Proverbs 18
1 He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
Vlastitoj požudi popušta onaj tko zastranjuje, i svađa se usprkos svakom razboru.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
Bezumnomu nije mio razum; stalo mu je dati srcu oduška.
3 Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
Kad dolazi opačina, dolazi i prezir i bruka sa sramotom.
4 The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
Duboke su vode riječi iz usta nečijih, izvor mudrosti bujica što se razlijeva.
5 Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Ne valja se obazirati na opaku osobu, da se pravedniku nanese nepravda na sudu.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
Bezumnikove se usne upuštaju u svađu i njegova usta izazivlju udarce.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Bezumnomu su propast vlastita usta i usne su mu zamka životu.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Klevetnikove su riječi kao poslastice: spuštaju se u dno utrobe.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
Tko je nemaran u svom poslu, brat je onomu koji rasipa.
10 The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
Tvrda je kula ime Jahvino: njemu se pravednik utječe i nalazi utočišta.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
Bogatstvo je bogatašu njegova tvrđava i kao visok zid u mašti njegovoj.
12 The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
Pred slomom se oholi srce čovječje, a pred slavom ide poniznost.
13 Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
Tko odgovara prije nego što sasluša, na ludost mu je i sramotu.
14 The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
Kad je čovjek bolestan, njegov ga duh podiže, a ubijen duh tko će podići?
15 The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Razumno srce stječe znanje i uho mudrih traži znanje.
16 The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
Dar čovjeku otvara put i vodi ga pred velikaše.
17 The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
Prvi je pravedan u svojoj parnici, a kad dođe njegov protivnik, opovrgne ga.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
Ždrijeb poravna svađe, pa i među moćnicima odlučuje.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
Uvrijeđen brat jači je od tvrda grada i svađe su kao prijevornice na tvrđavi.
20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
Svatko siti trbuh plodom usta svojih, nasićuje se rodom usana svojih.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Smrt i život u vlasti su jeziku, a tko ga miluje, jede od ploda njegova.
22 [Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
Tko je našao ženu, našao je sreću i stekao milost od Jahve.
23 The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
Ponizno moleći govori siromah, a grubo odgovara bogataš.
24 A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
Ima prijatelja koji vode u propast, a ima i prijatelja privrženijih od brata.
