Pwovèb 25
1 Men kèk lòt pwovèb wa Salomon. Se moun nan palè Ezekyas, wa peyi Jida a, ki te kouche yo sou papye.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 Bondye konnen lè pou l' kite nou konprann, se sa ki fè pouvwa li. Wa yo toujou ap chache konprann, se sa ki fè moun respekte yo.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Menm jan ou pa konnen wotè syèl la ak fondè tè a, se konsa tou ou pa ka konnen sa k'ap pase nan tèt yon wa.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Wete tout vye kras ki nan ajan an. Efèv la ap ba ou yon bèl travay byen fèt.
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
5 Wete tout mechan bò kote wa a, gouvènman l' lan ap chita byen chita. p'ap gen lenjistis.
Take away the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Pa fè grandizè devan wa a. Pa chita nan plas grannèg yo.
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
7 Pito yo di ou moute pi wo, pase pou yo fè ou bay plas la, pou ou ta wont devan chèf la.
for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
8 Sa ou wè ak je ou, pa prese al rapòte l' lajistis. Si apre sa, yon lòt temwen kanpe pou demanti ou, lè sa a kisa ou va fè?
Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Lè ou gen kont ak yon moun, regle zafè nou san nou pa mete lòt moun ladan li. Pa mete sekrè l' deyò.
Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another;
10 Paske, lè moun konnen ou pa ka kenbe sekrè, y'a fè ou wont. Y'a ba ou move non.
lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
11 Lè ou bay bon pawòl ki tonbe daplon se tankou yon moso lò byen travay yo plake sou yon moso ajan.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Lè yon moun ki gen bon konprann rale zòrèy moun ki gen tande, se tankou zanno ak kolye ki fèt ak bon lò ou mete sou ou.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 Yon komisyonè ki p'ap twonpe moun ki voye l' la, se tankou yon bon vè dlo byen fre w'ap bwè nan mitan chalè rekòt. L'ap remoute kouraj mèt li.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Moun ki toujou ap pwomèt san yo pa janm kenbe pwomès yo, se tankou nwaj ak van ki pa janm pote lapli.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 Lè ou pa fè kòlè fasil, ou jwenn jwen pou fè chèf la kwè sa ou vle. Konsa tou, ak pawòl dous, w'ap kraze tout antrav ou ta ka jwenn sou chemen ou.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Lè ou jwenn siwo myèl, bwè kantite ou ka bwè. Si ou pran twòp, l'a fè kè ou plen, l'a fè ou vonmi.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Konsa tou, pa al rann vizit twò dri lakay zanmi ou, pou li pa bouke avè ou, pou l' pa rayi ou.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 Yon moun k'ap mache bay manti sou moun, se tankou yon makak chaplèt, yon nepe, yon flèch byen pwenti. Li ka touye ou.
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Jou malè, si ou mete konfyans ou sou moun trèt, se tankou si ou vle mòde ak dan pouri, osinon kouri sou pye foule.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
20 Chante mereng pou yon moun ki nan lapenn, se tankou moun ki wete tout rad sou li nan fredi, se tankou si ou prije sitwon sou yon malenng.
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 Si lènmi ou grangou, ba li manje. Si li swaf dlo, ba li dlo pou l' bwè.
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,
22 Lè sa a, w'a fè l' wont anpil. Seyè a va rekonpanse ou.
for by doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 Tripotaj fè moun fè kòlè, menm jan nòde bay lapli.
The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 Pito ou viv pou kont ou nan yon kwen galata pase pou w'ap viv nan yon kay ansanm ak yon fanm k'ap chache kont tout tan.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Lè ou resevwa yon bon nouvèl ki soti nan peyi Jida, se tankou yon vè dlo fre pou yon moun ki sot moute mòn.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Lè yon moun ki mache dwat kite yon mechan pran tèt li, se tankou yon sous dlo moun mache ladan l', se tankou yon pi yo sal.
Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 Twòp siwo myèl pa bon pou lasante. Konsa tou, pa chache pou moun nonmen non ou twòp.
It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
28 Si ou pa kapab kontwole kòlè ou, ou tankou yon lavil san ranpa. Y'ap anvayi l' fasil. Y'ap mete men sou ou fasil.
Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
