Waiata 45

1 Ki te tino kaiwhakatangi. He Homhanimi ma nga tama a Koraha. He Makiri, he waiata aroha. E pupuke ake ana te mea pai i roto i toku ngakau: ka korerotia e ahau aku i tito ai mo te kingi: he pene toku arero na te kaituhituhi hohoro.

For the leader; on shoshannim. Of the Korahites. A maskil. A love song. My heart is astir with beautiful words: I will sing a song, concerning the king, with tongue like the pen of a ready writer.

2 Engari koe he ataahua i nga tama a te tangata: kua ringihia ou ngutu ki te ahuareka, na reira i manaakitia ai koe e te Atua ake ake.

Your beauty is more than mortal, grace is shed over your lips: therefore God has blessed you forever.

3 Whitikiria tau hoari ki tou huwha, e te Nui Rawa, tou kororia me tou honore.

Warrior, strap your sword on your thigh. What glory and splendor!

4 Aratakina hoki tou hoiho i runga i tou honore, i te kaha, hei mea hoki mo te pono, mo te mahaki, mo te tika, a ma tou matau koe e whakaako ki nga mea whakamataku.

Good fortune attend you, as forth you ride in the cause of good faith, and as champion of justice. May your arm instruct you in deeds of dread.

5 He koi au pere; ka hinga nga iwi ki raro i a koe; kei roto ratou i te ngakau o nga hoariri o te kingi.

Sharp are your arrows; nations fall under you: pierced to the heart are the foes of the king.

6 He pumau, e te Atua, tou torona ake ake: he hepeta tika te hepeta o tou kingitanga.

Your throne shall endure for ever and ever your royal sceptre a sceptre of equity.

7 Kua aroha koe ki te tika, kua kino ki te hara: na reira, nui atu i to ou hoa te whakawahinga a te Atua, a tou Atua i a koe ki te hinu o te hari.

Right you love and wrong you hate: therefore the Lord your God anoints you With oil of gladness above your fellows.

8 Ko tou kakahu katoa he kakara maira, he aroe, he kahia; ko nga mea aho, whakatangitangi o nga whare rei nana koe i whakaahuareka.

With myrrh, aloes, and cassia your robes are all fragrant, you are gladdened by music of ivory harps.

9 Kei roto i au wahine honore nga tamahine kingi; kei tou matau te kuini e tu ana, no Opira te koura.

King’s daughters stand ready with jewels for you, at your right hand the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 Whakarongo, e ko, titiro, tahuri iho tou taringa: a kia wareware koe ki tou iwi, ki te whare ano o tou papa.

Listen, daughter, and see; and incline your ear: forget your folk and your father’s house.

11 Penei ka matenuitia e te kingi tou ataahua: ko ia hoki tou Ariki; a me koropiko ki a ia.

And when the king desires your beauty, bow to him, for he is your lord.

12 Ko reira ano te tamahine o Taira me te ohaoha: ka whai ano nga tangata taonga o te iwi kia manakohia e koe.

So shall the Tyrians come with gifts, and the richest of people will do you homage.

13 Kei roto te tamahine a te kingi, he kororia kau, he mea whakairo ki te koura tona kakahu.

The king’s daughter is glorious altogether, with dress of pearls inwrought with gold.

14 He mea whakapaipai ki te ngira tona kakahu e kawea ai ia ki te kingi: ka arahina ki a koe nga wahine, ona takahoa e whai ana i a ia.

In many-coloured robes she is led to the king, with the virgin companions she brought in her train.

15 He hari, he koa ina kawea mai ratou; ka tomo ki te whare o te kingi.

The king’s palace they enter with joy and rejoicing.

16 Ko au tamariki hei whakakapi mo ou matua: ka meinga ano ratou e koe hei kawana mo te whenua katoa.

May sons of yours take the place of your fathers, whom you will make princes in all the land.

17 Ka meinga e ahau tou ingoa kia maharatia e nga whakatupuranga katoa: e whakamoemititia ai koe e nga iwi a ake ake.

Your name will I celebrate world without end, so that nations shall praise you for ever and ever.