Yoruba Words of Wisdom and Encouragement

Iṣẹ́ ni oògùn ìṣẹ́ [Work is the antidote for poverty]

Múra sí’ ṣẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ẹ̀ mi [concentrate on your work, my friend]

Iṣẹ́ l’ afi ndẹni gíga [great work ethic leads to success]

Bí a kò bá r’ ẹ́ni fẹ̀hìntì [if we do not have anybody to rely on]

Bí ọ̀lẹ l’ àárí [we feel inadequate]

Bí a kò bá r’ẹni gb’ ẹ́kẹ̀lé [if we have no one to depend on]

A tẹra mọ́’ṣẹ́ ẹni [we should work even harder]

Ìyá rẹ lè l’ówó l’ọ́wọ́ [Your mother could be very rich]

Bàbá rẹ lè lẹ́shin léèkàn [Your dad could have horses in the stable]

Bí o bá gb’ ójú lé wọn [If you depend on them solely]

Oo tẹ́ tán ni mo sọ fún ọ [You could find yourself in deep trouble]

Oun tí a kò bá jìyà fún [What we do not suffer for]

Ṣé kìí nlè t’ọ́jọ́ [does not last long in our hands]

Oun t’ábá fara ṣ’iṣẹ́ fún [something that we really work hard to achieve]

Níí pẹ́ l’ọ́wọ́ ẹni [will last long in our hands]

Apá lará, ìgùnpa ni iyèkan [our arms signify our friends, our elbows signify our family]

B’ áyé bá nfẹ́ ọ lónìí [when the world praises you today]

Bí o bá l’ówó l’ọ́wọ́ [if you become rich and successful]

Ayé á máa fẹ ọ l’ọ́la [the world will always want to be your friend]

Tàbí kí o wà ní ipò àtàtà [or should you be in an enviable position]

Ayé á máa yẹ́ ọ sí t’ẹ̀rin t’ẹ̀rin [the world impress you with smiles and laughter]

Jẹ́ k’o d’ẹni tí n ráágó [should the table turn and you become penniless]

K’o ri b’ayé ṣe nyinmú sí ọ [come see as people will mock you]

Ẹ̀kọ́ sì tún sọni d’ọ̀gá [work could turn you into a boss]

Múra ki o kọ́ọ dáradára [persevere to do your work diligently]

Ìyà nbọ f’ọ́mọ tí kò gbọ́ [hard times are coming for the irresponsible child]

Ẹkún nbẹ f’ọ́mọ tí nsá kiri [crying and weeping awaits the wayward child]

Má f’ọ̀wúrọ̀ ṣe’ré ọ̀rẹ́ mi [do not play with your future]

Múra si’ṣẹ ọjọ́ nlọ [be persistent, time waits for no one]

Culled from Alawiye Apa K’eji authored by Chief J.F. Odunjo

Yoruba Words of Wisdom and Encouragement in Yoruba

Iṣẹ́ ni oògùn ìṣẹ́

Múra sí’ ṣẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ẹ̀ mi

Iṣẹ́ l’ afi ndẹni gíga

Bí a kò bá r’ ẹ́ni fẹ̀hìntì

Bí ọ̀lẹ l’ àárí

Bí a kò bá r’ẹni gb’ ẹ́kẹ̀lé

A tẹra mọ́’ṣẹ́ ẹni

Ìyá rẹ lè l’ówó l’ọ́wọ́

Bàbá rẹ lè lẹ́shin léèkàn

Bí o bá gb’ ójú lé wọn

Oo tẹ́ tán ni mo sọ fún ọ

Oun tí a kò bá jìyà fún

Ṣé kìí nlè t’ọ́jọ́

Oun t’ábá fara ṣ’iṣẹ́ fún

Níí pẹ́ l’ọ́wọ́ ẹni

Apá lará, ìgùnpa ni iyèkan

B’ áyé bá nfẹ́ ọ lónìí

Bí o bá l’ówó l’ọ́wọ́

Ayé á máa fẹ ọ l’ọ́la

Tàbí kí o wà ní ipò àtàtà

Ayé á máa yẹ́ ọ sí t’ẹ̀rin t’ẹ̀rin

Jẹ́ k’o d’ẹni tí n ráágó

K’o ri b’ayé ṣe nyinmú sí ọ

Ẹ̀kọ́ sì tún sọni d’ọ̀gá

Múra ki o kọ́ọ dáradára

Ìyà nbọ f’ọ́mọ tí kò gbọ́

Ẹkún nbẹ f’ọ́mọ tí nsá kiri

Má f’ọ̀wúrọ̀ ṣe’ré ọ̀rẹ́ mi

Múra si’ṣẹ ọjọ́ nlọ

Culled from Alawiye Apa K’eji authored by Chief J.F. Odunjo

Yoruba Words of Wisdom and Encouragement Interpretation in English

Work is the antidote for poverty

Concentrate on your work, my friend

Great work ethic leads to success

If we do not have anybody to rely on

We feel inadequate

If we have no one to depend on

We should work even harder

Your mother could be very rich

Your dad could have horses in the stable

If you depend on them solely

You could find yourself in deep trouble

What we do not suffer for

Does not last long in our hands

Something that we really work hard to achieve

Will last long in our hands

Our arms signify our friends, our elbows signify our family

When the world praises you today

If you become rich and successful

The world will always want to be your friend

Or should you be in an enviable position

The world impress you with smiles and laughter

Should the table turn and you become penniless

Come see as people will mock you

Work could turn you into a boss

Persevere to do your work diligently

Hard times are coming for the irresponsible child

Crying and weeping awaits the wayward child

Do not play with your future

Be persistent, time waits for no one