1 T he words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

Ko nga kupu a Kingi Remuera; ko te poropititanga i whakaakona ai ia e tona whaea.

2 W hat, my son? What, son who came from within me? What, son of my promises?

He aha, e taku tama? He aha, e te tama a toku kopu? A he aha, e te tama a aku kupu taurangi?

3 D o not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings.

Kaua e hoatu tou kaha ki nga wahine, ou ara hoki ki te mea whakangaro o nga kingi.

4 I t is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink.

Ehara ma nga kingi, e Remuera, ehara ma nga kingi te inu waina; ehara hoki ma nga rangatira te mea, Kei hea he wai kaha?

5 O r they might drink and forget the law, and go against the rights of all who are suffering.

Kei inu ratou, a ka wareware ki te ture, a ka whakapeau ke i te whakawa o te tangata e tukinotia ana.

6 G ive strong drink to him who is about to die, and wine to him whose life is full of trouble.

Hoatu he wai kaha ma te tangata e tata ana te marere, he waina hoki ki nga wairua pouri:

7 L et him drink and forget how poor he is, and remember his trouble no more.

Tukua ia kia inu, kia wareware ai ki tona rawakore, a kore ake he mahara ki ona mate.

8 O pen your mouth for those who cannot speak, and for the rights of those who are left without help.

Kia puaki tou mangai mo te wahangu, i te whakawakanga o te hunga katoa kua waiho mo te mate.

9 O pen your mouth. Be right and fair in what you decide. Stand up for the rights of those who are suffering and in need.

Kia puaki tou mangai, whakaritea te whakawa i runga i te tika, tohea te tohe a te ware, a te rawakore.

10 W ho can find a good wife? For she is worth far more than rubies that make one rich.

Ko wai e kite i te wahine e u ana tona pai? Ko tona utu hoki kei runga noa atu i to nga rupi.

11 T he heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never stop getting good things.

Ka whakapono te ngakau o tana tane ki a ia, a kahore ona hapanga i te taonga.

12 S he does him good and not bad all the days of her life.

He pai tana e mea ai ki a ia, kahore hoki he kino, i nga ra katoa e ora ai ia.

13 S he looks for wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

E kimi ana ia i te huruhuru hipi, i te muka, a ka ngakau nui te mahi a ona ringa.

14 S he is like ships that trade. She brings her food from far away.

Ko tona rite kei nga kaipuke o nga kaihokohoko; e mauria mai ana e ia tana kai i tawhiti.

15 S he rises while it is still night and makes food for all those in her house. She gives work for the young women to do.

E maranga ana hoki ia i te mea e po tonu ana, a hoatu ana e ia he kai ma tona whare, he mahi hoki e rite ana ma ana kotiro.

16 S he gives careful thought to a field and buys it. She plants grape-vines from what she has earned.

E whakaaroaro ana ia ki tetahi mara, a ka hokona e ia: whakatokia ana e ia he mara waina, he hua na ona ringa.

17 S he makes herself ready with strength, and makes her arms strong.

E whitiki ana ia i tona hope ki te kaha, e mea ana i ona takakau kia pakari.

18 S he sees that what she has earned is good. Her lamp does not go out at night.

Ka kite ia he pai tana i hokohoko ai: e kore tana rama e mate i te po.

19 S he puts her hands to the wheel to make cloth.

Ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te mea takai miro, ka pupuri ona ringa ki te pou muka.

20 S he opens her hand to the poor, and holds out her hands to those in need.

Ka wherahia tona ringa ki te ware; ae ra, ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te rawakore.

21 S he is not afraid of the snow for those in her house, for all of them are dressed in red.

E kore ia e wehi i te hukarere mo tona whare; no te mea kua kakahuria tona whare katoa ki te ngangana.

22 S he makes coverings for herself. Her clothes are linen cloth and purple.

Oti ake i a ia te whatuwhatu he whariki mona; he rinena pai, he papura ona kakahu.

23 H er husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the leaders of the land.

E mohiotia ana tana tane i nga kuwaha, ina noho tahi ia ki nga kaumatua o te whenua.

24 S he makes linen clothes and sells them. She brings belts to those who trade.

E hanga ana e ia he rinena pai, a hokona atu ana; e hoatu ana e ia he whitiki ki nga kaihoko.

25 H er clothes are strength and honor. She is full of joy about the future.

He kaha, he honore ona kakahu; a e kata ana ia ki nga ra o muri atu.

26 S he opens her mouth with wisdom. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

He nui ona whakaaro ina puaki tona mangai; kei tona arero te ture o te atawhai.

27 S he looks well to the ways of those in her house, and does not eat the bread of doing nothing.

Ka ata tirohia e ia nga ara o tona whare, e kore ano ia e kai i te taro o te mangere.

28 H er children rise up and honor her. Her husband does also, and he praises her, saying:

Ka whakatika ana tamariki, a he kupu manaaki ta ratou mona; Tana tane hoki, ka whakamoemiti ano ia ki a ia, ka mea:

29 “ Many daughters have done well, but you have done better than all of them.”

He tokomaha nga tamahine i u te pai o ta ratou mahi, otiia hira ake tau i a ratou katoa.

30 P leasing ways lie and beauty comes to nothing, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

He mea teka noa te manako, he mea horihori te ataahua: tena ko te wahine e wehi ana i a Ihowa, ko ia e whakamoemititia.

31 G ive her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Hoatu ki a ia o nga hua o ona ringa; a ma ana mahi ia e whakamoemiti i nga kuwaha.