1¶ Whakarongo, e aku tamariki, ki te whakaako a te matua, tahuri mai hoki kia matauria ai nga whakaaro mohio.
1Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2He pai hoki te kupu mohio ka hoatu nei e ahau ki a koutou, kaua taku ture e whakarerea.
2For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3He tama ano hoki ahau ki toku papa, a he ngawari, he mea kotahi e matenuitia ana e toku whaea.
3For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
4I whakaako ano ia i ahau, i mea ki ahau, Puritia aku kupu e tou ngakau; kia mau ki aku whakahau, a e ora koe.
4And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5Whaia mou te whakaaro nui, whaia mou te matauranga; kaua e wareware ki tera, kaua hoki e neke atu i nga kupu a toku mangai.
5Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6Kaua ia e whakarerea, a mana koe e tiaki; arohaina ia, a mana koe e mau ai.
6Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7Ko te whakaaro nui te tino mea; no reira whaia mau te whakaaro nui; a i ou whiwhinga katoa, kia whiwhi koe ki te matauranga.
7The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8Whakanuia ia, a mana koe ka kake ai; ka whakahonore ia i a koe ki te awhitia e koe.
8Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9Ka homai e ia he pare ataahua ki tou mahunga, ka potaea ano koe e ia ki te karauna whakapaipai.
9She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10Whakarongo, e taku tama, maharatia aku kupu, a he maha nga tau e ora ai koe.
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11He mea whakaako koe naku ki te ara o te whakaaro nui; he mea arahi koe naku i nga ara o te tika.
11In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12Ka haere koe, e kore ou takahanga e whakakikitia mai; ki te rere koe, e kore koe e tutuki.
12In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13Kia mau ki te ako, kaua e tukua atu; matapoporetia iho, ko tou oranga hoki ia.
13Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14¶ Kaua e haere i te ara o te hunga kino, kaua hoki e takahia te huarahi o te hunga he.
14Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15Anga ke ake, kaua e tika na reira; peka ake i taua ara, haere tonu atu.
15Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16E kore hoki ratou e moe ki te kore e oti tetahi mahi he ma ratou; riro rawa to ratou moe, ki te kahore tetahi tangata e hinga i a ratou.
16For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17No te kino hoki te taro e kainga ana e ratou, no te nanakia te waina e inumia ana e ratou.
17For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18Ko te huarahi ia o te hunga tika, koia ano kei te marama e whiti ana, a ka neke haere tonu ake tona marama, a taea noatia te tino ra.
18And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19Ko te ara o te hunga kino, me he pouri; e kore ratou e mohio ki te mea i tutuki ai ratou.
19The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20¶ E taku tama, tahuri ki aku kupu; anga mai tou taringa ki aku korero.
20My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21Kei kotiti ke enei i ou kanohi; puritia i waenganui o tou ngakau.
21Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22He oranga enei mo te hunga e kitea ai, he rongoa mo o ratou kikokiko katoa.
22For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23Kia pau ou mahara ki te tiaki i tou ngakau; no reira hoki nga putanga o te ora.
23Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24Whakarerea te mangai whanoke, kia matara rawa i a koe nga ngutu tutu.
24Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25Kia hangai tonu te titiro whakamua a ou kanohi; kia titiro ou kamo ki mua tonu i a koe.
25Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Whakatikaia te huarahi o ou waewae, kia u ano hoki ou ara katoa.
26Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27Kaua e peka ki matau, ki maui; kia anga ke tou waewae i te kino.
27Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!