proverbs

199. Guy dina jur i dég. (5,6,9)
Guy dana jur i dég. (2,3)
A baobab can produce thorns.
There can be a black sheep in any family, even if the parents raise their children well.
200. Moo juddu ciy géléem nàmp ciy mbaam. (2,15,19)
Born a camel, and suckles on a donkey.
This proverb expresses the fall of an individual which can occur in spite of a good birth.
One can be born into a family with a good reputation and still be a failure.
201. Jur, mu dee, du yaradal ; jur, mu dund te baaxul mooy yaradal. (6,15)
Jur mu dee taxula yaradal,
Jur mu né léõõ,
Te fajul dara ay yaradal. (2)
To lose one's children at an early age is not the true misfortune; the true misfortune is to
see them grow up to be good-for-nothings.
[yaradal = indicates the misfortune of seeing one's children die successively one after
another at an early age]
202. Loo sopp-sopp doomu jaambur, sa doom a la ko gënal. (13)
Lu nga sopp sopp doomu jaambur, sa doom gënal la ko. (4)
No matter how much you love the children of others, you will love your own even
more.
“Blood is thicker than water.”
Family discipline
203. Nag wéq na doom ja, waaye bañu ko. (2,3,5,6,9,12,20)
204. Ginaar dëgg na doom ja, waaye bañu ko. (8,19)
203. The cow kicks its calf but does not hate it.
204. The fowl treads on its chick, but does not hate it.
A child needs to be disciplined. A parent punishes a child, but still loves it.
“because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
(Proverbs 3:12 NIV)
205. Gone, lawtanu yomb la; boo walbatiwul mu law fu la neexul. (2,3,5,6,15)
A child is like a creeper (calabash vine), if it is not trained in the right direction, it
will spread in a direction that does not please you.
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
A child needs to be disciplined.
All the family have gone out to the field, leaving young Aminata alone at the house to
guard it and prepare dinner. When everyone returns they find the house empty and the
meal not prepared. Her father finds Aminata playing at a neighbours, and beats her. Her
mother rebukes her husband who replies with this proverb.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from
it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)
206. Waxtaan woo gis diggante baay ak doom dafa war mel na taggtoo. (20)
The conversation which a father has with his son should be like one's last words
as though he would soon disappear.
29