Pwovèb 4
1 Pitit mwen yo, koute yon papa lè l'ap ban nou bon levasyon. Louvri zòrèy nou pou nou ka gen konprann.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 Pa janm bliye anyen nan sa m'ap moutre nou la a: Se bon konsèy m'ap ban nou.
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 Lè mwen te timoun piti lakay papa m', lè sa a mwen te sèl pitit manman mwen.
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 Papa m' t'ap moutre m' anpil bagay. Li te konn di m': Kenbe pawòl mwen nan kè ou. Fè sa m'ap di ou fè, konsa w'a viv.
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Chache gen konesans ak bon konprann. Pa janm bliye sa m'ap di ou la a. Pa vire do ba yo.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 Pa lage konesans ou. L'a toujou pwoteje ou. renmen l', li p'ap kite anyen rive ou.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Chache gen konesans, se premye bagay yon nonm lespri dwe fè. Nenpòt kisa ou ka genyen, bay li pou ou vin gen konprann.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 renmen konesans, l'ap fè ou mache tèt wo. Kenbe l', pa lage l'. L'a fè yo respekte ou.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 Se va yon bèl bagay pou ou, tankou yon kouwòn sou tèt ou. Se va yon lwanj pou ou kote ou pase.
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Koute sa m'ap di ou, pitit mwen. Pa bliye sa m'ap moutre ou la a, konsa w'a viv lontan.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 Mwen moutre ou jan pou ou viv ak bon konprann. Mwen fè ou konnen jan pou ou mache dwat.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 Lè w'ap viv avèk bon konprann, anyen p'ap bare wout ou. Ou mèt ap kouri, ou p'ap janm bite sou anyen.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Pa janm bliye sa yo te moutre ou, kenbe l' fèm. Pa kite l' chape anba men ou, se tout lavi ou.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Pa fè menm chemen ak mechan yo. Pa swiv egzanp moun ki deprave yo.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Pa fè sa, pa pran chemen sa yo menm. Refize fè tankou yo, fè chemen pa ou.
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 Mechan yo p'ap dòmi toutotan yo pa fè sa ki mal. Dòmi pa ka pran yo si yo pa rive fè sa yo vle fè a.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 Se nan fè mechanste yo jwenn manje pou yo manje. Se nan fè moun mal yo jwenn diven pou yo bwè.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Chemen moun k'ap mache dwat yo tankou solèy k'ap leve. Chak lè, l'ap vin pi klere jouk li fin jou nèt.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 Chemen moun mechan yo fè nwa kou lannwit. Yo pa ka wè sou kisa y'ap bite.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 Pitit mwen, louvri lespri ou pou ou konprann byen sa m'ap di ou la a. Louvri zòrèy ou pou ou koute pawòl k'ap soti nan bouch mwen.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Pa janm kite yo soti devan je ou. Kenbe yo nan kè ou. Pa janm bliye yo.
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 Se lavi pou moun ki jwenn yo. Se lasante pou tout moun ki konprann yo.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Pase tout lòt bagay, veye byen lide k'ap travay nan tèt ou, paske se yo k'ap di ou ki jan pou ou viv.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Pa janm kite manti soti nan bouch ou, ni move pawòl, ni mo deplase.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Gade dwat devan ou. Kenbe je ou fikse sou chemen ki dwat devan ou lan.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Chache konnen byen sa w'ap fè. Konsa, tou sa w'ap fè ap mache byen pou ou.
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch. Pa lage kò ou nan fè sa ki mal.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
