| | Louis Segond | King James | American std |
| 1 | Comme la neige en été, et la pluie pendant la moisson, Ainsi la gloire ne convient pas à un insensé. | As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. | As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool. |
| 2 | Comme l'oiseau s'échappe, comme l'hirondelle s'envole, Ainsi la malédiction sans cause n'a point d'effet. | As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. | As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not. |
| 3 | Le fouet est pour le cheval, le mors pour l'âne, Et la verge pour le dos des insensés. | A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. | A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools. |
| 4 | Ne réponds pas à l'insensé selon sa folie, De peur que tu ne lui ressembles toi-même. | Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. | Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. |
| 5 | Réponds à l'insensé selon sa folie, Afin qu'il ne se regarde pas comme sage. | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. | Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit. |
| 6 | Il se coupe les pieds, il boit l'injustice, Celui qui donne des messages à un insensé. | He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. | He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage. |
| 7 | Comme les jambes du boiteux sont faibles, Ainsi est une sentence dans la bouche des insensés. | The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. | The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools. |
| 8 | C'est attacher une pierre à la fronde, Que d'accorder des honneurs à un insensé. | As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. | As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool. |
| 9 | Comme une épine qui se dresse dans la main d'un homme ivre, Ainsi est une sentence dans la bouche des insensés. | As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools. | [As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools. |
| 10 | Comme un archer qui blesse tout le monde, Ainsi est celui qui prend à gage les insensés et les premiers venus. | The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. | [As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by. |
| 11 | Comme un chien qui retourne à ce qu'il a vomi, Ainsi est un insensé qui revient à sa folie. | As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. | As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly. |
| 12 | Si tu vois un homme qui se croit sage, Il y a plus à espérer d'un insensé que de lui. | Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. | Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. |
| 13 | Le paresseux dit : Il y a un lion sur le chemin, Il y a un lion dans les rues ! | The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. | The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets. |
| 14 | La porte tourne sur ses gonds, Et le paresseux sur son lit. | As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. | [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed. |
| 15 | Le paresseux plonge sa main dans le plat, Et il trouve pénible de la ramener à sa bouche. | The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. | The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth. |
| 16 | Le paresseux se croit plus sage Que sept hommes qui répondent avec bon sens. | The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. | The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason. |
| 17 | Comme celui qui saisit un chien par les oreilles, Ainsi est un passant qui s'irrite pour une querelle où il n'a que faire. | He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. | He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears. |
| 18 | Comme un furieux qui lance des flammes, Des flèches et la mort, | As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, | As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death, |
| 19 | Ainsi est un homme qui trompe son prochain, Et qui dit : N'était-ce pas pour plaisanter ? | So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? | So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport? |
| 20 | Faute de bois, le feu s'éteint ; Et quand il n'y a point de rapporteur, la querelle s'apaise. | Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. | For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth. |
| 21 | Le charbon produit un brasier, et le bois du feu ; Ainsi un homme querelleur échauffe une dispute. | As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. | [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife. |
| 22 | Les paroles du rapporteur sont comme des friandises, Elles descendent jusqu'au fond des entrailles. | The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. | The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. |
| 23 | Comme des scories d'argent appliquées sur un vase de terre, Ainsi sont des lèvres brûlantes et un coeur mauvais. | Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. | Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. |
| 24 | Par ses lèvres celui qui hait se déguise, Et il met au dedans de lui la tromperie. | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: |
| 25 | Lorsqu'il prend une voix douce, ne le crois pas, Car il y a sept abominations dans son coeur. | When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. | When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: |
| 26 | S'il cache sa haine sous la dissimulation, Sa méchanceté se révélera dans l'assemblée. | Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. | Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly. |
| 27 | Celui qui creuse une fosse y tombe, Et la pierre revient sur celui qui la roule. | Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. | Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him. |
| 28 | La langue fausse hait ceux qu'elle écrase, Et la bouche flatteuse prépare la ruine. | A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. | A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin. |
