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.

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.