Pwovèb 22
1 Yon bon non pi bon pase tout richès; e favè Bondye, pase ajan ak lò.
A good name is better than great riches: 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 poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
3 Sila ki reflechi, wè mal e kache kò li; men ensanse yo antre ladann e jwenn pinisyon.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 Rekonpans pou imilite avèk lakrent SENYÈ a se richès, bon repitasyon, ak lavi.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Pikan ak pèlen se nan chemen a pèvès yo; sila ki veye nanm li, va rete lwen yo.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth 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.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Rich yo domine sou pòv yo, e moun ki prete vin esklav a sila k ap bay prè a.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Sila ki simen inikite a va rekòlte vanite; e baton kòlè li a va detwi.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 Sila ki bay ak men louvri va beni; paske li bay manje a malere.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Mete moun k ap moke moun yo deyò, e diskisyon an prale tou; wi, konfli ak dezonore moun ap sispann.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 Sila ki renmen kè ki san tach e ki pale ak gras, va zanmi a wa a.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 Zye a SENYÈ a konsève konesans; men Li boulvèse pawòl moun malveyan yo.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 Parese a di: “Gen yon lyon deyò a; m ap mouri nan lari!”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of 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 strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Foli mare nan kè a yon timoun; baton disiplin nan va retire sa mete lwen li.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
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 oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Apiye zòrèy ou pou tande pawòl a saj yo; epi aplike ou a konesans mwen.
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 Paske sa va byen agreyab pou ou si ou kenbe yo anndan ou, pou yo toujou prè sou lèv ou.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 Pou konfyans ou kapab nan SENYÈ a, mwen te enstwi ou jodi a, menm ou menm nan.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Èske mwen pa t ekri ou trant bèl bagay, de konsèy ak konesans yo?
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 Pou fè ou konnen vrè pawòl verite yo, pou ou kab byen reponn sila ki te voye ou a?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Pa vòlè malere a paske li pòv, ni kraze aflije nan pòtay la;
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 paske, SENYÈ a va plede ka yo e pran lavi a sila ki vòlè yo.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Pa asosye ak yon nonm ki livre a kòlè; oswa ale ak yon moun kolerik,
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 sinon, ou va aprann mès li yo e jwenn yon pèlen pou tèt ou.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Pa konte pami sila ki sèvi kon garanti yo, pami sila ki fè sekirite pou dèt yo.
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 Si ou pa gen mwayen pou ou kab peye, poukisa ou ta kite l rale kabann nan sòti anba ou?
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Pa deplase ansyen bòn ke papa zansèt nou yo te mete a.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
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.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
