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 sons, the correction of a father, and attend, that ye may know understanding.
2 Pa janm bliye anyen nan sa m'ap moutre nou la a: Se bon konsèy m'ap ban nou.
For, good teaching, have I given you, mine instruction, do not ye forsake.
3 Lè mwen te timoun piti lakay papa m', lè sa a mwen te sèl pitit manman mwen.
For, a son, became I to my father, tender and most precious 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.
So he taught me, and said to me—Let thy heart, lay hold of 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.
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding, Do not forget, neither decline thou 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 will guard thee, —love her and she will keep 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.
The principal thing, is wisdom, acquire thou wisdom, With all thine acquisition, acquire thou 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 set thee on high, she will bring thee to honour, 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 for thy head, a wreath of beauty, A crown of adorning, 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, my son, and receive my sayings, and they will multiply to thee the years of life.
11 Mwen moutre ou jan pou ou viv ak bon konprann. Mwen fè ou konnen jan pou ou mache dwat.
In the way of wisdom, have I taught thee, I have guided thee in tracks 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.
When thou walkest, thy step shall not be hemmed in, and, if 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 correction, 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.
Upon the path of the lawless, do not thou enter, and do not advance in the way of the wicked:
15 Pa fè sa, pa pran chemen sa yo menm. Refize fè tankou yo, fè chemen pa ou.
Avoid it, do not pass thereon—turn from it, and depart.
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 can do mischief, —They rob themselves of their sleep, if they cannot cause someone 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 consume bread gotten by lawlessness, and, wine obtained by violence, they drink.
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, —going on and brightening, unto meridian day.
19 Chemen moun mechan yo fè nwa kou lannwit. Yo pa ka wè sou kisa y'ap bite.
The way of the lawless, is like 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, to my words, attend, to my sayings, incline thou thine ear;
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, life, they are, to them who find them, —and, to every part of one’s flesh, they bring healing.
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 all that must be guarded, keep thou thy heart, for, out of it, are the issues of life.
24 Pa janm kite manti soti nan bouch ou, ni move pawòl, ni mo deplase.
Remove from thee, perverseness of mouth, and, craftiness of lips, put far from thee.
25 Gade dwat devan ou. Kenbe je ou fikse sou chemen ki dwat devan ou lan.
Let, thine eyes, right onward, look, —and, thine eyelashes, point straight before thee.
26 Chache konnen byen sa w'ap fè. Konsa, tou sa w'ap fè ap mache byen pou ou.
Make level the track of thy foot, that, all thy ways, may be directed aright:
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch. Pa lage kò ou nan fè sa ki mal.
Decline not, to the right hand or to the left, —Turn away thy foot from wickedness.
