Propovjednik 7
1 Bolji je dobar glas nego skupocjeno ulje, i smrtni dan nego dan rođenja.
A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his 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 heart.
3 Bolji je jad nego smijeh, jer pod žalosnim licem srce je radosno.
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
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 for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than 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 a fool. This also is vanity.
7 Jer smijeh od mudraca čini luđaka i veselje kvari srce.
Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth the understanding.
8 Bolji je svršetak stvari nego njezin početak i bolja je strpljivost od oholosti.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit 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, “What is the cause that the former days were better than these?” For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Mudrost je dragocjena baština i probitak onima na koje sunce sja.
Wisdom is as good as an estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for 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, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Pogledaj djela Božja; tko može ispraviti što je on iskrivio?
Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that 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; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.
15 Svašta vidjeh u svojemu ništavnom životu: pravednik propada unatoč svojoj pravednosti, a bezbožnik i dalje živi unatoč svojoj bezbožnosti.
All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.
16 Ne budi prepravedan i ne budi premudar; zašto da se uništavaš?
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! 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 a fool! Why shouldst 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 shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.
19 Mudrost mudraca veću moć daje gradu nego deset mogućnika.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.
20 Na zemlji nema pravednika koji, čineći dobro, ne bi nikad sagriješio.
Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.
21 I još jedno: nemoj se obazirati na govorkanje; čut ćeš možda da te sluga tvoj proklinjao;
Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!
22 a zna tvoje srce kako si i ti često druge proklinjao.
For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself 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 be wise;” but it was far from me.
24 Ono što jest, daleko je i duboko, tako duboko - tko da i pronađe?
That which 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 applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and 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 found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27 Eto, to sam sve u svemu otkrio, veli Propovjednik.
Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.
28 I još sam tražio, ali bez uspjeha. Nađoh čovjeka - jednog od tisuću, a žene ne nađoh među svima nijedne.
That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.
29 Otkrih ovo: Bog stvori čovjeka jednostavnim, a on snuje nebrojene spletke.
Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
