Pwovèb 4
1 Tande, O fis yo, enstriksyon a yon papa, e fè atansyon pou ou kab reyisi jwenn bon konprann,
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Paske mwen bay ou bon konsèy; pa abandone enstriksyon mwen.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Lè m te yon jenn timoun ak papa m, byen jenn e sèl fis devan zye a manman m,
For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before 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.
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Vin ranmase sajès! Ranmase bon konprann! Pa bliye, ni pa vire kite pawòl a bouch mwen yo.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings 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 doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Men sa ki kòmansman sajès la: Ranmase sajès! Epi avèk sa ou rasanble a, chache bon konprann.
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get 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 doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, 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 giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Tande, fis mwen an, vin dakò ak pawòl mwen yo, e lane lavi ou yo va vin byen long.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11 Mwen te dirije ou nan chemen sajès la; mwen te kondwi ou nan pa ladwati yo.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Lè ou mache, pa ou yo p ap jennen; epi si ou kouri, ou p ap glise tonbe.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Pran enstriksyon; pa lage menm. Pwoteje li paske li se lavi ou.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Pa antre nan chemen mechan yo, e pa avanse nan vwa malfektè yo.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Evite li, pa pase kote li; vire kite li e ale byen lwen.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
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 if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Paske yo manje pen a malveyan yo e bwè diven vyolans.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 Men pa a moun dwat yo se tankou limyè granmmaten ki briye pi fò e pi fò jiskaske li vin fè jou nèt.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19 Chemen mechan yo tankou tenèb; yo pa konnen sou kisa pou yo tonbe.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Fis mwen an, prete atansyon a pawòl mwen yo; panche zòrèy ou vè diskou mwen yo.
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Pa kite yo vin disparèt devan zye ou; kenbe yo nan fon kè ou.
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 Paske yo se lavi a sila ki jwenn yo, ak lasante a tout kò yo.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Veye sou kè ou ak tout dilijans; paske de li, sous lavi yo koule.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Mete lwen de ou yon bouch manti e mete tout pawòl foub byen lwen ou.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Kite zye ou gade tou dwat devan e kite vizyon ou konsantre devan nèt.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Veye wout pye ou konn pran e tout chemen ou yo va byen etabli.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch; fè pye ou vire kite mal.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
