1 ¶ The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy with which 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, the son of my womb? and what, the 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 D o not give thy strength nor thy ways unto the women who 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, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor is beer for princes

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 l est they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

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 beer unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that have heavy hearts.

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

7 T hey drink and forget their need and remember their 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 those who cannot speak in the judgment of all the sons of death.

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 plead the cause of the poor and destitute.

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

10 ¶ Aleph Who can find a valiant woman? for her price is far above precious stones.

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 B eth The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

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

12 G imel She will do 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 D aleth She sought wool and flax and worked 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 H e She was like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.

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

15 V au She rose up even at night and gave food to her family and a portion 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 Z ain She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted 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 C heth She girded her loins with strength and strengthened her arms.

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

18 T eth She perceived that her merchandise was good; her fire did not go out by night.

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

19 J od She laid her hands to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff.

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

20 C aph She stretched out her hand to the poor; yea, she reached forth her hands to the destitute.

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

21 L amed She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family is clothed with double garments.

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

22 M em She makes herself tapestries; her clothing is of fine linen and purple.

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

23 N un Her husband is known in the gates when he sits 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 amech She made fine linen and sold it and delivered 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 A in Strength and glory is her clothing, and she shall laugh in the last day.

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

26 P e She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of mercy is upon her tongue.

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

27 T zaddi She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat bread in idleness.

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

28 K oph Her sons rose up and called her blessed; her husband also, and he praised 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 R esh Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou dost excel them all.

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

30 S chin Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but the woman that fears the LORD 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 T au Give 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.