Pwovèb 20
1 Twòp bweson fè ou pase moun nan betiz. Twòp gwòg fè ou pete kabouyay, fè lòbèy. Lè ou sou, ou aji tankou moun fou.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 Lè yon wa ankòlè, se tankou yon lyon k'ap gwonde. Moun ki mete l' ankòlè a, se pwòp tèt li l'ap fè mal.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Se bèl bagay lè yon moun evite diskisyon. Moun san konprann toujou ap chache kont.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Parese pa pare tè li lè pou l' te pare l', li di fè twò frèt. Lè rekòt rive, li pa jwenn anyen nan jaden l'.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Lide yon nonm gen nan tèt li, se tankou dlo nan yon pi byen fon. Men, yon moun lespri ka rale yo mete deyò.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Anpil moun ap mache di jan yo se moun serye. Men, ou pa fasil jwenn yon moun ou ka fè konfyans.
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Lè yon papa se moun serye, li fè sa ki dwat. Sa bon nèt pou pitit li yo.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Lè yon wa chita sou fòtèy li, l'ap rann jistis, li wè sa ki mal ak sa ki byen.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Ki moun ki ka di: mwen lave konsyans mwen, mwen wete tout peche ki te sou li?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap sèvi ak de pwa de mezi.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Yon timoun moutre ou sa l'ap soti nan sa l'ap fè. Ou ka di si l'ap serye, si l'ap bon.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Se Seyè a ki ban nou je pou nou ka wè, se li menm ki ban nou zòrèy pou nou ka tande.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Pa renmen dòmi twòp pou ou pa vin pòv. Souke kò ou. W'a jwenn kont manje pou ou manje.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Lè moun ap machande, machandiz pa janm bon. Fini yo fin achte, y'ap mache di jan yo fè yon bon zafè.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 Lè yon moun ki gen konprann ap pale sa gen plis valè pase kantite lò ak pyè ki koute chè.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Si yon moun sòt jouk pou li asepte bay pawòl li pou dèt yon etranje, se pou yo pran ata rad ki sou li jouk lòt la peye.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Lajan ou fè nan move kondisyon ka dous lè ou fèk genyen l'. Men, apre sa, se tankou ti wòch anba dan.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Pran konsèy, tou sa ou gen lide fè ap mache byen. Pa kouri fè lagè san ou pa konnen sa w'ap fè.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Bouch alèlè pa kenbe sekrè. Pa mele ak moun ki pale twòp.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Moun ki bay manman l' ak papa l' madichon p'ap viv lontan.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Richès ou ranmase fasil fasil p'ap janm vin yon benediksyon pou ou.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Pa janm di se ou ki pou vanje tèt ou. Mete konfyans ou nan Seyè a, l'a delivre ou.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap sèvi ak de pwa de mezi. Sa pa bon pou ou sèvi ak move balans.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Se Seyè a ki louvri chemen devan nou. Ki jan lèzòm ka rive konprann lavi?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 Pa prese fè Bondye pwomès. Ou ka règrèt sa pita.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 Yon wa ki gen bon konprann ap rive dekouvri tout mechan yo. L'ap san pitye lè l'ap pini yo.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 Se Seyè a ki ban nou konsyans nou. Se tankou yon lanp k'ap klere pou fè nou wè tou sa n'ap fè.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Yon wa ap rete wa si li se nèg serye, si li toujou kenbe pawòl li. L'ap toujou wa si li pa nan patipri.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 Se kouraj ki fè valè yon jenn gason. Men, pou granmoun, se cheve blan l' yo ki fè valè l'.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Move esperyans ka fè nou chanje. Malè ka fè nou vin gen bon santiman.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
