Waiata 55
1 Ki te tino kaiwhakatangi Nekinoto. He Makiri, na Rawiri. E te Atua, tahuri mai tou taringa ki taku inoi: kei whakangaro atu koe, ina tangi ahau.
For the music director. With stringed instruments. A psalm (maskil) of David. God, please hear my prayer; don't ignore my cry for help!
2 Anga mai ki ahau, whakahokia mai he kupu ki ahau: pokaikaha noa iho ahau i ahau e tangi nei, e hamama nei;
Please listen, and give me an answer. I'm terribly troubled by my problems! I'm frantic!
3 I te reo hoki o te hoariri, i te tukino a te tangata kino: no te mea e utaina ana e ratou he hara ki runga ki ahau, a e kino ana ki ahau, e riri ana.
For my enemies are screaming at me; the wicked are intimidating me. They rain down suffering on me, angrily assaulting me in their hatred.
4 Mamae pu toku ngakau i roto i ahau: kua taka ki runga ki ahau nga wehi whakamate.
My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
5 Kua pa ki ahau te wehi me te wiri: a pokia iho ahau e te whakamataku.
I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
6 Na ko taku meatanga, Aue, te whai pakau ahau me he kukupa; penei ka rere atu ahau, a ka whai okiokinga.
I tell myself, If only God would give me wings like a dove so I could fly away and be at peace!
7 Katahi ahau ka rere ki tawhiti; a noho rawa atu i te koraha. (Hera)
I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 Ka hohoro toku rere atu i te hau, i te awha.
I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
9 Whakangaromia, e te Ariki, wehia o ratou arero; kua kitea hoki e ahau te tukino me te tutu o roto o te pa.
Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Haereere ana ratou i te ao, i te po, i runga i ona taiepa, a tawhio noa: he kino kei roto, he hianga.
They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.
11 He hara kei waenganui ona: kahore ona ara e mahue i te tinihanga, i te hianga.
The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.
12 Ehara hoki i te hoariri nana ahau i tawai; penei e taea e ahau te whakaririka: ehara hoki i te hoa whawhai noku i whakakake ki ahau; penei kua piri ahau, kei kitea e ia.
The problem is that it's not an enemy who mocks me—I could stand that. It's not someone who hates me who insults me—I could avoid them.
13 Nau ia, na te tangata i rite ki ahau, na toku takahoa, na taku i mohio ai.
No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
14 Ahuareka tonu ta taua korerorero; haere tahi ana hoki taua i roto i te ropu ki te whare o te Atua.
Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.
15 Kia mau ohorere ratou i te mate, kia heke ora ki te reinga: he hara hoki kei o ratou nohoanga, kei waenganui i a ratou. (Sheol h7585)
May death come quickly to them; may they go down into the grave alive, because evil finds its home in them. (Sheol h7585)
16 Ko ahau, ka karanga ahau ki te Atua: a ma Ihowa ahau e whakaora.
As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.
17 I te ahiahi, i te ata, i te poutumarotanga, ka inoi ahau, ka tangi: a ka whakarongo ia ki toku reo.
I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.
18 Whakaorangia ana e ia toku wairua i runga i te rangimarie i ahau e whakaekea ana: he tokomaha hoki oku hoa whawhai.
He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.
19 Ka whakarongo te Atua, no tua iho nei tona nohoanga, a ka whakahoki i ta ratou. (Hera) Ko te hunga kahore o ratou whakawhitiwhitinga, a kahore o ratou wehi ki te Atua.
God who has ruled from the beginning will hear me and answer them. (Selah) For they refuse to change and don't respect God.
20 Kua totoro ona ringa ki te hunga kua mau nei ta ratou rongo ki a ia; kua whakataka e ia tana kawenata.
As for my best friend, he attacked his friends who had no quarrel with him; he broke the promises he had made to them.
21 Maeneene atu tona mangai i te pata, he whawhai ia kei roto i tona ngakau: ngawari atu ana kupu i te hinu, kahore, he hoari kua oti te unu.
What he says is as smooth as butter, but inside he plans war; his words are as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.
22 Maka ki runga ki a Ihowa tau pikaunga, a mana koe e whakau ake: e kore e tukua e ia te hunga tika kia whakangaueuetia ake ake.
Throw your burdens onto the Lord and he will take care of you. He will never allow those who live right to fall.
23 Mau ia ratou e mea, e te Atua, kia heke ki te poka o te pirau: e kore nga tangata toto, nga tangata hianga e tutuki ki te hawhe o o ratou ra; ko ahau ia, ka whakawhirinaki ki a koe.
But you, God, will bring down murderers and liars, throwing them into the pit of destruction before they have even lived half their lives. As for me, I will trust in you.
