Propovednik 10
1 Od mrtvijeh muha usmrdi se i pokvari ulje apotekarsko, tako od malo ludosti cijena mudrosti i slavi.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Srce je mudromu s desne strane, a ludomu je s lijeve strane.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Bezumnik i kad ide putem, bez razuma je i kazuje svjema da je bezuman.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Ako se podigne na te gnjev onoga koji vlada, ne ostavljaj mjesta svojega, jer blagost uklanja velike grijehe.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Ima zlo koje vidjeh pod suncem, kao pogrješka koja dolazi od vladaoca:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Ludost se posaðuje na najviše mjesto, i bogati sjede na niskom mjestu.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Vidjeh sluge na konjma, a knezovi idu pješice kao sluge.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Ko jamu kopa, u nju æe pasti, i ko razvaljuje ogradu, uješæe ga zmija.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Ko odmièe kamenje, udariæe se o njih; ko cijepa drva, nije miran od njih.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Kad se zatupi gvožðe i oštrice mu se ne naoštri, tada treba više snage; ali mudrost može bolje opraviti.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Ako ujede zmija prije bajanja, ništa neæe pomoæi bajaè.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Rijeèi iz usta mudroga ljupke su, a bezumnoga proždiru usne njegove.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Poèetak je rijeèima usta njegovijeh ludost, a svršetak govoru njegovu zlo bezumlje.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Jer ludi mnogo govori, a èovjek ne zna što æe biti; i ko æe mu kazati što æe poslije njega biti?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Lude mori trud njihov, jer ne znaju ni u grad otiæi.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Teško tebi, zemljo, kad ti je car dijete i knezovi tvoji rano jedu!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blago tebi, zemljo, kad ti je car plemenit i knezovi tvoji jedu na vrijeme da se potkrijepe a ne da se opiju.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 S lijenosti ugiblje se krov i s nemarnijeh ruku prokapljuje kuæa.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Radi veselja gotove se gozbe, i vino veseli žive, a novci vrše sve.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Ni u misli svojoj ne psuj cara, ni u klijeti, u kojoj spavaš, ne psuj bogatoga, jer ptica nebeska odnijeæe glas i što krila ima dokazaæe rijeè.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
