proverbs

557. Kenn du toog ci bànqaas di ko gor. (6)
No one cuts the branch on which he is sitting.
“Don't cut your nose off to spite your face.”
558. Kenn du boole say nen yépp ci genn leket. (6)
No one puts all his eggs in the same calabash.
“Do not put all your eggs in one basket.”
559. Ku sol tubéyu nékk du jaaru. (6,13)
The person who wears pants of animal fat will not need to warm himself up.
In certain situations, one does not take risks.
560. Ni ñuy def saa njëkk kenn du ko def saa béjjén. (20)
That which one dares to do to a sheep without horns, one would never think of
doing to a ram with horns.
561. Bëréb bukkeek mbaam yàgg-yàgg mbaam ay dee. (12)
Bëréb bukkeek mbaam. (2)
In a wrestling match between an hyena and a donkey, eventually the donkey will
die.
The weak will always be overcome by the strong, so they should not fight with them.
562. Bët du gis la koy fatt. (9,16,20)
Bët, la koy fatt, du ko gis. (2,8,19)
Something which gets into the eye, the eye cannot see.
The things that you do sometimes come back at you with consequences that you do not
expect. Therefore you should be careful in all that you do.
But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be
sure that your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23 NIV)
563. Làmbi bukki, béy du ca wàlli. (2,3,5)
Béy du wàlli ci sabarug bukki. (19)
The place where the hyenas put on a wrestling match is not an event for a goat to
attend.
Lamin is travelling far from home. Someone offers him a place to stay and tells him how
to get there. But Lamin gets lost and asks an old man the way. The man is surprised that
Lamin has the intention of passing the night there as the family has the reputation of being
sorcerers. To try and persuade Lamin not to go there he cites this proverb.
Rama is very proud to have received her first pay check. On her way home she stops to
window-shop. Now being late she takes a shortcut along an infamous street where
someone snatches her bag. She arrives home crying and tells her father the story. He cites
this proverb.
564. Boroom caq war nay moytu boroom baatub neen. (2)
Boroom caq day moytu boroom yoqeel. (14)
The owner of a necklace should beware of him who has a bare neck.
One should be wary of one's company, especially the person in need.
565. Suuxlu mbër, làng ak moom a ko gën, muy bëre di daan ngay ree. (20)
It is better to be on the same side as a champion than against him. If you are on
his side you can rejoice in his victories.
“Discretion is the better part of valour.”
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