Proverbs 26

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	BIBLES DES PEUPLES
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.	1 De la neige en été, de la pluie à la moisson: il est tout aussi déplacé de rendre honneur à un sot.
2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.	2 Comme un moineau s’échappe, comme l’hirondelle prend son vol, de même quand on a maudit sans raison: cela ne sera pas.
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.	3 Le fouet pour le cheval, la bride pour l’âne, et le bâton pour le dos des imbéciles!
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.	4 Ne réponds pas aux sottises d’un imbécile: tu deviendrais comme lui.
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.	5 Réponds aux sottises d’un imbécile: autrement il se prendrait pour un sage.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.	6 Il se coupe le pied, il devra avaler la pilule, celui qui confie ses messages à un imbécile.
7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.	7 Des jambes de boiteux, mal assurées, telle est la parole sage dans la bouche d’un sot.
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.	8 Donner de l’importance à un sot, ce n’est pas mieux que d’attacher la pierre à la fronde.
9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.	9 Une branche d’épines dans la main d’un ivrogne, telle est la parole sage dans la bouche d’un sot.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.	10 Un tireur à l’arc qui blesse les passants: ce sera pareil si tu emploies un imbécile.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.	11 Le chien revient à son vomissement, et l’insensé retourne à sa folie.
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.	12 Vois-tu un homme qui se prend pour un sage? Il y a plus à espérer d’un sot que de lui.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”	13 Le paresseux dit: “Il y a une bête féroce sur le chemin! Il y a un lion dans la rue!”
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.	14 La porte tourne sur ses gonds, et le paresseux sur son lit.
15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.	15 Quand le paresseux tend la main vers le plat, il est trop fatigué pour la ramener à la bouche.
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.	16 Le paresseux se croit plus sage que sept personnes qui répondent bien.
17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.	17 Se mêler des querelles d’autrui? Autant attraper par les oreilles un chien qui passe!
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,	18 Un fou qui lance des braises ou des flèches meurtrières:
19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”	19 tel est celui qui ment à son prochain avant de lui dire: “C’était pour rire!”
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.	20 Plus de bois: le feu s’éteint; plus de médisant: la querelle s’apaise.
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.	21 Le charbon et le bois activent le feu, et l’homme querelleur enflamme les disputes.
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.	22 Les paroles du médisant sont comme des friandises; elles glissent doucement jusqu’au fond des entrailles.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.	23 Une garniture d’argent sur un pot de terre: telles sont les bonnes paroles d’un mauvais cœur.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.	24 Celui qui a de la haine déguise son langage et cache en lui sa méchanceté.
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.	25 S’il exprime de bons sentiments, ne t’y fie pas: sept méchancetés occupent son cœur.
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.	26 Mais il a beau cacher sa haine sous des airs rusés, sa malice ressortira en public.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.	27 Qui creuse une fosse y tombera; qui roule une pierre, elle reviendra sur lui.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.	28 Celui qui ment hait celui qu’il blesse; il parle gentiment, mais c’est pour ruiner.