< Propovjednik 1 >

1 Misli Propovjednika, Davidova sina, kralja u Jeruzalemu.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 Ispraznost nad ispraznošću, veli Propovjednik, ispraznost nad ispraznošću, sve je ispraznost!
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 Kakva je korist čovjeku od svega truda njegova kojim se trudi pod suncem?
What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
4 Jedan naraštaj odlazi, drugi dolazi, a zemlja uvijek ostaje.
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
5 Sunce izlazi, sunce zalazi i onda hiti svojem mjestu odakle izlazi.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
6 Vjetar puše na jug i okreće se na sjever, kovitla sad ovamo sad onamo i vraća se u novom vrtlogu.
The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
7 Sve rijeke teku u more i more se ne prepunja; odakle teku rijeke, onamo se vraćaju da ponovo počnu svoj tok.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
8 Sve je mučno. Nitko ne može reći da se oči nisu do sita nagledale i uši dovoljno naslušale.
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 Što je bilo, opet će biti, i što se činilo, opet će se činiti, i nema ništa novo pod suncem.
That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Ima li išta o čemu bi se moglo reći: “Gle, ovo je novo!” Sve je već davno prije nas postojalo.
Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
11 Samo, od prošlosti ne ostade ni spomena, kao što ni u budućnosti neće biti sjećanja na ono što će poslije doći.
There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12 Ja, Propovjednik, bijah kralj nad Izraelom u Jeruzalemu.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 I trudih se da mudrošću istražim i dokučim sve što biva pod nebom; o, kako mučnu zadaću zadade Bog sinovima ljudskim.
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
14 Vidjeh sve što se čini pod suncem: kakve li ispraznosti i puste tlapnje!
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15 Što je krivo, ne može se ispraviti; čega nema, izbrojiti se ne može.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is lacking cannot be counted.
16 Rekoh onda sam sebi: “Gle, stekao sam veću mudrost nego bilo tko od mojih prethodnika u Jeruzalemu. Duh moj sabrao je golemu mudrost i znanje.”
I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
17 Mudrost pomnjivo proučih, a tako i glupost i ludost, ali sam spoznao da je to pusta tlapnja.
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18 Mnogo mudrosti - mnogo jada; što više znanja, to više boli.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

< Propovjednik 1 >