Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
Lè ou chita sou tab ak yon ki gouvènè, konsidere byen sa ki devan ou.
2 and cut down if you have a big appetite.
Konsa, mete yon kouto sou gòj ou si ou se yon nonm ak gwo lanvi.
3 Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
Pa dezire bon manje sa yo, paske se yon repa desepsyon.
4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
Pa fatige kò ou pou jwenn richès; sispann reflechi sou sa.
5 It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
Depi ou mete zye ou sou li, l ale. Paske, anverite, li gen zèl kon yon èg k ap vole vè syèl yo.
6 Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
Pa manje pen a yon mesye ki chich, ni anvi bèl bagay li;
7 for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
paske jan li panse nan tèt li a, se konsa li ye. Li di ou: “Manje e bwè!” Men kè li pa avè w.
8 You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
Ou va vomi mòso ke ou te manje a e gaspiye tout bèl pawòl ou yo.
9 Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
Pa pale nan zòrèy a moun sòt, paske l ap meprize sajès a pawòl ou yo.
10 Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
Pa deplase ansyen bòn nan, ni antre nan chan òfelen yo,
11 for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
Paske Redanmtè yo a pwisan. Li va plede ka yo kont ou.
12 Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
Aplike kè ou a disiplin ak zòrèy ou a pawòl ki pote konesans.
13 Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
Pa ralanti disiplin sou yon timoun; malgre ou frape li ak yon baton, li p ap mouri.
Ou va frape li ak baton pou delivre nanm li de sejou mò yo. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
Fis mwen an, si kè ou saj, pwòp kè m va kontan tou.
16 I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
Wi, jis anndan m va rejwi lè lèv ou pale sa ki dwat.
17 Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
Pa kite kè ou fè lanvi pechè yo, men viv nan lakrent SENYÈ a tout tan.
18 for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
Anverite, gen davni, e espwa ou p ap anile.
19 Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
Koute, fis mwen an, vin saj pou dirije kè ou nan chemen an.
20 Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
Pa bwè twòp diven, ni fè voras nan manje vyann;
21 For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
paske sila ki bwè twòp la ak moun voras la va vin pòv; e dòmi nan zye a va fè l abiye ak vye twal chire.
22 Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
Koute papa ou ki te fè ou a, e pa meprize manman ou lè l vin granmoun.
23 Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Achte verite e pa vann li! Ranmase sajès, enstriksyon ak bon konprann.
24 Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
Papa a sila ki dwat la va rejwi anpil, e sila ki fè yon fis ki saj la va gen kè kontan nan li.
25 Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
Kite papa ou ak manman ou fè kè kontan; kite fanm ki te fè ou a, rejwi.
26 My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
Ban m kè ou, fis mwen an; kite zye ou fè kè kontan nan chemen mwen yo.
27 A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
Paske yon pwostitiye se yon fòs byen fon, e yon fanm adiltè se yon ti pwi etwat.
28 Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
Anverite, li kache veye tankou vòlè, pou l ogmante enfidelite pami lòm.
29 Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
Se kilès ki gen gwo pwoblèm? Se kilès ki gen tristès? Se kilès ki gen konfli? Se kilès kap plenyèn? Se kilès ki blese san rezon? Se kilès ki gen zye wouj?
30 —those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
Sila ki mize sou diven nan, sila ki ale goute diven mele an.
31 Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
Pa gade diven an lè l wouj, lè l fè klè nan tas la, lè l desann byen dous.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
Nan dènye moman an, li mòde tankou sèpan; li brile tankou bouch koulèv.
33 You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
Zye ou va wè bagay ki dwòl, e panse ou va twouble anpil.
34 You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
Ou va tankou yon moun ki kouche nan mitan lanmè, oswa tankou yon moun ki kouche sou ma batiman.
35 “People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
“Yo te frape m, men mwen pa t santi anyen! Yo te bat mwen, men mwen pa t konnen sa! Lè m leve, m ap chache pou m kab bwè ankò.”
