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 great riches: 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 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 prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 Soumèt ou devan Bondye, gen krentif pou li: W'a gen richès, y'a nonmen non ou, w'a viv lontan.
The fruit of humility 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.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Bay yon timoun prensip li dwe swiv. Jouk li mouri, li p'ap janm bliye l'.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart 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 ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Lè ou simen lenjistis, ou rekòlte malè. Ou rete konsa sak te fè ou gen gwo kòlèt la disparèt.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall 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'.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Mete moun k'ap pase lòt moun nan betiz la deyò, lamenm tout kont, tout joure ap sispann.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall 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.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for 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 preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 Parese rete chita lakay li, li di si li soti bèt nan bwa va manje l' nan lari a.
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall 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 strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Timoun toujou ap fè move bagay. Men, fwèt ap fè yo pa rekonmanse ankò.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
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 oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall 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 thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 L'a bon pou ou toujou kenbe yo nan kè ou, pou yo ka toujou anba lang ou.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy 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 thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee 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 described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts 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:
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
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, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 Se Seyè a ki va plede kòz yo pou yo. L'a touye moun ki vòlò malere sa yo.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Pa fè zanmi ak moun ki ankòlè fasil. Pa mache ak moun ki gen san wo.
Be not 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 thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Pa pwomèt pou ou reskonsab dèt yon lòt moun fè.
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 Si ou pa ka peye, y'a sezi ata kabann anba do ou.
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Pa janm deplase bòn tè kote granmoun lontan te mete yo.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy 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.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
