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 is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Chemen a yon moun bon nan pwòp zye li; men SENYÈ a peze kè yo.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 SENYÈ a pito ladwati ak lajistis plis pase sakrifis.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Zye ki leve wo ak kè ki plen ògèy; lanp a mechan yo se peche.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
5 Plan a dilijan an mennen byen si, vè avantaj; men tout moun ki aji san reflechi va, san dout, vin pòv.
The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 Ranmase anpil byen ak lang k ap bay manti se yon vapè k ap sove ale, k ap kouri dèyè lanmò.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 Vyolans a mechan yo va trennen yo fè yo pati, akoz yo refize aji ak jistis.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
8 Chemen a yon moun koupab kwochi; men pou sila ki san tach la, kondwit li dwat.
The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is 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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Nanm a mechan an vle mal; vwazen li an pa twouve gras nan zye l.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Lè mokè a vin pini, moun san konprann nan vin saj; men lè moun saj la enstwi, li resevwa konesans.
When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 Lè sila ki dwat, pran an konsiderasyon kay mechan an, afè mechan an vin detwi nèt.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 Sila ki fèmen zòrèy li a kri aflije a, va vin kriye pou kont li, men li p ap jwenn repons.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 Yon kado vèse an sekrè kalme fachez, e yon anba tab ki glise rive, bese gwo kòlè.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 Aplike lajistis se yon plezi pou moun dwat; men se yon gwo laperèz pou malfektè inikite yo.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 Yon nonm egare ki kite chemen bon konprann nan, va jwenn repo nan asanble mò yo.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Sila ki renmen plezi, va vin pòv; sila ki renmen diven ak lwil, p ap janm rich.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Mechan an se yon ranson pou moun dwat yo; e sila ki fè trèt la pou sila ki kanpe janm.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
19 Li pi bon pou rete nan dezè pase viv ak yon fanm k ap agase moun tout tan.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Gen bèl trezò ak lwil nan abitasyon a moun saj la; men, moun san konprann nan vale tout.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 Sila ki swiv ladwati ak fidelite a jwenn lavi, ladwati ak lonè.
The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Yon nonm saj monte sou miray vil pwisan, e fè tonbe sitadèl la ki te bay yo konfyans.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Sila ki veye bouch li ak lang li pwoteje nanm li kont gwo twoub.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 Ògèy, Monte Tèt Wo, Mokè; men tit a sila ki aji nan ògèy ak ensolans yo.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Se volonte a parese a ki fè l mouri, paske men li refize travay;
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 Gen moun tout lajounen kap anvi yon bagay, pandan moun dwat yo ap vèse bay san rete.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 Sakrifis a mechan yo abominab; se konbyen anplis, lè l pote ak movèz fwa.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 Yon fo temwen va peri; men sila ki koute verite a va pale ak letènite.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 Moun mechan an afiche yon figi brav; men pou moun ladwati a, chemen li an sèten.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 Nanpwen sajès, ni bon konprann, ni konsèy kont SENYÈ a.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
31 Cheval la prepare pou jou batay la; men viktwa a se nan men SENYÈ a.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
