Whakatauki 31
1 Ko nga kupu a Kingi Remuera; ko te poropititanga i whakaakona ai ia e tona whaea.
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught 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, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Kaua e hoatu tou kaha ki nga wahine, ou ara hoki ki te mea whakangaro o nga kingi.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin 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 drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire 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.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
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 that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Tukua ia kia inu, kia wareware ai ki tona rawakore, a kore ake he mahara ki ona mate.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Kia puaki tou mangai mo te wahangu, i te whakawakanga o te hunga katoa kua waiho mo te mate.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Kia puaki tou mangai, whakaritea te whakawa i runga i te tika, tohea te tohe a te ware, a te rawakore.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
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.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 Ka whakapono te ngakau o tana tane ki a ia, a kahore ona hapanga i te taonga.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 He pai tana e mea ai ki a ia, kahore hoki he kino, i nga ra katoa e ora ai ia.
She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with 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 ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
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.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
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 considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 E whitiki ana ia i tona hope ki te kaha, e mea ana i ona takakau kia pakari.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 Ka kite ia he pai tana i hokohoko ai: e kore tana rama e mate i te po.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te mea takai miro, ka pupuri ona ringa ki te pou muka.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Ka wherahia tona ringa ki te ware; ae ra, ka totoro atu ona ringa ki te rawakore.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth 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 feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 Oti ake i a ia te whatuwhatu he whariki mona; he rinena pai, he papura ona kakahu.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 E mohiotia ana tana tane i nga kuwaha, ina noho tahi ia ki nga kaumatua o te whenua.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders 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.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 He kaha, he honore ona kakahu; a e kata ana ia ki nga ra o muri atu.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 He nui ona whakaaro ina puaki tona mangai; kei tona arero te ture o te atawhai.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, 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 looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
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 rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 He tokomaha nga tamahine i u te pai o ta ratou mahi, otiia hira ake tau i a ratou katoa.
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
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.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall 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 of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
