Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
Kuo langa ʻe he poto ʻa hono fale, pea kuo ne tā mai ʻa hono pou ʻe fitu.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
Kuo ne tāmateʻi ʻene fanga manu; kuo ne huʻi ʻene uaine; kuo ne teuteu foki hono keinangaʻanga.
3 She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
Kuo ne fekau atu ʻene kau kaunanga; ʻoku kalanga ia mei he ngaahi potu māʻolunga ʻoe kolo,
4 Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
“Ko hai ia ʻoku taʻepoto ke afe mai ia ki heni:” pea ʻoku lea ia, ʻo pehē, kiate ia ʻoku taʻeʻilo,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
“Haʻu, ʻo kai ʻi heʻeku mā, ʻo inu ʻi he uaine kuo u huʻi ʻeau.
6 Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
Liaki ʻae kau vale, ka ke moʻui; pea ke ʻalu ʻi he hala ʻoe faʻa ʻilo.”
7 He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
Ko ia ʻoku valoki ki he tangata manuki ʻoku fakamā ai ia: pea ʻoku pani ʻuli ia ʻaia ʻoku ne valokiʻi ʻae tangata angakovi.
8 Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
ʻOua naʻa valoki ki he tangata manuki, telia naʻa ne fehiʻa kiate koe: takitalaʻi ʻae tangata poto, pea ʻe ʻofa ai ia kiate koe.
9 Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
ʻAko ki he tangata poto, pea ʻe ʻāsili ai ʻene poto: akonakiʻi ʻae angatonu, pea ʻe tupulekina ai ʻa ʻene ʻilo.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
Ko e manavahē kia Sihova ko e kamataʻanga ia ʻoe poto: pea ko e ʻilo ʻoe māʻoniʻoni ko e fakakaukau poto ia.
11 For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
He ko e meʻa ʻiate au ʻe fakalahi ho ngaahi ʻaho, pea ʻe fakalahi mo e taʻu ʻo hoʻo moʻui.
12 Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbours; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
Kapau ko e poto koe, ʻoku ke poto pe maʻau: ka ke ka taukae, ko koe pe te ke ongoʻi ia.
13 A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
ʻOku faʻa longoaʻa ʻae fefine vale: ʻoku taʻepoto ia, ʻoku ʻikai te ne ʻilo ha meʻa.
14 She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
He ʻoku nofo ia ʻi he matapā ʻo hono fale, ʻi he hekaʻanga ʻi he ngaahi potu māʻolunga ʻoe kolo,
15 calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
Ke ui ki he kakai fononga, ʻakinautolu ʻoku ʻalu totonu atu ʻi honau hala:
16 [saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
“Ko hai ia ʻoku taʻepoto, ke afe mai ia ki heni:” pea ʻoku ne lea, ʻo pehē kiate ia, ʻoku taʻeʻilo,
17 Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
“ko e vai ʻoku kaihaʻasi ʻoku melie ia, pea ʻoku ifoifo lelei ʻae mā ʻoku kai fakafufū.”
