Pwovèb 22
1 Yon bon non pi bon pase tout richès; e favè Bondye, pase ajan ak lò.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Rich la ak malere a mare ansanm; se SENYÈ a ki fè yo tout.
The rich and the poor have this in common: Jehovah 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 shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 Rekonpans pou imilite avèk lakrent SENYÈ a se richès, bon repitasyon, ak lavi.
The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah is wealth, 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 path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays 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.
Train a child in the way he should go, and 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 rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Sila ki simen inikite a va rekòlte vanite; e baton kòlè li a va detwi.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
9 Sila ki bay ak men louvri va beni; paske li bay manje a malere.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Mete moun k ap moke moun yo deyò, e diskisyon an prale tou; wi, konfli ak dezonore moun ap sispann.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 Sila ki renmen kè ki san tach e ki pale ak gras, va zanmi a wa a.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
12 Zye a SENYÈ a konsève konesans; men Li boulvèse pawòl moun malveyan yo.
The eyes of Jehovah watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 Parese a di: “Gen yon lyon deyò a; m ap mouri nan lari!”
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed 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 an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Jehovah's wrath will 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: the rod of discipline drives 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.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Apiye zòrèy ou pou tande pawòl a saj yo; epi aplike ou a konesans mwen.
The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
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 pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on 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 Jehovah, I teach you today, even you.
20 Èske mwen pa t ekri ou trant bèl bagay, de konsèy ak konesans yo?
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 Pou fè ou konnen vrè pawòl verite yo, pou ou kab byen reponn sila ki te voye ou a?
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Pa vòlè malere a paske li pòv, ni kraze aflije nan pòtay la;
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 paske, SENYÈ a va plede ka yo e pran lavi a sila ki vòlè yo.
for Jehovah will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Pa asosye ak yon nonm ki livre a kòlè; oswa ale ak yon moun kolerik,
Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 sinon, ou va aprann mès li yo e jwenn yon pèlen pou tèt ou.
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 Pa konte pami sila ki sèvi kon garanti yo, pami sila ki fè sekirite pou dèt yo.
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral 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 do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Pa deplase ansyen bòn ke papa zansèt nou yo te mete a.
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
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.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
