1 W hakarongo, e aku tamariki, ki te whakaako a te matua, tahuri mai hoki kia matauria ai nga whakaaro mohio.

O sons, hear the teaching of a father. Listen so you may get understanding.

2 H e pai hoki te kupu mohio ka hoatu nei e ahau ki a koutou, kaua taku ture e whakarerea.

For I give you good teaching. Do not turn away from it.

3 H e tama ano hoki ahau ki toku papa, a he ngawari, he mea kotahi e matenuitia ana e toku whaea.

When I was a much loved and only son of my mother and father,

4 I whakaako ano ia i ahau, i mea ki ahau, Puritia aku kupu e tou ngakau; kia mau ki aku whakahau, a e ora koe.

he taught me, saying, “Hold my words close to your heart. Keep my teachings and live.

5 W haia mou te whakaaro nui, whaia mou te matauranga; kaua e wareware ki tera, kaua hoki e neke atu i nga kupu a toku mangai.

Get wisdom and understanding. Do not forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 K aua ia e whakarerea, a mana koe e tiaki; arohaina ia, a mana koe e mau ai.

Do not leave her alone, and she will keep you safe. Love her, and she will watch over you.

7 K o te whakaaro nui te tino mea; no reira whaia mau te whakaaro nui; a i ou whiwhinga katoa, kia whiwhi koe ki te matauranga.

The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom! And with all you have gotten, get understanding.

8 W hakanuia ia, a mana koe ka kake ai; ka whakahonore ia i a koe ki te awhitia e koe.

Honor her and she will honor you. She will honor you if you hold her to your heart.

9 K a homai e ia he pare ataahua ki tou mahunga, ka potaea ano koe e ia ki te karauna whakapaipai.

She will put on your head a crown of loving-favor and beauty.”

10 W hakarongo, e taku tama, maharatia aku kupu, a he maha nga tau e ora ai koe.

Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.

11 H e mea whakaako koe naku ki te ara o te whakaaro nui; he mea arahi koe naku i nga ara o te tika.

I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you on the right paths.

12 K a haere koe, e kore ou takahanga e whakakikitia mai; ki te rere koe, e kore koe e tutuki.

When you walk, your steps will not be stopped. If you run, you will not trip.

13 K ia mau ki te ako, kaua e tukua atu; matapoporetia iho, ko tou oranga hoki ia.

Take hold of teaching. Do not let go. Watch over her, for she is your life.

14 K aua e haere i te ara o te hunga kino, kaua hoki e takahia te huarahi o te hunga he.

Do not go on the path of the sinful. Do not walk in the way of bad men.

15 A nga ke ake, kaua e tika na reira; peka ake i taua ara, haere tonu atu.

Stay away from it. Do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

16 E kore hoki ratou e moe ki te kore e oti tetahi mahi he ma ratou; riro rawa to ratou moe, ki te kahore tetahi tangata e hinga i a ratou.

For they cannot sleep unless they do wrong. They are robbed of sleep unless they make someone fall.

17 N o te kino hoki te taro e kainga ana e ratou, no te nanakia te waina e inumia ana e ratou.

For they eat the bread of sin, and drink the wine of wrong-doing.

18 K o te huarahi ia o te hunga tika, koia ano kei te marama e whiti ana, a ka neke haere tonu ake tona marama, a taea noatia te tino ra.

But the way of those who are right is like the early morning light. It shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

19 K o te ara o te hunga kino, me he pouri; e kore ratou e mohio ki te mea i tutuki ai ratou.

The way of the sinful is like darkness. They do not know what they trip over.

20 E taku tama, tahuri ki aku kupu; anga mai tou taringa ki aku korero.

My son, listen to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

21 K ei kotiti ke enei i ou kanohi; puritia i waenganui o tou ngakau.

Do not let them leave your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.

22 H e oranga enei mo te hunga e kitea ai, he rongoa mo o ratou kikokiko katoa.

For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

23 K ia pau ou mahara ki te tiaki i tou ngakau; no reira hoki nga putanga o te ora.

Keep your heart pure for out of it are the important things of life.

24 W hakarerea te mangai whanoke, kia matara rawa i a koe nga ngutu tutu.

Put false speaking away from you. Put bad talk far from you.

25 K ia hangai tonu te titiro whakamua a ou kanohi; kia titiro ou kamo ki mua tonu i a koe.

Let your eyes look straight in front of you, and keep looking at what is in front of you.

26 W hakatikaia te huarahi o ou waewae, kia u ano hoki ou ara katoa.

Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

27 K aua e peka ki matau, ki maui; kia anga ke tou waewae i te kino.

Do not turn to the right or to the left. Turn your foot away from sin.