< Proverbs 4 >
1 Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Tande, O fis yo, enstriksyon a yon papa, e fè atansyon pou ou kab reyisi jwenn bon konprann,
2 For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
Paske mwen bay ou bon konsèy; pa abandone enstriksyon mwen.
3 For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
Lè m te yon jenn timoun ak papa m, byen jenn e sèl fis devan zye a manman m,
4 And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
Alò, li te enstwi mwen e te di mwen: “Kite kè ou kenbe fèm a pawòl mwen; kenbe lòd mwen yo pou ou viv.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Vin ranmase sajès! Ranmase bon konprann! Pa bliye, ni pa vire kite pawòl a bouch mwen yo.
6 Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
Pa abandone li e li va pwoteje ou; renmen li e li va veye sou ou.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
Men sa ki kòmansman sajès la: Ranmase sajès! Epi avèk sa ou rasanble a, chache bon konprann.
8 Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
Mete valè li wo e li va fè ou leve; li va bay ou onè si ou anbrase l.
9 She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
Li va poze sou tèt ou yon kouwòn lagras; li va prezante ou avèk yon kouwòn byen bèl.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
Tande, fis mwen an, vin dakò ak pawòl mwen yo, e lane lavi ou yo va vin byen long.
11 I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
Mwen te dirije ou nan chemen sajès la; mwen te kondwi ou nan pa ladwati yo.
12 In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
Lè ou mache, pa ou yo p ap jennen; epi si ou kouri, ou p ap glise tonbe.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
Pran enstriksyon; pa lage menm. Pwoteje li paske li se lavi ou.
14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
Pa antre nan chemen mechan yo, e pa avanse nan vwa malfektè yo.
15 Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Evite li, pa pase kote li; vire kite li e ale byen lwen.
16 For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
Paske, yo p ap kab dòmi si yo pa fè mal; epi dòmi vin vòlè soti nan zye yo si yo pa fè lòt glise tonbe.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
Paske yo manje pen a malveyan yo e bwè diven vyolans.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
Men pa a moun dwat yo se tankou limyè granmmaten ki briye pi fò e pi fò jiskaske li vin fè jou nèt.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Chemen mechan yo tankou tenèb; yo pa konnen sou kisa pou yo tonbe.
20 My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
Fis mwen an, prete atansyon a pawòl mwen yo; panche zòrèy ou vè diskou mwen yo.
21 Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
Pa kite yo vin disparèt devan zye ou; kenbe yo nan fon kè ou.
22 For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
Paske yo se lavi a sila ki jwenn yo, ak lasante a tout kò yo.
23 Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Veye sou kè ou ak tout dilijans; paske de li, sous lavi yo koule.
24 Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
Mete lwen de ou yon bouch manti e mete tout pawòl foub byen lwen ou.
25 Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
Kite zye ou gade tou dwat devan e kite vizyon ou konsantre devan nèt.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
Veye wout pye ou konn pran e tout chemen ou yo va byen etabli.
27 Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch; fè pye ou vire kite mal.