Waiata 129

1 He waiata; he pikitanga. He ki tenei ma Iharaira, Ka maha a ratou tukinotanga i ahau o toku tamarikitanga ake;

A Song of Degrees. Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say:

2 Ka maha a ratou tukinotanga i ahau o toku tamarikitanga ake; heoi kihai ahau i taea e ratou.

Many a time have they warred against me from my youth: and yet they prevailed not against me.

3 I parautia toku tuara e nga kaiparau; he roa a ratou parautanga.

The sinners wrought upon my back: they prolonged their iniquity.

4 He tika ta Ihowa: motu pu i a ia nga aho a te hunga kino.

The righteous Lord has cut asunder the necks of sinners.

5 Kia whakama, kia whakahokia ki muri, te hunga katoa e kino nei ki Hiona.

Let all that hate Sion be put to shame and turned back.

6 Kia rite ratou ki te tarutaru i nga tuanui, e memenge nei i te mea kiano i tupu ake.

Let them be as the grass of the housetops, which withers before it is plucked up.

7 E kore nei e ki te ringa o te kaikoti, te uma hoki o te kaipaihere.

Wherewith the reaper fills not his hand, nor he that makes up the sheaves, his bosom.

8 E kore ano te hunga e haere ana i te taha e mea, Kia tau ki a koutou te manaaki a Ihowa: ko ta matou manaaki tenei ki a koutou i runga i te ingoa o Ihowa.

Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.