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, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Pa janm bliye anyen nan sa m'ap moutre nou la a: Se bon konsèy m'ap ban nou.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Lè mwen te timoun piti lakay papa m', lè sa a mwen te sèl pitit manman mwen.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
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 was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you 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, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Pa lage konesans ou. L'a toujou pwoteje ou. renmen l', li p'ap kite anyen rive ou.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect 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.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 renmen konesans, l'ap fè ou mache tèt wo. Kenbe l', pa lage l'. L'a fè yo respekte ou.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and 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 place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
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, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Mwen moutre ou jan pou ou viv ak bon konprann. Mwen fè ou konnen jan pou ou mache dwat.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right 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.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
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 these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Pa fè menm chemen ak mechan yo. Pa swiv egzanp moun ki deprave yo.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Pa fè sa, pa pran chemen sa yo menm. Refize fè tankou yo, fè chemen pa ou.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
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.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
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 way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 Chemen moun mechan yo fè nwa kou lannwit. Yo pa ka wè sou kisa y'ap bite.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
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 what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Pa janm kite yo soti devan je ou. Kenbe yo nan kè ou. Pa janm bliye yo.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 Se lavi pou moun ki jwenn yo. Se lasante pou tout moun ki konprann yo.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
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.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Pa janm kite manti soti nan bouch ou, ni move pawòl, ni mo deplase.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Gade dwat devan ou. Kenbe je ou fikse sou chemen ki dwat devan ou lan.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Chache konnen byen sa w'ap fè. Konsa, tou sa w'ap fè ap mache byen pou ou.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch. Pa lage kò ou nan fè sa ki mal.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
