Livre des Proverbes 18

JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Qui vit à l'écart suit son bon plaisir, contre tout conseil il s'emporte.	1 Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.
2 Le sot ne prend pas plaisir à être intelligent, mais à étaler son sentiment.	2 The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.
3 Quand vient la méchanceté, vient aussi l'affront, avec le mépris, l'opprobre.	3 The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.
4 Des eaux profondes, voilà les paroles de l'homme: un torrent débordant, une source de sagesse.	4 Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.
5 Il n'est pas bon de favoriser le méchant, pour débouter le juste dans un jugement.	5 It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.
6 Les lèvres du sot vont au procès et sa bouche appelle les coups.	6 The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.
7 La bouche du sot est sa ruine et ses lèvres un piège pour sa vie.	7 The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Les dires du calomniateur sont de friands morceaux qui descendent jusqu'au fond des entrailles.	8 The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.
9 Quiconque est paresseux à l'ouvrage, celui-là est frère du destructeur.	9 Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.
10 Une tour forte: le nom de Yahvé! le juste y accourt et il est hors d'atteinte.	10 The name of the Lord is very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.
11 La fortune du riche, voilà sa place forte: c'est une haute muraille, pense-t-il.	11 The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.
12 Avant la ruine, le coeur humain s'élève, avant la gloire, il y a l'humilité.	12 The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.
13 Qui riposte avant d'écouter, c'est pour lui folie et confusion.	13 Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.
14 L'esprit de l'homme peut endurer la maladie, mais l'esprit abattu, qui le relèvera?	14 The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?
15 Coeur intelligent acquiert la science, l'oreille des sages recherche le savoir.	15 A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.
16 Le don que fait un homme lui ouvre la voie et le met en présence des grands.	16 A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.
17 On donne raison au premier qui plaide, que survienne un adversaire, il le démasque.	17 The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.
18 Le sort met fin aux querelles et décide entre les puissants.	18 Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.
19 Un frère offensé est pire qu'une ville fortifiée et les querelles sont comme les verrous d'undonjon.	19 A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Du fruit de sa bouche l'homme rassasie son estomac, du produit de ses lèvres il se rassasie.	20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.
21 Mort et vie sont au pouvoir de la langue, ceux qui la chérissent mangeront de son fruit.	21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
22 Trouver une femme, c'est trouver le bonheur, c'est obtenir une faveur de Yahvé.	22 He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.
23 Le pauvre parle en suppliant, le riche répond durement.	23 The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.
24 Il y a des amis qui mènent à la ruine, il y en a qui sont plus chers qu'un frère.	24 A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.