Proverbes 18
1 L'homme qui veut rompre avec ses amis cherche des prétextes, et en tout temps il sera digne de blâme.
Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
2 Celui qui manque de sens n'a que faire de la sagesse; il est plutôt conduit par la folie.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Lorsque l'impie est tombé en un abîme de fautes, il n'en tient compte; mais la honte et les ignominies lui arrivent.
Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
4 La parole dans le cœur de l'homme est une eau profonde; un fleuve en jaillit, et une fontaine de vie.
What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
5 Il n'est pas bien d'avoir égard à la parole de l'impie; se détourner de l'équité dans la jeunesse est une impiété.
It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
6 Les lèvres de l'insensé le mènent à mal, et sa bouche hardie appelle la mort.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 La bouche de l'insensé est sa ruine; ses lèvres sont un piège pour son âme.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 La crainte abat les paresseux; les âmes des efféminés sont toujours affamées.
[People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
9 Qui n'a point d'ardeur en ses travaux est frère de celui qui se détruit lui-même.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Le Nom du Seigneur est d'une force toute-puissante; les justes qui courent à Lui sont glorifiés.
Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
11 Les biens du riche sont une forteresse; sa gloire projette au loin de l'ombre.
Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
12 Le cœur de l'homme s'exalte avant d'être brisé; ils s'humilie avant d'être glorifié.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Répondre avant d'avoir entendu, c'est insensé et blâmable.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 Un serviteur prudent apaise la colère de l'homme; qui peut supporter un homme pusillanime?
A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
15 Le cœur de l'homme sensé possède la doctrine; les oreilles du sage cherchent l'intelligence.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 Les présents que fait un homme le grandissent et le font siéger parmi les puissants.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 Le juste s'accuse le premier; mais s'il est ensuite attaqué, c'est son adversaire qu'on blâme.
The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
18 L'homme silencieux apaise les contradictions; il juge entre les puissants.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 Un frère, soutenu par son frère, est comme une puissante et haute cité; il est fort comme un palais solidement bâti.
If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
20 L'homme remplit ses entrailles des fruits de sa bouche, et se rassasiera du fruit de ses lèvres.
People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
21 La mort et la vie sont au pouvoir de la langue; ceux qui la maîtrisent mangeront ses fruits.
What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
22 Celui qui a trouvé une femme bonne a trouvé des grâces; il a reçu de Dieu l'allégresse. Celui qui répudie une femme bonne répudie une bonne fortune; celui qui garde une adultère est impie et insensé.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
[It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
