1 K o te tangata he maha nei nga riringa i tona he, a ka whakapakeke i tona kaki, ka whatiia ohoreretia ia; te taea te rongoa.

A man who does not listen after many strong words are spoken to him will be destroyed all at once and without help.

2 K a whakanuia te hunga tika, ka koa te iwi; ka kingi te tangata kino, ka aue te iwi.

When those who are right with God rule, the people are glad, but when a sinful man rules, the people have sorrow.

3 K o te tangata e matenui ana ki te whakaaro nui e whakahari ana i tona papa; ko te tangata ia e piri ana ki nga wahine kairau, he maumau taonga tana.

A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but he who goes with women who sell the use of their bodies wastes his money.

4 M a te whakawa a te kingi e mau ai te whenua; ka whakataka ia e te tangata e tango ana i nga mea homai noa.

The king makes the land strong by doing what is right and fair, but the one who takes pay for doing wrong, destroys it.

5 K o te tangata e whakapati ana ki tona hoa, e whakatakoto kupenga ana mo ona waewae.

A man who gives his neighbor sweet-sounding words that are not true spreads a net for his own feet.

6 H e rore kei roto i te he o te tangata kino; ko te tangata tika ia he waiata tana, he koa.

A sinful man is trapped by his sins, but a man who is right with God sings for joy.

7 E mahara ana te tangata tika ki te take a te rawakore: kahore o te tangata kino whakaaro kia mohiotia e ia.

The man who is right with God cares about the rights of poor people, but the sinful man does not understand such things.

8 M a nga tangata whakahi e tahu te pa kia mura: ko ta te hunga whakaaro nui ia he whakatahuri atu i te riri.

Men who speak against others set a city on fire, but wise men turn away anger.

9 K i te totohe te tangata whakaaro nui ki te tangata wairangi, ahakoa riri ia, kata ranei, kahore he tanga.

When a wise man argues with a foolish man, the fool only gets angry or laughs, and there is no peace and quiet.

10 E mauahara ana te tangata whakaheke toto ki te tangata i te ngakau tapatahi: tena ko te hunga tika, ka whai ratou kia whakaorangia ia.

Men who kill hate him without blame, but a good man cares for his life.

11 E tuakina ana e te wairangi tona riri katoa ki waho: e puritia mai ana ia e te tangata whakaaro nui, e pehia ana.

A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man keeps quiet.

12 K i te whakarongo te rangatira ki te teka, he kino katoa ana tangata.

If a ruler listens to lies, all who work for him will become sinful.

13 E tutaki ana te rawakore raua ko te kaitukino ki a raua; ko Ihowa te kaiwhakamarama o nga kanohi o raua tokorua.

The Lord gives light to the eyes of both the poor man and the man who makes it hard for others.

14 K o te kingi e pono ana tana whakawa mo nga rawakore, ka whakapumautia tona torona ake ake.

If the king is fair as he judges the poor, his throne will stand forever.

15 K o te whiu, ko te riri i te he, he mea homai era i te whakaaro nui: tena ko te tamaiti mahue noa, ka whakama i a ia tona whaea.

The stick and strong words give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

16 K a tokomaha te hunga kino, ka nui te he: ka kite ia te hunga tika i to ratou hinganga.

When the sinful are many, sins become many, but those who are right with God will see their fall.

17 P akia tau tama, a ka whai okiokinga koe i a ia; ae ra, he ahuareka tana e homai ai ki tou wairua.

Punish your son when he does wrong and he will give you comfort. Yes, he will give joy to your soul.

18 K i te kahore he whakakitenga, ka kore te iwi e tupato: ko te kaipupuri ia i te ture, ka hari ia.

Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.

19 E hara te kupu i te papaki mo te pononga: ahakoa hoki ia matau, e kore ia e rongo.

A servant will not be taught by words alone. For even if he understands, he will not answer.

20 K a kite ranei koe i te tangata kaika ki te korero? engari te wairangi ka totika ake i a ia.

Do you see a man who is quick with his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 K o te tangata e penapena ana i tana pononga mai o te tamarikitanga, ka waiho ia e ia i te mutunga hei tama tupu.

He who gives good care to his servant from the time he is young, will in the end find him to be a son.

22 H e whakaoho whawhai ta te tangata pukuriri: he nui rawa hoki te he o te tangata aritarite.

A man of anger starts fights, and a man with a bad temper is full of wrong-doing.

23 K a whakaititia iho te tangata e tona whakapehapeha: ka whai honore ia te tangata ngakau papaku.

A man’s pride will bring him down, but he whose spirit is without pride will receive honor.

24 K o te tangata e whakauru ana ki ta te tahae, e kino ana ki tona ake wairua: e rongo ana ia i te kanga, kahore e kiki.

He who works with a robber hates his own life. He knows about the bad that will come, but can tell nothing.

25 H e rore e homai ana e te wehi ki te tangata: ko te tangata ia e whakawhirinaki ana ki a Ihowa ka mawhiti.

The fear of man brings a trap, but he who trusts in the Lord will be honored.

26 H e tokomaha e whai ana kia paingia e te rangatira: otiia i ahu mai i a Ihowa te whakawa mo te tangata.

Many look for the ruler’s favor, but what is right and fair comes from the Lord.

27 H e mea whakarihariha ki te hunga tika te tangata whakahaere he; a he mea whakarihariha hoki ki te tangata kino te tangata he tika tona ara.

A sinful man is a shame to those who are right with God, and he who is right with God is a shame to the sinful.