1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

Ko te tangata tu ke, e whai ana i ta tona ake hiahia, e ngangau ana ki nga whakaaro totika katoa.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

Kahore o te whakaarokore ahuareka ki te matauranga; engari kia whakakitea e ia tona ngakau.

3 W hen the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.

I te taenga mai o te tangata kino ka tae mai ano te whakahawea, me te tawai hei hoa mo te whakama.

4 T he words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

He wai hohonu nga kupu a te mangai o te tangata; he awa e rere ana te puna o te whakaaro nui.

5 I t is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

Ehara i te mea pai te whakapai ki te kanohi o te tangata kino, te whakapeau ke ranei i ta te tangata tika ina whakawa.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.

E uru ana nga ngutu o te whakaarokore ki te totohe, e karanga ana tona mangai ki nga whiu.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

Hei hunga ano mona te mangai o te whakaarokore; a ko ona ngutu hei rore mo tona wairua.

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

Ano he kai reka nga kupu a te kawe korero; tae tonu iho ki nga wahi o roto rawa o te kopu.

9 H e who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

Ko te tangata ano hoki e mangere ana ki tana mahi, hei teina ia ki te tangata maumau.

10 T he name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Hei pourewa kaha te ingoa o Ihowa; rere ana te tangata tika ki reira, a ora ake.

11 T he rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.

Ko nga rawa o te tangata taonga hei pa kaha mona, hei pa tiketike ki tona whakaaro.

12 B efore destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

I mua ake o te whakangaromanga ka whakakake te ngakau o te tangata; i mua ake ano hoki o te honore ko te ngakau papaku.

13 H e who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.

Ko te tangata e whakahoki kupu ana i te mea kahore ano ia i rongo noa, he mahi wairangi tera nana, he hanga whakama.

14 T he spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

E whakamanawanui te wairua o te tangata ki tona mate; tena ko te wairua maru, ko wai e kaha ki tera?

15 T he heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Ka whiwhi te ngakau o te tangata matau ki te mohio; e rapu ana hoki te taringa o nga whakaaro nui ki te mohio.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.

Ma te mea tuku noa a te tangata ka watea ai he wahi mona, ka kawea hoki ia e tera ki te aroaro o nga tangata nunui.

17 T he first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

Ko te tangata nana te kupu tuatahi i te whakawa me te mea kei a ia te tika; na ka haere mai tona hoa, kei te rapu i te tikanga o tana.

18 C asting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.

Ma te rota e mutu ai nga tautohe, a ko tera hei tauarai i waenganui o te hunga kaha.

19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Ko te tuakana, teina ranei, i whakatakariritia, pakeke atu i te pa kaha: a ko aua tu ngangare me he tutaki tatau no te whare rangatira.

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

Ka ki te kopu o te tangata i nga hua o tona mangai, ka makona ia i nga hua o ona ngutu.

21 D eath and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ko te mate, ko te ora kei te arero: ko te hunga e aroha ana ki tera ka kai i ona hua.

22 H e who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.

Ko te tangata kua kite i te wahine mana, kua kite i te mea pai, kua whiwhi hoki ki ta Ihowa whakapai.

23 T he poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.

He inoi ta te rawakore hanga; he taikaha ia te whakahoki a te tangata taonga.

24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Ko te tangata tini nga hoa aroha e whai ana i te he mona; tera ano ia te hoa aroha, nui atu i to te tuakana, i to te teina, tona piri mai.