1 Paroles d'Agur, fils de Yaqé, de Massa. Oracle de cet homme pour Itéel, pour Itéel et pour Ukal.
| 1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, |
2 Oui, je suis le plus stupide des hommes, sans aucune intelligence humaine,
| 2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. |
3 je n'ai pas appris la sagesse et j'ignore la science des saints.
| 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. |
4 Qui est monté au ciel et puis en est descendu? Qui dans ses poings a recueilli le vent? Qui dansson manteau a serré les eaux? Qui a affermi toutes les extrémités de la terre? Quel est son nom? Quel est le nomde son fils, si tu le sais?
| 4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? |
5 Toute parole de Dieu est éprouvée, il est un bouclier pour qui s'abrite en lui.
| 5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. |
6 A ses discours n'ajoute rien, de crainte qu'il ne te reprenne et ne te tienne pour un menteur.
| 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. |
7 J'implore de toi deux choses, ne les refuse pas avant que je meure:
| 7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: |
8 éloigne de moi fausseté et paroles mensongères, ne me donne ni pauvreté ni richesse, laisse-moigoûter ma part de pain,
| 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: |
9 de crainte que, comblé, je ne me détourne et ne dise: "Qui est Yahvé?" Ou encore, qu'indigent, jene vole et ne profane le nom de mon Dieu.
| 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. |
10 Ne dénigre pas un esclave près de son maître, de crainte qu'il ne te maudisse et que tu n'enportes la peine.
| 10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. |
11 Engeance qui maudit son père et ne bénit pas sa mère,
| 11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. |
12 engeance pure à ses propres yeux, mais dont la souillure n'est pas effacée,
| 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. |
13 engeance aux regards altiers et aux paupières hautaines,
| 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. |
14 engeance dont les dents sont des épées, les mâchoires, des couteaux, pour dévorer les pauvreset les retrancher du pays, et les malheureux, d'entre les hommes.
| 14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. |
15 La sangsue a deux filles: "Apporte! Apporte!" Il y a trois choses insatiables et quatre qui jamaisne disent: "Assez!:"
| 15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: |
16 le shéol, le sein stérile, la terre que l'eau ne peut rassasier, le feu qui jamais ne dit: "Assez!"
| 16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. |
17 L'oeil qui nargue un père et méprise l'obéissance due à une mère, les corbeaux du torrent lecrèveront, les aigles le dévoreront.
| 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. |
18 Il est trois choses qui me dépassent et quatre que je ne connais pas:
| 18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: |
19 le chemin de l'aigle dans les cieux, le chemin du serpent sur le rocher, le chemin du vaisseau enhaute mer, le chemin de l'homme chez la jeune femme.
| 19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. |
20 Telle est la conduite de la femme adultère: elle mange, puis s'essuie la bouche en disant: "Jen'ai rien fait de mal!"
| 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. |
21 Sous trois choses tremble la terre et il en est quatre qu'elle ne peut porter:
| 21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: |
22 un esclave qui devient roi, une brute gorgée de nourriture,
| 22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; |
23 une fille odieuse qui vient à se marier, une servante qui hérite de sa maîtresse.
| 23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. |
24 Il est quatre êtres minuscules sur la terre, mais sages entre les sages:
| 24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: |
25 les fourmis, peuple chétif, mais qui, en été, assure sa provende;
| 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; |
26 les damans, peuple sans vigueur, mais qui gîtent dans les rochers;
| 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; |
27 chez les sauterelles, point de roi! mais elles marchent toutes en bon ordre;
| 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; |
28 le lézard que l'on capture à la main, mais qui hante les palais du roi.
| 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. |
29 Trois choses ont une belle allure et quatre une belle démarche:
| 29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: |
30 le lion, le plus brave des animaux, qui ne recule devant rien;
| 30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; |
31 le coq bien râblé, ou le bouc, et le roi, quand il harangue le peuple.
| 31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. |
32 Si tu fus assez sot pour t'emporter et si tu as réfléchi, mets la main sur ta bouche!
| 32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. |
33 Car en pressant le lait, on obtient le beurre, en pressant le nez, on obtient le sang, en pressant lacolère, on obtient la querelle.
| 33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. |