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