Yoruba Proverbs

[Bravebold]

Ológìnní tó sùn bí ọ̀lẹ, ọgbọ́n inú u rẹ̀ pé igba.

A cat that lies in repose, looking lazy, is yet filled with countless cunning ways.

(Appearance can be deceptive; don't mistake calmness for naivety nor gentleness for stupidity.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí a bá ní ká dijú kí ẹni burúkú kọjá, a kò ní mọ ìgbà tí ẹni rere máa lọ.

If we opt to close our eyes so as not to see a wicked fellow pass by, we won't know when a good person will pass by as well.

(Be forward-looking; forgive and let go: vindictiveness can be costly.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ọgbọ́n pẹ̀lú sùúrù la fi ńmú erin wọ̀'lú

Both wisdom and patience are needed to take an elephant into the city.

(Complex issues can be resolved; it will require not only wisdom, but patience as well; good things take time.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ohun tó pamọ́ lójù èyàn, kedere ló hàn sí Ọlọ́run.

Whatever is hidden to man, is glaringly clear to God.

(God is all-seeing and all-knowing; we can't bamboozle Him; nothing surprises Him and nothing is beyond Him.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí irùngbọ̀n alágbàṣe bá gùn títí tó ńwọ́lẹ̀, ẹni gbé oko fún un lọ̀gá a rẹ̀.

Even if the beard of a labourer is so long as to sweep the floor, his hirer remains the boss.

(Humility is it; recognise and honour those ahead; give honour to whom it is due.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí ìṣẹ́ bá ńṣẹ́ ọ̀dọ́ láàṣẹ́jù, kó lọ sí igbó erin; bó bá pa erin, ìṣẹ́ rẹ̀ á tán; bí erin bá paá, ìṣẹ́ rẹ̀ á tán.

Let a youngster in deprivation go hunt an elephant; if he kills it, his poverty will cease; if it kills him, his poverty will cease.

(Be audacious)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ẹni tó ńsáré tó ńwo ẹ̀hìn, ó di dandan, kó fẹsẹ̀ kọ.

Whoever keeps looking back while running, will certainly stumble.

(Ignore distractions; stay focused.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Adẹ́tẹ̀ ò lè fún wàrà, ṣùgbọ́n ó lè da wàrà nù.

A leper cannot express milk, but can very well waste it.

(Underestimate no one; those who appear unable to build, may be able to destroy.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

A kì í gbọ́ kúkù òjò da omi agbada nù.

Never pour away the water in the trough simply because the cloud rumbles.

(Never be presumptuous; never count your chickens before they are hatched.)
How about this translation:
We do not on hearing the rumbling thunder of oncoming rain and immediately through away the water in the trough

Or this:

We do not immediately through away the remaining water in the trough just on hearing the rumbling thunder of oncoming rain

[Bravebold]

Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ ẹni kì í tan'ni jẹ.

Our palm never deceives us.

(What you achieve by your concerted effort and grit is what endures. Congratulations Hilda Baci. You are Nigeria's latest & presumptive @GWR record holder in cooking marathon; truly nothing envisioned is impossible)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Orí ò mọ ibùsùn; ìbá tún ibẹ̀ ṣe láàárọ̀.

No one knows his or her future for certain; else one would have prepared for it, well ahead of time.

(Only God knows the future: place your trusts in Him.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Tí iṣu ẹni bá ta, a máa ńfọwọ́ bòó jẹ ni, káa ba lè jẹ ẹ́ pẹ́.

If one's yam plant produces a fully formed yam, one should eat the yam under wraps, so that one may eat it for long.

(Bragging is self-defeating; it invites avoidable enmity; God Himself resists the proud.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ó dà l'ọmọ d'ẹ̀gbẹ́; ẹ́gbẹ̀ kì í ṣe ilé ọmọ

The unusual development is what made the baby breech; breech positions are not typical for babies.

)Strange outcomes don't just happen: they are caused; to resolve anomalies, identify and tackle their causes)

[Bravebold]

Alágẹmọ tó ńyọ́ ilẹ ẹ́ tẹ̀, ikú ńpa á, bèlèté ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ tó ńjan ara rẹ̀ mọ́'lẹ̀.

Charmeleons, even with their stealthy gaits, get killed, not to mention frogs that slam themselves to the ground.

(Be risk-sensitive; it is wise to avoid or hedge intolerably high risks)

[Bravebold]

Tí ọgbọ́n bá fo àlapà ọlọ́gbọ́n, ẹ̀yìnkùlé òmùgọ̀ ló máa ti balẹ̀.

Whatever wisdom jumps over the partly broken wall of a wise person, invariably lands in the backyard of a foolish one.

(No one knows it all: to project otherwise is sheer folly; modesty is a virtue.)

[Bravebold]