Waiata 56

1 Ki te tino kaiwhakatangi. Ionata ereme rehokime. Na Rawiri. He Mikitama, i a ia ka mau i nga Pirihitini ki Kata. Tohungia ahau e te Atua, ka horomia hoki ahau e te tangata: e tukino ana ia ki ahau i te ra roa nei, i a ia e ngangare tonu nei.

For the music director. According to “Dove on Distant Oaks.” A psalm (miktam) of David concerning the time the Philistines captured him in Gath. God, please be gracious to me, for people are persecuting me; my attackers fight against me all day long.

2 E whai ana oku hoariri i te ra roa nei, kia horomia ahau; he tokomaha nei hoki e whakahi ana, e whawhai mai ana ki ahau.

My enemies chase me down all the time—there are many of them, attacking me in their arrogance.

3 Ka whakawhirinaki ahau ki a koe i te wa e mataku ai ahau.

But when I'm afraid, I trust in you.

4 Ma te Atua ahau ka whakamoemiti ki tana kupu: e whakawhirinaki ana ahau ki te Atua, e kore ahau e wehi. He aha ta te kikokiko e mea ai ki ahau?

I thank God for his promises. I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

5 E whakariroia ketia ana e ratou aku kupu i nga ra katoa; heoi ano ta ratou e whakaaro ai ko te kino moku.

They constantly twist my words against me; they spend all their time thinking of evil things to do to me.

6 E huihui ana ratou, e piri ana: e titiro matatau ana ki oku hikoinga, i a ratou e whanga nei ki toku wairua.

They gather together in their hiding places to keep watch on me, hoping to kill me.

7 Ma te he koia ratou ka mawhiti ai? kia riri koe, e te Atua, whakataka iho hoki nga iwi.

Will they escape when they do so much evil? God, in anger bring these people down!

8 E taua ana e koe oku kopikopikotanga: rongoatia oku roimata ki roto ki tau ipu: kahore ianei i tau pukapuka?

You've kept track of all my wanderings. You've collected all my tears in your bottle. You've kept a record of each one.

9 I te ra e karanga ai ahau ka hoki whakamuri oku hoariri: e matau ana ahau ki tenei, kei ahau hoki te Atua.

Then those who hate me will run away when I call for your help. For I know this: God is for me!

10 Ma te Atua ahau ka whakamoemiti ai ki tana kupu; ma Ihowa ahau ka whakamoemiti ai ki tana kupu.

I thank God for his promises. I thank the Lord for his promises.

11 E whakawhirinaki ana ahau ki te Atua: e kore ahau e wehi. He aha ta te tangata e mea ai ki ahau?

I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

12 Kei ahau nga kupu taurangi ki a koe, e te Atua: me tuku e ahau nga whakamoemiti ki a koe.

God, I will keep my promises to you. I will give thank offerings to you,

13 Nau hoki toku wairua i whakaora kei mata: e kore ianei koe e whakau i oku waewae kei paheke, kia haere ai ahau i te aroaro o te Atua i roto i te marama o te hunga ora.

for you have saved me from death and kept me from falling. Now I walk in the presence of God, in the light that gives life.