Pwovèb 31
1 Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
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 shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
3 Pa gaspiye kouray ou nan fanm. Veye zo ou ak fanm k'ap fè malè chèf yo.
Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
4 Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
5 Lè yo bwè konsa, yo bliye lòd yo te bay. Yo p'ap pran ka malere yo.
For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
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 alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
7 Yo bwè pou yo bliye mizè yo, pou yo pa chonje lapenn yo.
Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8 Louvri bouch ou pale pou moun ki pa ka pale pou tèt yo. Defann kòz moun ki san sekou yo.
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
9 Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
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 strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
11 Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12 Madanm lan p'ap janm aji mal ak mari l', l'ap pase tout lavi l' ap fè l' byen.
She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
13 Li chache lenn mouton ak fil swa, li travay yo fè twal ak men l'.
She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14 Tankou bato k'ap pote machandiz, li al byen lwen chache manje mete nan kay la.
Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
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.
She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
16 Li fè lide sou yon tè, li achte l' ak lajan li fè ak men l'. Li fè jaden rezen sou li.
She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17 Li mare ren l', li twouse manch rad li pou l' travay.
She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18 Li santi zafè l' ap mache byen, li rete byen ta lannwit ap travay.
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Li file koton, li koud rad li.
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
20 Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
21 Li pa pè fredi pou moun lakay li, paske tout moun gen rad cho pou mete sou yo.
She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
22 Li fè kouvèti lenn pou kabann yo. Tout rad li yo fèt ak twal wouj tise byen sere.
She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 Mari l', se yonn nan chèf fanmi lavil la. Tout moun lavil la ap nonmen non l' an byen.
Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
24 Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25 Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26 Lè li louvri bouch li, se bon konsèy li bay. Li toujou gen bon pawòl nan bouch li.
She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27 Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
28 Tout pitit li yo ap fè l' konpliman. Mari l' menm ap fè lwanj li.
Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29 L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
“Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
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.
Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should 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 the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
