1 T he words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:

Ko nga kupu a Kingi Remuera; ko te poropititanga i whakaakona ai ia e tona whaea.

2 W hat, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?

He aha, e taku tama? He aha, e te tama a toku kopu? A he aha, e te tama a aku kupu taurangi?

3 G ive not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

Kaua e hoatu tou kaha ki nga wahine, ou ara hoki ki te mea whakangaro o nga kingi.

4 I t is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers, Where is the strong drink?

Ehara ma nga kingi, e Remuera, ehara ma nga kingi te inu waina; ehara hoki ma nga rangatira te mea, Kei hea he wai kaha?

5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.

Kei inu ratou, a ka wareware ki te ture, a ka whakapeau ke i te whakawa o te tangata e tukinotia ana.

6 G ive strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:

Hoatu he wai kaha ma te tangata e tata ana te marere, he waina hoki ki nga wairua pouri:

7 l et him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Tukua ia kia inu, kia wareware ai ki tona rawakore, a kore ake he mahara ki ona mate.

8 O pen thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.

Kia puaki tou mangai mo te wahangu, i te whakawakanga o te hunga katoa kua waiho mo te mate.

9 O pen thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.

Kia puaki tou mangai, whakaritea te whakawa i runga i te tika, tohea te tohe a te ware, a te rawakore.

10 W ho can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.

Ko wai e kite i te wahine e u ana tona pai? Ko tona utu hoki kei runga noa atu i to nga rupi.

11 T he heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.

Ka whakapono te ngakau o tana tane ki a ia, a kahore ona hapanga i te taonga.

12 S he doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

He pai tana e mea ai ki a ia, kahore hoki he kino, i nga ra katoa e ora ai ia.

13 S he seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

E kimi ana ia i te huruhuru hipi, i te muka, a ka ngakau nui te mahi a ona ringa.

14 S he is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;

Ko tona rite kei nga kaipuke o nga kaihokohoko; e mauria mai ana e ia tana kai i tawhiti.

15 A nd she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.

E maranga ana hoki ia i te mea e po tonu ana, a hoatu ana e ia he kai ma tona whare, he mahi hoki e rite ana ma ana kotiro.

16 S he considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

E whakaaroaro ana ia ki tetahi mara, a ka hokona e ia: whakatokia ana e ia he mara waina, he hua na ona ringa.

17 S he girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.

E whitiki ana ia i tona hope ki te kaha, e mea ana i ona takakau kia pakari.

18 S he perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

Ka kite ia he pai tana i hokohoko ai: e kore tana rama e mate i te po.

19 S he putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

Ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te mea takai miro, ka pupuri ona ringa ki te pou muka.

20 S he stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Ka wherahia tona ringa ki te ware; ae ra, ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te rawakore.

21 S he is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

E kore ia e wehi i te hukarere mo tona whare; no te mea kua kakahuria tona whare katoa ki te ngangana.

22 S he maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.

Oti ake i a ia te whatuwhatu he whariki mona; he rinena pai, he papura ona kakahu.

23 H er husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

E mohiotia ana tana tane i nga kuwaha, ina noho tahi ia ki nga kaumatua o te whenua.

24 S he maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

E hanga ana e ia he rinena pai, a hokona atu ana; e hoatu ana e ia he whitiki ki nga kaihoko.

25 S trength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth the coming day.

He kaha, he honore ona kakahu; a e kata ana ia ki nga ra o muri atu.

26 S he openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.

He nui ona whakaaro ina puaki tona mangai; kei tona arero te ture o te atawhai.

27 S he surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Ka ata tirohia e ia nga ara o tona whare, e kore ano ia e kai i te taro o te mangere.

28 H er children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, and he praiseth her:

Ka whakatika ana tamariki, a he kupu manaaki ta ratou mona; Tana tane hoki, ka whakamoemiti ano ia ki a ia, ka mea:

29 M any daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.

He tokomaha nga tamahine i u te pai o ta ratou mahi, otiia hira ake tau i a ratou katoa.

30 G racefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

He mea teka noa te manako, he mea horihori te ataahua: tena ko te wahine e wehi ana i a Ihowa, ko ia e whakamoemititia.

31 G ive her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Hoatu ki a ia o nga hua o ona ringa; a ma ana mahi ia e whakamoemiti i nga kuwaha.