Pwovèb 17
1 Pi bon se yon mòso pen sèch ak lapè pase yon kay ak gwo manje nan konfli.
Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
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 acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
3 Po rafine se pou ajan, e founo se pou lò; men SENYÈ a ap sonde tout kè.
A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
4 Yon malfektè koute lèv mechan yo; yon mantè prete atansyon a yon lang kap detwi.
Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
5 Sila ki moke malere a moke Kreyatè li; sila ki rejwi nan malè a, p ap soti san pinisyon.
Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
6 Pitit a pitit se kouwòn a granmoun, e glwa a fis yo se papa yo.
Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
7 Bèl diskou pa byen koresponn ak yon moun ki ensanse, bokou mwens lèv kap manti sou yon prens.
Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
8 Vèse kòb anba tab se tankou wanga pou mèt li; nenpòt kote li vire, li byen reyisi.
Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
9 Sila ki kouvri yon transgresyon, chache lanmou; men sila ki repete yon koze, separe bon zanmi yo.
If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
10 Yon repwòch antre pi fon nan moun bon konprann nan pase anpil kou sou yon moun ensanse.
A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
11 Yon nonm rebèl se mal l ap chache; konsa, yon mesaje byen sovaj va voye kont li.
Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger will be sent to attack them.
12 Pito yon nonm rankontre yon lous fewòs ki separe de pitit li, pase yon moun ensanse nan mitan foli li.
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
13 Pou sila ki remèt mal pou byen an, mal la p ap janm kite lakay li.
If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
14 Kòmansman a konfli se tankou pete gwo baryè dlo; konsa, kite kont la avan l kòmanse.
The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
15 Sila ki bay rezon a mechan an, ni sila ki kondane moun dwat la; tou de abominab a SENYÈ a.
The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
16 Poukisa gen kòb nan men moun ensanse a pou l achte sajès, konsi, li pa konprann anyen?
Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
17 Yon zanmi renmen tout tan; yon frè fèt pou move tan.
A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
18 Yon nonm ki manke konprann sèvi garanti, e devni responsab nan prezans a vwazen li.
It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
19 Sila ki renmen vyole lalwa a renmen konfli; sila ki awogan an, chache gwo dega.
People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
20 Sila ki gen panse kwochi a, pa jwenn anyen ki bon, e sila ki pèvès nan pawòl li yo tonbe nan mal.
People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
21 Sila ki fè pitit ki san konprann nan, fè l nan tristès; e papa a yon moun ensanse pa gen kè kontan.
A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
22 Yon kè kontan se bon remèd; men yon lespri brize seche tout zo.
A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
23 Yon nonm mechan an resevwa kòb anba tab an sekrè; pou l tòde chemen lajistis.
The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course 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.
Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
25 Yon fis ki san konprann se yon tèt chaje a papa l, ak gwo chagren a sila ki te pòte li a.
A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
26 Anplis, li pa bon pou pini moun dwat la, ni pou frape prens yo akoz entegrite yo.
It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
27 Sila ki kenbe pawòl li, gen konesans; e sila ki gen lespri kalm nan se yon nonm ak bon konprann.
If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
28 Menm yon moun ensanse, lè l rete an silans, konsidere kon saj; lè l fèmen lèv li, li parèt rezonab.
Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
