Proverbes 18
1 Celui qui se tient à l’écart cherche ce qui lui plaît, Il s’irrite contre tout ce qui est sage.
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 Ce n’est pas à l’intelligence que l’insensé prend plaisir, C’est à la manifestation de ses pensées.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Quand vient le méchant, vient aussi le mépris; Et avec la honte, vient l’opprobre.
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 Les paroles de la bouche d’un homme sont des eaux profondes; La source de la sagesse est un torrent qui jaillit.
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 bon d’avoir égard à la personne du méchant, Pour faire tort au juste dans le jugement.
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 se mêlent aux querelles, Et sa bouche provoque les coups.
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 cause sa ruine, Et 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 Les paroles du rapporteur sont comme des friandises, Elles descendent jusqu’au fond des entrailles.
[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 Celui qui se relâche dans son travail Est frère de celui qui détruit.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Le nom de l’Éternel est une tour forte; Le juste s’y réfugie, et se trouve en sûreté.
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 La fortune est pour le riche une ville forte; Dans son imagination, c’est une haute muraille.
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 Avant la ruine, le cœur de l’homme s’élève; Mais l’humilité précède la gloire.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Celui qui répond avant d’avoir écouté Fait un acte de folie et s’attire la confusion.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 L’esprit de l’homme le soutient dans la maladie; Mais l’esprit abattu, qui le relèvera?
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 Un cœur intelligent acquiert la science, Et l’oreille des sages cherche la science.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 Les présents d’un homme lui élargissent la voie, Et lui donnent accès auprès des grands.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 Le premier qui parle dans sa cause paraît juste; Vient sa partie adverse, et on l’examine.
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 Le sort fait cesser les contestations, Et décide 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 Des frères sont plus intraitables qu’une ville forte, Et leurs querelles sont comme les verrous d’un palais.
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 C’est du fruit de sa bouche que l’homme rassasie son corps, C’est du produit de ses lèvres qu’il se rassasie.
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; Quiconque l’aime en mangera les 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 trouve une femme trouve le bonheur; C’est une grâce qu’il obtient de l’Éternel.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 Le pauvre parle en suppliant, Et le riche répond avec dureté.
[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.
24 Celui qui a beaucoup d’amis les a pour son malheur, Mais il est tel ami plus attaché qu’un frère.
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.
