1¶ Ko nga kupu a Kingi Remuera; ko te poropititanga i whakaakona ai ia e tona whaea.
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2He aha, e taku tama? He aha, e te tama a toku kopu? A he aha, e te tama a aku kupu taurangi?
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3Kaua e hoatu tou kaha ki nga wahine, ou ara hoki ki te mea whakangaro o nga kingi.
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4Ehara ma nga kingi, e Remuera, ehara ma nga kingi te inu waina; ehara hoki ma nga rangatira te mea, Kei hea he wai kaha?
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5Kei inu ratou, a ka wareware ki te ture, a ka whakapeau ke i te whakawa o te tangata e tukinotia ana.
5-- lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6Hoatu he wai kaha ma te tangata e tata ana te marere, he waina hoki ki nga wairua pouri:
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7Tukua ia kia inu, kia wareware ai ki tona rawakore, a kore ake he mahara ki ona mate.
7let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Kia puaki tou mangai mo te wahangu, i te whakawakanga o te hunga katoa kua waiho mo te mate.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9Kia puaki tou mangai, whakaritea te whakawa i runga i te tika, tohea te tohe a te ware, a te rawakore.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10¶ Ko wai e kite i te wahine e u ana tona pai? Ko tona utu hoki kei runga noa atu i to nga rupi.
10Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11Ka whakapono te ngakau o tana tane ki a ia, a kahore ona hapanga i te taonga.
11The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12He pai tana e mea ai ki a ia, kahore hoki he kino, i nga ra katoa e ora ai ia.
12She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13E kimi ana ia i te huruhuru hipi, i te muka, a ka ngakau nui te mahi a ona ringa.
13She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14Ko tona rite kei nga kaipuke o nga kaihokohoko; e mauria mai ana e ia tana kai i tawhiti.
14She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15E 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.
15And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16E whakaaroaro ana ia ki tetahi mara, a ka hokona e ia: whakatokia ana e ia he mara waina, he hua na ona ringa.
16She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17E whitiki ana ia i tona hope ki te kaha, e mea ana i ona takakau kia pakari.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18Ka kite ia he pai tana i hokohoko ai: e kore tana rama e mate i te po.
18She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19Ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te mea takai miro, ka pupuri ona ringa ki te pou muka.
19She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20Ka wherahia tona ringa ki te ware; ae ra, ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te rawakore.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21E kore ia e wehi i te hukarere mo tona whare; no te mea kua kakahuria tona whare katoa ki te ngangana.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22Oti ake i a ia te whatuwhatu he whariki mona; he rinena pai, he papura ona kakahu.
22She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23E mohiotia ana tana tane i nga kuwaha, ina noho tahi ia ki nga kaumatua o te whenua.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24E hanga ana e ia he rinena pai, a hokona atu ana; e hoatu ana e ia he whitiki ki nga kaihoko.
24She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25He kaha, he honore ona kakahu; a e kata ana ia ki nga ra o muri atu.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26He nui ona whakaaro ina puaki tona mangai; kei tona arero te ture o te atawhai.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27Ka ata tirohia e ia nga ara o tona whare, e kore ano ia e kai i te taro o te mangere.
27She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Ka whakatika ana tamariki, a he kupu manaaki ta ratou mona; Tana tane hoki, ka whakamoemiti ano ia ki a ia, ka mea:
28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29He tokomaha nga tamahine i u te pai o ta ratou mahi, otiia hira ake tau i a ratou katoa.
29Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30He mea teka noa te manako, he mea horihori te ataahua: tena ko te wahine e wehi ana i a Ihowa, ko ia e whakamoemititia.
30Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31Hoatu ki a ia o nga hua o ona ringa; a ma ana mahi ia e whakamoemiti i nga kuwaha.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.