Pwovèb 4
1 Tande, O fis yo, enstriksyon a yon papa, e fè atansyon pou ou kab reyisi jwenn bon konprann,
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn understanding!
2 Paske mwen bay ou bon konsèy; pa abandone enstriksyon mwen.
For I give you good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.
3 Lè m te yon jenn timoun ak papa m, byen jenn e sèl fis devan zye a manman m,
For I was my father's son, A tender and only child in the sight of my mother.
4 Alò, li te enstwi mwen e te di mwen: “Kite kè ou kenbe fèm a pawòl mwen; kenbe lòd mwen yo pou ou viv.
He taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Vin ranmase sajès! Ranmase bon konprann! Pa bliye, ni pa vire kite pawòl a bouch mwen yo.
Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.
6 Pa abandone li e li va pwoteje ou; renmen li e li va veye sou ou.
Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.
7 Men sa ki kòmansman sajès la: Ranmase sajès! Epi avèk sa ou rasanble a, chache bon konprann.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain understanding.
8 Mete valè li wo e li va fè ou leve; li va bay ou onè si ou anbrase l.
Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her;
9 Li va poze sou tèt ou yon kouwòn lagras; li va prezante ou avèk yon kouwòn byen bèl.”
She will give to thy head a graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.
10 Tande, fis mwen an, vin dakò ak pawòl mwen yo, e lane lavi ou yo va vin byen long.
Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.
11 Mwen te dirije ou nan chemen sajès la; mwen te kondwi ou nan pa ladwati yo.
I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.
12 Lè ou mache, pa ou yo p ap jennen; epi si ou kouri, ou p ap glise tonbe.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Pran enstriksyon; pa lage menm. Pwoteje li paske li se lavi ou.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; Keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Pa antre nan chemen mechan yo, e pa avanse nan vwa malfektè yo.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men;
15 Evite li, pa pase kote li; vire kite li e ale byen lwen.
Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.
16 Paske, yo p ap kab dòmi si yo pa fè mal; epi dòmi vin vòlè soti nan zye yo si yo pa fè lòt glise tonbe.
For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to fall.
17 Paske yo manje pen a malveyan yo e bwè diven vyolans.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18 Men pa a moun dwat yo se tankou limyè granmmaten ki briye pi fò e pi fò jiskaske li vin fè jou nèt.
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
19 Chemen mechan yo tankou tenèb; yo pa konnen sou kisa pou yo tonbe.
The way of the wicked is as thick darkness; They know not at what they stumble.
20 Fis mwen an, prete atansyon a pawòl mwen yo; panche zòrèy ou vè diskou mwen yo.
My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;
21 Pa kite yo vin disparèt devan zye ou; kenbe yo nan fon kè ou.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart!
22 Paske yo se lavi a sila ki jwenn yo, ak lasante a tout kò yo.
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Veye sou kè ou ak tout dilijans; paske de li, sous lavi yo koule.
More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.
24 Mete lwen de ou yon bouch manti e mete tout pawòl foub byen lwen ou.
Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.
25 Kite zye ou gade tou dwat devan e kite vizyon ou konsantre devan nèt.
Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.
26 Veye wout pye ou konn pran e tout chemen ou yo va byen etabli.
Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch; fè pye ou vire kite mal.
Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.
