Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
2 What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
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 give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of 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 take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
5 For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
Lè yo bwè konsa, yo bliye lòd yo te bay. Yo p'ap pran ka malere yo.
6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
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 have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
Yo bwè pou yo bliye mizè yo, pou yo pa chonje lapenn yo.
8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
Louvri bouch ou pale pou moun ki pa ka pale pou tèt yo. Defann kòz moun ki san sekou yo.
9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
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 has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
12 She does him good and not evil 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 gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
Li chache lenn mouton ak fil swa, li travay yo fè twal ak men l'.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
Tankou bato k'ap pote machandiz, li al byen lwen chache manje mete nan kay la.
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
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 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
Li fè lide sou yon tè, li achte l' ak lajan li fè ak men l'. Li fè jaden rezen sou li.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
Li mare ren l', li twouse manch rad li pou l' travay.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
Li santi zafè l' ap mache byen, li rete byen ta lannwit ap travay.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
Li file koton, li koud rad li.
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
Li pa pè fredi pou moun lakay li, paske tout moun gen rad cho pou mete sou yo.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair 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 a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men 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 robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
Lè li louvri bouch li, se bon konsèy li bay. Li toujou gen bon pawòl nan bouch li.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
Tout pitit li yo ap fè l' konpliman. Mari l' menm ap fè lwanj li.
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
30 Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of 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 credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
Ba li sa ki pou li a. Lè y'a wè sa l' fè, se pou tout moun fè lwanj li.
