1 He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.

2 A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.

3 When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame.

4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.

5 To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright.

6 A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.

7 The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.

8 The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

9 He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe.

11 The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.

13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.

14 The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?

15 The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.

16 A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.

17 The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.

18 The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.

19 A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.

20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.

22 Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord.

23 The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer.

24 There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer 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.