1 D ead flies make a perfume maker’s oil smell bad. So does acting a little foolish weigh more than wisdom and honor.

Ma 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.

2 A wise man’s heart leads him toward the right. But the foolish man’s heart leads him toward the left.

Kei tona ringa matau te ngakau o te tangata whakaaro nui; kei tona maui ia te ngakau o te wairangi.

3 E ven when the fool walks on the road, he has little understanding and shows everyone that he is a fool.

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

4 I f the ruler becomes angry with you, do not back away. If you are quiet, much wrong-doing may be put aside.

Ki 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.

5 T here is a sin I have seen under the sun, like a mistake done by a ruler:

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

6 F ools are put in many places of honor, while rich men sit in places that are not important.

Ko 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.

7 I have seen servants riding on horses, and princes walking like servants on the land.

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.

8 H e who digs a deep hole may fall into it. And a snake may bite him who breaks through a wall.

Ko 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.

9 H e who cuts stones may be hurt by them. And he who cuts trees may be in danger by them.

Ko 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.

10 I f the ax is not sharp and he does not make it sharp, then he must use more strength. Wisdom helps one to do well.

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

11 I f the snake bites before it is put under a man’s power, it will not be of help to the man who would have power over it.

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

12 T he words of a wise man’s mouth are kind, but the lips of a fool destroy him.

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

13 T he beginning of his talking is foolish, and the end of it is sinful and crazy.

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

14 Y et the fool speaks many words. No man knows what will happen. And who can tell him what will come after him?

He 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?

15 T he work of a fool makes him so tired that he does not even know the way to a city.

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

16 I t is bad for you, O land, when your king is a child and your princes eat too much in the morning.

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

17 H appy are you, O land, when your king is from parents who have ruled, and your princes eat at the right time, for strength and not to get drunk.

Ka 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.

18 W hen men are lazy, the roof begins to fall in. When they will do no work, the rain comes into the house.

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

19 F ood is made ready to be enjoyed, wine makes life happy, but money is the answer to everything.

Hei 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.

20 D o not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich man in your bedroom because a bird of the heavens will carry your voice and an animal with wings will make it known.

Kaua 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.