¹Dead flies cause a perfumer`s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly!

¹Ny fatin-dalitra mahamaimbo sy mampamorivory ny menaky ny mpangaroharo zava-manitra; ary toy izany, ny fahadalana kely dia mavesatra noho ny fahendrena sy ny voninahitra.

²The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.

²Ny fon'ny hendry dia eo ankavanany; fa ny fon'ny adala kosa dia eo ankaviany.

³And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He [is] a fool.`

³Ary koa, raha mandeha eny an-dalambe ny adala, dia levona ny fahalalany, ka milaza tena amin'ny olona rehetra izy fa adala.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.

⁴Raha tezeran'ny mpanapaka ianao, aza miala amin'ny fitoeranao; fa ny fahatsindriam-po mahasakana ny fahadisoana lehibe.

⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,

⁵Misy ratsy efa hitako atỳ ambanin'ny masoandro, ka toa fahadisoana ataon'ny mpanapaka izany;

⁶He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.

⁶Asandratra ho ambony indrindra ny adala, ary ny mpanankarena mipetraka eo amin'ny toerana ambany.

⁷I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.

⁷Efa hitako ny mpanompo mitaingin-tsoavaly, ary ny mpanapaka kosa mandeha an-tongotra toy ny mpanompo.

⁸Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

⁸Izay mihady lavaka no ho latsaka ao, ary izay mandrava fefy vato no hokekerin'ny menarana.

⁹Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.

⁹Izay manovoka vato dia haratrany, ary izay mamaky hazo no ho voany.

¹⁰If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.

¹⁰Raha dombo ny antsy ka tsy asainy, dia tsy maintsy manao an-teninaina izy; fa ny fahendrena no mahasoa, satria mahalavorary ny raharaha izany.

¹¹If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.

¹¹Raha manaikitra ny menarana, satria tsy mbola nasiana ody, dia ahoana no mahatsara ny mpanao ody?

¹²Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.

¹²Soa ny teny aloaky ny vavan'ny hendry; fa ny molotry ny adala kosa mitelina ny tenany.

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.

¹³Ny fiandohan'ny teny aloaky ny vavany dia fahadalana, ary ny fiafaran'ny teniny dia fahaverezan-tsaina mampidi-doza.

¹⁴And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?`

¹⁴Maro teny ny adala nefa tsy misy olona mahalala izay ho avy; ary iza no mahalaza aminy ny ho avy any aoriany?

¹⁵The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.

¹⁵Ny fisasaran'ny adala mahareraka azy, fa ny lalana mankany an-tanàna aza tsy fantany akory.

¹⁶Wo to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.

¹⁶Lozanao, ry tany, raha zaza no mpanjakanao, ary ny lehibenao homa-maraina!

¹⁷Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.

¹⁷Sambatra kosa ianao, ry tany, raha tena karazan'andriana no mpanjakanao, ary ny lehibenao homana amin'izay fotoana mety, mba hampahatanjaka ny tenany, fa tsy ny hampahamamo azy!

¹⁸By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.

¹⁸Ny fahalainana be no mampianjera ny lohatrano, ary ny hakamoan'ny tanana no mampitete ny trano.

¹⁹For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.

¹⁹Ataony laolao ny hanina, ary ny divay no maharavoravo ny aina, ary ny vola no hahazoana ny zavatra rehetra.Aza manozona ny mpanjaka na dia amin'ny eritreritrao aza; ary aza manozona ny mpanankarena na dia ao anatin'ny efi-trano fandrianao aza; fa na dia ny voro-manidina aza anie ka hitondra ny feo, ary na dia ny manana elatra dia hanambara ny teny.

²⁰Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.

²⁰Aza manozona ny mpanjaka na dia amin'ny eritreritrao aza; ary aza manozona ny mpanankarena na dia ao anatin'ny efi-trano fandrianao aza; fa na dia ny voro-manidina aza anie ka hitondra ny feo, ary na dia ny manana elatra dia hanambara ny teny.