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 sacrifices [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 have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of 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 the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Yon malfektè koute lèv mechan yo; yon mantè prete atansyon a yon lang kap detwi.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Sila ki moke malere a moke Kreyatè li; sila ki rejwi nan malè a, p ap soti san pinisyon.
He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities 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 [is] 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 fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Vèse kòb anba tab se tankou wanga pou mèt li; nenpòt kote li vire, li byen reyisi.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: 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 a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter 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 into a wise man 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: 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 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.
Whoever 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 strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
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, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
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 get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 Yon zanmi renmen tout tan; yon frè fèt pou move tan.
A 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 man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Sila ki renmen vyole lalwa a renmen konfli; sila ki awogan an, chache gwo dega.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth 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 froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth 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 that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Yon kè kontan se bon remèd; men yon lespri brize seche tout zo.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth 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 ways 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.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
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 an excellent 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 counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
