Pwovèb 22
1 Yon bon non pi bon pase tout richès; e favè Bondye, pase ajan ak lò.
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 Rich la ak malere a mare ansanm; se SENYÈ a ki fè yo tout.
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 Sila ki reflechi, wè mal e kache kò li; men ensanse yo antre ladann e jwenn pinisyon.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 Rekonpans pou imilite avèk lakrent SENYÈ a se richès, bon repitasyon, ak lavi.
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Pikan ak pèlen se nan chemen a pèvès yo; sila ki veye nanm li, va rete lwen yo.
Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 Leve yon timoun nan chemen li ta dwe ale, e lè li vin gran, li p ap kite li; menm lè l granmoun, li p ap kite li.
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 Rich yo domine sou pòv yo, e moun ki prete vin esklav a sila k ap bay prè a.
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 Sila ki simen inikite a va rekòlte vanite; e baton kòlè li a va detwi.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 Sila ki bay ak men louvri va beni; paske li bay manje a malere.
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Mete moun k ap moke moun yo deyò, e diskisyon an prale tou; wi, konfli ak dezonore moun ap sispann.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 Sila ki renmen kè ki san tach e ki pale ak gras, va zanmi a wa a.
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 Zye a SENYÈ a konsève konesans; men Li boulvèse pawòl moun malveyan yo.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 Parese a di: “Gen yon lyon deyò a; m ap mouri nan lari!”
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 Bouch a fanm adiltè a se yon fòs byen fon; sila ke SENYÈ a modi va tonbe ladann.
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Foli mare nan kè a yon timoun; baton disiplin nan va retire sa mete lwen li.
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 Sila ki oprime malere a pou ogmante tèt li; ni sila k ap fè kado a rich yo, va rive nan povrete.
He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 Apiye zòrèy ou pou tande pawòl a saj yo; epi aplike ou a konesans mwen.
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 Paske sa va byen agreyab pou ou si ou kenbe yo anndan ou, pou yo toujou prè sou lèv ou.
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 Pou konfyans ou kapab nan SENYÈ a, mwen te enstwi ou jodi a, menm ou menm nan.
So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Èske mwen pa t ekri ou trant bèl bagay, de konsèy ak konesans yo?
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 Pou fè ou konnen vrè pawòl verite yo, pou ou kab byen reponn sila ki te voye ou a?
To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Pa vòlè malere a paske li pòv, ni kraze aflije nan pòtay la;
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 paske, SENYÈ a va plede ka yo e pran lavi a sila ki vòlè yo.
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Pa asosye ak yon nonm ki livre a kòlè; oswa ale ak yon moun kolerik,
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 sinon, ou va aprann mès li yo e jwenn yon pèlen pou tèt ou.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Pa konte pami sila ki sèvi kon garanti yo, pami sila ki fè sekirite pou dèt yo.
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 Si ou pa gen mwayen pou ou kab peye, poukisa ou ta kite l rale kabann nan sòti anba ou?
If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Pa deplase ansyen bòn ke papa zansèt nou yo te mete a.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Èske ou wè yon nonm byen abil nan travay li? Li va kanpe devan wa yo; li p ap oblije kanpe devan nenpòt kalite vye moun.
Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
