< Pwovèb 8 >

1 Èske sajès pa rele? Èske bon konprann pa leve vwa li?
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 Anlè wotè akote chemen yo, akote kafou wout yo; la li pran pozisyon li.
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 Akote pòtay yo, nan ouvèti vil la, nan antre pòtay yo, li kriye fò:
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 Vè nou menm, O mesye yo, mwen rele! Konsa, vwa m se pou fis a lòm yo.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 O moun ensanse yo, vin aprann pridans! Moun fou yo, vin konprann sajès!
You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
6 Koute mwen, paske mwen va pale gwo bagay. Lè lèv mwen louvri, y ap devwale bagay ki kòrèk.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 Paske bouch mwen va eksprime verite; epi mechanste vin abominab a lèv mwen.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Tout pawòl a bouch mwen yo dwat; nanpwen anyen kwochi oswa pèvès ladann yo.
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 Yo byen dwat pou sila ki konprann nan, e kòrèk pou sila ki jwenn konesans lan.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Pran konsèy mwen olye ajan, e konesans olye pi chwa nan lò pi.
[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,
11 Paske, sajès pi bon ke bijou; epi tout pi bèl bagay yo p ap kab konpare avè l.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 Mwen se sajès. Mwen rete avèk bon konprann. Konsa, mwen fè jwenn konesans ak bon sans.
I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.
13 Lakrent SENYÈ a se pou rayi mal, ansanm ak ògèy, awogans, ak yon bouch pevès.
[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].
14 Konsèy ak bon sajès se pou mwen. Entèlijans se non mwen. Pouvwa se pa m.
I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.
15 Akoz mwen, wa yo vin renye; e gouvènè yo fè dekrè lajistis.
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 Akoz mwen, prens ak nòb yo pran pouvwa; tout moun ki fè jijman ki bon yo.
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 Mwen renmen sila ki renmen m yo. Sila ki chache mwen ak dilijans yo va jwenn mwen.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Richès ak lonè avèk m; richès k ap dire ak ladwati.
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 Fwi mwen pi bon ke lò, menm lò pi. Rannman mwen pi bon ke pi bèl ajan an.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 Mwen mache nan ladwati, nan mitan wout lajistis yo,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 Pou m bay a sila ki renmen m, richès; pou m kab ranpli kès yo.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 SENYÈ a te posede m nan kòmansman travay pa Li; menm avan zèv ansyen Li yo.
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 Depi nan etènite, mwen te etabli, depi nan kòmansman, depi nan tan pi ansyen mond lan.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 Lè potko gen pwofondè, mwen te fèt, lè pa t gen sous ki t ap bonbade dlo yo.
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 Avan mòn yo te poze, avan kolin yo, mwen te fèt;
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 pandan li potko fè tè a ak chan yo, ni premye grenn pousyè mond lan.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Lè Li te etabli syèl yo, mwen te la, lè Li te trase yon sèk won fas a pwofondè a,
I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.
28 lè Li te fè syèl yo anwo vin fèm, lè sous nan fon yo te vin etabli,
I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.
29 lè Li te mete lizyè sou lanmè a pou dlo pa t vyole lòd Li, lè Li te make tras fondasyon tè a;
I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support 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,
I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.
31 Mwen t ap Rejwi nan mond Li a, e fè kè kontan nan fis a lòm yo.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 “Alò, pou sa, fis yo, koute mwen; paske beni se sila ki kenbe chemen mwen yo.
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Koute lenstriksyon pou ou vin saj e pa neglije l.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
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.
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 Paske sila ki twouve mwen an, jwenn lavi e resevwa lonè devan SENYÈ a.
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 Men sila ki peche kont mwen an, fè pwòp tèt li mal; tout sila ki rayi mwen yo, renmen lanmò.”
But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”

< Pwovèb 8 >