Pwovèb 18
1 Moun k'ap viv apa se tèt li ase li konnen. Li move sou tout moun ki vle ba li bon konsèy.
Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.
2 Moun sòt pa pran plezi l' nan chache konprann. Tou sa l'ap chache se fè moun konprann li gen lespri.
The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.
3 Y'ap meprize moun k'ap fè mechanste. Moun ki pa fè respè tèt yo gen pou yo wont.
The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.
4 Pawòl moun ki gen konprann fon kou lanmè, fre tankou yon sous k'ap koule tout tan.
Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.
5 Sa pa bon pou ou pran pou moun mechan, ni pou ou enpoze yo rann moun inonsan jistis.
It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.
6 Depi moun sòt ap pale, se kont l'ap chache. Si ou koute pawòl nan bouch li, w'a ba l' kou.
The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.
7 Bouch moun sòt se kondannasyon li. Pawòl ki soti nan bouch li tounen pèlen pou li.
The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Tripotay dous nan zòrèy moun ki vle tande yo. Sa mache nan san yo.
The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.
9 Moun ki parese nan travay li se menmman parèyman ak moun k'ap defèt sa k'ap fèt.
Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.
10 Seyè a, se yon gwo ranpa byen solid. Se la moun k'ap mache dwat yo kouri al chache pwoteksyon.
The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.
11 Pou moun rich yo, byen yo tankou yon ranpa byen solid. Yo mete nan tèt yo se sa k'ap pwoteje yo.
The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.
12 Lè w'ap fè awogans, yo pa lwen kraze ou. Lè ou fè kò ou piti, y'a fè lwanj ou.
The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.
13 Moun ki prese reponn san koute sa y'ap di l', se moun sòt li ye. Li gen pou l' wont.
Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.
14 Lè yon moun anvi viv, sa ede l' anpil lè li malad. Men, si li dekouraje, ki moun ki ka remoute kouraj li?
The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?
15 Yon moun lespri ap toujou chache gen plis konesans. Zòrèy moun ki gen bon konprann toujou pare pou l' ka konnen plis toujou.
A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.
16 Kado ou fè louvri chemen pou ou toupatou, ata chemen ki mennen lakay grannèg.
A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.
17 Moun ki pale anvan nan tribinal toujou sanble li gen rezon. Lè lòt moun lan parèt, kat je kontre, manti kaba.
The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.
18 Lè de grannèg gen kont, jij yo fè tiraj osò pou konnen kilès pou yo bay rezon.
Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.
19 Li pi fasil pou mete lapè nan yon gwo lavil pase pou ou rekonsilye de frè ki nan kont. Lè yo fache, kè yonn se pòt prizon pou lòt.
A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Rekonpans yon moun chita sou sa ki soti nan bouch li.
From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.
21 Sa ou di ka lavi pou ou, li ka lanmò pou ou. Sa ou chwazi, se sa w'ap jwenn.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
22 Lè yon nonm jwenn yon bon madanm, se yon bon bagay. Se yon gwo favè Seyè a fè l'.
He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.
23 Lè yon pòv ap pale, li toujou nan tanpri souple. Men, moun rich toujou ap rele sou moun.
The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.
24 Gen zanmi se pran yo vin pran. Men, gen zanmi tou yo plis pase frè.
A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.
