1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,

And rageth against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding,

But only that his heart may reveal itself.

3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,

And with ignominy cometh reproach.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters;

The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good,

Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,

And his mouth calleth for stripes.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts.

9 He also that is slack in his work

Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;

The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

And as a high wall in his own imagination.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;

And before honor goeth humility.

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,

It is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;

But a broken spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him,

And bringeth him before great men.

17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;

But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease,

And parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city;

And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;

With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

23 The poor useth entreaties;

But the rich answereth roughly.

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;

But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

1 Ko te tangata tu ke, e whai ana i ta tona ake hiahia, e ngangau ana ki nga whakaaro totika katoa.

2 Kahore o te whakaarokore ahuareka ki te matauranga; engari kia whakakitea e ia tona ngakau.

3 I te taenga mai o te tangata kino ka tae mai ano te whakahawea, me te tawai hei hoa mo te whakama.

4 He wai hohonu nga kupu a te mangai o te tangata; he awa e rere ana te puna o te whakaaro nui.

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.

6 E uru ana nga ngutu o te whakaarokore ki te totohe, e karanga ana tona mangai ki nga whiu.

7 Hei hunga ano mona te mangai o te whakaarokore; a ko ona ngutu hei rore mo tona wairua.

8 Ano he kai reka nga kupu a te kawe korero; tae tonu iho ki nga wahi o roto rawa o te kopu.

9 Ko te tangata ano hoki e mangere ana ki tana mahi, hei teina ia ki te tangata maumau.

10 Hei pourewa kaha te ingoa o Ihowa; rere ana te tangata tika ki reira, a ora ake.

11 Ko nga rawa o te tangata taonga hei pa kaha mona, hei pa tiketike ki tona whakaaro.

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.

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.

14 E whakamanawanui te wairua o te tangata ki tona mate; tena ko te wairua maru, ko wai e kaha ki tera?

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.

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.

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.

18 Ma te rota e mutu ai nga tautohe, a ko tera hei tauarai i waenganui o te hunga kaha.

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.

20 Ka ki te kopu o te tangata i nga hua o tona mangai, ka makona ia i nga hua o ona ngutu.

21 Ko te mate, ko te ora kei te arero: ko te hunga e aroha ana ki tera ka kai i ona hua.

22 Ko te tangata kua kite i te wahine mana, kua kite i te mea pai, kua whiwhi hoki ki ta Ihowa whakapai.

23 He inoi ta te rawakore hanga; he taikaha ia te whakahoki a te tangata taonga.

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.