Pwovèb 8
1 Tande byen. Sajès ap rele byen fò. Entèlijans ap pale fò pou tout moun tande.
Does not wisdom cry out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 Li kanpe sou tèt ti mòn yo, sou bò wout la, nan mitan kalfou yo.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 L'ap pale byen fò bò pòtay lavil la, sou tout papòt yo, l'ap di:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 Nou menm lèzòm, se ak nou m'ap pale. M'ap rele pou tout moun ki sou latè tande.
“To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 Nou menm ki pa gen konprann, vin aprann sa ki rele gen bon konprann Nou menm k'ap aji tankou moun fou, vin aprann sa ki rele gen lespri.
You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Louvri zòrèy nou. Mwen pral di pawòl ki konsekan. Tou sa mwen pral di yo se bagay ki dwat.
Sh'ma ·Hear obey·, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 Sa m' pral di la a se verite. Mwen pa kapab bay manti.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Tou sa ki soti nan bouch mwen, se pawòl ki dwat. Nan sa m' di yo pa gen anyen ki pa vre, pa gen anyen ki kwochi.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 Yo klè pou moun ki gen bon konprann. Yo kòrèk pou moun ki gen konesans.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Pito ou chache gen bon konprann pase pou ou gen lajan. Pito ou chache gen konesans pase pou ou gen pi bon lò.
Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Paske, mwen menm Bon Konprann, mwen pi bon pase boul lò. Pa gen anyen ou ta renmen genyen ki ka konpare avè m'.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 Mwen menm Bon Konprann, mwen gen lespri. Mwen gen bon tèt pou m' konprann.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 Lè yon moun gen krentif pou Bondye, li rayi sa ki mal. Mwen pa vle wè moun lògey ak moun awogan, moun ki gen move kondit ak moun k'ap bay manti.
The fear of Adonai is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Se mwen ki bay bon konsèy, ki bay moun ladrès. Mwen gen konprann, mwen gen fòs pouvwa.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 Se mwen ki bay wa yo ladrès pou yo kòmande. Se mwen ki fè chèf yo pase bon lòd pou pa gen lenjistis.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Se mwen menm ki bay tout chèf yo tèt pou yo kòmande. Se mwen menm ki fè sa tou pou tout lòt chèf yo ansanm ak tout lòt moun k'ap dirije lèzòm.
By me princes rule; nobles, and all the upright rulers of the earth.
17 Mwen renmen moun ki renmen m'. Depi yon moun chache m', fòk li jwenn mwen.
I 'ahav ·affectionately love· those who 'ahav ·affectionately love· me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Mwen bay richès, mwen bay pouvwa. Mwen bay byen k'ap la pou lontan, mwen fè tout bagay byen.
With me are riches, kavod ·weighty glory·, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 Tou sa mwen bay pi bon lontan pase pi bon lò ki genyen. Yo pi bon pase ajan.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.
20 Mwen fè moun mache dwat devan Bondye. Mwen fè yo mache yon jan pou yo pa fè moun lenjistis.
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of mishpat ·justice·;
21 Lè moun renmen m', mwen ba yo anpil byen. Mwen plen kay yo ak richès.
That I may give wealth to those who 'ahav ·affectionately love· me. I fill their treasuries.
22 Seyè a te fè m' lè li te fèk konmanse ak plan travay li. Li te fè m' lontan lontan anvan tout bagay.
“Adonai possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 Li te fè m' nan konmansman nèt, an premye, anvan tout lòt bagay sou latè.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 Lè m' te fèk parèt, pa t' ankò gen lanmè. pa t' ankò gen ankenn sous dlo.
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Lè m' te fèt la, pa t' ankò gen ankenn mòn menm. Ata ti mòn yo pa t' ankò nan plas yo.
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 Bondye pa t' ankò fè latè ak jaden. Pa menm premye grenn pousyè tè a pa t' ankò fèt.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Mwen te la lè li t'ap mete syèl la nan plas li, lè li t'ap trase liy kote syèl la kontre ak latè a.
When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 Mwen te la lè li t'ap mete nwaj yo nan syèl la, lè li t'ap fè sous dlo pete anba lanmè a.
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 Mwen te la lè li t'ap bay dlo lanmè a limit pou l' pa depase, lè li t'ap poze fondasyon tè a.
when he gave to the sea its boundary by his statute, that the waters should not violate the word of his mouth, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;
30 Mwen te la bò kote l' ap travay avè l'. Chak jou mwen t'ap fè tout bagay ki te fè l' plezi. Mwen te toujou kontan travay anba je l'.
then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 Mwen te kontan mache toupatou sou latè. Mwen te pran plezi m' ak lèzòm.
Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Koulye a, pitit mwen yo, louvri zòrèy nou pou nou tande mwen. Ala bon sa bon pou moun ki fè sa m' di yo fè!
“Now therefore, my sons, sh'ma ·hear obey· unto me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Louvri zòrèy nou pou nou tande sa m'ap moutre nou. N'a vin gen bon konprann. Pa meprize bagay konsa.
Sh'ma ·Hear obey· instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Ala bon sa bon pou moun ki koute m', pou moun ki chita nan papòt mwen chak jou, pou moun k'ap tann bò poto galeri kay mwen!
Blessed is the man who sh'ma ·hears obeys· me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 Lè yon moun jwenn mwen, se lavi li jwenn. Li antre nan favè Bondye.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Adonai.
36 Men moun ki vire do ban mwen ap fè tèt yo mal. Moun ki rayi m', se moun k'ap mache ak sèkèy yo anba bra yo.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me 'ahav ·affectionately love· death.”
