Ohabolana 26
1 Hoe fanala añ’asara, ndra orañe an-tsam-pitatahañe, ty tsy fañevà’ i dagolay fiasiañe.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not becoming to a fool.
2 Hoe ty fikepakepaha’ ty hitikitike naho ty fitiliñam-polinjà, ty tsy ipetaham-patse te tsy amam-bente’e.
As the sparrow wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause shall not come.
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 the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of the fool.
4 Ko toiñe’o ami’ty hanè’e i seretse, hera hanahak’ aze.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also become like to 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 conceit.
6 Hoe mañitsike tomboke naho migenoke voreke, ty mampisangitrike taratasy am-pitàn-dagola.
He cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Maletraletra ty fandia’ i kepeke, naho ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ o seretseo.
The legs of a lame man hang loose; So is it with a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Hoe mañombe vato am-piletse, ty miasy i gegegege.
As he who bindeth a stone 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 lifted up by the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Ie mampitoloñe ty seretse, le manahake te mañeke mpandrioñe.
As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.
11 Hoe amboa mimpoly ami’ty loa’e, ty dagola mamereñe ty hagegea’e.
As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, So a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Tsy fa nahaisake ondaty mahihitse am-pihaino’e hao irehe? bey ty fitamà’ i seretsey ta ty aze.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is 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; There is a lion in 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 sluggard 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 sluggard dippeth his hand into the dish; It grieveth him to bring it again 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 who can render a reason.
17 Hambañ’ ami’ty mitsepak’ amboa an-tsofi’e, ty mpandrioñe mihilintsioñe ami’ty aly tsy aze.
As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.
18 Hoe ty derendereñe mañiririñe raha mibelañe, naho ana-pale, vaho fampihomahañe,
As a madman That casteth about darts, arrows, and death,
19 ty mamitake ondaty ami’ty hoe: Nisolesole avao iraho.
So is the man who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”
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 talebearer, contention ceaseth.
21 Hoe sarebò ami’ty foroha mirekake, naho hatae ami’ty afo, ty famiaña’ i mpanao tsikoniy hañolaña’e aiñe.
As coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling strife.
22 Hoe kenoke mafiry ty fivolam-pitàngogo, ie migodoñe mb’añ’ova lalek’ ao.
The words of a talebearer are like dainties; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
23 Hoe valàñe-tane nihamineñe taim-piram-bolafoty ty fameleke ampirehetan- kelok’ an-troke ao.
As drossy silver spread over an earthen vessel, So are warm lips and an evil heart.
24 Añonohonoa’ ty famele’e i falaiña’ey, fe añaja’e famañahiañe ty an-tro’e ao.
The hater dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him.
25 Ndra t’ie mirehake fañisohañe, ko iantofa’o, fa pea tiva fito ty an-tro’e ao.
When he speaketh fair, 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.
His hatred is covered by deceit; His wickedness shall be revealed in the great assembly.
27 Higodoñe an-koboñe ao ty nihaly aze, himpoly ama’e ty vato navarimbari’e.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Heje ty famele’ i remborake o jinoi’eo, mampianto ka ty falie manao kabeake.
A lying tongue hateth those whom it woundeth, And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
