Pwovèb 25
1 Sila yo se pwovèb yo a Salomon ke mesye Ézéchias yo, wa Juda a te dechifre.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 Se glwa Bondye pou kache yon bagay; men se glwa a wa yo pou chache konprann yon bagay.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Tankou syèl la nan wotè a, ak tè a nan pwofondè a, se konsa kè a wa a ensondab.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Retire vye kras sou ajan k ap fonn nan, e va sòti metal pi pou òfèv la.
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
5 Retire mechan an devan wa a, e twòn li an va etabli nan ladwati.
Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Pa reklame bèl repitasyon nan prezans a wa a, e pa kanpe nan plas a moun pwisan yo;
Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
7 paske li pi bon pou yo di ou: “Vin monte isit la”, olye pou ou ta oblije desann piba nan prezans a prens lan, ke zye ou te wè.
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 Pa fè vit lantre nan tribinal pou diskite ka ou; anfen, sa ou va fè lè vwazen ou fè ou desann nèt.
Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Diskite pwòp ka pa ou devan vwazen ou, e pa devwale sekrè a yon lòt,
Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
10 oswa sila ki tande ou a, va fè ou repwòch, e move rapò sou ou menm p ap janm disparèt.
lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
11 Tankou pòm an lò ki monte sou ajan, se konsa yon mo byen plase nan moman li.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Tankou yon zanno an lò ak yon dekorasyon an lò fen se yon repwòch saj nan zòrèy k ap koute.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 Tankou fredi lanèj nan lè rekòlt, se konsa yon mesaje fidèl ye a sila ki voye l yo, paske li rafrechi nanm a mèt li yo.
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 Tankou nwaj ak van san lapli, se konsa yon nonm ki ogmante don li yo ak manti.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 Ak pasyans, yon chèf ka vin pèswade; se yon lang dous ki kase zo.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Èske ou te jwenn siwo myèl? Manje sèlman kont ou, pou ou pa gen twòp pou vomi li.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Kite pye ou raman pile lakay vwazen ou, sinon li va fatige avè w, e vin rayi ou.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 Tankou gwo baton, nepe, oswa flèch file, se konsa yon nonm ki pote fo temwen kont vwazen li.
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Tankou yon move dan ak yon pye ki pa estab, se konsa konfyans nan yon nonm enfidèl nan tan gwo twoub.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
20 Tankou yon moun ki retire rad li nan jou fredi, oswa tankou vinèg sou poud bikabonat, se konsa sila ki chante chan ak kè twouble yo ye.
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; epi si li swaf, ba li dlo pou l bwè;
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 paske, ou va anpile chabon tou limen sou tèt li, e SENYÈ a va bay ou rekonpans.
for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
23 Van nò pote lapli e yon lang medizan, pote yon move vizaj.
The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 Li pi bon pou viv nan yon kwen twati pase nan yon kay avèk yon fanm k ap fè kont tout tan.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Tankou dlo frèt pou yon nanm fatige, se konsa yon bòn nouvèl ki sòti nan yon peyi lwen.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Tankou yon sous ki foule anba pye ak yon pwi kontamine, se konsa yon nonm dwat ki bay plas a mechan an.
Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 Li pa bon pou bwè anpil siwo myèl, ni li pa bon pou chache pwòp glwa pa w.
It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
28 Tankou yon gran vil ki kase antre san miray, se konsa yon nonm ki pa kontwole pwòp tèt li.
Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
