Pwovèb 23
1 Lè ou chita sou tab ak yon ki gouvènè, konsidere byen sa ki devan ou.
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 Konsa, mete yon kouto sou gòj ou si ou se yon nonm ak gwo lanvi.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Pa dezire bon manje sa yo, paske se yon repa desepsyon.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Pa fatige kò ou pou jwenn richès; sispann reflechi sou sa.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Depi ou mete zye ou sou li, l ale. Paske, anverite, li gen zèl kon yon èg k ap vole vè syèl yo.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Pa manje pen a yon mesye ki chich, ni anvi bèl bagay li;
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
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 as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Ou va vomi mòso ke ou te manje a e gaspiye tout bèl pawòl ou yo.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Pa pale nan zòrèy a moun sòt, paske l ap meprize sajès a pawòl ou yo.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Pa deplase ansyen bòn nan, ni antre nan chan òfelen yo,
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 Paske Redanmtè yo a pwisan. Li va plede ka yo kont ou.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Aplike kè ou a disiplin ak zòrèy ou a pawòl ki pote konesans.
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Pa ralanti disiplin sou yon timoun; malgre ou frape li ak yon baton, li p ap mouri.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Fis mwen an, si kè ou saj, pwòp kè m va kontan tou.
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 Wi, jis anndan m va rejwi lè lèv ou pale sa ki dwat.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Pa kite kè ou fè lanvi pechè yo, men viv nan lakrent SENYÈ a tout tan.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
18 Anverite, gen davni, e espwa ou p ap anile.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Koute, fis mwen an, vin saj pou dirije kè ou nan chemen an.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Pa bwè twòp diven, ni fè voras nan manje vyann;
Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on 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 the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Koute papa ou ki te fè ou a, e pa meprize manman ou lè l vin granmoun.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Achte verite e pa vann li! Ranmase sajès, enstriksyon ak bon konprann.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, 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.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Kite papa ou ak manman ou fè kè kontan; kite fanm ki te fè ou a, rejwi.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Ban m kè ou, fis mwen an; kite zye ou fè kè kontan nan chemen mwen yo.
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 Paske yon pwostitiye se yon fòs byen fon, e yon fanm adiltè se yon ti pwi etwat.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Anverite, li kache veye tankou vòlè, pou l ogmante enfidelite pami lòm.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
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 has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Sila ki mize sou diven nan, sila ki ale goute diven mele an.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Pa gade diven an lè l wouj, lè l fè klè nan tas la, lè l desann byen dous.
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Nan dènye moman an, li mòde tankou sèpan; li brile tankou bouch koulèv.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Zye ou va wè bagay ki dwòl, e panse ou va twouble anpil.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Ou va tankou yon moun ki kouche nan mitan lanmè, oswa tankou yon moun ki kouche sou ma batiman.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
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.”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
