Proverbes 31
1 Paroles du roi Lemuel, l’oracle que sa mère lui enseigna:
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 Quoi, mon fils? et quoi, fils de mon ventre? et quoi, fils de mes vœux?
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Ne donne point ta force aux femmes, ni tes voies à celles qui perdent les rois.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 Ce n’est point aux rois, Lemuel, ce n’est point aux rois de boire du vin, ni aux grands [de dire]: Où sont les boissons fortes?
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 de peur qu’ils ne boivent, et n’oublient le statut, et ne fassent fléchir le jugement de tous les fils de l’affliction.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Donnez de la boisson forte à celui qui va périr, et du vin à ceux qui ont l’amertume dans le cœur:
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 qu’il boive et qu’il oublie sa pauvreté, et ne se souvienne plus de ses peines.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Ouvre ta bouche pour le muet, pour la cause de tous les délaissés.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Ouvre ta bouche, juge avec justice, et fais droit à l’affligé et au pauvre.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Une femme vertueuse! Qui la trouvera? Car son prix est bien au-delà des rubis.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Le cœur de son mari se confie en elle, et il ne manquera point de butin.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 Elle lui fait du bien et non du mal, tous les jours de sa vie.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 Elle cherche de la laine et du lin, et travaille de ses mains avec joie.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 Elle est comme les navires d’un marchand, elle amène son pain de loin.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 Elle se lève quand il est encore nuit, et elle donne la nourriture à sa maison, et la tâche à ses servantes.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 Elle pense à un champ, et elle l’acquiert; du fruit de ses mains elle plante une vigne.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 Elle ceint ses reins de force, et fortifie ses bras.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 Elle éprouve que son trafic est bon; de nuit sa lampe ne s’éteint pas.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 Elle met la main à la quenouille, et ses doigts tiennent le fuseau.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 Elle étend sa main vers l’affligé, et tend ses mains au nécessiteux.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 Elle ne craint pas la neige pour sa maison, car toute sa maison est vêtue d’écarlate.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 Elle se fait des tapis; le fin coton et la pourpre sont ses vêtements.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Son mari est connu dans les portes quand il s’assied avec les anciens du pays.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 Elle fait des chemises, et les vend; et elle livre des ceintures au marchand.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Elle est vêtue de force et de dignité, et elle se rit du jour à venir.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 Elle ouvre sa bouche avec sagesse, et la loi de la bonté est sur sa langue.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 Elle surveille les voies de sa maison, et ne mange pas le pain de paresse.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Ses fils se lèvent et la disent bienheureuse, son mari [aussi], et il la loue:
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 Plusieurs filles ont agi vertueusement; mais toi, tu les surpasses toutes!
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 La grâce est trompeuse, et la beauté est vanité; la femme qui craint l’Éternel, c’est elle qui sera louée.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Donnez-lui du fruit de ses mains, et qu’aux portes ses œuvres la louent.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
