Proverbes 31
1 Les paroles du Roi Lémuel et l'instruction que sa mère lui donna.
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 Quoi? mon fils? quoi, fils de mon ventre? eh quoi? mon fils, pour lequel j'ai tant fait de vœux?
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Ne donne point ta force aux femmes, et [ne mets point] ton étude à détruire les Rois.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 Lémuel, ce n'est point aux Rois, ce n'est point aux Rois de boire le vin, ni aux Princes de boire la cervoise.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 De peur qu'ayant bu, ils n'oublient l'ordonnance, et qu'ils n'altèrent le droit de tous les pauvres affligés.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Donnez de la cervoise à celui qui s'en va périr, et du vin à celui qui est dans l'amertume de cœur;
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 Afin qu'il en boive, et qu'il oublie sa pauvreté, et ne se souvienne plus de sa peine.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Ouvre ta bouche en faveur du muet, pour le droit de tous ceux qui s'en vont périr.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Ouvre ta bouche, fais justice, et fais droit à l'affligé et au nécessiteux.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 [Aleph.] Qui est-ce qui trouvera une vaillante femme? car son prix surpasse de beaucoup les perles.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 [Beth.] Le cœur de son mari s'assure en elle, et il ne manquera point de dépouilles.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 [Guimel.] Elle lui fait du bien tous les jours de sa vie, et jamais du mal.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 [Daleth.] Elle cherche de la laine et du lin, et elle fait ce qu'elle veut de ses mains.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 [He.] Elle est comme les navires d'un marchand, elle amène son pain de loin.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 [Vau.] Elle se lève lorsqu'il est encore nuit, elle distribue la nourriture nécessaire à sa maison, et elle [donne] à ses servantes leur tâche.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 [Zajin.] Elle considère un champ, et l'acquiert; et elle plante la vigne du fruit de ses mains.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 [Heth.] Elle ceint ses reins de force, et fortifie ses bras.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 [Teth.] Elle éprouve que son trafic est bon; sa lampe ne s'éteint point la nuit.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 [Jod.] Elle met ses mains au fuseau, et ses mains tiennent la quenouille.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 [Caph.] Elle tend sa main à l'affligé, et avance ses mains au nécessiteux.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 [Lamed.] Elle ne craint point la neige pour sa famille, car toute sa famille est vêtue de vêtements doubles.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 [Mem.] Elle se fait des tours de lit; le fin lin et l'écarlate est ce dont elle s'habille.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 [Nun.] Son mari est reconnu aux portes, quand il est assis avec les Anciens du pays.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 [Samech.] Elle fait du linge, et le vend; et elle fait des ceintures, qu'elle donne au marchand.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 [Hajin.] La force et la magnificence est son vêtement, et elle se rit du jour à venir.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 [Pe.] Elle ouvre sa bouche avec sagesse, et la Loi de la charité est sur sa langue.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 [Tsade.] Elle contemple le train de sa maison, et ne mange point le pain de paresse.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 [Koph.] Ses enfants se lèvent, et la disent bienheureuse; son mari [aussi], et il la loue, [en disant]:
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 [Resch.] Plusieurs filles ont été vaillantes; mais tu les surpasses toutes.
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 [Scin.] La grâce trompe, et la beauté s'évanouit; [mais] la femme qui craint l'Eternel, sera celle qui sera louée.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 [Thau.] Donnez-lui des fruits de ses mains, et que ses œuvres la louent aux portes.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
