Whakatauki 18
1 Ko te tangata tu ke, e whai ana i ta tona ake hiahia, e ngangau ana ki nga whakaaro totika katoa.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
2 Kahore o te whakaarokore ahuareka ki te matauranga; engari kia whakakitea e ia tona ngakau.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 I te taenga mai o te tangata kino ka tae mai ano te whakahawea, me te tawai hei hoa mo te whakama.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 He wai hohonu nga kupu a te mangai o te tangata; he awa e rere ana te puna o te whakaaro nui.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
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.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 E uru ana nga ngutu o te whakaarokore ki te totohe, e karanga ana tona mangai ki nga whiu.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Hei hunga ano mona te mangai o te whakaarokore; a ko ona ngutu hei rore mo tona wairua.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Ano he kai reka nga kupu a te kawe korero; tae tonu iho ki nga wahi o roto rawa o te kopu.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Ko te tangata ano hoki e mangere ana ki tana mahi, hei teina ia ki te tangata maumau.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Hei pourewa kaha te ingoa o Ihowa; rere ana te tangata tika ki reira, a ora ake.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Ko nga rawa o te tangata taonga hei pa kaha mona, hei pa tiketike ki tona whakaaro.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
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.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honour is humility.
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.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 E whakamanawanui te wairua o te tangata ki tona mate; tena ko te wairua maru, ko wai e kaha ki tera?
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
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.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
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.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
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.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Ma te rota e mutu ai nga tautohe, a ko tera hei tauarai i waenganui o te hunga kaha.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
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.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Ka ki te kopu o te tangata i nga hua o tona mangai, ka makona ia i nga hua o ona ngutu.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ko te mate, ko te ora kei te arero: ko te hunga e aroha ana ki tera ka kai i ona hua.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Ko te tangata kua kite i te wahine mana, kua kite i te mea pai, kua whiwhi hoki ki ta Ihowa whakapai.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 He inoi ta te rawakore hanga; he taikaha ia te whakahoki a te tangata taonga.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
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.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
