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 make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 Ny fon’ ny hendry dia eo ankavanany; fa ny fon’ ny adala kosa dia eo ankaviany.
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his 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.
Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 Raha tezeran’ ny mpanapaka ianao, aza miala amin’ ny fitoeranao; fa ny fahatsindriam-po mahasakana ny fahadisoana lehibe.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 Misy ratsy efa hitako atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro, ka toa fahadisoana ataon’ ny mpanapaka izany;
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
6 Asandratra ho ambony indrindra ny adala, ary ny mpanankarena mipetraka eo amin’ ny toerana ambany.
Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Efa hitako ny mpanompo mitaingin-tsoavaly, ary ny mpanapaka kosa mandeha an-tongotra toy ny mpanompo.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Izay mihady lavaka no ho latsaka ao, ary izay mandrava fefy vato no hokekerin’ ny menarana.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Izay manovoka vato dia haratrany, ary izay mamaky hazo no ho voany.
Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
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 the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Raha manaikitra ny menarana, satria tsy mbola nasiana ody, dia ahoana no mahatsara ny mpanao ody?
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 Soa ny teny aloaky ny vavan’ ny hendry; fa ny molotry ny adala kosa mitelina ny tenany.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Ny fiandohan’ ny teny aloaky ny vavany dia fahadalana, ary ny fiafaran’ ny teniny dia fahaverezan-tsaina mampidi-doza.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
14 Maro teny ny adala nefa tsy misy olona mahalala izay ho avy; ary iza no mahalaza aminy ny ho avy any aoriany?
A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Ny fisasaran’ ny adala mahareraka azy, fa ny lalana mankany an-tanàna aza tsy fantany akory.
The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Lozanao, ry tany, raha zaza no mpanjakanao, ary ny lehibenao homa-maraina!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the 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!
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
18 Ny fahalainana be no mampianjera ny lohatrano, ary ny hakamoan’ ny tanana no mampitete ny trano.
By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 Ataony laolao ny hanina, ary ny divay no maharavoravo ny aina, ary ny vola no hahazoana ny zavatra rehetra.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
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.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
