1 T he words of Agur the son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ithiel and Ucal:

Ko nga kupu a Akuru tama a Iakehe; ko te poropititanga. I korero taua tangata ki a Itiere, ki a Itiere raua ko Ukara,

2 F or sure, I am more foolish than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man.

He pono ko ahau te mea poauau rawa o nga tangata, kahore hoki he matauranga tangata i roto i ahau.

3 I have not learned wisdom, and I do not know much about the Holy One.

Kihai hoki ahau i whakaakona ki te whakaaro nui, kihai ano i mohio ki te Mea Tapu.

4 W ho has gone up into heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has gathered the waters in His coat? Who has put in place all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? For sure you know!

Ko wai kua piki atu ki te rangi, a heke mai ai ano? Ko wai kua pupu i te hau ki roto ki ona ringa? Na wai i takai nga wai ki roto ki tona kakahu? Na wai i whakapumau nga pito katoa o te whenua? Ko wai tona ingoa, a ko wai hoki te ingoa o tana tam a, ki te mohiotia e koe?

5 E very word of God has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him.

Ko nga kupu katoa a te Atua he mea whakamatau: he whakangungu rakau ia ki te hunga katoa e whakawhirinaki ana ki a ia.

6 D o not add to His words, or He will speak strong words to you and prove you to be a liar.

Kaua e tapiritia etahi kupu ki ana, kei riria e ia tou he, a ka kitea koe he tangata korero teka.

7 T wo things I have asked of You. Do not keep me from having them before I die:

E rua nga mea kua inoia e ahau i a koe; kaua ena e kaiponuhia i ahau i mua i toku matenga;

8 T ake lies and what is false far from me. Do not let me be poor or rich. Feed me with the food that I need.

Whakamataratia atu i ahau te horihori me te korero teka; kaua e homai te rawakore ki ahau, te taonga ranei; whangaia ahau ki te kai e rite ana maku:

9 T hen I will not be afraid that I will be full and turn my back against You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And I will not be afraid that I will be poor and steal, and bring shame on the name of my God.

Kei makona ahau, a ka whakakahore ki a koe, ka mea, Ko wai a Ihowa? Kei rawakore ranei ahau, a ka whanako, ka whakahua noa hoki i te ingoa o toku Atua.

10 D o not speak against a slave while talking with his owner, or he may curse you and you will be found guilty.

Kaua e korerotia te pononga ki tona ariki, kei kanga ia i a koe, a ko koe e he.

11 T here are those who curse their fathers, and do not honor their mothers.

Tera te whakatupuranga, he kanga ta ratou i to ratou papa, kahore hoki e manaaki i to ratou whaea.

12 T here are people who are pure in their own eyes, but are not washed from their own dirt.

Tera te whakatupuranga, he ma ki ta ratou na titiro, otira kahore ano kia horoia atu to ratou paru.

13 T here is a kind, O, how proud are his eyes! His eyes are opened wide with pride.

Tera te whakatupuranga, Na, te whakakake o o ratou kanohi! Kua whakarewaina ake hoki o ratou kamo.

14 T here is a kind of man whose teeth are swords, whose jaws are like knives, who eat up those who are suffering from the earth, and those in need from among men.

Tera te whakatupuranga, ko o ratou niho ano he hoari, ko o ratou niho purakau ano he maripi, hei horo i te hunga iti i runga i te whenua, i nga rawakore hoki i roto i nga tangata.

15 T he one who lives by the blood of another has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that are never filled, four that never say, “Enough”:

E rua nga tamahine a te ngate, ko ta raua karanga, Homai, homa. E toru nga mea e kore rawa e makona, ae ra, e wha nga mea e kore e ki, Kati:

16 T he place of the dead, the woman who cannot have children, the earth that is always thirsty for water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”

Ko te rua tupapaku; ko te kopu pakoko; ko te whenua kihai i pukuwaitia; a ko te ahi e kore nei e ki, Kati.

17 T he eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the young eagles.

Ko te kanohi e whakahi ana ki te papa, e whakahawea ana ki te whakarongo ki tona whaea, ma nga raweni o te awaawa ia e tikaro, a ma nga pi ekara e kai.

18 T here are three things which are too great for me, four which I do not understand:

E toru nga mea he whakamiharo rawa, e kore e taea e ahau, ae ra, e wha kahore e mohiotia e ahau:

19 T he way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship out at sea, and the way of a man with a woman.

Ko te huarahi o te ekara i te rangi; ko te huarahi o te nakahi i runga i te kamaka; ko te huarahi o te kaipuke i waenga moana; a ko te huarahi o te tangata ki te kotiro.

20 T his is the way of a woman who is not faithful in marriage: She eats and washes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong.”

He pera ano te huarahi o te wahine puremu; ka kai ia, a ka horoi i tona mangai, a ka ki, Kahore aku mahi he.

21 U nder three things the earth shakes, and under four it cannot stand:

E toru nga mea e korikori ai te whenua, a e wha, he mea e kore e manawanuitia e ia:

22 U nder a servant when he becomes king, under a fool when he is filled with food,

Ko te pononga ina whakakingitia ia; ko te wairangi hoki ina makona i te taro;

23 u nder a woman who is not loved when she gets a husband, and under a woman servant when she takes the place of the woman of the house.

Ko te wahine whakarihariha ina whiwhi i te tane; a ko te pononga wahine ina tuku iho mana nga mea a tona rangatira.

24 T here are four things that are small on the earth, but they are very wise:

E wha nga mea ririki i runga i te whenua, he nui noa atu ia nga whakaaro:

25 T he ants are not a strong people, but they store up their food in the summer.

Ko nga popokorua ehara i te iwi kaha, heoi e mea ana i te kai ma ratou i te raumati;

26 T he badgers are not a strong people, but they make their houses in the rocks.

Ko nga koni, he iwi ngoikore, heoi e hanga ana i o ratou whare ki te kamaka;

27 T he locusts have no king, but they go as an army.

Ko nga mawhitiwhiti, kahore o ratou kingi, heoi haere ropu ana ratou katoa;

28 Y ou can take the lizard in your hands, but it is found in kings’ houses.

Ko te mokomoko, ko ona peke hei pupuri mana; otiia kei roto ia i nga whare kingi.

29 T here are three things which have honor in their steps, even four which show honor in their walk:

E toru nga mea, he tau ta ratou hikoi, ae ra, e wha he huatau ki te haere:

30 T he lion, which is powerful among wild animals and does not turn away from any,

Ko te raiona, ko te mea kaha rawa o nga kararehe, e kore nei e tahuri mai i te aroaro o tetahi;

31 t he proud rooster, the male goat, and a king when his army is with him.

Ko te kuri horo; ko te koati toa ano hoki; a ko te kingi, kahore nei tetahi e maranga ake ki a ia.

32 I f you have been foolish in honoring yourself, or if you have planned wrong-doing, put your hand on your mouth.

Ki te mea he mahi kuware tau i a koe i whakaneke ake ai i a koe, ki te mea ranei i whakaaro kino koe, kopania tou ringa ki tou mangai.

33 S haking milk makes butter, and hitting the nose brings blood. So fighting comes because of anger.

He pono hoki ki te hurihia te waiu ka puta mai he pata, a ki te kowiria te ihu ka puta mai he toto: waihoki ki te akina te riri ka puta he whawhai.