Pwovèb 22
1 Yon bon non pi bon pase tout richès; e favè Bondye, pase ajan ak lò.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Rich la ak malere a mare ansanm; se SENYÈ a ki fè yo tout.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 Sila ki reflechi, wè mal e kache kò li; men ensanse yo antre ladann e jwenn pinisyon.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 Rekonpans pou imilite avèk lakrent SENYÈ a se richès, bon repitasyon, ak lavi.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Pikan ak pèlen se nan chemen a pèvès yo; sila ki veye nanm li, va rete lwen yo.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain 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.
7 Rich yo domine sou pòv yo, e moun ki prete vin esklav a sila k ap bay prè a.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 Sila ki simen inikite a va rekòlte vanite; e baton kòlè li a va detwi.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 Sila ki bay ak men louvri va beni; paske li bay manje a malere.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Mete moun k ap moke moun yo deyò, e diskisyon an prale tou; wi, konfli ak dezonore moun ap sispann.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 Sila ki renmen kè ki san tach e ki pale ak gras, va zanmi a wa a.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 Zye a SENYÈ a konsève konesans; men Li boulvèse pawòl moun malveyan yo.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 Parese a di: “Gen yon lyon deyò a; m ap mouri nan lari!”
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers 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 a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Foli mare nan kè a yon timoun; baton disiplin nan va retire sa mete lwen li.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] 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 that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Apiye zòrèy ou pou tande pawòl a saj yo; epi aplike ou a konesans mwen.
Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,
18 Paske sa va byen agreyab pou ou si ou kenbe yo anndan ou, pou yo toujou prè sou lèv ou.
that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.
19 Pou konfyans ou kapab nan SENYÈ a, mwen te enstwi ou jodi a, menm ou menm nan.
That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.
20 Èske mwen pa t ekri ou trant bèl bagay, de konsèy ak konesans yo?
And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 Pou fè ou konnen vrè pawòl verite yo, pou ou kab byen reponn sila ki te voye ou a?
I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.
22 Pa vòlè malere a paske li pòv, ni kraze aflije nan pòtay la;
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 paske, SENYÈ a va plede ka yo e pran lavi a sila ki vòlè yo.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.
24 Pa asosye ak yon nonm ki livre a kòlè; oswa ale ak yon moun kolerik,
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 sinon, ou va aprann mès li yo e jwenn yon pèlen pou tèt ou.
lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.
26 Pa konte pami sila ki sèvi kon garanti yo, pami sila ki fè sekirite pou dèt yo.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 Si ou pa gen mwayen pou ou kab peye, poukisa ou ta kite l rale kabann nan sòti anba ou?
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under thee.
28 Pa deplase ansyen bòn ke papa zansèt nou yo te mete a.
Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.
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.
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
