Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
2 'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
Kisa pou m' di ou, pitit mwen, pitit ki soti nan zantray mwen? Se mwen ki te mande Bondye pou l' ban mwen ou. Kisa pou m' di ou?
3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
Pa gaspiye kouray ou nan fanm. Veye zo ou ak fanm k'ap fè malè chèf yo.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Lè yo bwè konsa, yo bliye lòd yo te bay. Yo p'ap pran ka malere yo.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Se moun ki dekouraje ak lavi ki tonbe nan gwòg. Se moun ki gen gwo lapenn nan kè yo ki lage kò yo nan bweson.
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
Yo bwè pou yo bliye mizè yo, pou yo pa chonje lapenn yo.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
Louvri bouch ou pale pou moun ki pa ka pale pou tèt yo. Defann kòz moun ki san sekou yo.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
Sa pa fasil pou moun jwenn yon bon madanm. Lè li jwenn li, li gen plis valè pase yon boul lò.
11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
Madanm lan p'ap janm aji mal ak mari l', l'ap pase tout lavi l' ap fè l' byen.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
Li chache lenn mouton ak fil swa, li travay yo fè twal ak men l'.
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
Tankou bato k'ap pote machandiz, li al byen lwen chache manje mete nan kay la.
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
Solèy poko leve, li gen tan sou pye l', l'ap pare manje pou moun nan kay la. L'ap di sèvant yo sa pou yo fè.
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
Li fè lide sou yon tè, li achte l' ak lajan li fè ak men l'. Li fè jaden rezen sou li.
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
Li mare ren l', li twouse manch rad li pou l' travay.
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
Li santi zafè l' ap mache byen, li rete byen ta lannwit ap travay.
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
Li file koton, li koud rad li.
20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
Li pa pè fredi pou moun lakay li, paske tout moun gen rad cho pou mete sou yo.
22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
Li fè kouvèti lenn pou kabann yo. Tout rad li yo fèt ak twal wouj tise byen sere.
23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
Mari l', se yonn nan chèf fanmi lavil la. Tout moun lavil la ap nonmen non l' an byen.
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
Lè li louvri bouch li, se bon konsèy li bay. Li toujou gen bon pawòl nan bouch li.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
Tout pitit li yo ap fè l' konpliman. Mari l' menm ap fè lwanj li.
29 'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
Bèl fanm pa di bon madanm pou sa. Bèl figi pa la pou lontan. Men, y'a fè lwanj yon fanm ki gen krentif pou Seyè a.
31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
Ba li sa ki pou li a. Lè y'a wè sa l' fè, se pou tout moun fè lwanj li.
