Pwovèb 31
1 Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy which 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, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! [[shall I say to thee?]]
3 Pa gaspiye kouray ou nan fanm. Veye zo ou ak fanm k'ap fè malè chèf yo.
Give not thy strength to women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings!
4 Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel! It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire 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 rights of any of the afflicted.
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 to him who is ready to perish, And wine to him that hath a heavy heart;
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, In the cause of every orphan!
9 Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And maintain the cause of the poor 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 capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.
11 Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he is in no want of gain.
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.
She riseth while it is yet night, And giveth food to her family, And a task 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 layeth a plan for a field, and buyeth it; With 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 how pleasant is her gain, And her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Li file koton, li koud rad li.
She putteth forth her hands to the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.
20 Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
She spreadeth out her hand to the poor, Yea, 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 hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.
22 Li fè kouvèti lenn pou kabann yo. Tout rad li yo fèt ak twal wouj tise byen sere.
She maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is of fine linen 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 with the elders of the land.
24 Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles to the merchant.
25 Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
Strength and honor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the days to come.
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 kind instruction is upon her tongue.
27 Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
She looketh well to 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 extol her; Her husband, and praiseth her, [[saving, ]]
29 L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
“Many daughters have done, virtuously, 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.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty vain; But the woman that feareth the LORD, 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 ye her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
