< Proverbs 4 >
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Tande, O fis yo, enstriksyon a yon papa, e fè atansyon pou ou kab reyisi jwenn bon konprann,
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
Paske mwen bay ou bon konsèy; pa abandone enstriksyon mwen.
3 For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
Lè m te yon jenn timoun ak papa m, byen jenn e sèl fis devan zye a manman m,
4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
Alò, li te enstwi mwen e te di mwen: “Kite kè ou kenbe fèm a pawòl mwen; kenbe lòd mwen yo pou ou viv.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Vin ranmase sajès! Ranmase bon konprann! Pa bliye, ni pa vire kite pawòl a bouch mwen yo.
6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Pa abandone li e li va pwoteje ou; renmen li e li va veye sou ou.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
Men sa ki kòmansman sajès la: Ranmase sajès! Epi avèk sa ou rasanble a, chache bon konprann.
8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
Mete valè li wo e li va fè ou leve; li va bay ou onè si ou anbrase l.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
Li va poze sou tèt ou yon kouwòn lagras; li va prezante ou avèk yon kouwòn byen bèl.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
Tande, fis mwen an, vin dakò ak pawòl mwen yo, e lane lavi ou yo va vin byen long.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
Mwen te dirije ou nan chemen sajès la; mwen te kondwi ou nan pa ladwati yo.
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
Lè ou mache, pa ou yo p ap jennen; epi si ou kouri, ou p ap glise tonbe.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
Pran enstriksyon; pa lage menm. Pwoteje li paske li se lavi ou.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Pa antre nan chemen mechan yo, e pa avanse nan vwa malfektè yo.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Evite li, pa pase kote li; vire kite li e ale byen lwen.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
Paske, yo p ap kab dòmi si yo pa fè mal; epi dòmi vin vòlè soti nan zye yo si yo pa fè lòt glise tonbe.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
Paske yo manje pen a malveyan yo e bwè diven vyolans.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
Men pa a moun dwat yo se tankou limyè granmmaten ki briye pi fò e pi fò jiskaske li vin fè jou nèt.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Chemen mechan yo tankou tenèb; yo pa konnen sou kisa pou yo tonbe.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
Fis mwen an, prete atansyon a pawòl mwen yo; panche zòrèy ou vè diskou mwen yo.
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
Pa kite yo vin disparèt devan zye ou; kenbe yo nan fon kè ou.
22 For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
Paske yo se lavi a sila ki jwenn yo, ak lasante a tout kò yo.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Veye sou kè ou ak tout dilijans; paske de li, sous lavi yo koule.
24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
Mete lwen de ou yon bouch manti e mete tout pawòl foub byen lwen ou.
25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Kite zye ou gade tou dwat devan e kite vizyon ou konsantre devan nèt.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
Veye wout pye ou konn pran e tout chemen ou yo va byen etabli.
27 Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch; fè pye ou vire kite mal.