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 good name is better than many riches. And good esteem 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 poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of 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.
The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
4 Soumèt ou devan Bondye, gen krentif pou li: W'a gen richès, y'a nonmen non ou, w'a viv lontan.
The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches 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.
Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
6 Bay yon timoun prensip li dwe swiv. Jouk li mouri, li p'ap janm bliye l'.
The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
7 Moun rich ap donminen sou moun pòv. Lè ou prete lajan nan men yon moun, ou tounen timoun devan pòt li.
The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Lè ou simen lenjistis, ou rekòlte malè. Ou rete konsa sak te fè ou gen gwo kòlèt la disparèt.
Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
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'.
Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
10 Mete moun k'ap pase lòt moun nan betiz la deyò, lamenm tout kont, tout joure ap sispann.
Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
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.
Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 Seyè a pwoteje moun k'ap di verite. Men, li fè moun k'ap bay manti yo wont.
The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
13 Parese rete chita lakay li, li di si li soti bèt nan bwa va manje l' nan lari a.
The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of 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 foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
15 Timoun toujou ap fè move bagay. Men, fwèt ap fè yo pa rekonmanse ankò.
Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
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.
Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
17 Louvri zòrèy ou, koute pawòl moun ki gen bon konprann yo. Chache konprann sa m'ap moutre ou la a.
Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
18 L'a bon pou ou toujou kenbe yo nan kè ou, pou yo ka toujou anba lang ou.
It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from 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.
so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
20 Depi lontan, mwen te ekri bon pawòl sa yo pou ou. W'a jwenn anpil bon konsèy ak konesans ladan yo.
Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations 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:
so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
22 Pa pran ti sa pòv la genyen an paske se pòv li ye. Pa pwofite sou ti malere yo nan tribinal.
Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
23 Se Seyè a ki va plede kòz yo pou yo. L'a touye moun ki vòlò malere sa yo.
For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
24 Pa fè zanmi ak moun ki ankòlè fasil. Pa mache ak moun ki gen san wo.
Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
25 W'a pran move mès yo. W'a rale malè sou ou.
lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
26 Pa pwomèt pou ou reskonsab dèt yon lòt moun fè.
Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
27 Si ou pa ka peye, y'a sezi ata kabann anba do ou.
For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
28 Pa janm deplase bòn tè kote granmoun lontan te mete yo.
Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
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.
Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
