1A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
1 Maa hanno bisa waddi ji hanno, Boro buuyaŋ zaaro mo bisa a hayyaŋ zaaro.
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
2 Dambe day boro ma koy hẽeni kunfayaŋ do, Da boro ma koy buci do. Zama yongo ga ti boro kulu kokora, Fundikooney mo ga woodin daŋ ngey boŋ cire.
3Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
3 Bine saray bisa haaruyaŋ, Zama moyduma sarayaŋ do no bine ga te daama.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
4 Laakalkooni bine ga miila hẽeni kunfa do, Amma saamo bine ga miila haari do.
5It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
5 Boro ma hangan laakalkooni deeni se, A bisa boro ma hangan saamo dooni se.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
6 Zama danga karji kaŋ go ga di kusu cire kosongu, Yaadin cine no saamo haaray go, Woodin mo yaamo no.
7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
7 Daahir, kankami ga laakalkooni follandi, Me-daabu mo ga bine siirandi.
8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
8 Sanni kokora bisa a sintina, Bine ra suuru mo bisa foomayaŋ bine.
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
9 Ni ma si cahã ni bina ra ka futu, Zama futay go saamo ganda ra da goray.
10Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
10 Ma si hã ka ne: «Ifo se no doŋ jirbey bisa sohõ waney booriyaŋ?» Zama manti laakal ra no ni go ga woodin hã.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
11 Laakal gonda riiba danga tubu cine, Hala mo a gonda darza Adam-izey do.
12For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
12 Zama laakal wo, danga arzaka no, A ga boro hallasi. Amma bayray nafa ga ti: Laakal ga fundi haggoy a koyo se.
13Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
13 Ma laakal da Irikoy goyo: Zama haŋ kaŋ nga din jin ka siirandi, May no ga hin k'a kayandi koyne?
14In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.
14 Arzaka zaari ra ma te bine kaani. Masiiba zaari ra mo ma fongu nda woone: Afa Irikoy goy no danga afa cine, Zama boro ma si du ka bay hay kulu kaŋ ga te nga banda.
15All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
15 Ay di woone kulu ay jirbi yaamey ra: Boro adilante* ga koy halaci nga adilitara ra, Boro laalo mo go no kaŋ ga gay nga goy laalo teeyaŋo ra.
16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
16 Ni ma si to da adilitaray teeyaŋ, Ma si to mo da laakal teeyaŋ, Zama ifo se no ni ga ni boŋ halaci?
17Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
17 Ni ma si to da laala teeyaŋ, Ma si ciya saamo mo, Zama ifo se no ni ga bu za ni alwaato mana to?
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
18 A ga boori ni ma afo di ka sandandi a gaa. Oho, ni kamba ma si afa din mo taŋ. Zama boro kaŋ ga humburu Irikoy ga fatta nd'i kulu.
19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.
19 Laakal ga laakalkooni no gaabi ka bisa koy way kaŋ go birni ra.
20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
20 Haciika, adilitaraykoy si no, baa afo ndunnya ra, Kaŋ ga goy hanno te duumi, Kaŋ si zunubi te mo abada.
21Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
21 Koyne, ma si saal sanni kulu kaŋ i ga salaŋ gumo, A ma si te ni ma maa ni bannya go ga ni wow.
22For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
22 Woodin banda ni ga bay ni bine ra kaŋ sorro boobo ni bumbo na boro fooyaŋ wow.
23All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
23 Woodin kulu, ay n'i neesi da laakal, ay ne mo: «Ay ga te laakal,» day a mooru ay.
24Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?
24 Haŋ kaŋ ga mooru, a gundu ga guusu mo, May no gonda dabari nga m'a kaa taray?
25I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
25 Ay bare k'ay bina daŋ ay ma bay, Ay ma fintal, ay ma laakal da hay kulu sabaabo ceeci. Ay ma bay kaŋ laala wo saamotaray no, Saamotaray mo follokomtaray no.
26and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
26 Ay na hay fo gar mo kaŋ fottu nda buuyaŋ. Nga neeya: wayboro kaŋ bina ya saw da taaru no, A kambey mo sisiriyaŋ no. Amma boro kaŋ ga kaan Irikoy se g'a yana, Day zunubikooni, waybora g'a di.
27See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;
27 Waazukwa ne: «Guna, ay na woone gar: Ay na hay fo tonton afo gaa, Ay n'i gosi mo, zama ay m'i sabaabo kulu bay.
28which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.
28 Haŋ kaŋ ay fundo go ga ceeci hala sohõ nooya, Amma ay mana du a. Alboro _cimante|_ folloŋ no ay du zambar fo ra, Day wayboro, baa afolloŋ no ay mana du woodin yaŋ kulu ra.
29Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
29 Guna, woone hinne no ay gar: Irikoy na boro taka mate kaŋ ga saba, Amma i na dabari fondo boobo ceeci.»