Ecclesiastes 4

Opet stadoh promatrati sva nasilja koja se čine pod suncem, i gle, suze potlačenih, i nikog nema da ih utre; i nasilje iz tlačiteljske ruke, a zaštitnika niotkuda.

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Zato sretnima smatram mrtve koji su već pomrli; sretniji su od živih što još žive.

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

A od obojih je sretniji onaj koji još nije postao, koji nije vidio zlih djela što se čine pod suncem.

Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Nadalje iskusih da svaki napor i svaki uspjeh pribavlja čovjeku zavist njegova bližnjeg. I to je ispraznost i pusta tlapnja.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Bezumnik prekriži ruke i izjeda sebe.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Bolja je puna šaka u miru nego obje pregršti mučna rada i puste tlapnje.

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

I još jednu opazih ispraznost pod suncem:

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

Čovjek potpun samac - bez sina, bez brata, i opet nema kraja njegovu trudu; oči mu se ne mogu nasititi blaga; a ne misli: za koga se mučim i uskraćujem dobro sebi? I to je ispraznost i zla briga.

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Bolje je dvojici nego jednome, jer imaju bolju plaću za svoj trud.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

Padne li jedan, drugi će ga podići; a teško jednomu! Ako padne, nema nikoga da ga podigne.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Pa ako se i spava udvoje, toplije je; a kako će se samac zagrijati?

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

I ako tko udari na jednoga, dvojica će mu se oprijeti; i trostruko se uže ne kida brzo.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Bolji je mladić siromašan a mudar nego kralj star a lud, koji više ne zna za savjet.

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Jer mladić može izići iz tamnice i postati kraljem, iako se rodio kao prosjak u svom kraljevstvu.

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

Opazih kako svi koji žive i hode pod suncem pristaju uz mladića, uz nastupnika koji ga naslijedi.

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

On stupa na čelo bezbrojnih podanika i kasniji se naraštaji ne mogahu zbog njega radovati. I to je zacijelo ispraznost i pusta tlapnja. [ (Ecclesiastes 4:17) Kad odlaziš u Božji dom, pazi na korake svoje. Priđi da mogneš čuti - žrtva je valjanija nego prinos luđaka, jer oni i ne znaju da čine zlo. ]

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.