1 Il y a des reproches inopportuns, il peut être sage de se taire. | 1 How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer. |
2 Il vaut mieux faire une remarque que ruminer sa colère. | 2 The lust of an eunuch shall devour a young maiden: |
3 Qui avoue ses torts en évite les conséquences. | 3 So is he that by violence executeth unjust judgment. |
4 Comme un impuissant qui voudrait violer une fille, tel est celui qui veut établir la justice par la violence. | 4 How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin. |
5 L’un se tait et on le tient pour sage, l’autre ne fait que parler et se rend odieux. | 5 There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech. |
6 L’un se tait n’ayant rien à répondre, l’autre se tait parce qu’il attend le moment. | 6 There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time. |
7 L’homme sage se tait jusqu’au bon moment, le vantard et l’insensé parlent à contre-temps. | 7 A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time. |
8 Celui qui parle trop se fait détester, celui qui s’impose se fait haïr. | 8 He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated. |
9 Il y a des malheurs qui se changent en bien, il y a des aubaines qui tournent mal. | 9 There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss. |
10 Il y a des générosités qui ne te seront d’aucun profit, il y en a d’autres qui te rapporteront le double. | 10 There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the recompense of which is double. |
11 L’un est abaissé parce qu’il a été honoré, un autre relève la tête après avoir été abaissé. | 11 There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that shall lift up his head from a low estate. |
12 L’un achète beaucoup de choses avec peu d’argent, un autre les paye sept fois trop cher. | 12 There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the same sevenfold. |
13 Le sage se fait aimer rien que par ses paroles, pendant que les générosités du sot sont en pure perte. | 13 A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out. |
14 Le cadeau d’un insensé ne te sert à rien, car il en attend du profit. | 14 The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold. |
15 Il donne peu et te demande beaucoup, il le crie à la cantonade; il prête aujourd’hui, demain il te le réclame: quel homme odieux! | 15 He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire. |
16 L’insensé dit: “Je n’ai pas d’amis, personne ne reconnaît mes bienfaits!” | 16 To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a man as this is hateful. |
17 Mais ceux qui mangent son pain sont des mauvaises langues: combien d’entre eux se moqueront de lui! Et ils recommenceront. | 17 A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his good deeds. |
18 Il vaut mieux se retrouver par terre à cause d’une pierre que pour ce qu’on a dit; la chute des méchants ne manquera pas d’arriver. | 18 For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn! |
19 Une personne désagréable, c’est une histoire bête que des gens mal élevés racontent hors de propos. | 19 For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had. |
20 Une parole sage ne vaut rien dans la bouche du sot, car il ne la dit jamais quand il faudrait. | 20 The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily. |
21 Il y en a qui ne pèchent pas par manque de moyens: si l’occasion se présente, ils n’auront aucun remords. | 21 A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually in the mouth of the unwise. |
22 Un autre se perd par fausse honte: il suffit qu’un homme sans conscience soit là pour qu’il se perde. | 22 A parable coming out, of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he doth not speak it in due season. |
23 Par fausse honte, il ne pense qu’à gagner son amitié: c’est un ennemi, en fait, qu’il a gagné sans profit. | 23 There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his rest he shall be pricked. |
24 Le mensonge est chez les humains une salissure morale; les gens mal élevés en sont les habitués. | 24 There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself. |
25 Mieux vaut un voleur qu’un menteur invétéré, mais tous deux vont à leur perte. | 25 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing. |
26 L’habitude de mentir discrédite quelqu’un, c’est une honte qui ne le lâchera pas. | 26 A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in the mouth of men without discipline. |
27 Le sage avance grâce à ses paroles: l’homme de bon sens plaît aux grands. | 27 A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of them shall inherit destruction. |
28 Celui qui cultive la terre augmente ses revenus, celui qui plaît aux grands fait oublier ses injustices. | 28 The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion is with them without ceasing. |
29 Les présents et les cadeaux aveuglent les yeux des sages, C’est un bâillon qui empêche les reproches de sortir de leur bouche. | 29 A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent man shall please the great ones. |
30 Sagesse cachée, trésor invisible: à quoi l’un et l’autre servent-ils? | 30 He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity. |
31 Mieux vaut être sot et le cacher, qu’être sage et cacher sa sagesse. | 31 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct. |
| 32 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit is there in them both? |
| 33 Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his wisdom. |