Pwovèb 25
1 Sila yo se pwovèb yo a Salomon ke mesye Ézéchias yo, wa Juda a te dechifre.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 conceal a thing: but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Tankou syèl la nan wotè a, ak tè a nan pwofondè a, se konsa kè a wa a ensondab.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Retire vye kras sou ajan k ap fonn nan, e va sòti metal pi pou òfèv la.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the finer:
5 Retire mechan an devan wa a, e twòn li an va etabli nan ladwati.
Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Pa reklame bèl repitasyon nan prezans a wa a, e pa kanpe nan plas a moun pwisan yo;
Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
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 better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine 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.
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Diskite pwòp ka pa ou devan vwazen ou, e pa devwale sekrè a yon lòt,
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself], and disclose not 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.
Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 Tankou pòm an lò ki monte sou ajan, se konsa yon mo byen plase nan moman li.
A word fitly spoken is [like] apples of gold in baskets of silver.
12 Tankou yon zanno an lò ak yon dekorasyon an lò fen se yon repwòch saj nan zòrèy k ap koute.
[As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon 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 the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
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] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
15 Ak pasyans, yon chèf ka vin pèswade; se yon lang dous ki kase zo.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Èske ou te jwenn siwo myèl? Manje sèlman kont ou, pou ou pa gen twòp pou vomi li.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Kite pye ou raman pile lakay vwazen ou, sinon li va fatige avè w, e vin rayi ou.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 Tankou gwo baton, nepe, oswa flèch file, se konsa yon nonm ki pote fo temwen kont vwazen li.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, 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.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 Si lènmi ou grangou, ba li manje; epi si li swaf, ba li dlo pou l bwè;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 paske, ou va anpile chabon tou limen sou tèt li, e SENYÈ a va bay ou rekonpans.
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 Van nò pote lapli e yon lang medizan, pote yon move vizaj.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
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 in the comer of the housetop, than with a contentious 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 waters to a thirsty 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.
[As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
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: so [for men] to search out their own glory is [not] glory.
28 Tankou yon gran vil ki kase antre san miray, se konsa yon nonm ki pa kontwole pwòp tèt li.
He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
