Verse
Ní bhiann gort gan diasach fiadh...
Ní bhiann gort gan diasach fiadh…
(not * is habitually * field * without * ears of grain * wild)
There’s never a field of grain without some wild oats.
Ná cuindig do chís ...
Ná cuindig do chís
for duine nad·fóel
is ferr úad a lleth
andá a meth mar óen.
(not * seek * your * rent
on * person * that will not bear
is * better * from him * the * half
than * their * failure * as * one)
Seek not to collect tribute
from one who cannot pay;
better to accept half from him
than to lose both man and money.
Sinn ag loighe ar in lucht romhainn...
Sinn ag loighe ar in lucht romhainn,
lucht oile orainn san úaigh.
(we * at * lying * on * the * people * before us /
people * other * on us * in the * grave)
We rest on those who came before us,
and others will rest on us in the grave.
Mad comairle duit do ben...
Mad comairle duit do ben,
nítbia talam, nítbia nem;
is mairg tréces na huili
ar grád anma óenduini.
(if would be * counsel * for you * your * wife/
you will not have * earth * you will not have * heaven/
is * pitiful * that abandons * the * all/
for * love * of soul * of one person)
If your wife would be your counsel,
you will have neither earth nor heaven;
woe to him who forsakes the whole
for the love of a single soul.
Atá ben is tír...
Atá ben is tír
ní abar a hainm;
maidid esi a deilm
amal chloich a tailm!
(is * woman * in the * country /
not * I say * her * name /
breaks * from her * her * fart /
like * stone * out of * sling)
There’s a woman in the country,
I won’t say her name;
She lets a fart
like a stone from a sling!
Ar in bith án astaither...
Ar in bith án astaither
A coraib bél bertaigter.
(for * the * world * splendid * is established /
from * contracts * of lips * that are proclaimed)
For the great world is secured
By contracts which are proclaimed.
A Brigit bennach ar sét...
A Brigit bennach ar sét
nachar·tair bét ar ar cúairt;
a chaillech a l-Lifi lán
co·rísem slán ar tech úait.
(o * Brigit * bless * our * road /
that may not come to us * calamity * on * our * trip /
o * nun * from * Liffey * full /
may we reach * safe * our * house * from you)
O Brigit, bless our road,
that calamity may not overtake us as we travel;
O veiled one from the laden Liffey
may we reach home safely by your intercession.
Is éicen do neoch a thecht...
Is éicen do neoch a thecht
cosin fót forsa mbí a thiglecht.
(is * necessity * for * one * his * going /
to the * place * on which * is always * his * last-grave)
Everyone must go at last
to the place of his death.
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.