Whakatauki 25
1 He whakatauki ano enei na Horomona, he mea tuhi e nga tangata a Hetekia kingi o Hura.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 Ko to te Atua whakakororia, he hunga mea; ko to nga kingi whakakororia he rapu mea.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
3 Ko te rangi mo te tiketike, ko te whenua mo te hohonu, a ko te ngakau o nga kingi, te taea te rapu.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Tahia atu te para i te hiriwa, a ka puta mai he oko ma te kaitahi para:
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Tangohia atu te tangata kino i te aroaro o te kingi, a ka u tona torona i runga i te tika.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Kei whakaputa i a koe ki mua i te aroaro o te kingi, kei tu hoki ki te wahi o nga metararahi.
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 He pai he hoki kia kiia mai ki a koe, Haere mai ki runga nei; i te mea kia whakahokia iho koe ki raro i te aroaro o te rangatira i kitea nei e ou kanohi.
for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 Kei hohoro te haere ki te ngangare, kei kore e kitea e koe tau e mea ai i tona mutunga iho, ina meinga koe e tou hoa kia whakama.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Tohea tau tohe ki tou hoa tonu, a kaua e whakina te mea hunga a tetahi:
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Kei kohukohutia koe e te tangata i rongo, a kore ake tou ingoa kino e tahuri atu.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 He kupu i tika te korero, ko tona rite kei nga a poro koura i roto i nga kete hiriwa.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 He pera i te whakakai koura, i te whakapaipai koura parakore koia ano te ako a te whakaaro nui ki te taringa rongo.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 Rite tonu ki te matao o te hukarere i te kotinga witi te karere pono ki ona kaingare; ka ora hoki i a ia te ngakau o ona ariki.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 He pera i nga kapua me te hau uakore, koia ano te rite o te tangata e whakamanamana ana ki ana hakari horihori.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 Ma te roa e whakamanawanui ana ka whakaae mai ai te kingi, a ma te arero ngawarika mangungu ai te wheua.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Kua kitea e koe he honi? Kainga ko te wahi e makona ai koe; kei ki rawa koe i taua mea, ka ruakina e koe.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Kia takitahi tou waewae ki te whare o tou hoa; kei hoha ia ki a koe, a ka kino ki a koe.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 Ko te tangata e whakaatu teka ana mo tona hoa, he patu ia, he hoari, a he pere koi.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Ko te whakawhirinaki ki te tangata tinihanga i te wa o te raru, e rite ana ki te niho whati, ki te waewae kua takoki.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 Ko te tangata e waiata ana ki te ngakau pouri, e rite ana ki te tangata e whakarere ana i te kakahu i te rangi maeke, ki te winika hoki i runga i te houra.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 Ki te matekai tou hoariri whangaia ki te taro; ki te matewai whakainumia ki te wai;
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 Ka purangatia hoki e koe he waro kapura ki tona mahunga, a ka utua tau e Ihowa.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 E mauria ana mai e te hauraro he ua: e peratia ana hoki e te arero ngautuara, he kanohi pukuriri.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 He pai ke te noho i te kokonga o te tuanui, i te noho tahi me te wahine ngangare i roto i te whare mahorahora.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 He rongo pai no te whenua tawhiti, tona rite kei nga wai matao ki te wairua matewai.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Me te manawa whenua i takatakahia, me te puna i whakaparuparutia, koia ano te tangata tika e hinga ana i te aroaro o te tangata kino.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 Ehara i te mea pai te kai nui i te honi; waihoki ko a te tangata rapu i to ratou ake kororia ehara i te kororia.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
28 Ko te tangata e kore nei e pehi i tona wairua, e rite ana ki te pa kua pakaru, kahore ona taiepa.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
