proverbs

477. Picc mu lakk taat a fi gëna bëgg moroom. (6)
Picc mu lakk bopp a gëna bëgg moroom. (2)
A bird with a burnt rump/head wants a fellow.
One does not like to be alone in misfortune.
Mistakes
478. Njuumte du ñàkk, yàgg caa bon. (7,10,20)
Mistakes will always happen. The bad thing is to persist in them.
Mocking
479. Ku nekk ci xare warula ree ku ñu jam. (2,3,5,6,20)
480. Ku nekk ci biirub ndox, warula ree kuy lab. (12)
479. Someone who is in a battle should not laugh at someone who has been
stabbed.
480. Someone who is in the water should not laugh at the person who is drowning.
“People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”
One should not laugh at people in difficult situations as you never know when it might
happen to you.
The friends of a young pregnant girl make fun of her. An elderly woman overhears them
and cites this proverb.
Modesty
481. Nebbon bi ci dënnu tuabéer, ba tax ko tëbëntu, mungi ci xàbban te mu ne tekk ak moom. (15)
The hump of animal fat which hangs from the chest of the ram, and incites it to
manifest its power is also found on the steer, which however remains calm.
Modesty is something to be valued. When one boasts of something whether it be
knowledge, strength or fortune, there is always someone else who has far more yet without
feeling the need to boast or show up the vanity of others.
[tulaabéer = race of sheep; xàbban = steer, (castrated bull)]
This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the
strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him
who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the
LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I
delight," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV)
Naivety
482. Leketug kese, naxul i béy. (2,7,19)
Leketu neen du naxu béy. (14,15)
An empty bowl will not trick a goat (into coming).
There are limits to naivety. One cannot let oneself be taken in by any old trap.
If you want someone to do something for you then you need to show them that you are
genuine, not just use talk.
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