Pwovèb 18
1 Moun k'ap viv apa se tèt li ase li konnen. Li move sou tout moun ki vle ba li bon konsèy.
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
2 Moun sòt pa pran plezi l' nan chache konprann. Tou sa l'ap chache se fè moun konprann li gen lespri.
Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
3 Y'ap meprize moun k'ap fè mechanste. Moun ki pa fè respè tèt yo gen pou yo wont.
With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 Pawòl moun ki gen konprann fon kou lanmè, fre tankou yon sous k'ap koule tout tan.
People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
5 Sa pa bon pou ou pran pou moun mechan, ni pou ou enpoze yo rann moun inonsan jistis.
It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 Depi moun sòt ap pale, se kont l'ap chache. Si ou koute pawòl nan bouch li, w'a ba l' kou.
What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
7 Bouch moun sòt se kondannasyon li. Pawòl ki soti nan bouch li tounen pèlen pou li.
Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
8 Tripotay dous nan zòrèy moun ki vle tande yo. Sa mache nan san yo.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
9 Moun ki parese nan travay li se menmman parèyman ak moun k'ap defèt sa k'ap fèt.
Laziness and destruction are brothers.
10 Seyè a, se yon gwo ranpa byen solid. Se la moun k'ap mache dwat yo kouri al chache pwoteksyon.
The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
11 Pou moun rich yo, byen yo tankou yon ranpa byen solid. Yo mete nan tèt yo se sa k'ap pwoteje yo.
Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
12 Lè w'ap fè awogans, yo pa lwen kraze ou. Lè ou fè kò ou piti, y'a fè lwanj ou.
Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
13 Moun ki prese reponn san koute sa y'ap di l', se moun sòt li ye. Li gen pou l' wont.
Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
14 Lè yon moun anvi viv, sa ede l' anpil lè li malad. Men, si li dekouraje, ki moun ki ka remoute kouraj li?
With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
15 Yon moun lespri ap toujou chache gen plis konesans. Zòrèy moun ki gen bon konprann toujou pare pou l' ka konnen plis toujou.
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
16 Kado ou fè louvri chemen pou ou toupatou, ata chemen ki mennen lakay grannèg.
A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
17 Moun ki pale anvan nan tribinal toujou sanble li gen rezon. Lè lòt moun lan parèt, kat je kontre, manti kaba.
The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
18 Lè de grannèg gen kont, jij yo fè tiraj osò pou konnen kilès pou yo bay rezon.
Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
19 Li pi fasil pou mete lapè nan yon gwo lavil pase pou ou rekonsilye de frè ki nan kont. Lè yo fache, kè yonn se pòt prizon pou lòt.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
20 Rekonpans yon moun chita sou sa ki soti nan bouch li.
Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
21 Sa ou di ka lavi pou ou, li ka lanmò pou ou. Sa ou chwazi, se sa w'ap jwenn.
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
22 Lè yon nonm jwenn yon bon madanm, se yon bon bagay. Se yon gwo favè Seyè a fè l'.
If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
23 Lè yon pòv ap pale, li toujou nan tanpri souple. Men, moun rich toujou ap rele sou moun.
The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
24 Gen zanmi se pran yo vin pran. Men, gen zanmi tou yo plis pase frè.
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
