1 M a nga ngaro mate ka piro whakahouhou ai te hinu a te kaiwhakananu: ka pera ano te whakaaro nui me te ingoa nui, he iti noa te wairangi mana e tami.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

2 K ei tona ringa matau te ngakau o te tangata whakaaro nui; kei tona maui ia te ngakau o te wairangi.

A wise man’s heart turns him toward his right hand, but a fool’s heart toward his left.

3 A e ra hoki, ka haere te wairangi i te ara, ka taka ona mahara, a ka korero ia ki nga tangata katoa he wairangi ia.

Even when he who is a fool walks along the road, his heart and understanding fail him, and he says of everyone and to everyone that he is a fool.

4 K i te ara te wairua o te rangatira, he riri ki a koe, kaua tou wahi e whakarerea; ka ai hoki te whakangawari hei whakamarie mo nga hara nui.

If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses.

5 T enei tetahi kino i kitea e ahau i raro i te ra, e rite tonu ana ki te he i puta mai i te rangatira.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler:

6 K o te wairangi e whakanohoia ana ki runga ki nga wahi tiketike rawa, a ko nga tangata taonga e noho ana i te wahi i raro.

Folly is set in great dignity and in high places, and the rich sit in low places.

7 I kite ahau i nga kaimahi i runga i te hoiho, a ko nga rangatira e haere ana, ano he kaimahi, i runga i te whenua.

I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking like slaves on the earth.

8 K o te tangata e keri ana i te rua, ka taka ano ki roto; ko te tangata e wahi ana i te taiepa, ka ngaua e te nakahi.

He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a fence or a wall, a serpent will bite him.

9 K o te tangata e tarai ana i nga kohatu, ka mamae ano i reira; ko te tangata e tata ana i te rakau, ka ora noa ano i reira.

Whoever removes stones or hews out will be hurt with them, and he who fells trees will be endangered by them.

10 K i te puhuki te rino, a kahore e whakakoia te mata, kia nui ake ano tona kaha; he pai ia nga whakaaro nui hei whakatikatika.

If the ax is dull and the man does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps him to succeed.

11 K i te ngau te nakahi i te mea kiano i whakawaia, kahore hoki he painga o te kaiwhakawai.

If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then it is no use to call a charmer.

12 H e ataahua nga kupu a te mangai o te tangata whakaaro nui; tena ko te wairangi ka horomia a ia ano e ona ngutu.

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

13 K o te timatanga o nga kupu a tona mangai he wairangi; ko te mutunga o tana korero, he haurangi, he he.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness.

14 H e maha ano hoki nga kupu a te wairangi: engari e kore te tangata e mohio ko te aha e puta mai. Na, ko nga mea e puta mai i muri i a ia, ma wai ra e whakaatu ki a ia?

A fool also multiplies words, though no man can tell what will be—and what will happen after he is gone, who can tell him?

15 H oha iho nga wairangi i tana mahi i tana mahi: e kore nei hoki ia e matau ki te haere ki te pa.

The labor of fools wearies every one of them, because he does not even know how to get to town.

16 A ue, te mate mou, e te whenua he tamaiti nei tou kingi, a e kai ana ou rangatira i te ata!

Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child or a servant and when your officials feast in the morning!

17 K a hari koe, e te whenua, he tamaiti nei no nga rangatira tou kingi, a e kai ana ou rangatira i te wa e tika ai, hei mea whakakaha, ehara i te mea hei whakahaurangi.

Happy (fortunate and to be envied) are you, O land, when your king is a free man and of noble birth and character and when your officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness!

18 M a te mangere ka totohu iho ai te tuanui o te whare; ma te ngoikore ano o nga ringa ka tuturu ai te whare.

Through indolence the rafters decay and the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

19 H ei mea mo te kata te hakari i tukua ai, he mea whakahari ano te waina; a ma te hiriwa ka rite ai nga mea katoa.

make a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and money to answer for all of it.

20 K aua e kanga te kingi, kaua rawa i roto i tou whakaaro; kaua hoki e kanga te tangata taonga i roto i tou whare moenga: no te mea ka kawea te reo e tetahi manu o te rangi, ka korerotia hoki taua mea e tetahi mea whai parirau.

Curse not the king, no, not even in your thoughts, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber, for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and a winged creature will tell the matter.