Pwovèb 25
1 Men kèk lòt pwovèb wa Salomon. Se moun nan palè Ezekyas, wa peyi Jida a, ki te kouche yo sou papye.
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 Bondye konnen lè pou l' kite nou konprann, se sa ki fè pouvwa li. Wa yo toujou ap chache konprann, se sa ki fè moun respekte yo.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Menm jan ou pa konnen wotè syèl la ak fondè tè a, se konsa tou ou pa ka konnen sa k'ap pase nan tèt yon wa.
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Wete tout vye kras ki nan ajan an. Efèv la ap ba ou yon bèl travay byen fèt.
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Wete tout mechan bò kote wa a, gouvènman l' lan ap chita byen chita. p'ap gen lenjistis.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Pa fè grandizè devan wa a. Pa chita nan plas grannèg yo.
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 Pito yo di ou moute pi wo, pase pou yo fè ou bay plas la, pou ou ta wont devan chèf la.
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 Sa ou wè ak je ou, pa prese al rapòte l' lajistis. Si apre sa, yon lòt temwen kanpe pou demanti ou, lè sa a kisa ou va fè?
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Lè ou gen kont ak yon moun, regle zafè nou san nou pa mete lòt moun ladan li. Pa mete sekrè l' deyò.
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 Paske, lè moun konnen ou pa ka kenbe sekrè, y'a fè ou wont. Y'a ba ou move non.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
11 Lè ou bay bon pawòl ki tonbe daplon se tankou yon moso lò byen travay yo plake sou yon moso ajan.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Lè yon moun ki gen bon konprann rale zòrèy moun ki gen tande, se tankou zanno ak kolye ki fèt ak bon lò ou mete sou ou.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 Yon komisyonè ki p'ap twonpe moun ki voye l' la, se tankou yon bon vè dlo byen fre w'ap bwè nan mitan chalè rekòt. L'ap remoute kouraj mèt li.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Moun ki toujou ap pwomèt san yo pa janm kenbe pwomès yo, se tankou nwaj ak van ki pa janm pote lapli.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Lè ou pa fè kòlè fasil, ou jwenn jwen pou fè chèf la kwè sa ou vle. Konsa tou, ak pawòl dous, w'ap kraze tout antrav ou ta ka jwenn sou chemen ou.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Lè ou jwenn siwo myèl, bwè kantite ou ka bwè. Si ou pran twòp, l'a fè kè ou plen, l'a fè ou vonmi.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Konsa tou, pa al rann vizit twò dri lakay zanmi ou, pou li pa bouke avè ou, pou l' pa rayi ou.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 Yon moun k'ap mache bay manti sou moun, se tankou yon makak chaplèt, yon nepe, yon flèch byen pwenti. Li ka touye ou.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Jou malè, si ou mete konfyans ou sou moun trèt, se tankou si ou vle mòde ak dan pouri, osinon kouri sou pye foule.
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Chante mereng pou yon moun ki nan lapenn, se tankou moun ki wete tout rad sou li nan fredi, se tankou si ou prije sitwon sou yon malenng.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 Si lènmi ou grangou, ba li manje. Si li swaf dlo, ba li dlo pou l' bwè.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 Lè sa a, w'a fè l' wont anpil. Seyè a va rekonpanse ou.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 Tripotaj fè moun fè kòlè, menm jan nòde bay lapli.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 Pito ou viv pou kont ou nan yon kwen galata pase pou w'ap viv nan yon kay ansanm ak yon fanm k'ap chache kont tout tan.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Lè ou resevwa yon bon nouvèl ki soti nan peyi Jida, se tankou yon vè dlo fre pou yon moun ki sot moute mòn.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 Lè yon moun ki mache dwat kite yon mechan pran tèt li, se tankou yon sous dlo moun mache ladan l', se tankou yon pi yo sal.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 Twòp siwo myèl pa bon pou lasante. Konsa tou, pa chache pou moun nonmen non ou twòp.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 Si ou pa kapab kontwole kòlè ou, ou tankou yon lavil san ranpa. Y'ap anvayi l' fasil. Y'ap mete men sou ou fasil.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
