1 T he words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

Ko nga kupu a Akuru tama a Iakehe; ko te poropititanga. I korero taua tangata ki a Itiere, ki a Itiere raua ko Ukara,

2 S urely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

He pono ko ahau te mea poauau rawa o nga tangata, kahore hoki he matauranga tangata i roto i ahau.

3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

Kihai hoki ahau i whakaakona ki te whakaaro nui, kihai ano i mohio ki te Mea Tapu.

4 W ho hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

Ko wai kua piki atu ki te rangi, a heke mai ai ano? Ko wai kua pupu i te hau ki roto ki ona ringa? Na wai i takai nga wai ki roto ki tona kakahu? Na wai i whakapumau nga pito katoa o te whenua? Ko wai tona ingoa, a ko wai hoki te ingoa o tana tam a, ki te mohiotia e koe?

5 E very word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Ko nga kupu katoa a te Atua he mea whakamatau: he whakangungu rakau ia ki te hunga katoa e whakawhirinaki ana ki a ia.

6 A dd thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Kaua e tapiritia etahi kupu ki ana, kei riria e ia tou he, a ka kitea koe he tangata korero teka.

7 T wo things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

E rua nga mea kua inoia e ahau i a koe; kaua ena e kaiponuhia i ahau i mua i toku matenga;

8 r emove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Whakamataratia atu i ahau te horihori me te korero teka; kaua e homai te rawakore ki ahau, te taonga ranei; whangaia ahau ki te kai e rite ana maku:

9 l est I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Kei makona ahau, a ka whakakahore ki a koe, ka mea, Ko wai a Ihowa? Kei rawakore ranei ahau, a ka whanako, ka whakahua noa hoki i te ingoa o toku Atua.

10 A ccuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

Kaua e korerotia te pononga ki tona ariki, kei kanga ia i a koe, a ko koe e he.

11 T here is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

Tera te whakatupuranga, he kanga ta ratou i to ratou papa, kahore hoki e manaaki i to ratou whaea.

12 T here is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Tera te whakatupuranga, he ma ki ta ratou na titiro, otira kahore ano kia horoia atu to ratou paru.

13 T here is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

Tera te whakatupuranga, Na, te whakakake o o ratou kanohi! Kua whakarewaina ake hoki o ratou kamo.

14 T here is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

Tera te whakatupuranga, ko o ratou niho ano he hoari, ko o ratou niho purakau ano he maripi, hei horo i te hunga iti i runga i te whenua, i nga rawakore hoki i roto i nga tangata.

15 T he horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

E rua nga tamahine a te ngate, ko ta raua karanga, Homai, homa. E toru nga mea e kore rawa e makona, ae ra, e wha nga mea e kore e ki, Kati:

16 t he grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

Ko te rua tupapaku; ko te kopu pakoko; ko te whenua kihai i pukuwaitia; a ko te ahi e kore nei e ki, Kati.

17 T he eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Ko te kanohi e whakahi ana ki te papa, e whakahawea ana ki te whakarongo ki tona whaea, ma nga raweni o te awaawa ia e tikaro, a ma nga pi ekara e kai.

18 T here be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

E toru nga mea he whakamiharo rawa, e kore e taea e ahau, ae ra, e wha kahore e mohiotia e ahau:

19 t he way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

Ko te huarahi o te ekara i te rangi; ko te huarahi o te nakahi i runga i te kamaka; ko te huarahi o te kaipuke i waenga moana; a ko te huarahi o te tangata ki te kotiro.

20 S uch is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

He pera ano te huarahi o te wahine puremu; ka kai ia, a ka horoi i tona mangai, a ka ki, Kahore aku mahi he.

21 F or three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

E toru nga mea e korikori ai te whenua, a e wha, he mea e kore e manawanuitia e ia:

22 f or a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

Ko te pononga ina whakakingitia ia; ko te wairangi hoki ina makona i te taro;

23 f or an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

Ko te wahine whakarihariha ina whiwhi i te tane; a ko te pononga wahine ina tuku iho mana nga mea a tona rangatira.

24 T here be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

E wha nga mea ririki i runga i te whenua, he nui noa atu ia nga whakaaro:

25 t he ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

Ko nga popokorua ehara i te iwi kaha, heoi e mea ana i te kai ma ratou i te raumati;

26 t he conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

Ko nga koni, he iwi ngoikore, heoi e hanga ana i o ratou whare ki te kamaka;

27 t he locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

Ko nga mawhitiwhiti, kahore o ratou kingi, heoi haere ropu ana ratou katoa;

28 t he spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

Ko te mokomoko, ko ona peke hei pupuri mana; otiia kei roto ia i nga whare kingi.

29 T here be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

E toru nga mea, he tau ta ratou hikoi, ae ra, e wha he huatau ki te haere:

30 a lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

Ko te raiona, ko te mea kaha rawa o nga kararehe, e kore nei e tahuri mai i te aroaro o tetahi;

31 a greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

Ko te kuri horo; ko te koati toa ano hoki; a ko te kingi, kahore nei tetahi e maranga ake ki a ia.

32 I f thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

Ki te mea he mahi kuware tau i a koe i whakaneke ake ai i a koe, ki te mea ranei i whakaaro kino koe, kopania tou ringa ki tou mangai.

33 S urely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

He pono hoki ki te hurihia te waiu ka puta mai he pata, a ki te kowiria te ihu ka puta mai he toto: waihoki ki te akina te riri ka puta he whawhai.