Lallaba 10
1 Akkuma tisiisni duute tokko shittoo ajeessitu sana gowwummaan xinnoon ogummaa fi ulfina balleessa.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 Yaadni ogeessaa karaa mirgaa, yaadni gowwaa immoo karaa bitaa jira.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Gowwaan yoo karaa deemu illee qalbii hin qabu; akka gowwaa taʼes nama hundatti argisiisa.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to 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 spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.
5 Hamminni ani aduudhaa gaditti arge tokko jira; kunis dogoggora bulchaan tokko uumuu dha.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Utuma badhaadhonni iddoo gad aanu qabatanii jiranuu, gowwoonni iddoo ulfinaa qabatu.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Ani utuma ilmaan moototaa akka garbootaa miillaan deemanii garboonni immoo fardaan utuu deemanii nan arge.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
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 whoever breaks through 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.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 Qottoon doomee afaan isaa yoo hin qaramin, humna guddaa barbaachisa; ogummaan garuu milkaaʼinna fida.
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings 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, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 Dubbiin isaa jalqabatti gowwummaa dha; dhuma irratti garuu maraatummaa hamaa dha;
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 namni gowwaan dubbii baayʼisa. Namni tokko iyyuu waan dhufuuf jiru hin beeku; eenyutu waan isa duubaan taʼu isatti himuu dandaʼa?
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Dadhabbiin gowwaa isuma butuchiti; inni karaa gara magaalaatti geessu hin beeku.
The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Yaa biyya mootiin kee mucaa turee, kan ilmaan moototaa kee ganamaan nyaatanii dhugan siif wayyoo.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat 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.
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Dhibaaʼummaan, mana duuffisa; harki hin hojjennes mana dhimmisiisa.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Cidhi kolfaaf qopheeffama; daadhiin wayiniis jireenya gammachiisa; maallaqni immoo deebii waan hundaa ti.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
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.
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
