Page 100 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

Even if she dominate your house, get her out,
For she has directed her attention elsewhere.
135 Every day worship your god.
Sacrifice and benediction are the proper accompaniment of incense.
Present your free-will offering to your god,
For this is proper toward the gods.
Prayer, supplication, and prostration
140 Offer him daily, and you will get your reward.
Then you will have full communion with your god.
In your wisdom study the tablet.
Reverence begets favour,
Sacrifice prolongs life,
145 and prayer atones for guilt.
He who fears the gods is not slighted by …
He who fears the Anunnaki extends [his days.]
165

What do you think about wisdom in your own culture? What wise sayings are common? Do they actually
help a person follow the God of the Bible and his ways or do they distract from him? The following
Zambian proverbs are included as illustrations.

1. Osatukwana ng’uena matake yali m’manzi. (Nsenga)
Do nor insult a cocodile while your hatacurse are still in the water.
2. Imiti ikula, empanga (Bemba)
Growing trees are what makes up the bush.
3. Maphaneja amwr abvumbwitsa. (Chewa)
Using two shelters at once will cause you to get soaked by the rains.
4. Zengelezu adayenda kwau kwau. (Chewe)
Hiding /delaying caused one to walk in shame.
5. Samva za anzare adamva nkhwangwe ili m’mutu. (Chewa)
He who doesn’t listen to his friends just hears or finds an ____ into his head.
6. Mau ya akulu akoma atagonera. (Chewe)
Words of the elders become sweet a day after.
7. Mayo mpapa naine nkaku papa. (Bemba)
Mum, carry me on your back and I will also carry you.
8. Umunwe umo tausala end a. (Bemba)
One finger cannot kill lice.
9. Pakaloba mbeba okumba beka koma pakaloba jnoka ati welani tikumbe. (Nsenga)
When a mouse enters a hole, they dig themselves, but when a snake enters therein, they say
come we dig.
10. Kaselo nkhoya kaselo wela. (Nsenga)
A winnowing basket comes a winnowing basket goes.
As I visit your home, you likewise have to visit my home too.
11. Cakudza sichiimba. (Ngoma)

165 W. G. Lambert, “Councils of Wisdom”, 104-105.
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