Proverbes 16
1 C’est à l’homme de préparer son âme, et au Seigneur de gouverner la langue.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
2 Toutes les voies de l’homme sont ouvertes à ses yeux: le Seigneur pèse les esprits.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Expose tes œuvres au Seigneur, et tes pensées seront dirigées.
(Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
4 Le Seigneur a opéré toutes choses pour lui-même, l’impie même pour le jour mauvais.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
5 C’est l’abomination du Seigneur que tout homme arrogant; lors même qu’une main serait dans une main, il n’est point innocent. Le commencement de la bonne voie est de faire la justice: or elle est agréable à Dieu plus que l’immolation des hosties.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 Par la miséricorde et la vérité se rachète l’iniquité; et c’est par la crainte du Seigneur qu’on se détourne du mal.
Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully [obey] him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned. If we revere him, nothing evil will happen to us (OR, he will prevent evil things from happening to us).
7 Lorsque plairont au Seigneur les voies de l’homme, il convertira ses ennemis même à la paix.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Mieux vaut peu avec la justice que beaucoup de fruits avec l’iniquité.
It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestly than to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly.
9 Le cœur de l’homme dispose sa voie; mais c’est au Seigneur de diriger ses pas.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 La divination est sur les lèvres du roi; dans les jugements n’errera pas sa bouche.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 Poids et balance sont les jugements du Seigneur; et ses œuvres sont toutes les pierres du sachet.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 Abominables au roi sont ceux qui agissent en impies; parce que c’est par la justice que s’affermit un trône.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 Les rois veulent des lèvres justes: celui qui parle avec droiture sera aimé d’eux.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 L’indignation du roi est un messager de mort; et l’homme sage l’apaisera.
If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
15 Dans l’hilarité du visage du roi est la vie; et sa clémence est comme la pluie de l’arrière-saison.
If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a [long] life (OR, he will not order people to be executed); his being pleased [with people] is [as delightful] as rain in the springtime [when seeds are planted].
16 Possède la sagesse, parce qu’elle est meilleure que l’or; et acquiers la prudence, parce qu’elle est plus précieuse que l’argent•
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 Le sentier des justes s’écarte des maux; celui qui garde son âme conserve sa voie.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 L’orgueil précède l’abattement; et avant la ruine l’esprit s’exalte.
Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
19 Il vaut mieux être humilié avec des hommes doux que de partager des dépouilles avec des superbes.
It is better to be humble and poor than [to associate with] proud [people] and [to become rich by] dividing with them (plunder/goods captured in a battle).
20 Un homme habile dans la parole trouvera des biens; et celui qui espère dans le Seigneur est bien heureux.
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 Celui qui est sage de cœur sera appelé prudent: et celui qui est doux dans la parole recevra de plus grands dons.
People say that those who are wise learn what is right/good behavior, and those who talk pleasantly [are able to] influence others [to do what is right].
22 C’est une source de vie que l’instruction, pour celui qui la possède; la doctrine des insensés, c’est la folie.
Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
23 Le cœur du sage instruit sa bouche; et à ses lèvres il ajoutera de la grâce.
Those who are wise think carefully before they talk, and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others [to do what is right].
24 C’est un rayon de miel que des paroles disposées avec art; c’est la douceur de l’âme et la santé des os.
Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
25 Il est une voie qui paraît à l’homme droite, et ses issues conduisent à la mort.
There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that people think are right, but (walking on those roads [MET]/continually doing those things) causes those people to die.
26 L’âme de celui qui travaille, travaille pour soi, parce que sa bouche l’y a contraint.
If a worker (has an appetite/is hungry), that urges him to work hard because he [SYN] wants to [earn money to buy things to] eat.
27 L’homme impie creuse le mal, et sur ses lèvres un feu brûle.
Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
28 L’homme pervers suscite des procès et le verbeux divise les princes.
Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
29 L’homme injuste attire son ami, et le conduit par une voie non bonne.
Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
30 Celui qui, les yeux immobiles, forme des desseins pervers, se mordant les lèvres, exécute le mal.
People [sometimes] show with [one of] their eyes [to signal to their friends that they are] planning to do something to harm [others]; they smirk when they are about to do something evil.
31 C’est une couronne de dignité, que la vieillesse qui se trouvera dans les voies de la justice.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 Vaut mieux un homme patient qu’un homme fort; et celui qui domine son esprit vaut mieux que celui qui prend des villes d’assaut.
Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful; it is better to (control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry) than to conquer a city.
33 Les sorts se jettent dans le pan de la robe; mais c’est par le Seigneur qu’ils sont dirigés.
People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
