Yorùbá proverbs
601
Ẹni bá ní tòún bàjẹ́, tó bá rí ti ẹlòmíì á yin Ọlọ́run lógo.
- Literal translation
- Whoever believes his or her case is deplorable will glorify God on learning of another's.
- Meaning
- Be thankful of who you are and where you are; no one has it perfectly made: we all have our issues and challenges.
602
Ẹni bá ńsọ òkò sí adìyẹ igba, òkò ló máa sọ tí ilẹ̀ á fi ṣú.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is trying to stone two hundred hens simultaneously, will be at it until night falls.
- Meaning
- Be focused; don't spread yourself too thin.
603
Ẹni bá ńsọ òkò sí adìyẹ igba, òkò ló máa sọ tílẹ̀ á fi ṣú.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is throwing stones at two hundred hens, would be at it until the evening.
- Meaning
- Be focused; don't spread yourself thin.
604
Ẹni bá ńsọ̀kò sádìyẹ igba, òkò ló máa sọ tílẹ̀ á fi ṣú
- Literal translation
- Whoever is throwing stones at 200 hens will do it until the evening
- Meaning
- Being focused
605
Ẹni bá ńsọ̀kò sádìyẹ igba, òkò ló máa sọ tílẹ̀ á fi ṣú.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is stoning 200 hens, will be at it until the evening.
- Meaning
- Be focused
606
Ẹni bá pẹ́ nígbó á rí ìríkúùrí
- Literal translation
- Whoever tarries long in the forest, will see strange things
- Meaning
- Undue delaying may lead to unexpected results
607
Ẹni bá pẹ́ nígbó á rí ìríkúùrí.
- Literal translation
- Whoever tarries long in the forest, would have strange experiences.
- Meaning
- Avoid tardiness.
608
Ẹni bá pẹ́ nígbó, á rí ìríkúùrí.
- Literal translation
- Whoever tarries long in the forest, will have strange experiences.
- Meaning
- Make hay while the sun shines
609
Ẹní bá purọ́, á á jalè.
- Literal translation
- Whoever lies (habitually) will steal.
- Meaning
- Nip those moral failings in the bud; they hardly remain the same: they grow and worsen to exact hefty fees, at the end
610
Ẹní bá rọ'ra pa èèrà, á rí ìfun inú rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- If one would carefully dismember an ant, one would see its intestines.
- Meaning
- Patience is crucial
611
Ẹní bá rọra pa èèrà, á rí ìfun inú ẹ̀
- Literal translation
- If one carefully dismembers an ant one would see its intestines.
- Meaning
- Patience can achieve the impossible
612
Ẹní bá rọra pa èèrà, á rí ìfun inú rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- Whoever would carefully dismember an ant would see its intestines.
- Meaning
- Patience can achieve the seemingly impossible.
613
Ẹní bá rọra pa èèrà, á rí ìfun inú u rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- Whoever would calmly and patiently dismember an ant would see its intestines.
- Meaning
- Be calm, be even keeled, and be patient: virtually nothing is impossible, with these
614
Ẹni bá ṣe àṣeyorí, layé ló mọ̀n ọ́n ṣe
- Literal translation
- Only those who excel (or stand out) are deemed by the world as successful.
- Meaning
- A focus on excellence
615
Ẹní dádé ti kúrò lọ́mọdé
- Literal translation
- Whoever is crowned king, is no longer a youngster.
- Meaning
- Responsibility may redefine one's status
616
Ẹni ejò bá bùjẹ rí, bó rí ekòló, yóò họ
- Literal translation
- Whoever had once been bitten by a snake, will flee on seeing an earthworm.
- Meaning
- Once beaten, twice shy
617
Ẹni ejò bá ti bùjẹ rí, bó bá rí ekòló, yóò họ.
- Literal translation
- Whoever had once been bitten by a snake, would flee at the sight of an earthworm.
- Meaning
- Once bitten, twice shy.s
618
Ẹni èyàn ò kí kó yọ̀; ẹni Ọlọ́run ò kí kó ṣọ́ra.
- Literal translation
- Those shunned by man should rejoice; but, those shunned by God should be worried.
- Meaning
- Without God, we cannot go far; seek Him.
619
Ẹni fi irọ́ fẹ́ ìyàwó, kìí fẹ̀ ìyàwó ọ̀hún pẹ́
- Literal translation
- Whoever marries a woman based on false pretences won't keep the woman for long.
- Meaning
- Be honest
620
Ẹni gbá àyà ẹni ò ní kírú ẹni má rà
- Literal translation
- Whoever slaps one's chest, can't stop one's locust beans from fermenting
- Meaning
- Assault cannot deter success