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 is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be 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.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Se bèl bagay lè yon moun evite diskisyon. Moun san konprann toujou ap chache kont.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
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'.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be 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.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw 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 will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 Lè yon papa se moun serye, li fè sa ki dwat. Sa bon nèt pou pitit li yo.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be 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 that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Ki moun ki ka di: mwen lave konsyans mwen, mwen wete tout peche ki te sou li?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap sèvi ak de pwa de mezi.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of 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 maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Se Seyè a ki ban nou je pou nou ka wè, se li menm ki ban nou zòrèy pou nou ka tande.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Pa renmen dòmi twòp pou ou pa vin pòv. Souke kò ou. W'a jwenn kont manje pou ou manje.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 Lè moun ap machande, machandiz pa janm bon. Fini yo fin achte, y'ap mache di jan yo fè yon bon zafè.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
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 multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
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 away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
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 falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Pran konsèy, tou sa ou gen lide fè ap mache byen. Pa kouri fè lagè san ou pa konnen sa w'ap fè.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 Bouch alèlè pa kenbe sekrè. Pa mele ak moun ki pale twòp.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Moun ki bay manman l' ak papa l' madichon p'ap viv lontan.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Richès ou ranmase fasil fasil p'ap janm vin yon benediksyon pou ou.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
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 recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap sèvi ak de pwa de mezi. Sa pa bon pou ou sèvi ak move balans.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Se Seyè a ki louvri chemen devan nou. Ki jan lèzòm ka rive konprann lavi?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 Pa prese fè Bondye pwomès. Ou ka règrèt sa pita.
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
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 scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
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.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers 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.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Se kouraj ki fè valè yon jenn gason. Men, pou granmoun, se cheve blan l' yo ki fè valè l'.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Move esperyans ka fè nou chanje. Malè ka fè nou vin gen bon santiman.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
