1 K o te tama whakaaro nui ka rongo ki ta tona papa ako: ko te tangata whakahi ia e kore e rongo ki te riri.

A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

2 E kai te tangata i te pai i te hua o tona mangai: ka kai ia te wairua o te hunga wanoke i te tutu.

By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.

3 K o te tangata e tiaki ana i tona mangai e pupuri ana i tona ora: ko te tangata ia e hamama nui ana ona ngutu, ko te whakangaromanga mona.

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4 E hiahia ana te wairua o te tangata mangere, a kahore he mea mana: ka meinga ia kia momona te wairua o te hunga uaua.

The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

5 E kino ana te tangata tika ki te korero teka: he mea whakarihariha ia te tangata kino, a whakama noa iho.

A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

6 K o te tika hei kaitiaki mo te tangata e tapatahi ana te ara: ka whakataka ano te tangata kino e te hara.

Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 T era tetahi kei te amene taonga mona, heoi kahore rawa he mea i a ia: tera tetahi kei te whakarawakore i a ia, heoi nui atu ona rawa.

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

8 K o nga utu mo te tangata kia ora, ko ona rawa: tena ko te rawakore, e kore e rongo i te riri.

The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

9 E koa ana te marama o te hunga tika: ka keto ia te rama o te hunga kino.

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

10 H e totohe anake i ahu mai i te whakapehapeha: he whakaaro nui ia kei te hunga i nga kupu tika.

Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

11 K o nga taonga i puta mai i te whakamanamana ka iti haere: ko ta te tangata i whakaemi ai, he mea mahi, ka tupu haere.

Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

12 H e manako taringa roa, he patu ngakau: ka tae te koronga, ko te rakau ia o te ora.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

13 K o te tangata e whakahawea ana ki te kupu, ka ngaro i a ia ano; ko te tangata ia e wehi ana i te whakahau, ka whiwhi ki te utu.

Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

14 K o te ture o te hunga whakaaro nui, he puna no te ora, e puta ai i nga reti o te mate.

The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

15 K o to te ngarahu pai he homai atawhai; he taikaha ia te ara o te hunga nanakia.

Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16 H e mahi mohio ta te tangata tupato; ko ta te wairangi he hora i te kuwaretanga.

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

17 K a hinga te karere kino ki te kino; ko te karere pono ia, ano he rongoa.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

18 K o te tangata kahore e pai ki te papaki, mana te rawakore, te whakama; engari ko te tangata e whai mahara ana ki te ako, ka whakahonoretia.

Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

19 K o te hiahia kua rite, he reka ki te wairua: he whakarihariha ia ki nga kuware te whakarere i te kino.

Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

20 H aere i te taha o te hunga whakaaro nui, a ka whai whakaaro koe: ko te takahoa ia o nga kuware, ka mamae.

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

21 K a whai te kino i te hunga hara; ko te utu ia ki te hunga tika, he pai.

Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

22 H e whakarerenga iho ta te tangata pai mo nga tamariki a nga tamariki; kei te rongoa mo te tangata tika nga taonga o te tangata hara.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

23 H e nui te kai kei te ngakinga a nga rawakore; tera ia te mea e ngaro ana i te kore o te tikanga pai.

An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

24 K o te tangata e kaiponu ana i tana whiu, e kino ana ia ki tana tama; ko te tangata ia e aroha ana ki a ia, ka papaki wawe i a ia.

One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

25 K ai ana te tangata tika, makona ana tona wairua; ka hapa ia te kopu o te tangata kino.

The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.