TỌ́JÚ ÌWÀ RẸ

Tọ’jú iwà rẹ, ọ̀rẹ́ mi,
Ọlá a máa ṣí lọ n’ílé ẹni,
Ẹwà a sì máa ṣí l’ára ènìà.
Olówó òní ‘nd’òtòṣì b’ó d’ọ̀la,
Òkun l’ọla, Òkun n’ìgbì ọrọ̀,

Gbogbo wọn ló ń ṣí lọ n’ilé ẹni;
Ṣùgbọ́n ìwà ní m’bá ni de sàréè,
Owó ko jẹ nǹkan kan fún ni.
Ìwà l’ẹwà ọmọ ènìà,
Bí o l’ówó bí o kò ní’wà ńkọ́?

Tani jẹ́ f’inú tán ẹ ba s’ohun rere?
Tabi ki o jẹ́ obìnrin rọgbọdọ,
Tí ó o bá jìnà sì’wá tí ẹ̀dá nfẹ,
Tani jẹ fẹ́ ọ s’ilé bí aya?
Tàbí kí o jẹ́ oníjìbìtì ènìà,

Bí o tile mọ ìwé amọdaju;
Tani jẹ́ gbé’ṣẹ ajé fún ọ ṣe?
Tọju ìwà rẹ, ọ̀rẹ́ mi,
Ìwà kò sí, ẹ̀kọ́ d’ègbé;
Gbogbo aiyé ni ‘ńfẹ ‘ni t’ó jẹ́ rere.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Enhance your character, my friend,
Prosperity could depart from one’s home,
And beauty could retreat from people’s bodies.
Today’s rich could become poor tomorrow,

Opulence is like ocean’s surfs; it is like ocean’s waves,
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 anyone.

Good character is the beauty of a mortal,
What if you are wealthy without good character?
Who would trust you with something serious?
Even, if 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.

Poetry by the late Chief J.F. Ọdúnjọ. Renowned Yorùbá Playwright, and Poet.

Credit. Mayegun

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