Baruch, 6

1. This is a copy of the letter that Jeremiah sent to those who would be taken captive into Babylon by the king of Babylon, so as to prophesy to them according to the warning he had received about them from God. “Because of the sins which you have sinned before God, you will be carried away into the captivity of Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.

1. Mnoge su nam i velike darove darovali Zakon, Proroci i ostali Pisci koji su slijedili iza njih. Zato valja pohvaliti Izraela zbog naobrazbe i mudrosti. Ali nije dovoljno da se ljudi sami nauèe knjizi,

2. And so, having been taken into Babylon, you will be there many years and for a long time, even to seven generations, yet after this, I will lead you away from there with peace.

2. Tko æe izbrojiti pijesak morski i kaplje kišne i dane vjeènosti?

3. But now, you will see in Babylon gods of gold and of silver, and of stone and of wood, carried upon shoulders, an awful display for the peoples.

3. Tko æe istražiti nebesku visinu, zemaljsku širinu i dubinu bezdana?

4. See to it, then, that you do not in effect become like these strangers and become afraid, so that in awe you would be carried away into their midst.

4. Mudrost je stvorena prije svega ostalog, i misaon razbor vjeèan je.

5. And so, seeing the turmoil, behind you and in front of you, as they are worshiping, say in your hearts, ‘You ought to be adored, O Lord.’

5. #

6. For my angel is with you. And I myself will examine your souls.

6. Komu se otkrio korijen mudrosti i tko znade njezine namisli?

7. For their tongue is polished by the craftsman, and they themselves are even inlaid with gold and silver, yet they are false and unable to speak.

7. #

8. And, just like a virgin who loves to decorate herself, so do they take up gold and make designs with it.

8. Samo je jedan mudar i uistinu strašan kad sjedi na prijestolju svojem - Gospod.

9. Their gods have crowns of certified gold upon their heads, from which the priests subtract gold and silver, and spend it on themselves.

9. On ju je stvorio, gledao i izbrojio, izlio je na sva svoja djela,

10. Moreover, they even give from it to prostitutes, and use it to adorn kept women, and when they receive it back from the kept women, they use it to adorn their gods.

10. na svako tijelo prema velièini njegovoj i obdario njome one koji ga ljube.

11. But these cannot be freed from rust and moths.

11. Strah je Gospodnji slava i hvala, veselje i vijenac radosti.

12. Although they are covered with a purple garment, they must wipe off their face, because of the dust of the house, which is very great around them.

12. Strah Gospodnji sladi srce, daje radost, veselje i dug život.

13. Yet he who holds a scepter like a man, like the judge of the region, cannot put to death one who sins against him.

13. Tko se boji Gospoda, sretan je na svršetku i blagoslovljen u dan svoje smrti.

14. And though he holds in his hand a sword and an axe, yet he cannot free himself from war and robbers. From this let it be known to you that they are not gods.

14. Strah Gospodnji poèetak je mudrosti, s vjernima je ona stvorena u utrobi majèinoj.

15. Therefore, do not fear them. For just as the vessel a man uses becomes useless when broken, so also are their gods.

15. Svila je gnijezdo s temeljem vjeènim meðu ljudima i bit æe vjerna porodu njihovu.

16. When they are set up in a house, their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter.

16. Strah je Gospodnji punina mudrosti, ona ih opija svojim plodovima.

17. And like one who has offended the king and is surrounded at every door, or like a corpse about to be carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be plundered by robbers.

17. Dom im napunja milinama i klijeti svojim urodom.

18. They light candles to them, and in great number, and still they are unable to see, for they are like logs in the house.

18. Strah Gospodnji vijenac je mudrosti koji cvate mirom i zdravljem.

19. It is truly said that the creeping things, which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, and yet when these devour them and their garments, they do not feel it.

19. Gospod je nju gledao i izbrojio i izlio spoznaju i razbor, uzvisio slavu onih koji je posjeduju.

20. Their faces are made black by the smoke that is made in the house.

20. Strah Gospodnji korijen je mudrosti, a izdanci su dug život.

21. Over their bodies and over their heads fly owls and swallows and birds, and similarly, even cats.

21. #

22. From this you should understand that they are not gods. Therefore, neither should you fear them.

22. Strast opakoga ne može opravdati, jer mu teret strasti donosi pad.

23. Furthermore, the gold which they have is shiny, but unless someone wipes off the rust, they will not shine. And even when they were molten, they did not feel it.

23. Strpljiv èovjek podnosi do u pravi èas, a na kraju uživa radost.

24. They acquire all kinds of costly things, yet there is no breath in them.

24. On krije svoje rijeèi do pravog trena, i usta mnogih govore o njegovu razboru.

25. Without feet, they are carried upon shoulders, showing their unworthiness to all men. And so, may those who worship them be confounded.

25. U riznicama mudrosti zagonetke su spoznaje, ali je grešniku mrska pobožnost.

26. Because of this, if they fall to the ground, they do not get up by themselves; and if someone sets it upright, they will not stand firm on their own; yet, just like the dead, offerings are placed next to them.

26. Želiš li mudrost, vrši zapovijedi, i Gospod æe ti je dati.

27. The priests themselves sell their sacrifices, and they spend it wastefully; and, in like manner, their wives take part of it, never sharing anything with the sick or the beggars.

27. Jer strah je Gospodnji mudrost i pouka, i Gospodu je draga vjernost i krotkost.

28. Fertile and menstruous women contaminate their sacrifices. And so, knowing from this that they are not gods, you should not fear them.

28. Ne opiri se strahu Gospodnjem i ne pristupaj Gospodu dvolièna srca.

29. For what reason are they called gods? It is because the women serve before the gods of silver and gold and wood,

29. Ne budi licemjer pred ljudima i pazi na usne svoje.

30. and the priests sit in their houses, with torn garments, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing on their heads.

30. Ne uznosi se, da ne padneš i da se ne osramotiš, jer Gospod æe otkriti tvoje tajne i poniziti te pred svim zborom, jer nisi dosegao straha Gospodnjeg i jer ti je srce puno prijevare.

31. But they roar, shouting out to their gods, just as at a feast for the dead.

31. tule i vièu pred svojim bogovima, kao na mrtvaèkim gozbama.

32. The priests take away the garments of their gods, and clothe their wives and their sons.

32. Sveæenici im skidaju haljine te njima odijevaju svoje žene i djecu.

33. And whether they endure evil from someone, or good, they are not able to repay it. They can neither establish a king, nor remove him.

33. Uèine li im kakvo dobro ili zlo, oni to ne mogu uzvratiti;

34. Similarly, they can neither give riches, nor avenge evil. If anyone makes a vow to them, and does not keep it, they cannot require it.

34. niti mogu koga uèiniti kraljem ili ga svrgnuti; niti mogu dati bogatstvo ili novac. Uèini li im tko zavjet pa ga ne održi, oni ga ne mogu prisiliti da za to odgovara.

35. They cannot free a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.

35. i pripravni su prilagoditi svoje obièaje kako bi živjeli prema Zakonu. Svaka je mudrost od Gospoda i s njime je dovijeka.

36. They cannot restore sight to the blind, nor free a man from need.

36. ne mogu slijepcu vratiti vid niti izbaviti èovjeka iz nevolje;

37. They will not have mercy on the widow, nor do good to orphans.

37. ne mogu se smilovati udovici niti uèiniti dobro siroti.

38. Their gods of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like stones from the mountain; and those who worship them will be confounded.

38. Nalik su na kamenje iz planine, ti bogovi obloženi zlatom i srebrom. Oni koji ih štuju stidjet æe se!

39. In what way, then, is it to be supposed or said that they are gods?

39. Kako se, dakle, mogu smatrati ili nazivati bogovima!

40. For even the Chaldeans themselves do not honor these, who, when they hear about a mute, unable to speak, they offer him to Bel, asking from him that he may speak,

40. I sami ih Kaldejci obešèašæuju; jer videæi nijema èovjeka koji ne može govoriti, oni ga dovode Belu i traže da èovjek progovori, kao da bi ga bog mogao èuti;

41. as if these, who are unable to move, would be able to perceive. And even they themselves, when they shall understand this, will abandon them, for, having come to their senses, they do not consider them to be gods.

41. i nesposobni su promisliti o tome i ostaviti te bogove, toliko su lišeni razbora!

42. Yet the women, wrapped in cords, sit by the roads, burning olive-stones.

42. Žene opasane užetom sjede na putovima i pale kad od maslinovih ljusaka;

43. And when any one of them, having been attracted by someone passing by, would sleep with him, she reproaches her neighbor because she was not found worthy, as she was, nor was her cord broken.

43. kada koju od njih snubi prolaznik da mu se poda, ona se ruga svojoj susjedi što je nisu zapazili kao nju i što joj uže nije prekinuto.

44. But all things that occur with them are false; in what way, then, is it to be considered or said that they are gods?

44. Sve što se dogaða u blizini tih bogova prijevara je; kako ih, dakle, mogu smatrati ili nazivati bogovima!

45. Yet they have been made by the workmen and the goldsmiths. They will be nothing else but what the priests want them to be.

45. Naèiniše ih drvodjelje i zlatari, i nisu drugo doli tvorevina njihova.

46. For the artisans themselves, who make them, do not exist for a long time. So then, can these things, which have been made by them, be gods?

46. Njihovi izraðivaèi ne žive dugo; kako bi njihove rukotvorine bile bogovi?

47. Yet they have bequeathed falsehoods and disgrace after this to the future.

47. Jer svojim æe potomcima ostaviti samo obmanu i sramotu.

48. For when they are overcome by battle or evil, the priests consider among themselves where they may hide themselves with them.

48. Ako ljude pogodi rat ili nevolja, sveæenici se meðu sobom savjetuju gdje da se s njima sakriju;

49. Therefore, why would they be perceived to be gods, who can neither free themselves from war, nor rescue themselves from evils?

49. kako ne uvidjeti da to nisu bogovi kad ni sami sebe ne mogu izbaviti od rata i od nevolja?

50. For, in as much as they are only wood, inlaid with gold and silver, so let it be known henceforth, by all nations and kings, that they are false; because it has been revealed that they are not gods, but the work of men’s hands, and there is no work of God in them.

50. Po svemu tomu znat æe se: ti drveni idoli, obloženi zlatom ili srebrom, samo su prijevara! Svima, narodima i kraljevima, bit æe jasno: nisu to bogovi, nego su djela ruku ljudskih: nikakva Božjeg udjela u njima nema!

51. For this reason, then, it has been accepted that they are not gods, but are works of the hands of men, and no work of God is in them.

51. Kome, dakle, neæe biti jasno: to bogovi nisu?

52. They have not raised up a king in the region, nor will they give rain to men.

52. TÓa ne mogu oni postaviti kralja u nekoj zemlji niti dati kišu ljudima;

53. They will not discern a judgment for anyone, nor will they free a region from injury, because they can do nothing, like crows in the middle of heaven and earth.

53. ne mogu presuditi u svojim poslovima niti izbaviti potlaèenog; nemoæni su oni poput vrana izmeðu neba i zemlje.

54. And, indeed, when there happens to be a fire in the house of these gods of wood, silver, and gold, the priests will certainly run away and save themselves, but these will truly be burned up like logs in the midst of it.

54. Neka padne vatra na hram tih drvenih bogova obloženih zlatom ili srebrom, njihovi æe sveæenici pobjeæi i spasiti se, dok æe oni ondje izgorjeti kao grede.

55. Yet they cannot withstand a king and war. In what way, then, is it to be considered or accepted that they are gods?

55. Oni se ne mogu opirati ni kralju ni neprijatelju.

56. These gods of wood and stone, inlaid with gold and silver, can free themselves neither from thieves nor from robbers; whoever is stronger than they are,

56. Kako onda pomisliti ili povjerovati da su to bogovi?

57. will take up these things, the gold and the silver, and the garments which cover them, and will get away; neither will they be able to help themselves.

57. Ti drveni bogovi obloženi srebrom i zlatom ne mogu se obraniti ni od kradljivaca ni od razbojnika: kako su ovi jaèi od njih, opljaèkat æe im zlato i srebro i otiæi s haljinama u koje su odjeveni; oni su nesposobni sebi samima pomoæi.

58. Therefore, it is better to be a king displaying his power, or a useful vessel in a house, about which he who owns it will boast, or a door in the house, which keeps safe what is inside, than to be these gods of falsehood.

58. Zato je bolje biti kralj koji dokazuje svoju hrabrost, ili u kuæi korisna posuda kojom se vlasnik služi nego lažni bogovi; bolja su i vrata u kuæi koja èuvaju ono što je u njoj nego lažni bogovi; i drveni stup u kakvoj palaèi bolji je nego lažni bogovi.

59. For the sun, and the moon, and the constellations, though they are brilliant and have been sent forth to be useful, are obedient.

59. Sunce, mjesec i zvijezde, dok sjaju da izvrše službu, poslušni su.

60. Similarly, the lightning, when it appears and is evident, and, in like manner, the wind blowing in every region,

60. Milina je vidjeti i munju kada sijevne. A vjetar donosi dah svoj zemlji,

61. and the clouds, when God orders them to make their rounds over the whole world, each carries out what was commanded.

61. i oblaci, kada im Gospod zapovjedi da oblete svu zemlju, odmah izvrše nalog Božji. Vatra, poslana odozgo da sažeže gore i šume, izvršava što joj je naloženo.

62. Furthermore, the fire, having been sent from above so that it may consume mountains and woods, does what it has been instructed to do. Yet these are not similar, neither in splendor, nor in power, to any one of them.

62. Sa svim ovim ti se bogovi ni ljepotom ni snagom usporediti ne mogu.

63. From this, it should neither be supposed, nor said, that they are gods; since they are neither able to give judgment, nor to accomplish anything for men.

63. Zato se ne može misliti ni reæi da su to bogovi, jer nisu sposobni kazniti niti uèiniti dobra ljudima.

64. And so, knowing that they are not gods, therefore, have no fear of them.

64. Kada, dakle, znate da to bogovi nisu, njih se ne bojte!

65. For they can neither curse kings, nor bless them.

65. Oni ne mogu ni prokleti ni blagosloviti kraljeva;

66. Besides, they show no signs in heaven to the nations; they neither shine like the sun, nor give light like the moon.

66. niti mogu narodima pokazati znamenja na nebu; oni ne sjaju kao sunce niti svijetle kao mjesec.

67. Beasts are better than they are, for they can flee under a covering, and so protect themselves.

67. Zvijeri su od njih bolje; pobjeæi one mogu u skrovište i sebi pomoæi.

68. Therefore, in no way is it clear to us that they are gods; because of this, you should not fear them.

68. Nikako nam, dakle, nije jasno da su to bogovi; stoga ih se ne bojte!

69. For just as a scarecrow in a cucumber field protects nothing, so are their gods of wood, and silver, and inlaid gold.

69. Kao ptièje strašilo u neèuvanu polju lubenica, takvi su njihovi drveni bogovi obloženi zlatom i srebrom.

70. They are just the same as a white thorn in a garden, on which all the birds sit; they are even like a corpse thrown out into the darkness, just so are these gods of wood, and inlaid gold, and inlaid silver.

70. Jednako su slièni glogovu grmu u vrtu na koji sjeda svaka ptica ili mrtvacu baèenu u mrak - ti drveni bogovi obloženi zlatom i srebrom.

71. By the purple, and likewise the Royal purple, moth-eaten garments upon them, you will then know that they are not gods. And finally, they themselves are consumed and will be a disgrace in the region.

71. Po grimizu i crvenilu što na njima trune prepoznat æete da to nisu bogovi. Napokon i sami budu izjedeni te postanu na sramotu zemlji.

72. Better is the just man who has no such images, for he will be far from disgrace.”

72. Koliko je bolji pravednik koji nema kumirÄa; sramota je daleko od njega!