Pwovèb 25
1 Sila yo se pwovèb yo a Salomon ke mesye Ézéchias yo, wa Juda a te dechifre.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Se glwa Bondye pou kache yon bagay; men se glwa a wa yo pou chache konprann yon bagay.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 Tankou syèl la nan wotè a, ak tè a nan pwofondè a, se konsa kè a wa a ensondab.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Retire vye kras sou ajan k ap fonn nan, e va sòti metal pi pou òfèv la.
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Retire mechan an devan wa a, e twòn li an va etabli nan ladwati.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Pa reklame bèl repitasyon nan prezans a wa a, e pa kanpe nan plas a moun pwisan yo;
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 paske li pi bon pou yo di ou: “Vin monte isit la”, olye pou ou ta oblije desann piba nan prezans a prens lan, ke zye ou te wè.
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 Pa fè vit lantre nan tribinal pou diskite ka ou; anfen, sa ou va fè lè vwazen ou fè ou desann nèt.
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Diskite pwòp ka pa ou devan vwazen ou, e pa devwale sekrè a yon lòt,
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 oswa sila ki tande ou a, va fè ou repwòch, e move rapò sou ou menm p ap janm disparèt.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 Tankou pòm an lò ki monte sou ajan, se konsa yon mo byen plase nan moman li.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 Tankou yon zanno an lò ak yon dekorasyon an lò fen se yon repwòch saj nan zòrèy k ap koute.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 Tankou fredi lanèj nan lè rekòlt, se konsa yon mesaje fidèl ye a sila ki voye l yo, paske li rafrechi nanm a mèt li yo.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 Tankou nwaj ak van san lapli, se konsa yon nonm ki ogmante don li yo ak manti.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 Ak pasyans, yon chèf ka vin pèswade; se yon lang dous ki kase zo.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 Èske ou te jwenn siwo myèl? Manje sèlman kont ou, pou ou pa gen twòp pou vomi li.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Kite pye ou raman pile lakay vwazen ou, sinon li va fatige avè w, e vin rayi ou.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 Tankou gwo baton, nepe, oswa flèch file, se konsa yon nonm ki pote fo temwen kont vwazen li.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Tankou yon move dan ak yon pye ki pa estab, se konsa konfyans nan yon nonm enfidèl nan tan gwo twoub.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 Tankou yon moun ki retire rad li nan jou fredi, oswa tankou vinèg sou poud bikabonat, se konsa sila ki chante chan ak kè twouble yo ye.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 Si lènmi ou grangou, ba li manje; epi si li swaf, ba li dlo pou l bwè;
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 paske, ou va anpile chabon tou limen sou tèt li, e SENYÈ a va bay ou rekonpans.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 Van nò pote lapli e yon lang medizan, pote yon move vizaj.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 Li pi bon pou viv nan yon kwen twati pase nan yon kay avèk yon fanm k ap fè kont tout tan.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Tankou dlo frèt pou yon nanm fatige, se konsa yon bòn nouvèl ki sòti nan yon peyi lwen.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Tankou yon sous ki foule anba pye ak yon pwi kontamine, se konsa yon nonm dwat ki bay plas a mechan an.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 Li pa bon pou bwè anpil siwo myèl, ni li pa bon pou chache pwòp glwa pa w.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 Tankou yon gran vil ki kase antre san miray, se konsa yon nonm ki pa kontwole pwòp tèt li.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
