Pwovèb 31
1 Men Pawòl wa Lemwèl, men konsèy manman l' te ba li:
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration 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, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Pa gaspiye kouray ou nan fanm. Veye zo ou ak fanm k'ap fè malè chèf yo.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Lemwèl monchè, yon wa pa fèt pou nan bwè bweson. Chèf pa fèt pou nan bwè gwòg.
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 Lè yo bwè konsa, yo bliye lòd yo te bay. Yo p'ap pran ka malere yo.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons 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 to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Yo bwè pou yo bliye mizè yo, pou yo pa chonje lapenn yo.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
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 right of all sons of change.
9 Pale pou yo. Pa fè patipri. Defann kòz malere yo ak endijan yo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both 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.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Mari l' mete tout konfyans li nan li. Tout bagay ap mache byen lakay li.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 Madanm lan p'ap janm aji mal ak mari l', l'ap pase tout lavi l' ap fè l' byen.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 Li chache lenn mouton ak fil swa, li travay yo fè twal ak men l'.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 Tankou bato k'ap pote machandiz, li al byen lwen chache manje mete nan kay la.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
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.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 Li fè lide sou yon tè, li achte l' ak lajan li fè ak men l'. Li fè jaden rezen sou li.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Li mare ren l', li twouse manch rad li pou l' travay.
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 Li santi zafè l' ap mache byen, li rete byen ta lannwit ap travay.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Li file koton, li koud rad li.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Li lonje men l' bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth 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 her household from snow, 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.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Mari l', se yonn nan chèf fanmi lavil la. Tout moun lavil la ap nonmen non l' an byen.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 Madanm li fe rad pou l' vann, li fè bèl senti, li vann yo ak machann.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 Li gen anpil kouraj, tout moun respekte l', li pa pè denmen.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 Lè li louvri bouch li, se bon konsèy li bay. Li toujou gen bon pawòl nan bouch li.
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 Li konnen vire tounen tout moun nan kay la. Li toujou gen yon bagay l'ap fè.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Tout pitit li yo ap fè l' konpliman. Mari l' menm ap fè lwanj li.
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 L'ap di: Mwen konnen anpil madanm. Men ou menm, nanpwen tankou ou!
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above 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.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Ba li sa ki pou li a. Lè y'a wè sa l' fè, se pou tout moun fè lwanj li.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
