Waiata 127

1 He waiata; he pikitanga. Na Horomona. Ki te kore e hanga e Ihowa te whare, he maumau mahi ta nga kaihanga; ki te kore e tiakina e Ihowa te pa, maumau mataara noa te kaitiaki.

A Song of the going up. Of Solomon. If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.

2 He maumau to koutou ara wawe, to koutou noho roa i te po, ta koutou kai i te taro o te mauiui: ko tana moe tena ka homai nei ki tana e aroha ai.

It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

3 Na he taonga pumau na Ihowa nga tamariki, ko nga hua ano o te kopu tana utu.

See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward.

4 E rite ana ki nga pere i te ringaringa o te tangata kaha te whanau o te taitamarikitanga.

Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young.

5 Ka hari te tangata kua ki nei tana papa pere i a ratou: e kore ratou e whakama, ina korero ki o ratou hoariri i te kuwaha.

Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.