Mpitoriteny 10
1 Ny 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.
Dead flies can make perfumed oil smell bad. Likewise a little foolishness outweighs great wisdom and honor.
2 Ny fon’ ny hendry dia eo ankavanany; fa ny fon’ ny adala kosa dia eo ankaviany.
The mind of the wise person chooses the right side, but the mind of the fool goes left!
3 Ary koa, raha mandeha eny an-dalambe ny adala, dia levona ny fahalalany, ka milaza tena amin’ ny olona rehetra izy fa adala.
Just the way that fools walk down the road shows they have no sense, making clear to everyone their stupidity.
4 Raha tezeran’ ny mpanapaka ianao, aza miala amin’ ny fitoeranao; fa ny fahatsindriam-po mahasakana ny fahadisoana lehibe.
If your superior gets angry with you, don't give up and leave. If you stay calm even bad mistakes can be resolved.
5 Misy ratsy efa hitako atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro, ka toa fahadisoana ataon’ ny mpanapaka izany;
I also realized there's another evil here on earth: rulers make a big mistake
6 Asandratra ho ambony indrindra ny adala, ary ny mpanankarena mipetraka eo amin’ ny toerana ambany.
when they put fools in high positions, while those who are richly qualified are put in low positions.
7 Efa hitako ny mpanompo mitaingin-tsoavaly, ary ny mpanapaka kosa mandeha an-tongotra toy ny mpanompo.
I've seen slaves riding on horseback, while princes walk on the ground like slaves.
8 Izay mihady lavaka no ho latsaka ao, ary izay mandrava fefy vato no hokekerin’ ny menarana.
If you dig a pit, you could fall in. If you knock down a wall, you could be bitten by a snake.
9 Izay manovoka vato dia haratrany, ary izay mamaky hazo no ho voany.
If you quarry stone, you could be injured. If you split logs, you could be hurt.
10 Raha dombo ny antsy ka tsy asainy, dia tsy maintsy manao an-teninaina izy; fa ny fahendrena no mahasoa, satria mahalavorary ny raharaha izany.
If your ax is blunt and you don't sharpen it, you have to use a lot more force. Conclusion: being wise brings good results.
11 Raha manaikitra ny menarana, satria tsy mbola nasiana ody, dia ahoana no mahatsara ny mpanao ody?
If the snake bites the snake charmer before it's charmed, there's no benefit to the snake charmer!
12 Soa ny teny aloaky ny vavan’ ny hendry; fa ny molotry ny adala kosa mitelina ny tenany.
Wise words are beneficial, but fools destroy themselves by what they say.
13 Ny fiandohan’ ny teny aloaky ny vavany dia fahadalana, ary ny fiafaran’ ny teniny dia fahaverezan-tsaina mampidi-doza.
Fools begin by saying foolish things, and end up talking evil nonsense.
14 Maro teny ny adala nefa tsy misy olona mahalala izay ho avy; ary iza no mahalaza aminy ny ho avy any aoriany?
Fools talk on and on, however no one knows what's going to happen, so who can say what the future holds?
15 Ny fisasaran’ ny adala mahareraka azy, fa ny lalana mankany an-tanàna aza tsy fantany akory.
Work makes fools so worn out they can't achieve anything.
16 Lozanao, ry tany, raha zaza no mpanjakanao, ary ny lehibenao homa-maraina!
You're in trouble if the king of your country is young, and if your leaders are busy feasting from early morning.
17 Sambatra 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!
You're fortunate if your king comes from a noble family, and your leaders feast at the proper time to give themselves energy, and not to get drunk.
18 Ny fahalainana be no mampianjera ny lohatrano, ary ny hakamoan’ ny tanana no mampitete ny trano.
Lazy people let their roofs collapse; idle people don't repair their leaky houses.
19 Ataony laolao ny hanina, ary ny divay no maharavoravo ny aina, ary ny vola no hahazoana ny zavatra rehetra.
A good meal brings pleasure; wine makes life pleasant; money provides for all needs.
20 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.
Don't talk badly about the king, not even in your thoughts. Don't talk badly about leaders, even in the privacy of your bedroom. A bird may hear what you say and fly away to tell them.
