1 He mea whakarihariha ki a Ihowa te pauna he; engari te taimaha tika tana i pai ai.

2 Ka tae te whakapehapeha, ka tae ano te whakama; kei te hunga whakaiti ia te whakaaro nui.

3 Ko to ratou ngakau tapatahi hei arahi i te hunga tika; ka ai ano ko te whanoke ia o te hunga poka ke hei whakangaro mo ratou.

4 E kore te taonga e whai mana i te ra o te riri: kei te tika ia he oranga ake i te mate.

5 Ma te tika o te ngakau tapatahi ka tika ai tona ara; ka hinga ia te tangata kino i runga i tona kino.

6 Ma te tika o te hunga tika ka mawhiti ai ratou; ka mau ia nga poka ke i runga i to ratou kino.

7 I te matenga o te tangata kino, kore iho ana mea i tumanako atu ai: kahore noa iho he tumanakohanga ma te hunga he.

8 Ka mawhiti te tangata tika i roto i te raru, a ka riro te tangata kino hei whakakapi mo tona turanga.

9 Hei huna mo tona hoa te mangai o te tangata whakaponokore; na ma te mohio te hunga tika ka mawhiti ai.

10 Ka pai te hunga tika, ka hari te pa: ka whakangaromia te hunga kino, ka tangi te umere.

11 Ma te manaaki o te hunga tika ka kake ai te pa; ka pakaru ia i te mangai o te hunga kino.

12 Ko te tangata e whakahawea ana ki tona hoa he maharakore: tena ko te tangata matau, whakarongo puku ana.

13 Ko te tangata haere, ka kawekawe korero e whaki ana i nga mea ngaro: ko te tangata i te wairua pono, e hipoki ana i te korero.

14 Ki te kahore he mohio hei arahi, ka hinga te iwi: he ora ia kei nga kaiwhakatakoto whakaaro tokomaha.

15 Ko te tangata ko tana nei hei whakakapi mo ta te tangata ke, ka mamae; kei te ora ia te tangata e kino ana ki te tikanga whakakapi turanga.

16 Ka mau te kororia i te wahine tikanga pai; ka mau hoki te taonga i nga tangata taikaha.

17 He atawhai i tona wairua ta te tangata atawhai; a he whakararu i ona kikokiko ta te tangata nanakia.

18 Ko te mahi a te tangata kino e utua ana ki te teka: ko te utu ia mo te kaiwhakatakoto i te tika, u rawa.

19 Ko te tangata u ki te tika, ka whiwhi ki te ora: a, ko te tangata e whai ana i te kino e mea ana i te mate mona.

20 Ko ta Ihowa e whakarihariha ai he ngakau whanoke; ko tana e ahuareka ai ko te hunga e tika ana to ratou ara.

21 Ahakoa awhi nga ringa ki a raua, e kore te tangata kino e waiho kia kore e whiua; ka mawhiti ia te uri o te hunga tika.

22 Rite tonu ki te whakakai koura i te ihu o te poaka te wahine ataahua kahore nei ona ngarahu pai.

23 Ko ta te hunga tika e minamina ai, ko te pai anake; ko te tumanako ia a te hunga kino, ko te riri.

24 Tera tetahi kei te rui, a tapiritia mai ana ano; tera tetahi kei te kaiponu i te mea e tika ana, heoi rawakore noa iho.

25 Ko te wairua ohaoha ka momona: ko te tangata e whakamakuku ana, ka whakamakukuria ano ia.

26 Ko te tangata e kaiponu ana i te witi, ka kanga tera e te nuinga; ka tau ia te manaaki ki runga ki te mahunga o te tangata e hoko atu ana.

27 Ko te tangata e ata rapu ana i te pai, e rapu ana i te whakapai: ko te tangata ia e rapu ana i te he, ka tae tera ki a ia.

28 Ko te tangata e whakawhirinaki ana ki ona taonga, ka taka: na, ko te hunga tika ka rite to ratou tupu ki to te rau matomato.

29 Ko te tangata e whakararu ana i tona whare, he hau te taonga e whakarerea iho mona: hei pononga ano te kuware ma te ngakau whakaaro nui.

30 Ko nga hua o te tangata tika he rakau no te ora; ka hopu wairua ano te tangata whakaaro tika.

31 Nana, he utu ano to te tangata tika i runga i te whenua: nui atu ia to te tangata kino raua ko te tangata hara.

1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah;

But a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame;

But with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them;

But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath;

But righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way;

But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;

But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish;

And the hope of iniquity perisheth.

8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble;

And the wicked cometh in his stead.

9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor;

But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth;

And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;

But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom;

But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;

But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;

But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it;

But he that hateth suretyship is secure.

16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor;

And violent men obtain riches.

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul;

But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages;

But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

19 He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life;

And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah;

But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

21 Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;

But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,

So is a fair woman that is without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good;

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;

And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat;

And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him;

But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor;

But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;

But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;

And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;

And he that is wise winneth souls.

31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth;

How much more the wicked and the sinner!