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, forget not my teaching, And let thy heart observe my precepts!
2 Se yo k'ap fè ou viv lontan. Se yo k'ap fè ou viv ak kè poze.
For length of days, and years of life, And peace shall they multiply to thee.
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.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Si ou fè sa, Bondye va kontan avè ou, lèzòm va nonmen non ou an byen.
Then shalt thou find favor and good success In the sight of God and man.
5 Mete tout konfyans ou nan Seyè a. Pa gade sou sa ou konnen.
Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, And lean not on thine own understanding;
6 Toujou chonje Seyè a nan tou sa w'ap fè. Li menm, l'a moutre ou chemen pou ou pran.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.
7 Pa mete nan tèt ou ou gen plis konprann pase sa. Gen krentif pou Seyè a, refize fè sa ki mal.
Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Lè ou fè sa, se va tankou yon bon medikaman: W'a toujou gaya, ou p'ap janm soufri doulè.
It shall be health to thy muscles, And moisture to thy bones.
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 thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy increase;
10 Lè ou fè sa, galata ou ap toujou chaje danre. Barik diven ou yo ap plen ra bouch.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats 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, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!
12 Paske Seyè a korije moun li renmen, menm jan yon papa korije pitit li renmen anpil la.
For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Ala bon sa bon pou moun ki gen konesans, pou moun ki rive gen bon konprann!
Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who getteth understanding!
14 Benefis l'ap rapòte pi bon pase sa lajan bay. Avantaj l'ap bay gen plis valè pase lò.
For the profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of fine gold.
15 Sajès pi bon pase boul lò. Nanpwen anyen moun ta renmen genyen ki ka parèt devan li.
More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared with her.
16 Yon bò, bon konprann ap fè moun viv lontan. Yon lòt bò, l'ap bay richès, l'ap fè moun respekte ou.
Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 L'ap fè moun viv ak kè kontan. L'ap fè ou reyisi nan tou sa w'ap fè.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
18 Moun ki gen bon konprann jwenn lavi. Sa bon nèt pou moun ki gen bon konprann!
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.
19 Avèk bon konprann li, Bondye kreye latè. Avèk entèlijans li, li mete syèl la nan plas li.
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.
20 Avèk konesans li, li fè larivyè yo koule. Li fè nwaj yo bay lapli sou latè.
By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, And the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Pitit mwen, kenbe pye konesans ou, pa pèdi konprann ou. Pa janm kite anyen fè ou bliye yo.
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion!
22 Y'ap ba ou lavi, y'ap fè lavi ou bèl tankou yon kolye ki pase nan kou ou.
For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
23 W'a fè chemen ou nan lavi san ou pa pè anyen. Ou p'ap janm bite sou anyen.
Then shalt thou go on thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble;
24 Lè ou pral kouche, ou p'ap pè anyen. Lè w'a fin lonje kò ou, w'a dòmi nèt ale.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall 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.
Be not thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for the wicked, when it cometh;
26 Paske se Seyè a ki tout espwa ou. Li p'ap kite ou pran nan pèlen.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Pa refize fè byen pou moun ki nan nesesite, chak fwa ou santi ou ka fè sa.
Withhold not kindness from those who need it, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
28 Si ou gen lajan sou ou, ou pa ka di frè parèy ou: Ale non! Tounen denmen. M'a ba ou kichòy!
Say not to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” when thou hast it by thee.
29 Moun k'ap viv ansanm avè ou, ki mete konfyans yo nan ou, pa manniganse anyen ki pou fè yo mal.
Devise not evil against thy neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Pa fè kabouyay san rezon ak yon moun san li pa janm fè ou anyen ki mal.
Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.
31 Pa anvye sò mechan yo. Pa mete nan tèt ou pou ou fè tankou yo.
Envy not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.
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 perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with the upright.
33 Madichon Bondye chita lakay mechan yo. Men, benediksyon l' ap kouvri kay moun ki mache dwat yo.
The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.
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.
Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.
35 Y'a fè lwanj moun ki gen bon konprann yo, men moun fou yo, se wont y'a wont.
The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.
