Proverbs 26
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
La neige n’est pas de saison en été ni la pluie au temps de la moisson: tout aussi peu les honneurs sont faits pour le sot.
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.
Comme le passereau s’enfuit à tire d’aile et comme s’envole l’hirondelle, ainsi la malédiction gratuite manque son but.
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
Le fouet pour le cheval, le licou pour l’âne, et le bâton pour l’épaule du sot.
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Ne réplique pas au sot dans le sens de son ineptie; car toi aussi serais comme lui.
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Réplique au sot selon son ineptie, sans cela il se prendrait pour un sage.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
C’Est se couper les jarrets et s’abreuver de dépit que de charger d’une mission le sot.
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.
Comme le boiteux cloche sur ses jambes, ainsi fait une maxime sur les lèvres des sots.
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
Autant fixer une pierre dans la fronde que de décerner des honneurs au 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.
Une épine qui perce la main d’un homme ivre, telle une maxime dans la bouche des sots.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
Le puissant fait tout trembler: il prend à sa solde sots et vagabonds.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
Comme le chien retourne à son vomissement, ainsi le sot rabâche ses inepties.
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
Vois-tu un homme qui se prend pour un sage. il y a plus à attendre d’un sot que de lui.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
Le paresseux s’écrie: "Il y a un chacal qui barre la route, un lion parcourt les rues!"
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
Telle la porte tourne sur ses gonds, tel le paresseux sur son lit.
15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
Le paresseux introduit sa main dans le plat: c’est trop de fatigue pour lui de la porter à sa bouche.
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
Le paresseux se targue de plus de sagesse que sept conseillers avisés:
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.
Saisir un chien par les oreilles, c’est le fait du passant qui se met en rage pour la querelle d’autrui.
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
Comme un dément qui lance des brandons, des flèches meurtrières,
19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
ainsi fait l’homme qui dupe son prochain et dit: "Mais je plaisantais!"
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
Faute de bois, le feu s’éteint, et en l’absence d’un boutefeu, les rixes s’apaisent.
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
Le charbon ardent donne la braise, le bois alimente le feu, et l’homme hargneux attise des querelles.
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
Les paroles d’un boutefeu sont comme des coups qui retentissent au plus profond des entrailles.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
De l’alliage d’argent recouvrant un vase d’argile, telles sont des lèvres brûlantes d’amitié et un cœur méchant.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
Un ennemi peut faire le sournois avec ses lèvres, et dans son intérieur il prépare de mauvais coups;
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
s’il prend une voix caressante, ne te fie pas à lui, car son cœur est plein d’horreurs.
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
La haine a beau se couvrir d’un masque: sa méchanceté éclatera au grand jour.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
Celui qui creuse une fosse y tombera; celui qui lance une pierre s’en trouvera atteint.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
La langue mensongère hait ses victimes et la bouche du flatteur opère des chutes.
