Proverbes 18
1 L'homme particulier cherche ce qui lui fait plaisir, et se mêle de savoir comment tout doit aller.
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 Le fou ne prend point plaisir à l'intelligence, mais à ce que son cœur soit manifesté.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Quand le méchant vient, le mépris vient aussi, et le reproche avec l'ignominie.
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 [digne] personnage sont [comme] des eaux profondes; et la source de la sagesse est un torrent qui bouillonne.
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 l'apparence de la personne du méchant, pour renverser le juste en 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 du fou entrent en querelle, et sa bouche appelle les combats.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 La bouche du fou lui est une ruine, et ses lèvres sont un piège à 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 flatteur sont comme de ceux qui ne font pas semblant d'y toucher, mais elles descendent jusqu'au dedans du ventre.
[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 aussi qui se porte lâchement dans son ouvrage, est frère de celui qui dissipe [ce qu'il a.]
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Le nom de l'Eternel est une forte tour, le juste y courra, et il y sera en une haute retraite.
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 la ville de sa force, et comme une haute muraille de retraite, selon son imagination.
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'élève avant que la ruine arrive; 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 à quelque propos avant que de [l'] avoir ouï, c'est à lui une folie et une confusion.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 L'esprit d'un homme [fort] soutiendra son infirmité; 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 Le cœur de l'homme intelligent acquiert de 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 Le présent d'un homme lui fait faire place, et le conduit devant les grands.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 Celui qui plaide le premier, est juste; mais sa partie vient, et examine le tout.
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 procès, et fait les partages 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 [offensé] se rend plus difficile qu'une ville forte, et les discordes en 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 Le ventre de chacun sera rassasié du fruit de sa bouche; il sera rassasié du revenu 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, et celui qui l'aime mangera de 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 trouve une [digne] femme trouve le bien, et il a obtenu une faveur de l'Eternel.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 Le pauvre ne prononce que des supplications, mais le riche ne répond que des paroles rudes.
[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 Que l'homme qui a des intimes amis, se tienne à leur amitié; parce qu'il y a tel ami qui est plus attaché que le 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.
