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

These also are 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 glory 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.

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So 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 cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:

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 thyself forward 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 is it 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 neighbor 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 neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of 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 revile thee, 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 network 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 ear-ring 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.

As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

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 ruler 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.

Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and 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 neighbor 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 one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a 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 wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will 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 bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

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 contentious woman 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.

As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

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 out their own glory is grievous.

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 whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.