Proverbs 2
1 My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.
E taku tama, ki te tango koe i aku kupu, ki te huna i aku whakahau ki roto ki a koe;
2 Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
A ka tahuri tou taringa ki te whakaaro nui, ka anga ano tou ngakau ki te matauranga;
3 Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].
Ae ra, ki te mea ka karangarangatia e koe te matauranga, a ka puaki tou reo ki te ngakau mohio;
4 Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
Ki te rapua hoki ia e koe ano he hiriwa, ki te kimihia ano he taonga huna;
5 If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
Ko reira koe matau ai ki te wehi o Ihowa, kite ai i te mohio ki te Atua.
6 Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.
Ma Ihowa hoki e homai te whakaaro nui; no tona mangai te matauranga me te ngakau mohio.
7 He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.
E rongoatia ana e ia te whakaaro nui ma te hunga tika; he whakangungu rakau ia mo te hunga he tapatahi nei te haere;
8 He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
Kia tiakina ai e ia nga ara o te whakawa, kia tohungia ai te ara o tana hunga tapu.
9 [If you ask God for wisdom], you will understand what is right and just [DOU] [to do], and [you will know] the right way to conduct your life,
Ko reira koe mohio ai ki te tika, ki te whakawa, ki te mea ano e rite ana, ae ra, ki nga ara pai katoa.
10 because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.
Ka uru hoki te whakaaro nui ki roto ki tou ngakau, a ka reka te matauranga ki tou wairua;
11 If you know [PRS] how to choose what is right to do and if you understand [what God wants] you to do, God will protect you and guard you and keep you safe.
Ka ai te ngarahu pai hei tiaki i a koe, te ngakau mohio hei pupuri i a koe;
12 If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
Hei kukume mai i a koe i te ara o te kino, i te tangata e puta ke ana ana korero;
13 Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
I te hunga e whakarere nei i nga ara o te tika, e haere ana i nga ara o te pouri;
14 They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].
E koa ana, i a ratou e mahi ana i te kino, e hari ana ki nga tikanga parori ke o te kino;
15 They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
He ara kopikopiko o ratou, he whanoke ratou i o ratou huarahi:
16 If you are wise [PRS], you will [also] be saved from (immoral women/prostitutes); you will not pay attention when adulterous women try to (seduce/entice you by what they say.)
Hei whakaora i a koe i te wahine tauhou, i te wahine tauhou e whakapati nei ki ana kupu;
17 Those women have left the husbands whom they married when they were young; they have disregarded the solemn promise they made to God [not to commit adultery].
Kua whakarerea nei e ia te hoa o tona tamahinetanga, kua wareware ki te kawenata o tona Atua.
18 If you go into houses of women who are like that, you will die [when you are still young]; the road [to their houses] leads to hell. (questioned)
E heke atu ana hoki tona whare ki te mate, ona ara ki nga tupapaku.
19 No man who (visits/sleeps with) a woman like that will again [live harmoniously with his family]. He will never have a [happy] life again.
Ko te hunga katoa e haere atu ana ki a ia e kore e hoki mai; e kore ano e mau i a ratou nga ara o te ora.
20 If [you are wise], you should behave like good men behave. You should (stay on the paths that righteous [people] walk on/do what godly people do) [MET],
A ka haere koe i nga ara o nga tangata pai, ka mau ano ki nga ara o te hunga tika.
21 because only godly people will live in this land [and receive God’s blessings]; [only] those who have not done wrong will stay here [for a long time].
Ka noho hoki te hunga tika ki te whenua; ka mau te hunga ngakau tapatahi ki reira.
22 Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.
Ka hatepea atu ia te hunga kino i runga i te whenua; ka hutia atu i reira te hunga he kopeka ta ratou mahi.
