Waiata 129

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

[I say that] my enemies have (afflicted/caused trouble for) me ever since I was young. [Now I ask you, my fellow] Israelis, to repeat those same words:

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

“Our enemies have afflicted us since our nation began, but they have not defeated us!

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

[Our enemies struck us with whips] that cut into our backs [MET] like a [farmer uses a] plow to cut deep furrows into the ground.”

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

[But] Yahweh is righteous, and he has freed [me] from being a slave [MTY] of wicked [people].

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

I wish/hope that all those who hate Jerusalem/Israel will be ashamed because of being defeated.

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

I hope/wish that they will be [of no value], like grass that grows on the roofs of houses that dries up and does not grow tall;

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

[as a result] no one [cuts it and] puts it in bundles and carries it away.

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.

People who pass by [and see men harvesting grain usually greet them by saying to them], “We wish/hope that Yahweh will bless you!” But this will not happen [to those who hate Israel]. We, acting as Yahweh’s representatives, bless you [Israelis.]