1 H e pera i te hukarere i te raumati, i te ua hoki i te kotinga witi, te kore e tau o te honore mo te wairangi.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.

2 H e pera i te manu e rererere noa ana, i te waroa i ona rerenga te kanga pokanoa; e kore e whakatau.

As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

3 H e whiu mo te hoiho, he paraire mo te kaihe, a he rakau mo te tuara o nga wairangi.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

4 K ei rite ki tona whakaarokore tau whakautu ki te wairangi, kei rite hoki a koe na ki a ia.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.

5 K ia rite ki tona whakaarokore tau whakautu ki te wairangi, kei mea ia he whakaaro nui ia.

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6 K o te tangata e tuku korero ana ma te ringa o te wairangi, e tapahi ana i ona waewae ano, e inumia ana hoki te he.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.

7 E tautau noa ana nga waewae o te kopa: he pera hoki te whakatauki i te mangai o te wairangi.

The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 K o te takai mea whakapaipai i roto i te puranga kohatu, ko tona rite kei te tangata e whakakororia ano i te wairangi.

As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

9 E rite ana ki te tataramoa e wero nei i te ringa o te haurangi, koia ano te whakatauki i te mangai o nga wairangi.

As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 K a rite ki te kaikopere i tu ai te katoa, te tangata e utu ana i te wairangi me te tangata hoki e utu ana i nga tira haere.

As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

11 K a rite ki te kuri e hoki nei ki tona ruaki, te wairangi e tuarua ana i tona poauau.

As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly.

12 K a kite koe i te tangata e mea ana ki a ia he whakaaro nui? Ki ta te whakaaro tera e rahi ake ta te wairangi i tana.

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

13 E ki ana te mangere, He raiona kei te ara; he raiona kei nga waharoa.

The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.

14 H e pera i te tatau e tahurihuri ra i runga i ona inihi, koia ano te mangere i runga i tona moenga.

As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

15 E kuhua ana e te mangere tona ringa ki te rihi; he mahi ngenge rawa ki a ia te whakahoki mai ki tona mangai.

The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 H e nui ke ake te whakaaro nui o te mangere, ki tana nei whakaaro, i to nga tangata tokowhitu e whakaatu ana i te tikanga.

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.

17 K o te tangata e haere atu ana, e pokanoa ana ki te whawhai ehara nei i a ia, ko tona rite kei te tangata e hopu ana i te kuri ki ona taringa.

He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 R ite tonu ki te haurangi e makamaka ana i nga mea mura, i nga pere, i te mate,

As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,

19 T e tangata e tinihanga ana ki tona hoa, e mea ana, He teka ianei he takaro taku?

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?

20 K i te kahore he wahie, ka mate te ahi: ki te kore hoki he tangata kawekawe korero, ka mutu te ngangare.

For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

21 H e waro ki nga ngarahu wera, he wahie ki te ahi; he pera te tangata totohe ki te tahu i te ngangare.

As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

22 H e rite nga kupu a te kaikawekawe korero ki te maramara reka, tae tonu iho ki nga wahi o roto rawa o te kopu.

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.

23 H e ngutu puka me te ngakau kino, ko te rite kei te oko oneone i whakakikoruatia ki te para hiriwa.

Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

24 K o te tangata mauahara e whakaware ana ki ona ngutu, otiia e rongoatia ana e ia te tinihanga ki roto ki a ia:

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:

25 K i te pai tona reo, kaua e whakapono ki a ia; e whitu hoki nga mea whakarihariha kei roto i tona ngakau.

When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:

26 A hakoa hipoki tona mauahara i a ia ki te tinihanga, ka whakakitea nuitia tona kino ki te aroaro o te whakaminenga.

Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.

27 K o te tangata e keri ana i te rua, ka taka ano ki roto: a ko te tangata e huri ana i te kohatu, ka hoki mai ano ki runga ki a ia.

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

28 E kino ana te arero teka ki ana i kuru ai; a, ko ta te mangai whakapati, he mahi kia ngaro.

A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.