Pwovèb 31
1 Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and 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?
You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
3 Pa gaspiye kouray ou nan fanm. Veye zo ou ak fanm k'ap fè malè chèf yo.
Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
4 Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
5 Lè yo bwè konsa, yo bliye lòd yo te bay. Yo p'ap pran ka malere yo.
If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
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/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 Yo bwè pou yo bliye mizè yo, pou yo pa chonje lapenn yo.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 Louvri bouch ou pale pou moun ki pa ka pale pou tèt yo. Defann kòz moun ki san sekou yo.
Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
9 Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
10 Sa pa fasil pou moun jwenn yon bon madanm. Lè li jwenn li, li gen plis valè pase yon boul lò.
It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
11 Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 Madanm lan p'ap janm aji mal ak mari l', l'ap pase tout lavi l' ap fè l' byen.
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 Li chache lenn mouton ak fil swa, li travay yo fè twal ak men l'.
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 Tankou bato k'ap pote machandiz, li al byen lwen chache manje mete nan kay la.
She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes 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 before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
16 Li fè lide sou yon tè, li achte l' ak lajan li fè ak men l'. Li fè jaden rezen sou li.
She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
17 Li mare ren l', li twouse manch rad li pou l' travay.
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 Li santi zafè l' ap mache byen, li rete byen ta lannwit ap travay.
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
19 Li file koton, li koud rad li.
She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
20 Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 Li pa pè fredi pou moun lakay li, paske tout moun gen rad cho pou mete sou yo.
She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
22 Li fè kouvèti lenn pou kabann yo. Tout rad li yo fèt ak twal wouj tise byen sere.
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Mari l', se yonn nan chèf fanmi lavil la. Tout moun lavil la ap nonmen non l' an byen.
Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
24 Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 Lè li louvri bouch li, se bon konsèy li bay. Li toujou gen bon pawòl nan bouch li.
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Tout pitit li yo ap fè l' konpliman. Mari l' menm ap fè lwanj li.
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass 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.
Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
31 Ba li sa ki pou li a. Lè y'a wè sa l' fè, se pou tout moun fè lwanj li.
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
