Pwovèb 24
1 Pa anvye sò mechan yo. Pa chache fè zanmi ak yo.
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long 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.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Bon konprann ap fè kay ou kanpe. Bon konesans ap fè l' kanpe fèm.
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 Kote ki gen konesans, pyès kay yo plen ak bon bagay ki koute chè.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant 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 [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
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.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
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 can he not open his mouth.
8 Lè yon moun tout tan ap kalkile jan pou l' fè sa ki mal, y'ap rele l' malveyan.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
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 counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 Si jou malè ou pa gen kouraj pou kenbe, ou pa t' janm gen fòs vre.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Delivre moun y'ap trennen pou y' al touye. Sove moun y'ap bourade pou y' al egzekite.
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
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 shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
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,
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
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 obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
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, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
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 though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Pa prese fè kè ou kontan lè malè rive lènmi ou. Pa kouri fè fèt lè li bite.
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 Seyè a ap wè sa. Sa p'ap fè l' plezi. Li ka rive pa pini l' poutèt sa.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Pa kite moun k'ap fè sa ki mal fè ou pèdi tèt ou. Pa anvye sò mechan yo.
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 Paske mechan yo pa pral lwen. Lavi yo tankou yon lanp k'ap mouri.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
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: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
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 suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
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 are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
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.
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 Men, jij ki pini moun ki antò a va gen kè kontan. Bondye va beni l'. Tout zafè l' va mache byen.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 Lè ou bay yon bon repons, ou aji tankou yon bon zanmi.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Regle tout zafè ou. Mete jaden ou anfòm. Apre sa, ou mèt tabli.
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Pa leve pale sou do frè parèy ou san rezon. Pa bay manti sou li.
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile 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, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 Mwen pase bò jaden yon nonm parese, bò jaden rezen yon moun ki san konprann.
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
31 Pikan te fin pran jaden an nèt. Move zèb t'ap pouse toupatou. Lantouraj jaden yo te fin tonbe.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Lè mwen wè sa, mwen kalkile. Mwen gade, sa ban m' yon leson.
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 Dòmi, kabicha, kouche sou do, kwaze men ou dèyè tèt ou... Se bon!
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 W'ap rete konsa, w'ap wè ou pòv. Mizè ap tonbe sou ou tankou yon ansasen san ou pa atann.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
