Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
Tande, O fis yo, enstriksyon a yon papa, e fè atansyon pou ou kab reyisi jwenn bon konprann,
2 for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.
Paske mwen bay ou bon konsèy; pa abandone enstriksyon mwen.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
Lè m te yon jenn timoun ak papa m, byen jenn e sèl fis devan zye a manman m,
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
Alò, li te enstwi mwen e te di mwen: “Kite kè ou kenbe fèm a pawòl mwen; kenbe lòd mwen yo pou ou viv.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, and do not deviate from the words of my mouth.
Vin ranmase sajès! Ranmase bon konprann! Pa bliye, ni pa vire kite pawòl a bouch mwen yo.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Pa abandone li e li va pwoteje ou; renmen li e li va veye sou ou.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Men sa ki kòmansman sajès la: Ranmase sajès! Epi avèk sa ou rasanble a, chache bon konprann.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
Mete valè li wo e li va fè ou leve; li va bay ou onè si ou anbrase l.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
Li va poze sou tèt ou yon kouwòn lagras; li va prezante ou avèk yon kouwòn byen bèl.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
Tande, fis mwen an, vin dakò ak pawòl mwen yo, e lane lavi ou yo va vin byen long.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
Mwen te dirije ou nan chemen sajès la; mwen te kondwi ou nan pa ladwati yo.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
Lè ou mache, pa ou yo p ap jennen; epi si ou kouri, ou p ap glise tonbe.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Pran enstriksyon; pa lage menm. Pwoteje li paske li se lavi ou.
14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.
Pa antre nan chemen mechan yo, e pa avanse nan vwa malfektè yo.
15 Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Evite li, pa pase kote li; vire kite li e ale byen lwen.
16 For they do not sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
Paske, yo p ap kab dòmi si yo pa fè mal; epi dòmi vin vòlè soti nan zye yo si yo pa fè lòt glise tonbe.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Paske yo manje pen a malveyan yo e bwè diven vyolans.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
Men pa a moun dwat yo se tankou limyè granmmaten ki briye pi fò e pi fò jiskaske li vin fè jou nèt.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.
Chemen mechan yo tankou tenèb; yo pa konnen sou kisa pou yo tonbe.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
Fis mwen an, prete atansyon a pawòl mwen yo; panche zòrèy ou vè diskou mwen yo.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
Pa kite yo vin disparèt devan zye ou; kenbe yo nan fon kè ou.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
Paske yo se lavi a sila ki jwenn yo, ak lasante a tout kò yo.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Veye sou kè ou ak tout dilijans; paske de li, sous lavi yo koule.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Mete lwen de ou yon bouch manti e mete tout pawòl foub byen lwen ou.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Kite zye ou gade tou dwat devan e kite vizyon ou konsantre devan nèt.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Veye wout pye ou konn pran e tout chemen ou yo va byen etabli.
27 Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Pa vire ni adwat ni agoch; fè pye ou vire kite mal.
