Òwe - Yoruba 4

Òwe lẹṣin ọ̀rọ̀; bí ọ̀rọ̀ bá sọnù, òwe la fí ń wá a

Proverbs are the horses of communication; if communication is lost, proverbs are what one uses to find it. (Effective discourse is impossible without resort to proverbs)

Àgbà kì í wà lọ́jà, kórí ọmọ tuntun wọ́

An elder who is not present at a market permits a child’s head to rest askew; (Elders must not permit untoward happenings in their presence)

Iṣẹ́ loògùn ìṣẹ́

Work is the antidote for destitution (one must work in order to better one’s condition.)

A kì í fi ìka ro etí, ká fi ro imú, ká wá tún fi ta ehín

One does not use one’s finger to clean one’s ear passages, use it to pick one’s nose, and then use it to pick one’s teeth (one should always behave with decorum)

‘Bá mi na ọmọ-o mi’ kò dénú ọlọ́mọ

‘Whip my child for me’ does not come from deep inside the mother (no mother is enthusiastic in delivering her child to deserved punishment)

Bí ojú bá rí, ẹnu á dákẹ́

When the eyes see, the mouth remains quiet (the mouth does not reveal everything)

A kì í bọ́ sínú omi tán ká máa sá fún òtútù

One does not enter into the water and then run from the cold (precautions are useful only before the event)

A kì í fi ìtìjú kárùn

One does not because of shyness expose oneself to a disease (never be too shy to speak out on your own behalf)

Àríṣe làríkà

Having an opportunity to act is also having an opportunity to tell stories (whoever accomplishes something worthwhile has a story to tell)

Bí ebí bá ń pa ọ̀lẹ, à jẹ́ kó kú

If a lazy person is suffering from hunger, he or she should be left to die (shiftless people deserve no sympathy)

Bí ọmọdé láṣọ bí àgbà, kò lè lákìísà bí àgbà

A youth may have as many clothes as an elder, but he will not have as many rags; though a youth may enjoy the same rank as an elder (he cannot match the elder in experience)

Àgùntàn tó bá ajá rìn á jẹ̀gbẹ́

A sheep that fraternizes with dogs will eat excrement (one inevitably assumes the habits of one’s constant company)

Ẹgbẹ́ búburú ní ń ba ìwà rere jẹ́

Bad company ruins good character (the reputation of one’s company rubs off on one)

Ogún ọmọdé kì í ṣeré gba ogún ọdún

Twenty children will not play together for twenty years (all relationships end sometime)

Bí orí kan-án sunwọ̀n, a ran igba

If one head is fortunate, it will affect others (one person’s good fortune spills over to his or her associates)

Àgbà ajá kì í bawọješ

A grown dog does not deface its skin (decorum goes with age)

Omi lèèyàn; bó bá ṣàn wá a tún ṣàn padà

Humans are streams; they flow forth and flow back (people are not fixed in one location.)

Èkùrọ́ lalábàákú ẹ̀wà

Palm kernel is inseparable company for beans (wherever one sees a certain person, one is sure to see another certain person)

Ọ̀ tún wẹ òsì, òsì wẹ ọ̀tún lọwọ́ fi ń mọ́

The right washing the left and the left washing the right is the way to get the hands clean (success in a venture depends on cooperation)

Ọwọ́ ọmọdé kò tó pẹpẹ, ọwọ́ àgbà kò wọ kèrègbè

The youth’s hand cannot reach the rafters, and the elder’s hand cannot enter the gourd (everybody needs someone sometime)

A kì í ṣoore tán ká lóṣòó tì í

One does not do a favor and then camp by it (having done some good, do not hang around to compel gratitude)

Ajá èṣín ò mọdẹ

A dog born a year ago does not know how to hunt (one learns from experience and maturity)

A kì í fi ọlá jẹ iyọ̀

One does not consume salt according to one’s greatness (too much of a good thing can be dangerous)

Àlejò tó bèèrè ọ̀nà kò kíí sọnù

A stranger who asks the way will not get lost (one should be willing to admit ignorance and seek direction)

Ayé ń lọ, à ń tọ̀ ọ́

The world goes forth, and we follow (one lives according to what life confronts one with)

Ilé ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bù sí i

The conflagration that destroyed the king’s palace only makes it more palatial (there are blessings hidden in every disaster)

Títa ríro là ńkọlà, bó bá jinná a di tẹni

Facial scarification causes with a great deal of pain; when it heals, its beauty becomes one’s pride. (Good things come with some
pain)