Pwovèb 18
1 Sila ki izole pwòp tèt li, chache pwòp enterè l; bon jijman an pa anyèn devan l.
Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
2 Yon moun ensanse pa pran plezi nan bon konprann; men sèlman nan devwale pwòp panse li.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Lè yon nonm mechan vin parèt, mepriz la vini ansanm avè l; e avèk dezonè, wont vin parèt.
Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
4 Pawòl yo ki sòti nan bouch a yon nonm se yon dlo byen fon; dlo sajès se yon dlo fre k ap koule tout tan.
What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
5 Panche vè youn moun mechan an pa bon, ni pou fè jijman ki rache jistis nan men moun dwat yo.
It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
6 Lèv a yon moun ensanse mennen konfli; bouch li ap mande kou.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 Bouch a moun san konprann nan se dega li; e lèv li se pèlen pou nanm li.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 Pawòl a sila ki chichote pawòl nan zòrèy moun nan se tankou bonbon ki gen gou dous; se jis nan fon kò a yo desann.
[People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
9 Anplis, sila ki parese nan travay li a se frè a sila ki detwi.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Non SENYÈ a se yon sitadèl byen fò; moun ladwati a kouri ladann pou jwenn sekou.
Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
11 Pou yon nonm rich, byen li se yon vil ki fò; kon yon miray byen wo nan panse li.
Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
12 Avan destriksyon, kè yon nonm plen ògèy; men imilite ale devan onè.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Sila ki bay repons avan li koute a; plen foli ak wont.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 Lespri a yon nonm kapab sipòte maladi; men nan ka lespri brize a, se kilès ki kab sipòte li?
A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
15 Panse a sila ki gen bon konprann nan, ranmase konesans; anplis, zòrèy a saj la chache konesans.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 Don a yon nonm fè kont espas pou li, e mennen li devan moun enpòtan.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 Premye moun pou plede ka li a, sanble gen rezon; jiskaske yon lòt moun vin egzamine l.
The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
18 Tiraj osò fè konfli sispann; lap pran desizyon antre moun pwisan yo.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 Yon frè ki blese se pi rèd pou konvenk pase yon vil fòtifye; konfli ak li se tankou ba fè nan yon sitadèl.
If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
20 Se fwi a bouch moun ki satisfè vant li; l ap satisfè ak sa ke lèv li pwodwi.
People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
21 Lanmò ak lavi nan pouvwa a lang lan; e sila ki renmen l yo, va manje fwi li.
What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
22 Sila ki jwenn yon madanm, jwenn yon bon bagay, e twouve favè SENYÈ a.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 Malere a pale: “Souple, fè m gras”; men moun rich la reponn byen di.
[It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
24 Yon nonm ak anpil zanmi vin kraze nèt; men gen yon kalite zanmi ki rete pi pwòch pase yon frè.
There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
