Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
Kisa pou m' di ou, pitit mwen, pitit ki soti nan zantray mwen? Se mwen ki te mande Bondye pou l' ban mwen ou. Kisa pou m' di ou?
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Pa gaspiye kouray ou nan fanm. Veye zo ou ak fanm k'ap fè malè chèf yo.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Lè yo bwè konsa, yo bliye lòd yo te bay. Yo p'ap pran ka malere yo.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Se moun ki dekouraje ak lavi ki tonbe nan gwòg. Se moun ki gen gwo lapenn nan kè yo ki lage kò yo nan bweson.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Yo bwè pou yo bliye mizè yo, pou yo pa chonje lapenn yo.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Louvri bouch ou pale pou moun ki pa ka pale pou tèt yo. Defann kòz moun ki san sekou yo.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Sa pa fasil pou moun jwenn yon bon madanm. Lè li jwenn li, li gen plis valè pase yon boul lò.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
Madanm lan p'ap janm aji mal ak mari l', l'ap pase tout lavi l' ap fè l' byen.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
Li chache lenn mouton ak fil swa, li travay yo fè twal ak men l'.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
Tankou bato k'ap pote machandiz, li al byen lwen chache manje mete nan kay la.
15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
Solèy poko leve, li gen tan sou pye l', l'ap pare manje pou moun nan kay la. L'ap di sèvant yo sa pou yo fè.
16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Li fè lide sou yon tè, li achte l' ak lajan li fè ak men l'. Li fè jaden rezen sou li.
17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
Li mare ren l', li twouse manch rad li pou l' travay.
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
Li santi zafè l' ap mache byen, li rete byen ta lannwit ap travay.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
Li file koton, li koud rad li.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
Li pa pè fredi pou moun lakay li, paske tout moun gen rad cho pou mete sou yo.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Li fè kouvèti lenn pou kabann yo. Tout rad li yo fèt ak twal wouj tise byen sere.
23 Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Mari l', se yonn nan chèf fanmi lavil la. Tout moun lavil la ap nonmen non l' an byen.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Lè li louvri bouch li, se bon konsèy li bay. Li toujou gen bon pawòl nan bouch li.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
Tout pitit li yo ap fè l' konpliman. Mari l' menm ap fè lwanj li.
29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Bèl fanm pa di bon madanm pou sa. Bèl figi pa la pou lontan. Men, y'a fè lwanj yon fanm ki gen krentif pou Seyè a.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Ba li sa ki pou li a. Lè y'a wè sa l' fè, se pou tout moun fè lwanj li.
