Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them 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 and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
Zato sretnima smatram mrtve koji su već pomrli; sretniji su od živih što još žive.
3 Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all 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 And I saw all labor, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
Nadalje iskusih da svaki napor i svaki uspjeh pribavlja čovjeku zavist njegova bližnjeg. I to je ispraznost i pusta tlapnja.
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Bezumnik prekriži ruke i izjeda sebe.
6 Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
Bolja je puna šaka u miru nego obje pregršti mučna rada i puste tlapnje.
7 So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
I još jednu opazih ispraznost pod suncem:
8 There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.
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, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labor.
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 falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
Padne li jedan, drugi će ga podići; a teško jednomu! Ako padne, nema nikoga da ga podigne.
11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]
Pa ako se i spava udvoje, toplije je; a kako će se samac zagrijati?
12 And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be 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 knows not how to take heed any longer.
Bolji je mladić siromašan a mudar nego kralj star a lud, koji više ne zna za savjet.
14 For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor.
Jer mladić može izići iz tamnice i postati kraljem, iako se rodio kao prosjak u svom kraljevstvu.
15 I saw all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.
Opazih kako svi koji žive i hode pod suncem pristaju uz mladića, uz nastupnika koji ga naslijedi.
16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
On stupa na čelo bezbrojnih podanika i kasniji se naraštaji ne mogahu zbog njega radovati. I to je zacijelo ispraznost i pusta tlapnja.
