Pwovèb 14
1 Fanm saj la bati kay li, men fanm ensanse a demoli li ak pwòp men li.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 Sila ki mache nan ladwati a gen lakrent SENYÈ a; men sila ki fè chemen kwochi a meprize li.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
3 Nan bouch a moun sòt la, se yon baton pou do li; men lèv a saj yo va pwoteje yo.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Kote nanpwen bèf, manjwa a pwòp; men se fòs a bèf la ki fè richès.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 Yon temwen fidèl p ap bay manti; men yon fo temwen pale manti.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Yon mokè chache sajès, e li pa jwenn anyen; men konesans fasil pou sila ki gen bon konprann nan.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Kite prezans a yon moun ensanse, sinon ou p ap rekonèt pawòl a saj yo.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 Sajès a moun rezonab la se pou l konprann chemen li; men betiz a moun ensanse a se desepsyon.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Moun ensanse kontwole peche kon jwèt; men pami moun dwat yo, gen bòn volonte.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 Kè a konnen pwòp amètim ak bonè li; men ak lòt, sa p ap pataje.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 Lakay mechan yo va detwi; men tant a moun dwat la va fleri.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 Gen yon chemen ki sanble bon pou lòm; men fen li se chemen lanmò an.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Menm lè bouch ri, kè a ka gen doulè, e lajwa kon fini nan tristès.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 Kè a ki pa fidèl va jwen rekonpans pou pwòp chemen li; men yon bon moun va rekonpanse pou sa li fè a.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 Moun san konprann kwè nan tout bagay; men yon nonm k ap refleshi veye pa li yo.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 Yon nonm saj fè atansyon pou l vire kite mal; men yon moun fou plen ògèy; li pa pè anyen.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 Yon nonm kolerik aji nan foli, e yon nonm kokèn va rayi pa lòt yo.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Moun san konprann yo gen foli kon eritaj; men moun rezonab lan kouwone ak konesans.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Mal la va bese devan sa ki bon an; e mechan an devan pòtay a moun dwat la.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Malere a vin rayi menm pa vwazen li; men moun gwo kòb gen anpil zanmi.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Sila ki meprize vwazen li fè peche; men sila ki fè gras a malere a, beni.
He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Èske sila ki fòmante mechanste a, pa egare? Men ladousè avèk verite se pou sa yo ki fè sa ki bon.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 Nan tout travay gen pwofi; men pale anpil mennen nan povrete.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 Kouwòn saj yo se richès yo; men betiz moun ensanse se foli yo.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 Yon vrè temwen sove lavi a moun; men sila ki pale manti pase moun nan betiz.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 Nan lakrent SENYÈ a, gen gwo konfyans; e pitit li yo va jwenn sekou.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 Lakrent SENYÈ a se yon fontèn dlo lavi, pou moun ka evite pèlen lanmò yo.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 Nan fòs kantite a pèp yo se glwa a yon wa, men afè prens ki manke moun gate nèt.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 Sila ki lan nan kòlè a, gen gwo konprann; men sila ki fè fache vit, leve foli byen wo.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 Yon kè trankil se lavi pou kò a; men pasyon fè tout zo yo pouri.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 Sila ki oprime malere a ap vekse Kreyatè li; men sila ki gen bonte anvè pòv la, onore L.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
32 Mechan an jete anba pa malfezans li; men moun ladwati a gen sekou lè l mouri.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Sajès se nan kè a sila ki gen bon konprann nan; menm moun ensanse yo, nan kè, yo konnen.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Ladwati leve yon nasyon; men peche se yon gwo wont pou yon pèp.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 Favè a wa a se anvè sèvitè ki aji ak sajès; men kòlè li se anvè sila ki fè gwo wont.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
