Ìwà rere lè sọ ènìyàn.
(Written by the late J.F. ODUNJO in his popular book series ‘ALAWIYE’)
Tọ́jú TỌ́JÚ ÌWÀ RẸ Ọ̀RẸ́ MI
(Written by the late J.F. ỌDÚN JỌ in his popular book series ‘ALÁWÍYẸ́’)
Tọ́jú ìwà rẹ, ọ̀rẹ́ mi;
Ọlá a máa sí lọ ní lé ẹni,
Ẹwà a sì ma sí lára ènìyàn,
Olówó ńd’olọ̀sì bó dọ̀la.
Òkun l'ọlá; òkun n’ìgbì ọrò,
Gbogbo wọn ló ńsí lo nílé ẹni;
Ṣùgbọ́n ìwà ni ḿ’bá ni dé sàréè.
Owó kò jẹ́ ǹkan fún ni,
Ìwà l'ewà ọmọ ènìyàn.
Bí o lówó bí o kò níwà ńkọ́?
Taní jẹ́ f'inú tán ẹ bá ọ s'ohun rere?
Tàbí kí o jẹ́ obìnrin rọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀;
Tí o bá jìnà síwà tí ẹ̀dá ń fé ,
Taní jẹ́ fẹ́ o sílé bí aya?
Tàbí kí o jẹ́ oníjìbìtì ènìà;
Bí o tilè mo ìwé àmọ̀ dájú ,
Taní jẹ́ gbé'sé ajé fún ọ se?
Tọ́jú Ìwà re, ọ̀rẹ́ mi,
Ìwà kò sí , ẹ̀kọ́ dè gbé;
Gbogbo ayé ni ń fẹ́ ni tó jẹ́ rere.
(ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
Enhance your character, my friend;
Prosperity may depart from one’s home,
Beauty may retreat from the body,
And today’s rich could become poor tomorrow.
Prosperity is like ocean surf; and wealth is an ocean wave,
They come and go from one’s home as they please;
But, only good character follows one to the grave.
Money is not everything to someone,
Good character is the beauty of a mortal.
What if you are wealthy without good character?
Who would trust you with something serious?
Perhaps, you are a gorgeous woman;
If you are far from societal norms,
Who would marry you as a wife?
Or you are a fraudulent person;
May be you are well educated,
Who would transact business with you?
Enhance your character, my friend,
In the absence of character, education is a waste;
The whole world appreciates a well-mannered person.
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