Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
Bolji je dobar glas nego skupocjeno ulje, i smrtni dan nego dan rođenja.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.
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!
3 Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
Bolji je jad nego smijeh, jer pod žalosnim licem srce je radosno.
4 The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
Srce je mudrih ljudi u kući žalosti, a srce bezumnih u kući veselja.
5 It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
Bolje je poslušati ukor mudra čovjeka negoli slušati hvalospjev luđaka.
6 For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.
Jer kao prasak trnja ispod kotla, takav je smijeh luđaka, i to je ispraznost.
7 Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
Jer smijeh od mudraca čini luđaka i veselje kvari srce.
8 Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
Bolji je svršetak stvari nego njezin početak i bolja je strpljivost od oholosti.
9 Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
Ne nagli u srdžbu, jer srdžba počiva u srcu luđaka.
10 Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.
Ne pitaj zašto su negdašnja vremena bila bolja od ovih, jer to nije mudro pitanje.
11 Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.
Mudrost je dragocjena baština i probitak onima na koje sunce sja.
12 For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them.
Jer kao što je novac zaštita, tako je i mudrost; a prednost je mudrosti u tome što izbavlja onoga tko je ima.
13 Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.
Pogledaj djela Božja; tko može ispraviti što je on iskrivio?
14 In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.
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.
15 These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.
Svašta vidjeh u svojemu ništavnom životu: pravednik propada unatoč svojoj pravednosti, a bezbožnik i dalje živi unatoč svojoj bezbožnosti.
16 Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.
Ne budi prepravedan i ne budi premudar; zašto da se uništavaš?
17 Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.
Ne budi preopak i ne budi lud; zašto bi umro prije vremena?
18 It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
Dobro je da držiš jedno, ali ni drugo ne puštaj iz ruke, jer tko se boji Boga, izbavlja se od svega.
19 Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.
Mudrost mudraca veću moć daje gradu nego deset mogućnika.
20 For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
Na zemlji nema pravednika koji, čineći dobro, ne bi nikad sagriješio.
21 But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.
I još jedno: nemoj se obazirati na govorkanje; čut ćeš možda da te sluga tvoj proklinjao;
22 For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.
a zna tvoje srce kako si i ti često druge proklinjao.
23 I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
Sve sam to mudrošću iskušao. Mislio sam da sam mudar, ali mi je mudrost bila nedokučiva.
24 Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?
Ono što jest, daleko je i duboko, tako duboko - tko da i pronađe?
25 I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:
I još jednom pokušah istražiti i shvatiti mudrost i smisao, da spoznam opačinu kao ludost, a ludost kao bezumlje.
26 And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter’s snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.
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.
27 Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,
Eto, to sam sve u svemu otkrio, veli Propovjednik.
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found.
I još sam tražio, ali bez uspjeha. Nađoh čovjeka - jednog od tisuću, a žene ne nađoh među svima nijedne.
29 Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise man? and who hath known the resolution of the word?
Otkrih ovo: Bog stvori čovjeka jednostavnim, a on snuje nebrojene spletke.
