< Proverbs 23 >

1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
Lè chèf envite ou manje sou menm tab ak li, pa janm bliye ki moun li ye.
2 put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.
Si ou se yon moun ki gen bon lapeti, kontwole bouch ou.
3 Do not be desirous of his dainties, seeing they are deceitful food.
Pa pote lanvi sou bon ti manje l'ap ofri ou yo. Se ka yon pèlen li tann pou ou.
4 Do not weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Pa touye tèt ou ap kouri dèyè lajan pou ou vin rich. Wete lide ou sou sa.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Paske, anvan ou bat je ou, li gen tan disparèt. Ou ta di lajan gen zèl. Li rete konsa, li vole, li ale.
6 Do not eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and do not crave his delicacies:
Pa chita pou ou manje sou menm tab ak moun ki tikoulout. Pa pote lanvi sou manje l'ap ofri ou.
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink." he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
Li chich ata ak tèt pa li, ale wè avè ou. L'ap di ou: Manje non, monchè! Bwè non! Men se pa ak tout kè li l'ap di ou sa.
8 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.
W'a vonmi tou sa ou te manje a. Tout bèl pawòl ou te di l' yo p'ap sèvi ou anyen.
9 Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Pa chache fè yon moun san konprann konprann anyen. Li p'ap tande anyen nan sa w'ap di l' la. Lèfini, l'ap meprize ou met sou li.
10 Do not move the ancient boundary stone. Do not encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
Pa janm deplase bòn tè kote yo te ye depi lontan an. Pa antre sou jaden ki pou timoun san papa.
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
Se Bondye k'ap defann yo, li gen anpil pouvwa. L'a plede kòz yo kont ou.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Mete tèt ou an plas lè y'ap moutre ou kichòy. Louvri zòrèy ou lè yon moun ki gen konesans ap pale.
13 Do not withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Ou pa bezwen pè bat yon timoun. Yon bèl kal, sa p'ap touye l'.
14 Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
Okontrè, si ou bat li, w'a sove nanm li pou l' pa mouri. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:
Pitit mwen, si ou gen bon konprann, mwen p'ap manke kontan.
16 yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.
M'a kontan anpil lè m'a tande bon pawòl k'ap soti nan bouch ou.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Jehovah all the day long.
Pa pote lanvi sou moun k'ap fè sa ki mal. Nan tou sa w'ap fè, toujou gen krentif pou Bondye.
18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Paske gen denmen. Se pa pou gremesi w'ap tann sa w'ap tann lan.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.
Louvri zòrèy ou, gason mwen, pou ou ka gen bon konprann, pou ou ka mache dwat. Kalkile byen kote w'ap mete pye ou, pou ou ka mache dwat.
20 Do not be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat:
Pa fè zanmi avèk moun k'ap bwè twòp, ak moun k'ap fè safte.
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Paske moun k'ap fè metye bwè ak moun ki afre ap vin pòv. Si ou pase tout tan ou ap dòmi, talè konsa w'ap mache yon men devan yon men dèyè.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Pitit mwen, koute papa ou ki fè ou. Pa meprize manman ou lè li fin granmoun.
23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Verite, konesans, lespri ak bon konprann, se bagay ou mèt peye chè pou ou genyen. Men, pa janm vann sa.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Papa ki gen yon pitit k'ap mache dwat ap toujou kontan. Manman ki fè yon pitit ki gen bon konprann ap toujou gen kè kontan.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad. Let her who bore you rejoice.
Fè kè papa ou ak manman ou kontan. Fè kè manman ki fè ou la kontan.
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
Pitit mwen, louvri zòrèy ou pou tande sa m'ap di ou. Louvri je ou byen pou ou wè jan m'ap viv.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Fanm jennès se tankou yon twou pèlen, fanm adiltè se tankou yon pi jis jis.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
Tankou vòlò, y'ap pare pèlen pou ou. Yo fè anpil gason pèdi tèt yo.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Ki moun ki nan tèt chaje, ki nan lapenn? Ki moun ki toujou nan kont, ki tou tan ap plenyen? Ki moun k'ap pran kou san rezon, ki gen je yo tou wouj?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Se moun k'ap bwè twòp gwòg, moun k'ap kouri dèyè tranpe.
31 Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Pa kite bweson pran nanm ou, ou te mèt wè jan li bèl, jan li klè nan vè a. Lè ou bwè l', li desann dous nan gòj ou.
32 In the end, it bites like a serpent, and poisons like a viper.
Men, pita ou santi se tankou yon move sèpan ki mòde ou, yon sèpan aspik ki pike ou.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
W'ap wè tout bagay ap vire devan je ou, w'ap depale.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
W'ap santi tankou si ou te sou lanmè: w'ap tankou si ou te sou tèt yon ma batiman.
35 "They hit me, and I was not hurt. They beat me, and I do not feel it. When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."
Lè sa a w'a di: Gen lè yo bat mwen, mwen pa santi sa. Gen lè yo te ban m' kou, mwen pa konn sa. Kilè m'a leve la a? Mwen ta pran yon ti kou ankò.

< Proverbs 23 >