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, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn 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 good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.
3 Lè mwen te timoun piti lakay papa m', lè sa a mwen te sèl pitit manman mwen.
For I was my father's son, A tender and only child in the sight 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 to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, 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; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.
6 Pa lage konesans ou. L'a toujou pwoteje ou. renmen l', li p'ap kite anyen rive ou.
Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.
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 the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain 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 will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost 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 will give to thy head a graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.
10 Koute sa m'ap di ou, pitit mwen. Pa bliye sa m'ap moutre ou la a, konsa w'a viv lontan.
Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.
11 Mwen moutre ou jan pou ou viv ak bon konprann. Mwen fè ou konnen jan pou ou mache dwat.
I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.
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 thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when thou runnest, thou shalt 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.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; Keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Pa fè menm chemen ak mechan yo. Pa swiv egzanp moun ki deprave yo.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men;
15 Pa fè sa, pa pran chemen sa yo menm. Refize fè tankou yo, fè chemen pa ou.
Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.
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 sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to 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.
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
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 thick darkness; They know not 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, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;
21 Pa janm kite yo soti devan je ou. Kenbe yo nan kè ou. Pa janm bliye yo.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy 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 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.
More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.
24 Pa janm kite manti soti nan bouch ou, ni move pawòl, ni mo deplase.
Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.
25 Gade dwat devan ou. Kenbe je ou fikse sou chemen ki dwat devan ou lan.
Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.
26 Chache konnen byen sa w'ap fè. Konsa, tou sa w'ap fè ap mache byen pou ou.
Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch. Pa lage kò ou nan fè sa ki mal.
Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.
