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