1 W isdom has built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

La sagesse a bâti sa maison, Elle a taillé ses sept colonnes.

2 S he has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

Elle a égorgé ses victimes, mêlé son vin, Et dressé sa table.

3 S he has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:

Elle a envoyé ses servantes, elle crie Sur le sommet des hauteurs de la ville:

4 W hoever is simple (easily led astray and wavering), let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, Wisdom says to him,

Que celui qui est stupide entre ici! Elle dit à ceux qui sont dépourvus de sens:

5 C ome, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mixed.

Venez, mangez de mon pain, Et buvez du vin que j'ai mêlé;

6 L eave off, simple ones and live! And walk in the way of insight and understanding.

Quittez la stupidité, et vous vivrez, Et marchez dans la voie de l'intelligence!

7 H e who rebukes a scorner heaps upon himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man gets for himself bruises.

Celui qui reprend le moqueur s'attire le dédain, Et celui qui corrige le méchant reçoit un outrage.

8 R eprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Ne reprends pas le moqueur, de crainte qu'il ne te haïsse; Reprends le sage, et il t'aimera.

9 G ive instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.

Donne au sage, et il deviendra plus sage; Instruis le juste, et il augmentera son savoir.

10 T he reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.

Le commencement de la sagesse, c'est la crainte de l'Éternel; Et la science des saints, c'est l'intelligence.

11 F or by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

C'est par moi que tes jours se multiplieront, Et que les années de ta vie augmenteront.

12 I f you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scorn, you alone will bear it and pay the penalty.

Si tu es sage, tu es sage pour toi; Si tu es moqueur, tu en porteras seul la peine.

13 T he foolish woman is noisy; she is simple and open to all forms of evil, she knows nothing whatever.

La folie est une femme bruyante, Stupide et ne sachant rien.

14 F or she sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the conspicuous places of the town,

Elle s'assied à l'entrée de sa maison, Sur un siège, dans les hauteurs de la ville,

15 C alling to those who pass by, who go uprightly on their way:

Pour crier aux passants, Qui vont droit leur chemin:

16 W hoever is simple (wavering and easily led astray), let him turn in here! And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

Que celui qui est stupide entre ici! Elle dit à celui qui est dépourvu de sens:

17 S tolen waters (pleasures) are sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Les eaux dérobées sont douces, Et le pain du mystère est agréable!

18 B ut he knows not that the shades of the dead are there, and that her invited guests are in the depths of Sheol (the lower world, Hades, the place of the dead).

Et il ne sait pas que là sont les morts, Et que ses invités sont dans les vallées du séjour des morts.