ISE NI OGUN ISE (Written by J.F. Odunjo)

Ise ni ogun ise

Mura s’ise, ore Mi

Ise ni afi ndi eni giga;

Bi ako ba r’eni f’eyin ti,

Bi ole l’ari;

Bi ako ba r’eni gbekele,

Atera mo’se eni.

Iya re le l’owo l’owo,

Ki Baba re l’eshin le kan,

Ti o ba gb’oju l’e won;

Ote tan ni mo so fun o.

Se ohun ti ako ba fi ara jiya fun,

Ki ile pe rara;

Ohun ti aba fi ara sise fun,

Ni ipe lowo eni.

Apa lara, igunpa ni iye kan

Ti Aiye ba nfe o loni,

Ti o ba l’owo l’owo,

Aiye a ma fe o l’ola;

Tabi ki o wa ni ipo atata,

Aiye a ye o si terinterin;

Sugbon jeki o di eniti nrago,

Ki ori bi aiye ti nyimu si o.

Ti o ba ri awon opo eniyan,

Ti nfi eko se erin rin

Dakun mase fi ara we won.

Iya mbe fun omo ti ko gbon,

Ekun mbe fun omo ti nsa kiri;

Ma fi Owuro sere, ore mi,

Mura si’se – ojo nlo.

Ja itanna ti ntan, to tutu ti osi dara,

Maduro di ojo ola – akoko nsure tete.

Translated

[b]

WORK IS THE ANTIDOTE TO POVERTY

Work is the antidote to poverty,

Apply yourself to work, my friend,

By working one attains greatness;

If one has no one to rely on,

That’s like being a loafer;

If one has no one to depend on,

One must apply himself to his occupation.

Your mother may have much wealth,

And your father own more than one horse,

If you pin your hopes on them,

Disappointed you will be, I tell you!

You see – what one has not personally suffered for,

Does not last long at all;

But that which we have worked earnestly for,

Lasts very long in one’s hands-

Your arm is a relative, your elbow is your sibling.

The world applauds you today,

If you have much wealth,

The world will love you tomorrow.

Or say you’re in a position of influence,

The world with honour you with smiles,

But become poor and needy,

And see how the world mocks you.

When you see a multitude,

Make mockery of learning,

Please do not emulate them.

Anguish awaits the senseless child,

Tears await the child running here and there,

Play not with the morning, my friend,

Apply yourself to work – the day is going by.

Pluck the morning lily – cool, beautiful and bright,

Wait not till tomorrow – time passes quickly by.

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