Proverbes 16
1 L’Homme est maître des résolutions de son cœur; mais c’est l’Eternel qui prononce sur elles.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
2 Toutes les voies de l’homme sont pures à ses yeux, mais l’Eternel sonde les esprits.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Remets le succès de tes œuvres à l’Eternel, et tes projets s’en trouveront affermis.
(Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
4 L’Eternel a tout fait pour un but prédestiné, même le méchant pour le jour du malheur.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
5 Tout cœur hautain est en horreur à l’Eternel: haut la main! il ne restera pas indemne.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 La bonté et la bienveillance effacent la faute; la crainte de l’Eternel fait éviter le mal.
Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully [obey] him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned. If we revere him, nothing evil will happen to us (OR, he will prevent evil things from happening to us).
7 Dieu agrée-t-il les voies d’un homme, il lui concilie même la faveur de ses ennemis.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Mieux vaut une honnête médiocrité qu’un grand revenu, acquis par l’improbité.
It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestly than to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly.
9 Le cœur de l’homme choisit sa voie; mais l’Eternel dirige ses pas.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 Ce sont des oracles qui émanent des lèvres du roi: quand il rend la justice, sa bouche ne faillit pas.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 Les plateaux, les balances exactes sont choses de Dieu, il est l’auteur de tous les justes poids.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 Faire le mal est chose odieuse aux rois; car les trônes s’affermissent par la justice.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 Des lèvres loyales font plaisir aux rois; ils aiment qui parle avec droiture.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 Le courroux du roi est un messager de mort, un homme sage sait l’apaiser.
If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
15 Que le visage du roi s’éclaire, c’est un gage de vie; sa faveur est comme une nuée chargée de pluie printanière.
If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a [long] life (OR, he will not order people to be executed); his being pleased [with people] is [as delightful] as rain in the springtime [when seeds are planted].
16 Acquérir la sagesse, combien cela est plus précieux que l’or fin! S’Enrichir en sagacité vaut mieux que l’argent.
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 La route des justes les éloigne du mal; qui suit droit son chemin préserve sa vie.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 L’Orgueil précède la ruine, l’arrogance est le signe avant-coureur de la chute.
Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
19 Prendre une attitude modeste avec les humbles vaut mieux que partager du butin avec les orgueilleux.
It is better to be humble and poor than [to associate with] proud [people] and [to become rich by] dividing with them (plunder/goods captured in a battle).
20 Qui réfléchit mûrement à une affaire s’assure des avantages; mais heureux qui met sa confiance en l’Eternel!
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 Qui a le cœur sage mérite d’être appelé intelligent; la douceur des lèvres augmente la force de persuasion.
People say that those who are wise learn what is right/good behavior, and those who talk pleasantly [are able to] influence others [to do what is right].
22 L’Intelligence est une source de vie pour celui qui en est doué; le châtiment des sots, c’est leur sottise.
Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
23 Le cœur du sage inspire sa bouche, et augmente la force de persuasion de ses lèvres.
Those who are wise think carefully before they talk, and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others [to do what is right].
24 Des paroles amènes sont un rayon de miel, doux à l’âme, bienfaisant au corps.
Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
25 Tel chemin paraît tout uni à l’homme, et il aboutit aux avenues de la mort.
There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that people think are right, but (walking on those roads [MET]/continually doing those things) causes those people to die.
26 C’Est pour lui-même que travaille le laborieux, car pressantes sont les exigences de sa bouche.
If a worker (has an appetite/is hungry), that urges him to work hard because he [SYN] wants to [earn money to buy things to] eat.
27 L’Homme sans valeur morale est un artisan de malheur; sur ses lèvres il y a comme un feu dévorant.
Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
28 L’Homme artificieux déchaîne la discorde; le boutefeu sème la division entre amis.
Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
29 L’Homme violent circonvient son prochain et le mène dans une mauvaise voie.
Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
30 Il ferme les yeux pour méditer de mauvais coups; il se pince les lèvres: il a consommé le mal!
People [sometimes] show with [one of] their eyes [to signal to their friends that they are] planning to do something to harm [others]; they smirk when they are about to do something evil.
31 La haute vieillesse est une couronne d’honneur; c’est sur le chemin de la vertu qu’elle se rencontre.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 Qui résiste à la colère l’emporte sur le héros; qui domine ses passionssur un preneur de villes.
Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful; it is better to (control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry) than to conquer a city.
33 On agite le sort dans l’urne mais l’arrêt qu’il prononce vient de l’Eternel.
People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
