Pwovèb 31
1 Pawòl a wa Lemuel yo; pwofesi ke manman li te ansegne li a:
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
2 “O fis mwen an! O fis a vant mwen an! O fis a ve mwen yo!
What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
3 Pa bay fòs ou a fanm, ni wout ou a sila ki konn detwi wa yo.
Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
4 Se pa pou wa yo, O Lemuel, se pa pou wa yo bwè diven, ni pou chèf yo ta bwè diven,
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
5 Paske y ap bwè epi vin bliye dekrè ki te fèt la, e tòde dwa a sila ki aflije yo.
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
6 Bay bwason fò a sila k ap peri a, ak diven a sila ki gen lavi anmè a.
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
7 Kite li bwè pou bliye mizè li e pa sonje pwoblèm li ankò.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
8 Ouvri bouch ou pou bèbè a; pou dwa yo a tout sila ki san sekou.
Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
9 Ouvri bouch ou, fè jijman ak dwati, e defann dwa a aflije yo ak endijan an.”
Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
10 Yon madanm ki ekselan, se kilès ki ka twouve li? Paske valè li depase bijou.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
11 Kè a mari li mete konfyans nan li e li p ap manke reyisi.
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
12 Li fè l sa ki bon e pa sa ki mal pandan tout jou lavi li.
For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
13 Li chache lèn ak len e travay avèk men l ak kè kontan.
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
14 Li tankou bato komès; li mennen manje li soti byen lwen.
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
15 Anplis, li leve pandan li toujou fènwa pou bay manje a tout lakay li, ak yon pòsyon pou sèvant li yo.
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
16 Li konsidere yon chan e achte li. Ak benefis travay li, li plante yon chan rezen.
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
17 Li mare senti l ak gwo fòs pou fè bra li vin fò.
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
18 Li santi ke siksè li bon; lanp li pa janm etenn lannwit.
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
19 Li lonje men l vè aparèy tise a e men l kenbe l.
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
20 Li lonje men l vè pòv yo avèk sila ki gen bezwen an.
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
21 Lakay li pa fè krent pou lanèj, paske tout lakay abiye an wouj.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
22 Li fè kouvèti pou tèt li; tout vètman li se twal fen blan ak mov.
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
23 Mari li byen rekonèt nan pòtay lavil yo, lè l chita pami ansyen a peyi yo.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
24 Li fè vètman an len pou vann yo, e founi sentiwon a tout komèsan yo.
She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
25 Fòs ak respè se abiman li e li souri a lavni.
She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
26 Li ouvri bouch li avèk sajès e enstriksyon ladousè sou lang li.
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
27 Li gade byen tout afè lakay li e li pa manje pen laparès.
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Pitit li yo leve e beni li; mari li tou ba li gwo lwanj pou di l:
And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
29 “Anpil fi te fè byen bon; men ou pi bon anpil pase yo tout.”
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
30 Chàm konn twonpe e bèlte konn vanite; men se fanm nan ki krent SENYÈ a k ap resevwa lwanj.
Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
31 Ba li sa ke men l te pwodwi, epi kite zèv li yo fè lwanj li nan pòtay yo.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
