Pwovèb 22
1 Yon bon non pi bon pase tout richès; e favè Bondye, pase ajan ak lò.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
2 Rich la ak malere a mare ansanm; se SENYÈ a ki fè yo tout.
Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [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 prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Rekonpans pou imilite avèk lakrent SENYÈ a se richès, bon repitasyon, ak lavi.
The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
5 Pikan ak pèlen se nan chemen a pèvès yo; sila ki veye nanm li, va rete lwen yo.
Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is 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.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 Rich yo domine sou pòv yo, e moun ki prete vin esklav a sila k ap bay prè a.
The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Sila ki simen inikite a va rekòlte vanite; e baton kòlè li a va detwi.
Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
9 Sila ki bay ak men louvri va beni; paske li bay manje a malere.
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given 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.
Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Sila ki renmen kè ki san tach e ki pale ak gras, va zanmi a wa a.
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
12 Zye a SENYÈ a konsève konesans; men Li boulvèse pawòl moun malveyan yo.
The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Parese a di: “Gen yon lyon deyò a; m ap mouri nan lari!”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
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 pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
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 youth, The rod of discipline puts it 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 oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
17 Apiye zòrèy ou pou tande pawòl a saj yo; epi aplike ou a konesans mwen.
Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
18 Paske sa va byen agreyab pou ou si ou kenbe yo anndan ou, pou yo toujou prè sou lèv ou.
For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
19 Pou konfyans ou kapab nan SENYÈ a, mwen te enstwi ou jodi a, menm ou menm nan.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
20 Èske mwen pa t ekri ou trant bèl bagay, de konsèy ak konesans yo?
Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 Pou fè ou konnen vrè pawòl verite yo, pou ou kab byen reponn sila ki te voye ou a?
To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
22 Pa vòlè malere a paske li pòv, ni kraze aflije nan pòtay la;
Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
23 paske, SENYÈ a va plede ka yo e pran lavi a sila ki vòlè yo.
For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Pa asosye ak yon nonm ki livre a kòlè; oswa ale ak yon moun kolerik,
Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
25 sinon, ou va aprann mès li yo e jwenn yon pèlen pou tèt ou.
Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
26 Pa konte pami sila ki sèvi kon garanti yo, pami sila ki fè sekirite pou dèt yo.
Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
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 to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
28 Pa deplase ansyen bòn ke papa zansèt nou yo te mete a.
Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
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 speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
