Pwovèb 17
1 Pi bon se yon mòso pen sèch ak lapè pase yon kay ak gwo manje nan konfli.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Yon sèvitè ki aji avèk sajès va renye sou yon fis ki aji ak wont; li va pataje eritaj la pami frè yo.
A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 Po rafine se pou ajan, e founo se pou lò; men SENYÈ a ap sonde tout kè.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
4 Yon malfektè koute lèv mechan yo; yon mantè prete atansyon a yon lang kap detwi.
An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Sila ki moke malere a moke Kreyatè li; sila ki rejwi nan malè a, p ap soti san pinisyon.
He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Pitit a pitit se kouwòn a granmoun, e glwa a fis yo se papa yo.
Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
7 Bèl diskou pa byen koresponn ak yon moun ki ensanse, bokou mwens lèv kap manti sou yon prens.
Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
8 Vèse kòb anba tab se tankou wanga pou mèt li; nenpòt kote li vire, li byen reyisi.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Sila ki kouvri yon transgresyon, chache lanmou; men sila ki repete yon koze, separe bon zanmi yo.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
10 Yon repwòch antre pi fon nan moun bon konprann nan pase anpil kou sou yon moun ensanse.
A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Yon nonm rebèl se mal l ap chache; konsa, yon mesaje byen sovaj va voye kont li.
An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Pito yon nonm rankontre yon lous fewòs ki separe de pitit li, pase yon moun ensanse nan mitan foli li.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Pou sila ki remèt mal pou byen an, mal la p ap janm kite lakay li.
He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Kòmansman a konfli se tankou pete gwo baryè dlo; konsa, kite kont la avan l kòmanse.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 Sila ki bay rezon a mechan an, ni sila ki kondane moun dwat la; tou de abominab a SENYÈ a.
He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Poukisa gen kòb nan men moun ensanse a pou l achte sajès, konsi, li pa konprann anyen?
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 Yon zanmi renmen tout tan; yon frè fèt pou move tan.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Yon nonm ki manke konprann sèvi garanti, e devni responsab nan prezans a vwazen li.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Sila ki renmen vyole lalwa a renmen konfli; sila ki awogan an, chache gwo dega.
He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
20 Sila ki gen panse kwochi a, pa jwenn anyen ki bon, e sila ki pèvès nan pawòl li yo tonbe nan mal.
He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 Sila ki fè pitit ki san konprann nan, fè l nan tristès; e papa a yon moun ensanse pa gen kè kontan.
He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 Yon kè kontan se bon remèd; men yon lespri brize seche tout zo.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 Yon nonm mechan an resevwa kòb anba tab an sekrè; pou l tòde chemen lajistis.
A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Sajès se devan fas a sila ki gen bon konprann nan; men zye a moun ensanse yo chache jis rive nan tout pwent latè.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Yon fis ki san konprann se yon tèt chaje a papa l, ak gwo chagren a sila ki te pòte li a.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Anplis, li pa bon pou pini moun dwat la, ni pou frape prens yo akoz entegrite yo.
Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
27 Sila ki kenbe pawòl li, gen konesans; e sila ki gen lespri kalm nan se yon nonm ak bon konprann.
He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Menm yon moun ensanse, lè l rete an silans, konsidere kon saj; lè l fèmen lèv li, li parèt rezonab.
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
