Pwovèb 17
1 Pito ou manje yon grenn bannann chèch ak kè poze pase pou ou fè gwo fèt nan mitan dezagreman.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 Yon esklav ki gen konprann va chèf sou yon pitit ki fè papa l' wont. L'a jwenn pa l' nan eritaj papa a tankou tout pitit.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Se dife sèl ki ka fè ou konnen si lò osinon ajan ou genyen an se bon kalite. Konsa tou, se Seyè a sèl ki konnen sa ki nan kè moun.
The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Mechan yo toujou prèt pou koute moun k'ap di move pawòl. Zòrèy mantò yo toujou louvri pou koute moun k'ap bay manti.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Lè w'ap pase yon pòv malere nan betiz, se Bondye ki fè l' la w'ap derespekte. Moun ki kontan lè malè rive yon lòt, Bondye ap pini l'.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Pitit pitit se rekonpans granmoun. Manman ak papa se kontantman pitit.
Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
7 Yon moun sòt pa ka di anyen ki bon. Konsa tou, yon moun serye pa nan bay manti.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Moun ki sèvi ak lajan pou pran tèt moun konprann lajan se wanga. Yo kwè se pou yo reyisi nan tou sa y'ap fè.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Si ou vle moun renmen ou, padonnen lè yo fè ou mal. Si w'ap mache repete bagay moun fè ki mal, w'ap mete zanmi dozado.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Lè ou fè yon moun ki gen konprann repwòch, sa touche kè l'. Men, ata san kout baton p'ap chanje yon moun sòt.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Mechan toujou ap fè rebelyon, men y'a voye yon sanmanman regle avè l'.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Pito ou kontre ak yon manman lous k'ap chache pitit li pase pou ou tonbe sou yon moun fou foli moute.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Si ou aji mal avèk moun ki fè ou byen, malè ap toujou rive lakay ou.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Lè yon kont pete, se tankou dlo ki kase dig kannal. Anvan batay mete pye, chape kò ou.
The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 Se de kalite moun Seyè a pa ka sipòte: moun k'ap kondannen inonsan ak moun k'ap pran pou mechan yo.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
16 Yon moun sòt te mèt gen kont lajan nan men l', li p'ap janm ka gen konesans. Li pa gen konprann.
Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 Yon bon zanmi p'ap janm trayi. Jou malè l'ap tankou yon frè pou ou.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Fòk yon moun pèdi tèt li nèt pou l' garanti dèt yon lòt moun.
A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Moun ki renmen chache kont renmen fè sa ki mal. Moun k'ap pale avèk awogans, se moun k'ap mache ak sèkèy yo anba bra yo.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Yon moun ki pa gen bon lide nan tèt li p'ap janm gen kè kontan. Moun ki gen move lang ap toujou nan traka.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Se lapenn pou yon papa ki fè yon pitit ki san konprann. Papa yon pitit sòt p'ap janm gen kè kontan.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Kè kontan bay lasante. Men, lè ou kagou, w'ap deperi sou pye.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Malveyan pran lajan nan men moun pou enpoze jistis fèt.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Yon moun ki gen bon konprann toujou ap chache konesans. Men, moun sòt pa konn sa li vle.
Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
25 Yon timoun ki san konprann, se chagren pou papa l', se gwo lapenn pou manman l' ki fè l'.
A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Se pa jistis pou inonsan peye pou koupab. Pa gen jistis lè yo bat moun ki pa fè mal.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 Moun ki gen konesans pa nan pale anpil. Moun ki rete dousman se moun ki gen konprann.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Moun ki gen lespri pa janm cho pou pale. Men moun sòt, lè yo rete ak bouch yo fèmen, yo pase pou moun ki gen konprann.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
