Waiata 49
1 Ki te tino kaiwhakatangi. He himene ma nga tama a Koraha. Whakarongo ki tenei, e nga iwi katoa: tahuri mai o koutou taringa, e nga tangata katoa o te ao.
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 E nga tangata iti, koutou ko nga tangata rahi, e te tangata taonga korua ko te rawakore.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 Ka whakapuakina he matauranga e toku mangai: a he ata ngarahu te whakaaro o toku ngakau.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 Ka titaha toku taringa ki te kupu whakarite; ka puaki taku pepeha i runga i te hapa.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Kia wehi ahau ki te aha i nga ra o te kino, ina karapotia ahau e te kino kei oku rekereke?
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 Ko te hunga e whakawhirinaki ana ki o ratou taonga, e whakamanamana ana ki te nui o o ratou rawa;
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 E kore tetahi o ratou e ahei te hoko i tona teina, te hoatu ranei i tetahi utu mona ki te Atua;
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 He nui hoki te utu mo to ratou wairua, a me whakarere atu ake ake;
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 Kia ora tonu ai ia ake ake: kia kaua e kite i te pirau.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 E kite ana hoki ia e matemate ana nga tangata whakaaro nui, e ngaro ngatahi ana te poauau me te whakaarokore, a mahue iho o ratou taonga ki etahi atu.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.
11 Ki to ratou whakaaro puku, tera e pumau tonu o ratou whare me o ratou nohoanga, ki nga whakatupuranga katoa: huaina iho o ratou whenua ki o ratou ingoa.
The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 Heoi kahore te tangata e noho tonu i roto i te honore: ko tona rite kei nga kararehe ka moti nei.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 Ko to ratou ara tenei, ara ko to ratou poauau: heoi e whakapai ana to ratou uri ki a ratou korero. (Hera)
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)
14 Kei te hipi te rite: ko te wahi mo ratou ko te reinga; ko te mate hei hepara mo ratou, hei rangatira ano te hunga tika mo ratou i te ata; ko to ratou ataahua ma te reinga e whakamoti, kia kore ai he whare mona. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ma te Atua ia toku wairua e hoko mai i te reinga: ko ia hoki hei tukunga atu moku. (Hera) (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Kaua e wehi ua whai taonga te tangata, ina nui haere te kororia o tona whare;
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 Kahore hoki ana mea e mau atu ai ia ina mate; e kore tona kororia e tuku iho i muri i a ia.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 Whakapai noa ia i tona wairua i a ia e ora ana; a ka whakamoemititia koe ua pai au mahi ki a koe ano.
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 Ka haere ia ki te whakatupuranga o ona tupuna: e kore rawa ratou e kite i te marama.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Ko te tangata e whakahonoretia ana, a kahore e whai whakaaro, kei nga kararehe ka moti nei tona rite.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
