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.
To the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Melody of David. I said, [to myself, ] I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue, —I will put on my mouth a muzzle, So long as the lawless 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 held my peace, afar from happiness, But, my pain had been stirred:
3 Werawera ana toku ngakau i roto i ahau; i ahau e whakaaro ana ka ka te ahi, a ka korero toku arero.
Hot was my heart within me, While I was musing, there was kindled a fire, 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.
Let me know, O Yahweh, mine end, And the measure of my days—what it is, I would know how short-lived 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)
Lo! as hand-breadths, hast thou granted my days, and my life-time, is as nothing before thee, —Surely, a mere breath, are all men, [even] such as stand firm. (Selah)
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 as a shadow, doth every man wander, Surely in vain, do they bustle about, he heapeth things up, and knoweth not who shall gather them in.
7 Na he aha taku e tatari atu nei, e te Ariki? Ko koe taku e tumanako ai.
Now, therefore, for what have I waited, O My Lord? My hope, is, in thee.
8 Whakaorangia ahau i aku mahi tutu katoa: kaua ahau e waiho hei tawainga ma te wairangi.
From all my transgressions, rescue thou me, —The reproach of the base, oh do not make me!
9 Wahangu ana ahau, kihai i kuihi toku mangai: he meatanga hoki tenei nau.
I am dumb, I cannot open my mouth, for, thou, hast done it.
10 Nekehia atu i ahau tau whiu: ka ngaro ahau i te pakinga a tou ringa.
Remove from off me thy stroke, Because of the hostility of thy hand, am, I, consumed.
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, by rebukes for iniquity, thou hast corrected a man, Then hast thou consumed, as a moth, all that was delightful within him, Surely, a breath, are all men. (Selah)
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 Yahweh, And, unto my cry for help, give ear, At my tears, do not be silent, —For, a sojourner, am, I, with thee, A stranger, like all my fathers.
13 Kia ata hanga ki ahau, kia ta ai toku manawa, keiwha haere atu ahau i konei, a ka kahore noa iho.
Look away from me that I may brighten up, Ere yet I depart and am no more.
