Pwovèb 22
1 Yon bon non pi bon pase tout richès; e favè Bondye, pase ajan ak lò.
A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 Rich la ak malere a mare ansanm; se SENYÈ a ki fè yo tout.
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
3 Sila ki reflechi, wè mal e kache kò li; men ensanse yo antre ladann e jwenn pinisyon.
A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Rekonpans pou imilite avèk lakrent SENYÈ a se richès, bon repitasyon, ak lavi.
By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] 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 froward: he that doth keep 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 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 ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.
8 Sila ki simen inikite a va rekòlte vanite; e baton kòlè li a va detwi.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 Sila ki bay ak men louvri va beni; paske li bay manje a malere.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth 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 the scorner, and contention shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 Sila ki renmen kè ki san tach e ki pale ak gras, va zanmi a wa a.
He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
12 Zye a SENYÈ a konsève konesans; men Li boulvèse pawòl moun malveyan yo.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
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 streets.
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: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Foli mare nan kè a yon timoun; baton disiplin nan va retire sa mete lwen li.
Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] 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 increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
17 Apiye zòrèy ou pou tande pawòl a saj yo; epi aplike ou a konesans mwen.
Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy 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 [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted 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, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Èske mwen pa t ekri ou trant bèl bagay, de konsèy ak konesans yo?
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels 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 make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
22 Pa vòlè malere a paske li pòv, ni kraze aflije nan pòtay la;
Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 paske, SENYÈ a va plede ka yo e pran lavi a sila ki vòlè yo.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Pa asosye ak yon nonm ki livre a kòlè; oswa ale ak yon moun kolerik,
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 sinon, ou va aprann mès li yo e jwenn yon pèlen pou tèt ou.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get 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 thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that 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 he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Pa deplase ansyen bòn ke papa zansèt nou yo te mete a.
Remove not the ancient landmark, 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
