Propovednik 10
1 Od mrtvijeh muha usmrdi se i pokvari ulje apotekarsko, tako od malo ludosti cijena mudrosti i slavi.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
2 Srce je mudromu s desne strane, a ludomu je s lijeve strane.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Bezumnik i kad ide putem, bez razuma je i kazuje svjema da je bezuman.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one 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 spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 Ima zlo koje vidjeh pod suncem, kao pogrješka koja dolazi od vladaoca:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Ludost se posaðuje na najviše mjesto, i bogati sjede na niskom mjestu.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Vidjeh sluge na konjma, a knezovi idu pješice kao sluge.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Ko jamu kopa, u nju æe pasti, i ko razvaljuje ogradu, uješæe ga zmija.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Ko odmièe kamenje, udariæe se o njih; ko cijepa drva, nije miran od njih.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 Kad se zatupi gvožðe i oštrice mu se ne naoštri, tada treba više snage; ali mudrost može bolje opraviti.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Ako ujede zmija prije bajanja, ništa neæe pomoæi bajaè.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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 will swallow up himself.
13 Poèetak je rijeèima usta njegovijeh ludost, a svršetak govoru njegovu zlo bezumlje.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Jer ludi mnogo govori, a èovjek ne zna što æe biti; i ko æe mu kazati što æe poslije njega biti?
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Lude mori trud njihov, jer ne znaju ni u grad otiæi.
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Teško tebi, zemljo, kad ti je car dijete i knezovi tvoji rano jedu!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat 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 art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 S lijenosti ugiblje se krov i s nemarnijeh ruku prokapljuje kuæa.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 Radi veselja gotove se gozbe, i vino veseli žive, a novci vrše sve.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
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.
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
