Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Whakarongo, e aku tamariki, ki te whakaako a te matua, tahuri mai hoki kia matauria ai nga whakaaro mohio.
2 For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
He pai hoki te kupu mohio ka hoatu nei e ahau ki a koutou, kaua taku ture e whakarerea.
3 For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
He tama ano hoki ahau ki toku papa, a he ngawari, he mea kotahi e matenuitia ana e toku whaea.
4 And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
I whakaako ano ia i ahau, i mea ki ahau, Puritia aku kupu e tou ngakau; kia mau ki aku whakahau, a e ora koe.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Whaia mou te whakaaro nui, whaia mou te matauranga; kaua e wareware ki tera, kaua hoki e neke atu i nga kupu a toku mangai.
6 Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
Kaua ia e whakarerea, a mana koe e tiaki; arohaina ia, a mana koe e mau ai.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
Ko te whakaaro nui te tino mea; no reira whaia mau te whakaaro nui; a i ou whiwhinga katoa, kia whiwhi koe ki te matauranga.
8 Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
Whakanuia ia, a mana koe ka kake ai; ka whakahonore ia i a koe ki te awhitia e koe.
9 She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
Ka homai e ia he pare ataahua ki tou mahunga, ka potaea ano koe e ia ki te karauna whakapaipai.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
Whakarongo, e taku tama, maharatia aku kupu, a he maha nga tau e ora ai koe.
11 I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
He mea whakaako koe naku ki te ara o te whakaaro nui; he mea arahi koe naku i nga ara o te tika.
12 In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
Ka haere koe, e kore ou takahanga e whakakikitia mai; ki te rere koe, e kore koe e tutuki.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
Kia mau ki te ako, kaua e tukua atu; matapoporetia iho, ko tou oranga hoki ia.
14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
Kaua e haere i te ara o te hunga kino, kaua hoki e takahia te huarahi o te hunga he.
15 Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Anga ke ake, kaua e tika na reira; peka ake i taua ara, haere tonu atu.
16 For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
E kore hoki ratou e moe ki te kore e oti tetahi mahi he ma ratou; riro rawa to ratou moe, ki te kahore tetahi tangata e hinga i a ratou.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
No te kino hoki te taro e kainga ana e ratou, no te nanakia te waina e inumia ana e ratou.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
Ko te huarahi ia o te hunga tika, koia ano kei te marama e whiti ana, a ka neke haere tonu ake tona marama, a taea noatia te tino ra.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Ko te ara o te hunga kino, me he pouri; e kore ratou e mohio ki te mea i tutuki ai ratou.
20 My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
E taku tama, tahuri ki aku kupu; anga mai tou taringa ki aku korero.
21 Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
Kei kotiti ke enei i ou kanohi; puritia i waenganui o tou ngakau.
22 For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
He oranga enei mo te hunga e kitea ai, he rongoa mo o ratou kikokiko katoa.
23 Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Kia pau ou mahara ki te tiaki i tou ngakau; no reira hoki nga putanga o te ora.
24 Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
Whakarerea te mangai whanoke, kia matara rawa i a koe nga ngutu tutu.
25 Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
Kia hangai tonu te titiro whakamua a ou kanohi; kia titiro ou kamo ki mua tonu i a koe.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
Whakatikaia te huarahi o ou waewae, kia u ano hoki ou ara katoa.
27 Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
Kaua e peka ki matau, ki maui; kia anga ke tou waewae i te kino.
