1 La Sagesse a bâti sa maison, elle en a dressé les sept colonnes. | 1 Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns. |
2 Elle a abattu ses bêtes et mélangé ses vins, elle avait déjà dressé sa table. | 2 She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table. |
3 Elle a fait lancer un appel, par ses servantes, depuis les hauteurs de la cité haute: | 3 She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city, |
4 “Faites un tour par ici, vous qui ne savez pas!” À ceux qui ne pensent à rien, elle dit: | 4 “If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said: |
5 “Venez, mangez mon pain, et buvez du vin que j’ai préparé! | 5 “Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you. |
6 Laissez là votre folie et vous vivrez, marchez sur les chemins de la vérité!” | 6 Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.” |
7 Qui reprend un moqueur s’attire des insultes; qui réprimande un méchant risque d’être humilié. | 7 Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself. |
8 Ne reprends pas le moqueur, tu t’en ferais un ennemi; reprends le sage, et il t’aimera. | 8 Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, and he will love you. |
9 Donne au sage, et il deviendra plus sage; instruis un homme droit, et il en saura davantage. | 9 Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it. |
10 La crainte de Yahvé est le commencement de la sagesse; la véritable intelligence, c’est de connaître Celui qui est Saint. | 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence. |
11 C’est alors que tu vivras des jours nombreux, tu multiplieras les années de ta vie. | 11 For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you. |
12 Si tu es sage, la sagesse travaillera pour toi; si tu es moqueur, toi seul en paieras les conséquences. | 12 If you would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil. |
13 Dame Folie est agitée, sotte et ignorante. | 13 A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all, |
14 Elle s’est assise à la porte de sa maison, sur un siège, au sommet de la ville. | 14 sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city, |
15 De là elle interpelle les passants qui vont leur chemin: | 15 so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey: |
16 “Faites un tour par ici, vous qui ne savez pas!” Elle dit à ceux qui ne pensent à rien: | 16 “Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said, |
17 “Les eaux dérobées sont plus douces, le pain qu’on mange en cachette est bien plus savoureux!” | 17 “Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.” |
18 Mais l’auditeur ne sait pas que les morts rôdent alentour, ceux qu’elle invite descendent aux enfers. | 18 And he did not know that giants are there, and that her companions are in the depths of Hell. |