Ecclesiastes 1

Misli Propovjednika, Davidova sina, kralja u Jeruzalemu.

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Ispraznost nad ispraznošću, veli Propovjednik, ispraznost nad ispraznošću, sve je ispraznost!

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Kakva je korist čovjeku od svega truda njegova kojim se trudi pod suncem?

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

Jedan naraštaj odlazi, drugi dolazi, a zemlja uvijek ostaje.

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

Sunce izlazi, sunce zalazi i onda hiti svojem mjestu odakle izlazi.

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Vjetar puše na jug i okreće se na sjever, kovitla sad ovamo sad onamo i vraća se u novom vrtlogu.

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

Sve rijeke teku u more i more se ne prepunja; odakle teku rijeke, onamo se vraćaju da ponovo počnu svoj tok.

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

Sve je mučno. Nitko ne može reći da se oči nisu do sita nagledale i uši dovoljno naslušale.

All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Što je bilo, opet će biti, i što se činilo, opet će se činiti, i nema ništa novo pod suncem.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Ima li išta o čemu bi se moglo reći: "Gle, ovo je novo!" Sve je već davno prije nas postojalo.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Samo, od prošlosti ne ostade ni spomena, kao što ni u budućnosti neće biti sjećanja na ono što će poslije doći.

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Ja, Propovjednik, bijah kralj nad Izraelom u Jeruzalemu.

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I trudih se da mudrošću istražim i dokučim sve što biva pod nebom; o, kako mučnu zadaću zadade Bog sinovima ljudskim.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

Vidjeh sve što se čini pod suncem: kakve li ispraznosti i puste tlapnje!

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Što je krivo, ne može se ispraviti; čega nema, izbrojiti se ne može.

That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

Rekoh onda sam sebi: "Gle, stekao sam veću mudrost nego bilo tko od mojih prethodnika u Jeruzalemu. Duh moj sabrao je golemu mudrost i znanje."

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

Mudrost pomnjivo proučih, a tako i glupost i ludost, ali sam spoznao da je to pusta tlapnja.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Mnogo mudrosti - mnogo jada; što više znanja, to više boli.

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.