Ohabolana 26
1 Hoe fanala añ’asara, ndra orañe an-tsam-pitatahañe, ty tsy fañevà’ i dagolay fiasiañe.
As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
2 Hoe ty fikepakepaha’ ty hitikitike naho ty fitiliñam-polinjà, ty tsy ipetaham-patse te tsy amam-bente’e.
As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
3 Ty fikiso ho ami’ty soavala, naho ty laboridy ho ami’ty borìke, vaho ty kobaiñe ho an-dambosi’ i dagola.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Ko toiñe’o ami’ty hanè’e i seretse, hera hanahak’ aze.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal unto 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 Hoe mañitsike tomboke naho migenoke voreke, ty mampisangitrike taratasy am-pitàn-dagola.
He choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
7 Maletraletra ty fandia’ i kepeke, naho ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ o seretseo.
Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Hoe mañombe vato am-piletse, ty miasy i gegegege.
As is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 Hoe fatike mipok’ an-taña’ i jike, ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ i dagola.
[As] a thorn that is come into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Ie mampitoloñe ty seretse, le manahake te mañeke mpandrioñe.
A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
11 Hoe amboa mimpoly ami’ty loa’e, ty dagola mamereñe ty hagegea’e.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in his folly.
12 Tsy fa nahaisake ondaty mahihitse am-pihaino’e hao irehe? bey ty fitamà’ i seretsey ta ty aze.
When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Hoe ty votro, Inao liona ty an-damoke eo! Midada an-dalañe ey ty liona!
The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
14 Manahake ty figavingavin-dalañe amo soavili’eo, ty tembo am-pandrea’e eo.
As a 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.
Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
16 Mahihitse ami’ty maso’e ty tembo, te ami’ty fito-lahy manoiñe an-kavantañañe.
The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
17 Hambañ’ ami’ty mitsepak’ amboa an-tsofi’e, ty mpandrioñe mihilintsioñe ami’ty aly tsy aze.
As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
18 Hoe ty derendereñe mañiririñe raha mibelañe, naho ana-pale, vaho fampihomahañe,
As one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
19 ty mamitake ondaty ami’ty hoe: Nisolesole avao iraho.
So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
20 Mate ty afo tsy aman-katae, modo ka ty dabasida tsy aman-tsikotsiko.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
21 Hoe sarebò ami’ty foroha mirekake, naho hatae ami’ty afo, ty famiaña’ i mpanao tsikoniy hañolaña’e aiñe.
As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
22 Hoe kenoke mafiry ty fivolam-pitàngogo, ie migodoñe mb’añ’ova lalek’ ao.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
23 Hoe valàñe-tane nihamineñe taim-piram-bolafoty ty fameleke ampirehetan- kelok’ an-troke ao.
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
24 Añonohonoa’ ty famele’e i falaiña’ey, fe añaja’e famañahiañe ty an-tro’e ao.
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
25 Ndra t’ie mirehake fañisohañe, ko iantofa’o, fa pea tiva fito ty an-tro’e ao.
Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, believe him 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.
If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
27 Higodoñe an-koboñe ao ty nihaly aze, himpoly ama’e ty vato navarimbari’e.
Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
28 Heje ty famele’ i remborake o jinoi’eo, mampianto ka ty falie manao kabeake.
A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
