Yoruba-English PROVERBS Interlinear

Yoruba-English PROVERBS Interlinear pp1-90

WISDOM of the AGES

OGBÓN AYÉBÁYÉ

AN ENGLISH-YORUBA WORD-BY-WORD

and

PHRASE-BY-PHRASE TRANSLITERATION OF THE

PROVERBS, MEDITATIONS & SONGS

the Great KING SOLOMON.

Compiled by Y

mí Fáladé

No portion, more than half a page, of this

book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted in any form or by any

means electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise without prior

permission of the Copyright owner.

ISBN 0978-2469-04-1

PREFACE

"OGBÓN AYÉBÁYÉ. is a two-way Yoruba/English

language tutorial using a modern transliteration of the well-known Wisdom

Literature of the wisest and richest man that ever lived, King Solomon's

Proverbs, Meditations, and Love Songs.

The wide selection of philosophical literature featured in this work is

deliberately so made as to cover all the possible didactic expressions in the

collection. Transliteration here means, that word-for-word translation is done

where this is possible, and phrase-by-phrase translation is used where that

appears to be more desirable. Whichever is the more acceptable and more

accurate rendering of the word or words in the phrase, is used, without

departing from the true meaning of the word or the word group of phrases.

There is no intention of each paraphrase translation in this work. What is

intended, therefore, is accurate translation from each of the two languages

into the other, using either one of the two languages as the starting point, and

vice-versa.

One may justifiably ask. Why does anyone need another book, especially a

book of proverbs translation_. Because proverbs are the sentence-summaries

of the immutable truths of living this life. These sentence-summaries and

similes, as the written or oral archives of every culture, record the recurrent

and inevitable experiences of those who had lived in the particular culture,

and that record is meant for the improvement of that culture specifically, and

indeed, for the entire world generally. This way, succeeding generations will

not have to spend precious time rediscovering these same unavoidable fixed

truths over and over again, but would the rather move faster onto greater

heights. This happens, only if they have learnt from their archive of proverbs,

by which vantage point, they can in turn improve their own world in

particular, and the whole world in general, if they record their own newer

recurrent life experiences for the benefit, first, of their own succeeding

posterity and next, that of the entire world. How much wiser the whole world

would be, if every generation had, in this regard, faithfully performed its

own duty!

In the observable sciences, where mastery of such preceding written traditions

is imperative for promotion, mankind's progress had been phenomenal. In

actual living, however, where familiarity with, not to talk about mastery of,

the unchanging issues of life are not only beneficial but essential for

successful happy living, most, if not all of us, ignore such sentence-archives

from which we can draw out wisdom for triumph in life-struggles, strength

for victory in life-trials, succor for life-sorrows. As it were, we, each one of us

having knowingly or inadvertently shunned this fountain of knowledge made

available to us in the proverbs of old, are busy grappling with the same issues

of life all over again, thus wasting away precious life, reinventing `life's

wheels' with all its attendant woes, again, and again, and again, and again.

This life's wheel inventing task, as we have seen from above, is the collective

community experience of many years, and not a task for every and any

individual, no matter how smart, to singly discover. It is just too gigantic a job

for any individual, yet every individual must either suddenly experience it by

living it unpreparedly, or must learn it, through a formal or informal college

of prophet-philosophers, way ahead of the time of experiencing and living it.

But our present anti-community and anti-philosophic world cannot naturally

manufacture such a wisdom-teaching community, hence we cop out as soon

as we experience life's issues without having had the necessary antecedent

tutelage, and look for quick fixes. This is the reason for our moral, cultural

and social dilemma today, seen in the rampant abuse of drugs, and other

common modern socio-politico-cultural depravities.

It will go a long way in solving our present day dilemma, therefore, if, before

we continue business as usual, we turn for a priori enlightenment by

revisiting our universal store of these, largely hidden because mostly

unrecorded, sentence-summaries of life experiences, which in other words we

call proverbs or adages or sayings of the wise. For us to have a universal

storage of proverbial sayings, it means every culture will be given the

opportunity of making its own contribution of sentence-summaries to a

universal proverbial bank, as it may. A series of `keys' will need to be

designed, one key for each culture, so that everyone can easily tap in to this

perennial treasure of pre-admonitory teachings from every culture on earth.

One key that is being used in this present work is, to first transliterate the set

of age-old and well-accepted wisdom literature mentioned above, from one

language to another in an interlinear rendering. A diligent study of the

resulting two-language interlinear is expected to generate not only a working

vocabulary but also a familiarity with the phraseology of the foreign

language. Both are necessary for digging into the proverbial storage of any

foreign culture, with a view to first enriching one's stock of proverbs and then

bringing the entire culture's store of sentence-summaries into the proposed

universal pool. Other keys may need to be invented or, rather, be reinvented.

One culture and language exists, where their prolific use of proverbial sayings

had always been a mark both of learning and wisdom, and where proficiency

in such usage of proverbs has been elevated to an enviable art of informal but

ubiquitous open academies of proverbial-scholar elders. These elders had in

their living experiences encountered the life-issues summarized by their

proverbs as time-tested truths. These people are the Yorubas of Nigeria in

West Africa. Numbering about fifty million people in their home base of the

entire south-west of Nigeria, and having about half as many a diaspora

population, in Benin Republic, western neighbor to Nigeria in Africa, in

Brazil, in Cuba both in the Americas, and generous other scatterings around

the world, they number close to eighty million people worldwide.

The key provided in this work, therefore, will not only open up their great

reservoir of culture and language to the proverbs student, but it will also

serve as a quick cultural and linguistic link between the Yorubas

themselves in the different continents, their friends, and all language and

wisdom lovers, scattered throughout the world.

I hope that at the end of this study, the student and reader will start on the

journey of sages, by matching, either in advance preferably, or

contemporaneously, the sentence-summaries contained in this book to their

own life experiences. If enough key-work, equal in number to all the cultures

in the world, would follow the pattern enumerated in this work and deliver

a similar transliteration, one for each culture, the days will not be too long

when we will have our foundational universal treasury of premonition

statements, from which coming generations can learn and avoid the mistakes

of the past, and to which also future generations can add their own

experience-summaries. Then we will have a continuum of wisdom sayings to

guide our footsteps. A categorization of this universal bank of proverbs into

related topics of life-issues can be made, and the results made available to

provide the necessary smoothing and soothing of life's journey.

IF ANYTHING AT ALL, GET WISDOM: WISDOM IS BETTER THAN

GOLD.

Yomi Falade, November 14, 1997

LANGUAGE INTRODUCTION

Yoruba language is a phonetics or pronunciation sensitive language. By this

is meant that, words in the language having exactly the same spellings but

pronounced differently, have different meanings. Hence it is necessary not

only for the correct reading and comprehension of texts in the language, to

correctly write what phonetic pronunciation is meant, but to do so as quickly

as one would the simplest of languages. Fortunately, hard as this task may

sound, it had been greatly simplified by the unique fact that the language uses

three phonetic levels or pitches or musical notes, whichever you will,

namely:

1.The musical note level, doh, for the low level voice, so accented by a grave

mark ( ` ) placed, as may be desirable, above any of the seven relevant vowels

or the single relevant consonant in this language.

2.The musical note level, reh, for the middle level voice, no accent, grave or

acute placed on the vowel or consonant.

3.The musical note level, me, for the high level voice, so accented by an acute

mark ( ´ ) placed above the respective vowel or the one single consonant so

affected.

These three voice levels are applicable only to the language's seven vowels,

comprising the five regular English language vowels and two dot-below

diacritical vowels shown below, and to only one consonant ( Nn ), out of the

language's twenty-five alphabets. That is, only to eight out of the twenty-five

alphabet language, comprising twenty one English alphabets, two dotted-below diacritical vowels

(Ee) and

(Oo), one such consonant

(Ss)

, and one loose diagraph consonant, (GBgb).

Yoruba language thus has the twenty-five alphabets shown below, with its

unique alphabets bolded here for emphasis.

Aa Bb Dd Ee Ee Ff Gg Gbgb Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Oo

Pp Rr Ss

Ss Tt Uu Ww Yy.

Ee is pronounced as the 'ε' in Epsilon or in `met' in English

Gbgb is pronounced as the `gby' in `rugby'

is pronounced as the "awe" in `ore'

Ss is pronounced as the `sh" in `shore'

Finally, words in Yoruba language never have two consonants together

except the loose diagraph ( gb) mentioned above. When the consonant (ń)

follows a vowel, whether in the middle or end of a word, the pair is

pronounced with a nasal variation of that its preceding vowel sound.

After mastering this simple introduction to the language, one may now

confidently use the following passages as the aforementioned needed key to

our Bank of Wisdom.

ÌWÉ ÒWE

BOOK of PROVERBS

1 ÒWE Sólómónì

omo

Dáfídì,

oba Israeli;

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel;

2 láti mo

ogbón àti

èkó;

2 to know wisdom and learning;

láti mo

ìyàtò

òrò

òye;

to discern words of prudence;

3 láti gba

èkó

ogbón, òdodo,

3 to receive the training of wisdom, justice,

àti ìdájó, àti

síse-ètó;

and judgement, and fairness;

4 láti fi òye fún aláìm

kan,

4 to give understanding to the ignorant,

láti fún àwon

òdó

ní ìmò

àti ìmòye.

to give young people training and prudence.

Ologbón yóò gbó, yóò sì máa pò

sii ní

ó;

_.k

5 The wise will hear and increase in learning;

àti

eni òye yóò gba ìmòràn

ogbón:

and the prudent will receive wise advice:

6 láti mo

òwe, àti ìtumò

òrò

ogbón,

6 to know proverbs, and meanings; words of wisdom,

àti

òrò

àsírí

won.

and their secret words.

7 Ìbèrù Oluwa ní ìpilè

ogbón,

7 the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

ón àwon òmùgò

gan

ogbón àti

èkó

_.ùgb

but fools despise wisdom and training.

Omo

mi, gbó

èkó

baba re,

8 My child, listen to your father's training,

kí ìwo

má sì

se ko

òfin ìyá re

sílè:

and you should not reject the law of your mother

9 nítorí pé àwon ni yóò

se adé

ewà fún orí re,

9 for they will be a crown of grace for your head,

àti

òsó

yí

orùn re

ká.

and ornament round your neck.

Omo

mi, bí àwon

elésè

bá tàn

ó, ìwo máse gbà.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, you shouldn't agree.

11 Bí wón wí pé, `Wá pèlú wa, jé

kí a ba fún

èj

è,

11 If they say, `Join us, let us lay in wait for blood,

jé

kí a lúgo

de aláìsè

ní ìkòkò

ní àìní-ìdí.

let us secretly ambush the innocent without cause.

12 Jé

kí a gbé won mì láàyè bíi ìsà-òkú;

12 Let us swallow them alive as the grave;

àní, ní odindi bíi àwon tí ń lo

sínú ihò.

and whole too, like those going into the pit.

13 Àwa yóò rí onírúurú

orò

iyebíye,

13 We shall find all precious substances,

àwa yóò fi

orò-ìkógun kún ilé wa.

we shall fill our houses with the booties.

14 Da ìpín re

pò

mó

ti wa;

14 Cast your lot with us;

jé

kí gbogbo wa jo

ní àpò kan.'

let all of us have one purse.'

Omo

mi, máse rìn ní

ònà pèlú won:

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them:

esè

séhìn kúrò ní ipa-ònà won.

16 Nítorí tí

refrain your foot from their path.

wón súre sí ibi, wón sì yára láti ta

èjè sile.

_.s

16 their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17 Nítòótó, lásán ni a na àwòn sílè

ní ojú eyekéye

17 Yes, vainly is a net spread in the sight of any bird.

18 Àwon ènìyàn wònyìí ba fún èjè ara won;

18 These people ambush for their own blood;

wón lúgo

níkòkò

fún

èmí ara won.

they lurk secretly for their own lives

19 Béè ni ònà gbogbo àwon tí ń se ojúkòkòrò èrè;

19 So is the way of all who are greedy for gain;

èmí àwon olúwa

ònà náà.

_.nà yìí ń gba

this way takes away the lives of their owners.

Ogbón ń kígbe lóde; ó f'ohùn rè

ní ìgboro.

20 Wisdom cries in public; she speaks out in streets.

21 Ó ń ké ní ibi ariwo ńlá jùlo,

21 She cries in the noisiest places,

ní gbangba

enu-bodè ìlú, ó so

òrò

rè

wí pé,

in yards of toll gates, she speaks her words, that,

22 `Yóò tí pé

tóò,

èyin aláìmòkan,

22 `How long, you ignorant ones,

tí

èyin yóò fi fé

àìmòkan_. Àti tí àwon

that you will love ignorance_. And that the

égàn yóò fi ní inúdídùn nínú

ègàn won,

_.l

scorners will delight in their scorning,

àti tí àwon òmùgò

yóò fi kórìíra ìmò_.

and that fools will hate knowledge_.

Èyin,

yí padà léhìn ìbáwí mi;

23 You, turn at my reproof;

kíyèsi i, èmí yóò da

mí mi sóri yín,

behold, I will pour my spirit upon you,

èmí yóò fi

òrò

mi hàn fun yín.

I will show my word to you.

24 Nítorí tí èmí pè, tí

èyin sì kò;

24 For I called, and you refused;

èmí na

owó

mi, tí

enìkan kò sì kà á sí.

I spread out my hand, and no one respected it.

Sùgbón

sá gbogbo ìmòràn mi tì,

25 But you have set all my advice aside,

ìbáwí mi.

_.yin kò sí f

and you dislike my reproof.

26 Èmi pèlú yóò rín

èrín ìdàmú yín;

26 I also will laugh at your calamity;

èmí yóò

èfè

nígbà tí ìjáyà yín bá dé;

I will mock when your fear comes;

27 nígbà tí ìjáyà yín bá dé bíi ìparun,

27 when your fear comes like destruction,

àti ìparun yín bíi àf

yíká-ìjì;

and your destruction as whirlwind;

nígbà tí wàhálà àti àròdùn bá dé si yín.

when distress and anguish comes on you.

28 Nígbà náà

yin yóò ké pè mí,

28 Then you will call on me,

ón èmí kì yóò dáhùn;

_.ùgb

but I will not answer;

won yóò

sàférí mi ní kùtùkùtù

they shall seek me early

ón won kì yóò rí mi.

_.ùgb

but they will not find me.

29 Nítorí wón ti kórìíra ìmò,

29 For they hated knowledge,

won kò sì yan ìbèrù Óluwa.

they did not choose the fear of the LORD.

30 Won kò fé

ìgbìmò

mi:

30 They dislike my counsel:

n gan gbogbo ìbáwí mi.

they despised all my reproof.

31 Nítorí náà ni won yóò

se je

nínú èrè ìwà won,

31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their way,

won yóò sì kún fún ìmòkímò

won

and be filled with their own devices.

32 Nítorí ìpadàséhìn àwon òpè ni yóò pa wón,

32 For the backsliding of the foolish will kill them,

àti èké-àlàáfíà àwon òmùgò

ni yóò pa wón run.

and the false peace of fools will destroy them.

Súgbón

enikéni tí ó bá fetísí mi

33 But anyone who listens to me

yóò máa gbé ní àìléwu,

will live in safety,

yóò sì ní ìsimi kúrò nínú ìb

rù ibi.'

and will be at rest from the fear of evil.'

OMO

mi, bí ìwo

bá gba

òrò

mi,

MY child, if you receive my words,

tí ìwo

sì fi òfin mi pamó

sínú re;

and if you keep my laws within you;

2 tí ìwo

etí re

sílè

sí

ogbón,

2 if you incline your ears to wisdom,

tí o fi

okàn re

sí òye;

and give your heart to understanding;

3 nítòótó, bí ìwo

bá ń ké to

ìmò

léhìn,

3 surely, if you cry after knowledge,

tí ìwo

sì gbé ohùn re

sókè fún òye;

and you lift up your voice for understanding;

4 bí ìwo

bá

se àférí rè

bíi fàdákà,

4 if you seek her as silver,

tí ìwo

sì ń wá a kiri bíi ìsúra ìpamó,

if you also search for it as hidden treasure,

5 nígbà náà ìwo

yóò ní òye ìbèrù Óluwa,

5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD,

ìwo

yóò sì wá ìmò

Olorun rí.

and you will discover the knowledge of God.

6 Nítorí Óluwa ń fún ni ní

ogbón:

6 For the LORD gives wisdom:

láti

enu Rè

ni ìmò

àti òye ti í wá.

from His mouth, knowledge and wisdom come.

7 Ó to ògidì

ogbón jo

fún àwon olódodo;

7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous;

Òun ni asà fún àwon tí ń rìn déédé.

He is the shield for those who walk uprightly.

8 Ó ń tójú ipa-ònà ìdájó,

8 He keeps the path of judgement,

Ó sì dábòbò

ònà àwon àyànfé

Rè

and He protects the way of His saints.

9 Nígbà náà ní ìw

yóò ní òye

9 Then you shall understand

òdodo, àti ìdájó, àti

síse-ètò;

righteousness, and judgement, and fairness;

àní, gbogbo ipa-

nà rere.

even, all good path.

10 Nígbà tí

ogbón bá wo

okàn re,

10 When wisdom enters your heart,

àti ìmò

sì dùn mó

èmí re;

and knowledge is sweet to your soul;

11 ìmòye yóò pa

mó, òye yóò sì máa só o

11 sagacity will save you, understanding will keep you:

12 láti gbà

ní

ònà

eni-ibi,

12 to save you from the way of the evil one,

ní

owo

okùnrin tí ń sòrò

àyídàyídà;

from the man who speaks deceitfully;

13 àwon tí wón ko

ipa-ònà ìdúrósinsin sílè,

13 who leave the path of uprightness,

láti rìn ní

ònà òkùnkùn;

to walk in the way of darkness;

eni tí ó yò

ní

síse ibi,

14 who rejoice to do evil,

tí ó

se inú-dídùn sí àyídàyídà àwon ènìyàn búburú;

who delight in the deviousness of evil people;

ònà àwon

eni tí ó wó,

15 whose ways are crooked,

wón sì

se àrékérekè ní ipa-ònà won:

they also are hypocritical in their paths:

16 láti gbà

ní

owó

àjèjì obìnrin,

16 to save you from the strange woman,

àní, ní

owó

àjèjì obìnrin

even, from the strange woman

tí ń pónni pèlú

òrò

enu rè;

who flatters with her words;

eni tí ó fi

òré

ìgbà-èwe rè

sílè,

17 who forsakes the friend of her youth,

tí ó sì gbàgbé májèmú

Olorun rè

who forgets the covenant of her God.

18 Nítorí ilé rè

tè

sínú ikú,

18 For her house inclines into death,

àti ipa-ònà rè

sódò

àwon òkú.

and her paths to the dead.

19 Kò sí

eni tí ó tò

tí ó tún padà séhìn,

19 Nobody who goes to her ever returns again,

béè

ni won kì í dé ipa-ònà ìyè.

neither do they hold the path of life.

20 Kí ìwo

lè máa rìn ní

ònà ènìyàn rere,

20 That you may walk in the way of good people,

kí ìwo

sì máa rìn ní ipa ònà àwon olódodo.

that you may walk in the way of righteous people.

21 Nítorí eni-ídúrósinsin ni yóò máa gbé ní ilè náà,

21 For it is the upright that shall dwell in the land,

àwon tí wón pé yóò sì máa wà nínú rè

and the perfect shall remain in it.

Sùgbón àwon ènìyàn búburú

22 But the wicked people

ni a óò gé kúrò ní ilè

ayé,

shall be cut off from the earth,

àti àwon arúfin ni a óò sì fàtu kúrò nínú rè

and the lawless shall be rooted out of it.

OMO

mi, máse gbàgbé òfin mi;

MY child, do not forget my law;

sì pa òfin mi mó

sí

okàn re

and hide my law in your heart.

2 Nítorí

ojó

gígùn, àti

èmí gígùn,

2 For length of days, and long life,

àti àláàfíà ni won yóò fi kún un fún

and peace shall they add to you.

3 Máse jé

kí àánú àti òtító

sílè:

3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you:

so wón mó

orùn re;

tie them round your neck;

wón sí pelebe

okàn re:

write them on the table of your heart:

4 béè

ni ìwo

yóò rí ojúrere àti òye rere

4 so shall you find favor and good understanding

lójú

Olorun àti ènìyàn.

in the sight of God and man.

5 Gbé gbogbo

okàn re

lé Oluwa;

5 Trust the Lord with all your heart;

má sì

se tè

sí ìmò

ara re

and do not lean on your own intelligence.

6 Mò

ní gbogbo

ònà re:

6 Know Him in all your ways:

Òun yóò sì máa tó

ipa-ònà re

and He will direct your paths.

7 Máse jé

ologbón ní ojú ara re;

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

bèrù Óluwa, kí o sì kúrò nínú ibi.

fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 Óun yóò jé

ìlera sí ìdodo re,

8 It shall be health to your navel,

àti ìtura sí egungun re

and succour to your bones.

9 Bòwò

fún Oluwa pèlú ohun-ìní re,

9 Honor the Lord with your substance,

àti láti inú gbogbo àkóbí ìbísí-oko re:

and from the firstfruit of your increase

10 béè

ni àká re

yóò kún fún

òpòlopò,

10 so shall your barns be filled with plenty,

àti àgbá re

yóò sì kún fún

otí-wáìnì titun.

and your presses shall be filled with new wine.

Omo

mi, máse ko

ìbáwí Óluwa;

11 My son, do not reject the Lord's rebuke;

béè

máse jé

kí ìtóni Rè

sú

nor be weary of His correction:

12 nítorí pé

eni tí Óluwa fé, òun ni Í tó,

12 for whom the Lord loves, He corrects,

gégé

bí baba ti í tó

omo

tí inú rè

dùn sí.

even as a father corrects the child he delights in.

13 Ìbùkún ni fún okùnrin náà tí ń wá ogbón rí,

13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

àti

okùnrin náà tí ó gba òye.

and the man who receives understanding.

14 Nítorí tí òwò-síse rè

ju òwò fàdákà lo,

14 For business in it is better than business in silver,

èrè rè

sì ju ti wúrà dáradára lo

and its gain better than that of fine gold.

15 Ó

se iyebíye ju iyùn lo:

15 It is more precious than rubies:

atí ohun gbogbo tí ìwo

lè fé,

and all the things you may desire,

kò sí èyí tí a lè fi wé e.

none can be compared to it.

Ojó

gígùn wà ní

owó

òtún rè;

16 Length of days is in her right hand;

atí ní ti òsì rè,

orò

àti

olá.

and in her left, riches and honor.

Ònà rè,

ònà dídùn ni,

17 Her ways are ways of joy,

àti gbogbo ipa-ònà rè, àláàfíà.

and all her paths, peace.

18 Igi ìyè ní í

se fún gbogbo àwon tí wón dì í mú:

18 She is a tree of life for all who hold onto her:

ìbùkún sì ni fún

eni tí ó dì í mú

sinsin.

blessed is everyone who holds tight to her.

Ogbón ni Óluwa fi te

ayé dó,

19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth,

òye ni Ó sì fi pèsè àwon

òrun.

and by understanding He provided the heavens.

20 Nípa ìmò

Rè

ni ibú ya sókè,

20 By His knowledge, waters break out,

tí ìkúùkuù sì ń se

ìrì rè

sílè

and the clouds drop their dew.

Omo

mi, máse jé

kí won lo

kúrò ní ojú re:

21 My son, do not let them depart from your eyes:

ogbón pípé atí ìmòye mó:

keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 béè

ni won yóò máa jé

ìyè sí

okàn re,

22 so shall they be life to your soul,

àti oore-òfé

sí

orùn re

and grace to your neck.

23 Nígbà náà ní ìwo yóò rin ònà re ní àìléwu,

23 Then shall you walk in your way in safety,

kì yóò sì kólè

_.s

and your foot shall not trip.

24 Nígbà tí ìwo dùbúlè, ìwo kì yóò bèrù:

nítòótó,

24 When you lie down, you shall not fear: truly,

ìwo

yóò dùbúlè, oorun re

yóò sì dùn.

you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.

25 Máse fòyà

èrù òjijì,

25 Do not fear sudden fear,

tàbí ìparun àw

n ènìyàn búburú,

or the destruction of evil people,

nígbà tí ó dé bá w

when it comes onto them.

26 Nítorí Olúwa ni yóò jé

ìgbékèlé re,

26 For the Lord shall be your confidence,

yóò sì pa

esè

mó

kúrò nínú tàkúté.

and shall keep your foot from a trap.

27 Máse fa

owó

ire

síse séhìn kúrò lódò àwon tí ó tó sí,

27 Do not withhold good deeds from those who deserve it,

bí ó bá wa ní agbára re

láti

se é.

if it is in your power to do it.

28 Máse wí fún

enìkejì re

pé, `Lo, kí o

28 Do not say to your neighbor, `Go, and

sì padà wa, bí ó bá sì di

la, èmí yóò fi fún o,

come back, and tomorrow, I will give to you.'

nígbà tí ìwo

ní i ní

owó

when you have it in your hand.

29 Máse gbìrò búburú sí

omonìkejì re,

29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,

bí òun ti jókòó láìbèrù ní

èbá

òdò

as he sits trustingly besides you.

30 Máse bá ènìyàn jà nì àìní ìdí,

30 Do not fight with a man without a cause,

bí òun kò bá

ní ibi.

if he hasn't harmed you.

31 Máse ìlara aninilára,

31 Do not envy the oppressor,

má sì

se yan

òkan nínú gbogbo

ònà rè

and do not choose any of his ways.

32 Nítorí pé

elégàn jé

ìrira lójú Olúwa;

32 For the devious is abomination to the Lord;

on àsírí Rè

wà pèlú àwon olódodo.

_.ugb

but His secret is with the righteous.

33 Ègún Olúwa wà ní ilé àwon

ènìyàn búburú:

33 The Lord's curse is in the house of the wicked:

on Ó bùkún ibùjókòó àwon olóòótó

_.ugb

but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Lóòótó, Ó

ègàn àwon

elégàn:

34 Truly, He scorns the scorners:

ón Ó fi oore-òfé

fún àwon onírèlè

_.ùgb

but He gives grace to the humble.

35 Àwon

ologbón ni yóò jogún ògo:

35 The wise shall inherit glory:

ón ìtìjù ni yóò jé

ìgbéga àwon òmùgò

_.ùgb

but shame shall be the promotion to fools.

ÈYIN

omo,

gbó

èkó

àwon baba yín,

You children, hear your fathers' instructions,

kí

sì fíyèsi láti mo

òye.

and take care to be understanding.

2 Nítorí tí mo ń fun yín ní

èkó

rere,

2 For I give you good training,

se ko

òfin mi sílè

_. má

do not forsake my law.

3 Nítorí mo jé

omo

baba mi,

3 For I was my father's son,

àti olùfé

ní ojú ìyá mi.

_.ni-ìk

a favorite and beloved in my mother's eyes.

4 Òun sì tún kó

mi, ó sì wí fún mi pé,

4 He also taught me, and said to me,

`Jé

kí

okàn re

gba

òrò

mi dúró:

`Let your heart retain my words:

pa òfin mi mó

kí ìwo

sì yè.

keep my commandments and live.

5 Ní

ogbón, ní òye: máse gbàgbé;

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: do not forget;

béè

ni kí ìwo

máse fà séhìn kúrò ní òrò

enu mi

neither do you turn from the words of my mouth.

6 Máse kò

sílè, yóò sì tójú re:

6 Do not reject her, and she will preserve you:

fé

e, yóò sì pa

mó

love her, and she will keep you.

Ogbón ni pàtàkì, nítorí náà, ní

ogbón:

7 Wisdom is the principal thing, so, get wisdom.

àti pèlú gbogbo ìní re, ní òye.

and with all your wealth, get wisdom.

8 Gbé e ga, òun yóò sì máa gbé

lékè:

8 Exalt her, and she will promote you:

òun yóò mú

wá sínú

olá,

she will bring you into honor,

nígbà tí ìwo

bá gbà á móra.

when you embrace her.

9 Óun yóò

se orí re

ní

òsó

pèlú adé

ewà:

9 She will adorn your head with crown of grace:

adé ògo ni òun yóò fi fún orí r

a glorious crown will she give to your head.

10 Gbó, ìwo

omo

mi, kí o sì gba

òrò

mi;

10 Hear, you my son, and receive my words;

èmí re

yóò sì di púpò

odún

the years of your life shall be many.

11 Èmi ti kó

ní

ònà

ogbón;

11 I have taught thee the way of wisdom;

èmí ti mú

ipa-ònà tító

I have led you in right paths.

12 Nígbà tí ìwo

ń rìn,

ònà re

kì yóò há fún àyè;

12 When you go, your steps shall not be restricted;

nígbà tí ìwo

ń sáré, ìwo

kì yóò fi

esè

when you run, you shall not stumble.

13 Di

èkó

mú

sinsin, máse jé

kí ó lo;

13 Embrace knowledge, do not leave her;

pa á mo, nítorí òun ni

èmí re

keep her, for she is your life.

14 Máse bó

sí ipa-ònà

eni búburú,

14 Do not join the path of the wicked,

má sì

se rìn ní

ònà àwon ènìyàn ibi.

and do not walk the way of evil men.

15 Yè

sílè, máse kojá nínú rè,

15 Avoid it, do not walk in it,

yí kúrò níbè, sì máa bá tìre

turn from it, and go your own way.

16 Nítorí won kì í sùn bí kò

se pé wón ti hùwà ibi;

16 For they don't sleep unless they have done evil;

oorun won á sì dá,

their sleep is off,

bí kò

se pé wón ti mú ènìyàn

subú.

unless they have caused people to fall.

17 Nítorí tí wón ń je

oúnje

ìwà-ìkà,

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness

wón sì ń mu

otí-wáìnì ìwà-ipá.

and drink the wine of violence.

Sùgbón ipa-ònà àwon olóòótó

dà bíi títàn-an ìmólè,

18 But the path of the just is like the shining light,

tí ó ń tàn síwájú àti síwájú títí di

ojó

pípé náà.

that shines more and more till the perfect day.

Ònà àwon ènìyàn búburú dà bíi

òkùnkùn:

19 The way of the wicked people is like darkness:

won kò mo

ohun tí wón ń kosè

lé.

they do not know what they stumble at.

Omo

mi, fiyèsí

òrò

mi;

20 My son, note my words;

etí re

sí

òrò

mi.

turn your ear to my words.

21 Máse jé

kí won lo

kúrò ní ojú re;

21 Do not let them leave your sight;

pa wón mó

ní oókan àyà re

keep them in the center of your heart.

22 Nítorí wón jé

ìyè fún àwon tí wón wá won rí,

22 For they are life to those who search them out,

àti ìmúláradá sí gbogbo

eran-ara won.

and good health to all their body-flesh.

23 Pa

okàn re

mó

pèlú gbogbo ìparamó,

23 Keep your heart with all diligence,

nítorí láti inú r

wá ni orísun ìyè.

for out of it are the sources of life.

24 Mú àrékérekè

enu kúrò lódò

re,

24 Remove a hypocritical mouth from you,

àti ètè

ètàn jìnà réré sí

òdò

and deceitful lips far from you.

25 Jé

kí ojú re

máa wo iwájú gan-an,

25 Let your eyes look right on,

jé

kí ìpéùnpéjú re

máa wo

òkánkán níwájú re

let your eyelids look straight ahead of you.

26 Ronú ipa-ònà

esè

re,

26 Plan the path of your feet,

sì jé

kí gbogbo

ònà re

fi ìdí múlè

and let all your ways be established.

27 Máse yà sí apá

òtún tàbí sí apá òsì,

27 Do not turn to the right or to the left,

esè

kúrò nínú ibi.

_.í

remove your feet from evil.

OMO

mi, fiyèsí

ogbón mi,

MY child, note my wisdom,

sì d'etí re

sí òye mi;

and listen to my understanding;

2 láti máa pa ìmòye mó,

2 to cherish discretion,

àti kí ètè re

lè máa pa ìmò

mó

and that your lips may keep knowledge.

3 Nítorí tí ètè pa-n

ságà obìnrin a máa kán

3 For the lips of a strange woman always drip

bíi afárá oyin,

enu rè

sì kúnná ju òróró lo:

as honeycomb, and her mouth is finer than oil;

sùgbón ìgbèhìn rè

korò bíi májèlé,

4 but her end is as bitter as poison,

ó sì mú bíi olójúméjì idà.

and as sharp as two-edged sword.

Esè

rè

ń sòkalè

ikú, ìrìn-esè

rè

dé ipò-òkú.

5 Her feet go down to death, her steps reach to hell.

6 Òun kò rònú ípa

ònà ìyè,

6 She does not ponder the path of life,

ipa-ònà rè

a máa yí kákiri, ìwo

kò sì lè mò

her ways are so changeable, you cannot know it.

gbó

tèmi nísìsiyìí,

èyin

omo,

7 Hear me now, you children,

se yà kúrò ní

òrò

enu mi.

_. má sì

and do not turn from the words of my mouth.

8 Jìnnà réré sí

ódò

rè,

8 Stay far from her,

má sì

se súnmó

etí ilèkùn ilé rè:

and do not go near the door of her house:

9 kí ìwo

má ba fi

olá re

fún

elòmíràn,

9 lest you give your honor to another,

àti

odún re

fún

eni-ìkà.

and your years to the cruel.

10 Kí àwon àjèjì má ba kún fún

orò-ìní re;

10 Lest strangers be filled with your wealth;

kí èrè-isé

owó

má ba wà ní ilé àlejò;

lest your labors stay in the house of a stranger;

11 ìwo

a sì máa sokún ní ìgbèhìn rè,

11 you will mourn at the end,

nígbà tí a bá je

eran-ara àti ara re

run.

when your flesh and your body are consumed.

12 Ìwo

a sì wí pé, "Èmí ha ti kórìíra

èkó

tó,

12 Then you will say, "How I have hated training,

àyà mi sì gan ìbáwí:

and my heart despised correction:

13 èmí kò

òrò

sí àwon olùkó

mi lénu,

13 and I rejected the words of my teachers,

tàbí kí èmí d'

etí mi sílè

sí àwon tí ń kó

mi.

nor lent my ears to those who taught me.

14 Èmí férè

wà nínú ibi pátápátá

14 I was almost involved in all evil

láàárín àwùjo

àti láàárín ìjo."

among the congregation and the assembly."

15 Mu omi láti inú ìsun re

wá,

15 Drink water from your own fountain,

àti omi tí n

sàn jáde láti inú kànnga r

and running water from your own well.

16 Kí ìsun re

sàn ká kiri,

16 Your fountain be dispersed abroad,

àwon odò omi re

ní ìta.

your streams in the streets.

17 Kí wón jé

kìkì tìre,

17 They should be just your own,

kí ó má

se jé

ti àwon àjèjì pèlú re

and not that of a stranger and you.

18 Jé

kí orísun re

di bíbùkún:

18 Let your fountain be blessed:

kí ìwo

sì máa yò, ìwo

àti aya ìgbà-èwe re

and you rejoice, you and the wife of your youth.

19 Bíi abo àgbònrín tí ó wà nínú ìfé

19 As a female deer which has fallen in love

àti bíi abo igalà tì ó kún fún oore-òfé,

and as a female antelope which is full of grace,

jé

kí

omú rè

tó fún

nígbà gbogbo;

let her breast satisfy you all the time;

kí o sì máa balò nígbà gbogbo nínú ìfé

rè

and be you seduced always in her love.

Omo

mi, èése_.

20 My son, why_.

Tí ìwo

yóò fi máa lòpò

pélù àjèjì obìnrin,

Will you be seduced by a strange woman,

tí ìwo

yóò fi gbá

oyàn àjèjì obìnrin móra_.

and you embrace the breasts of a strange woman.

21 Nítorí pé

ònà

omo

ènìyàn wà níwájú Olúwa,

21 For man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord

Òun sì ń

sírò gbogbo ìrìn rè

and He ponders all man's walks.

Èsè

eni búburú ni yóò mú òun tìkararè,

22 The sins of the wicked will overtake he hinself,

okùn

èsè

ara rè

yóò sì dì í mú.

and the cords of his sins will tie him.

23 Yóò kú láì kò ní

èkó, àti nínú

òpòlopò

23 He will die without learning, and in the greatness

òmùgò

rè, yóò sì máa

sìnà kiri.

of his foolishness, he will go astray.

OMO

mi, bí íwo

bá se onígbòwó

fún òré re,

My child, if you stand surety for your friend,

bí ìwo

bá sowópò

pèlú àjèjì.

if you join hands with a stranger.

2 Bí a bá fi

òrò

enu re

okùn fún

2 If by your mouth's words you are trapped,

bí a bá fi

òrò

enu re

mú

if by your mouth's words you are caught.

Se èyí,

omo

mi, kí o lè gba ara re

sílè

3 Do this, my child, to deliver yourself

nígbà tí ìwo

bá bó

sí

owó

òré

re;

when you get into your friend's hands;

lo, re

ara re

sílè, kí ìwo

sì be

òré

go, humble yourself, and beg your friend.

4 Máse fi oorun fún ojú re,

4 Do not give sleep to your eyes,

tàbí òògbé fún ìpéùnpéjú

nor slumber to your eyelids.

5 Gba ara re

bíi abo àgbònrín ní

owó

ode,

5 Save yourself like a female deer from a hunter,

àti bíi

eye

ní

owó

kéyekéye

and like a bird from a bird-trapper.

6 To

èèrà lo, ìwo

òle,

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard,

kíyèsi

ònà rè, kí o sì gbón:

note her ways, and be wise:

7 tí kò ní olórí-ogun, alábojútó tàbí

alákòóso,

7 which, having no leader, overseer or ruler,

8 tí ń pèsè oúńje

rè

ní ìgbà-èrùn,

8 she provides her food in the summer,

tí ó sì ń kó oúnje

rè

ní ìgbà ìkórè.

and she gathers her food in the harvest.

Òle, pé

tó báwo ni ìwo

yoo sùn_.

9 Sluggard, how long will you sleep_.

Nígbà wo ni

ìwo

yóò jí nínú oorun re_.

When will you rise from your sleep_.

10 Oorun díè

sí i, òògbé díè

sí i,

10 A little more sleep, a little more slumber,

ìkáwókòpò

díè

sí i láti sùn:

a little more folding of hands to sleep:

11 béè

ni òsì re

yóò dé bíi alárìnkiri,

11 so your poverty comes like a gatecrasher,

àti àìní re

bíi adigunjalè

and your wants like an armed robber.

12 Ènìyàn-kénìyàn,

okùnrin búburú,

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,

tí ó n rìn pèlú

enu

ètàn.

walks with a lying mouth.

13 Ó ń

séjú rè, ó ń fi

esè

rè

sòrò,

13 He winks with his eyes, talks with his feet,

ó ń fi ìka rè

júwe.

points with his fingers.

14 Àrékérekè wà ní

okàn rè,

14 Deceit is in his heart,

ó ńgbìmò

ìwà-ìkà nígbà gbogbo; ó ń dá ìjà

sílè

he devises mischief all the time; he causes disputes.

15 Nítorí náà ni ìpónjú rè

yóò dé lójijì;

15 Hence his troubles will come suddenly;

òjijì ni a óò fó

wéwé

láìní àtúnse.

suddenly he will be broken irreparably.

16 Óhun méfà ni Olúwa kórìíra,

16 Six things the Lord hates,

nítòótó, méje jé

ìríra fún

okàn Rè:

truly, seven are abomination to His heart:

ahón

17 ojú ìgbéraga,

èké

17 a proud look, a lying tongue

àti

owó

tí ń ta

èjè

aláìsè

sílè

and hands that shed innocent blood.

Okàn tí ń gbìmò

èrò ibi,

18 A heart that devises evil schemes,

tí ó yára ní iré sísá sí ìwà-ìkà.

_.s

feet that are swift in running to mischief.

Elérìí èké tí ń so

iró

jáde,

19 False witness who speaks lies,

àti

eni tí

ń dá ìjà sílè

láàárín àwon arákùnrin.

and who sows discord among brethren.

Omo

mi, pa àse

baba re

mó,

20 My child, keep your father's rule,

kí ìwo

má sì

se ko

òfin ìyá re

sílè:

and do not reject your mother's law;

21 dì í nígbà gbogbo mó

okàn re,

21 bind it always to your heart,

kí ìwo

sì so ó mó

orùn re

and tie it about your neck.

22 Nígbà tí ìwo

bá ń rìn, yóò máa tó

22 When you walk, it shall lead you;

nígbà tí ìwo

bá sùn, yóò máa

só

when you sleep, it shall keep you;

nígbà tí ìwo

bá sì jí, yóò máa bá

sòrò

and when you wake up, it shall talk with you.

23 Nítorí àse

yìí ni fìtílà;

23 For the law is a lamp;

òfin yìí sì ni ìmólè;

and the law is light;

àti ìbáwí inú

èkó

ònà ìyè:

and the correction of training is the way of life:

24 láti pa

mó

kúrò lówó

obìnrin búburú,

24 to keep you from the evil woman,

lówó

ahón ìpónni àjèjì obìnrin.

from the tongue of the strange woman.

25 Máse ìfékúfèé

ní àyà re

sí

ewà rè;

25 do not lust in your heart after her beauty;

béè

má sì

se jé

kí òun mú

pèlú ìpéùnpéjú rè

nor let her take you with her eyelids.

26 Nítorí pé nípasè

aséwó obìnrin,

26 For through a whorish woman,

okùnrin fi í di onísù-àkàrà kan:

a man becomes one with a piece of bread;

ón ìyàwó

eni a máa wá ire ayé

eni.

_.ùgb

but a man's wife seeks the good life.

Okùnrin kan ha lè gbé iná sí àyà rè,

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom,

kí aso

rè

má jóná_.

and his clothes not be burned_.

Enìkan ha lè gun orí

eyìn-iná,

28 Can anyone step on hot coals,

kí

esè

rè

má sì jóná_.

and his feet not be burnt_.

29 Béè

eni tí ó wolé to

obìnrin

enìkejì rè lo

29 So is he who goes into his neighbor's wife;

éni tí ó fi

owó

bà á, kì yóò wà ní àìlésè

_.nik

anyone who touches her, shall not be innocent.

30 Máse gan olè,

30 Do not despise a thief,

bí ó bá

se pé ó jalè láti té

okàn rè

lórùn,

if it is that he steals to satisfy his soul,

nígbà tí ebi ń pa á;

when he is hungry;

sùgbón bí a bá mú u,

31 but when he is caught,

òun yóò san án padà ní ìlópo méje;

he shall pay back seven times;

òun yóò san án pèlú gbogbo ohun-ìní ilé rè

he shall pay with all the substance of his house.

Sùgbón

enikéni tí ó bá

se pa-nságà pèlú obìnrin,

32 But whoever commits adultery with a woman,

òye kù fún un:

lacks understanding,

se é yóò pa

èmí ara rè

run.

_.ni tí ó bá

he who does shall ruin his own soul.

Ogbé

àti àbùkù ni yóò ní;

33 Wound and disgrace shall he get;

kì yóò sì paré

nù kúrò.

_.gàn r

his reproach shall not be erased.

34 Nítorí ìbìnù owú ni ti

okùnrin:

34 For jealous anger is a man's anger:

nítorí naa kì yóò dáríjì ní

ojó

èsan.

hence he will not forgive in the day of vengeance.

35 Òun kì yóò náání owó ìdáùndè kan,

35 He will not value any ransom,

béè

ni inú rè

kì yóò rò,

nor will he be pacified,

bí ìwo

tilè

fun ní

èbùn púpò

though you give him many gifts.

OMO

mi, pa

òrò

mi mó,

My child, keep my words,

kí o sì tójú òfin mi pèlú re

and treasure my laws with you.

2 Pa òfin mi mó, kí o sì yè;

2 Keep my laws, and live;

àti àse

mi bíi

eyin-ójú re

and my rules like your eyeball.

3 Dì wón mó

ìka re,

3 Bind them on your fingers,

wón sí pelebe

okàn re

write them on the table of your heart.

4 Wí fún

ogbón pé, "Ìwo

ni arabìnrin mi."

4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister."

kí o sì pe òye ní ìbátan re

obìnrin.

and call understanding your kins-woman.

5 Kí wón lè gbà

lówó

àjèjì obìnrin,

5 So they may keep you from the strange woman,

lówó

àjèjì tí ń pónni pèlú

òrò

from the stranger who flatters with her words.

6 Lati ojú fèrèsé ilé mi,

6 From the window of my house,

mo bojúwo àárín fèrèsé mi.

I looked through my window.

7 Mo sì rí nínú àwon òpè,

7 And I saw among the foolish,

mo kíyèsi nínú àwon

òdò,

I noticed among the youth,

okùnrin kan tí òye kù fún,

_.m

a young man without discernment,

8 ó ń kojá lo

ní ìgboro, ní etí igun ilé aséwó;

8 walking through the street near a harlot's corner,

ó sì lo

sí

ònà ilé aséwó,

he went towards her house,

9 ní wíriwíri ìmólè, ní àsàálé,

9 in the twilight, in the evening,

ní òkùnkùn àti dúdú òru.

in the dark and black night.

10 Sì kíyèsi i,

10 And behold,

obìnrin kan wo

aso

aséwó pàdé rè, àrékérekè okàn,

a woman dressed as harlot met him, deceit-minded,

11 Ó j

aláriwo àti alágídí;

11 She is loud and heady;

kì í dúró ní ilé rè

_.s

her feet never stay inside her house.

12 Nísìsiyìí ó jáde, nísìsiyìí ó wà ní ìgboro,

12 Now she is outside, now she is in the streets,

ó sì ń ba ní igun-ilé gbogbo.

and she lies in wait at every corner.

13 Béè

ní ó dì í mú,

13 So she held him,

ó sì fi

enu kò ó ní

enu, ó sì fi

òdájú wí fún un pé,

and kissed him, and with bold-face said to him,

14 "Ore

àlàáfíà wà lówó

mi, òní ni mo san

èj

mi.

14 "Gift of peace is with me, today I paid my

vows.

15 Nítorí náà, ní mo

se jáde wa pàdé re,

15 Therefore, I came out to meet you,

láti

se àférí ojú re, èmí sì rí

longing to see your face, and I found you.

16 Èmí ti té

ibùsùn mi pèlú aso

olónà,

16 I have decked my bed with tapestries,

ónà fínfín àti aso

ògbò

dáradára ti Egipti.

_.l

embroidries and fine linen from Egypt.

17 Èmi ti fín ibùsùn mi p

lú

17 I have perfumed my bed with

tùràrí maira, aloe, àti sinamoni.

incense of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Wá, jé

kí a gba

èkúnréré

ìfé

wa títí di òwúrò,

18 Come, let us have our fill of love until morning,

jé

kí a tura wa lára pèlú ìfé

let us comfort ourselves with love.

19 Nítorí pé bãálé mi kò sí ní ilé,

19 For my husband is not at home,

ó re àjò

ònà jíjìn:

he travelled a long way:

20 ó mú àpò owó kan lówó

rè,

20 he took a bag of money with him,

yóò sì dé ní

ojó

tí ó

se àdéhùn.

and will return on an appointed day.

Òrò

dídùn rè

ni ó mú un

sìnà,

21 Her sweet words misled him,

ìpónni ètè rè

ni ó

sé

ní apá.

her flattery lips broke his resistance.

22 Óun sì tèlé e lo

lésèkan náà

22 He followed her instantly

bíi màlúù tí ń

sí ibùpa,

as an ox goes to the slaughter,

tàbí bíi òmùgò

sí ibi ìbáwí

sekésekè;

or as a fool to the correction of handcuffs;

23 títí

ofà fi gún

èdò

rè;

23 till a dart pierces his liver;

bíi

eye

tí ń yára bó

sínú ìkékùn,

as a bird hurries into a trap,

tí kò sì mò

pé fún òfò

èmí òun ni.

and does not know it is for the loss of his life.

Njé

nísìsiyìí,

èyin

omo,

fetí sí mi,

24 Now therefore, you children, listen to me,

kí

sì fiyè sí

òrò

enu mi.

and take note of my words.

25 Máse jé

kí

okàn re

tè

sí

ònà rè,

25 Do not let your heart bend to her ways,

máse

sìnà lo

sí ipa-ònà rè

do not stray on to her ways.

26 Nítorí ó ti

sá

òpòlopò

lulè;

26 For she has felled many wounded;

nítòótó òpòlopò alágbára ènìyàn ni a ti owó rè pa.

truly, many strong men had been slain by her.

27 Ilé rè

ònà

òrun-àpáàdì,

27 Her house is the way to hell,

tí ń sòkalè

sí ìyèwù ikú.

which goes down to chambers of death.

OGBÓN kò ha ń kígbe_.

Doesn't wisdom cry_.

Óye kò ha sì gbé ohùn r

sókè_.

And understanding raise her voice_.

2 Ó dúró ní orí ibi-gíga wònyen,

2 She stands on top of towers,

lébàá

ònà, ní ibi àwon

ònà márosè

by the way, in the highway regions.

3 Ó ń ké ní

enu-ònà,

3 She cries at the gates,

ní ibodè ìlú, ní àwon ojú ilèkùn.

at the city entry, at door entries.

4 "

yin ènìyàn ni èmí ń pè;

4 "You people I am calling;

ohùn mi wà sí àwon

omo

ènìyàn.

my voice is to children of men.

Èyin òpè,

ogbón:

5 You fools, understand wisdom:

àti

èyin òmùgò,

jé

amòye

okàn.

you fools, be of discerning mind.

gbó, nítorí tí èmi yóò sòrò ohun tí ó péye,

6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,

èmi yóò

sí ètè mi láti sòrò

ohun tító

and I open my lips to speak right things.

7 Nítorí tí

enu mi yóò so

òtító;

7 For my mouth will speak truth;

ìwà-búburú sì j

ìrira fún ètè mi.

wickedness is abomination to my lips

8 Nínú òdodo ni gbogbo

òrò

enu mi;

8 In righteousness are all the words of my mouth;

kò sí

ètàn tàbí àrékérekè kan nínú won.

there is no deceit or pretence in them.

Òrò

tààrà ni gbogbo wón jé

fún

eni tí òye yé,

9 Plain words all are to whoever has understanding,

tító

sì ni fún àwon tí wón ń wá ìmò

rí.

and right to those who are seeking knowledge.

10 Gba

èkó

mi, yàtò

sí fàdákà;

10 Receive my teaching, and not silver;

sì gba imò

ju wúrà àsàyàn lo

and prefer knowledge to choice gold.

11 Nítorí tí ìmò

dára ju iyùn lo;

11 For knowledge is better than rubies;

é,

ohun gbogbo tí a lè f

kò sí èyí tí a lè fi wé e.

all that we may desire, none can be compared with it.

12 Èmí

ogbón, ń gbé pèlú ìmòye,

12 I, wisdom, live with prudence,

èmí ìm

sì wá ìròrímòye rí.

and I prudence found ingeniuty.

13 Ìb

rù Olúwa ni láti kórìíra ibi,

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil,

ìrera, àti ìgbéraga, àti

ònà ibi,

pride, and arrogance, and evil way,

àti

nu àrékérekè, ni mo kórìíra.

and deceitful mouth, I do hate.

14 Tèmi ni ìmòràn àti

ogbón yíyè:

14 Mine is counsel and living wisdom:

Èmi ni òye, èmi ní agbára.

I am prudence, I have strength.

15 Nípasè

mi àwon

oba ń je,

15 By me kings reign,

tí àwon aláse

sì ń pàse

òdodo.

and rulers decree righteousness.

16 Nípasè

mi àwon ìjòyè ń joyè,

16 By me do rulers rule,

àwon gbajúmò, àti gbogbo adájó

ayé.

nobles, and all the judges of the earth.

17 Mo fé

àwon tí wón fé

mi;

17 I love those who love me;

àwon tí wón sì wá mi ní kùtùkùtù yóò rí mi.

and those who seek me early shall find me.

Orò

àti

olá wà lówó

mi,

18 Riches and honor are with me,

àní,

òrò

ojó pípé

àti òdodo.

even, durable riches and righteousness.

19 Èso mi ta yo

wúrà, nítòótó, ju wúrà dáradára lo:

19 My fruit surpasses gold, yes, more than fine gold;

àti èrè mi ju fàdákà àsàyàn lo

and my gain than choice silver.

20 Èmi ni ń

síwájú ní

ònà òdodo,

20 I lead in the way of righteousness,

láàárín ipa-ònà ìdájó:

among paths of judgement:

21 kí èmi lè mú àwon

21 so I may cause those

tí wón fé

mi jogún ohun-ìní,

who love me to inherit substance;

èmi yóò sì kún ìsúra won réré

and I will fill their treasures.

22 Olúwa ti ní mi ní ìbèrè

ònà Rè,

22 The Lord owned me in the beginning of His way.

sé

Rè

àtijó

_.aájú i

before His works of old.

è,

23 A ti yàn mí láti ayérayé, láti ìpìl

23 I was chosen from everlasting, from the beginning,

tàbí kí ayé tó wà.

or before the world was.

24 Nígbà tí kò sí àwon

ògbun, a ti bí mi;

24 When there were no depths, I had been born;

nígbà tí kò sì àwon orísun tí wón kún fún omi.

when there were no fountains filled with water.

25 Kí a tó fi ìdí àwon òkè-ńlá solè,

25 Before the mountains were placed,

on òkè ni a ti bí mi:

_.ãájú àw

before the hills I was born:

26 nígbà tí Òun kò tí ì dá ayé, tàbí pètélè,

26 when He had not yet created the earth, or plains,

tàbí ibi gíga jùlo

lórí erùpé

ayé.

or the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 Nígbà tí Ó

pilè

àwon

òrun,

27 When He fixed the heavens,

èmi wà níbè: nígbà tí Ó fi òsùwòn yíká ojú

ògbun:

I was there: when he confined the face of the depth:

28 nígbà tí Ó so

àwosánmà lójò

sókè:

28 when He hung the clouds above:

nígbà tí Ó fi agbára fún orísun ibú:

when He empowered the fountains of the deep:

29 nígbà tí Ó fi àse

Rè

fún

òsà,

29 when He gave His decree to the sea,

kí omi máse rékojá àse

Rè,

that the waters should not exceed His decree,

nígbà tí Ó gbén ìpìlè

ayé.

when He carved the earth's foundation.

30 Nígbà náà, èmi wà lódò

Rè, bíi

èkósé:

30 Then I was by Him, as a trainee:

èmi sì jé

ìdùnnú ojojúmó

Rè,

and I was His daily delight,

mo ń yò

nígbà gbogbo níwájú Rè;

rejoicing all the time in His presence;

31 mo ń yò

nínú ibi-gbígbé ayé Rè:

31 rejoicing in His earth's habitats;

dídùn-inú mi sì wà sípa àwon omo

ènìyàn.

and my delights were with children of men.

N`jé

nísìsiyìí,

fetísí mi,

èyin

omo:

32 So now, listen to me, you children:

nítorí ìbùkún ni fún àwon tí wón tójú

ònà mi

for blessed are they who keep my ways.

33 Gba

èkó, kí

sì gbón,

má sì

se kò

33 Take training, and be wise, and do not reject it.

34 Ìbùkún ni fún

eni tí ó gbó

tèmi,

34 Blessed is he who listens to me,

tí ń

sónà ní

enu-ònà mi lójojúmó,

who watches at my gates daily,

tí ń dúró ní òpó

ilèkùn mi.

who wait at the posts of my doors.

35 Nítorí

eni tí ó wá mi rí, rí ìyè,

35 For whoever finds Me, finds Life,

yóò sì rí ojúrere Olúwa.

and shall find the Lord's favor.

36 Sùgbón eni tí ó désè

sí mí,

se okàn ara rè ní ìkà:

36 But he who sins against me, hurts his own soul:

gbogbo àwon tí wón kórìíra mi, fé

ikú.

all those who hate me, love death.

OGBÓN ti kó

ilé rè,

Wisdom has built her house,

ó sì ti gbé

òpó rè

méje:

and has carved her seven posts:

2 ó ti pa àwon

eran rè;

2 she has killed her beasts;

ó ti po wáìnì rè; ó sì ti té

tàbíli rè.

she has mixed her wine; and has prepared her table.

3 Ó ti rán àwon

omobìnrin rè

jáde,

3 She has sent out her maidens,

ó ń ké lórí ibi gíga ìlú, pé,

she cries on the city towers, that,

4 "Enikéni tí ó jé

òpè, kí ó yà sí ìhín:"

4 "Whoever is unwise should branch here:"

fún

ni tí òye kù fún, ó wí pé,

for one lacking understanding, she says,

5 "Wá, je

nínú oúnje

mi,

5 "Come, eat of my food,

kí o sì mu nínú wáìnì tí mo ti pò pò

and drink of the wine that I have mixed.

6 Ko

òmùgò

sílè

kí o sì yè;

6 Forsake foolishness and live;

kí o sì máa rìn ní

ònà òye.

and walk in the way of understanding.

Eni tí ó bá bá

elégàn wí,

7 Whoever rebukes a scorner,

yóò gba ìtìjú fún ara rè,

will receive shame for himself,

_.ni tí ó bá bá ènìyàn búburú wí yóò gba àbùkù.

whoever rebukes a wicked person will receive insult.

8 Máse bá

elégàn wí, kí ó má ba kórìíra re,

8 Do not rebuke a scorner, lest he hates you,

bá

ologbón ènìyàn wí, yóò sì ní ìfé

rebuke the wise person, and he will love you.

9 Fi

èkó

fún

ológbón ènìyàn,

9 Give knowledge to the wise person,

yóò sì máa gbón síi,

and he will get wiser,

kó

ènìyàn olóòótó, yóò sì máa pò

sí ní ìmò

teach the just, and he will increase in learning.

10 Ìbèrù Olúwa ni ìpilè

ogbón,

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

àti ìmò

Eni-Mímó

ìyen ni òye.

and the fear of the Holy is understanding.

11 Nítorí nípasè

mi ni

ojó

yóò di ìlópo sí,

11 For by me your days shall be multiplied,

àti

odún ayé re

yóò sì máa lé síi.

and the years of your life shall increase.

12 Bí ìwo

bá gbón,

12 If you are wise,

ìwo

gbón fún àn`fàní ara re

you are wise for your own good,

on bí ìwo bá ń pègàn, ìwo nìkan ni yóò rù ú.

_.ugb

if you are scornful, you alone shall bear it.

13 Òmùgò

obìnrin jé

aláriwo

13 A foolish woman is clamorous:

òpè ni, kò sì mo

`kankan.

she is daft, and knows nothing.

14 Ó sáà jókòó ní

enu-ònà ilé rè,

14 She just sits at the door of her house,

lórí àpótí, ní ibi gíga ìlú.

on a seat, in the city tower.

15 Láti pe àwon tí ń kojá,

15 To call those who pass by,

tí ń rìn

ònà ganran won lo, pé,

who go right on their ways, that,

16 "Enikéni tí ó bá jé

òpè, kí ó yà sí ìhín:"

16 "Whoever is daft, let him turn in here:"

_.ni tí òye kù fún, ó wí fún un pé,

whoever lacks knowledge, she tells,

17 "Omi olè dùn, àti oúnje

ìkòkò

sì ládùn."

17 "Stolen water is sweet, and secret food is pleasant."

Sùgbón òun kò mò

pé àwon òkú wà

níbè:

18 But he does not know that the dead are there:

àti pé àwon alápèjé

rè

wà ní

ògbun

òrun-àpáàdì.

and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

10 ÓWE Sólóm

nì.

Proverbs of Solomon.

ogbón

omo

ń mú inú baba rè

dùn,

_. l

A wise son makes his father happy,

ón

òmùgò

omo

ni ìbànújé

ìyá rè

_.ùgb

but a foolish son is his mother's sorrow.

2 Ì

úra ìwà búburú kò ní èrè:

2 Treasures of evil deeds have no profit;

ón òdodo ni í gbani kúrò lówó

ikú.

_.ùgb

but righteousness saves one from death.

3 Olúwa kì yóò jé

kí ebi pa

okàn olódodo;

3 The Lord won't let the soul of the righteous hunger;

ón Ó yí ohun-ìní àwon ènìyàn búburú dànù.

_. ùgb

but He overturns the substance of wicked people.

Eni bá ya

òle

yóò di tálákà;

4 Whoever is lazy will become poor;

ón

owó

àwon aláápon ní í mu

orò

wá.

_.ùgb

but the hand of the diligent brings riches.

Eni tí ó bá kójo

ní ìgbà-èrùn ni

ologbón omo;

5 Whoever gathers in summertime is a wise son:

ón

eni tí ó bá ń sùn ní ìgbà ìkórè

_.ùgb

but whoever sleeps during the harvest

omo

tí í dójú ti ni.

is the son who causes one shame.

6 Ìbùkún wà ní orí olódodo:

6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous:

ón ìwà-ipá ni í bo

enu ènìyàn búburú

_. ùgb

mólè

but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7 Ìbùkún ni ìrántí olóòótó;

7 Blessed is the memory of the just:

ón orúko

ènìyàn búburú yóò rà.

_.ùgb

but the name of the wicked will rot.

Ologbón inú ni yóò gba òfin:

8 The prudent will accept rules:

ón òmùgò

ètè yóò

subú.

_.ùgb

but the foolish lip shall fall.

Eni tí ó bá ń rìn

ètó, rìn dájú:

9 Whoever walks uprightly, walks surely:

sùgbón

eni tí ó ń yí

ònà rè

dà, òun ni a óò dá a mò.

but whoever changes his way, will be discovered.

Eni tí ń

séjú ń fa ìbànújé:

10 Whoever winks causes sorrow:

ón òmùgò

ètè yóò

subú.

_.ùgb

but the foolish lip shall fall.

Enu olódodo jé

kànnga ìyè:

11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life:

ón ìwà-ipáùn`le borí

enu ènìyàn búburú.

_.ùgb

but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

12 Ìríra ni í rú ìjà sókè:

12 Hatred stirs up stife:

ón ìfé

bo gbogbo

èsè

mólè

_.ùgb

but love covers all sins.

13 Ní ètè

eni tí ó mòye ni a rí

ogbón:

13 In the lips of the prudent is wisdom found:

on kùmò

fún

èhìn

eni tí òye kù fún.

_.ugb

but a rod for the back of one lacking understanding.

14 Àwon

ologbón a máa to ìmò

jo:

14 Wise ones lay up knowledge:

ón

enu òmùgò

súnmó ìparun.

_.ùgb

but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Orò

olólá ni ilé-ìsó

agbára rè:

15 The rich man's wealth is his fortress:

àìní àwon tálákà ni ìparun won.

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 Isé

olódodo tè

sí ìyè;

16 The labor of the righteous tends to life;

èrò àwon ènìyàn búburú tè

sí

èsè

the thoughts of the wicked tend to sin.