Waiata 123

1 He waiata; he pikitanga. Ka anga atu oku kanohi ki a koe, e koe e noho mai nei i nga rangi.

A Song of degrees. To thee I raise my eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

2 Ina, pera tonu nga kanohi o nga pononga e titiro nei ki te ringa o to ratou rangatira, nga kanohi hoki o te kotiro ki te ringa o tona rangatira wahine; me o matou kanohi e titiro nei ki a Ihowa, ki to matou Atua, kia tohu ra ano ia i a matou.

Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] to the hand of their masters, [and] as the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until he shall have mercy upon us.

3 Tohungia matou, e Ihowa, tohungia matou: kua tino kapi hoki matou i te whakahawea.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

4 Kapi tonu to matou wairua i te whakahi a te hunga e noho noa ana, i te whakahawea a te hunga whakakake.

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.