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 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 the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.
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 fools.
4 Ko toiñe’o ami’ty hanè’e i seretse, hera hanahak’ aze.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like 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 conceit.
6 Hoe mañitsike tomboke naho migenoke voreke, ty mampisangitrike taratasy am-pitàn-dagola.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
7 Maletraletra ty fandia’ i kepeke, naho ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ o seretseo.
The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Hoe mañombe vato am-piletse, ty miasy i gegegege.
As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, 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] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.
10 Ie mampitoloñe ty seretse, le manahake te mañeke mpandrioñe.
[As] an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 Hoe amboa mimpoly ami’ty loa’e, ty dagola mamereñe ty hagegea’e.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [so is] a fool that 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 sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 Manahake ty figavingavin-dalañe amo soavili’eo, ty tembo am-pandrea’e eo.
[As] the 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 burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth 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 that can render a reason.
17 Hambañ’ ami’ty mitsepak’ amboa an-tsofi’e, ty mpandrioñe mihilintsioñe ami’ty aly tsy aze.
He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Hoe ty derendereñe mañiririñe raha mibelañe, naho ana-pale, vaho fampihomahañe,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death;
19 ty mamitake ondaty ami’ty hoe: Nisolesole avao iraho.
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Mate ty afo tsy aman-katae, modo ka ty dabasida tsy aman-tsikotsiko.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 Hoe sarebò ami’ty foroha mirekake, naho hatae ami’ty afo, ty famiaña’ i mpanao tsikoniy hañolaña’e aiñe.
[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Hoe kenoke mafiry ty fivolam-pitàngogo, ie migodoñe mb’añ’ova lalek’ ao.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Hoe valàñe-tane nihamineñe taim-piram-bolafoty ty fameleke ampirehetan- kelok’ an-troke ao.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Añonohonoa’ ty famele’e i falaiña’ey, fe añaja’e famañahiañe ty an-tro’e ao.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he 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.
Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before the congregation.
27 Higodoñe an-koboñe ao ty nihaly aze, himpoly ama’e ty vato navarimbari’e.
Whoso 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 hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
