; tko bogatstvo ljubi, nikad mu dosta probitka. I to je ispraznost.
People who love money never have enough money; those who love wealth never have enough income. This too is so temporary and makes little sense.
11 Gdje je mnogo bogatstva, mnogo je i gotovana, pa kakva je korist od toga gospodaru, osim što ga očima gleda?
The more you earn, the more you have eating into your income. It only looks like you have more!
12 Sladak je dan radiši, jeo malo ili mnogo, dok bogatstvo ne da bogatašu zaspati.
Those who work hard sleep well, whether they have a little to eat or plenty, but the rich own so much they don't get any rest.
13 I vidjeh teško zlo pod suncem: skupljeno blago što je na propast svojemu vlasniku.
I observed something here that is really sickening: people who hoard money damage themselves.
14 Jer zlom nezgodom propadne takvo bogatstvo te sinu što mu se rodi ne ostane ništa.
They put their money into bad investments and lose everything. Now when we're born, we don't bring anything into the world.
15 Gol je izašao iz utrobe majke svoje i tako će gol i otići kakav je i došao; ništa nema od svega svojeg truda da ponese.
When we die, we leave just as naked as when we were born, taking nothing with us from all we've worked for.
16 I to je teško zlo što tako odlazi kako je i došao; pa kakva mu je korist što se u vjetar mučio.
This also makes me sick! What do people gain, working for the wind?
17 Sve svoje dane živi u tami, nevolji, brizi, bolesti i srdžbi.
They live their lives in darkness, very frustrated, sick, and resentful.
18 Ovo, stoga, zaključujem: prava je sreća čovjeku jesti i piti i biti zadovoljan sa svim svojim trudom kojim se muči pod suncem za kratka vijeka koji mu je dao Bog, jer takva mu je sudbina dosuđena.
But I observed that what is good and right is to eat, drink, and to find enjoyment in the work God gives us here in this life. This is God's gift to us.
19 Pa ako je čovjeku Bog dao bogatstvo i imanje da ih uživa i bude zadovoljan svojim djelom - i to je dar od Boga.
In addition, everyone to whom God gives wealth and possessions he also gives the ability to enjoy these gifts, to be grateful for what they are given, and to enjoy the work they do. This is also God's gift to us.
20 Jer tada barem ne misli mnogo na dane svog života, kad mu Bog daje da mu se srce veseli.
In fact such people have little time to think about life because God keeps them busy with all that makes them happy.
