Pwovèb 26
1 Tankou lanèj nan sezon chalè a, tankou lapli nan sezon rekòlt, se konsa respè pa merite rive sou yon moun ensanse.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Tankou yon ti zwazo k ap sove ale, tankou yon ti iwondèl nan vòl li, se konsa yon madichon san koz p ap poze.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Yon fwèt se pou chwal la, yon brid pou bourik la, ak baton pou do a moun ensanse a.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Pa reponn yon moun ensanse selon foli li, oswa ou va vin tankou li.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Reponn yon moun ensanse selon foli li merite, pou l pa vin saj nan pwòp zye li.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Li koupe pwòp pye li, e bwè vyolans, ki voye yon mesaj pa men a moun ensanse a.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Tankou janm ki initil pou moun bwate a, se konsa yon pwovèb nan bouch a moun ensanse.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Tankou yon moun ki mare wòch anndan fistibal se konsa sila ki bay respè a moun ensanse a.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Tankou yon pikan ki tonbe nan men yon moun k ap bwè gwòg, se konsa yon pwovèb nan bouch a moun ki ensanse.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Tankou moun ak banza k ap blese tout moun, se konsa sila ki anplwaye moun ensanse a, ak sila ki anplwaye sila k ap pase pa aza a.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Tankou yon chen ki retounen nan vomi li, se konsa yon moun ensanse kap repete foli li.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Èske ou wè yon moun ki saj nan pwòp zye li? Gen plis espwa pou moun fou pase li menm.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Parese a di: “Gen yon lyon nan lari a! Yon lyon nan plas la!”
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Tankou pòt la vire sou gon li, se konsa parese a sou kabann li.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Parese a fouye men l nan plato a; men l twò fatige pou fè l ankò rive nan bouch li.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Parese a pi saj nan pwòp zye li pase sèt moun ki kab reponn ak bon konprann.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Tankou yon moun ki pran yon chen pa zòrèy, se konsa sila k ap pase pa aza a, pou l gaye nan goumen ki pa apatyen a li menm nan.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Tankou yon moun fou k ap jete bwa dife, flèch ak lanmò,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 se konsa nonm ki tronpe vwazen li an pou di: “Èske se pa blag mwen t ap fè?”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Akoz mank bwa, dife a etenn; lè ti koze sispann, rayisman vin kalme.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Tankou chabon tou limen anvè sann cho, ak bwa anvè dife, se konsa yon moun tchenpwèt chofe pwoblèm pou limen konfli.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Pawòl a moun k ap chichote nan zòrèy moun nan, vin tankou bèl ti mòso delika. Yo desann rive jis nan pati pi fon kò a.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Tankou veso ki fèt ak tè ki kouvri ak yon kouch ajan, se konsa lèv ki brile ak yon kè ki mechan.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Yon nonm malonèt, kache sa pou l pa parèt sou lèv li; men nan kè l, li fè depo desepsyon.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Lè l pale byen dous, pa kwè l; paske, gen sèt abominasyon nan kè l.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Malgre rayisman kouvri kò l ak riz, mechanste li va devwale devan asanble a.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Sila ki fouye fòs la va tonbe ladann, e sila ki woule wòch la, sou li menm l ap retounen.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Yon lang ki bay manti, rayi sila li kraze yo, e zèv a lang flatè a se dega.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
