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.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2 Moun sòt pa pran plezi l' nan chache konprann. Tou sa l'ap chache se fè moun konprann li gen lespri.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Y'ap meprize moun k'ap fè mechanste. Moun ki pa fè respè tèt yo gen pou yo wont.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 Pawòl moun ki gen konprann fon kou lanmè, fre tankou yon sous k'ap koule tout tan.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Sa pa bon pou ou pran pou moun mechan, ni pou ou enpoze yo rann moun inonsan jistis.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Depi moun sòt ap pale, se kont l'ap chache. Si ou koute pawòl nan bouch li, w'a ba l' kou.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Bouch moun sòt se kondannasyon li. Pawòl ki soti nan bouch li tounen pèlen pou li.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Tripotay dous nan zòrèy moun ki vle tande yo. Sa mache nan san yo.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Moun ki parese nan travay li se menmman parèyman ak moun k'ap defèt sa k'ap fèt.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Seyè a, se yon gwo ranpa byen solid. Se la moun k'ap mache dwat yo kouri al chache pwoteksyon.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Pou moun rich yo, byen yo tankou yon ranpa byen solid. Yo mete nan tèt yo se sa k'ap pwoteje yo.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
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 man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13 Moun ki prese reponn san koute sa y'ap di l', se moun sòt li ye. Li gen pou l' wont.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Lè yon moun anvi viv, sa ede l' anpil lè li malad. Men, si li dekouraje, ki moun ki ka remoute kouraj li?
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, 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.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Kado ou fè louvri chemen pou ou toupatou, ata chemen ki mennen lakay grannèg.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Moun ki pale anvan nan tribinal toujou sanble li gen rezon. Lè lòt moun lan parèt, kat je kontre, manti kaba.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Lè de grannèg gen kont, jij yo fè tiraj osò pou konnen kilès pou yo bay rezon.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
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 offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Rekonpans yon moun chita sou sa ki soti nan bouch li.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
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; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Lè yon nonm jwenn yon bon madanm, se yon bon bagay. Se yon gwo favè Seyè a fè l'.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
23 Lè yon pòv ap pale, li toujou nan tanpri souple. Men, moun rich toujou ap rele sou moun.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Gen zanmi se pran yo vin pran. Men, gen zanmi tou yo plis pase frè.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
