< Proverbs 18 >
1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Moun k'ap viv apa se tèt li ase li konnen. Li move sou tout moun ki vle ba li bon konsèy.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Moun sòt pa pran plezi l' nan chache konprann. Tou sa l'ap chache se fè moun konprann li gen lespri.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Y'ap meprize moun k'ap fè mechanste. Moun ki pa fè respè tèt yo gen pou yo wont.
4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Pawòl moun ki gen konprann fon kou lanmè, fre tankou yon sous k'ap koule tout tan.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Sa pa bon pou ou pran pou moun mechan, ni pou ou enpoze yo rann moun inonsan jistis.
6 A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Depi moun sòt ap pale, se kont l'ap chache. Si ou koute pawòl nan bouch li, w'a ba l' kou.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Bouch moun sòt se kondannasyon li. Pawòl ki soti nan bouch li tounen pèlen pou li.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty morsels, and they go down into a person's innermost parts.
Tripotay dous nan zòrèy moun ki vle tande yo. Sa mache nan san yo.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Moun ki parese nan travay li se menmman parèyman ak moun k'ap defèt sa k'ap fèt.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Seyè a, se yon gwo ranpa byen solid. Se la moun k'ap mache dwat yo kouri al chache pwoteksyon.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Pou moun rich yo, byen yo tankou yon ranpa byen solid. Yo mete nan tèt yo se sa k'ap pwoteje yo.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Lè w'ap fè awogans, yo pa lwen kraze ou. Lè ou fè kò ou piti, y'a fè lwanj ou.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Moun ki prese reponn san koute sa y'ap di l', se moun sòt li ye. Li gen pou l' wont.
14 A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Lè yon moun anvi viv, sa ede l' anpil lè li malad. Men, si li dekouraje, ki moun ki ka remoute kouraj li?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Yon moun lespri ap toujou chache gen plis konesans. Zòrèy moun ki gen bon konprann toujou pare pou l' ka konnen plis toujou.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Kado ou fè louvri chemen pou ou toupatou, ata chemen ki mennen lakay grannèg.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
Moun ki pale anvan nan tribinal toujou sanble li gen rezon. Lè lòt moun lan parèt, kat je kontre, manti kaba.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Lè de grannèg gen kont, jij yo fè tiraj osò pou konnen kilès pou yo bay rezon.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
Li pi fasil pou mete lapè nan yon gwo lavil pase pou ou rekonsilye de frè ki nan kont. Lè yo fache, kè yonn se pòt prizon pou lòt.
20 A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
Rekonpans yon moun chita sou sa ki soti nan bouch li.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Sa ou di ka lavi pou ou, li ka lanmò pou ou. Sa ou chwazi, se sa w'ap jwenn.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Jehovah.
Lè yon nonm jwenn yon bon madanm, se yon bon bagay. Se yon gwo favè Seyè a fè l'.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Lè yon pòv ap pale, li toujou nan tanpri souple. Men, moun rich toujou ap rele sou moun.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Gen zanmi se pran yo vin pran. Men, gen zanmi tou yo plis pase frè.