Pwovèb 25
1 Sila yo se pwovèb yo a Salomon ke mesye Ézéchias yo, wa Juda a te dechifre.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 Se glwa Bondye pou kache yon bagay; men se glwa a wa yo pou chache konprann yon bagay.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 Tankou syèl la nan wotè a, ak tè a nan pwofondè a, se konsa kè a wa a ensondab.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Retire vye kras sou ajan k ap fonn nan, e va sòti metal pi pou òfèv la.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Retire mechan an devan wa a, e twòn li an va etabli nan ladwati.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Pa reklame bèl repitasyon nan prezans a wa a, e pa kanpe nan plas a moun pwisan yo;
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
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 for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 Pa fè vit lantre nan tribinal pou diskite ka ou; anfen, sa ou va fè lè vwazen ou fè ou desann nèt.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Diskite pwòp ka pa ou devan vwazen ou, e pa devwale sekrè a yon lòt,
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 oswa sila ki tande ou a, va fè ou repwòch, e move rapò sou ou menm p ap janm disparèt.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 Tankou pòm an lò ki monte sou ajan, se konsa yon mo byen plase nan moman li.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 Tankou yon zanno an lò ak yon dekorasyon an lò fen se yon repwòch saj nan zòrèy k ap koute.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
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 a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 Tankou nwaj ak van san lapli, se konsa yon nonm ki ogmante don li yo ak manti.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 Ak pasyans, yon chèf ka vin pèswade; se yon lang dous ki kase zo.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Èske ou te jwenn siwo myèl? Manje sèlman kont ou, pou ou pa gen twòp pou vomi li.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Kite pye ou raman pile lakay vwazen ou, sinon li va fatige avè w, e vin rayi ou.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 Tankou gwo baton, nepe, oswa flèch file, se konsa yon nonm ki pote fo temwen kont vwazen li.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Tankou yon move dan ak yon pye ki pa estab, se konsa konfyans nan yon nonm enfidèl nan tan gwo twoub.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
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.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 Si lènmi ou grangou, ba li manje; epi si li swaf, ba li dlo pou l bwè;
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 paske, ou va anpile chabon tou limen sou tèt li, e SENYÈ a va bay ou rekonpans.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 Van nò pote lapli e yon lang medizan, pote yon move vizaj.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
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 dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 Tankou dlo frèt pou yon nanm fatige, se konsa yon bòn nouvèl ki sòti nan yon peyi lwen.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Tankou yon sous ki foule anba pye ak yon pwi kontamine, se konsa yon nonm dwat ki bay plas a mechan an.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 Li pa bon pou bwè anpil siwo myèl, ni li pa bon pou chache pwòp glwa pa w.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 Tankou yon gran vil ki kase antre san miray, se konsa yon nonm ki pa kontwole pwòp tèt li.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
