1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools gush out folly.

3 Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s correction,

but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure,

but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so with the heart of fools.

8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,

but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,

but he loves him who follows after righteousness.

10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.

Whoever hates reproof shall die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh—

how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched,

but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh,

than great treasure with trouble.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,

than a fattened calf with hatred.

18 A wrathful man stirs up contention,

but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,

but the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son makes a father glad,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,

but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail;

but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.

How good is a word at the right time!

24 The path of life leads upward for the wise,

to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud,

but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.

26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked,

but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

29 Yahweh is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.

Good news gives health to the bones.

31 The ear that listens to reproof lives,

and will be at home among the wise.

32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul,

but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.

33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom.

Before honor is humility.

1 Ma te kupu ngawari e kaupare te riri; ma te kupu taimaha ia e whakaoho te riri.

2 Ko te arero o te tangata whakaaro nui e whakahua tika ana i te matauranga: e whakapuaki ana ia te mangai o nga kuware i te wairangi.

3 Kei nga wahi katoa nga kanohi o Ihowa, e titiro ana ki te hunga kino, ki te hunga pai.

4 Ko te arero reka he rakau no te ora; tena ki te wanoke a roto he wawahi wairua.

5 E whakahawea ana te wairangi ki te papaki a tona papa; ko te tangata ia e mahara ana ki te ako ka mohio ki te tupato.

6 He nui te taonga kei te whare o te tangata tika; he raruraru ia kei roto i nga mea hua ki te tangata kino.

7 E ruia ana te matauranga e nga ngutu o nga whakaaro nui: kahore ia he pena a te ngakau o nga kuware.

8 He mea whakarihariha ki a Ihowa te whakahere a te hunga kino: engari e manako ana ia ki te inoi a te hunga tika.

9 He mea whakarihariha ki a Ihowa te huarahi o te tangata kino: ko te tangata ia e whai ana i te tika tana e aroha ai.

10 He kino te papaki ki te tangata e whakarere ana i te ara; a, ko te tangata e kino ana ki te ako, ka mate.

11 Kei te aroaro o Ihowa te reinga me te whakangaromanga; engari rawa hoki nga ngakau o nga tama a te tangata.

12 E kore te tangata whakahi e aroha ki te kaipapaki; e kore hoki e haere ki te hunga whakaaro nui.

13 Ma te koa o te ngakau ka pai ai te mata: ma te pouri ia o te ngakau ka maru ai te wairua.

14 E rapu ana te ngakau mohio i te matauranga; ko te kuware ia ta te mangai o nga wairangi e kai ai.

15 He kino nga ra katoa o te hunga pouri; he hakari tonu ta te tangata i te ngakau marama.

16 He pai ke te iti i kinakitia ki te wehi ki a Ihowa, i te nui taonga i kinakitia ki te raruraru.

17 He pai ake te tina puwha ko te aroha hei kinaki, i te kau whangai e kinakitia ana ki te mauahara.

18 He whakaoho tautohe ta te tangata pukuriri: he pehi pakanga ia ta te tangata manawanui.

19 Ko te ara o te tangata mangere, ano he taiepa tataramoa; he ara nui ia to te tangata tika.

20 He tama whakaaro nui, ka koa te papa: tena ko te tama kuware, he whakahawea ki tona whaea.

21 Ki te tangata maharakore he mea whakahari te wairangi; he tika ia te haere a te tangata matau.

22 Ki te kahore he runanga, ka pororaru nga tikanga: ma te tokomaha ia o nga kaiwhakatakoto whakaaro ka mau ai.

23 Kei ta tona mangai i whakahoki ai he koa mo te tangata: ko te kupu i te wa i tika ai, ano te pai!

24 Ki te tangata whakaaro nui e ahu whakarunga ana te ara ki te ora, he mea kia mahue ai i a ia te reinga o raro.

25 Ka hutia ake e Ihowa te whare o te tangata whakakake: engari ka whakapumautia e ia te rohe o te pouaru.

26 He mea whakarihariha ki a Ihowa nga whakaaro nanakia; he mea kohakore ia nga kupu ahuareka.

27 Ko te tangata apo taonga, raruraru ana i a ia tona whare; ka ora ia te tangata e kino ana ki nga mea homai noa.

28 Ko te ngakau o te tangata tika e ata whakaaro ana ki te kupu hei whakahokinga; ko te mangai ia o te tangata kino e tahoro ana i nga mea kikino.

29 E matara ana a Ihowa i te hunga kino: otiia e rongo ana ia ki te inoi a te hunga tika.

30 Ma te marama o nga kanohi ka koa ai te ngakau: a ma te rongo pai ka momona ai nga wheua.

31 Ko te taringa e whakarongo ana ki te whakatupato e ora ai, ka noho i waenga i te hunga whakaaro nui.

32 Ko te tangata e whakakahore ana ki te papaki, e whakahawea ana ki tona wairua; engari ko te tangata e rongo ana ki te ako, ka whiwhi ki te ngakau mahara.

33 Ko te wehi ki a Ihowa te ako o te whakaaro nui; ko te ngakau whakaiti hoki e haere ana i mua i te honore.