Whakatauki 31
1 Ko nga kupu a Kingi Remuera; ko te poropititanga i whakaakona ai ia e tona whaea.
These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by 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 shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
3 Kaua e hoatu tou kaha ki nga wahine, ou ara hoki ki te mea whakangaro o nga kingi.
Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down 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?
Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
5 Kei inu ratou, a ka wareware ki te ture, a ka whakapeau ke i te whakawa o te tangata e tukinotia ana.
For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
6 Hoatu he wai kaha ma te tangata e tata ana te marere, he waina hoki ki nga wairua pouri:
Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
7 Tukua ia kia inu, kia wareware ai ki tona rawakore, a kore ake he mahara ki ona mate.
Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8 Kia puaki tou mangai mo te wahangu, i te whakawakanga o te hunga katoa kua waiho mo te mate.
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
9 Kia puaki tou mangai, whakaritea te whakawa i runga i te tika, tohea te tohe a te ware, a te rawakore.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
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 can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
11 Ka whakapono te ngakau o tana tane ki a ia, a kahore ona hapanga i te taonga.
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12 He pai tana e mea ai ki a ia, kahore hoki he kino, i nga ra katoa e ora ai ia.
She brings him good, not evil, all 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 flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14 Ko tona rite kei nga kaipuke o nga kaihokohoko; e mauria mai ana e ia tana kai i tawhiti.
Like a merchant's ship, she brings 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's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
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.
She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17 E whitiki ana ia i tona hope ki te kaha, e mea ana i ona takakau kia pakari.
She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18 Ka kite ia he pai tana i hokohoko ai: e kore tana rama e mate i te po.
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te mea takai miro, ka pupuri ona ringa ki te pou muka.
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
20 Ka wherahia tona ringa ki te ware; ae ra, ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te rawakore.
She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
21 E kore ia e wehi i te hukarere mo tona whare; no te mea kua kakahuria tona whare katoa ki te ngangana.
She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
22 Oti ake i a ia te whatuwhatu he whariki mona; he rinena pai, he papura ona kakahu.
She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 E mohiotia ana tana tane i nga kuwaha, ina noho tahi ia ki nga kaumatua o te whenua.
Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
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 clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25 He kaha, he honore ona kakahu; a e kata ana ia ki nga ra o muri atu.
She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26 He nui ona whakaaro ina puaki tona mangai; kei tona arero te ture o te atawhai.
She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27 Ka ata tirohia e ia nga ara o tona whare, e kore ano ia e kai i te taro o te mangere.
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
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 are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29 He tokomaha nga tamahine i u te pai o ta ratou mahi, otiia hira ake tau i a ratou katoa.
“Many women do great things, 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.
Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should 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 the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
