Proverbes 9
1 La Sagesse s’est bâti une maison, elle en a sculpté les sept colonnes.
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
2 Elle a tué des animaux pour son festin, mélangé son vin et dressé sa table.
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
3 Elle a mis en campagne ses servantes; elle lance ses invitations du haut des éminences de la cité:
She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
4 "Quiconque a l’esprit faible vienne de ce côté!" A celui qui est dépourvu d’intelligence, elle adresse la parole:
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
5 "Venez, mangez de mon pain et buvez du vin que j’ai mélangé.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Laissez-là la sottise et vous vivrez; dirigez vos pas dans la voie de la raison!"
Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
7 Morigéner le moqueur, c’est s’attirer des avanies, réprimander le méchant, c’est se marquer d’une tare.
He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonor to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
8 Ne morigène pas le railleur, car il te haïrait; fais des remontrances au sage, et il t’en aimera davantage.
Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
9 Donne une leçon au sage, et il deviendra plus sage; instruis l’homme de bien, et il enrichira son savoir.
Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
10 Le commencement de la sagesse, c’est la crainte du Seigneur, et la connaissance du Très-Saint, c’est là la saine raison.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
11 Certes, c’est grâce à moi que se multiplieront tes jours et que te seront dispensées de longues années de vie.
For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
12 Si tu deviens sage, c’est pour ton bien; si tu deviens un persifleur, toi seul en porteras la peine.
Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbors; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
13 Commère, la folie est bruyante, légère, inconsciente.
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
14 Elle s’assied à l’entrée de sa maison, trône sur les hauteurs de la cité,
She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
15 pour appeler les passants, qui vont droit leur chemin:
calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
16 "Quiconque a l’esprit faible vienne de ce côté!" A celui qui est dépourvu d’Intelligence elle adresse la parole:
[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
17 "Suave est l’eau volée, délicieux le pain dérobé!"
Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
