Pwovèb 8
1 Èske sajès pa rele? Èske bon konprann pa leve vwa li?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 Anlè wotè akote chemen yo, akote kafou wout yo; la li pran pozisyon li.
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 Akote pòtay yo, nan ouvèti vil la, nan antre pòtay yo, li kriye fò:
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 Vè nou menm, O mesye yo, mwen rele! Konsa, vwa m se pou fis a lòm yo.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 O moun ensanse yo, vin aprann pridans! Moun fou yo, vin konprann sajès!
Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Koute mwen, paske mwen va pale gwo bagay. Lè lèv mwen louvri, y ap devwale bagay ki kòrèk.
Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 Paske bouch mwen va eksprime verite; epi mechanste vin abominab a lèv mwen.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 Tout pawòl a bouch mwen yo dwat; nanpwen anyen kwochi oswa pèvès ladann yo.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 Yo byen dwat pou sila ki konprann nan, e kòrèk pou sila ki jwenn konesans lan.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Pran konsèy mwen olye ajan, e konesans olye pi chwa nan lò pi.
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Paske, sajès pi bon ke bijou; epi tout pi bèl bagay yo p ap kab konpare avè l.
For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 Mwen se sajès. Mwen rete avèk bon konprann. Konsa, mwen fè jwenn konesans ak bon sans.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
13 Lakrent SENYÈ a se pou rayi mal, ansanm ak ògèy, awogans, ak yon bouch pevès.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Konsèy ak bon sajès se pou mwen. Entèlijans se non mwen. Pouvwa se pa m.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 Akoz mwen, wa yo vin renye; e gouvènè yo fè dekrè lajistis.
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 Akoz mwen, prens ak nòb yo pran pouvwa; tout moun ki fè jijman ki bon yo.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Mwen renmen sila ki renmen m yo. Sila ki chache mwen ak dilijans yo va jwenn mwen.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Richès ak lonè avèk m; richès k ap dire ak ladwati.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Fwi mwen pi bon ke lò, menm lò pi. Rannman mwen pi bon ke pi bèl ajan an.
My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 Mwen mache nan ladwati, nan mitan wout lajistis yo,
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 Pou m bay a sila ki renmen m, richès; pou m kab ranpli kès yo.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 SENYÈ a te posede m nan kòmansman travay pa Li; menm avan zèv ansyen Li yo.
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 Depi nan etènite, mwen te etabli, depi nan kòmansman, depi nan tan pi ansyen mond lan.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 Lè potko gen pwofondè, mwen te fèt, lè pa t gen sous ki t ap bonbade dlo yo.
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 Avan mòn yo te poze, avan kolin yo, mwen te fèt;
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 pandan li potko fè tè a ak chan yo, ni premye grenn pousyè mond lan.
While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
27 Lè Li te etabli syèl yo, mwen te la, lè Li te trase yon sèk won fas a pwofondè a,
When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 lè Li te fè syèl yo anwo vin fèm, lè sous nan fon yo te vin etabli,
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 lè Li te mete lizyè sou lanmè a pou dlo pa t vyole lòd Li, lè Li te make tras fondasyon tè a;
When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly the foundations of the earth:
30 Nan tan sa a, mwen te akote Li, yon mèt ouvriye; epi, mwen te fè L plezi tout lajounen e te rejwi devan L tout tan,
Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 Mwen t ap Rejwi nan mond Li a, e fè kè kontan nan fis a lòm yo.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 “Alò, pou sa, fis yo, koute mwen; paske beni se sila ki kenbe chemen mwen yo.
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Koute lenstriksyon pou ou vin saj e pa neglije l.
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Beni se moun ki koute mwen an, k ap veye chak jou nan pòtay mwen yo, k ap veye kote poto pòt kay mwen an.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Paske sila ki twouve mwen an, jwenn lavi e resevwa lonè devan SENYÈ a.
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 Men sila ki peche kont mwen an, fè pwòp tèt li mal; tout sila ki rayi mwen yo, renmen lanmò.”
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
