Proverbs 21
1 Yahweh controls what kings do [MTY] [like] he controls how streams flow; he causes kings to do just what he wants them to do.
Le cœur du roi est un courant d’eau dans la main de l’Éternel; Il l’incline partout où il veut.
2 People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
Toutes les voies de l’homme sont droites à ses yeux; Mais celui qui pèse les cœurs, c’est l’Éternel.
3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
La pratique de la justice et de l’équité, Voilà ce que l’Éternel préfère aux sacrifices.
4 Being proud and arrogant [DOU] is [like] a lamp [MTY] [that guides] wicked people; being proud and arrogant characterizes (wicked people’s whole behavior/everything that wicked people do).
Des regards hautains et un cœur qui s’enfle, Cette lampe des méchants, ce n’est que péché.
5 People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
Les projets de l’homme diligent ne mènent qu’à l’abondance, Mais celui qui agit avec précipitation n’arrive qu’à la disette.
6 Money that people acquire [by cheating others] by lying [MTY] to them will soon disappear [like] a mist, and doing that will [soon] lead to their death.
Des trésors acquis par une langue mensongère Sont une vanité fugitive et l’avant-coureur de la mort.
7 Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.
La violence des méchants les emporte, Parce qu’ils refusent de faire ce qui est juste.
8 Guilty [people continually do what is evil; it is as though] [MET] they are walking on a crooked road; but righteous/innocent people [always] do what is right.
Le coupable suit des voies détournées, Mais l’innocent agit avec droiture.
9 It is better to live in the corner of an attic/housetop [by yourself] than to live inside the house with a wife who is always nagging.
Mieux vaut habiter à l’angle d’un toit, Que de partager la demeure d’une femme querelleuse.
10 Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
L’âme du méchant désire le mal; Son ami ne trouve pas grâce à ses yeux.
11 When those who ridicule [others] are punished, [even] those who do not have good sense [see that, and] they become wise, and when those who are wise are taught, they become wiser.
Quand on châtie le moqueur, le sot devient sage; Et quand on instruit le sage, il accueille la science.
12 [God], the one [who is completely] righteous, knows [what happens inside] the houses of wicked [people], and [he will cause] those people to be completely ruined/destroyed.
Le juste considère la maison du méchant; L’Éternel précipite les méchants dans le malheur.
13 There are people who refuse to listen when poor people cry out [for help]; [but some day] they themselves will cry out [for help], and no one will hear them.
Celui qui ferme son oreille au cri du pauvre Criera lui-même et n’aura point de réponse.
14 When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
Un don fait en secret apaise la colère, Et un présent fait en cachette calme une fureur violente.
15 Good/Righteous [people] are happy when they [see others do] what is just/fair, but those who do what is evil are terrified [when they think about what may happen to them].
C’est une joie pour le juste de pratiquer la justice, Mais la ruine est pour ceux qui font le mal.
16 Those who stop behaving like those who have good sense behave will [soon] discover that they have gone to the place where dead people are.
L’homme qui s’écarte du chemin de la sagesse Reposera dans l’assemblée des morts.
17 Those who spend their money to buy (things that give them pleasure/things that cause them to feel happy) will become poor; those who love [to spend money to buy] wine and nice/fancy food [MTY] will never become rich.
Celui qui aime la joie reste dans l’indigence; Celui qui aime le vin et l’huile ne s’enrichit pas.
18 Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
Le méchant sert de rançon pour le juste, Et le perfide pour les hommes droits.
19 It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
Mieux vaut habiter dans une terre déserte, Qu’avec une femme querelleuse et irritable.
20 Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
De précieux trésors et de l’huile sont dans la demeure du sage; Mais l’homme insensé les engloutit.
21 Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
Celui qui poursuit la justice et la bonté Trouve la vie, la justice et la gloire.
22 A wise army commander [helps his troops] climb over a wall [to attack] a city that is defended by a strong army, with the result that they are able to (get over/destroy) the high walls that their enemies trusted [would protect them].
Le sage monte dans la ville des héros, Et il abat la force qui lui donnait de l’assurance.
23 Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
Celui qui veille sur sa bouche et sur sa langue Préserve son âme des angoisses.
24 Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
L’orgueilleux, le hautain, s’appelle un moqueur; Il agit avec la fureur de l’arrogance.
25 Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
Les désirs du paresseux le tuent, Parce que ses mains refusent de travailler;
26 All during the day [wicked people] desire to obtain things, but righteous [people] have plenty, [with the result that] they [are able to] give things generously to others.
Tout le jour il éprouve des désirs; Mais le juste donne sans parcimonie.
27 [Yahweh] detests the sacrifices that wicked [people] offer [to him]; [but he] detests it even more when they [think that they will escape being punished for] their evil deeds because of the sacrifices that they bring.
Le sacrifice des méchants est quelque chose d’abominable; Combien plus quand ils l’offrent avec des pensées criminelles!
28 Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
Le témoin menteur périra, Mais l’homme qui écoute parlera toujours.
29 Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
Le méchant prend un air effronté, Mais l’homme droit affermit sa voie.
30 [Thinking that we are] wise, and that we understand many things, and that we have good insight, does not help us if Yahweh is (acting against/not pleased with) us.
Il n’y a ni sagesse, ni intelligence, Ni conseil, en face de l’Éternel.
31 We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
Le cheval est équipé pour le jour de la bataille, Mais la délivrance appartient à l’Éternel.
