Pwovèb 20
1 Twòp bweson fè ou pase moun nan betiz. Twòp gwòg fè ou pete kabouyay, fè lòbèy. Lè ou sou, ou aji tankou moun fou.
It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
2 Lè yon wa ankòlè, se tankou yon lyon k'ap gwonde. Moun ki mete l' ankòlè a, se pwòp tèt li l'ap fè mal.
Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3 Se bèl bagay lè yon moun evite diskisyon. Moun san konprann toujou ap chache kont.
Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4 Parese pa pare tè li lè pou l' te pare l', li di fè twò frèt. Lè rekòt rive, li pa jwenn anyen nan jaden l'.
Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
5 Lide yon nonm gen nan tèt li, se tankou dlo nan yon pi byen fon. Men, yon moun lespri ka rale yo mete deyò.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6 Anpil moun ap mache di jan yo se moun serye. Men, ou pa fasil jwenn yon moun ou ka fè konfyans.
Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7 Lè yon papa se moun serye, li fè sa ki dwat. Sa bon nèt pou pitit li yo.
The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8 Lè yon wa chita sou fòtèy li, l'ap rann jistis, li wè sa ki mal ak sa ki byen.
The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9 Ki moun ki ka di: mwen lave konsyans mwen, mwen wete tout peche ki te sou li?
Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
10 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap sèvi ak de pwa de mezi.
Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11 Yon timoun moutre ou sa l'ap soti nan sa l'ap fè. Ou ka di si l'ap serye, si l'ap bon.
A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12 Se Seyè a ki ban nou je pou nou ka wè, se li menm ki ban nou zòrèy pou nou ka tande.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
13 Pa renmen dòmi twòp pou ou pa vin pòv. Souke kò ou. W'a jwenn kont manje pou ou manje.
Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
14 Lè moun ap machande, machandiz pa janm bon. Fini yo fin achte, y'ap mache di jan yo fè yon bon zafè.
“It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15 Lè yon moun ki gen konprann ap pale sa gen plis valè pase kantite lò ak pyè ki koute chè.
There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Si yon moun sòt jouk pou li asepte bay pawòl li pou dèt yon etranje, se pou yo pran ata rad ki sou li jouk lòt la peye.
Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 Lajan ou fè nan move kondisyon ka dous lè ou fèk genyen l'. Men, apre sa, se tankou ti wòch anba dan.
The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Pran konsèy, tou sa ou gen lide fè ap mache byen. Pa kouri fè lagè san ou pa konnen sa w'ap fè.
Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 Bouch alèlè pa kenbe sekrè. Pa mele ak moun ki pale twòp.
Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 Moun ki bay manman l' ak papa l' madichon p'ap viv lontan.
Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 Richès ou ranmase fasil fasil p'ap janm vin yon benediksyon pou ou.
When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22 Pa janm di se ou ki pou vanje tèt ou. Mete konfyans ou nan Seyè a, l'a delivre ou.
Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23 Seyè a pa ka sipòte moun k'ap sèvi ak de pwa de mezi. Sa pa bon pou ou sèvi ak move balans.
Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24 Se Seyè a ki louvri chemen devan nou. Ki jan lèzòm ka rive konprann lavi?
The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25 Pa prese fè Bondye pwomès. Ou ka règrèt sa pita.
It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26 Yon wa ki gen bon konprann ap rive dekouvri tout mechan yo. L'ap san pitye lè l'ap pini yo.
A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27 Se Seyè a ki ban nou konsyans nou. Se tankou yon lanp k'ap klere pou fè nou wè tou sa n'ap fè.
The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28 Yon wa ap rete wa si li se nèg serye, si li toujou kenbe pawòl li. L'ap toujou wa si li pa nan patipri.
Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Se kouraj ki fè valè yon jenn gason. Men, pou granmoun, se cheve blan l' yo ki fè valè l'.
The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Move esperyans ka fè nou chanje. Malè ka fè nou vin gen bon santiman.
The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
