Propovjednik 12

Biblija Hrvatski	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I sjećaj se svoga Stvoritelja u danima svoje mladosti prije nego dođu zli dani i prispiju godine kad ćeš reći: »Ne mile mi se.«	1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 Prije nego potamni sunce i svjetlost, mjesec i zvijezde, i vrate se oblaci iza kiše.	2 Before the sun is darkened. and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain;
3 U dan kad zadrhte čuvari kuće i pognu se junaci, i dosađuju se mlinarice jer ih je premalo, i potamne oni koji gledaju kroz prozore;	3 When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind;
4 kad se zatvore ulična vrata, oslabi šum mlina, kad utihne pjev ptice i zamru zvuci pjesme.	4 When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed;
5 Kad je put uzbrdo muka i svaki izlazak prijetnja; a badem je u cvatu, i skakavac ne skače više, i koprov plod puca, jer čovjek ide u svoj vječni dom! A narikače već se kreću ulicama.	5 And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets;
6 Prije nego se prekine srebrna vrpca i zlatna se svjetiljka razbije i razlupa se vrč na izvoru i slomi točak na bunaru;	6 Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well,
7 i vrati se prah u zemlju kao što je iz nje i došao, a duh se vrati Bogu koji ga je dao.	7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
8 Ispraznost nad ispraznostima, veli Propovjednik, sve je ispraznost.	8 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!
9 A osim toga što je sam Propovjednik bio mudar, on je i narod učio mudrosti te je odmjerio, ispitao i sastavio mnogo mudrih izreka.	9 Besides being wise, Qoheleth taught the people knowledge, and weighed, scrutinized and arranged many proverbs.
10 Ujedno se Propovjednik trudio pronaći prikladne riječi i izravno izraziti istinu.	10 Qoheleth sought to find pleasing sayings, and to write down true sayings with precision.
11 Besjede su mudrih ljudi kao ostani i kao pobodeni kolci: pastir se njima služi na dobro svojega stada.	11 The sayings of the wise are like goads; like fixed spikes are the topics given by one collector.
12 I na kraju, sine moj, znaj da je neizmjerno mnogo truda potrebno da se napiše knjiga i da mnogo učenje umara tijelo.	12 As to more than these, my son, beware. Of the making of many books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh.
13 Čujmo svemu završnu riječ: »Boj se Boga, izvršuj njegove zapovijedi, jer – to je sav čovjek.«	13 The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all;
14 Jer sva će skrivena djela, bila dobra ili zla, Bog izvesti na sud.	14 because God will bring to judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad.