Ohabolana 26
1 Hoe fanala añ’asara, ndra orañe an-tsam-pitatahañe, ty tsy fañevà’ i dagolay fiasiañe.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.
2 Hoe ty fikepakepaha’ ty hitikitike naho ty fitiliñam-polinjà, ty tsy ipetaham-patse te tsy amam-bente’e.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
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 donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Ko toiñe’o ami’ty hanè’e i seretse, hera hanahak’ aze.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 Hoe mañitsike tomboke naho migenoke voreke, ty mampisangitrike taratasy am-pitàn-dagola.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Maletraletra ty fandia’ i kepeke, naho ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ o seretseo.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Hoe mañombe vato am-piletse, ty miasy i gegegege.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honour to a fool.
9 Hoe fatike mipok’ an-taña’ i jike, ty razan-drehak’ am-bava’ i dagola.
Like a thorn bush that goes 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.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Hoe amboa mimpoly ami’ty loa’e, ty dagola mamereñe ty hagegea’e.
As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Tsy fa nahaisake ondaty mahihitse am-pihaino’e hao irehe? bey ty fitamà’ i seretsey ta ty aze.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 Manahake ty figavingavin-dalañe amo soavili’eo, ty tembo am-pandrea’e eo.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the 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.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back 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 eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Hambañ’ ami’ty mitsepak’ amboa an-tsofi’e, ty mpandrioñe mihilintsioñe ami’ty aly tsy aze.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Hoe ty derendereñe mañiririñe raha mibelañe, naho ana-pale, vaho fampihomahañe,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 ty mamitake ondaty ami’ty hoe: Nisolesole avao iraho.
is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Mate ty afo tsy aman-katae, modo ka ty dabasida tsy aman-tsikotsiko.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
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 kindling strife.
22 Hoe kenoke mafiry ty fivolam-pitàngogo, ie migodoñe mb’añ’ova lalek’ ao.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Hoe valàñe-tane nihamineñe taim-piram-bolafoty ty fameleke ampirehetan- kelok’ an-troke ao.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Añonohonoa’ ty famele’e i falaiña’ey, fe añaja’e famañahiañe ty an-tro’e ao.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbours evil in his heart.
25 Ndra t’ie mirehake fañisohañe, ko iantofa’o, fa pea tiva fito ty an-tro’e ao.
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, 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 malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Higodoñe an-koboñe ao ty nihaly aze, himpoly ama’e ty vato navarimbari’e.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Heje ty famele’ i remborake o jinoi’eo, mampianto ka ty falie manao kabeake.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
