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.
He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
2 Moun sòt pa pran plezi l' nan chache konprann. Tou sa l'ap chache se fè moun konprann li gen lespri.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Y'ap meprize moun k'ap fè mechanste. Moun ki pa fè respè tèt yo gen pou yo wont.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy [cometh] reproach.
4 Pawòl moun ki gen konprann fon kou lanmè, fre tankou yon sous k'ap koule tout tan.
The words of a man’s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.
5 Sa pa bon pou ou pran pou moun mechan, ni pou ou enpoze yo rann moun inonsan jistis.
To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Depi moun sòt ap pale, se kont l'ap chache. Si ou koute pawòl nan bouch li, w'a ba l' kou.
A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
7 Bouch moun sòt se kondannasyon li. Pawòl ki soti nan bouch li tounen pèlen pou li.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Tripotay dous nan zòrèy moun ki vle tande yo. Sa mache nan san yo.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
9 Moun ki parese nan travay li se menmman parèyman ak moun k'ap defèt sa k'ap fèt.
He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 Seyè a, se yon gwo ranpa byen solid. Se la moun k'ap mache dwat yo kouri al chache pwoteksyon.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 Pou moun rich yo, byen yo tankou yon ranpa byen solid. Yo mete nan tèt yo se sa k'ap pwoteje yo.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Lè w'ap fè awogans, yo pa lwen kraze ou. Lè ou fè kò ou piti, y'a fè lwanj ou.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor [goeth] humility.
13 Moun ki prese reponn san koute sa y'ap di l', se moun sòt li ye. Li gen pou l' wont.
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
14 Lè yon moun anvi viv, sa ede l' anpil lè li malad. Men, si li dekouraje, ki moun ki ka remoute kouraj li?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Yon moun lespri ap toujou chache gen plis konesans. Zòrèy moun ki gen bon konprann toujou pare pou l' ka konnen plis toujou.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Kado ou fè louvri chemen pou ou toupatou, ata chemen ki mennen lakay grannèg.
A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
17 Moun ki pale anvan nan tribinal toujou sanble li gen rezon. Lè lòt moun lan parèt, kat je kontre, manti kaba.
He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
18 Lè de grannèg gen kont, jij yo fè tiraj osò pou konnen kilès pou yo bay rezon.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
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 offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Rekonpans yon moun chita sou sa ki soti nan bouch li.
A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
21 Sa ou di ka lavi pou ou, li ka lanmò pou ou. Sa ou chwazi, se sa w'ap jwenn.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Lè yon nonm jwenn yon bon madanm, se yon bon bagay. Se yon gwo favè Seyè a fè l'.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
23 Lè yon pòv ap pale, li toujou nan tanpri souple. Men, moun rich toujou ap rele sou moun.
The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
24 Gen zanmi se pran yo vin pran. Men, gen zanmi tou yo plis pase frè.
He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
