Propovjednik 7
1 Bolji je dobar glas nego skupocjeno ulje, i smrtni dan nego dan rođenja.
A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2 Bolje je ići u kuću gdje je žalost nego u kuću gdje je gozba, jer ondje je kraj svakoga čovjeka, i tko je živ, nek' primi k srcu!
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
3 Bolji je jad nego smijeh, jer pod žalosnim licem srce je radosno.
Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.
4 Srce je mudrih ljudi u kući žalosti, a srce bezumnih u kući veselja.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 Bolje je poslušati ukor mudra čovjeka negoli slušati hvalospjev luđaka.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 Jer kao prasak trnja ispod kotla, takav je smijeh luđaka, i to je ispraznost.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.
7 Jer smijeh od mudraca čini luđaka i veselje kvari srce.
Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.
8 Bolji je svršetak stvari nego njezin početak i bolja je strpljivost od oholosti.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Ne nagli u srdžbu, jer srdžba počiva u srcu luđaka.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Ne pitaj zašto su negdašnja vremena bila bolja od ovih, jer to nije mudro pitanje.
Say not thou: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.
11 Mudrost je dragocjena baština i probitak onima na koje sunce sja.
Wisdom is good with an inheritance, yea, a profit to them that see the sun.
12 Jer kao što je novac zaštita, tako je i mudrost; a prednost je mudrosti u tome što izbavlja onoga tko je ima.
For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
13 Pogledaj djela Božja; tko može ispraviti što je on iskrivio?
Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?
14 U sretan dan uživaj sreću, a u zao dan razmišljaj: Bog je stvorio jedno kao i drugo - da čovjek ne otkrije ništa od svoje budućnosti.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God hath made even the one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15 Svašta vidjeh u svojemu ništavnom životu: pravednik propada unatoč svojoj pravednosti, a bezbožnik i dalje živi unatoč svojoj bezbožnosti.
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.
16 Ne budi prepravedan i ne budi premudar; zašto da se uništavaš?
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 Ne budi preopak i ne budi lud; zašto bi umro prije vremena?
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 Dobro je da držiš jedno, ali ni drugo ne puštaj iz ruke, jer tko se boji Boga, izbavlja se od svega.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.
19 Mudrost mudraca veću moć daje gradu nego deset mogućnika.
Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
20 Na zemlji nema pravednika koji, čineći dobro, ne bi nikad sagriješio.
For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 I još jedno: nemoj se obazirati na govorkanje; čut ćeš možda da te sluga tvoj proklinjao;
Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
22 a zna tvoje srce kako si i ti često druge proklinjao.
for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 Sve sam to mudrošću iskušao. Mislio sam da sam mudar, ali mi je mudrost bila nedokučiva.
All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.
24 Ono što jest, daleko je i duboko, tako duboko - tko da i pronađe?
That which is is far off, and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
25 I još jednom pokušah istražiti i shvatiti mudrost i smisao, da spoznam opačinu kao ludost, a ludost kao bezumlje.
I turned about, and applied my heart to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
26 Otkrih da ima nešto gorče od smrti - žena, ona je zamka, srce joj je mreža, a ruke okovi; tko je Bogu drag, izmiče joj, a grešnik je njezin sužanj.
and I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands; whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Eto, to sam sve u svemu otkrio, veli Propovjednik.
Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, adding one thing to another, to find out the account;
28 I još sam tražio, ali bez uspjeha. Nađoh čovjeka - jednog od tisuću, a žene ne nađoh među svima nijedne.
which yet my soul sought, but I found not; one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Otkrih ovo: Bog stvori čovjeka jednostavnim, a on snuje nebrojene spletke.
Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
