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 with joy, than a house full of victims 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 foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Po rafine se pou ajan, e founo se pou lò; men SENYÈ a ap sonde tout kè.
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 Yon malfektè koute lèv mechan yo; yon mantè prete atansyon a yon lang kap detwi.
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 Sila ki moke malere a moke Kreyatè li; sila ki rejwi nan malè a, p ap soti san pinisyon.
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
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.
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 Vèse kòb anba tab se tankou wanga pou mèt li; nenpòt kote li vire, li byen reyisi.
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 Sila ki kouvri yon transgresyon, chache lanmou; men sila ki repete yon koze, separe bon zanmi yo.
He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 Yon repwòch antre pi fon nan moun bon konprann nan pase anpil kou sou yon moun ensanse.
A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 Yon nonm rebèl se mal l ap chache; konsa, yon mesaje byen sovaj va voye kont li.
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel 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.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 Pou sila ki remèt mal pou byen an, mal la p ap janm kite lakay li.
He that rendereth 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 quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
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 just, both are abominable before God.
16 Poukisa gen kòb nan men moun ensanse a pou l achte sajès, konsi, li pa konprann anyen?
What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 Yon zanmi renmen tout tan; yon frè fèt pou move tan.
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 Yon nonm ki manke konprann sèvi garanti, e devni responsab nan prezans a vwazen li.
A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 Sila ki renmen vyole lalwa a renmen konfli; sila ki awogan an, chache gwo dega.
He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
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 is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall 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.
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 Yon kè kontan se bon remèd; men yon lespri brize seche tout zo.
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Yon nonm mechan an resevwa kòb anba tab an sekrè; pou l tòde chemen lajistis.
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may 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 shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools 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 the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 Anplis, li pa bon pou pini moun dwat la, ni pou frape prens yo akoz entegrite yo.
It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 Sila ki kenbe pawòl li, gen konesans; e sila ki gen lespri kalm nan se yon nonm ak bon konprann.
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious 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, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
