Pwovèb 4
1 Pitit mwen yo, koute yon papa lè l'ap ban nou bon levasyon. Louvri zòrèy nou pou nou ka gen konprann.
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Pa janm bliye anyen nan sa m'ap moutre nou la a: Se bon konsèy m'ap ban nou.
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 Lè mwen te timoun piti lakay papa m', lè sa a mwen te sèl pitit manman mwen.
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before 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.
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and 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, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Pa lage konesans ou. L'a toujou pwoteje ou. renmen l', li p'ap kite anyen rive ou.
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps 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 [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 renmen konesans, l'ap fè ou mache tèt wo. Kenbe l', pa lage l'. L'a fè yo respekte ou.
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 Se va yon bèl bagay pou ou, tankou yon kouwòn sou tèt ou. Se va yon lwanj pou ou kote ou pase.
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 Koute sa m'ap di ou, pitit mwen. Pa bliye sa m'ap moutre ou la a, konsa w'a viv lontan.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 Mwen moutre ou jan pou ou viv ak bon konprann. Mwen fè ou konnen jan pou ou mache dwat.
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
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.
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do 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.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 Pa fè menm chemen ak mechan yo. Pa swiv egzanp moun ki deprave yo.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a 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 pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass 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.
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
17 Se nan fè mechanste yo jwenn manje pou yo manje. Se nan fè moun mal yo jwenn diven pou yo bwè.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink 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.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 Chemen moun mechan yo fè nwa kou lannwit. Yo pa ka wè sou kisa y'ap bite.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they 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, give 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 let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 Se lavi pou moun ki jwenn yo. Se lasante pou tout moun ki konprann yo.
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
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.
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Pa janm kite manti soti nan bouch ou, ni move pawòl, ni mo deplase.
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 Gade dwat devan ou. Kenbe je ou fikse sou chemen ki dwat devan ou lan.
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Chache konnen byen sa w'ap fè. Konsa, tou sa w'ap fè ap mache byen pou ou.
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch. Pa lage kò ou nan fè sa ki mal.
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
