Pwovèb 24
1 Pa anvye sò mechan yo. Pa chache fè zanmi ak yo.
Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2 Yon sèl bagay ki nan tèt yo, se fè mechanste. Yon sèl pawòl ki nan bouch yo, se fè moun mal.
Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3 Bon konprann ap fè kay ou kanpe. Bon konesans ap fè l' kanpe fèm.
By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4 Kote ki gen konesans, pyès kay yo plen ak bon bagay ki koute chè.
By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5 Pito ou gen bon konprann pase ou gen fòs. Wi, moun ki gen konesans vo plis pase moun ki gwonèg.
A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6 Paske, se pou ou ranje plan ou anvan ou antre nan batay. Plis ou gen moun k'ap ba ou konsèy, plis ou gen chans pou ou genyen batay la.
Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
7 Pawòl moun konprann twò wo pou moun san konprann. Yo pa gen anyen pou yo di kote koze serye ap pale.
Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8 Lè yon moun tout tan ap kalkile jan pou l' fè sa ki mal, y'ap rele l' malveyan.
He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9 Tou sa moun san konprann gen lide fè, se fè sa ki mal. Konsa tou, moun pa vle wè moun k'ap plede pase moun nan betiz.
The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10 Si jou malè ou pa gen kouraj pou kenbe, ou pa t' janm gen fòs vre.
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11 Delivre moun y'ap trennen pou y' al touye. Sove moun y'ap bourade pou y' al egzekite.
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
12 Si ou pran pòz ou pa t' konn sa, chonje Bondye. Li menm k'ap jije sa ki nan kè moun, l'ap wè sa. Li menm k'ap veye tou sa w'ap fè, l'ap konn sa. L'ap fè tout moun peye pou sa yo fè.
If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.
13 Pitit mwen, bwè siwo myèl, sa bon pou ou. Menm jan siwo myèl k'ap koule soti nan gato myèl dous nan bouch ou,
Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
14 se konsa konesans ak bon konprann bon pou nanm ou. Si ou genyen yo, w'a fè chemen ou nan lavi. Sa w'ap tann lan, lavalas p'ap pote l' ale.
So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15 Pa janm fè plan tankou mechan yo pou chache fofile kò ou anndan kay moun k'ap mache dwat. Pa chache devalize kote l' rete a.
Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 Paske, moun k'ap mache dwat yo te mèt tonbe sèt fwa. Pa pè, y'ap toujou leve ankò. Men, nan mechanste yo, mechan yo ap tonbe, yo p'ap ka leve ankò.
For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17 Pa prese fè kè ou kontan lè malè rive lènmi ou. Pa kouri fè fèt lè li bite.
When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18 Seyè a ap wè sa. Sa p'ap fè l' plezi. Li ka rive pa pini l' poutèt sa.
Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Pa kite moun k'ap fè sa ki mal fè ou pèdi tèt ou. Pa anvye sò mechan yo.
Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20 Paske mechan yo pa pral lwen. Lavi yo tankou yon lanp k'ap mouri.
For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Pitit mwen, gen krentif pou Seyè a. Respekte wa a. Ou pa gen anyen pou ou wè ak moun k'ap kenbe tèt ak yo.
My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22 Moun sa yo ap rete konsa, malè ap tonbe sou yo. Ou pa janm konnen ki kalite malè Seyè a osinon wa a ka fè rive sou ou.
For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23 Men lòt pawòl moun ki gen bon konprann yo te di ankò. Sa pa bon pou yon jij gade sou figi moun lè l'ap rann jijman.
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24 Lè yon jij di yon moun ki fè sa ki mal: Se ou ki gen rezon, jij sa a, tout moun gen pou madichonnen l'. Y'ap rayi l' toupatou sou latè.
They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25 Men, jij ki pini moun ki antò a va gen kè kontan. Bondye va beni l'. Tout zafè l' va mache byen.
They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 Lè ou bay yon bon repons, ou aji tankou yon bon zanmi.
He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
27 Regle tout zafè ou. Mete jaden ou anfòm. Apre sa, ou mèt tabli.
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28 Pa leve pale sou do frè parèy ou san rezon. Pa bay manti sou li.
Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
29 Pa janm di li fè m', m'ap fè l' tou. M'ap fè l' peye sa li fè a.
Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
30 Mwen pase bò jaden yon nonm parese, bò jaden rezen yon moun ki san konprann.
I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
31 Pikan te fin pran jaden an nèt. Move zèb t'ap pouse toupatou. Lantouraj jaden yo te fin tonbe.
And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 Lè mwen wè sa, mwen kalkile. Mwen gade, sa ban m' yon leson.
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33 Dòmi, kabicha, kouche sou do, kwaze men ou dèyè tèt ou... Se bon!
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34 W'ap rete konsa, w'ap wè ou pòv. Mizè ap tonbe sou ou tankou yon ansasen san ou pa atann.
And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
