1 Qui vit à l'écart suit son bon plaisir, contre tout conseil il s'emporte.
| 1 Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times. |
2 Le sot ne prend pas plaisir à être intelligent, mais à étaler son sentiment.
| 2 The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart. |
3 Quand vient la méchanceté, vient aussi l'affront, avec le mépris, l'opprobre.
| 3 The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him. |
4 Des eaux profondes, voilà les paroles de l'homme: un torrent débordant, une source de sagesse.
| 4 Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing. |
5 Il n'est pas bon de favoriser le méchant, pour débouter le juste dans un jugement.
| 5 It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment. |
6 Les lèvres du sot vont au procès et sa bouche appelle les coups.
| 6 The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts. |
7 La bouche du sot est sa ruine et ses lèvres un piège pour sa vie.
| 7 The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul. |
8 Les dires du calomniateur sont de friands morceaux qui descendent jusqu'au fond des entrailles.
| 8 The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry. |
9 Quiconque est paresseux à l'ouvrage, celui-là est frère du destructeur.
| 9 Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works. |
10 Une tour forte: le nom de Yahvé! le juste y accourt et il est hors d'atteinte.
| 10 The name of the Lord is very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted. |
11 La fortune du riche, voilà sa place forte: c'est une haute muraille, pense-t-il.
| 11 The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him. |
12 Avant la ruine, le coeur humain s'élève, avant la gloire, il y a l'humilité.
| 12 The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified. |
13 Qui riposte avant d'écouter, c'est pour lui folie et confusion.
| 13 Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion. |
14 L'esprit de l'homme peut endurer la maladie, mais l'esprit abattu, qui le relèvera?
| 14 The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered? |
15 Coeur intelligent acquiert la science, l'oreille des sages recherche le savoir.
| 15 A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine. |
16 Le don que fait un homme lui ouvre la voie et le met en présence des grands.
| 16 A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders. |
17 On donne raison au premier qui plaide, que survienne un adversaire, il le démasque.
| 17 The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him. |
18 Le sort met fin aux querelles et décide entre les puissants.
| 18 Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful. |
19 Un frère offensé est pire qu'une ville fortifiée et les querelles sont comme les verrous d'undonjon.
| 19 A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities. |
20 Du fruit de sa bouche l'homme rassasie son estomac, du produit de ses lèvres il se rassasie.
| 20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him. |
21 Mort et vie sont au pouvoir de la langue, ceux qui la chérissent mangeront de son fruit.
| 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits. |
22 Trouver une femme, c'est trouver le bonheur, c'est obtenir une faveur de Yahvé.
| 22 He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious. |
23 Le pauvre parle en suppliant, le riche répond durement.
| 23 The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly. |
24 Il y a des amis qui mènent à la ruine, il y en a qui sont plus chers qu'un frère.
| 24 A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother. |