Pwovèb 23
1 Lè ou chita sou tab ak yon ki gouvènè, konsidere byen sa ki devan ou.
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 Konsa, mete yon kouto sou gòj ou si ou se yon nonm ak gwo lanvi.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Pa dezire bon manje sa yo, paske se yon repa desepsyon.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Pa fatige kò ou pou jwenn richès; sispann reflechi sou sa.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Depi ou mete zye ou sou li, l ale. Paske, anverite, li gen zèl kon yon èg k ap vole vè syèl yo.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Pa manje pen a yon mesye ki chich, ni anvi bèl bagay li;
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 paske jan li panse nan tèt li a, se konsa li ye. Li di ou: “Manje e bwè!” Men kè li pa avè w.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Ou va vomi mòso ke ou te manje a e gaspiye tout bèl pawòl ou yo.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Pa pale nan zòrèy a moun sòt, paske l ap meprize sajès a pawòl ou yo.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Pa deplase ansyen bòn nan, ni antre nan chan òfelen yo,
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 Paske Redanmtè yo a pwisan. Li va plede ka yo kont ou.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Aplike kè ou a disiplin ak zòrèy ou a pawòl ki pote konesans.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Pa ralanti disiplin sou yon timoun; malgre ou frape li ak yon baton, li p ap mouri.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Fis mwen an, si kè ou saj, pwòp kè m va kontan tou.
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 Wi, jis anndan m va rejwi lè lèv ou pale sa ki dwat.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Pa kite kè ou fè lanvi pechè yo, men viv nan lakrent SENYÈ a tout tan.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Anverite, gen davni, e espwa ou p ap anile.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Koute, fis mwen an, vin saj pou dirije kè ou nan chemen an.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Pa bwè twòp diven, ni fè voras nan manje vyann;
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 paske sila ki bwè twòp la ak moun voras la va vin pòv; e dòmi nan zye a va fè l abiye ak vye twal chire.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Koute papa ou ki te fè ou a, e pa meprize manman ou lè l vin granmoun.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Achte verite e pa vann li! Ranmase sajès, enstriksyon ak bon konprann.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Papa a sila ki dwat la va rejwi anpil, e sila ki fè yon fis ki saj la va gen kè kontan nan li.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Kite papa ou ak manman ou fè kè kontan; kite fanm ki te fè ou a, rejwi.
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Ban m kè ou, fis mwen an; kite zye ou fè kè kontan nan chemen mwen yo.
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 Paske yon pwostitiye se yon fòs byen fon, e yon fanm adiltè se yon ti pwi etwat.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Anverite, li kache veye tankou vòlè, pou l ogmante enfidelite pami lòm.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 Se kilès ki gen gwo pwoblèm? Se kilès ki gen tristès? Se kilès ki gen konfli? Se kilès kap plenyèn? Se kilès ki blese san rezon? Se kilès ki gen zye wouj?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Sila ki mize sou diven nan, sila ki ale goute diven mele an.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Pa gade diven an lè l wouj, lè l fè klè nan tas la, lè l desann byen dous.
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Nan dènye moman an, li mòde tankou sèpan; li brile tankou bouch koulèv.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Zye ou va wè bagay ki dwòl, e panse ou va twouble anpil.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Ou va tankou yon moun ki kouche nan mitan lanmè, oswa tankou yon moun ki kouche sou ma batiman.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 “Yo te frape m, men mwen pa t santi anyen! Yo te bat mwen, men mwen pa t konnen sa! Lè m leve, m ap chache pou m kab bwè ankò.”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
