Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Pitit mwen yo, koute yon papa lè l'ap ban nou bon levasyon. Louvri zòrèy nou pou nou ka gen konprann.
2 For I give you good doctrine. Forsake ye not my law.
Pa janm bliye anyen nan sa m'ap moutre nou la a: Se bon konsèy m'ap ban nou.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Lè mwen te timoun piti lakay papa m', lè sa a mwen te sèl pitit manman mwen.
4 And he taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
Papa m' t'ap moutre m' anpil bagay. Li te konn di m': Kenbe pawòl mwen nan kè ou. Fè sa m'ap di ou fè, konsa w'a viv.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding. Do not forget, nor decline from the words of my mouth.
Chache gen konesans ak bon konprann. Pa janm bliye sa m'ap di ou la a. Pa vire do ba yo.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve thee. Love her, and she will keep thee.
Pa lage konesans ou. L'a toujou pwoteje ou. renmen l', li p'ap kite anyen rive ou.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing. Get wisdom, yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
Chache gen konesans, se premye bagay yon nonm lespri dwe fè. Nenpòt kisa ou ka genyen, bay li pou ou vin gen konprann.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee. She will bring thee to honor when thou embrace her.
renmen konesans, l'ap fè ou mache tèt wo. Kenbe l', pa lage l'. L'a fè yo respekte ou.
9 She will give to thy head a garland of grace, a crown of beauty she will deliver to thee.
Se va yon bèl bagay pou ou, tankou yon kouwòn sou tèt ou. Se va yon lwanj pou ou kote ou pase.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many.
Koute sa m'ap di ou, pitit mwen. Pa bliye sa m'ap moutre ou la a, konsa w'a viv lontan.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom. I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
Mwen moutre ou jan pou ou viv ak bon konprann. Mwen fè ou konnen jan pou ou mache dwat.
12 When thou go, thy steps shall not be restricted. And if thou run, thou shall not stumble.
Lè w'ap viv avèk bon konprann, anyen p'ap bare wout ou. Ou mèt ap kouri, ou p'ap janm bite sou anyen.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is thy life.
Pa janm bliye sa yo te moutre ou, kenbe l' fèm. Pa kite l' chape anba men ou, se tout lavi ou.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.
Pa fè menm chemen ak mechan yo. Pa swiv egzanp moun ki deprave yo.
15 Avoid it. Do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Pa fè sa, pa pran chemen sa yo menm. Refize fè tankou yo, fè chemen pa ou.
16 For they do not sleep unless they do evil. And their sleep is taken away unless they cause to fall.
Mechan yo p'ap dòmi toutotan yo pa fè sa ki mal. Dòmi pa ka pran yo si yo pa rive fè sa yo vle fè a.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Se nan fè mechanste yo jwenn manje pou yo manje. Se nan fè moun mal yo jwenn diven pou yo bwè.
18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.
Chemen moun k'ap mache dwat yo tankou solèy k'ap leve. Chak lè, l'ap vin pi klere jouk li fin jou nèt.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness. They know not at what they stumble.
Chemen moun mechan yo fè nwa kou lannwit. Yo pa ka wè sou kisa y'ap bite.
20 My son, attend to my words. Incline thine ear to my sayings.
Pitit mwen, louvri lespri ou pou ou konprann byen sa m'ap di ou la a. Louvri zòrèy ou pou ou koute pawòl k'ap soti nan bouch mwen.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
Pa janm kite yo soti devan je ou. Kenbe yo nan kè ou. Pa janm bliye yo.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
Se lavi pou moun ki jwenn yo. Se lasante pou tout moun ki konprann yo.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
Pase tout lòt bagay, veye byen lide k'ap travay nan tèt ou, paske se yo k'ap di ou ki jan pou ou viv.
24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth, and put perverse lips far from thee.
Pa janm kite manti soti nan bouch ou, ni move pawòl, ni mo deplase.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Gade dwat devan ou. Kenbe je ou fikse sou chemen ki dwat devan ou lan.
26 Make the path of thy feet level, and let all thy ways be established.
Chache konnen byen sa w'ap fè. Konsa, tou sa w'ap fè ap mache byen pou ou.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. Remove thy foot from evil.
Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch. Pa lage kò ou nan fè sa ki mal.
