Bí ayé bá ńyẹ ni, ìwà ìbàjẹ́ là ńhù.
Character formed and deformed
Ìpilẹ̀
Bí ayé bá ńyẹ ni, ìwà ìbàjẹ́ là ńhù.
Ìtumọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀-sí-ọ̀rọ̀
- Bí ayé bá ńyẹ ni if life is suiting one, ìwà ìbàjẹ́ corrupt character là ńhù is-what we grow.
Ìtumọ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì
"If life is being good to one, one is likely to act disgracefully."
Orísun náà kò dárúkọ ẹni tí ó túmọ̀ rẹ̀.
Ohun tí ó túmọ̀ sí
Prosperity corrupts conduct.
Ìgbà tí a ń lò ó
Owomoyela: "Prosperity breeds temptations to misbehave" Said of someone whose manners have changed with their fortunes.
Àkíyèsí lórí ìtumọ̀
Hù, to sprout, is used of character throughout this set, and its use here makes corruption a growth rather than a lapse: comfort is the soil. The proverb is a warning to the fortunate and, said in their hearing, a fairly direct accusation.