1 Pas plus que la neige à l'été ou la pluie à la moisson, les honneurs ne conviennent au sot.
| 1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish. |
2 Le passereau s'échappe, l'hirondelle s'envole, ainsi la malédiction gratuite n'atteint pas son but.
| 2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away. |
3 Le fouet pour le cheval, la bride pour l'âne, pour l'échine des sots, le bâton.
| 3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent. |
4 Ne répond pas à l'insensé selon sa folie, de peur de lui devenir semblable, toi aussi.
| 4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him. |
5 Réponds à l'insensé selon sa folie, de peur qu'il ne soit sage à ses propres yeux.
| 5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise. |
6 Il se mutile, il s'abreuve de violence, celui qui envoie un message par l'entremise d'un sot.
| 6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity. |
7 Mal assurées, les jambes du boiteux; ainsi un proverbe dans la bouche des sots.
| 7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish. |
8 C'est attacher la pierre à la fronde que de rendre honneur à un sot.
| 8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish. |
9 Une ronce pousse dans la main d'un ivrogne comme un proverbe dans la bouche d'un sot.
| 9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish. |
10 Un archer blessant tout le monde: tel est celui qui embauche le sot et l'ivrogne qui passent.
| 10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger. |
11 Comme le chien revient à son vomissement, le sot retourne à sa folie.
| 11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness. |
12 Tu vois un homme sage à ses propres yeux? Il y a plus à espérer d'un insensé.
| 12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him. |
13 Le paresseux dit: "Un fauve sur le chemin! un lion par les rues!"
| 13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.” |
14 La porte tourne sur ses gonds, et sur son lit le paresseux.
| 14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed. |
15 Le paresseux plonge la main dans le plat: la ramener à sa bouche le fatigue!
| 15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth. |
16 Le paresseux est plus sage à ses propres yeux que sept personnes répondant avec tact.
| 16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments. |
17 Il prend par les oreilles un chien qui passe, celui qui s'immisce dans une querelle étrangère.
| 17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another. |
18 Un homme pris de folie qui lance des traits enflammés, des flèches et la mort:
| 18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death, |
19 tel est l'homme qui ment à son compagnon, puis dit: "N'était-ce pas pour plaisanter?"
| 19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.” |
20 Faute de bois, le feu s'éteint, faute de calomniateur, la querelle s'apaise.
| 20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled. |
21 Du charbon sur les braises, du bois sur le feu, tel est l'homme querelleur pour attiser lesdisputes.
| 21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels. |
22 Les dires du calomniateur sont de friands morceaux qui descendent jusqu'au fond des entrailles.
| 22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self. |
23 De l'argent non purifié appliqué sur de l'argile: tels sont lèvres brûlantes et coeur mauvais.
| 23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart. |
24 Celui qui hait donne le change par ses propos, mais en son sein gît la tromperie;
| 24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit. |
25 s'il prend un ton cauteleux, ne t'y fie pas, car en son coeur il y a sept abominations.
| 25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart. |
26 La haine peut s'envelopper de ruse, elle révélera sa méchanceté dans l'assemblée.
| 26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly. |
27 Qui creuse une fosse y tombe, qui roule une roche, elle revient sur lui.
| 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him. |
28 La langue menteuse hait ses victimes, la bouche enjôleuse provoque la chute.
| 28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin. |