1 ULB Toy ireo fatin-dalitra izay mahamaimbo ny zava-manitra, dia toy izany koa no ahafahan'ny fahadalana kely mandresy ny fahendrena sy ny fankatoavana. BSB BSB: As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 ULB Ny fon'ny olon-kendry dia mirona miankavanana, fa ny fon'ny adala mirona miankavia. BSB BSB: A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 ULB Rehefa mandeha midina eny an-dalana ny adala, dia tsy ampy saina izy, manamarina amin'ny olona rehetra fa adala izy. BSB BSB: Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 ULB Raha miakatra manohitra anao ny fihetseham-pon'ny mpanapaka, aza mandao ny asanao. Ny fitoniana dia afaka mampangina fahatezerana lehibe. BSB BSB: If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 ULB Fa misy ny ratsy izay hitako teo ambany masoandro, karazana hadisoana avy amin'ny mpanapaka: BSB BSB: There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 ULB Ireo adala dia nomena toeram-pitarihana, raha ireo olona mahomby nomena toerana ambany. BSB BSB: Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 ULB Nahita andevo nitaingin-tsovaly aho, ary ireo olona mahomby nandeha an-tongotra teny amin'ny tany tahaka ny andevo. BSB BSB: I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 ULB Izay rehetra mihady lavaka dia mety hianjera ao amin'izany, ary na oviana na oviana misy olona mandrodana manda dia mety ho kaikerin'ny bibilava izy. BSB BSB: He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 ULB Izay rehetra manapaka vato dia mety ho voaratran'izany, ary ny olona izay manapaka hazo dia tandindonin'izany izy. BSB BSB: The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 ULB Raha dombo ny lelan'ny vy, ary ny olona tsy mandranitra izany, dia tsy maintsy mampiasa ny heriny bebe kokoa izy, fa ny fahendrena dia manome tombony ho amin'ny fahombiazana. BSB BSB: If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 ULB Raha manaikitra mialohan'ny nanasina ody ny bibilava, dia tsy misy tombony ho an'ny mpanao ody. BSB BSB: If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 ULB Ireo tenin'ny vavan'ny olon-kendry dia hatsaram-panahy, fa ny molotry ny adala dia mitelina azy ihany. BSB BSB: The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 ULB Tahaka ny teny manomboka mikoriana avy eo am-bavan'ny adala, no hivoahan'ny fahadalana, ary amin'ny farany ny vavany dia hikoriana fahaverezan-tsaina ratsy. BSB BSB: The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 ULB Ny adala mampitombo teny, fa tsy misy mahafantatra izay ho avy. Iza no mahalala izay tamy avy ao aoriany? BSB BSB: Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 ULB Ny fisasaran'ny adala dia manavesatra azy ireo, ka tsy fantany akory na dia ny lalana makany an-tanan-dehibe aza. BSB BSB: The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 ULB Loza ho anao, ry tany, raha tovolahy no mpanjakanao, ary raha manomboka manao firavoravoana amin'ny maraina ireo mpitarika anao! BSB BSB: Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 ULB Fa sambatra ianao, ry tany, raha ny zanaka lahin'ireo mendri-kaja no mpanjakanao, ary mihinana amin'ny fotoany ireo mpitarika anao, ho tanjaka, fa tsy ho amin'ny hamamoana! BSB BSB: 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 ULB Fa nohon'ny hakamoana no mampilatsaka ny tafo, ary nohon'ny fahalainan'ny tanana no mampitete ny trano. BSB BSB: Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 ULB Manomana sakafo ho amin'ny fihomehezana ny olona, ny divay mitondra fankafizana fiainana, ary ny vola mameno ny filan-javatra rehetra. BSB BSB: A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 ULB Aza manozona ny mpanjaka, na dia ao an-tsainao aza, ary aza manozona ny olona manan-karena ao amin'ny efitra fandrianao. Fa ny voron'ny lanitra mety hitondra ireo teninao; izay rehetra manan'elatra dia afaka manaparitaka ny raharaha. BSB BSB: 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.