Ecclesiasticus, 6

1. Do not be willing to become an enemy instead of a friend to your neighbor. For an evil man will inherit reproach and disgrace, as will every sinner who is envious and double-tongued.

1. Jer zao glas donosi zazor i sramotu, kako to biva grešniku licemjernom.

2. You should not extol yourself, like a bull, in the thoughts of your soul, lest perhaps your strength may be cast down through foolishness,

2. Ne predaj se u ruke svojoj strasti, da ti ona dušu ne rastrga kao razbješnjeli bik;

3. which would consume your leaves, and destroy your fruit, and leave you behind like a dry tree in the desert.

3. da ti ne obrsti lišæe i da ti ne propadnu plodovi i ne ostaneš poput sasušena drveta.

4. For a wicked soul will destroy the one who has it. For it gladly provides enemies to him, and it will lead him to the fate of the impious.

4. Jer strastvena duša propast je onome èija je i èini od njega ruglo pred njegovim neprijateljima.

5. A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man.

5. Umilna rijeè umnožava prijatelje, i jezik uljudan izaziva prijazne odgovore.

6. Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor.

6. Neka su ti mnogi poznanici, ali pouzdanik samo jedan od tisuæu.

7. If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily.

7. Ako želiš imati prijatelja, steci ga kušanjem i nemoj se prebrzo u nj pouzdati.

8. For there is a friend according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation.

8. Jer netko je prijatelj samo kad to njemu odgovara i taj ne ostaje vjeran u dan nevolje.

9. And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults.

9. A neki æe se prijatelj prometnuti u neprijatelja i tvoju sramotu iznijeti na vidjelo.

10. And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need.

10. Gdjekoji je opet prijatelj za stolom, ali ga nema u èasu nevolje.

11. A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household.

11. Dok si sretan, on æe ti biti kao ti sam sebi: s ukuæanima tvojim povjerljiv æe biti;

12. If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship.

12. a stigne li te zlo, okrenut æe se protiv tebe i bježat æe od tvog pogleda.

13. Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends.

13. Odvoji se od svojih neprijatelja i èuvaj se svojih prijatelja.

14. A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure.

14. Vjeran prijatelj pouzdana je zaštita; i tko ga je stekao našao je blago.

15. Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity.

15. Pravom prijatelju nema cijene niti se može izmjeriti njegova vrijednost.

16. A faithful friend is a medicine for life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord will find one.

16. Pravi je prijatelj balzam života, nalazi ga onaj tko se Gospoda boji.

17. He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him.

17. Tko se Gospoda boji, nalazi prave prijatelje, jer kakav èovjek, takav mu i prijatelj.

18. Son, from your youth receive instruction, and then you will find wisdom, even to your grey hairs.

18. Sine, uèi od mladosti svoje, prigrli pouku, pa æeš do svojih sjedina nalaziti mudrost.

19. Approach wisdom like one who plows and sows, and then wait for her good fruits.

19. Prilazi joj kao oraè i sijaè i oèekuj obilnu ljetinu, jer malo æeš se oko nje truditi i brzo æeš jesti od ploda njezina.

20. For in doing her work, you will labor a little, but you will soon eat from her produce.

20. Veoma je opora nepokornima, i nerazborit ne ustraje u njoj.

21. How exceedingly harsh is wisdom to unlearned men! And so, the witless will not remain with her.

21. Ona ga tišti kao težak kamen i on ne oklijeva da je odbaci.

22. She will be to them like a great stone of trial, and they will cast her away from them without delay.

22. Jer stega je vjerna svojem imenu, ona mnogima nije dostupna.

23. For the wisdom of doctrine is in accord with her name, and she is not manifest to many. But she continues with those by whom she is recognized, even in the sight of God.

23. Poslušaj, sine, primi moj naputak i ne odbaci savjeta mog.

24. Listen, son, and accept an understanding counsel, for you should not discard my advice.

24. Stavi svoje noge u njezine okove i vrat svoj u njezin jaram.

25. Set your feet in her fetters and your neck in her chains.

25. Podmetni svoja leða pod njezin teret, i neka ti ne smetaju njezine uzde.

26. Incline your shoulder, and carry her, for you will not be grieved by her bindings.

26. Svom dušom svojom pristupi k njoj i svom snagom svojom slijedi putove njezine.

27. Approach her with all your soul, and serve her ways with all your strength.

27. Ispituj i istražuj je, i ona æe ti se objaviti; i kad je jednom uhvatiš, ne puštaj je.

28. Examine her, and she will be revealed to you, and when you have obtained her, you should not abandon her.

28. Jer æeš naposljetku u njoj naæi mir, i ona æe ti se pretvoriti u radost.

29. For, in the very end, you will find rest in her, and she will turn into your delight.

29. Njezini okovi bit æe moæna zaštita i njezin jaram halja èasti.

30. Then her fetters will be a strong protection and a firm foundation for you, and her chains will be a robe of glory.

30. Njezin jaram bit æe zlatni ures, njezine uzde grimizne vrpce.

31. For in her is the beauty of life, and her bindings are a healing bandage.

31. Nosit æeš je kao sveèanu odoru i vezat æeš je kao krasni vijenac.

32. You will be clothed with her as with a robe of glory, and you will set her upon your head like a crown of rejoicing.

32. Ako si voljan, sine, možeš postati mudar; i ako se potrudiš, steæi æeš razboritost.

33. Son, if you heed me, you will learn. And if you adapt your mind, you will be wise.

33. Ako si pripravan slušati, nauèit æeš; ako poslušaš, bit æeš mudar.

34. If you incline your ear, you will receive doctrine. And if you love to listen, you will be wise.

34. Nek' ti je mjesto u staraèkom zboru; i vidiš li mudraca, drži se uz njega.

35. Stand among the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself to their wisdom from the heart, so that you may be able to hear every discourse about God, and so that the proverbs of praise may not flee from you.

35. Rado slušaj svaku rijeè koja dolazi od Boga i neka ti ne promaknu oštroumne izreke.

36. And if you see a man of understanding, stand watch for him, and let your feet wear down the steps of his doors.

36. Vidiš li razborita èovjeka, rano ga posjeti i neka tvoja stopala istaru njegov prag.

37. Set your thoughts on the precepts of God, and be entirely constant in his commandments. And he himself will give a heart to you, and the desire of wisdom will be given to you.

37. Razmišljaj o zapovijedima Gospodnjim i neprestano se drži njegovih naredaba, i Gospod æe osnažiti tvoje srce i steæi æeš mudrost koju želiš.