Mudre Izreke 24
1 Ne zavidi opakim ljudima niti želi da budeš s njima.
Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2 Jer im srce smišlja nasilje i usne govore o nedjelu.
Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3 Mudrošću se zida kuća i razborom utvrđuje,
By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4 i po znanju se pune klijeti svakim blagom dragocjenim i ljupkim.
By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5 Bolji je mudar od jakoga i čovjek razuman od silne ljudine.
A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6 Jer s promišljanjem se ide u boj i pobjeda je u mnoštvu savjetnika.
Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
7 Previsoka je bezumnomu mudrost: zato na sudu ne otvara usta svojih!
Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8 Tko smišlja zlo zove se učitelj podmukli.
He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9 Ludost samo grijeh snuje, i podrugljivac je mrzak ljudima.
The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10 Kloneš li u dan bijede, bijedna je tvoja snaga.
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11 Izbavi one koje vode u smrt; i spasavaj one koji posrćući idu na stratište.
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
12 Ako kažeš: “Nismo za to znali”, ne razumije li onaj koji ispituje srca? I ne znade li onaj koji ti čuva dušu? I ne plaća li on svakomu po njegovim djelima?
If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.
13 Jedi med, sine moj, jer je dobar, i saće je slatko nepcu tvome.
Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
14 Takva je, znaj, i mudrost tvojoj duši: ako je nađeš, našao si budućnost i nada tvoja neće propasti.
So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15 Ne postavljaj, opaki, zasjede stanu pravednikovu, ne čini nasilja boravištu njegovu;
Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 jer padne li pravednik i sedam puta, on ustaje, a opaki propadaju u nesreći.
For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17 Ne veseli se kad padne neprijatelj tvoj i ne kliči srcem kada on posrće,
When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18 da ne bi vidio Jahve i za zlo uzeo i obratio srdžbu svoju od njega.
Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Nemoj se srditi zbog zločinaca, nemoj zavidjeti opakima,
Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20 jer zao čovjek nema budućnosti, svjetiljka opakih gasi se.
For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Boj se Jahve, sine moj, i kralja: i ne buni se ni protiv jednoga ni protiv drugoga.
My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22 Jer iznenada provaljuje nesreća njihova i tko zna kad će doći propast njihova.
For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23 I ovo je od mudraca: Ne valja biti pristran na sudu.
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24 Tko opakomu veli: “Pravedan si”, proklinju ga narodi i kunu puci;
They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25 a oni koji ga ukore nalaze zadovoljstvo, i na njih dolazi blagoslov sreće.
They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 U usta ljubi tko odgovara pošteno.
He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
27 Svrši svoj posao vani i uredi svoje polje, potom i kuću svoju zidaj.
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28 Ne svjedoči lažno na bližnjega svoga: zar ćeš varati usnama svojim?
Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
29 Ne reci: “Kako je on meni učinio, tako ću i ja njemu; platit ću tom čovjeku po djelu njegovu!”
Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
30 Prolazio sam mimo polje nekog lijenčine i mimo vinograd nekog luđaka,
I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
31 i gle, sve bijaše zaraslo u koprive, i sve pokrio čkalj, i kamena ograda porušena.
And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 Vidjeh to i pohranih u srcu, promotrih i uzeh pouku:
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33 “Još malo odspavaj, još malo odrijemaj, još malo podvij ruke za počinak,
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34 i doći će tvoje siromaštvo kao skitač i oskudica kao oružanik!”
And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
