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 name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
2 Pa gen diferans ant moun rich ak moun pòv, paske tou de se kreyati Bondye yo ye.
Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
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 hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, 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 end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5 Moun ki mache kwochi jwenn pikan ak pèlen sou wout yo. Si ou renmen lavi, pa fè menm wout ak yo.
Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Bay yon timoun prensip li dwe swiv. Jouk li mouri, li p'ap janm bliye l'.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not 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 over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Lè ou simen lenjistis, ou rekòlte malè. Ou rete konsa sak te fè ou gen gwo kòlèt la disparèt.
Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
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'.
The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 Mete moun k'ap pase lòt moun nan betiz la deyò, lamenm tout kont, tout joure ap sispann.
Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame 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.
Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12 Seyè a pwoteje moun k'ap di verite. Men, li fè moun k'ap bay manti yo wont.
The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 Parese rete chita lakay li, li di si li soti bèt nan bwa va manje l' nan lari a.
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14 Pawòl fanm adiltè se gwo pèlen. Lè Seyè a move sou yon moun, moun lan ap pran nan pèlen sa a.
A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15 Timoun toujou ap fè move bagay. Men, fwèt ap fè yo pa rekonmanse ankò.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it 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 is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
17 Louvri zòrèy ou, koute pawòl moun ki gen bon konprann yo. Chache konprann sa m'ap moutre ou la a.
Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18 L'a bon pou ou toujou kenbe yo nan kè ou, pou yo ka toujou anba lang ou.
For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for 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 Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20 Depi lontan, mwen te ekri bon pawòl sa yo pou ou. W'a jwenn anpil bon konsèy ak konesans ladan yo.
Have I not written to thee three times With counsels 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:
To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Pa pran ti sa pòv la genyen an paske se pòv li ye. Pa pwofite sou ti malere yo nan tribinal.
Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23 Se Seyè a ki va plede kòz yo pou yo. L'a touye moun ki vòlò malere sa yo.
For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Pa fè zanmi ak moun ki ankòlè fasil. Pa mache ak moun ki gen san wo.
Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25 W'a pran move mès yo. W'a rale malè sou ou.
Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26 Pa pwomèt pou ou reskonsab dèt yon lòt moun fè.
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 Si ou pa ka peye, y'a sezi ata kabann anba do ou.
If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28 Pa janm deplase bòn tè kote granmoun lontan te mete yo.
Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
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 speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
