< Pwovèb 31 >
1 Pawòl a wa Lemuel yo; pwofesi ke manman li te ansegne li a:
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 “O fis mwen an! O fis a vant mwen an! O fis a ve mwen yo!
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Pa bay fòs ou a fanm, ni wout ou a sila ki konn detwi wa yo.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
4 Se pa pou wa yo, O Lemuel, se pa pou wa yo bwè diven, ni pou chèf yo ta bwè diven,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
5 Paske y ap bwè epi vin bliye dekrè ki te fèt la, e tòde dwa a sila ki aflije yo.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Bay bwason fò a sila k ap peri a, ak diven a sila ki gen lavi anmè a.
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Kite li bwè pou bliye mizè li e pa sonje pwoblèm li ankò.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Ouvri bouch ou pou bèbè a; pou dwa yo a tout sila ki san sekou.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Ouvri bouch ou, fè jijman ak dwati, e defann dwa a aflije yo ak endijan an.”
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Yon madanm ki ekselan, se kilès ki ka twouve li? Paske valè li depase bijou.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 Kè a mari li mete konfyans nan li e li p ap manke reyisi.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 Li fè l sa ki bon e pa sa ki mal pandan tout jou lavi li.
She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
13 Li chache lèn ak len e travay avèk men l ak kè kontan.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 Li tankou bato komès; li mennen manje li soti byen lwen.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 Anplis, li leve pandan li toujou fènwa pou bay manje a tout lakay li, ak yon pòsyon pou sèvant li yo.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
16 Li konsidere yon chan e achte li. Ak benefis travay li, li plante yon chan rezen.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 Li mare senti l ak gwo fòs pou fè bra li vin fò.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 Li santi ke siksè li bon; lanp li pa janm etenn lannwit.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Li lonje men l vè aparèy tise a e men l kenbe l.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Li lonje men l vè pòv yo avèk sila ki gen bezwen an.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 Lakay li pa fè krent pou lanèj, paske tout lakay abiye an wouj.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 Li fè kouvèti pou tèt li; tout vètman li se twal fen blan ak mov.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Mari li byen rekonèt nan pòtay lavil yo, lè l chita pami ansyen a peyi yo.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 Li fè vètman an len pou vann yo, e founi sentiwon a tout komèsan yo.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Fòs ak respè se abiman li e li souri a lavni.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 Li ouvri bouch li avèk sajès e enstriksyon ladousè sou lang li.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 Li gade byen tout afè lakay li e li pa manje pen laparès.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Pitit li yo leve e beni li; mari li tou ba li gwo lwanj pou di l:
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 “Anpil fi te fè byen bon; men ou pi bon anpil pase yo tout.”
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
30 Chàm konn twonpe e bèlte konn vanite; men se fanm nan ki krent SENYÈ a k ap resevwa lwanj.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
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 own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.