Fakkeenya 17
1 Mana nyaataa dhugaatiin guutame kan lola qabuu mannaa, iddoo nagaan jirutti hurraaʼaa buddeena goggogaa wayya.
Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
2 Garbichi hubataan ilma salphaa bulcha; obboloota gidduuttis dhaala qooddata.
A servant who acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
3 Okkoteen waa itti baqsan meetiif, boolli ibiddaa immoo warqeef; Waaqayyo garuu garaa namaa qora.
A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
4 Namni hamaan dubbii gowwoomsaa dhaggeeffata; sobaanis arraba balaʼamaadhaaf gurra kenna.
Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
5 Namni hiyyeeyyiitti qoosu kan isaan Uume sana tuffata; kan badiisa namaatti gammadu utuu hin adabamin hin hafu.
Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
6 Nama jaare tokkoof ilmaan ilmaan isaa gonfoo dha; haadhaa fi abbaanis ijoollee isaaniitiif ulfina.
Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
7 Dubbiin baʼeessi nama gowwaatti hin tolu; hidhiin sobu immoo hammam bulchaa tokkotti haa hammaatu ree!
Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
8 Mattaʼaan namicha kennuuf miʼa falfalaa ti; inni lafa dhaqu kamitti iyyuu ni milkaaʼa.
Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
9 Namni balleessaa namaaf dhiisu jaalala guddisa; namni waan tokko irra deddeebiʼu, garuu michoota walitti dhiʼaatan gargar baasa.
If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
10 Hamma gowwaan yeroo dhibba garafamee itti dhagaʼamu caalaa ifannaan nama waa hubatutti dhagaʼama.
A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
11 Namni hamaan fincila qofa barbaada; ergamaan namaa hin naane isatti ni ergama.
Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger will be sent to attack them.
12 Gowwaa gowwummaa isa keessa jiruun walitti dhufuu mannaa amaaketa dhaltuu ilmaan ishee jalaa fudhatamaniin walitti dhufuu wayya.
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
13 Nama qooda gaarii hamaa deebisu, hamminni mana isaa keessaa hin baʼu.
If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
14 Lola jalqabuun akkuma bishaan cabsanii yaasuu ti; kanaafuu utuu lolli hin hoʼin dubbii dhiisi.
The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
15 Waaqayyo waan kana lachuu ni balfa; kunis nama yakka qabu qulqulluu gochuu fi nama balleessaa hin qabnetti muruu dha.
The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
16 Sababii inni ogummaa argachuuf fedhii hin qabneef, maallaqni harka gowwaa jiru faayidaa maalii qaba?
Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
17 Michuun yeroo hunda nama jaallata; obboleessi immoo guyyaa rakkootiif dhalata.
A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
18 Namni qalbii hin qabne harka dhaʼee waa namaaf kakata; fuula ollaa ofii isaa durattis wabii taʼa.
It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
19 Namni lola jaallatu cubbuu jaallata; namni karra ol dheeraa ijaarus badiisa waama.
People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
20 Namni yaada hamaa qabu hin milkaaʼu; kan arrabni isaa nama gowwoomsus rakkoo keessa seena.
People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
21 Ilmi gowwaan abbaa isaatti gadda fida; abbaan ilma gowwaas hin gammadu.
A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
22 Garaan gammadu qoricha gaarii dha; hafuurri cabe immoo lafee gogsa.
A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
23 Namni hamaan karaa murtii qajeelaa jalʼisuuf jedhee dhoksaadhaan mattaʼaa fudhata.
The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24 Namni hubataan fuula isaa gara ogummaatti deebifata; iji gowwaa garuu hamma handaara lafaatti joora.
Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
25 Ilmi gowwaan abbaa isaatti gadda fida; haadha isa deessettis jireenya hadheessa.
A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
26 Nama balleessaa hin qabne tokko adabuun gaarii miti; qondaaltota amanamoo rukutuunis sirrii miti.
It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
27 Namni beekaan of qusachaa dubbata; namni hubataanis hafuura qabanaaʼaa qaba.
If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
28 Gowwaan iyyuu yommuu calʼisu ogeessa fakkaata; yommuu arraba isaa toʼatus hubataa fakkaata.
Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
