Ecclesiasticus, 12

1. If you do good, know to whom you do it, and there will be many thanks for your good deeds.

1. Kad èiniš dobro, pazi komu èiniš, i tvoja dobroèinstva neæe biti uzalud.

2. Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord.

2. Èini dobro pobožnu, i on æe ti uzvratiti, a ako ne on, onda Svevišnji.

3. For there is no good for someone who is always occupied in evil, or who does not give alms. For the Most High holds hatred for sinners, but he takes pity on the repentant.

3. Nikakvo dobro ne dolazi èovjeku u zlu ustrajnu, i koji odbija da dijeli milodare.

4. Give to the merciful, and you should not assist the sinner. For the impious and the sinner will be repaid with the vengeance being held for them on the day of retribution.

4. Podaj pobožniku i ne pomaži grešniku.

5. Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner.

5. Uèini dobro poniznu i ne daj ništa bezbožnu. Uskrati mu kruh, ne daj mu ga, da ga to ne uèini jaèim od tebe; jer æe ti platiti dvostrukom opaèinom za sve dobro što si mu uèinio.

6. Do good to the humble, but you should not give to the impious; withhold your bread, do not give it to him, otherwise he may overpower you with it.

6. Jer Svevišnji prezire grešnike i osvetit æe se bezbožnicima.

7. For you will find twice the evil for all the good you will have done to him. For the Most High also holds hatred for sinners, and he will repay vengeance to the impious.

7. Daruj dobromu, a uskrati pomoæ grešniku.

8. A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity.

8. Prijatelj se ne poznaje u sreæi, a neprijatelj se ne može sakriti u nesreæi.

9. By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.

9. Kad je èovjek sretan, i neprijatelj mu je prijatelj, a kad je nesretan, i prijatelj ga se kloni.

10. You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.

10. Nikad ne vjeruj neprijatelju, jer zloæa je njegova kao kovina što rða.

11. And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him.

11. Pa i ako ide ponizno i pogureno, jako se pazi i ne vjeruj mu. Budi prema njemu kao onaj koji uglaèava zrcalo, i vidjet æeš da rða njegova nije posve išèezla.

12. You should not sit down anywhere near him, nor should you allow him to sit at your right hand, lest perhaps he may turn toward your place, and seek your seat, and then, in the very end, you would understand my words and be stung by my sermon.

12. Ne meæi ga kraj sebe, da te ne istisne i zauzme tvoje mjesto. Ne posaðuj ga zdesna sebi: on æe nastojati da ti preotme sjedište, i na kraju æeš shvatiti moje rijeèi i pokajat' se zbog moje opomene.

13. Who will take pity on an enchanter struck by a serpent, or on someone who draws near to wild beasts? And so it is with one who keeps company with an iniquitous man and is involved in his sins.

13. Tko æe žaliti zmijara koga je zmija ujela i one koji se približuju divljim zvijerima?

14. For one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it.

14. Tako i onoga tko se druži s grešnikom i sudionik je u njegovim grijesima.

15. An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you into a pit.

15. Dok ti èvrsto stojiš, on se ne otkriva, ali kad jednom posrneš, on æe navaliti.

16. An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

16. Usnama je svojim sladak neprijatelj, ali u srcu smišlja da te u jamu baci. U oèima neprijatelju mogu biti suze, a kad mu se pruži prilika, ni krv ga neæe zadovoljiti.

17. And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first.

17. Ako li te gdje stigne zlo, on je tu veæ prije tebe, i kao da pomaže, podmeæe ti nogu.

18. An enemy has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet.

18. On æe mahati glavom i pljeskati rukama, mnogo æe mrmljati i razvlaèiti lice.

19. He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.

19.