1 K o te tama whakaaro nui ka rongo ki ta tona papa ako: ko te tangata whakahi ia e kore e rongo ki te riri.

A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

2 E kai te tangata i te pai i te hua o tona mangai: ka kai ia te wairua o te hunga wanoke i te tutu.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

3 K o te tangata e tiaki ana i tona mangai e pupuri ana i tona ora: ko te tangata ia e hamama nui ana ona ngutu, ko te whakangaromanga mona.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

4 E hiahia ana te wairua o te tangata mangere, a kahore he mea mana: ka meinga ia kia momona te wairua o te hunga uaua.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

5 E kino ana te tangata tika ki te korero teka: he mea whakarihariha ia te tangata kino, a whakama noa iho.

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

6 K o te tika hei kaitiaki mo te tangata e tapatahi ana te ara: ka whakataka ano te tangata kino e te hara.

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

7 T era tetahi kei te amene taonga mona, heoi kahore rawa he mea i a ia: tera tetahi kei te whakarawakore i a ia, heoi nui atu ona rawa.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

8 K o nga utu mo te tangata kia ora, ko ona rawa: tena ko te rawakore, e kore e rongo i te riri.

The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

9 E koa ana te marama o te hunga tika: ka keto ia te rama o te hunga kino.

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 H e totohe anake i ahu mai i te whakapehapeha: he whakaaro nui ia kei te hunga i nga kupu tika.

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

11 K o nga taonga i puta mai i te whakamanamana ka iti haere: ko ta te tangata i whakaemi ai, he mea mahi, ka tupu haere.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

12 H e manako taringa roa, he patu ngakau: ka tae te koronga, ko te rakau ia o te ora.

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13 K o te tangata e whakahawea ana ki te kupu, ka ngaro i a ia ano; ko te tangata ia e wehi ana i te whakahau, ka whiwhi ki te utu.

Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 K o te ture o te hunga whakaaro nui, he puna no te ora, e puta ai i nga reti o te mate.

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

15 K o to te ngarahu pai he homai atawhai; he taikaha ia te ara o te hunga nanakia.

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

16 H e mahi mohio ta te tangata tupato; ko ta te wairangi he hora i te kuwaretanga.

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

17 K a hinga te karere kino ki te kino; ko te karere pono ia, ano he rongoa.

A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 K o te tangata kahore e pai ki te papaki, mana te rawakore, te whakama; engari ko te tangata e whai mahara ana ki te ako, ka whakahonoretia.

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 K o te hiahia kua rite, he reka ki te wairua: he whakarihariha ia ki nga kuware te whakarere i te kino.

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 H aere i te taha o te hunga whakaaro nui, a ka whai whakaaro koe: ko te takahoa ia o nga kuware, ka mamae.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 K a whai te kino i te hunga hara; ko te utu ia ki te hunga tika, he pai.

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

22 H e whakarerenga iho ta te tangata pai mo nga tamariki a nga tamariki; kei te rongoa mo te tangata tika nga taonga o te tangata hara.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 H e nui te kai kei te ngakinga a nga rawakore; tera ia te mea e ngaro ana i te kore o te tikanga pai.

Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

24 K o te tangata e kaiponu ana i tana whiu, e kino ana ia ki tana tama; ko te tangata ia e aroha ana ki a ia, ka papaki wawe i a ia.

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

25 K ai ana te tangata tika, makona ana tona wairua; ka hapa ia te kopu o te tangata kino.

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.