Proverbes 16
1 L’Homme est maître des résolutions de son cœur; mais c’est l’Eternel qui prononce sur elles.
The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 Toutes les voies de l’homme sont pures à ses yeux, mais l’Eternel sonde les esprits.
All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
3 Remets le succès de tes œuvres à l’Eternel, et tes projets s’en trouveront affermis.
Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 L’Eternel a tout fait pour un but prédestiné, même le méchant pour le jour du malheur.
The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
5 Tout cœur hautain est en horreur à l’Eternel: haut la main! il ne restera pas indemne.
Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
6 La bonté et la bienveillance effacent la faute; la crainte de l’Eternel fait éviter le mal.
By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
7 Dieu agrée-t-il les voies d’un homme, il lui concilie même la faveur de ses ennemis.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
8 Mieux vaut une honnête médiocrité qu’un grand revenu, acquis par l’improbité.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
9 Le cœur de l’homme choisit sa voie; mais l’Eternel dirige ses pas.
A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 Ce sont des oracles qui émanent des lèvres du roi: quand il rend la justice, sa bouche ne faillit pas.
Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
11 Les plateaux, les balances exactes sont choses de Dieu, il est l’auteur de tous les justes poids.
True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 Faire le mal est chose odieuse aux rois; car les trônes s’affermissent par la justice.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
13 Des lèvres loyales font plaisir aux rois; ils aiment qui parle avec droiture.
Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
14 Le courroux du roi est un messager de mort, un homme sage sait l’apaiser.
The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
15 Que le visage du roi s’éclaire, c’est un gage de vie; sa faveur est comme une nuée chargée de pluie printanière.
In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 Acquérir la sagesse, combien cela est plus précieux que l’or fin! S’Enrichir en sagacité vaut mieux que l’argent.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
17 La route des justes les éloigne du mal; qui suit droit son chemin préserve sa vie.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
18 L’Orgueil précède la ruine, l’arrogance est le signe avant-coureur de la chute.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
19 Prendre une attitude modeste avec les humbles vaut mieux que partager du butin avec les orgueilleux.
Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
20 Qui réfléchit mûrement à une affaire s’assure des avantages; mais heureux qui met sa confiance en l’Eternel!
He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
21 Qui a le cœur sage mérite d’être appelé intelligent; la douceur des lèvres augmente la force de persuasion.
The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
22 L’Intelligence est une source de vie pour celui qui en est doué; le châtiment des sots, c’est leur sottise.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
23 Le cœur du sage inspire sa bouche, et augmente la force de persuasion de ses lèvres.
The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
24 Des paroles amènes sont un rayon de miel, doux à l’âme, bienfaisant au corps.
Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
25 Tel chemin paraît tout uni à l’homme, et il aboutit aux avenues de la mort.
There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
26 C’Est pour lui-même que travaille le laborieux, car pressantes sont les exigences de sa bouche.
The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
27 L’Homme sans valeur morale est un artisan de malheur; sur ses lèvres il y a comme un feu dévorant.
A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
28 L’Homme artificieux déchaîne la discorde; le boutefeu sème la division entre amis.
A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
29 L’Homme violent circonvient son prochain et le mène dans une mauvaise voie.
A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
30 Il ferme les yeux pour méditer de mauvais coups; il se pince les lèvres: il a consommé le mal!
He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
31 La haute vieillesse est une couronne d’honneur; c’est sur le chemin de la vertu qu’elle se rencontre.
The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
32 Qui résiste à la colère l’emporte sur le héros; qui domine ses passionssur un preneur de villes.
He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
33 On agite le sort dans l’urne mais l’arrêt qu’il prononce vient de l’Eternel.
A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
