Waiata 39
1 Ki te tino kaiwhakatangi, ki a Ierutunu. He himene na Rawiri. I mea ahau, Ka ata whakaaro ahau ki oku ara, kei hara toku arero; ka tiakina toku mangai, paraire rawa, i te mea kei toku aroaro te tangata kino.
“A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.
2 I whakamoroki ahau, i wahangu, kihai i puaki taku kupu, ahakoa pai; a ka oho toku mamae.
I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.
3 Werawera ana toku ngakau i roto i ahau; i ahau e whakaaro ana ka ka te ahi, a ka korero toku arero.
My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:
4 E Ihowa, meinga ahau kia matau ki toku mutunga, ki te maha hoki o oku ra, e hia ranei: kia matau ai ahau he mea memeha noa ahau.
LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how frail I am!
5 Nana, he whanuitanga ringa oku ra kua homai nei e koe; he kahore noa iho ano oku tau i tou aroaro: ahakoa u noa te tu o nga tangata katoa, he mea memeha kau. (Hera)
Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. (Pause)
6 He pono kei roto i te atarangi te tangata e kopikopiko noa ana; he pono e ohorere noa ana ratou: e ami ana ia i te taonga, a kahore e matau ma wai ranei e kohi.
Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 Na he aha taku e tatari atu nei, e te Ariki? Ko koe taku e tumanako ai.
What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!
8 Whakaorangia ahau i aku mahi tutu katoa: kaua ahau e waiho hei tawainga ma te wairangi.
Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!
9 Wahangu ana ahau, kihai i kuihi toku mangai: he meatanga hoki tenei nau.
Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!
10 Nekehia atu i ahau tau whiu: ka ngaro ahau i te pakinga a tou ringa.
But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand.
11 Ka pakia e koe te tangata, ka whakatupehupehutia mo te hara, ka meinga e koe tona ataahua kia memeha, kia pera me te purehurehu: he pono he mea teka noa nga tangata katoa. (Hera)
When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.
12 Whakarongo ki taku inoi, e Ihowa, kia titaha mai tou taringa ki taku karanga; kei wahangu koe ki oku roimata: he heke hoki ahau nau, he manene, he pera me oku matua katoa.
Hear my prayer, O LORD! Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 Kia ata hanga ki ahau, kia ta ai toku manawa, keiwha haere atu ahau i konei, a ka kahore noa iho.
O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!
