Ohabolana 26
1 Hoe fanala añ’asara, ndra orañe an-tsam-pitatahañe, ty tsy fañevà’ i dagolay fiasiañe.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 Hoe ty fikepakepaha’ ty hitikitike naho ty fitiliñam-polinjà, ty tsy ipetaham-patse te tsy amam-bente’e.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 Ty fikiso ho ami’ty soavala, naho ty laboridy ho ami’ty borìke, vaho ty kobaiñe ho an-dambosi’ i dagola.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Ko toiñe’o ami’ty hanè’e i seretse, hera hanahak’ aze.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Valeo mañeva’ i hagegea’ey ty dagola, tsy mone hahihitse ami’ty maso’e.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Hoe mañitsike tomboke naho migenoke voreke, ty mampisangitrike taratasy am-pitàn-dagola.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Maletraletra ty fandia’ i kepeke, naho ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ o seretseo.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Hoe mañombe vato am-piletse, ty miasy i gegegege.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Hoe fatike mipok’ an-taña’ i jike, ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ i dagola.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Ie mampitoloñe ty seretse, le manahake te mañeke mpandrioñe.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 Hoe amboa mimpoly ami’ty loa’e, ty dagola mamereñe ty hagegea’e.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Tsy fa nahaisake ondaty mahihitse am-pihaino’e hao irehe? bey ty fitamà’ i seretsey ta ty aze.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Hoe ty votro, Inao liona ty an-damoke eo! Midada an-dalañe ey ty liona!
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 Manahake ty figavingavin-dalañe amo soavili’eo, ty tembo am-pandrea’e eo.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 Ajo’ i votro am-po finga ao ty taña’e, fe tsy lefe’e ty minday aze mb’am-bava’e.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Mahihitse ami’ty maso’e ty tembo, te ami’ty fito-lahy manoiñe an-kavantañañe.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Hambañ’ ami’ty mitsepak’ amboa an-tsofi’e, ty mpandrioñe mihilintsioñe ami’ty aly tsy aze.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Hoe ty derendereñe mañiririñe raha mibelañe, naho ana-pale, vaho fampihomahañe,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 ty mamitake ondaty ami’ty hoe: Nisolesole avao iraho.
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Mate ty afo tsy aman-katae, modo ka ty dabasida tsy aman-tsikotsiko.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Hoe sarebò ami’ty foroha mirekake, naho hatae ami’ty afo, ty famiaña’ i mpanao tsikoniy hañolaña’e aiñe.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 Hoe kenoke mafiry ty fivolam-pitàngogo, ie migodoñe mb’añ’ova lalek’ ao.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Hoe valàñe-tane nihamineñe taim-piram-bolafoty ty fameleke ampirehetan- kelok’ an-troke ao.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 Añonohonoa’ ty famele’e i falaiña’ey, fe añaja’e famañahiañe ty an-tro’e ao.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Ndra t’ie mirehake fañisohañe, ko iantofa’o, fa pea tiva fito ty an-tro’e ao.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Aeta’e am-pitake ty halò-tsere’e, fe hiboak’ am-pivory ao ty haloloa’e.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Higodoñe an-koboñe ao ty nihaly aze, himpoly ama’e ty vato navarimbari’e.
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Heje ty famele’ i remborake o jinoi’eo, mampianto ka ty falie manao kabeake.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
