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Bí a kò bá tíì lè kọ́lé, àgọ́ là ńpa.

If one is yet unable to build a house, one makes a tent.

Bí a kò bá tó baba ọmọọ́ ṣe, a kì í pe alákàrà.

If one lacks the wherewithal to act like a father to a child, one does not summon the seller of bean fritters.

Bí a kò bá tó ìyà-á kọ̀ tí à ńkọ̀ ọ́, àjẹkún ìyà là ńjẹ.

If one lacks the means to reject suffering and attempts to reject it, one's suffering simply multiplies.

Bí a ó ti tó kì í jẹ́ ká hùwà búburú; bí a ó ti mọ kì í jẹ́ ká hùwà rere.

The heights one will reach keeps one from evil deeds; the ordained limit to one's greatness keeps one from doing good deeds.

Bí àgbà kò bá ṣe ohun ẹ̀rù, ọmọdé kì í sá.

If an elder does not do something fearful, the youth do not flee.

Bí àjànàkú ò bá rí ohun gbémì, kì í ṣe inú gbẹndu sọ́dẹ.

Unless an elephant had swallowed something, it would not turn its bloated stomach to the hunter.

Bí ajá rójú ẹkùn, a pa rọ́rọ́.

When the dog sees the eyes of the leopard, it keeps very still.

Bí ayá bá mojú ọkọ, alárìnnà a yẹsẹ̀.

When the wife has got to know the husband, the marriage broker makes way.

Bí ayé bá ńyẹni, ìwà ìbàjẹ́ là ńhù.

If life is being good to one, one is liable to act disgracefully.

Bí baálẹ̀-ẹ́ bá ńtàkìtì, òrógi là ḿbá ẹmẹsẹ̀.

If the chief is turning somersaults, the messenger should be found standing erect.

Bí èèyán bá ní kò sí irú òun, àwọn ọlọgbọ́n a máa wòye.

If a person says there is no one like him/her, wise people maintain a contemplative silence.

Bí eegbọ́n bá so mọ́ ajá lẹ́nu, akátá là ńní kó já a?

If a tick fastens on to a dog's mouth, does one ask a jackal to dislodge it?

Bí eegbọ́n bá ṣo ayínrín nímú, adìẹ kọ́ ni yó ja.

If a tick clings to a fox's nose, it is not a chicken that will remove it.

Bí ẹkùn ò bá fẹ̀, èse là ńpè é.

If a leopard does not act mighty, one refers to it as a cat.

Bí ẹlẹ́bọ ò bá pe ẹni, àṣefín ò yẹni.

If the person offering a sacrifice does not invite one, intruding is not proper for one.

Bí ìlàrí bá fẹ́ tẹ́, a ní kí lọba ó ṣe?

When a courtier seeks disgrace, he asks, “What can the king do?”

Bí iná bá dun ọbẹ̀, a dá ọ̀rọ̀ sọ.

If the fire gets at the stew, the stew will burst into speech.

Bí kò sí àkópọ̀, kí lewúrẹ́ wá dé ìsọ̀ adìẹ?

Were it not for the fact that they were brought transported together, what would a goat want in the chicken's stall?

Bí kò sí tọ̀bùn èèyàn, ta ni ìbá jí lówùúrọ̀ tí kò bọ́jú ṣáṣá?

But for a person of filthy habits, who would wake in the morning and not wash his or her face clean?

Bí mo bá torí oko kú ng ó rò fáhéré; bí mo bá torí ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ kú ng ó rò fódò; bí mo bá torí alábàjà òkíkí kú, ng ó rò fórí-ì mi.

If I die on account of a farm, I will lay my case before the hut; if I die on account of bananas, I will lay my case before the river; if I die on account of the famous woman with facial scarification, I will lay my case before my head.

Bí ó di ọdún mẹ́ta tí ẹkùn-ún ti ńṣe òjòjò, olugbe la ó ha rán lọ bẹ̀ ẹ́ wò?

If it has been three years since the leopard took ill, is it a monkey that one sends to ask its condition?

Bí òfé ti ńfò la ti ḿmọ̀ ọ́ lákọ ẹyẹ.

It is by its flight that the parrot proves itself a formidable bird.

Bí òkú fẹ̀, bí kò fẹ̀, ká bi ọmọ olókùú léèrè.

Whether the corpse is distended or is not, one should ask the heir of the dead.

Bí ojú bá rí, ẹnu a dákẹ́.

When the eyes see, the mouth remains quiet.

Bí ojú kò bá rí, ẹnu kì í sọ nǹkan.

If the eye does not see, the mouth says nothing.

Bí ojú kò bá ti olè, a ti ará ilé ẹ̀.

If the thief feels no shame, members of his household should.

Bí ojú onílé bá mọ tíntín, tí ojú àlejòó tó gbòǹgbò, onílé ní ńṣe ọkọ àlejò.

Even though the host's eyes are tiny, and the guest's eyes are huge, it is the host who holds sway over the guest.

Bí olóde ò kú, òdee rẹ̀ kì í hu gbẹ́gi.

If the owner of a yard does not die, his yard is not overgrown with wild grass.

Bí olóúnjẹẹ́ bá rojú à fi àìjẹ tẹ́ ẹ.

If the owner of the food is reluctant to share, one disgraces him by refusing to eat.

Bí ọdún bá dún, bọnnọnbọ́nnọ́n a pàwọ̀ dà.

When the year is done, the bọnnọbọ́nnọ́n tree changes its color.

Bí ọjàá bá tú tán, a ku olórí-i pàtẹpàtẹ, a ku àgbààgbà sà-ǹkò sà-ǹkò lọ́jà; bÍfá bá pẹ̀dí tán, ìwọ̀-ǹwọ̀ a dìde.

When the market disperses, only the head of the market women remains; only the venerable elders remain; when Ifá has had his say, the genius that consults him arises.

Bí ọjọ́ ewúrẹ́ bá pé, a ní kò sí ohun tí alápatàá lè fi òun ṣe.

When a goat's day “to die” arrives, it says there is nothing a butcher can do to it.

Bí ọ̀lẹ́ ò lè jà, a lè kú tùẹ̀.

If a lazy man cannot fight, he should be able to die disgracefully.

Bí Ọlọ́run ò ṣe ẹni ní baba, à fi ìyànjú ṣe bí àgbà.

If God does not make one a father, one strives to act like an elder.

Bí ọmọdé bá fẹ́ ṣìṣe àgbà, ọjọ́ orí-i rẹ̀ ò níí jẹ́.

If a youth attempts to act like an elder, his age will stop him.

Bí ọmọdé bá gun òkè àgbà, ó ńláti gbọ́n.

If a child ascends the height of maturity, he/she must become wise.

Bí ọmọdé bá ńṣe ọmọdé, àgbà a máa ṣe àgbà.

When a child is being a child, an elder must remain an elder.

Bí ọmọdé ńlérí bébé, tí kò ní baba, ti baba là ńṣe.

If a child brags a great deal, but has no father, one acts the part of a father.

Bí Ọya ńkọ lọ́run, bí Ṣàngó ńjó láyé, kò níí burú fún baba kó ní ó dọwọ́ ọmọ òun lọ́run.

Even if the goddess Ọya sings in heaven and the god Ṣango sings on earth, matters cannot be so bad for the father that he will say it is all up to his dead child in heaven.

Eégún ju eégún; òrìṣá ju òrìṣà; Pààká lé oníṣàngó wọ̀gbẹ́.

Some masqueraders are greater than others; some gods are greater than others; the masquerader Pààká chases the Ṣàngó worshipper into the bush.

Eégún ò na obìnrin lágọ̀; obìnrín tú kíjìpá ìdí-i rẹ̀, ó fi na eégún.

The masquerader did not hit a woman with his shroud, but the woman unwraps her home-woven wrapper and hits the masquerader with it.

Eégún pẹ́ lóde, ó fètè òkè dáhùn; wọ́n ní, “Baba kú àbọ̀,” ó ní, “Hì ìì.”

The masquerader stayed too long on parade and is reduced to speaking with his upper lip. They said, “Welcome, father,” and he responded, “He-e-e-e.”

Eégún wọlé, ó ní òun ò rí Ejonto; Ejontó ní, “Àkísà ni, àbí kíní wọlé?”

The masquerader enters a house and claims he did not see Ejonto; Ejonto asked, “Is that a rag that entered the house, or what?”

Eegun àjànàkú: ó há ìkokò lẹ́nu.

An elephant's bone: it sticks in the wolf's mouth.

Eegbọ́n so mọ́ àyìnrín lẹ́nu, a ní kí adìẹ wá yán an jẹ; adìẹ́ mọ̀ pé òun náà oúnjẹ àyìnrín.

A tick fastens on a fox's mouth and a chicken is asked to peck it off; the chicken, though, knows that it itself is food for a fox.

Ejò kì í ti ojú Ààrẹ gun ọgbà lọ.

A snake does not escape over the fence while a warrior

Èmí dákọ okòó, ìwọ́ dákọ okòó, ò ńpèmí ní mùkọ-mùkọ.

I bought twenty cowries worth of corn pap and you bought twenty cowries worth of corn pap, and you call me a corn pap addict.

Èmi ìwọ̀fà, ìwọ ìwọ̀fà, o ní babá ní ká gbowó wá; o dá tìrẹ sílẹ̀ ná?

I am a pawn, you are a pawn, and you tell me the creditor sent you to collect his money; have you repaid yours?

Epo ni mo rù; oníyangí má ba tèmi jẹ́.

It is palm oil that I am carrying; sandman, do not ruin my fortune.

Erin kì í fọn kọ́mọ-ọ rẹ̀ ó fọn.

An elephant's trumpeting is never answered by its young's trumpeting.

Èrò ọ̀nà ni yó ròhìn ọkà tó gbó.

It is people who use the path that will spread the word about mature corn.

Èsúrú ṣe fújà ó tẹ́ lọ́wọ́ oníyán; aláǹgbá ṣe fújà ó tẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ògiri; Ọlámọnrín àjàpá ṣe fújà ó tẹ́ lọ́wọ́-ọ̀ mi.

Èsúrú yam

Etí lobìnrín fi ńgbọ́ ohùn orò.

It is only with the ears that a woman hears the voice of Orò.

Èwo ló tó ẹ̀kọ-ọ́ gbà nínú ewé ìrúgbàá?

Which among the leaves of the locust-bean tree is adequate to receive corn-loaf?

Èwo ni ti Síkírá nílùú Ìwó.

What business does Sikirat have in the town of Ìwó?

Ewújù tí yóò tú ọ̀pẹ: gbogbo ehín ẹ̀ ni yóò kán tán.

The cane-rat that attempts to uproot a palm-tree will lose all its teeth in the attempt.

Ewúrẹ́ ò wí pé òun ò ṣọmọ àgùntàn; àgùntàn ló wí pé òun ò ṣọmọ ewúrẹ́.

The goat did not say it was not sired by the sheep; it was the sheep that said it was not sired by the goat.

Ewúrẹ́ kì í bíni ká lọ sísọ̀ àgùntàn lọ jẹ̀.

If sired by a goat, one does not go foraging in the realm of sheep.

Èèyàn bí ọ̀bọ lọ̀bọ ńya láṣọ.

Only people like monkeys have their clothing torn by monkeys.

Èèyàn ò ríbi sùn, ajá ńhanrun.

Humans have no place to sleep, and a dog is snoring.

Èèyàn tí ò nítìjú ojú kan ni ìbá ní; a gbórín a tó tẹṣin.

A shameless person deserves to have only one eye, that one as large as a horse's.

Má tẹ̀ẹ́ lọ́wọ́ oníle, má tẹ̀ẹ́ lọ́wọ́ àlejò; lọ́wọ́ ara ẹni la ti ńtẹ́.

Save face with members of your household and save face with complete strangers, such a person loses face with himself/herself.

Màlúù ò lè lérí níwájú ẹṣin.

A cow may not boast in the presence of a horse.

Mànàmáná ò ṣéé sun iṣu.

Lightning is no good for roasting yams.

“M̀bá wà lỌ́yọ̀ọ́ mà ti so ẹṣin”; àgùntàn-an rẹ̀ á níye nílẹ̀yí.

“Were I at Ọ̀yọ́ I would own a horse by now”: he should have numerous sheep to his name in this town.

Mélòó lÈjìgbò tí ọ̀kan ẹ̀ ńjẹ́ Ayé-gbogbo?

How large a community is Ejigbo that one of its settlements is named Ayegbogbo “The whole world”?

Mo dàgbà mo dàgó, aré ọmọdé ò tán lójúù mi.

I have become old and wise, but childish play has not ceased to appeal to me.

Mo dàgbà tán èwé wù mí.

Having grown old I miss youthfulness.

“Mo dára, mo dára,” àìdára ní ńpẹ̀kun ẹ̀.

“I am beautiful, I am beautiful!” has ugliness as its conclusion.

“Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ràn tán” kì í jẹ́ kí agbọ́n lóró bí oyin.

“I am all-wise, I am all-knowing” kept the wasp from having as much venom as the bee.

“Mo mọ̀-ọ́ gùn” lẹṣin ńdà.

“I am an expert horseman” is usually the one thrown by a horse.

“Mo mọ̀-ọ́ gún, mo mọ̀-ọ́ tẹ̀” niyán ewùrà-á fi ńlẹ́mọ.

“I know how to pound and I know how to marsh” is what causes pounded yam made with wateryam to be lumpy.

“Mo mọ̀-ọ́ tán” lOrò-ó fi ńgbé ọkùnrin.

“I know it all” is the reason for Orò's carrying a man away.

“Mo mỌ̀bàrà mo mỌ̀fún” ti kì í jẹ́ kí àwòko kọ́ ọ̀pẹ́ẹ̀rẹ́ nÍfá.

“I am versed in Ọ"bàrà and versed in Ọ̀fún,” the boast that discourages àwòko from teaching ọ̀pẹ́ẹ̀rẹ́ Ifá verses.

“Mo mọ̀wọ̀n ara-à mi” kì í ṣẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́ èébú.

“I am jealous of my dignity” does not hurl insults at others.

“Mo yó” ńjẹ́ “mo yó,” “mo kọ̀” ńjẹ́ “mo kọ̀”; jẹun ǹṣó, àgbà ọ̀kánjúwà ni.

“I am full” means “I am full”; “I decline” means “I decline”; eating with abandon, that is the father of all greediness.

“Gbà jẹ” ò yẹ àgbà.

“Take this and eat it” does not become an elder.

“Gbà mí, gbà mí!” ò yẹ àgbà; àgbà kì í ṣe ohun àlémú.

“Save me, save me!” does not become an elder; an elder should not do something that will make him the object of pursuit.

“Gbà mí, gbà mí!” ò yẹ eégún; “ẹran ńlémi bọ̀” ò yẹ ọdẹ.

“Save me, save me!” does not befit a masquerader; “An animal is chasing me!” does not befit a hunter.

“Gba wèrè,” “Ng ò gba wèrè” lọjà-á fi ńhó.

“Accept imputation of imbecility,” “I will accept no imputation of imbecility” is the explanation for market noise.

Gbogbo èèyàn ní ńsunkún-un Bánjọ; ṣùgbọ́n Bánjọ ò sunkún ara ẹ̀.

Everybody laments Banjọ's fate, but Banjọ does not lament his own fate.

Gbogbo ẹgbẹ́ ńjẹ Má-yẹ̀-lóyè, ò ńjẹ Sáré-pẹgbẹ́.

Everybody is taking the title Máyẹ̀lóyè (May-you-never-lose-the-title), but the title you receive is Sáré-pẹgbẹ́ (Run-and-assemble-the-associations' members; in other words, Courier or Messenger).

Gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ ní ńṣojú èké.

The busybody is privy to all matters.

Gbọ̀n-ọ́n-gbọ̀n-ọ́n kan ò sí, àfi ẹni tó bá ńti ara ẹ̀.

There is no cause for staggering about, except for the person pushing himself/herself.

Pamí-nkú obìnrín ṣorí bẹmbẹ sọ́kọ.

A masochistic woman hardens her head against her husband.

Pátápátá alágbẹ̀dẹ ò ju ilé àrọ lọ.

The most one can expect of the blacksmith is confined to the smithy.

Pẹ̀lẹ́ larẹwà ńrìn; jẹ́jẹ́ lọmọ ọlọ́jà ńyan.

[88]

Pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ́ nijó àgbà; ara gbogbo ló di àkísà tán.

An elderly person's manner of dancing must be very gentle, because the whole body has become worn to a rag.

Pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀ Ìjèṣà, ó ta sẹ́ni lára kò wọ́n.

The mud of the Ìjèṣà: it splashes on one and will not be washed off.

89. Most probably this is a riddle doing double duty as a proverb. The riddle, Pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀ ọ̀nà Ìjàyè, atasíniláramáwọ̀ọ́n (The mud along Ìjàyè way that splashes on one and cannot be removed), has as its solution, facial scarification.

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Ṣágo ḿbúgò, ó ló ṣẹnu gbáṣọ́rọ́.

The demijohn insults the bottle, saying the latter has a long snout.

Ṣàgbà-ṣàgbà ò níí sé àgbà títí láí.

The elderly person who acts his proper part will always be respected as an elder.

Ṣàkì ńṣe bí ọ̀rá, egungun ńṣe bí ẹran.

The tripe presents itself as fat; the bone presents itself as meat.

Ṣáláporẹ́ ò mọ ẹgbẹ́ ẹ̀ nínú omi.

Ṣáláporẹ́ does not know its peer inside water.

Ṣe bóo ti mọ, ẹlẹ́wàa Ṣàpọ́n.

Moderate your preening and strutting, beautiful woman of Ṣàpọ́n.

Fálànà gbọ́ tìrẹ, tara ẹni là ńgbọ́.

Falana, look to your own affairs; one's attention should be focused first on one's own affairs.

Fáàárí ọ̀bọ ò ju inú ìgbẹ́ lọ.

The monkey's showing off is limited to the confines of the forest.

Labalábá fi ara ẹ̀ wẹ́yẹ, kò lè ṣe ìṣe ẹyẹ.

The butterfly likens itself to a bird, but it cannot do what a bird can do.

Lágbájá ìbá wà a di ìjímèrè; ẹni tó bá níwájú di oloyo?

Were So-and-So alive he would transform himself into a brown monkey; did the person who preceded him ever transform himself into any kind of monkey?

Láká-ǹláká ò ṣéé fi làjà; ọmọ eégún ò ṣéé gbé ṣeré.

A limp is no great asset for a person wishing to stop a fight; a masquerader's child is no easy playmate.