Ecclesiastes 7

Bolji je dobar glas nego skupocjeno ulje, i smrtni dan nego dan rođenja.

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Bolje je ići u kuću gdje je žalost nego u kuću gdje je gozba, jer ondje je kraj svakoga čovjeka, i tko je živ, nek' primi k srcu!

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

Bolji je jad nego smijeh, jer pod žalosnim licem srce je radosno.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Srce je mudrih ljudi u kući žalosti, a srce bezumnih u kući veselja.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Bolje je poslušati ukor mudra čovjeka negoli slušati hvalospjev luđaka.

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Jer kao prasak trnja ispod kotla, takav je smijeh luđaka, i to je ispraznost.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

Jer smijeh od mudraca čini luđaka i veselje kvari srce.

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Bolji je svršetak stvari nego njezin početak i bolja je strpljivost od oholosti.

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Ne nagli u srdžbu, jer srdžba počiva u srcu luđaka.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Ne pitaj zašto su negdašnja vremena bila bolja od ovih, jer to nije mudro pitanje.

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

Mudrost je dragocjena baština i probitak onima na koje sunce sja.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

Jer kao što je novac zaštita, tako je i mudrost; a prednost je mudrosti u tome što izbavlja onoga tko je ima.

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Pogledaj djela Božja; tko može ispraviti što je on iskrivio?

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

U sretan dan uživaj sreću, a u zao dan razmišljaj: Bog je stvorio jedno kao i drugo - da čovjek ne otkrije ništa od svoje budućnosti.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Svašta vidjeh u svojemu ništavnom životu: pravednik propada unatoč svojoj pravednosti, a bezbožnik i dalje živi unatoč svojoj bezbožnosti.

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

Ne budi prepravedan i ne budi premudar; zašto da se uništavaš?

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Ne budi preopak i ne budi lud; zašto bi umro prije vremena?

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Dobro je da držiš jedno, ali ni drugo ne puštaj iz ruke, jer tko se boji Boga, izbavlja se od svega.

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

Mudrost mudraca veću moć daje gradu nego deset mogućnika.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

Na zemlji nema pravednika koji, čineći dobro, ne bi nikad sagriješio.

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

I još jedno: nemoj se obazirati na govorkanje; čut ćeš možda da te sluga tvoj proklinjao;

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

a zna tvoje srce kako si i ti često druge proklinjao.

For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

Sve sam to mudrošću iskušao. Mislio sam da sam mudar, ali mi je mudrost bila nedokučiva.

All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

Ono što jest, daleko je i duboko, tako duboko - tko da i pronađe?

That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

I još jednom pokušah istražiti i shvatiti mudrost i smisao, da spoznam opačinu kao ludost, a ludost kao bezumlje.

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

Otkrih da ima nešto gorče od smrti - žena, ona je zamka, srce joj je mreža, a ruke okovi; tko je Bogu drag, izmiče joj, a grešnik je njezin sužanj.

And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Eto, to sam sve u svemu otkrio, veli Propovjednik.

Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

I još sam tražio, ali bez uspjeha. Nađoh čovjeka - jednog od tisuću, a žene ne nađoh među svima nijedne.

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

Otkrih ovo: Bog stvori čovjeka jednostavnim, a on snuje nebrojene spletke.

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.