¹Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

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 a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

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

³Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] 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 rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.

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

⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:

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

⁶folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

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

⁷I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

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

⁸He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

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

⁹Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

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

¹⁰If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

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 bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

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

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.

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 end of his talk 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: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell 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 fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.

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

¹⁶Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes 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 nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, 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 much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

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

¹⁹A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.

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.

²⁰Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

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.