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 a brawler, And he that reeleth with it 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 terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Se bèl bagay lè yon moun evite diskisyon. Moun san konprann toujou ap chache kont.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
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 sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have 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.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Anpil moun ap mache di jan yo se moun serye. Men, ou pa fasil jwenn yon moun ou ka fè konfyans.
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Lè yon papa se moun serye, li fè sa ki dwat. Sa bon nèt pou pitit li yo.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; 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.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Ki moun ki ka di: mwen lave konsyans mwen, mwen wete tout peche ki te sou li?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap sèvi ak de pwa de mezi.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination 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 in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and 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 ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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 thine eyes, and thou shalt 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.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
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 abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
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 his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Lajan ou fè nan move kondisyon ka dous lè ou fèk genyen l'. Men, apre sa, se tankou ti wòch anba dan.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Pran konsèy, tou sa ou gen lide fè ap mache byen. Pa kouri fè lagè san ou pa konnen sa w'ap fè.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Bouch alèlè pa kenbe sekrè. Pa mele ak moun ki pale twòp.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 put out in midnight darkness.
21 Richès ou ranmase fasil fasil p'ap janm vin yon benediksyon pou ou.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Pa janm di se ou ki pou vanje tèt ou. Mete konfyans ou nan Seyè a, l'a delivre ou.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” 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 to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 Se Seyè a ki louvri chemen devan nou. Ki jan lèzòm ka rive konprann lavi?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
25 Pa prese fè Bondye pwomès. Ou ka règrèt sa pita.
It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
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 like chaff, And bringeth over them the 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.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his 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 truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
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 beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Move esperyans ka fè nou chanje. Malè ka fè nou vin gen bon santiman.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
