Proverbes 20
1 Le vin est moqueur, la boisson forte est tumultueuse, et quiconque s’y égare n’est pas sage.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 La terreur du roi est comme le rugissement d’un jeune lion: qui l’irrite, pèche contre sa propre âme.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 C’est la gloire d’un homme que de s’abstenir des contestations, mais chaque fou s’y engage.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 À cause de l’hiver, le paresseux ne laboure pas; lors de la moisson, il mendiera et n’aura rien.
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.
5 Le conseil dans le cœur d’un homme est une eau profonde, et l’homme intelligent y puise.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Nombre d’hommes proclament chacun sa bonté; mais un homme fidèle, qui le trouvera?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Le juste marche dans son intégrité; heureux ses fils après lui!
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Le roi siège sur le trône du jugement; il dissipe tout mal par son regard.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Qui dira: J’ai purifié mon cœur, je suis net de mon péché?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Poids et poids, épha et épha, sont tous deux en abomination à l’Éternel.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Même un jeune garçon se fait connaître par ses actions, si sa conduite est pure et si elle est droite.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Et l’oreille qui entend et l’œil qui voit, l’Éternel les a faits tous les deux.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 N’aime pas le sommeil, de peur que tu ne deviennes pauvre; ouvre tes yeux, [et] rassasie-toi de pain.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Mauvais, mauvais! dit l’acheteur; puis il s’en va et se vante.
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 Il y a de l’or et beaucoup de rubis; mais les lèvres de la connaissance sont un vase précieux.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Prends son vêtement, car il a cautionné autrui; et prends de lui un gage, à cause des étrangers.
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 Le pain du mensonge est agréable à l’homme; mais ensuite, sa bouche est pleine de gravier.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Les plans s’affermissent par le conseil; et fais la guerre avec prudence.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Qui va rapportant révèle le secret; aussi ne te mêle pas avec le bavard.
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 Qui maudit son père et sa mère, – sa lampe s’éteindra au sein des ténèbres.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 L’héritage acquis avec hâte au commencement, ne sera pas béni à la fin.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Ne dis point: Je rendrai le mal. Attends-toi à l’Éternel, et il te sauvera.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Poids et poids est en abomination à l’Éternel, et la fausse balance n’est pas une chose bonne.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Les pas de l’homme viennent de l’Éternel; et comment un homme comprendrait-il sa propre voie?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 C’est un piège pour l’homme que de dire précipitamment: Chose sainte! – et, après des vœux, d’examiner.
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.
26 Un roi sage disperse les méchants, et ramène sur eux la roue.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 L’esprit de l’homme est une lampe de l’Éternel; il sonde toutes les profondeurs du cœur.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 La bonté et la vérité préservent le roi, et il soutient son trône par la bonté.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 L’ornement des jeunes gens, c’est leur force; et la gloire des vieillards, ce sont les cheveux blancs.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Les meurtrissures [et] les plaies nettoient le mal, et les coups, les profondeurs de l’âme.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
