Waiata 17
1 He inoi na Rawiri. Whakarongo ki te tika, e Ihowa, tahuri mai ki taku karanga, kia titaha mai tou taringa ki taku inoi, ara ki ta te ngutu tinihangakore.
A Prayer. Of David. Let my cause come to your ears, O Lord, give attention to my cry; give ear to my prayer which goes not out from false lips.
2 Kia puta mai te whakaritenga o taku whakawa i tou aroaro; tirohia mai e ou kanohi te mea rite.
Be my judge; for your eyes see what is right.
3 Kua whakamatauria e koe toku ngakau; kua tirotirohia iho ahau e koe i te po; kua whakamatau koe i ahau, a kahore he mea i kitea e koe; e mea ana ahau kia kaua e hara toku mangai.
You have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin.
4 Ko nga mahi ia a te tangata, ko nga kupu a tou mangai taku mea hei pa mai i ahau i nga ara o te kaiwhakangaro.
As for the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5 I whakaukia oku hikoinga ki au ara, kihai i paheke oku waewae.
I have kept my feet in your ways, my steps have not been turned away.
6 Kua karanga nei ahau ki a koe, no te mea ka whakahoki kupu mai koe, e te Atua, ki ahau: whakatitahatia mai tou taringa ki ahau, whakarongo ki taku kupu.
My cry has gone up to you, for you will give me an answer, O God: let your ear be turned to me, and give attention to my words.
7 Whakaaturia tou aroha whakamiharo, ko koe hoki, ko tou matau, te kaiwhakaora mo te hunga e whakawhirinaki ana ki a koe, i te hunga e whakatika mai ana.
Make clear the wonder of your mercy, O saviour of those who put their faith in your right hand, from those who come out against them.
8 Tiakina ahau, ano ko te whatu o te kanohi, huna ahau ki raro i te taumarumarutanga o ou pakau,
Keep me as the light of your eyes, covering me with the shade of your wings,
9 I te hunga kino e tukino nei i ahau, i oku hoariri whakamate e karapoti nei i ahau.
From the evil-doers who are violent to me, and from those who are round me, desiring my death.
10 E kopakia ana ratou e o ratou ngako: e korero whakapehapeha ana o ratou mangai.
They are shut up in their fat: with their mouths they say words of pride.
11 Tenei o matou hikoinga te karapotia nei e ratou: matatau tonu iho o ratou kanohi ki te tuku iho i a matou ki te whenua.
They have made a circle round our steps: their eyes are fixed on us, forcing us down to the earth;
12 Kei te raiona e hiahia ana ki te hopu kai te rite, kei te kuao raiona e piri ana i nga wahi ngaro.
Like a lion desiring its food, and like a young lion waiting in secret places.
13 E ara, e Ihowa, haukotia tona aroaro, turakina ia ki raro; whakaorangia toku wairua ki tau hoari i te tangata kino;
Up! Lord, come out against him, make him low, with your sword be my saviour from the evil-doer.
14 I nga tangata, ma tou ringa, e Ihowa, i nga tangata o te ao: kei tenei ora nei to ratou wahi, a e whakakiia ana o ratou kopu e koe ki tau taonga. E kiki ana ratou i te tamariki, whakarerea iho nga toenga o a ratou taonga ki a ratou kohungahunga.
With your hand, O Lord, from men, even men of the world, whose heritage is in this life, and whom you make full with your secret wealth: they are full of children; after their death their offspring take the rest of their goods.
15 Ko ahau, e kite ahau i tou mata i runga i te tika, a ka tatu toku ngakau, ina oho ake ahau, kia kite i tou ahua.
As for me, I will see your face in righteousness: when I am awake it will be joy enough for me to see your form.
