1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
1 Hamni bi buuko yaŋ ga waddi teeko jiyo fumbandi. Yaadin mo no saamotaray kayna ga hin ka laakal da beeray sara.
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
2 Laakalkooni bine go a kambe ŋwaari do haray, Amma saamo bine go a kambe wowo do haray.
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
3 Oho, baa saamo go fondo boŋ ga koy, A fahama ga gaze a se. A ga ne boro kulu se kaŋ nga ya saamo no.
3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
4 Da bonkoono futu ni se, Ma si fay da ni kayyaŋo do, Zama lalabu ga taali beeri yaŋ sasabandi.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
5 Hasaraw fo go no kaŋ ay di beena cire, Danga zunubi laalo no kaŋ dabarikoy ga te:
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
6 Nga ga ti i ma saamo daŋ nangu beerey ra, Arzakantey mo nangu kayney ra.
6folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
7 Ay di bannyayaŋ bariyaŋ boŋ, Bonkooni izeyaŋ mo goono ga dira ce gaa danga bannyayaŋ.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
8 Boro kaŋ na guusu fansi, Hambara nga no ga kaŋ a ra. Boro kaŋ na cinari fun mo, hambara nga no gondi ga nama.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
9 Boro kaŋ ga tondiyaŋ jabu, Hambara i g'a maray. Boro kaŋ ga tuuri fara, Nga mo ga furo i kataru ra.
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
10 Da deesi meyo bu, boro man'a kaanandi mo, Kala ni ma gaabi daŋ ka tonton. Amma laakal gonda nafa ka goyo gasandi.
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
11 Da gondi na boro nama za i mana safari te a se, Yaamo no safarikoyo safaro.
11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
12 Laakalkooni me sanney gonda sabbu, Amma saamo meyo ga saamo gon no.
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13 A me sanni sintinayey kala saamotaray, A sanni banantey mo follokomtaray laalo no.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
14 Koyne, saamo ga ni hanga bagu da sanni boobo. Amma boro si bay haŋ kaŋ no ga te. May no ga ci a se han kaŋ ga te a banda mo?
14A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
15 Saamo goyo g'a fargandi gumo, Hal a si baa waani mate kaŋ nga te ka koy kwaara do.
15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
16 Kaari nin, ya laabo, Da ni bonkoono ya zanka kayna no, Ni koy kayney mo ga ŋwa za susubay da hinay!
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
17 Bine kaanikoy no, ya nin laabo, Da ni bonkoono ya boro beeri ize no, Ni koy kayney mo ga ŋwa alwaati kaŋ ga hagu ra, Zama i ma te gaabi, Manti i ma haŋ ka bugu se.
17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
18 Hawfunay sabbay se no, fu sabb'ize ga nokko. Dirgay sabbay se mo no, fu ga furgu.
18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
19 I na buci te haaray sabbay se, Duvan* mo bine ma kaan sabbay se, Nooru mo, nga no ga ti hay kulu safari.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
20 Ma si ni bonkoono wow, baa ni bina ra. Ma si arzakante mo wow ni kaniyaŋ fuwo ra, Zama beene curayze ga kande ni jinda, Fatakoy mo ga baaro no.
20Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.