Propovjednik 1
1 Misli Propovjednika, Davidova sina, kralja u Jeruzalemu.
The words of Koheleth, the son of David, the king in Jerusalem.
2 Ispraznost nad ispraznošću, veli Propovjednik, ispraznost nad ispraznošću, sve je ispraznost!
Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth, vanity of vanities: all is vanity.
3 Kakva je korist čovjeku od svega truda njegova kojim se trudi pod suncem?
What profit hath a man of all his toil which he toil-eth under the sun?
4 Jedan naraštaj odlazi, drugi dolazi, a zemlja uvijek ostaje.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth for ever.
5 Sunce izlazi, sunce zalazi i onda hiti svojem mjestu odakle izlazi.
The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and striving to reach his place he riseth again there.
6 Vjetar puše na jug i okreće se na sjever, kovitla sad ovamo sad onamo i vraća se u novom vrtlogu.
Going toward the south, and turning round toward the north, the wind moveth round about continually; and around its circles doth the wind return again.
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 never full: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither will they continue to go.
8 Sve je mučno. Nitko ne može reći da se oči nisu do sita nagledale i uši dovoljno naslušale.
All things weary themselves [constantly]; man can not utter them: the eye is never 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 hath been, is the same which will be; and that which hath been done, is the same which will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Ima li išta o čemu bi se moglo reći: “Gle, ovo je novo!” Sve je već davno prije nas postojalo.
If there be any thing whereof it is said, See, this is new: It hath already been in olden times 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.
[Only] there is no recollection of former [generations]; and also of the later ones, that are to be—of these [likewise] there will be no recollection with those that will be still later.
12 Ja, Propovjednik, bijah kralj nad Izraelom u Jeruzalemu.
I Koheleth 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.
And I directed my heart to inquire and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this is an evil employment which God hath given to the sons of man to busy themselves therewith.
14 Vidjeh sve što se čini pod suncem: kakve li ispraznosti i puste tlapnje!
I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun: and, behold, all is vanity and a torture of the spirit.
15 Što je krivo, ne može se ispraviti; čega nema, izbrojiti se ne može.
What is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is defective cannot be numbered.
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 spoke with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have truly obtained greater and more wisdom than all those who have been before me over Jerusalem: yea, my heart had seen much wisdom and knowledge.
17 Mudrost pomnjivo proučih, a tako i glupost i ludost, ali sam spoznao da je to pusta tlapnja.
And I directed my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; [but] I have perceived that this also is a torture of the spirit.
18 Mnogo mudrosti - mnogo jada; što više znanja, to više boli.
For where there is much wisdom there is much vexation: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth pain.
