Wise Jamaican

Nuh swap blak daag fe monkey

Translation: Don’t swap black dog for monkey

Meaning: Don’t throw away one bad thing for something worse

When trouble tek yuh, pickney shut fit yuh

Translation:  When trouble comes to you, a child’s shirt will fit you

Meaning: When in difficult situations, you have to make adjustments to survive

Chicken merry hawk deh near

Translation: When the chicken is merry, the hawk is near

Meaning: When people are playful and get careless, then danger can come up suddenly on them 

De higher monkey climb de more him expose

Translation: The higher the monkey climbs, the more he exposes himself

Meaning: A higher position in life can bring you more responsibility and make your position insecure

Wha’ sweet goat, run him belly

Translation: What the goat finds sweet (to the taste) will hurt his belly

Meaning: Applied to pleasure that ends in pain

Daag nyam yuh suppa

Translation: Dog will eat your supper

Meaning:  If you are not careful with what you have, you will lose

Day longa dan rope

Translation:  The day is longer than a rope

Meaning: Whatever is wrong will eventually be corrected over time

A threat implying that revenge, although long-delayed, will surely come