A jị ọịza dị a jị ọshịmị.
While hoping for the best, one must also prepare for the worst.
Temper your optimism with realism; always have a contingency plan.
Ịsa ana ma ka 'rẹyi ọ ma zẹ vịra fu ọza.
A silent problem should not outsmart a thinking person.
Apply your intelligence to solve challenges and don't be defeated by an inanimate thing.
Abaza ana zị ma, ọ ma zẹ dọ ọza uji vaka ẹdụ.
The cocoyam that fails to mature by harvest doesn't engage the hoe and basket.
Whatever fails expectation shouldn't be worthy of one's attention.
A kị a dụ ịrada na dị a vaka ọnyụụshẹ vẹ.
Chase away the wildcat before you scold the chicken for wandering.
Prioritize and neutralize a threat before dealing with secondary issues or assigning blame.
A kị asị ozi su, ụ kị o zi vene ada anị.
A child's life is at stake, and you are worried about his resemblance to the father?
Focus on what is most important and urgent; don't get distracted by trivial details during a crisis.
Ịrẹkụ ana ọza yẹ kị ọ vẹ, ọ ma zẹ za ọza.
One should not be caught unaware by the very war he was warned about.
Don't fail a test you were given all the tools to pass; heed warnings.
A zẹma be wara ụdẹ.
You cannot fry palm kernel oil in secret.
Do not attempt to hide an action when its consequences will inevitably expose you.
A zẹma nịta afụpa ịnị 'ẹsụ ịrẹda.
One does not gossip about the pouched rat while standing on its abode.
Be careful what you say when those you are speaking about are within earshot.
Angwẹ za vẹtẹ, a zẹzị ki a sị ọ chịnẹ irivu.
An abundance of oil is no excuse to waste it for frying toads.
Do not be wasteful, even in times of plenty. Prudence dictates that resources should not be spent on worthless ventures.
A shẹva yị ọza dị ọza a sha ana yị ịnị ịnẹ anị.
Even as the oracle is being consulted for you, you should also be consulting the great oracle within your own mind.
Listen to your own intuition and common sense; don't blindly follow the advice of others.
Apẹ ọnị ọza sị rị ịrẹta.
It is with tricks that one eats a stone.
Difficult, seemingly impossible problems are solved with intelligence and clever strategy.
Ọza ana ka asị o che neta dị o che ngwọ iri.
If you refuse to let a little spill, it will spill into your eyes.
Don't be so greedy or stingy that you refuse to make small sacrifices; it may lead to a much greater loss.
Ịsa ene me zi ọza, ọza ọnị o zi o.
We wait for that which cannot wait for us.
You must be prepared to make sacrifices and act decisively to seize a fleeting opportunity.
A zẹma zue ọpa ịnị ọkụshị ịrẹkụ.
You don't sharpen your spear on the day of the battle.
A diligent person is always prepared. Last-minute preparation is a recipe for failure.
Ọza a zị fụvị angwẹ rị ịsa, dị ọ fụvị anọ.
If a meal could be rejected because of the oil, it could at least also be accepted because of the salt.
Be willing to accept a situation, even if it's not perfect. Look for the redeeming quality or compromise for the greater good.
A zezi re ịrasha sị ụvọ ka, dị a sị ụvọ ka idunku.
Lacking a proper place to rest the hands, we place them on our knees.
We must make do with what we have; circumstances often force us to accept imperfect solutions.
Ịshị ọza jị ịshị ọza ọnị ọ jị ayị ẹngụ anị.
The day you pass judgment on another, that same judgment becomes true for you.
Be careful how you judge others, as you may eventually be held to the same standard. (Often a warning against hypocrisy).
Emi ọwọwa ọnị ọ sị ọkụkụ dagụ.
It is the fresh faeces that makes the old, dried-up ones smell again.
A new misdeed will resurrect the memory and anger of past offences that were seemingly forgiven and forgotten.
Ọchụkụ ana za va tụ ọza anyị ọnrị uye ene neta.
The bone that will cost you a tooth should be discarded along with the meat.
Abandon a goal if the cost of achieving it is far greater than the reward itself.
A zị vị ịshị ịrẹpa za uye ọnị ọ vụ.
The prey does not rot on the same day the trap catches it.
Do not be relieved by the lack of immediate consequences for a misdeed; repercussions will surely come.
Ọza o me chema adaba tụra 'rẹsụ d' ọ gụ ịyẹyẹ.
One does not carry elephant meat on his head while chasing after a fly.
Do not risk a great possession or opportunity by getting distracted by trivial, worthless pursuits.
A zẹma wụ irenu ọza ọnya jị ịshị
One does not pass judgment after hearing only one side of the story.
True justice requires hearing from all involved parties before making a decision.
Ọza ana jị ụvọ ngwụ ụsị ọnị ẹwụ jị ịrẹrụ.
It is the person who sticks his hand in the hole who gets bitten by the python.
He who actively seeks out trouble is the most likely one to find it.
A nyịa atafụ dị a va rị ọ.
The palm nut must be cracked before the kernel can be chewed.
Success and reward only come after hard work and effort.
Isu ka ọnị ọ zị yara rị ọ dị ọnị sị anyị du o sha.
The rat says if it cannot eat a thing, it would rather shred it to pieces.
A malicious person, driven by spite, will destroy what they cannot have.
Irenu ọnị ọ dọ arịfẹ na yị ụtọ.
Wrong words from the mouth earn the cheek a slap.
Your words have consequences.
Ọza ọ zị yara e tu ogueyi d' ọ na sha iri.
If you beat a blind man without compassion, you may accidentally restore his sight.
An excessive or cruel action can provoke an unexpected and powerful reaction that negates your intent.
Ọza ana ngwemi shi oze vene shayị, ama ọza ana kwụ ọ me shayị.
The person who defecates on the path forgets, but the person who clears it does not.
The offender often forgets their transgression, but the victim who bears the consequence remembers the pain.
E sune e re ẹtẹ
Tears do not blind the eyes.
Do not exploit someone's grief as a distraction; they are still aware of your actions.
E fu ekuese dị ịrẹsụ a zịị adụụshẹ.
When the quail is being roasted for a meal, the guinea fowl develops headache.
When danger befalls someone like you, you should be concerned for your own safety. What affects one can affect all.
Eku ze ku ịnị abara dị ọ vara ọza.
If the masquerade stays too long in the village square, he is soon unmasked as a mere human.
Familiarity breeds contempt. Do not overstay your welcome, or you will lose your respect and mystique.
Ịrẹta 'reshi ọ ma vị ayị.
The household grindstone is regarded never to grind the flour well.
People often undervalue or ignore the worth of those they are familiar with (a prophet is not honored in his own home).
Anya yị ịnị ịnẹ dị a jatẹ ọvụọvụ.
We have red blood inside, yet we spit white saliva.
For the sake of peace and society, we do not reveal every secret we hold inside.
Ọza ọ ma nyị ọza tụ ịnị 'ẹsụ ọchị ẹsha dị o re ụbẹbẹ.
One shouldn't have a relative at the top of a cherry tree and still be condemned to eat unripe cherries.
There is no value of friendship or connections if they confer no benefits to you?
Ọchị epefu za sị gọdọ fu ọza ana chire dị ọ sị ụvọ ya chi.
If the okra plant grows taller than the farmer, it will be bent forcefully to be harvested.
Do not become arrogant towards your benefactor; showing contempt for the one who raised you will lead to your downfall.
Ọza o me fu ịrafọnọ yị ọza anị ịrẹsụ a zịị.
You cannot take medicine for another person's headache.
You cannot be more concerned about a person's problem than they are themselves.
Evina za vụẹtẹ yị ọza dị ọ sị ọ kuoku ụvọ.
If your slice of yam is beautifully white, cover it with your palm.
Do not flaunt your good fortune; protect it from the envious eyes of others.
A tọ ọ yị ọza, a zẹma bere ọza mụnẹ.
Food can be chewed for you, but it cannot be swallowed for you.
People can help you only so far; you must take the final, decisive step yourself.
Anava irenu ọ ma jantụ vị.
A wound in the mouth does not heal quickly.
A deep insult or hurtful words are not easily forgotten or forgiven.
A zị vị ịta bo ana gara tụ ịnị ọyị.
One does not dry all of the household's clothes in the sun.
Do not reveal all your secrets or expose all your vulnerabilities to the public.
Ọza o ọza ọnị ọ kwụ ọza afụ na yị anẹshẹ.
It is much easier for an insider to precipitate your downfall than an outsider.
Betrayal and the most damaging exposure often come from those closest to you.
Ịnị 'enu ene ye re ịrẹka.
It is from your own words that the strength of your argument is judged.
A liar will eventually expose himself through his own inconsistent words.
Ọza o me ne ịrẹta shi ireshi ọnị ọ va na nyị ose.
You do not throw stones at the house from which you intend to take a wife.
Do not insult, attack, or disrespect the very people or places from which you hope to gain a favour.
Ozi irezi ka a gẹ a vụrẹvụ dị a gẹ a jẹngụ ku ẹtẹ ọnị irenyi ye shine.
The puppy says a playful fight is only fun if everyone agrees to take turns falling.
Friendship and cooperation endure only when there is mutual respect, support, and a willingness to compromise.
Ara ọnị a sị mọrọ isu.
Sleep is a small preview of death.
We learn about unknown things by observing smaller, similar situations.
A nyị ibe a nyị ọpavụ.
When you have a forehead, the back of the head naturally follows.
Certain things are inextricably linked; you cannot have one without the other. (Two sides of the same coin).
Ọza o me chirenya dị ọ sị ịka tụẹshẹ.
You cannot pretend to be hiding when your back is clearly visible.
Your attempts to deceive others are often far more transparent than you think.
Iriku ene re shangwa ẹzụ.
It is the sight of the dense forest that adds to the leopard's fearsomeness.
A person's power is often magnified by the strength and reputation of those who support them.
Ịnị ẹtẹtẹ ọnị ozi irezi ya kara oomu.
A puppy learns to curl its tail from a young age.
Bad habits are formed early in life. If a trait is undesirable, it must be corrected at the very beginning.
Ọwọza ọ ma navọ kị ịfọ ọ jị ọnị ọbẹ.
The killer hates the feel of a knife on his own neck.
Those who enjoy inflicting pain on others are often so scared of pain themselves.
A zẹma yẹ oshi ana wụ isi.
One cannot tell which single broomstick from the bunch will kill the fly.
Do not underestimate anyone or anything; even the seemingly insignificant can have a great impact.
A shị ọza dị a yẹ ka ogutọ ọ vị.
A person must first be called before you can declare them deaf.
Give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Do not judge someone as defiant or incapable until you have tested them.
Ọza o me tu ịya 'renu anị jẹfụ.
The pounded yam meant for your own consumption is never poorly pounded.
People always apply their best effort when working for their own direct benefit; self-interest ensures quality.