1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
1Uginula muha usmrdi mirisno ulje, a i malo ludosti jače je od mudrosti i časti.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
2Mudrac kroči pravim putem, a luđak krivim.
3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
3Dovoljno je da luđak pođe putem: kako razbora nema, svakomu pokazuje da je lud.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
4Ako se na te digne vladaočev gnjev, ne ostavljaj svoga mjesta, jer blagost sprečava velike grijehe.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
5Ima zlo što ga vidjeh pod suncem kao prestupak koji dolazi od vladaoca:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
6ludost se podiže na najviša mjesta, a veliki zauzimaju niske položaje.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
7Vidjeh sluge na konjima, a knezove gdje idu pješice kao sluge.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
8Tko jamu kopa, u nju pada; i tko ruši zid, ujeda ga zmija.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
9Tko lomi kamenje, ono ga ranjava; tko cijepa drva, može nastradati.
10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
10Kad zatupi željezo i oštrica mu nije nabrušena, tada treba više snage; a nagrada mudrosti je uspjeh.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
11Ako zmija ujede prije čaranja, ništa onda opčaratelj ne koristi.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
12Pune su miline riječi iz usta mudraca, a bezumnika upropašćuju njegove usne.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13On počinje svoje besjede ludošću i svršava ih potpunim bezumljem.
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
14Luđak previše govori: čovjek ne poznaje budućnost, i tko mu može kazati što će poslije njega biti?
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
15Luđake mori njihov trud; tko ne zna puta, ne može u grad.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
16Jao tebi, zemljo, kad ti je kralj premlad i knezovi se već ujutro goste.
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
17Blago tebi, zemljo, kad ti je kralj plemenit i knezovi ti u svoje vrijeme blaguju da se okrijepe, a ne da se opiju.
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
18S lijenosti se ugiblju grede, zbog nebrige prokišnjava kuća.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
19Ali su gozbe radi zabave i vino uveseljava život, a novci pribavljaju sve.
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
20Ni u svojoj misli ne kuni kralja, ni u svojoj ložnici ne kuni bogataša, jer će ptice odnijeti glas i kleveta lako okrilati.