1An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
1¶ Ko te tangata tu ke, e whai ana i ta tona ake hiahia, e ngangau ana ki nga whakaaro totika katoa.
2A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
2¶ Kahore o te whakaarokore ahuareka ki te matauranga; engari kia whakakitea e ia tona ngakau.
3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
3¶ I te taenga mai o te tangata kino ka tae mai ano te whakahawea, me te tawai hei hoa mo te whakama.
4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
4¶ He wai hohonu nga kupu a te mangai o te tangata; he awa e rere ana te puna o te whakaaro nui.
5To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
5¶ Ehara i te mea pai te whakapai ki te kanohi o te tangata kino, te whakapeau ke ranei i ta te tangata tika ina whakawa.
6A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
6¶ E uru ana nga ngutu o te whakaarokore ki te totohe, e karanga ana tona mangai ki nga whiu.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
7Hei hunga ano mona te mangai o te whakaarokore; a ko ona ngutu hei rore mo tona wairua.
8The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
8¶ Ano he kai reka nga kupu a te kawe korero; tae tonu iho ki nga wahi o roto rawa o te kopu.
9One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
9¶ Ko te tangata ano hoki e mangere ana ki tana mahi, hei teina ia ki te tangata maumau.
10The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
10¶ Hei pourewa kaha te ingoa o Ihowa; rere ana te tangata tika ki reira, a ora ake.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
11¶ Ko nga rawa o te tangata taonga hei pa kaha mona, hei pa tiketike ki tona whakaaro.
12Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
12¶ I mua ake o te whakangaromanga ka whakakake te ngakau o te tangata; i mua ake ano hoki o te honore ko te ngakau papaku.
13He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
13¶ Ko te tangata e whakahoki kupu ana i te mea kahore ano ia i rongo noa, he mahi wairangi tera nana, he hanga whakama.
14A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
14¶ E whakamanawanui te wairua o te tangata ki tona mate; tena ko te wairua maru, ko wai e kaha ki tera?
15The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
15¶ Ka whiwhi te ngakau o te tangata matau ki te mohio; e rapu ana hoki te taringa o nga whakaaro nui ki te mohio.
16A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
16¶ Ma te mea tuku noa a te tangata ka watea ai he wahi mona, ka kawea hoki ia e tera ki te aroaro o nga tangata nunui.
17He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
17¶ Ko te tangata nana te kupu tuatahi i te whakawa me te mea kei a ia te tika; na ka haere mai tona hoa, kei te rapu i te tikanga o tana.
18The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
18¶ Ma te rota e mutu ai nga tautohe, a ko tera hei tauarai i waenganui o te hunga kaha.
19A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
19¶ Ko te tuakana, teina ranei, i whakatakariritia, pakeke atu i te pa kaha: a ko aua tu ngangare me he tutaki tatau no te whare rangatira.
20A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
20¶ Ka ki te kopu o te tangata i nga hua o tona mangai, ka makona ia i nga hua o ona ngutu.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
21¶ Ko te mate, ko te ora kei te arero: ko te hunga e aroha ana ki tera ka kai i ona hua.
22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
22¶ Ko te tangata kua kite i te wahine mana, kua kite i te mea pai, kua whiwhi hoki ki ta Ihowa whakapai.
23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
23¶ He inoi ta te rawakore hanga; he taikaha ia te whakahoki a te tangata taonga.
24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
24¶ Ko te tangata tini nga hoa aroha e whai ana i te he mona; tera ano ia te hoa aroha, nui atu i to te tuakana, i to te teina, tona piri mai.