Ecclesiasticus, 40

1. A great occupation was created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their departure from their mother’s womb, even until the day of their burial into the mother of all:

1. Nevoljna je sudbina dodijeljena svima ljudima, težak jaram sinovima ljudskim od dana kad izaðu iz utrobe majèine do dana kad se vrate majci svega živog.

2. their thoughts, and the fears of their heart, their imagined expectations, and the day of their end,

2. Predmet misli njihove, strah srca njihova - tjeskobno je išèekivanje dana smrtnoga.

3. from him who sits upon a glorious throne, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,

3. Od onoga koji sjedi na prijestolju slavnom do onoga koji sjedi u prahu i pepelu;

4. from him who wears hyacinth and bears a crown, even to him who is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, tumult, restlessness, and the fear of death, continual anger and contention.

4. od onoga koji nosi krunu i grimiz do onoga koji nosi prtenu odjeæu -

5. And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changes his knowledge.

5. sve je gnjev, zavist, nevolja i nemir, strah od smrti, svaðe i borba. I kad poèiva na svojoj postelji, san mu noæni samo izmjenjuje brige:

6. There is little or no rest, and sleep is taken from him, as if on a day of keeping watch.

6. tek što je legao, a ono u snu kao na svjetlosti danjoj opsjedaju ga strahotni prizori, kao bjegunca što je iz boja utekao.

7. He is disturbed by a vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in a day of warfare. In the time of his salvation, he rose up and wondered that there was no fear.

7. I kad se probudi u èasu izbavljenja, èudi se svojem ispraznomu strahu.

8. This is so with all flesh, from man even to cattle, but upon sinners it is seven times as great.

8. Jer stvorovima svima, od ljudi do životinja, a sedmerostruko grešnicima - prijeti

9. Add to this: death, bloodshed, contention, and the spear, oppression, famine, and affliction, and scourges.

9. smrt i krv, i boj i maè, nesreæe, glad, patnja, kuga.

10. All these things have been created because of iniquity, and it is due to iniquity that the great flood was made.

10. Sve je to stvoreno za grešnike, i zbog njih je do potopa došlo.

11. All things that are of the earth shall return to the earth, and all waters shall return to the sea.

11. Sve što je iz zemlje u zemlju se vraæa i što je iz vode došlo u more odlazi.

12. All bribery and iniquity will be wiped away, but faith shall stand forever.

12. Svako mito i nepravda propadaju, a poštenje traje dovijeka.

13. The substance of the unjust will dry up like a river, and will pass away with a noise like loud thunder in a rainstorm.

13. Blago nepravednièko nestaje kao bujica i kao trijesak groma za nevremena.

14. When he opens his hands, he will rejoice. So will transgressors pass away at the consummation.

14. Kad otvori svoje ruke, on se raduje, tako i grešnici srljaju u svoju propast.

15. The descendents of the impious will not produce many branches, for they may be compared to dirty roots at the edge of a rock.

15. Izdanak bezbožnièki ne tjera mladice, jer neèisto korijenje nalazi samo tvrdo stijenje.

16. The weeds, which grow above every water and beside the banks of the river, will be uprooted before all the grass.

16. Trska što raste na svakoj vodi i obali kosi se prije svake druge trave.

17. Grace is like a paradise of blessings, and mercy continues for eternity.

17. A milost je kao perivoj blagoslova i milosrðe traje dovijeka.

18. The life of a worker, when content with what is sufficient, will become sweet, and in it you will find a treasure.

18. Nezavisan èovjek i radnik imaju ugodan život, ali od obojice bolji ima onaj tko pronaðe blago.

19. Sons, and the building of a city, will establish a name, but an immaculate wife will be ranked above these things.

19. Djeca i sazidan grad proslavljuju ime, ali je nad obojim otkriæe mudrosti. Stoka i vinogradi donose glasovitost, ali više od oboga uzorna žena.

20. Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.

20. Vino i glazba vesele srce, ali još više ljubav prema mudrosti.

21. The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant word is above them both.

21. Frula i harfa zaslaðuju pjesmu, ali je nad obojim skladan glas.

22. Your eye desires elegance and beauty, but verdant fields are above these things.

22. Ljepota i ljupkost vesele oèi, ali još više zelenilo polja.

23. A friend and a companion meet one another in time, but above them both is a wife with her husband.

23. Prijatelj ili drug - sretnu se u pravi èas, ali su nad obojicom žena i muž.

24. Brothers are a help in time of tribulation, but mercy will liberate, more so than they will.

24. Braæa i pomoænici u nevolji dobro doðu, ali od obojih bolje izbavlja milostinja.

25. Gold and silver provide a firm position for the feet, but well-spoken counsel is above them both.

25. Zlato i srebro uèvršæuju korak, ali je od obadvoga bolji dobar savjet.

26. Ability and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is above these things.

26. Bogatstvo i moæ osnažuju srce, ali od obadvoga bolje strah Gospodnji. Sa strahom Gospodnjim èovjek sve ima i s njime mu ne treba nikakva pomoænika.

27. There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and it has no need to ask for assistance.

27. Strah je Gospodnji kao perivoj blagoslova: on èovjeka štiti više od svake slave.

28. The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessings, and they have covered it above all glory.

28. Sine moj, ne živi od prosjaèenja; bolje je umrijeti nego prosjaèiti.

29. Son, in your lifetime you should not be indigent, for it is better to die than to be destitute.

29. Èovjek koji neprestano gleda na tuði stol ne živi životom života dostojnim. On kalja svoje grlo jelima tuðinskim, a obrazovan i odgojen èovjek toga se kloni.

30. The life of him who looks to another man’s table should not be thought of as a way of life. For he feeds his life with another man’s food.

30. Slatko je prosjaèenje usnama bestidnika, ali ga u utrobi pali kao vatra.

31. But a disciplined and well-taught man will take care of himself.

31.

32. Scarcity will seem sweet to the mouth of the imprudent, but a fire will burn in his belly.

32.