1 K o te tangata tu ke, e whai ana i ta tona ake hiahia, e ngangau ana ki nga whakaaro totika katoa.

An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

2 K ahore o te whakaarokore ahuareka ki te matauranga; engari kia whakakitea e ia tona ngakau.

A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

3 I te taenga mai o te tangata kino ka tae mai ano te whakahawea, me te tawai hei hoa mo te whakama.

When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.

4 H e wai hohonu nga kupu a te mangai o te tangata; he awa e rere ana te puna o te whakaaro nui.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

5 E hara i te mea pai te whakapai ki te kanohi o te tangata kino, te whakapeau ke ranei i ta te tangata tika ina whakawa.

To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

6 E uru ana nga ngutu o te whakaarokore ki te totohe, e karanga ana tona mangai ki nga whiu.

A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

7 H ei hunga ano mona te mangai o te whakaarokore; a ko ona ngutu hei rore mo tona wairua.

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 A no he kai reka nga kupu a te kawe korero; tae tonu iho ki nga wahi o roto rawa o te kopu.

The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

9 K o te tangata ano hoki e mangere ana ki tana mahi, hei teina ia ki te tangata maumau.

One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

10 H ei pourewa kaha te ingoa o Ihowa; rere ana te tangata tika ki reira, a ora ake.

Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

11 K o nga rawa o te tangata taonga hei pa kaha mona, hei pa tiketike ki tona whakaaro.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

12 I mua ake o te whakangaromanga ka whakakake te ngakau o te tangata; i mua ake ano hoki o te honore ko te ngakau papaku.

Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

13 K o te tangata e whakahoki kupu ana i te mea kahore ano ia i rongo noa, he mahi wairangi tera nana, he hanga whakama.

He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

14 E whakamanawanui te wairua o te tangata ki tona mate; tena ko te wairua maru, ko wai e kaha ki tera?

A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

15 K a whiwhi te ngakau o te tangata matau ki te mohio; e rapu ana hoki te taringa o nga whakaaro nui ki te mohio.

The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 M a te mea tuku noa a te tangata ka watea ai he wahi mona, ka kawea hoki ia e tera ki te aroaro o nga tangata nunui.

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

17 K o te tangata nana te kupu tuatahi i te whakawa me te mea kei a ia te tika; na ka haere mai tona hoa, kei te rapu i te tikanga o tana.

He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

18 M a te rota e mutu ai nga tautohe, a ko tera hei tauarai i waenganui o te hunga kaha.

The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

19 K o te tuakana, teina ranei, i whakatakariritia, pakeke atu i te pa kaha: a ko aua tu ngangare me he tutaki tatau no te whare rangatira.

A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

20 K a ki te kopu o te tangata i nga hua o tona mangai, ka makona ia i nga hua o ona ngutu.

A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

21 K o te mate, ko te ora kei te arero: ko te hunga e aroha ana ki tera ka kai i ona hua.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 K o te tangata kua kite i te wahine mana, kua kite i te mea pai, kua whiwhi hoki ki ta Ihowa whakapai.

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.

23 H e inoi ta te rawakore hanga; he taikaha ia te whakahoki a te tangata taonga.

The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

24 K o te tangata tini nga hoa aroha e whai ana i te he mona; tera ano ia te hoa aroha, nui atu i to te tuakana, i to te teina, tona piri mai.

A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.