Pwovèb 22
1 Pito yo nonmen non ou an byen pase pou ou gen anpil richès. Pito moun gen anpil konsiderasyon pou ou pase pou ou gen anpil lajan ak anpil lò.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Pa gen diferans ant moun rich ak moun pòv, paske tou de se kreyati Bondye yo ye.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 Moun ki gen konprann, lè li wè malè ap vin sou li, li wete kò l'. Men, moun sòt pote lestonmak li bay, epi se li ki peye sa.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 Soumèt ou devan Bondye, gen krentif pou li: W'a gen richès, y'a nonmen non ou, w'a viv lontan.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Moun ki mache kwochi jwenn pikan ak pèlen sou wout yo. Si ou renmen lavi, pa fè menm wout ak yo.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Bay yon timoun prensip li dwe swiv. Jouk li mouri, li p'ap janm bliye l'.
7 Moun rich ap donminen sou moun pòv. Lè ou prete lajan nan men yon moun, ou tounen timoun devan pòt li.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 Lè ou simen lenjistis, ou rekòlte malè. Ou rete konsa sak te fè ou gen gwo kòlèt la disparèt.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 Bondye beni moun ki gen bon kè, paske lè moun ki gen bon kè wè yon pòv, yo separe sa yo genyen an avè l'.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Mete moun k'ap pase lòt moun nan betiz la deyò, lamenm tout kont, tout joure ap sispann.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 Moun ki pa gen move lide dèyè tèt yo epi ki gen bon pawòl nan bouch yo ap gen wa a pou zanmi yo. Men, Bondye renmen moun ki sensè.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 Seyè a pwoteje moun k'ap di verite. Men, li fè moun k'ap bay manti yo wont.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 Parese rete chita lakay li, li di si li soti bèt nan bwa va manje l' nan lari a.
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 Pawòl fanm adiltè se gwo pèlen. Lè Seyè a move sou yon moun, moun lan ap pran nan pèlen sa a.
The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Timoun toujou ap fè move bagay. Men, fwèt ap fè yo pa rekonmanse ankò.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
16 Lè w'ap peze yon pòv malere se lespri l' w'ap louvri. Lè w'ap fè moun rich kado, se pòv w'ap fè l' pòv.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Louvri zòrèy ou, koute pawòl moun ki gen bon konprann yo. Chache konprann sa m'ap moutre ou la a.
Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
18 L'a bon pou ou toujou kenbe yo nan kè ou, pou yo ka toujou anba lang ou.
that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
19 Koulye a, mwen pral moutre ou tout pawòl sa yo, ou menm tou, pou ou ka mete konfyans ou nan Seyè a.
That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
20 Depi lontan, mwen te ekri bon pawòl sa yo pou ou. W'a jwenn anpil bon konsèy ak konesans ladan yo.
And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 Y'a fè ou konnen verite a jan li ye a. Konsa, w'a pote bon repons bay moun ki te voye ou la. Men yo:
I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
22 Pa pran ti sa pòv la genyen an paske se pòv li ye. Pa pwofite sou ti malere yo nan tribinal.
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 Se Seyè a ki va plede kòz yo pou yo. L'a touye moun ki vòlò malere sa yo.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
24 Pa fè zanmi ak moun ki ankòlè fasil. Pa mache ak moun ki gen san wo.
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 W'a pran move mès yo. W'a rale malè sou ou.
lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
26 Pa pwomèt pou ou reskonsab dèt yon lòt moun fè.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 Si ou pa ka peye, y'a sezi ata kabann anba do ou.
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
28 Pa janm deplase bòn tè kote granmoun lontan te mete yo.
Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
29 Moutre m' yon nonm ki gen ladrès nan sa l'ap fè. Se moun konsa k'ap rive travay ak chèf. Li pa pral travay ak moun ki pa anyen.
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
