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 therewith, 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 wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Po rafine se pou ajan, e founo se pou lò; men SENYÈ a ap sonde tout kè.
The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4 Yon malfektè koute lèv mechan yo; yon mantè prete atansyon a yon lang kap detwi.
The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth 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.
Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6 Pitit a pitit se kouwòn a granmoun, e glwa a fis yo se papa yo.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Bèl diskou pa byen koresponn ak yon moun ki ensanse, bokou mwens lèv kap manti sou yon prens.
Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
8 Vèse kòb anba tab se tankou wanga pou mèt li; nenpòt kote li vire, li byen reyisi.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9 Sila ki kouvri yon transgresyon, chache lanmou; men sila ki repete yon koze, separe bon zanmi yo.
He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10 Yon repwòch antre pi fon nan moun bon konprann nan pase anpil kou sou yon moun ensanse.
A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath 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] seeketh only rebellion; but 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 bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Pou sila ki remèt mal pou byen an, mal la p ap janm kite lakay li.
Whoso rewardeth 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 contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
15 Sila ki bay rezon a mechan an, ni sila ki kondane moun dwat la; tou de abominab a SENYÈ a.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16 Poukisa gen kòb nan men moun ensanse a pou l achte sajès, konsi, li pa konprann anyen?
To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
17 Yon zanmi renmen tout tan; yon frè fèt pou move tan.
The friend loveth 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 senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19 Sila ki renmen vyole lalwa a renmen konfli; sila ki awogan an, chache gwo dega.
He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh 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 that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Sila ki fè pitit ki san konprann nan, fè l nan tristès; e papa a yon moun ensanse pa gen kè kontan.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
22 Yon kè kontan se bon remèd; men yon lespri brize seche tout zo.
A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Yon nonm mechan an resevwa kòb anba tab an sekrè; pou l tòde chemen lajistis.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
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 him that hath 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 that bore him.
26 Anplis, li pa bon pou pini moun dwat la, ni pou frape prens yo akoz entegrite yo.
To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
27 Sila ki kenbe pawòl li, gen konesans; e sila ki gen lespri kalm nan se yon nonm ak bon konprann.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
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 holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
