Ohabolana 26
1 Hoe fanala añ’asara, ndra orañe an-tsam-pitatahañe, ty tsy fañevà’ i dagolay fiasiañe.
As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory 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 a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
3 Ty fikiso ho ami’ty soavala, naho ty laboridy ho ami’ty borìke, vaho ty kobaiñe ho an-dambosi’ i dagola.
A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Ko toiñe’o ami’ty hanè’e i seretse, hera hanahak’ aze.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
5 Valeo mañeva’ i hagegea’ey ty dagola, tsy mone hahihitse ami’ty maso’e.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Hoe mañitsike tomboke naho migenoke voreke, ty mampisangitrike taratasy am-pitàn-dagola.
He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
7 Maletraletra ty fandia’ i kepeke, naho ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ o seretseo.
As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
8 Hoe mañombe vato am-piletse, ty miasy i gegegege.
As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Hoe fatike mipok’ an-taña’ i jike, ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ i dagola.
As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Ie mampitoloñe ty seretse, le manahake te mañeke mpandrioñe.
Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
11 Hoe amboa mimpoly ami’ty loa’e, ty dagola mamereñe ty hagegea’e.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Tsy fa nahaisake ondaty mahihitse am-pihaino’e hao irehe? bey ty fitamà’ i seretsey ta ty aze.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Hoe ty votro, Inao liona ty an-damoke eo! Midada an-dalañe ey ty liona!
The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
14 Manahake ty figavingavin-dalañe amo soavili’eo, ty tembo am-pandrea’e eo.
As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 Ajo’ i votro am-po finga ao ty taña’e, fe tsy lefe’e ty minday aze mb’am-bava’e.
The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
16 Mahihitse ami’ty maso’e ty tembo, te ami’ty fito-lahy manoiñe an-kavantañañe.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
17 Hambañ’ ami’ty mitsepak’ amboa an-tsofi’e, ty mpandrioñe mihilintsioñe ami’ty aly tsy aze.
As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
18 Hoe ty derendereñe mañiririñe raha mibelañe, naho ana-pale, vaho fampihomahañe,
As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
19 ty mamitake ondaty ami’ty hoe: Nisolesole avao iraho.
So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
20 Mate ty afo tsy aman-katae, modo ka ty dabasida tsy aman-tsikotsiko.
When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
21 Hoe sarebò ami’ty foroha mirekake, naho hatae ami’ty afo, ty famiaña’ i mpanao tsikoniy hañolaña’e aiñe.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
22 Hoe kenoke mafiry ty fivolam-pitàngogo, ie migodoñe mb’añ’ova lalek’ ao.
The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Hoe valàñe-tane nihamineñe taim-piram-bolafoty ty fameleke ampirehetan- kelok’ an-troke ao.
Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
24 Añonohonoa’ ty famele’e i falaiña’ey, fe añaja’e famañahiañe ty an-tro’e ao.
An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
25 Ndra t’ie mirehake fañisohañe, ko iantofa’o, fa pea tiva fito ty an-tro’e ao.
When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
26 Aeta’e am-pitake ty halò-tsere’e, fe hiboak’ am-pivory ao ty haloloa’e.
He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
27 Higodoñe an-koboñe ao ty nihaly aze, himpoly ama’e ty vato navarimbari’e.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
28 Heje ty famele’ i remborake o jinoi’eo, mampianto ka ty falie manao kabeake.
A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
