Proverbes 8
1 Voici la sagesse qui appelle, la raison qui élève la voix.
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 Sur la cime des hauteurs qui bordent la route, au croisement des chemins, elle s’est postée.
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 Dans le voisinage des portes qui conduisent dans la cité, à l’entrée des avenues, elle fait retentir ses apostrophes:
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 "Mortels, c’est vous que j’appelle; fils de l’homme, c’est à vous que s’adresse ma voix.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 Niais, sachez le prix de la réflexion; sots, sachez le prix de l’intelligence.
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 Ecoutez, car j’énonce de nobles vérités, et mes lèvres s’ouvrent pour des leçons de droiture.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 Oui, ma bouche ne profère que vérité, et mes lèvres ont horreur de l’impiété.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Elles sont empreintes de droiture, toutes les paroles de ma bouche; en elles, rien d’équivoque ni de louche.
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 Toutes sont loyales au gré de l’homme intelligent, et probes pour qui possède le savoir.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Attachez à ma morale plus de prix qu’à l’argent, à la vraie connaissance plus qu’à l’or de choix.
[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 C’Est que la sagesse est plus précieuse que les perles: tous les biens réunis ne la valent point.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 Je suis la sagesse, en pleine possession de la réflexion; j’atteins la science des habiles conceptions.
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 Craindre l’Eternel, c’est haïr le mal; l’orgueil et l’arrogance, le chemin du malfaiteur, la bouche perverse, voilà ce que je déteste.
[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 A moi les conseils, gage de succès; je suis l’intelligence, et la force est mon attribut.
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 règnent les rois, et les princes fondent des lois de justice.
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 Par moi gouvernent les grands et les nobles, tous ceux qui rendent la justice sur 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 qui m’aime, et qui me cherche me trouve.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Avec moi sont richesse et honneur, fortune durable et juste récompense.
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 et les métaux précieux, et mon produit que l’argent de choix.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 Je suis avec persévérance la voie de la justice, les sentiers de l’équité,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 en donnant à ceux qui m’aiment des biens en partage, en remplissant leurs trésors.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 L’Eternel me créa au début de son action, antérieurement à ses œuvres, dès l’origine des choses.
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 les temps antiques, je fus formée, tout au commencement, bien avant la naissance de la terre.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 II n’y avait pas encore d’océan quand je naquis, ni de sources chargées d’eaux.
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 Avant les montagnes plongeant dans les profondeurs, avant les coteaux, je fus douée de vie,
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 avant que Dieu eût fait la terre et ses vastes espaces, la masse des glèbes du sol.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Quand il affermit les cieux, j’étais là, et quand il traça un cercle autour de la surface 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 consolida les nuées dans les régions supérieures, quand jaillirent avec force les sources souterraines;
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 imposa à la mer ses limites, empêchant les eaux d’enfreindre son ordre, et qu’il fixa 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 Alors j’étais à ses côtés, habile ouvrière, dans un enchantement perpétuel, goûtant en sa présence des joies sans fin,
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 m’égayant sur son globe terrestre et faisant mes délices des fils de l’homme.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 Et maintenant, mes fils, écoutez-moi: heureux ceux qui suivent fidèlement mes voies!
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Ecoutez la loi morale pour devenir sages, et ne la traitez pas avec mépris.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 Heureux l’homme qui m’obéit, en accourant à mes portes jour par jour et en observant les piliers sur lesquels s’ouvre ma demeure!
[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 conquis la bienveillance de l’Eternel."
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 Mais qui me manque se perd lui-même: me haïr, c’est aimer 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.”
