1 Un fils sage écoute les avis de son père, le railleur ne tient pas compte des reproches. | 1 A wise son is the doctrine of his father. But he who ridicules does not listen when he is reproved. |
2 Chacun récolte le fruit de ses décisions: tu goûteras au bonheur, pendant que l’impie sera rassasié de violence. | 2 From the fruit of his own month, a man shall be satisfied with good things. But the soul of betrayers is iniquity. |
3 Qui surveille ses paroles aura longue vie, qui parle sans arrêt, ce sera sa ruine. | 3 Whoever guards his mouth guards his soul. But whoever gives no consideration to his speech shall experience misfortunes. |
4 Si l’on en reste à désirer, rien ne vient: ce sont les actifs qui s’engraissent. | 4 The lazy one is willing and then not willing. But the soul of he who labors shall be made fat. |
5 L’homme droit a horreur du mensonge, c’est le méchant qui salit et calomnie. | 5 The just shall detest a lying word. But the impious confound and will be confounded. |
6 La droiture se charge de protéger l’homme droit; la méchanceté mène le méchant à sa perte. | 6 Justice guards the way of the innocent. But impiety undermines the sinner. |
7 Tel fait le riche mais il n’a rien, tel fait le pauvre et il a de grands biens. | 7 One is like the rich, though he has nothing. And another is like the poor, though he has many riches. |
8 Le riche paie la rançon qui le sauve, mais le pauvre ne se sent pas menacé. | 8 The redemption of a man’s life is his riches. But he who is poor cannot tolerate correction. |
9 La lumière des justes brille, tandis que s’éteint la lampe des méchants. | 9 The light of the just enriches. But the lamp of the impious will be extinguished. |
10 L’arrogance ne rapporte que des disputes, il est plus sage de se laisser conseiller. | 10 Among the arrogant, there are always conflicts. But those who do everything with counsel are ruled by wisdom. |
11 Fortune vite acquise ne tient pas, qui la gère à son rythme l’augmente. | 11 Substance obtained in haste will be diminished. But what is collected by hand, little by little, shall be multiplied. |
12 L’espoir différé décourage, le désir comblé est un arbre de vie. | 12 Hope, when it is delayed, afflicts the soul. The arrival of the desired is a tree of life. |
13 Qui méprise les avertissements se perdra, qui observe le commandement sera récompensé. | 13 Whoever denounces something obligates himself for the future. But whoever fears a lesson shall turn away in peace. Deceitful souls wander into sins. The just are merciful and compassionate. |
14 L’enseignement du sage est source de vie, il fait échapper aux pièges de la mort. | 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, so that he may turn aside from the ruin of death. |
15 Qui agit avec bon sens sera apprécié, le chemin des traîtres ne mène nulle part. | 15 Good doctrine bestows grace. In the way of the contemptuous, there is a chasm. |
16 L’homme avisé agit à bon escient, l’insensé étale sa folie. | 16 The discerning do everything with counsel. But whoever is senseless discloses his stupidity. |
17 Un messager trompeur prépare un échec, un messager fidèle donne le réconfort. | 17 The messenger of the impious will fall into evil. But a faithful ambassador shall prosper. |
18 Misère et honte pour celui qui rejette les avis; qui observe la remontrance se fera estimer. | 18 Destitution and disgrace are for those who abandon discipline. But whoever agrees with a reproof shall be glorified. |
19 C’est toujours agréable d’avoir ce qu’on désire; les sots ne veulent pas renoncer au mal. | 19 The desired, when perfected, shall delight the soul. The foolish detest those who flee from evils. |
20 Qui va avec les sages devient sage, qui fréquente les insensés se pervertit. | 20 Whoever keeps step with the wise shall be wise. A friend of the foolish will become like them. |
21 Le malheur poursuit les pécheurs, le bonheur viendra récompenser les justes. | 21 Evil pursues sinners. And good things shall be distributed to the just. |
22 Les bons laissent à leurs enfants et petits-enfants leur héritage; la fortune des pécheurs est réservée au juste. | 22 The good leave behind heirs: children and grandchildren. And the substance of the sinner is preserved for the just. |
23 Le champ que travaille le pauvre lui donne bien à manger; un autre dépérit faute de justice. | 23 Much nourishment is in the fallow land of the fathers. But for others, it is gathered without judgment. |
24 Ne pas user du fouet, c’est ne pas aimer son fils: celui qui l’aime n’attend pas pour le corriger. | 24 He who spares the rod hates his son. But he who loves him urgently instructs him. |
25 Le juste mange à son appétit; le ventre des méchants crie famine. | 25 The just eats and fills his soul. But the belly of the impious is never satisfied. |