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 rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of 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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
3 Po rafine se pou ajan, e founo se pou lò; men SENYÈ a ap sonde tout kè.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
4 Yon malfektè koute lèv mechan yo; yon mantè prete atansyon a yon lang kap detwi.
An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving 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 is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Pitit a pitit se kouwòn a granmoun, e glwa a fis yo se papa yo.
Sons' 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.
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8 Vèse kòb anba tab se tankou wanga pou mèt li; nenpòt kote li vire, li byen reyisi.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Sila ki kouvri yon transgresyon, chache lanmou; men sila ki repete yon koze, separe bon zanmi yo.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Yon repwòch antre pi fon nan moun bon konprann nan pase anpil kou sou yon moun ensanse.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on 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, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Pito yon nonm rankontre yon lous fewòs ki separe de pitit li, pase yon moun ensanse nan mitan foli li.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
13 Pou sila ki remèt mal pou byen an, mal la p ap janm kite lakay li.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Sila ki bay rezon a mechan an, ni sila ki kondane moun dwat la; tou de abominab a SENYÈ a.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [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] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
17 Yon zanmi renmen tout tan; yon frè fèt pou move tan.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 Yon nonm ki manke konprann sèvi garanti, e devni responsab nan prezans a vwazen li.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Sila ki renmen vyole lalwa a renmen konfli; sila ki awogan an, chache gwo dega.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Sila ki gen panse kwochi a, pa jwenn anyen ki bon, e sila ki pèvès nan pawòl li yo tonbe nan mal.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in 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.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 Yon kè kontan se bon remèd; men yon lespri brize seche tout zo.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Yon nonm mechan an resevwa kòb anba tab an sekrè; pou l tòde chemen lajistis.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside 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.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end 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 provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Anplis, li pa bon pou pini moun dwat la, ni pou frape prens yo akoz entegrite yo.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, 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.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
