Mudre Izreke 24
1 Ne zavidi opakim ljudima niti želi da budeš s njima.
Be not thou envious of wicked men, And desire not to be with them!
2 Jer im srce smišlja nasilje i usne govore o nedjelu.
For their heart studieth destruction, And their lips speak mischief.
3 Mudrošću se zida kuća i razborom utvrđuje,
Through wisdom is a house builded, And by understanding is it established;
4 i po znanju se pune klijeti svakim blagom dragocjenim i ljupkim.
Yea, by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and goodly substance.
5 Bolji je mudar od jakoga i čovjek razuman od silne ljudine.
The wise man is strong; Yea, the man of understanding establisheth his strength.
6 Jer s promišljanjem se ide u boj i pobjeda je u mnoštvu savjetnika.
For by wise counsel shalt thou make war, And by the multitude of counsellors cometh success.
7 Previsoka je bezumnomu mudrost: zato na sudu ne otvara usta svojih!
Wisdom is too high for the fool; He openeth not his mouth at the gate.
8 Tko smišlja zlo zove se učitelj podmukli.
He that deviseth to do evil Shall be called mischief-master.
9 Ludost samo grijeh snuje, i podrugljivac je mrzak ljudima.
The purpose of folly is sin; And a scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 Kloneš li u dan bijede, bijedna je tvoja snaga.
If thy spirit faint in the day of adversity, Faint will be thy strength.
11 Izbavi one koje vode u smrt; i spasavaj one koji posrćući idu na stratište.
Deliver thou those who are dragged to death, And those who totter to the slaughter, —O keep them back!
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 sayst, “Behold, we knew it not!” Doth not he that weigheth the heart observe it? Yea, he that keepeth thy soul knoweth it. And he will render to every man according to his works.
13 Jedi med, sine moj, jer je dobar, i saće je slatko nepcu tvome.
Eat honey, my son, for it is good, And the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste;
14 Takva je, znaj, i mudrost tvojoj duši: ako je nađeš, našao si budućnost i nada tvoja neće propasti.
So learn thou wisdom for thy soul! When thou hast found it, there shall be a reward, And thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Ne postavljaj, opaki, zasjede stanu pravednikovu, ne čini nasilja boravištu njegovu;
Plot not, O wicked man! against the habitation of the righteous; Spoil not his resting-place!
16 jer padne li pravednik i sedam puta, on ustaje, a opaki propadaju u nesreći.
For though the righteous fall seven times, yet shall he rise up again; But the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Ne veseli se kad padne neprijatelj tvoj i ne kliči srcem kada on posrće,
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
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 anger from him.
19 Nemoj se srditi zbog zločinaca, nemoj zavidjeti opakima,
Fret not thyself on account of evil men, Neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 jer zao čovjek nema budućnosti, svjetiljka opakih gasi se.
For there shall be no posterity to the evil man; 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 thou the LORD and the king; And mingle not with them that are given to change!
22 Jer iznenada provaljuje nesreća njihova i tko zna kad će doći propast njihova.
For their calamity shall rise up suddenly, And their ruin, coming from them both, in a moment.
23 I ovo je od mudraca: Ne valja biti pristran na sudu.
These also are words of the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Tko opakomu veli: “Pravedan si”, proklinju ga narodi i kunu puci;
He that saith to the wicked, “Thou art righteous,” Him shall the people curse; Nations shall abhor him.
25 a oni koji ga ukore nalaze zadovoljstvo, i na njih dolazi blagoslov sreće.
But it shall be well with them that punish him, And the blessing of prosperity shall come upon them.
26 U usta ljubi tko odgovara pošteno.
He that giveth a right answer Kisseth the lips.
27 Svrši svoj posao vani i uredi svoje polje, potom i kuću svoju zidaj.
Arrange thy work without, And prepare it in thy field: Afterwards thou mayst build thy house.
28 Ne svjedoči lažno na bližnjega svoga: zar ćeš varati usnama svojim?
Be not a witness without cause against thy neighbor, And deceive not 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, “As he hath done to me, So will I do to him; I will render to the man according to his doings.”
30 Prolazio sam mimo polje nekog lijenčine i mimo vinograd nekog luđaka,
I passed by the field of the slothful, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding,
31 i gle, sve bijaše zaraslo u koprive, i sve pokrio čkalj, i kamena ograda porušena.
And, lo! it was all overgrown with thorns, And the face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Vidjeh to i pohranih u srcu, promotrih i uzeh pouku:
Then I saw, and considered it well; I looked upon it. and received instruction.
33 “Još malo odspavaj, još malo odrijemaj, još malo podvij ruke za počinak,
“A little sleep, a little slumber! A little folding of the hands to rest!”
34 i doći će tvoje siromaštvo kao skitač i oskudica kao oružanik!”
So shall poverty come upon thee like a highwayman; Yea, want like an armed man.
