Pwovèb 21
1 Kè a wa a se tankou kanal dlo nan men SENYÈ a; Li vire l kote Li vle.
As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
2 Chemen a yon moun bon nan pwòp zye li; men SENYÈ a peze kè yo.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 SENYÈ a pito ladwati ak lajistis plis pase sakrifis.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 Zye ki leve wo ak kè ki plen ògèy; lanp a mechan yo se peche.
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 Plan a dilijan an mennen byen si, vè avantaj; men tout moun ki aji san reflechi va, san dout, vin pòv.
6 Ranmase anpil byen ak lang k ap bay manti se yon vapè k ap sove ale, k ap kouri dèyè lanmò.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 Vyolans a mechan yo va trennen yo fè yo pati, akoz yo refize aji ak jistis.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 Chemen a yon moun koupab kwochi; men pou sila ki san tach la, kondwit li dwat.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
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 dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 Nanm a mechan an vle mal; vwazen li an pa twouve gras nan zye l.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 Lè mokè a vin pini, moun san konprann nan vin saj; men lè moun saj la enstwi, li resevwa konesans.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 Lè sila ki dwat, pran an konsiderasyon kay mechan an, afè mechan an vin detwi nèt.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Sila ki fèmen zòrèy li a kri aflije a, va vin kriye pou kont li, men li p ap jwenn repons.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 Yon kado vèse an sekrè kalme fachez, e yon anba tab ki glise rive, bese gwo kòlè.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 Aplike lajistis se yon plezi pou moun dwat; men se yon gwo laperèz pou malfektè inikite yo.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 Yon nonm egare ki kite chemen bon konprann nan, va jwenn repo nan asanble mò yo.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 Sila ki renmen plezi, va vin pòv; sila ki renmen diven ak lwil, p ap janm rich.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 Mechan an se yon ranson pou moun dwat yo; e sila ki fè trèt la pou sila ki kanpe janm.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 Li pi bon pou rete nan dezè pase viv ak yon fanm k ap agase moun tout tan.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Gen bèl trezò ak lwil nan abitasyon a moun saj la; men, moun san konprann nan vale tout.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 Sila ki swiv ladwati ak fidelite a jwenn lavi, ladwati ak lonè.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 Yon nonm saj monte sou miray vil pwisan, e fè tonbe sitadèl la ki te bay yo konfyans.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Sila ki veye bouch li ak lang li pwoteje nanm li kont gwo twoub.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 Ògèy, Monte Tèt Wo, Mokè; men tit a sila ki aji nan ògèy ak ensolans yo.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 Se volonte a parese a ki fè l mouri, paske men li refize travay;
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 Gen moun tout lajounen kap anvi yon bagay, pandan moun dwat yo ap vèse bay san rete.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 Sakrifis a mechan yo abominab; se konbyen anplis, lè l pote ak movèz fwa.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 Yon fo temwen va peri; men sila ki koute verite a va pale ak letènite.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 Moun mechan an afiche yon figi brav; men pou moun ladwati a, chemen li an sèten.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 Nanpwen sajès, ni bon konprann, ni konsèy kont SENYÈ a.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 Cheval la prepare pou jou batay la; men viktwa a se nan men SENYÈ a.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
