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613. Boroom tubéy, bu jàngoo, sol. (2,3,9)<br />
Boroom tubéy saayu jàngoo sol. (11,12)<br />
The owner of pants, after washing his feet, can wear them.<br />
The owner has precedence to use what he owns.<br />
The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. (2<br />
Timothy 2:6 NIV)<br />
614. Jinne su bëggee daqaar, ku yéeg daanu. (2,3,5,15)<br />
Bu jinne bëggee daqaar, ku yéeg daanu. (6,9,11,12,14)<br />
When the djinn wants a tamarind, whoever climbs (the tamarind tree) will fall.<br />
One should not compete for something with someone who has a right to the object in<br />
question.<br />
The person who owns something has precedence over its use.<br />
Masylla had promised to loan his donkey to his neighbour. But at the last minute his<br />
father-in-law turned up also wanting to borrow the donkey, and Masylla was obliged to<br />
give it to him. Embarrassed, Masylla goes to his neighbour to explain the situation and for<br />
an excuse quotes this proverb.<br />
[The tamarind tree is reputed to be a favourite haunt of evil spirits.]<br />
615. Seet seet du tere boroom alal jél alalam. (20)<br />
Coveting what you see will not stop the owner taking what he owns.<br />
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your<br />
neighbour’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or<br />
anything that belongs to your neighbour.” (Deuteronomy 5:21 NIV)<br />
Risk<br />
616. Fu nag nekk, bukki dee fa. (4,6,8,13)<br />
Where the cows are, it is there that the hyena dies.<br />
Excessive greed leads the hyena into dangerous situations, i.e. encounters with bulls and<br />
herdsmen.<br />
617. Lu waay jéemul du ko mën. (17)<br />
No one can do anything if he does not try.<br />
“Well begun is half done.”<br />
If you do not try you will not succeed.<br />
618. Su may dee, ci àll, gayndee may rey ! (2,3,5,6,20)<br />
Kuy dee ci àll na la gaynde rey. (14)<br />
If I must die in the bush, let it be a lion which kills me.<br />
“One might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.”<br />
“In for a penny, in for a pound.”<br />
The cashier of a company embezzled 110,000 cfa. He was arrested and sentenced to five<br />
years in prison. A friend went to visit him and said that he found it ridiculous that he<br />
allowed himself to be caught for so small a sum, that if it was him he would not risk prison<br />
for anything less than one million. And he quoted this proverb.<br />
It is also used to refer to someone with a high social rank who lowers himself to frequent<br />
those below his rank.<br />
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