Pwovèb 22
1 Yon bon non pi bon pase tout richès; e favè Bondye, pase ajan ak lò.
More choice, is a name, than great riches, beyond silver and gold, is pleasant grace.
2 Rich la ak malere a mare ansanm; se SENYÈ a ki fè yo tout.
The rich and the poor, meet together, the maker of them all, is Yahweh.
3 Sila ki reflechi, wè mal e kache kò li; men ensanse yo antre ladann e jwenn pinisyon.
A prudent man, seeth calamity, and hideth himself, but, the simple, pass on, and suffer.
4 Rekonpans pou imilite avèk lakrent SENYÈ a se richès, bon repitasyon, ak lavi.
The reward of humility, is the reverence of Yahweh, riches, 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 snares, are in the way of the perverse, —he that guardeth his soul, shall 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.
Train up a youth, in the direction of his duty, even when he becometh 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, over the poor, beareth rule, —and, slave, is the borrower to the lender.
8 Sila ki simen inikite a va rekòlte vanite; e baton kòlè li a va detwi.
He that soweth perversity, shall reap trouble, and, the rod of his wrath, shall be ready.
9 Sila ki bay ak men louvri va beni; paske li bay manje a malere.
A benevolent eye, the same, shall be blessed, —because he hath 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.
Drive away the scoffer, that strife may depart, and quarrel, and contempt may cease.
11 Sila ki renmen kè ki san tach e ki pale ak gras, va zanmi a wa a.
Yahweh loveth the pure in heart, gracious are his lips, his friend is the king!
12 Zye a SENYÈ a konsève konesans; men Li boulvèse pawòl moun malveyan yo.
The eyes of Yahweh, watch over knowledge, therefore hath he overturned the words of the treacherous.
13 Parese a di: “Gen yon lyon deyò a; m ap mouri nan lari!”
Saith the sluggard, A lion outside! Amidst the broadways, shall I be slain.
14 Bouch a fanm adiltè a se yon fòs byen fon; sila ke SENYÈ a modi va tonbe ladann.
A deep chasm, is the mouth of strange women, he with whom Yahweh is indignant, falleth there.
15 Foli mare nan kè a yon timoun; baton disiplin nan va retire sa mete lwen li.
Foolishness, is bound up in the heart of a youth, the rod of correction, shall drive 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 that oppresseth the poor, to make increase for himself, giving to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Apiye zòrèy ou pou tande pawòl a saj yo; epi aplike ou a konesans mwen.
Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
18 Paske sa va byen agreyab pou ou si ou kenbe yo anndan ou, pou yo toujou prè sou lèv ou.
For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
19 Pou konfyans ou kapab nan SENYÈ a, mwen te enstwi ou jodi a, menm ou menm nan.
That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
20 Èske mwen pa t ekri ou trant bèl bagay, de konsèy ak konesans yo?
Have I not written for thee noble things, 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 thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
22 Pa vòlè malere a paske li pòv, ni kraze aflije nan pòtay la;
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
23 paske, SENYÈ a va plede ka yo e pran lavi a sila ki vòlè yo.
For, Yahweh, will plead their cause, and will despoil their despoilers of life.
24 Pa asosye ak yon nonm ki livre a kòlè; oswa ale ak yon moun kolerik,
Do not have friendship with one given to anger, and, with a wrathful man, shall thou not enter in:
25 sinon, ou va aprann mès li yo e jwenn yon pèlen pou tèt ou.
Lest thou learn his ways, and take a snare to thy soul.
26 Pa konte pami sila ki sèvi kon garanti yo, pami sila ki fè sekirite pou dèt yo.
Be not of them who strike hands, of them who are sureties for debts:
27 Si ou pa gen mwayen pou ou kab peye, poukisa ou ta kite l rale kabann nan sòti anba ou?
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should one take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Pa deplase ansyen bòn ke papa zansèt nou yo te mete a.
Do not move back the ancient boundary, which thy father’s 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.
Seest thou a man prompt in his business? before kings, shall he stand, he shall not stand before men who are obscure.
