Proverbes 20
1 Le vin est déréglé, et l'ivresse insolente; l'insensé se laisse prendre dans leurs filets;
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 La menace d'un roi ne diffère point de la colère du lion; celui qui le provoque pèche contre sa propre vie.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 C'est une gloire pour un homme de se détourner des contestations; au contraire, le fou s'y laisse prendre.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Le paresseux, quand on le blâme, n'en a point honte; il en est de même de celui qui emprunte du blé à usure pendant la moisson.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Le conseil dans le cœur de l'homme est une eau profonde; l'homme prudent y saura puiser.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Un homme est une grande chose; un homme miséricordieux est un trésor; mais un homme fidèle est difficile à trouver.
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 L'homme irréprochable qui se tourne vers la justice laissera ses enfants heureux.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Lorsqu'un roi juste s'est assis sur son trône, nul mal ne résiste à ses regards.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Qui peut se vanter d'avoir le cœur chaste? Qui osera dire: Je suis pur de tout péché?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Avoir deux poids et deux mesures, et en faire usage: deux choses infâmes devant le Seigneur.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Le jeune homme en compagnie d'un saint sera réservé dans ses mœurs, et sa voie sera droite.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 L'oreille entend, et l'œil voit; l'un et l'autre sont l'œuvre du Seigneur.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Ne te plais pas à médire, si tu ne veux être chassé. Ouvre les yeux, et rassasie-toi de pain.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 La lampe de celui qui décrie son père ou sa mère s'éteindra; les prunelles de ses yeux verront les ténèbres.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Le bien acquis tout d'abord à la hâte, à la fin ne sera pas béni.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Garde-toi de dire: Je me vengerai de mon ennemi; mais attends le Seigneur, afin qu'Il te seconde.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Le double poids est en abomination au Seigneur, et les fausses balances ne sont point bonnes à Ses yeux.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 La marche d'un homme est maintenue droite par le Seigneur; car comment un mortel discernerait-il ses voies?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 L'homme tombe dans un piège, quand il se hâte trop de consacrer ses biens; car après le vœu vient le repentir.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 Un roi sage est le vanneur des impies, et il fait passer sur eux une roue.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 L'esprit de l'homme est une lumière du Seigneur, qui éclaire jusqu'au fonds des entrailles.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 La miséricorde et la vérité sont la garde du roi, et avec la justice elles font cercle autour de son trône.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 L'ornement des jeunes gens c'est la sagesse; la parure des vieillards, ce sont leurs cheveux qui grisonnent.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Les confusions et les blessures sont le partage des méchants; ils ont des plaies jusqu'au fond des entrailles.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
