Proverbes 8
1 La sagesse ne crie-t-elle pas, et l’intelligence ne fait-elle pas retentir sa voix?
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 Au sommet des hauteurs, sur le chemin, aux carrefours, elle se tient debout.
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 À côté des portes, à l’entrée de la ville, là où l’on passe pour entrer, elle crie:
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 À vous, hommes, je crie, et ma voix [s’adresse] aux fils des hommes!
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 Vous, simples, comprenez la prudence, et vous, sots, comprenez ce qu’est le sens.
You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
6 Écoutez, car je dirai des choses excellentes, et l’ouverture de mes lèvres [prononcera] des choses droites;
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 car mon palais méditera la vérité, et la méchanceté sera une abomination pour mes lèvres.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Toutes les paroles de ma bouche sont selon la justice, il n’y a rien en elles de pervers ni de tortueux;
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 elles sont toutes claires pour celui qui a de l’intelligence, et droites pour ceux qui ont trouvé la connaissance.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Recevez mon instruction, et non pas de l’argent, et la connaissance plutôt que l’or fin choisi;
[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,
11 car la sagesse est meilleure que les rubis, et rien de ce qui fait nos délices ne l’égale.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 Moi, la sagesse, je demeure avec la prudence, et je trouve la connaissance [qui vient] de la réflexion.
I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.
13 La crainte de l’Éternel, c’est de haïr le mal. Je hais l’orgueil et la hauteur, et la voie d’iniquité, et la bouche perverse.
[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].
14 À moi le conseil et le savoir-faire; je suis l’intelligence; à moi la force.
I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.
15 Par moi les rois règnent, et les princes statuent la justice.
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 Par moi les chefs dominent, et les nobles, tous les juges de la terre.
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 J’aime ceux qui m’aiment; et ceux qui me recherchent me trouveront.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Avec moi sont les richesses et les honneurs, les biens éclatants et la justice.
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 Mon fruit est meilleur que l’or fin, même que l’or pur; et mon revenu [meilleur] que l’argent choisi.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 Je marche dans le chemin de la justice, au milieu des sentiers de juste jugement,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 pour faire hériter les biens réels à ceux qui m’aiment, et pour remplir leurs trésors.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 L’Éternel m’a possédée au commencement de sa voie, avant ses œuvres d’ancienneté.
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 Dès l’éternité je fus établie, dès le commencement, dès avant les origines de la terre.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 Quand il n’y avait pas d’abîmes, j’ai été enfantée, quand il n’y avait pas de sources pleines d’eaux.
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 Avant que les montagnes soient établies sur leurs bases, avant les collines, j’ai été enfantée,
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 lorsqu’il n’avait pas encore fait la terre et les campagnes, et le commencement de la poussière du monde.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Quand il disposait les cieux, j’étais là; quand il ordonnait le cercle qui circonscrit la face de l’abîme,
I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.
28 quand il établissait les nuées en haut, quand il affermissait les sources des abîmes,
I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.
29 quand il imposait son décret à la mer, afin que les eaux n’outrepassent point son commandement, quand il décrétait les fondements de la terre:
I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.
30 j’étais alors à côté de lui son nourrisson, j’étais ses délices tous les jours, toujours en joie devant lui,
I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.
31 me réjouissant en la partie habitable de sa terre, et mes délices étaient dans les fils des hommes.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 Maintenant donc, fils, écoutez-moi: bienheureux ceux qui gardent mes voies!
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Écoutez l’instruction, et soyez sages, et ne la rejetez point.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 Bienheureux l’homme qui m’écoute, veillant à mes portes tous les jours, gardant les poteaux de mes entrées!
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 Car celui qui m’a trouvée a trouvé la vie, et acquiert faveur de la part de l’Éternel;
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 mais celui qui pèche contre moi fait tort à son âme; tous ceux qui me haïssent aiment la mort.
But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
