Proverbes 8
1 La sagesse ne crie-t-elle pas? L’intelligence n’élève-t-elle pas sa voix?
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 C’est au sommet des hauteurs près de la route, C’est à la croisée des chemins qu’elle se place;
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 A côté des portes, à l’entrée de la ville, A l’intérieur des portes, elle fait entendre ses cris:
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 Hommes, c’est à vous que je crie, Et ma voix s’adresse aux fils de l’homme.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 Stupides, apprenez le discernement; Insensés, apprenez 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 Écoutez, car j’ai de grandes choses à dire, Et mes lèvres s’ouvrent pour enseigner ce qui est droit.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 Car ma bouche proclame la vérité, Et mes lèvres ont en horreur le mensonge;
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Toutes les paroles de ma bouche sont justes, Elles n’ont rien de faux ni de détourné;
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 Toutes sont claires pour celui qui est intelligent, Et droites pour ceux qui ont trouvé la science.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Préférez mes instructions à l’argent, Et la science à l’or le plus précieux;
[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 Car la sagesse vaut mieux que les perles, Elle a plus de valeur que tous les objets de prix.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 Moi, la sagesse, j’ai pour demeure le discernement, Et je possède la science de la réflexion.
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 La crainte de l’Éternel, c’est la haine du mal; L’arrogance et l’orgueil, la voie du mal, Et la bouche perverse, voilà ce que je hais.
[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 Le conseil et le succès m’appartiennent; Je suis l’intelligence, la force est à moi.
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 les rois règnent, Et les princes ordonnent ce qui est juste;
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 Par moi gouvernent les chefs, Les grands, tous les juges de la 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 ceux qui m’aiment, Et ceux qui me cherchent me trouvent.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Avec moi sont la richesse et la gloire, Les biens durables et la justice.
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, que l’or pur, Et mon produit est préférable à l’argent.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 Je marche dans le chemin de la justice, Au milieu des sentiers de la droiture,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 Pour donner des biens à ceux qui m’aiment, Et pour remplir leurs trésors.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 L’Éternel m’a créée la première de ses œuvres, Avant ses œuvres les plus anciennes.
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 J’ai été établie depuis l’éternité, Dès le commencement, avant l’origine de la terre.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 Je fus enfantée quand il n’y avait point d’abîmes, Point de sources chargées d’eaux;
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 Avant que les montagnes soient affermies, Avant que les collines existent, je fus enfantée;
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 Il n’avait encore fait ni la terre, ni les campagnes, Ni le premier atome de la poussière du monde.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Lorsqu’il disposa les cieux, j’étais là; Lorsqu’il traça un cercle à 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 Lorsqu’il fixa les nuages en haut, Et que les sources de l’abîme jaillirent avec force,
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 Lorsqu’il donna une limite à la mer, Pour que les eaux n’en franchissent pas les bords, Lorsqu’il posa 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 J’étais à l’œuvre auprès de lui, Et je faisais tous les jours ses délices, Jouant sans cesse en sa présence,
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 Jouant sur le globe de sa terre, Et trouvant mon bonheur parmi les 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, Et heureux ceux qui observent mes voies!
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Écoutez l’instruction, pour devenir sages, Ne la rejetez pas.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 Heureux l’homme qui m’écoute, Qui veille chaque jour à mes portes, Et qui en garde les poteaux!
[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 me trouve a trouvé la vie, Et il obtient la faveur de l’Éternel.
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 Mais celui qui pèche contre moi nuit à son âme; Tous ceux qui me haïssent aiment 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.”
