Proverbs 18
1 Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
L'homme qui veut rompre avec ses amis cherche des prétextes, et en tout temps il sera digne de blâme.
2 Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
Celui qui manque de sens n'a que faire de la sagesse; il est plutôt conduit par la folie.
3 Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
Lorsque l'impie est tombé en un abîme de fautes, il n'en tient compte; mais la honte et les ignominies lui arrivent.
4 What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
La parole dans le cœur de l'homme est une eau profonde; un fleuve en jaillit, et une fontaine de vie.
5 It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
Il n'est pas bien d'avoir égard à la parole de l'impie; se détourner de l'équité dans la jeunesse est une impiété.
6 When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
Les lèvres de l'insensé le mènent à mal, et sa bouche hardie appelle la mort.
7 What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
La bouche de l'insensé est sa ruine; ses lèvres sont un piège pour son âme.
8 [People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
La crainte abat les paresseux; les âmes des efféminés sont toujours affamées.
9 People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
Qui n'a point d'ardeur en ses travaux est frère de celui qui se détruit lui-même.
10 Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
Le Nom du Seigneur est d'une force toute-puissante; les justes qui courent à Lui sont glorifiés.
11 Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
Les biens du riche sont une forteresse; sa gloire projette au loin de l'ombre.
12 Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
Le cœur de l'homme s'exalte avant d'être brisé; ils s'humilie avant d'être glorifié.
13 Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
Répondre avant d'avoir entendu, c'est insensé et blâmable.
14 A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
Un serviteur prudent apaise la colère de l'homme; qui peut supporter un homme pusillanime?
15 Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
Le cœur de l'homme sensé possède la doctrine; les oreilles du sage cherchent l'intelligence.
16 If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
Les présents que fait un homme le grandissent et le font siéger parmi les puissants.
17 The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
Le juste s'accuse le premier; mais s'il est ensuite attaqué, c'est son adversaire qu'on blâme.
18 If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
L'homme silencieux apaise les contradictions; il juge entre les puissants.
19 If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
Un frère, soutenu par son frère, est comme une puissante et haute cité; il est fort comme un palais solidement bâti.
20 People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
L'homme remplit ses entrailles des fruits de sa bouche, et se rassasiera du fruit de ses lèvres.
21 What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
La mort et la vie sont au pouvoir de la langue; ceux qui la maîtrisent mangeront ses fruits.
22 If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
Celui qui a trouvé une femme bonne a trouvé des grâces; il a reçu de Dieu l'allégresse. Celui qui répudie une femme bonne répudie une bonne fortune; celui qui garde une adultère est impie et insensé.
23 [It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
24 There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
