Pwovèb 20
1 Diven se yon mokè, e bwason fò fè goumen rive nan tenten; nenpòt moun ki vin sou pa li, pa saj.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 Laperèz a wa a se tankou gwo vwa lyon k ap rele fò; sila ki fè l fache va pèdi lavi l.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Rete lwen konfli ak rayisman, e ou va gen respe; alò, nenpòt moun ensanse ka fè yon kont.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 Parese a pa laboure tè nan sezon otòn; akoz sa li mande charite pandan rekòlt la, e li p ap gen anyen.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Yon plan nan kè moun se tankou dlo fon; men yon nonm ak bon konprann rale l fè l sòti.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Gen anpil moun ki pwomèt fidelite; men kibò pou jwenn yon nonm onèt?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 Yon nonm dwat ki mache nan entegrite l; A la beni fis ki vini apre li yo beni!
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 Yon wa ki chita sou twòn lajistis fè tout mal sove ale ak pwòp zye l.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Se kilès ki kapab di: “Mwen te netwaye kè m; mwen vin pirifye de tout peche m?”
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Balans ki pa ojis ak mezi ki pa ojis; tou de abominab a SENYÈ a.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Menm yon ti moun se rekonnet pa zèv li yo; si li aji byen e si kondwit li dwat.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Zòrèy ki tande ak zye ki wè; se SENYÈ a ki te fè tou de.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Pa renmen dòmi, sinon ou va vin malere; ouvri zye ou e ou va satisfè ak manje.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 “Pa bon, pa bon”, di sila k ap achte a; men lè l fè wout li, li pale kè l kontan.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 Gen lò ak tout kalite bijou; men lèv plèn konesans se pi bèl bagay.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Lè l sèvi garanti pou yon enkoni, pran manto li; epi pou fanm andeyò a, fè papye pwose vèbal pou sa li pwomèt la.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Pen kòn twouve nan bay manti dous; men pita, bouch la plen gravye.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Fè tout plan ak konsiltasyon; fè lagè ak konsèy saj.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 Sila ki difame moun devwale sekrè; pou sa a, pa asosye ou ak moun ki mache bouch ouvri.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Sila ki modi papa li oswa manman li an, lanp li va etenn nan tan fènwa.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Yon eritaj ranmase vit nan kòmansman a, p ap beni nan lafen.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Pa di: “M ap rekonpanse mechanste”; tann SENYÈ a, e Li va sove ou.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Pwa ki pa ojis ak mezi ki pa ojis; tou de abominab a SENYÈ a.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Pa a yon nonm regle pa SENYÈ a; konsa, kijan yon nonm kab vin konprann chemen li?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 Se yon pèlen pou yon nonm ta di avèk enpridans: “Sa sen!” e aprè ve yo fèt, pou fè ankèt.
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 Yon wa ki saj va vannen mechan yo e fè wou moulen pase anwo yo.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 Lespri a lòm se lanp SENYÈ a, ki chache pati ki pi entim nan li yo.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Fidelite ak verite prezève wa a, e ladwati bay twòn li an soutyen.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Glwa a jèn yo se fòs yo, e lonè a granmoun yo se cheve blan yo.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Kout fwèt ki blese fè disparèt mechanste; li frape rive nan pati pi fon yo.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
