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

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

2 E lle a égorgé ses victimes, mêlé son vin, Et dressé sa table.

She has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

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

She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:

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

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

5 V enez, mangez de mon pain, Et buvez du vin que j'ai mêlé;

Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mixed.

6 Q uittez la stupidité, et vous vivrez, Et marchez dans la voie de l'intelligence!

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

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

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

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

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

9 D onne au sage, et il deviendra plus sage; Instruis le juste, et il augmentera son savoir.

Give 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.

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

The 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.

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

For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

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

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

13 L a folie est une femme bruyante, Stupide et ne sachant rien.

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

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

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

15 P our crier aux passants, Qui vont droit leur chemin:

Calling to those who pass by, who go uprightly on their way:

16 Q ue celui qui est stupide entre ici! Elle dit à celui qui est dépourvu de sens:

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

17 L es eaux dérobées sont douces, Et le pain du mystère est agréable!

Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

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

But 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).