1A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
1 Maa hanno bisa waddi ji hanno, Boro buuyaŋ zaaro mo bisa a hayyaŋ zaaro.
1A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this 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.
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
3 Bine saray bisa haaruyaŋ, Zama moyduma sarayaŋ do no bine ga te daama.
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
4 Laakalkooni bine ga miila hẽeni kunfa do, Amma saamo bine ga miila haari do.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
5 Boro ma hangan laakalkooni deeni se, A bisa boro ma hangan saamo dooni se.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
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.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
7 Daahir, kankami ga laakalkooni follandi, Me-daabu mo ga bine siirandi.
7Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
8 Sanni kokora bisa a sintina, Bine ra suuru mo bisa foomayaŋ bine.
8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
9 Ni ma si cahã ni bina ra ka futu, Zama futay go saamo ganda ra da goray.
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about 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.
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
11 Laakal gonda riiba danga tubu cine, Hala mo a gonda darza Adam-izey do.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
12For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
12 Zama laakal wo, danga arzaka no, A ga boro hallasi. Amma bayray nafa ga ti: Laakal ga fundi haggoy a koyo se.
12For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
13Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?
13 Ma laakal da Irikoy goyo: Zama haŋ kaŋ nga din jin ka siirandi, May no ga hin k'a kayandi koyne?
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything 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.
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.
15All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.
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.
15All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing.
16Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
16 Ni ma si to da adilitaray teeyaŋ, Ma si to mo da laakal teeyaŋ, Zama ifo se no ni ga ni boŋ halaci?
16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your 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?
17Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don’t withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come 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.
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
19 Laakal ga laakalkooni no gaabi ka bisa koy way kaŋ go birni ra.
19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin.
20 Haciika, adilitaraykoy si no, baa afo ndunnya ra, Kaŋ ga goy hanno te duumi, Kaŋ si zunubi te mo abada.
20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
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.
21Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
22for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
22 Woodin banda ni ga bay ni bine ra kaŋ sorro boobo ni bumbo na boro fooyaŋ wow.
22for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23All this have I proved in 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.
23All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
24 Haŋ kaŋ ga mooru, a gundu ga guusu mo, May no gonda dabari nga m'a kaa taray?
24That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
25I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is 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.
25I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
26I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared 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.
26And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “one to another, to find out the scheme;
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.
27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;
28which my soul still seeks; but I have not found. One man among a thousand have I found; but I have not found a woman among all those.
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.
28which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.”
29 Guna, woone hinne no ay gar: Irikoy na boro taka mate kaŋ ga saba, Amma i na dabari fondo boobo ceeci.»
29Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.