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 in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; 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 way of a man 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 more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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

A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are 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 plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, 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.

Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek 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 destroy them, Because they refuse to do 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 perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right.

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.

Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, 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 simple is made 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 God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

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.

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.

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 pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.

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

It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come 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 be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be 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 shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.

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

Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry 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 desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.

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 follows righteousness and mercy 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 trusted stronghold.

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

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps 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.

A proud and haughty man — “Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant 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 lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.

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.

He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare.

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 wicked intent!

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

A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

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

A wicked man hardens his face, But as for the upright, he establishes his way.

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

There is no wisdom or understanding Or 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 deliverance is of the Lord.