Pwovèb 3
1 Pitit mwen, pa janm bliye sa mwen moutre ou yo. Kenbe tou sa mwen di ou fè yo nan kè ou.
My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
2 Se yo k'ap fè ou viv lontan. Se yo k'ap fè ou viv ak kè poze.
Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
3 Se pou ou toujou viv byen ak tout moun. Se pou ou toujou gen yon sèl pawòl. Mete pawòl mwen yo nan kou ou tankou yon kolye, kenbe yo nan kè ou pou ou pa janm bliye yo.
Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
4 Si ou fè sa, Bondye va kontan avè ou, lèzòm va nonmen non ou an byen.
That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
5 Mete tout konfyans ou nan Seyè a. Pa gade sou sa ou konnen.
Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
6 Toujou chonje Seyè a nan tou sa w'ap fè. Li menm, l'a moutre ou chemen pou ou pran.
Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
7 Pa mete nan tèt ou ou gen plis konprann pase sa. Gen krentif pou Seyè a, refize fè sa ki mal.
Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
8 Lè ou fè sa, se va tankou yon bon medikaman: W'a toujou gaya, ou p'ap janm soufri doulè.
Then you will have healed and be made strong.
9 Fè wè jan ou gen respè pou Seyè a: ba li nan tou sa ou genyen, ofri l' premye donn ou rekòlte nan jaden ou.
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
10 Lè ou fè sa, galata ou ap toujou chaje danre. Barik diven ou yo ap plen ra bouch.
Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Pitit mwen, lè Seyè a ap pini ou, pa betize ak sa. Lè l'ap korije ou, pa dekouraje.
My son, don't reject the Lord's discipline or resent it when he corrects you,
12 Paske Seyè a korije moun li renmen, menm jan yon papa korije pitit li renmen anpil la.
for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
13 Ala bon sa bon pou moun ki gen konesans, pou moun ki rive gen bon konprann!
Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
14 Benefis l'ap rapòte pi bon pase sa lajan bay. Avantaj l'ap bay gen plis valè pase lò.
for wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
15 Sajès pi bon pase boul lò. Nanpwen anyen moun ta renmen genyen ki ka parèt devan li.
She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
16 Yon bò, bon konprann ap fè moun viv lontan. Yon lòt bò, l'ap bay richès, l'ap fè moun respekte ou.
She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
17 L'ap fè moun viv ak kè kontan. L'ap fè ou reyisi nan tou sa w'ap fè.
She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
18 Moun ki gen bon konprann jwenn lavi. Sa bon nèt pou moun ki gen bon konprann!
Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
19 Avèk bon konprann li, Bondye kreye latè. Avèk entèlijans li, li mete syèl la nan plas li.
It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 Avèk konesans li, li fè larivyè yo koule. Li fè nwaj yo bay lapli sou latè.
It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
21 Pitit mwen, kenbe pye konesans ou, pa pèdi konprann ou. Pa janm kite anyen fè ou bliye yo.
My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
22 Y'ap ba ou lavi, y'ap fè lavi ou bèl tankou yon kolye ki pase nan kou ou.
for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
23 W'a fè chemen ou nan lavi san ou pa pè anyen. Ou p'ap janm bite sou anyen.
You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
24 Lè ou pral kouche, ou p'ap pè anyen. Lè w'a fin lonje kò ou, w'a dòmi nèt ale.
When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Ou p'ap bezwen pè: malè p'ap rete konsa pou l' tonbe sou tèt ou. Ni tou, sa ki rive mechan yo p'ap rive ou.
You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
26 Paske se Seyè a ki tout espwa ou. Li p'ap kite ou pran nan pèlen.
for the Lord will be the one you can trust in, and he will prevent you being caught in a trap.
27 Pa refize fè byen pou moun ki nan nesesite, chak fwa ou santi ou ka fè sa.
Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
28 Si ou gen lajan sou ou, ou pa ka di frè parèy ou: Ale non! Tounen denmen. M'a ba ou kichòy!
Don't tell your neighbor, “Go away. Come back tomorrow and then I'll give it to you,” when you've already got it.
29 Moun k'ap viv ansanm avè ou, ki mete konfyans yo nan ou, pa manniganse anyen ki pou fè yo mal.
Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
30 Pa fè kabouyay san rezon ak yon moun san li pa janm fè ou anyen ki mal.
Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
31 Pa anvye sò mechan yo. Pa mete nan tèt ou pou ou fè tankou yo.
Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
32 Paske Seyè a pa vle wè moun ki deprave. Men, li mete moun ki mache dwat yo nan tout sekrè l' yo.
For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
33 Madichon Bondye chita lakay mechan yo. Men, benediksyon l' ap kouvri kay moun ki mache dwat yo.
The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
34 Moun k'ap pase moun nan betiz, Bondye ap pase yo nan betiz tou. Men, moun ki fè byen, l'ap moutre yo jan li renmen yo.
He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
35 Y'a fè lwanj moun ki gen bon konprann yo, men moun fou yo, se wont y'a wont.
The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
