Proverbs 20
1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
Le vin est déréglé, et l'ivresse insolente; l'insensé se laisse prendre dans leurs filets;
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
La menace d'un roi ne diffère point de la colère du lion; celui qui le provoque pèche contre sa propre vie.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
C'est une gloire pour un homme de se détourner des contestations; au contraire, le fou s'y laisse prendre.
4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
Le paresseux, quand on le blâme, n'en a point honte; il en est de même de celui qui emprunte du blé à usure pendant la moisson.
5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Le conseil dans le cœur de l'homme est une eau profonde; l'homme prudent y saura puiser.
6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
Un homme est une grande chose; un homme miséricordieux est un trésor; mais un homme fidèle est difficile à trouver.
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
L'homme irréprochable qui se tourne vers la justice laissera ses enfants heureux.
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
Lorsqu'un roi juste s'est assis sur son trône, nul mal ne résiste à ses regards.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Qui peut se vanter d'avoir le cœur chaste? Qui osera dire: Je suis pur de tout péché?
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Avoir deux poids et deux mesures, et en faire usage: deux choses infâmes devant le Seigneur.
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
Le jeune homme en compagnie d'un saint sera réservé dans ses mœurs, et sa voie sera droite.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
L'oreille entend, et l'œil voit; l'un et l'autre sont l'œuvre du Seigneur.
13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
Ne te plais pas à médire, si tu ne veux être chassé. Ouvre les yeux, et rassasie-toi de pain.
14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
La lampe de celui qui décrie son père ou sa mère s'éteindra; les prunelles de ses yeux verront les ténèbres.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
Le bien acquis tout d'abord à la hâte, à la fin ne sera pas béni.
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Garde-toi de dire: Je me vengerai de mon ennemi; mais attends le Seigneur, afin qu'Il te seconde.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
Le double poids est en abomination au Seigneur, et les fausses balances ne sont point bonnes à Ses yeux.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
La marche d'un homme est maintenue droite par le Seigneur; car comment un mortel discernerait-il ses voies?
25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
L'homme tombe dans un piège, quand il se hâte trop de consacrer ses biens; car après le vœu vient le repentir.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
Un roi sage est le vanneur des impies, et il fait passer sur eux une roue.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
L'esprit de l'homme est une lumière du Seigneur, qui éclaire jusqu'au fonds des entrailles.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
La miséricorde et la vérité sont la garde du roi, et avec la justice elles font cercle autour de son trône.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
L'ornement des jeunes gens c'est la sagesse; la parure des vieillards, ce sont leurs cheveux qui grisonnent.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
Les confusions et les blessures sont le partage des méchants; ils ont des plaies jusqu'au fond des entrailles.
