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.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 Moun sòt pa pran plezi l' nan chache konprann. Tou sa l'ap chache se fè moun konprann li gen lespri.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 Y'ap meprize moun k'ap fè mechanste. Moun ki pa fè respè tèt yo gen pou yo wont.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach 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 men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
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 person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of 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 a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 Bouch moun sòt se kondannasyon li. Pawòl ki soti nan bouch li tounen pèlen pou li.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his 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 are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 Moun ki parese nan travay li se menmman parèyman ak moun k'ap defèt sa k'ap fèt.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth 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 strong tower: the just runneth to it, and 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 rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Lè w'ap fè awogans, yo pa lwen kraze ou. Lè ou fè kò ou piti, y'a fè lwanj ou.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 Moun ki prese reponn san koute sa y'ap di l', se moun sòt li ye. Li gen pou l' wont.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy 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 upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
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 wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 Kado ou fè louvri chemen pou ou toupatou, ata chemen ki mennen lakay grannèg.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
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 first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Lè de grannèg gen kont, jij yo fè tiraj osò pou konnen kilès pou yo bay rezon.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
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 that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Rekonpans yon moun chita sou sa ki soti nan bouch li.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill 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: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Lè yon nonm jwenn yon bon madanm, se yon bon bagay. Se yon gwo favè Seyè a fè l'.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
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 speak roughly.
24 Gen zanmi se pran yo vin pran. Men, gen zanmi tou yo plis pase frè.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
