1 E taku tama, puritia aku kupu, huna aku whakahau ki roto ki a koe.

My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.

2 P uritia aku whakahau, a ka ora; taku ture, ano ko te whatupango o tou kanohi.

Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye.

3 H erea ki ou maihao; tuhituhia, ko tou ngakau ano hei papa.

Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 K i atu ki te whakaaro nui, He tuahine koe noku; kiia hoki te matauranga ko tou whanaunga wahine:

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin,

5 K ia ai enei hei tiaki i a koe kei he i te wahine ke, i te wahine ke, he korero whakapati nei ana.

That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. The Crafty Harlot

6 I titiro atu hoki ahau i te matapihi o toku whare i roto i toku whakakahokaho;

For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice,

7 A i matakitaki ahau i roto i nga kuware, i kite i roto i nga taitama, i tetahi tamaiti kahore rawa he whakaaro,

And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding,

8 E haere ana i te ara i te wahi tata e piko atu ai ki a ia, a haere ana ia i te ara ki tona whare.

Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house

9 I te kakarauritanga, i te ahiahi o te ra, i te titiwhatanga o te po, i te pouri kerekere.

In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night.

10 N a, kua tutaki tetahi wahine ki a ia, he kakahu puremu tona, he ngakau hianga.

And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.

11 H e mangai koroki tona, he tohetohe; ko ona waewae, kahore e tau ki tona whare:

She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home.

12 I naianei kei nga ara ia, inamata kei nga waharoa, e tauwhanga ana i nga kokinga katoa.

At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner.

13 K oia i hopukia ai ia e ia, kei te kihi i a ia, a ka mea atu ki a ia, me te whakatoi ano i tona mata,

So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him:

14 H e patunga mo te pai kei ahau; no tenei ra nei ahau i whakamana ai i aku kupu taurangi;

“ I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows.

15 K oia ahau i haere mai ai ki te whakatau i a koe, ki te ata rapu i tou mata, a ka kitea nei koe e ahau.

So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you.

16 K o toku moenga kua horahia e ahau, whakapaipai rawa ki te kaitaka, ki nga kakahu purepure no te rinena o Ihipa.

I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.

17 K ua ruia e ahau toku moenga ki nga mea whakakakara, ki te maira, ki te aroe, ki te hinamona.

I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 H aere mai, kia whaowhina taua ki te aroha, a ao noa; kia ora o taua ngakau i te aroha.

Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love.

19 K ahore hoki taku tane i te whare: kua riro ia, he haere tawhiti:

For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey;

20 I maua atu e ia he putea moni i tona ringa; ka hoki mai ano ia i te kowhititanga o te marama.

He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.”

21 H e maha no ana korero whakawai, riro ana ia i a ia ki tana; na te whakapati a ona ngutu ka kumea atu ia e ia.

With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him.

22 H aere tonu ia i muri i a ia, ano he kau e haere ana kia patua, he kuware ranei e haere ana ki nga rakau here waewae e whiua ai te he;

Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,

23 A tu noa te tao ki tona ate puta rawa; rite tonu ia ki te manu e hohoro ana ki te mahanga, te mohio he matenga tera mona.

Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life.

24 N o reira, e aku tamariki, whakarongo ki ahau, maharatia nga kupu a toku mangai.

Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth:

25 K ei peau ke tou ngakau ki ona ara, kei kotiti ke ki ona huarahi.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths;

26 H e tokomaha hoki nga tangata i tu, i hinga i a ia, ae ra, he ope nui rawa tana i patu ai.

For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men.

27 H e huarahi tona whare ki te reinga, e anga ana ki raro ki nga ruma o te mate.

Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.