Ecclesiastes 4
1 But 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.
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.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
Zato sretnima smatram mrtve koji su već pomrli; sretniji su od živih što još žive.
3 but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
A od obojih je sretniji onaj koji još nije postao, koji nije vidio zlih djela što se čine pod suncem.
4 Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Nadalje iskusih da svaki napor i svaki uspjeh pribavlja čovjeku zavist njegova bližnjeg. I to je ispraznost i pusta tlapnja.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Bezumnik prekriži ruke i izjeda sebe.
6 Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.
Bolja je puna šaka u miru nego obje pregršti mučna rada i puste tlapnje.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
I još jednu opazih ispraznost pod suncem:
8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.
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.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Bolje je dvojici nego jednome, jer imaju bolju plaću za svoj trud.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
Padne li jedan, drugi će ga podići; a teško jednomu! Ako padne, nema nikoga da ga podigne.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
Pa ako se i spava udvoje, toplije je; a kako će se samac zagrijati?
12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
I ako tko udari na jednoga, dvojica će mu se oprijeti; i trostruko se uže ne kida brzo.
13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Bolji je mladić siromašan a mudar nego kralj star a lud, koji više ne zna za savjet.
14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.
Jer mladić može izići iz tamnice i postati kraljem, iako se rodio kao prosjak u svom kraljevstvu.
15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
Opazih kako svi koji žive i hode pod suncem pristaju uz mladića, uz nastupnika koji ga naslijedi.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
On stupa na čelo bezbrojnih podanika i kasniji se naraštaji ne mogahu zbog njega radovati. I to je zacijelo ispraznost i pusta tlapnja.
