1 H e pera i te hukarere i te raumati, i te ua hoki i te kotinga witi, te kore e tau o te honore mo te wairangi.

As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 H e pera i te manu e rererere noa ana, i te waroa i ona rerenga te kanga pokanoa; e kore e whakatau.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.

3 H e whiu mo te hoiho, he paraire mo te kaihe, a he rakau mo te tuara o nga wairangi.

A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.

4 K ei rite ki tona whakaarokore tau whakautu ki te wairangi, kei rite hoki a koe na ki a ia.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.

5 K ia rite ki tona whakaarokore tau whakautu ki te wairangi, kei mea ia he whakaaro nui ia.

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 K o te tangata e tuku korero ana ma te ringa o te wairangi, e tapahi ana i ona waewae ano, e inumia ana hoki te he.

He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 E tautau noa ana nga waewae o te kopa: he pera hoki te whakatauki i te mangai o te wairangi.

Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 K o te takai mea whakapaipai i roto i te puranga kohatu, ko tona rite kei te tangata e whakakororia ano i te wairangi.

Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 E rite ana ki te tataramoa e wero nei i te ringa o te haurangi, koia ano te whakatauki i te mangai o nga wairangi.

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 K a rite ki te kaikopere i tu ai te katoa, te tangata e utu ana i te wairangi me te tangata hoki e utu ana i nga tira haere.

The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

11 K a rite ki te kuri e hoki nei ki tona ruaki, te wairangi e tuarua ana i tona poauau.

As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

12 K a kite koe i te tangata e mea ana ki a ia he whakaaro nui? Ki ta te whakaaro tera e rahi ake ta te wairangi i tana.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 E ki ana te mangere, He raiona kei te ara; he raiona kei nga waharoa.

The lazy man says, “ There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!”

14 H e pera i te tatau e tahurihuri ra i runga i ona inihi, koia ano te mangere i runga i tona moenga.

As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed.

15 E kuhua ana e te mangere tona ringa ki te rihi; he mahi ngenge rawa ki a ia te whakahoki mai ki tona mangai.

The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16 H e nui ke ake te whakaaro nui o te mangere, ki tana nei whakaaro, i to nga tangata tokowhitu e whakaatu ana i te tikanga.

The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 K o te tangata e haere atu ana, e pokanoa ana ki te whawhai ehara nei i a ia, ko tona rite kei te tangata e hopu ana i te kuri ki ona taringa.

He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 R ite tonu ki te haurangi e makamaka ana i nga mea mura, i nga pere, i te mate,

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 T e tangata e tinihanga ana ki tona hoa, e mea ana, He teka ianei he takaro taku?

Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!”

20 K i te kahore he wahie, ka mate te ahi: ki te kore hoki he tangata kawekawe korero, ka mutu te ngangare.

Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

21 H e waro ki nga ngarahu wera, he wahie ki te ahi; he pera te tangata totohe ki te tahu i te ngangare.

As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 H e rite nga kupu a te kaikawekawe korero ki te maramara reka, tae tonu iho ki nga wahi o roto rawa o te kopu.

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

23 H e ngutu puka me te ngakau kino, ko te rite kei te oko oneone i whakakikoruatia ki te para hiriwa.

Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24 K o te tangata mauahara e whakaware ana ki ona ngutu, otiia e rongoatia ana e ia te tinihanga ki roto ki a ia:

He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself;

25 K i te pai tona reo, kaua e whakapono ki a ia; e whitu hoki nga mea whakarihariha kei roto i tona ngakau.

When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart;

26 A hakoa hipoki tona mauahara i a ia ki te tinihanga, ka whakakitea nuitia tona kino ki te aroaro o te whakaminenga.

Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

27 K o te tangata e keri ana i te rua, ka taka ano ki roto: a ko te tangata e huri ana i te kohatu, ka hoki mai ano ki runga ki a ia.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28 E kino ana te arero teka ki ana i kuru ai; a, ko ta te mangai whakapati, he mahi kia ngaro.

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.