Maxims & Wise Counsel

Cách a bfuil acat i tig...

Cách a bfuil acat i tig
etir ith is blicht is mil,
nocha berair lat ar sét
in tan racha d’éc, a fhir.

(all * that * is * at you * in * house /
between * grain * and * milk * and * honey /
not * is carried * with you * on * road /
the * time * you will go * to death * o * man)

Everything you have at home,
all your honey, milk and grain,
you can’t take with you on the road
when, my friend, you go to death.

Mór in bét!...

Mór in bét!
Immad sliged ocus sét
tar lebaid na sruthi soer,
tar nar chóir acht óen de chét.

(great * the * calamity /
abundance * of ways * and * paths /
across * bed * of the * streams * noble /
across * would not be * right * but * one * of * hundred)

What a pity!
Many are the roads and ways
across the bed of noble rivers,
yet only one in a hundred is right.

Ní dlig ferann fer cen treoir...

Ní dlig ferann fer cen treoir,
ní dlig degairm fer cen gliaid,
ní dlig cerchaill cenn co mbeoil,
ní dlig feoil fer cen scíain.

(not * deserves * land * man * without * energy /
not * deserves * good armament * man * without * fight /
not * deserves * pillow * head * with * grease /
not * deserves * meat * man * without * knife)

A man without energy doesn’t deserve land,
a man without fight doesn’t deserve good weapons,
a greasy head does not deserve a pillow,
a man without a knife doesn’t deserve meat.

Nochan fhitir mac duine...

Nochan fhitir mac duine
cuich dá ndénann sé cruinne;
in cruinne do fodéin é,
nó in cruinne do neach aile?

(not * knows * son * of man /
whom * to which * makes * he * accumulation /
is it * accumulation * for him * self * it /
or * is it * accumulation * for * someone * other)

Man doesn’t know
for whom he accumulates;
is it a hoard for himself,
or a hoard for someone else?

Sladbrad ocus guin duine...

Sladbrad ocus guin duine,
gáir cloc, gáir ceall, gáir ngloine,
saint, feall, fingal co féighe,
báthuidh féli sin uile.

(pillage-robbery * and * killing * of man /
cry * of bells * cry * of churches * cry * of purities /
greed * treachery * kin-slaying * with * eagarness /
drowns * generosity * that * all)

Pillage, robbery, and murder,
the church’s curse and excommunication,
greed, treachery, eagar kin-slaying,
generosity wipes all that clean!

Dlighidh gabha gúal.

(deserves * smith * coal)

A smith is entitled to coal.

Fer nád fintar co cluinter.

(man * that not * is known * until * is heard)

A man that you don’t know until you hear him speak.

Béodae cach bráthair fri araile.

(vigorous * every * brother * against * another)

Brothers (or, kinsmen) are energized when they compete against one another.

Ní flaith téchtae...

Ní flaith téchtae nád ingella laith ar cach ndomnach.

(not * ruler * legitimate * that not * promises * ale * on * every * Sunday)

A rightful ruler provides beer on Sundays.

Bid co h-eistechtach cailli...

Bid co h-eistechtach cailli,
bid co féchsanach muigi,
oir ní fedrais, mór in mod,
nach biad t’ escara it fharrad.

(be * hearingful * of forest /
be * watchful * of plain /
for * not * you know - great * the * deed /
that not * would be * your * enemy * in your * presence)

Keep your ears open in the forest
and your eyes open on the plain,
for you don’t know – this is important –
whether your enemy is near.