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 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 good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Lè mwen te timoun piti lakay papa m', lè sa a mwen te sèl pitit manman mwen.
For, a son I have been 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 directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy 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.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth 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 first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy 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 doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, 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 giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee 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 thee.
11 Mwen moutre ou jan pou ou viv ak bon konprann. Mwen fè ou konnen jan pou ou mache dwat.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee 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 thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
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] thy life.
14 Pa fè menm chemen ak mechan yo. Pa swiv egzanp moun ki deprave yo.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Pa fè sa, pa pran chemen sa yo menm. Refize fè tankou yo, fè chemen pa ou.
Avoid it, pass not 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 sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [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 wine of 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.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till 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, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Pa janm kite yo soti devan je ou. Kenbe yo nan kè ou. Pa janm bliye yo.
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve 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 those finding them, And to all their flesh 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 every charge keep thy 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 from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Gade dwat devan ou. Kenbe je ou fikse sou chemen ki dwat devan ou lan.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Chache konnen byen sa w'ap fè. Konsa, tou sa w'ap fè ap mache byen pou ou.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch. Pa lage kò ou nan fè sa ki mal.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
