Proverbs 18
1 Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
Sila ki izole pwòp tèt li, chache pwòp enterè l; bon jijman an pa anyèn devan l.
2 Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
Yon moun ensanse pa pran plezi nan bon konprann; men sèlman nan devwale pwòp panse li.
3 Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
Lè yon nonm mechan vin parèt, mepriz la vini ansanm avè l; e avèk dezonè, wont vin parèt.
4 What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
Pawòl yo ki sòti nan bouch a yon nonm se yon dlo byen fon; dlo sajès se yon dlo fre k ap koule tout tan.
5 It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
Panche vè youn moun mechan an pa bon, ni pou fè jijman ki rache jistis nan men moun dwat yo.
6 When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
Lèv a yon moun ensanse mennen konfli; bouch li ap mande kou.
7 What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
Bouch a moun san konprann nan se dega li; e lèv li se pèlen pou nanm li.
8 [People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
Pawòl a sila ki chichote pawòl nan zòrèy moun nan se tankou bonbon ki gen gou dous; se jis nan fon kò a yo desann.
9 People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
Anplis, sila ki parese nan travay li a se frè a sila ki detwi.
10 Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
Non SENYÈ a se yon sitadèl byen fò; moun ladwati a kouri ladann pou jwenn sekou.
11 Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
Pou yon nonm rich, byen li se yon vil ki fò; kon yon miray byen wo nan panse li.
12 Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
Avan destriksyon, kè yon nonm plen ògèy; men imilite ale devan onè.
13 Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
Sila ki bay repons avan li koute a; plen foli ak wont.
14 A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
Lespri a yon nonm kapab sipòte maladi; men nan ka lespri brize a, se kilès ki kab sipòte li?
15 Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
Panse a sila ki gen bon konprann nan, ranmase konesans; anplis, zòrèy a saj la chache konesans.
16 If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
Don a yon nonm fè kont espas pou li, e mennen li devan moun enpòtan.
17 The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
Premye moun pou plede ka li a, sanble gen rezon; jiskaske yon lòt moun vin egzamine l.
18 If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
Tiraj osò fè konfli sispann; lap pran desizyon antre moun pwisan yo.
19 If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
Yon frè ki blese se pi rèd pou konvenk pase yon vil fòtifye; konfli ak li se tankou ba fè nan yon sitadèl.
20 People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
Se fwi a bouch moun ki satisfè vant li; l ap satisfè ak sa ke lèv li pwodwi.
21 What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
Lanmò ak lavi nan pouvwa a lang lan; e sila ki renmen l yo, va manje fwi li.
22 If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
Sila ki jwenn yon madanm, jwenn yon bon bagay, e twouve favè SENYÈ a.
23 [It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
Malere a pale: “Souple, fè m gras”; men moun rich la reponn byen di.
24 There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
Yon nonm ak anpil zanmi vin kraze nèt; men gen yon kalite zanmi ki rete pi pwòch pase yon frè.
