Pwovèb 21
1 Kè a wa a se tankou kanal dlo nan men SENYÈ a; Li vire l kote Li vle.
The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 Chemen a yon moun bon nan pwòp zye li; men SENYÈ a peze kè yo.
Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 SENYÈ a pito ladwati ak lajistis plis pase sakrifis.
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Zye ki leve wo ak kè ki plen ògèy; lanp a mechan yo se peche.
A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
5 Plan a dilijan an mennen byen si, vè avantaj; men tout moun ki aji san reflechi va, san dout, vin pòv.
The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
6 Ranmase anpil byen ak lang k ap bay manti se yon vapè k ap sove ale, k ap kouri dèyè lanmò.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 Vyolans a mechan yo va trennen yo fè yo pati, akoz yo refize aji ak jistis.
By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 Chemen a yon moun koupab kwochi; men pou sila ki san tach la, kondwit li dwat.
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 Li pi bon pou viv nan ti kwen sou twati a pase nan yon kay ak yon fanm k ap fè kont tout tan.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 Nanm a mechan an vle mal; vwazen li an pa twouve gras nan zye l.
The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 Lè mokè a vin pini, moun san konprann nan vin saj; men lè moun saj la enstwi, li resevwa konesans.
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 Lè sila ki dwat, pran an konsiderasyon kay mechan an, afè mechan an vin detwi nèt.
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 Sila ki fèmen zòrèy li a kri aflije a, va vin kriye pou kont li, men li p ap jwenn repons.
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 Yon kado vèse an sekrè kalme fachez, e yon anba tab ki glise rive, bese gwo kòlè.
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 Aplike lajistis se yon plezi pou moun dwat; men se yon gwo laperèz pou malfektè inikite yo.
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 Yon nonm egare ki kite chemen bon konprann nan, va jwenn repo nan asanble mò yo.
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Sila ki renmen plezi, va vin pòv; sila ki renmen diven ak lwil, p ap janm rich.
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 Mechan an se yon ranson pou moun dwat yo; e sila ki fè trèt la pou sila ki kanpe janm.
The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 Li pi bon pou rete nan dezè pase viv ak yon fanm k ap agase moun tout tan.
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 Gen bèl trezò ak lwil nan abitasyon a moun saj la; men, moun san konprann nan vale tout.
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 Sila ki swiv ladwati ak fidelite a jwenn lavi, ladwati ak lonè.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Yon nonm saj monte sou miray vil pwisan, e fè tonbe sitadèl la ki te bay yo konfyans.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 Sila ki veye bouch li ak lang li pwoteje nanm li kont gwo twoub.
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Ògèy, Monte Tèt Wo, Mokè; men tit a sila ki aji nan ògèy ak ensolans yo.
The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 Se volonte a parese a ki fè l mouri, paske men li refize travay;
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 Gen moun tout lajounen kap anvi yon bagay, pandan moun dwat yo ap vèse bay san rete.
All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 Sakrifis a mechan yo abominab; se konbyen anplis, lè l pote ak movèz fwa.
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 Yon fo temwen va peri; men sila ki koute verite a va pale ak letènite.
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 Moun mechan an afiche yon figi brav; men pou moun ladwati a, chemen li an sèten.
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 Nanpwen sajès, ni bon konprann, ni konsèy kont SENYÈ a.
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 Cheval la prepare pou jou batay la; men viktwa a se nan men SENYÈ a.
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
