Pwovèb 31
1 Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 Kisa pou m' di ou, pitit mwen, pitit ki soti nan zantray mwen? Se mwen ki te mande Bondye pou l' ban mwen ou. Kisa pou m' di ou?
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Pa gaspiye kouray ou nan fanm. Veye zo ou ak fanm k'ap fè malè chèf yo.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 Lè yo bwè konsa, yo bliye lòd yo te bay. Yo p'ap pran ka malere yo.
— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Se moun ki dekouraje ak lavi ki tonbe nan gwòg. Se moun ki gen gwo lapenn nan kè yo ki lage kò yo nan bweson.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 Yo bwè pou yo bliye mizè yo, pou yo pa chonje lapenn yo.
let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Louvri bouch ou pale pou moun ki pa ka pale pou tèt yo. Defann kòz moun ki san sekou yo.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Sa pa fasil pou moun jwenn yon bon madanm. Lè li jwenn li, li gen plis valè pase yon boul lò.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 Madanm lan p'ap janm aji mal ak mari l', l'ap pase tout lavi l' ap fè l' byen.
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Li chache lenn mouton ak fil swa, li travay yo fè twal ak men l'.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 Tankou bato k'ap pote machandiz, li al byen lwen chache manje mete nan kay la.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 Solèy poko leve, li gen tan sou pye l', l'ap pare manje pou moun nan kay la. L'ap di sèvant yo sa pou yo fè.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 Li fè lide sou yon tè, li achte l' ak lajan li fè ak men l'. Li fè jaden rezen sou li.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Li mare ren l', li twouse manch rad li pou l' travay.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 Li santi zafè l' ap mache byen, li rete byen ta lannwit ap travay.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Li file koton, li koud rad li.
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 Li pa pè fredi pou moun lakay li, paske tout moun gen rad cho pou mete sou yo.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Li fè kouvèti lenn pou kabann yo. Tout rad li yo fèt ak twal wouj tise byen sere.
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Mari l', se yonn nan chèf fanmi lavil la. Tout moun lavil la ap nonmen non l' an byen.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 Lè li louvri bouch li, se bon konsèy li bay. Li toujou gen bon pawòl nan bouch li.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Tout pitit li yo ap fè l' konpliman. Mari l' menm ap fè lwanj li.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Bèl fanm pa di bon madanm pou sa. Bèl figi pa la pou lontan. Men, y'a fè lwanj yon fanm ki gen krentif pou Seyè a.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Ba li sa ki pou li a. Lè y'a wè sa l' fè, se pou tout moun fè lwanj li.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
