1 Le paresseux est semblable à une pierre crottée, tout le monde le persifle. | 1 The lazy man is pelted with a dirty stone, and all will speak about his rejection. |
2 Le paresseux est semblable à une poignée d'ordures, quiconque le touche secoue la main. | 2 The lazy man is pelted with the dung of oxen, and all who touch him will brush off their hands. |
3 C'est la honte d'un père que d'avoir donné le jour à un fils mal élevé, mais une fille naît poursa confusion. | 3 An undisciplined son is the shame of his father, but an undisciplined daughter will be to his degradation. |
4 Une fille sensée trouvera un mari, mais la fille indigne est le chagrin de celui qui l'aengendrée. | 4 A prudent daughter brings an inheritance to her husband. But she who causes shame will be a disgrace to him who conceived her. |
5 Une fille éhontée déshonore son père et son mari, l'un et l'autre la renient. | 5 She who is bold shames her father and her husband, and she will not be less offensive to the impious. For she will be held in dishonor by both. |
6 Remontrances inopportunes: musique en un jour de deuil; coups de fouet et correction, voilàen tout temps la sagesse. | 6 An untimely explanation is like music in a time of mourning. But the sharp correction and doctrine of wisdom are ever timely. |
| 7 Whoever teaches the foolish is like someone who glues together a broken pot. |
| 8 Whoever explains a word to one who is not listening is like someone who suddenly awakens a sleeping person from a deep sleep. |
9 C'est recoller des tessons que d'enseigner un sot, c'est réveiller un homme abruti desommeil. | 9 Whoever explains wisdom to the senseless is like one speaking to a sleeping person. And at the end of the explanation, he says: “Who is this?” |
10 Raisonner un sot c'est raisonner un homme assoupi, à la fin il dira: "De quoi s'agit-il?" | 10 Weep over the dead, for his light has failed. And weep over the foolish, for his understanding has failed. |
11 Pleure un mort: il a perdu la lumière, pleure un insensé: il a perdu l'esprit; pleure plusdoucement le mort, car il a trouvé le repos, pour l'insensé la vie est plus triste que la mort. | 11 Weep only a little over the dead, for he is at rest. |
12 Pour un mort le deuil dure sept jours, pour l'insensé et l'impie, tous les jours de leur vie. | 12 But the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death. |
13 N'adresse pas de longs discours à l'insensé, ne va pas au-devant du sot, garde-toi de luipour n'avoir pas d'ennuis, pour ne pas te souiller à son contact. Ecarte-toi de lui, tu trouveras le repos, sesdivagations ne t'ennuieront pas. | 13 The mourning for the dead is seven days; but for the foolish and the impious, it is all the days of their life. |
14 Qu'y-a-t-il de plus lourd que le plomb? Comment cela s'appelle-t-il? L'insensé. | 14 You should not talk at length with the foolish, and you should not go with the senseless. |
15 Le sable, le sel, la masse de fer sont plus faciles à porter que l'insensé. | 15 Keep yourself from him, so that you may not have problems, and so that you will not be polluted by his sin. |
16 Une charpente de bois assemblée dans une construction ne se laisse pas disjoindre par untremblement de terre; un coeur résolu, après mûre réflexion, ne se laisse pas émouvoir à l'heure du danger. | 16 Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you will not be discouraged by his foolishness. |
17 Un coeur appuyé sur une sage réflexion est comme un ornement de stuc sur un mur poli. | 17 What is heavier than lead? And what else can he be called but foolish? |
18 De petits cailloux au sommet d'un mur ne résistent pas au vent: le coeur du sot effrayé parses imaginations ne peut résister à la peur. | 18 Sand, and salt, and an iron weight are each easier to bear than an imprudent man, who is both foolish and impious. |
19 En frappant l'oeil on fait couler des larmes, en frappant le coeur on fait apparaître lessentiments. | 19 A bundle of wood strapped together in the foundation of a building will not be loosened. And similar is the heart that has been strengthened by thoughtful counsel. |
20 Qui lance une pierre sur des oiseaux les fait envoler, qui fait un reproche à son ami tuel'amitié. | 20 The thoughts of one who is understanding will not be corrupted by fear in any situation. |
21 Si tu as tiré l'épée contre ton ami, ne te désespère pas: il peut revenir; | 21 Just as chaff in a high place, or a wall made of mortar without stones set within, will not continue against the face of the wind, |
22 si tu as ouvert la bouche contre ton ami, ne crains pas: une réconciliation est possible, saufle cas d'outrage, mépris, trahison d'un secret, coup perfide, car alors ton ami s'en ira. | 22 so also a timid heart, and the thoughts of the senseless, will not withstand the forcefulness of fear. |
23 Gagne la confiance de ton prochain dans sa pauvreté afin que, dans sa prospérité, tujouisses avec lui de ses biens; aux jours d'épreuve demeure-lui fidèle afin de recevoir, s'il vient à hériter, ta partde l'héritage. | 23 Despite a cowardly heart, the thoughts of the foolish will not fear any situation; yet neither will one who continues always in the precepts of God. |
24 Précédant les flammes on voit la vapeur du brasier et la fumée; ainsi, précédant le sang, lesinjures. | 24 He who jabs an eye produces tears. And he who jabs the heart produces understanding. |
25 Je n'aurai pas honte de protéger un ami et de lui je ne me cacherai pas; | 25 He who throws a stone at birds will drive them away. So also, he who accuses his friend dissolves the friendship. |
26 et s'il m'arrive du mal par lui, tous ceux qui l'apprendront se garderont de lui. | 26 But if you have drawn a sword against a friend, you should not despair; for there may be a way back. |
27 Qui mettra une garde à ma bouche et sur mes lèvres le sceau du discernement, afin que jene trébuche pas par leur fait, que ma langue ne cause pas ma perte? | 27 If you have opened a harsh mouth against a friend, you should not fear; for there may be a reconciliation. However, if there are accusations, or abuse, or arrogance, or the revealing of secrets, or a wound from deceitfulness, in all these cases, a friend will flee away. |
| 28 Hold to faithfulness with a friend in his poverty, so that you may also rejoice in his prosperity. |
| 29 In the time of his tribulation, remain faithful to him, so that you may also be an heir with him in his inheritance. |
| 30 Just as the steam from an oven, or the smoke from a fire, rises up before a flame, so also do curses and insults and threats rise up before bloodshed. |
| 31 I shall not be ashamed to greet a friend, nor shall I hide myself from his face. And if misfortunes befall me because of him, I will endure. |
| 32 Anyone who hears of this will be wary around him. |
| 33 Who will provide a keeper for my mouth, and a reliable seal over my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and so that my tongue does not destroy me? |