1 Le vin rend moqueur, l’alcool excite: celui qui s’y adonne ne sera pas un sage. | 1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise. |
2 La colère du roi est comme le rugissement du lion; qui la provoque risque sa vie. | 2 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul. |
3 C’est la gloire d’un homme que d’éviter les disputes, ceux qui s’emportent sont les sots. | 3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations. |
4 Le paresseux n’a pas labouré à l’automne; l’été venu il pourra chercher: rien! | 4 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him. |
5 Les desseins qu’on porte en soi sont une eau profonde, qui est intelligent saura y puiser. | 5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out. |
6 De beaucoup de gens on dit qu’ils sont bons, mais qui trouvera un homme sûr? | 6 Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man? |
7 Le juste mène une vie irréprochable; heureux ses fils après lui! | 7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons. |
8 Quand le roi siège à son tribunal, il discerne aussitôt tout ce qui est mal. | 8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze. |
9 Qui peut dire: mon cœur est pur, je suis net de tout péché? | 9 Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?” |
10 Deux poids et deux mesures: double abomination pour Yahvé! | 10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God. |
11 Par ses actes le jeune garçon montre déjà si sa conduite sera juste et droite. | 11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright. |
12 L’oreille qui entend, l’œil qui voit, Yahvé les a faits l’un et l’autre. | 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both. |
13 Ne t’habitue pas à somnoler, la pauvreté viendrait; garde les yeux ouverts et tu auras du pain en abondance. | 13 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread. |
14 “Mauvaise affaire, mauvaise affaire!” dit l’acheteur, mais il s’en va content de lui. | 14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast. |
15 Il y a l’or, il y a bien des perles, mais la chose la plus précieuse, c’est le savoir. | 15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel. |
16 Prends-lui son vêtement puisqu’il s’est porté garant d’un autre; fais-le payer pour un étranger! | 16 Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders. |
17 Le pain mangé en fraude est savoureux, mais on se retrouve la bouche pleine de gravier. | 17 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles. |
18 Les projets prennent corps grâce à la réflexion; calcule bien lorsque tu fais la guerre. | 18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments. |
19 Qui parle de trop trahit les secrets: méfie-toi du bavard! | 19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips. |
20 Qui maudit son père et sa mère, sa lampe s’éteindra au milieu des ténèbres. | 20 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness. |
21 Des biens qu’on a tout de suite acquis ne vont pas prospérer dans la suite. | 21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing. |
22 Ne dis pas: “Je me vengerai!”, fais confiance à Yahvé pour te délivrer. | 22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you. |
23 Un poids pour acheter, un autre pour vendre: Yahvé les a en horreur! On ne doit pas fausser la balance. | 23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good. |
24 C’est Yahvé qui dirige les pas de l’homme; qui sait où son chemin le mène? | 24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way? |
25 Il est dangereux de faire trop vite une promesse: “Ceci est pour Yahvé!” et de ne réfléchir qu’ensuite. | 25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them. |
26 Un roi sage passe les méchants au crible, il leur fait sentir le poids de sa justice. | 26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them. |
27 L’esprit en nous est la lampe de Yahvé: il fouille les recoins de notre intérieur. | 27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self. |
28 Fidélité et loyauté gardent le roi; c’est la bienveillance qui affermit son pouvoir. | 28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency. |
29 La force fait la fierté des jeunes, les cheveux blancs sont l’honneur des vieillards. | 29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs. |
30 La blessure qui saigne évite l’infection; les coups guérissent le mal intérieur. | 30 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self. |