Pwovèb 24
1 Pa anvye sò mechan yo. Pa chache fè zanmi ak yo.
Don’t be envious of 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.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Bon konprann ap fè kay ou kanpe. Bon konesans ap fè l' kanpe fèm.
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 Kote ki gen konesans, pyès kay yo plen ak bon bagay ki koute chè.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Pito ou gen bon konprann pase ou gen fòs. Wi, moun ki gen konesans vo plis pase moun ki gwonèg.
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases 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 guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
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. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 Lè yon moun tout tan ap kalkile jan pou l' fè sa ki mal, y'ap rele l' malveyan.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
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 schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Si jou malè ou pa gen kouraj pou kenbe, ou pa t' janm gen fòs vre.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Delivre moun y'ap trennen pou y' al touye. Sove moun y'ap bourade pou y' al egzekite.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
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 you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
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,
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
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 you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will 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.
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy 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 a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Pa prese fè kè ou kontan lè malè rive lènmi ou. Pa kouri fè fèt lè li bite.
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
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 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.
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 Paske mechan yo pa pral lwen. Lavi yo tankou yon lanp k'ap mouri.
for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed 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. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
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 calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them 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 also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement 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.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 Men, jij ki pini moun ki antò a va gen kè kontan. Bondye va beni l'. Tout zafè l' va mache byen.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Lè ou bay yon bon repons, ou aji tankou yon bon zanmi.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Regle tout zafè ou. Mete jaden ou anfòm. Apre sa, ou mèt tabli.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Pa leve pale sou do frè parèy ou san rezon. Pa bay manti sou li.
Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Pa janm di li fè m', m'ap fè l' tou. M'ap fè l' peye sa li fè a.
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 Mwen pase bò jaden yon nonm parese, bò jaden rezen yon moun ki san konprann.
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31 Pikan te fin pran jaden an nèt. Move zèb t'ap pouse toupatou. Lantouraj jaden yo te fin tonbe.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Lè mwen wè sa, mwen kalkile. Mwen gade, sa ban m' yon leson.
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 Dòmi, kabicha, kouche sou do, kwaze men ou dèyè tèt ou... Se bon!
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 W'ap rete konsa, w'ap wè ou pòv. Mizè ap tonbe sou ou tankou yon ansasen san ou pa atann.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
