Pwovèb 16
1 Lèzòm fè lide nan kè yo. Men, dènye mo a nan men Bondye.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 Lèzòm mete nan lide yo tou sa yo fè bon. Men, pa bliye se Bondye k'ap jije sa ki nan kè yo.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
3 Mande Seyè a pou l' beni tout travay w'ap fè, w'ap reyisi nan tou sa w'ap fè.
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 Tou sa Seyè a fè, li gen yon rezon ki fè l' fè li. Menm mechan an, li kreye l' pou l' ka pini l'.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap gonfle lestonmak yo sou moun. Wè pa wè, l'ap fè yo peye sa.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice; and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.
6 Si ou pa janm vire do bay Bondye, si ou toujou kenbe pawòl ou, Bondye va padonnen peche ou yo. Lè yon moun gen krentif pou Bondye, l'ap evite fè sa ki mal.
By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 Lè yon moun ap viv yon jan ki fè Seyè a plezi, Seyè a ap fè ata lènmi l' yo aji byen avè l'.
When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Pito ou fè ti pwofi nan fè sa ki dwat pase pou ou fè gwo benefis nan fè sa ki mal.
Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
9 Lèzòm fè plan travay yo nan kè yo. Men, se Seyè a k'ap dirije sa y'ap fè a.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 Lè yon wa pale, se tankou si se te Bondye ki pale. Lè l'ap jije, li p'ap janm rann move jijman.
Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Seyè a mande pou yo sèvi ak bon balans pou peze. Li pa vle pou yo sèvi ak move mezi nan kòmès.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 Wa yo pa ka sipòte lè moun ap fè mechanste, paske tout fòs yon gouvènman se lè li defann dwa tout moun.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 Wa a kontan ak tout moun ki di verite. Li renmen moun ki pa nan bay manti.
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 Lè wa a move, atansyon, moun ka mouri! Moun ki gen bon konprann ap toujou chache fè kè wa a kontan.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
15 Lè wa a kontan, se lavi pou tout moun. Lè li bay yon moun favè l', se tankou yon nwaj ki pote yon bon lapli prentan.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 Pito ou gen bon konprann pase pou ou gen byen. Pito ou gen konesans pase ou gen lajan.
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 Moun ki mache dwat fè chemen yo yon jan pou yo pa fè sa ki mal. Gade kote w'ap mete pye ou pou ou pa mouri mal.
The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Lè ou gen lanbisyon, yo pa lwen kraze ou. Lè w'ap fè awogans, ou pa lwen mouri.
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
19 Pito ou mennen ti vi ak pòv malere yo pase pou ou nan separe ak awogan yo nan sa yo vòlò.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.
20 Moun k'ap repase nan tèt li tou sa yo moutre l' va wè zafè l' mache byen. Ala bon sa bon pou moun ki mete konfyans yo nan Seyè a!
The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 Lè yon moun gen bon konprann, yo di li gen lespri. Lè ou pale byen sa fè ou gen plis konesans.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 Moun ki gen bon konprann gen lavi. Men, moun sòt ap toujou sòt.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
23 Yon moun ki gen bon konprann kalkile anvan li pale. Konsa pawòl li vin gen plis pèz.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
24 Bon pawòl se siwo myèl. Yo bon pou sante ou, yo dous pou nanm ou.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 Chemen ou kwè ki bon an, se li ki mennen ou tou dwat nan lanmò.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 Grangou fè ou travay rèd, paske ou bezwen manje pou ou mete nan bouch.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 Mechan an toujou ap chache jan pou li fè moun mal. Ata pawòl nan bouch li boule tankou dife.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Ipokrit toujou ap pouse dife. Moun k'ap fè tripotay mete zanmi dozado.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 Mechan an pran tèt kanmarad li, li fè l' fè sa ki pa bon.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Moun k'ap twenzi je yo sou moun, se moun ki gen move lide dèyè tèt yo. Moun k'ap fè siy sou moun, se moun ki sou move kou.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
31 Cheve blan se bèl rekonpans. Moun ki mache dwat va viv lontan.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Pito ou aji ak pasyans pase pou ou fè fòs sou moun. Pito ou konn kontwole tèt ou pase pou ou gwo chèf lame k'ap mache pran lavil.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
33 Moun tire kat pou yo konnen sa pou yo fè. Men, desizyon an se nan men Bondye li ye.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
