1 H e whakatauki ano enei na Horomona, he mea tuhi e nga tangata a Hetekia kingi o Hura.

These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2 K o to te Atua whakakororia, he hunga mea; ko to nga kingi whakakororia he rapu mea.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3 K o te rangi mo te tiketike, ko te whenua mo te hohonu, a ko te ngakau o nga kingi, te taea te rapu.

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 T ahia atu te para i te hiriwa, a ka puta mai he oko ma te kaitahi para:

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5 T angohia atu te tangata kino i te aroaro o te kingi, a ka u tona torona i runga i te tika.

Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 K ei whakaputa i a koe ki mua i te aroaro o te kingi, kei tu hoki ki te wahi o nga metararahi.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7 H e pai he hoki kia kiia mai ki a koe, Haere mai ki runga nei; i te mea kia whakahokia iho koe ki raro i te aroaro o te rangatira i kitea nei e ou kanohi.

for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

8 K ei hohoro te haere ki te ngangare, kei kore e kitea e koe tau e mea ai i tona mutunga iho, ina meinga koe e tou hoa kia whakama.

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9 T ohea tau tohe ki tou hoa tonu, a kaua e whakina te mea hunga a tetahi:

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 K ei kohukohutia koe e te tangata i rongo, a kore ake tou ingoa kino e tahuri atu.

lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 H e kupu i tika te korero, ko tona rite kei nga a poro koura i roto i nga kete hiriwa.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 H e pera i te whakakai koura, i te whakapaipai koura parakore koia ano te ako a te whakaaro nui ki te taringa rongo.

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 R ite tonu ki te matao o te hukarere i te kotinga witi te karere pono ki ona kaingare; ka ora hoki i a ia te ngakau o ona ariki.

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14 H e pera i nga kapua me te hau uakore, koia ano te rite o te tangata e whakamanamana ana ki ana hakari horihori.

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 M a te roa e whakamanawanui ana ka whakaae mai ai te kingi, a ma te arero ngawarika mangungu ai te wheua.

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16 K ua kitea e koe he honi? Kainga ko te wahi e makona ai koe; kei ki rawa koe i taua mea, ka ruakina e koe.

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17 K ia takitahi tou waewae ki te whare o tou hoa; kei hoha ia ki a koe, a ka kino ki a koe.

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18 K o te tangata e whakaatu teka ana mo tona hoa, he patu ia, he hoari, a he pere koi.

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 K o te whakawhirinaki ki te tangata tinihanga i te wa o te raru, e rite ana ki te niho whati, ki te waewae kua takoki.

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20 K o te tangata e waiata ana ki te ngakau pouri, e rite ana ki te tangata e whakarere ana i te kakahu i te rangi maeke, ki te winika hoki i runga i te houra.

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21 K i te matekai tou hoariri whangaia ki te taro; ki te matewai whakainumia ki te wai;

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 K a purangatia hoki e koe he waro kapura ki tona mahunga, a ka utua tau e Ihowa.

for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

23 E mauria ana mai e te hauraro he ua: e peratia ana hoki e te arero ngautuara, he kanohi pukuriri.

The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 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 dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 H e rongo pai no te whenua tawhiti, tona rite kei nga wai matao ki te wairua matewai.

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 M e te manawa whenua i takatakahia, me te puna i whakaparuparutia, koia ano te tangata tika e hinga ana i te aroaro o te tangata kino.

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27 E hara i te mea pai te kai nui i te honi; waihoki ko a te tangata rapu i to ratou ake kororia ehara i te kororia.

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28 K o te tangata e kore nei e pehi i tona wairua, e rite ana ki te pa kua pakaru, kahore ona taiepa.

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.