1 Le malfaiteur fuit quand personne ne le poursuit, le juste par contre va comme un lion, plein d’assurance. | 1 The wicked man flees although no one pursues him; but the just man, like a lion, feels sure of himself. |
2 Les erreurs d’un violent mettent le monde en effervescence, avec un homme intelligent le calme revient. | 2 If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many; but with a prudent man it knows security. |
3 L’homme mauvais qui exploite les pauvres est comme la pluie dévastatrice: on reste sans pain. | 3 A rich man who oppresses the poor is like a devastating rain that leaves no food. |
4 Après avoir abandonné la Loi on approuve le méchant, ceux qui observent la Loi s’indignent contre lui. | 4 Those who abandon the law praise the wicked man, but those who keep the law war against him. |
5 Les mauvais n’entendent rien à la morale, ceux qui cherchent Yahvé comprennent tout. | 5 Evil men understand nothing of justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all. |
6 Mieux vaut un pauvre qui vit honnêtement, qu’un arriviste qui s’est fait riche. | 6 Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich. |
7 Un garçon intelligent observe la Loi, celui qui fréquente les débauchés est la honte de son père. | 7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but the gluttons' companion disgraces his father. |
8 Les intérêts et l’usure lui ont permis d’arrondir sa fortune: il a amassé pour celui qui a pitié des pauvres. | 8 He who increases his wealth by interest and overcharge gathers it for him who is kind to the poor. |
9 Celui qui refuse d’écouter la Loi, même sa prière est abominable. | 9 When one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. |
10 Si quelqu’un pousse les honnêtes gens hors du chemin, c’est lui qui tombera dans le fossé. | 10 He who seduces the upright into an evil way will himself fall into his own pit. (And blameless men will gain prosperity.) |
11 L’homme riche s’imagine être sage, mais le pauvre de bon sens ne s’y trompe pas. | 11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who is intelligent sees through him. |
12 Quand les justes triomphent, la joie est grande; quand les méchants l’emportent, chacun se cache. | 12 When the just are triumphant, there is great jubilation; but when the wicked gain preeminence, people hide. |
13 Cacher ses fautes ne mène à rien, les reconnaître et y renoncer les fait pardonner. | 13 He who conceals his sins prospers not, but he who confesses and forsakes them obtains mercy. |
14 Heureux celui qui jamais ne perd la crainte: qui endurcit sa conscience tombera dans le malheur. | 14 Happy the man who is always on his guard; but he who hardens his heart will fall into evil. |
15 Un lion rugissant, un ours affamé, tel est le méchant qui domine sur le pauvre peuple. | 15 Like a roaring lion or a ravenous bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. |
16 Moins le chef est intelligent, plus il est oppresseur: qui déteste les abus restera longtemps. | 16 The less prudent the prince, the more his deeds oppress. He who hates ill-gotten gain prolongs his days. |
17 C’est un violent qui a versé le sang, ne l’arrêtez pas: jusqu’à sa mort il fuira! | 17 Though a man burdened with human blood were to flee to the grave, none should support him. |
18 Qui marche sans reproche se sauvera, qui mène un double jeu s’y perdra. | 18 He who walks uprightly is safe, but he whose ways are crooked falls into the pit. |
19 Cultive ton champ, tu auras ton content de pain; poursuis des illusions, tu auras ton compte de privations. | 19 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of food, but from idle pursuits a man has his fill of poverty. |
20 Celui qui est consciencieux, les succès ne lui feront pas défaut, celui qui veut s’enrichir vite ne saurait être innocent. | 20 The trustworthy man will be richly blessed; he who is in haste to grow rich will not go unpunished. |
21 On devrait être impartial, mais certains se vendent pour une bouchée de pain. | 21 To show partiality is never good: for even a morsel of bread a man may do wrong. |
22 L’homme intéressé court après la richesse, et il ne sait pas que la misère l’attend. | 22 The avaricious man is perturbed about his wealth, and he knows not when want will come upon him. |
23 Celui qui remet en place sera un jour plus apprécié que celui qui veut plaire. | 23 He who rebukes a man gets more thanks in the end than one with a flattering tongue. |
24 Qui prend à son père en disant: “Ce n’est pas grave!” n’est qu’un brigand parmi d’autres. | 24 He who defrauds father or mother and calls it no sin, is a partner of the brigand. |
25 L’homme cupide ne gagne que des querelles, qui met sa confiance dans Yahvé réussira. | 25 The greedy man stirs up disputes, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. |
26 Celui qui ne croit qu’à ses idées est un imbécile, qui agit avec sagesse s’en tirera. | 26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is safe. |
27 Qui donne au pauvre ne manquera de rien, qui préfère ne pas le voir aura toutes les malédictions. | 27 He who gives to the poor suffers no want, but he who ignores them gets many a curse. |
28 Quand les méchants l’emportent, chacun se cache; quand ils sont éliminés, les justes se multiplient. | 28 When the wicked gain pre-eminence, other men hide; but at their fall the just flourish. |