Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
Pawòl a wa Lemuel yo; pwofesi ke manman li te ansegne li a:
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
“O fis mwen an! O fis a vant mwen an! O fis a ve mwen yo!
3 Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
Pa bay fòs ou a fanm, ni wout ou a sila ki konn detwi wa yo.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
Se pa pou wa yo, O Lemuel, se pa pou wa yo bwè diven, ni pou chèf yo ta bwè diven,
5 If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
Paske y ap bwè epi vin bliye dekrè ki te fèt la, e tòde dwa a sila ki aflije yo.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Bay bwason fò a sila k ap peri a, ak diven a sila ki gen lavi anmè a.
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
Kite li bwè pou bliye mizè li e pa sonje pwoblèm li ankò.
8 Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
Ouvri bouch ou pou bèbè a; pou dwa yo a tout sila ki san sekou.
9 Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
Ouvri bouch ou, fè jijman ak dwati, e defann dwa a aflije yo ak endijan an.”
10 It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
Yon madanm ki ekselan, se kilès ki ka twouve li? Paske valè li depase bijou.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
Kè a mari li mete konfyans nan li e li p ap manke reyisi.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
Li fè l sa ki bon e pa sa ki mal pandan tout jou lavi li.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
Li chache lèn ak len e travay avèk men l ak kè kontan.
14 She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
Li tankou bato komès; li mennen manje li soti byen lwen.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
Anplis, li leve pandan li toujou fènwa pou bay manje a tout lakay li, ak yon pòsyon pou sèvant li yo.
16 She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
Li konsidere yon chan e achte li. Ak benefis travay li, li plante yon chan rezen.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
Li mare senti l ak gwo fòs pou fè bra li vin fò.
18 She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
Li santi ke siksè li bon; lanp li pa janm etenn lannwit.
19 She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
Li lonje men l vè aparèy tise a e men l kenbe l.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
Li lonje men l vè pòv yo avèk sila ki gen bezwen an.
21 She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
Lakay li pa fè krent pou lanèj, paske tout lakay abiye an wouj.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
Li fè kouvèti pou tèt li; tout vètman li se twal fen blan ak mov.
23 Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
Mari li byen rekonèt nan pòtay lavil yo, lè l chita pami ansyen a peyi yo.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
Li fè vètman an len pou vann yo, e founi sentiwon a tout komèsan yo.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Fòs ak respè se abiman li e li souri a lavni.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
Li ouvri bouch li avèk sajès e enstriksyon ladousè sou lang li.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
Li gade byen tout afè lakay li e li pa manje pen laparès.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Pitit li yo leve e beni li; mari li tou ba li gwo lwanj pou di l:
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
“Anpil fi te fè byen bon; men ou pi bon anpil pase yo tout.”
30 Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
Chàm konn twonpe e bèlte konn vanite; men se fanm nan ki krent SENYÈ a k ap resevwa lwanj.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Ba li sa ke men l te pwodwi, epi kite zèv li yo fè lwanj li nan pòtay yo.
