1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
1 Woone yaŋ mo Suleymanu yaasayyaŋ no, kaŋ Yahuda bonkoono Hezeciya borey hantum:
1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
2 Irikoy darza no i ma hariyaŋ tugu, Amma bonkooney beeray ga ti i ma sanni fintal.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
3 Beeney kuuyaŋo, da ganda guusuyaŋo, Da bonkooney biney, i kulu si fintal.
3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
4 I ma ziibi kaa nzarfu ra, Sintili mo ga fatta, zam goy teeyaŋ hari no.
4Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
5Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
5 I ma boro laaley ganandi ka kaa bonkooney jine, A karga mo ga sinji adilitaray ra.
5Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
6 Ma si ni boŋ zamu bonkooni jine, Ma si kay mo aru beerey kayyaŋ nangu ra.
6Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
7for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
7 Zama i ma ne ni se: «Hay! Kaaru ka kaa neewo» ga bisa i ma ni kaynandi boro beeri jine, Nga kaŋ ni moy di.
7For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
8 Ma si fatta nda cahãyaŋ yanje teeyaŋ se, Zama a ma si ciya kokor banda ni ma jaŋ haŋ kaŋ ni ga te waati kaŋ ni gorokasin na ni haawandi.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
9Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another;
9 Ma ni sanni fintalyaŋ te, Nin da ni gorokasin hinne game ra, Ma si boro fo gundu bangandi.
9Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;
10lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
10 A ma si ciya nga, bora kaŋ maa din ma ni foy, ni goy yaamey baaro mo si ban.
10Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
11 Sanni kaŋ hagu nga alwaati ra, A ga hima wura gudeyaŋ nzarfu cillayaŋ ra.
11A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.
12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
12 Danga wura hanga korbay da taalam wura kaŋ i ziiri, Yaadin no boro kaŋ go ga kaseeti nda laakal ga hima hanga kaŋ ga sanni gana se.
12[As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
13 Danga neezu* yeeno cine heemar waate, Yaadin mo no diya cimikoy ga hima borey kaŋ n'a donton yaŋ se, Zama a ga nga koyey biney yeenandi.
13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [So is] a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
14 Danga beene hirriyaŋ da haw kaŋ sinda hari, Yaadin mo no boro kaŋ ga fooma te da nga nooyaŋey tangari boŋ.
14[As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
15By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
15 Suuru kuuku no i ga ciitiko candi nd'a, Deene kaŋ ga baan mo ga biri ceeri.
15By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
16 Ni du yu, wala? To. Ma ŋwa haŋ kaŋ ga wasa ni se, Zama ni ma si bini nd'a ka kungu, Hala ni m'a yeeri.
16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
17 Ni ce ma si taamu ni gorokasin kwaara kala alwaati-alwaati, Zama a ma si farga nda nin, Hal a ma konna nin.
17Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
18 Boro kaŋ ga tangari seeda te nga gorokasin boŋ wo goobu, da takuba, Da hangaw kaŋ meyo gonda deene no.
18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
19 D'i de naanay ŋwaako gaa taabi jirbey ra, Danga hinje kaŋ ceeri no, wala ce kaŋ goori.
19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
20 Danga boro kaŋ ga kwaay kaa hargu waate, Danga boosay hari soso ra, Yaadin mo no boro kaŋ ga doon bine-saray-koy se ga hima.
20[As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:
21 Da ni ibara haray, M'a no ŋwaari a ma ŋwa. D'a jaw, m'a no hari a ma haŋ.
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
22 Zama woodin teeyaŋ gaa no ni ga danj'ize gusam a boŋo boŋ. Rabbi ga ni no alhakku mo.
22For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
23The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
23 Azawa kambe haw ga kande hari. Yaadin mo no deene mimandakom ga moyduma sarayaŋ candi ka kande.
23The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
24 Boro ma goro lokoto ra fu boŋ ga bisa boro ma goro fu beeri ra wayboro kosongukoy banda.
24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
25 Danga hari yeeno boro kaŋ farga se, Yaadin mo no baaru hanno kaŋ fun laabu mooro ga hima.
25[As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
26Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
26 Danga bangu kaŋ butugu, wala day kaŋ ziibi, Yaadin mo no adilante ga hima kaŋ bare ka teeni boro laaley jine.
26[As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
27 Yu ŋwaari boobo si boori. Yaadin mo no a mana hagu borey ma darza ceeci ngey boŋ se.
27It is not good to eat much honey: So [for men] to search out their own glory is grievous.
28Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
28 Bora kaŋ mana hin nga boŋ ga hima kwaara kaŋ bagu, Kaŋ birni cinari mana cindi a se.
28He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.