Livre des Proverbes 25

JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Voici encore des proverbes de Salomon, que transcrivirent les gens d'Ezéchias, roi de Juda.	1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 C'est la gloire de Dieu de celer une chose, c'est la gloire des rois de la scruter.	2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 Les cieux, par leur hauteur, la terre, par sa profondeur, et le coeur des rois sont insondables.	3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Ote de l'argent les scories, il en sortira totalement purifié;	4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 ôte le méchant de la présence du roi, et sur la justice s'affermira son trône.	5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 En face du roi, ne prends pas de grands airs, ne te mets à la place des grands;	6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
7 car mieux vaut qu'on te dise: "Monte ici!" que d'être abaissé en présence du prince. Ce que tesyeux ont vu,	7 For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 ne le produis pas trop vite au procès, car que feras-tu à la fin si ton prochain te confond?	8 The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Avec ton prochain vide ta querelle, mais sans révéler le secret d'autrui,	9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 de crainte que celui qui entend ne te bafoue et que ta diffamation soit sans retour.	10 lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 Des pommes d'or avec des ciselures d'argent, telle est une parole dite à propos.	11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 Un anneau d'or, un joyau d'or fin, telle une sage réprimande à l'oreille attentive.	12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
13 La fraîcheur de la neige au jour de la moisson, tel est un messager fidèle: il réconforte l'âme deson maître.	13 Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 Nuages et vent, mais point de pluie! tel est l'homme qui promet royalement, mais ne tient pas.	14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 Par la patience un juge se laisse fléchir, la langue douce broie les os.	15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 As-tu trouvé du miel? Manges-en à ta faim; garde-toi de t'en gorger, tu le vomirais.	16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Dans la maison du prochain, fais-toi rare, de crainte que, fatigué de toi, il ne te prenne engrippe.	17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 Une massue, une épée, une flèche aiguë: tel est l'homme qui porte un faux témoignage contreson prochain.	18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Dent gâtée, pied boiteux: le traître en qui l'on se confie au jour du malheur,	19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 autant ôter son manteau par un temps glacial. C'est mettre du vinaigre sur du nitre que dechanter des chansons à un coeur affligé.	20 and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.
21 Si ton ennemi a faim, donne-lui à manger, s'il a soif, donne-lui à boire,	21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 c'est amasser des charbons sur sa tête et Yahvé te le revaudra.	22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 L'aquilon engendre la pluie, la langue dissimulatrice un visage irrité.	23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 Mieux vaut habiter à l'angle d'un toit que faire maison commune avec une femme querelleuse.	24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 De l'eau fraîche pour une gorge altérée: telle est une bonne nouvelle venant d'un pays lointain.	25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 Fontaine piétinée, source souillée: tel est un juste tremblant devant un méchant.	26 The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 Il n'est pas bon de manger trop de miel, ni de rechercher gloire sur gloire.	27 Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 Ville ouverte, sans remparts: tel un homme qui ne se possède pas.	28 Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.