Lallaba 10
1 Akkuma tisiisni duute tokko shittoo ajeessitu sana gowwummaan xinnoon ogummaa fi ulfina balleessa.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Yaadni ogeessaa karaa mirgaa, yaadni gowwaa immoo karaa bitaa jira.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Gowwaan yoo karaa deemu illee qalbii hin qabu; akka gowwaa taʼes nama hundatti argisiisa.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Yoo dheekkamsi bulchaa tokkoo sitti hammaate, ati iddoo kee gad hin dhiisin; tasgabbaaʼuun dogoggora guddaa hambisuu dandaʼaatii.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Hamminni ani aduudhaa gaditti arge tokko jira; kunis dogoggora bulchaan tokko uumuu dha.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Utuma badhaadhonni iddoo gad aanu qabatanii jiranuu, gowwoonni iddoo ulfinaa qabatu.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Ani utuma ilmaan moototaa akka garbootaa miillaan deemanii garboonni immoo fardaan utuu deemanii nan arge.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Namni boolla qotu kam iyyuu ofuma isaatii keessa buʼa; nama dallaa cabsee keessaan baʼu kam iyyuu bofatu idda.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Namni dhagaa baasu kam iyyuu dhagaa sanaan miidhamuu dandaʼa; namni jirma baqaqsu hundinuus jirmuma sanaan miidhama.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Qottoon doomee afaan isaa yoo hin qaramin, humna guddaa barbaachisa; ogummaan garuu milkaaʼinna fida.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Bofti tokko utuu hin raateffamin yoo nama idde, namichi bofa raatessu sun homaa hin argatu.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Dubbiin afaan ogeessaatii baʼu ulfina qaba; namni gowwaan immoo hidhii ofii isaatiin bada.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Dubbiin isaa jalqabatti gowwummaa dha; dhuma irratti garuu maraatummaa hamaa dha;
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 namni gowwaan dubbii baayʼisa. Namni tokko iyyuu waan dhufuuf jiru hin beeku; eenyutu waan isa duubaan taʼu isatti himuu dandaʼa?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Dadhabbiin gowwaa isuma butuchiti; inni karaa gara magaalaatti geessu hin beeku.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Yaa biyya mootiin kee mucaa turee, kan ilmaan moototaa kee ganamaan nyaatanii dhugan siif wayyoo.
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Yaa biyya mootiin kee sanyii beekamaa irraa dhalate, kan ilmaan moototaa utuu machaaʼuuf hin taʼin, jabina argachuuf jedhanii yeroo malutti nyaatanii dhugan, ati eebbifamtuu dha.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Dhibaaʼummaan, mana duuffisa; harki hin hojjennes mana dhimmisiisa.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Cidhi kolfaaf qopheeffama; daadhiin wayiniis jireenya gammachiisa; maallaqni immoo deebii waan hundaa ti.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Sababii simbirri samii dubbii kee geessituuf, yookaan simbirri barrisaa jirtu dhaqxee waan ati jettu himtuuf, ati yaada kee keessatti mootii hin arrabsin; yookaan kutaa hirribaa keessatti sooressa hin abaarin.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
