Pwovèb 25
1 Sila yo se pwovèb yo a Salomon ke mesye Ézéchias yo, wa Juda a te dechifre.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Se glwa Bondye pou kache yon bagay; men se glwa a wa yo pou chache konprann yon bagay.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 Tankou syèl la nan wotè a, ak tè a nan pwofondè a, se konsa kè a wa a ensondab.
Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4 Retire vye kras sou ajan k ap fonn nan, e va sòti metal pi pou òfèv la.
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Retire mechan an devan wa a, e twòn li an va etabli nan ladwati.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Pa reklame bèl repitasyon nan prezans a wa a, e pa kanpe nan plas a moun pwisan yo;
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
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's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
8 Pa fè vit lantre nan tribinal pou diskite ka ou; anfen, sa ou va fè lè vwazen ou fè ou desann nèt.
don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9 Diskite pwòp ka pa ou devan vwazen ou, e pa devwale sekrè a yon lòt,
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 oswa sila ki tande ou a, va fè ou repwòch, e move rapò sou ou menm p ap janm disparèt.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 Tankou pòm an lò ki monte sou ajan, se konsa yon mo byen plase nan moman li.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 Tankou yon zanno an lò ak yon dekorasyon an lò fen se yon repwòch saj nan zòrèy k ap koute.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
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.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 Tankou nwaj ak van san lapli, se konsa yon nonm ki ogmante don li yo ak manti.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 Ak pasyans, yon chèf ka vin pèswade; se yon lang dous ki kase zo.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Èske ou te jwenn siwo myèl? Manje sèlman kont ou, pou ou pa gen twòp pou vomi li.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Kite pye ou raman pile lakay vwazen ou, sinon li va fatige avè w, e vin rayi ou.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 Tankou gwo baton, nepe, oswa flèch file, se konsa yon nonm ki pote fo temwen kont vwazen li.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 Tankou yon move dan ak yon pye ki pa estab, se konsa konfyans nan yon nonm enfidèl nan tan gwo twoub.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad 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.
Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
21 Si lènmi ou grangou, ba li manje; epi si li swaf, ba li dlo pou l bwè;
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 paske, ou va anpile chabon tou limen sou tèt li, e SENYÈ a va bay ou rekonpans.
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 Van nò pote lapli e yon lang medizan, pote yon move vizaj.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 Li pi bon pou viv nan yon kwen twati pase nan yon kay avèk yon fanm k ap fè kont tout tan.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 Tankou dlo frèt pou yon nanm fatige, se konsa yon bòn nouvèl ki sòti nan yon peyi lwen.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 Tankou yon sous ki foule anba pye ak yon pwi kontamine, se konsa yon nonm dwat ki bay plas a mechan an.
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 Li pa bon pou bwè anpil siwo myèl, ni li pa bon pou chache pwòp glwa pa w.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 Tankou yon gran vil ki kase antre san miray, se konsa yon nonm ki pa kontwole pwòp tèt li.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
