1 K ei roto te ngakau o te kingi i te ringa o Ihowa ano he awa rerenga wai; e whakaangahia ana e ia ki nga wahi katoa e pai ai ia.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.

2 K o nga ara katoa o te tangata, tika kau ki ona kanohi ake: ko Ihowa ia hei pauna i nga ngakau.

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.

3 K o te mahi i te tika, i te whakawa, ki ta Ihowa, pai atu i te patunga tapu.

To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.

4 H e kanohi whakakake, he ngakau whakapehapeha, a ko te rama hoki o te hunga kino, he hara kau.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5 K o nga whakaaro o te tangata uaua e ahu anake ana ki te hua o te taonga: ko te hunga takare katoa ia e whawhai kau ana ki te muhore.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

6 E rite ana ta te arero teka ami i te taonga ki te mamaoa e aia noatia ana; ko te hunga e rapu ana i era e rapu ana i te mate.

The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.

7 M a te pahua a te hunga kino e tahi atu ratou; mo ratou kahore e pai ki te whakawa.

The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.

8 H e ara tino kopikopiko to te tangata e waha ana i te hara: tena ko te tangata ma, he tika tana mahi.

The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

9 H e pai ke te noho i te kokonga o te tuanui, i te noho tahi me te wahine ngangare i roto i te whare mahorahora.

It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

10 K o ta te wairua o te tangata kino he hiahia ki te kino; e kore ona kanohi e manako ki tona hoa.

The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 K i te whiua te tangata whakahi, ka whai whakaaro te kuware: a, ki te whakaakona te tangata whakaaro nui, ka whiwhi ia ki te matauranga.

When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 K a ata whakaaroa e te tangata tika te whare o te tangata kino; te peheatanga e whakataka ai te hunga kino ki te mate mo ratou.

The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin.

13 K o te tangata e puru ana i ona taringa ki te karanga a te rawakore, tera hoki ia e karanga, heoi e kore e whakarangona.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.

14 M a te mea homai puku ka marie ai te riri, ma te moni whakapati hoki i roto i te uma ka marie ai te aritarita kaha.

A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 H e mahi koa na te tangata tika te whakawa; mo nga kaimahi ia i te kino, ko te whakangaromanga.

The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

16 K o te tangata e kotiti ke ana i te huarahi o te mahara, ka noho ia i te whakaminenga o nga tupapaku.

A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 K o te tangata matenui ki nga ahuareka, ka rawakore: a, ko te tangata e matenui ana ki te waina, ki te hinu, e kore e whai taonga.

He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

18 H ei utu te tangata kino mo te tangata tika; a ka haere mai te tangata kopeka hei whakakapi mo te tangata tu tika.

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

19 H e pai ke te noho i te koraha, i te noho tahi me te wahine tohetohe, wahine pukukino.

It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

20 K ei te nohoanga o te tangata whakaaro nui te taonga momohanga me te hinu; heoi maumauria ake e te wairangi.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.

21 K o te tangata e whai ana i te tika, i te atawhai, ka whiwhi ki te ora, ki te tika, ki te honore.

He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.

22 K a pikitia e te tangata whakaaro nui te pa o nga marohirohi, ka taka hoki i a ia te kaha i whakawhirinaki ai ratou.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 K o te tangata e tiaki ana i tona mangai, i tona arero, e tiaki ana i tona wairua kei raru.

He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.

24 K o te tangata whakakake, whakapehapeha, ko te tangata whakahi tona ingoa, e mahi ana ia i runga i te whakahirahira o tona whakamanamana.

“Proud,” “Haughty,” “ Scoffer,” are his names, Who acts with insolent pride.

25 K a mate te tangata mangere i tona hiahia ano; e kore hoki ona ringa e pai ki te mahi.

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;

26 T era te hanga he kaiapo tonu a pau noa te ra: ko ta te tangata tika ia he homai, kahore hoki ana kaiponu.

All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 H e mea whakarihariha te whakahere a te tangata kino; tera noa ake ina he te whakaaro i kawea mai ai e ia.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

28 K a mate te kaiwhakaatu teka; na, ko te tangata whakarongo, ka korero, kahore he kaiwhakahe.

A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

29 K a whakamaro te tangata kino i tona mata: tena ko te tangata tika, ka whakapai i ona ara.

A wicked man displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.

30 I to Ihowa aroaro kahore he whakaaro nui, kahore he matauranga, kahore he kupu mohio, e tu.

There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.

31 K ua rite noa ake he hoiho mo te ra o te whawhai; kei a Ihowa ia te whakaoranga.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.