Ecclesiasticus, 37

1. Every friend will say: “I also am a close friend.” But there is a friend who is a friend in name only. Is this not a grief even unto death?

1. Svaki prijatelj veli: "I ja sam ti prijatelj." Ali su mnogi samo po imenu prijatelji.

2. But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.

2. Nije li sama smrtna žalost kad se drug ili prijatelj pretvori u neprijatelja?

3. O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?

3. O, sklonosti opaka, zašto si stvorena? Da prekriješ zemlju prijevarom?

4. A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.

4. U sreæi se lažni drug raduje s prijateljem, a u èasu nesreæe okreæe se protiv njega.

5. There is a companion who commiserates with a friend for the sake of the stomach, but he will shield himself from the enemy.

5. A pravi drug dijeli nevolju s prijateljem i kad do boja doðe, štita se laæa.

6. You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.

6. Ne zaboravljaj prijatelja vjerna u boju i ne zaboravi ga kad se obogatiš.

7. Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.

7. Svaki savjetnik dijeli savjete, ali mnogi svjetuju sebi u prilog.

8. Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.

8. Èuvaj se od onoga koji nudi savjet: ispitaj prije što on sam želi - jer on daje savjet na svoju korist - da on ne baci oko na tebe

9. Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.

9. pa ti veli: "Dobar je tvoj put", a potom iz prikrajka promatra nesreæu tvoju.

10. Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you:

10. Ne svjetuj se s èovjekom koji te krivo gleda i ne otkrivaj zavidniku namjere svoje.

11. “Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls you.

11. Ne svjetuj se sa ženom o njezinoj suparnici, niti s kukavicom o ratu, niti s trgovcem o trgovini, niti s kupcem o prodaji, niti sa zavidnikom o zahvalnosti, niti sa samoživcem o milosrðu, niti s lijenèinom o bilo kakvu poslu, niti s prolaznim najamnikom o svršetku posla, niti s lijenim slugom o veliku radu: ne oslanjaj se na njih ni za kakav savjet.

12. Do not discuss holiness with an irreligious man, nor justice with one who is unjust. You should not speak with a woman about her who is a rival, nor with a coward about war, nor with a merchant about exaggeration, nor with a buyer about selling, nor with a spiteful man about giving thanks,

12. Nego se uvijek obrati na pobožnika o kome znadeš da vrši zapovijedi, koji je s tobom jedne duše i koji æe nad tobom plakati kada posrneš.

13. nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,

13. I na savjet srca svoga pazi, jer nemaš nikog vjernijeg od njega.

14. nor with a worker hired for a year about the end of the year, nor with a lazy servant about great works. You should pay no heed to these persons in any matter of counsel.

14. Jer srce èesto pretkazuje èovjeku pouzdanije nego sedam stražara s vidikovca visokog.

15. But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,

15. Ali se kraj svega toga moli Svevišnjem da te vodi stazom istine.

16. whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.

16. Razbor je poèetak svakog posla, promišljanje prethodi poduzimanju.

17. And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.

17. Korijen misli u srcu je, iz njega izrastaju èetiri grane:

18. At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.

18. dobro i zlo, život i smrt, a jezik im je uvijek gospodar.

19. But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.

19. Postoji èovjek kadar pouèiti druge, a sebi je samom beskoristan.

20. In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.

20. Drugi je opet spretan govornik, ali omražen, i takav æe umrijeti od gladi:

21. A wicked word can change the heart. From the heart four kinds of things arise: good and evil, life and death. And the tongue is continually their ruler. There is a man who is an astute teacher of many, and yet this is useless to his own soul.

21. jer nije stekao naklonosti Gospodnje i lišen je svake mudrosti.

22. A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.

22. Postoji i mudrac sam sebi mudar, i plodovi su mu razbora na ustima pouzdani.

23. Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.

23. Mudrac pouèava svoj vlastiti puk, i plodovi su njegova razbora pouzdani.

24. Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.

24. Mudar je èovjek pun blagoslova, i svi koji ga vide zovu ga sretnim.

25. There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.

25. Malen je broj dana života èovjeèjeg, i nebrojeni su dani naroda izraelskog.

26. A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.

26. Mudrac stjeèe povjerenje naroda svog i ime mu živi životom vjeènim.

27. A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.

27. Sine moj, dok si živ, kušaj narav svoju, vidi što joj šteti i to joj uskrati.

28. The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.

28. Jer nije svima sve probitaèno niti je svakomu sve po volji.

29. A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.

29. Ne budi nezasitan u slasticama i ne budi lakom za jestvinom.

30. Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.

30. Jer prekomjerno jelo donosi bolest i proždrljivost izaziva proljev.

31. For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.

31. Mnogi pomriješe od neumjerenosti, a tko se èuva produžuje svoj život.

32. Do not choose to be eager during any feast, and you should not act with excess toward any food.

32.

33. For in excessive eating there will be infirmity, and gluttony will continue even unto illness.

33.

34. By excessive drinking, many have passed away. But he who abstains will add to his life.

34.