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 cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
2 Ny fon’ ny hendry dia eo ankavanany; fa ny fon’ ny adala kosa dia eo ankaviany.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart 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.
Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says 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 you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.
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, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
6 Asandratra ho ambony indrindra ny adala, ary ny mpanankarena mipetraka eo amin’ ny toerana ambany.
Folly is set in great dignity, 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 on horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Izay mihady lavaka no ho latsaka ao, ary izay mandrava fefy vato no hokekerin’ ny menarana.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Izay manovoka vato dia haratrany, ary izay mamaky hazo no ho voany.
Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be 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 he 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?
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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 mischievous 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 is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what 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 labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.
16 Lozanao, ry tany, raha zaza no mpanjakanao, ary ny lehibenao homa-maraina!
Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat 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!
Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Ny fahalainana be no mampianjera ny lohatrano, ary ny hakamoan’ ny tanana no mampitete ny trano.
By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
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 makes merry: but money answers 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 your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
