Whakatauki 31
1 Ko nga kupu a Kingi Remuera; ko te poropititanga i whakaakona ai ia e tona whaea.
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 He aha, e taku tama? He aha, e te tama a toku kopu? A he aha, e te tama a aku kupu taurangi?
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Kaua e hoatu tou kaha ki nga wahine, ou ara hoki ki te mea whakangaro o nga kingi.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 Ehara ma nga kingi, e Remuera, ehara ma nga kingi te inu waina; ehara hoki ma nga rangatira te mea, Kei hea he wai kaha?
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 Kei inu ratou, a ka wareware ki te ture, a ka whakapeau ke i te whakawa o te tangata e tukinotia ana.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Hoatu he wai kaha ma te tangata e tata ana te marere, he waina hoki ki nga wairua pouri:
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 Tukua ia kia inu, kia wareware ai ki tona rawakore, a kore ake he mahara ki ona mate.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Kia puaki tou mangai mo te wahangu, i te whakawakanga o te hunga katoa kua waiho mo te mate.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Kia puaki tou mangai, whakaritea te whakawa i runga i te tika, tohea te tohe a te ware, a te rawakore.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Ko wai e kite i te wahine e u ana tona pai? Ko tona utu hoki kei runga noa atu i to nga rupi.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Ka whakapono te ngakau o tana tane ki a ia, a kahore ona hapanga i te taonga.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 He pai tana e mea ai ki a ia, kahore hoki he kino, i nga ra katoa e ora ai ia.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 E kimi ana ia i te huruhuru hipi, i te muka, a ka ngakau nui te mahi a ona ringa.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 Ko tona rite kei nga kaipuke o nga kaihokohoko; e mauria mai ana e ia tana kai i tawhiti.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 E maranga ana hoki ia i te mea e po tonu ana, a hoatu ana e ia he kai ma tona whare, he mahi hoki e rite ana ma ana kotiro.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 E whakaaroaro ana ia ki tetahi mara, a ka hokona e ia: whakatokia ana e ia he mara waina, he hua na ona ringa.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 E whitiki ana ia i tona hope ki te kaha, e mea ana i ona takakau kia pakari.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 Ka kite ia he pai tana i hokohoko ai: e kore tana rama e mate i te po.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 Ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te mea takai miro, ka pupuri ona ringa ki te pou muka.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 Ka wherahia tona ringa ki te ware; ae ra, ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te rawakore.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 E kore ia e wehi i te hukarere mo tona whare; no te mea kua kakahuria tona whare katoa ki te ngangana.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 Oti ake i a ia te whatuwhatu he whariki mona; he rinena pai, he papura ona kakahu.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 E mohiotia ana tana tane i nga kuwaha, ina noho tahi ia ki nga kaumatua o te whenua.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 E hanga ana e ia he rinena pai, a hokona atu ana; e hoatu ana e ia he whitiki ki nga kaihoko.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 He kaha, he honore ona kakahu; a e kata ana ia ki nga ra o muri atu.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 He nui ona whakaaro ina puaki tona mangai; kei tona arero te ture o te atawhai.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 Ka ata tirohia e ia nga ara o tona whare, e kore ano ia e kai i te taro o te mangere.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Ka whakatika ana tamariki, a he kupu manaaki ta ratou mona; Tana tane hoki, ka whakamoemiti ano ia ki a ia, ka mea:
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 He tokomaha nga tamahine i u te pai o ta ratou mahi, otiia hira ake tau i a ratou katoa.
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 He mea teka noa te manako, he mea horihori te ataahua: tena ko te wahine e wehi ana i a Ihowa, ko ia e whakamoemititia.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Hoatu ki a ia o nga hua o ona ringa; a ma ana mahi ia e whakamoemiti i nga kuwaha.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
