Waiata 73
1 He himene na Ahapa. He pono, he pai te Atua ki a Iharaira; ki te hunga ngakau ma.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 Ko ahau ia, wahi iti kua tapepa oku waewae: me i kotahi kua paheke oku takahanga.
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 I hae hoki ahau ki te hunga whakahi, i toku kitenga i te tangata hara e kake ana.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4 Kahore hoki he whakawiringa a te mate i a ratou: he maro ano o ratou uaua.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 Kahore nga mea whakapouri tangata e pa ki a ratou; kahore ano ratou e whiua tahitia me te mano tangata.
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Na reira, ano he hei te whakakake e awhi nei i a ratou, ano he kakahu te tutu e hipokina nei ratou.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Pupuhi ana o ratou kanohi i te ngako: nui ake nga mea i a ratou i a o ratou ngakau i hiahia ai.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 E whakahi ana ratou, e korero kino ana mo te whakatoi: kei runga noa ake a ratou korero.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 Tutuki tonu to ratou mangai ki nga rangi: e kopikopiko ana hoki to ratou arero i runga i te whenua.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Koia tona iwi i hoki mai ai ki konei: a e whakawiria ana he wai mo ratou, ki tonu te kapu.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 E mea ana ratou, Ma te aha e matau ai te Atua? He matauranga koia to te Runga Rawa?
And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Nana, ko te hunga kino tenei, kei runga tonu i te whenua rangatira, e hua ana o ratou taonga.
Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 He pono he maumau taku mea i toku ngakau kia ma, taku horoi hoki i oku ringa ki te harakore.
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 E whiua ana hoki ahau i te roa o te ra, e pakia ana i nga ata katoa.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 Me i ki ahau, Ka penei taku korero; na e tinihanga ana ahau ki te whakatupuranga o au tamariki.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
16 I taku meatanga kia matauria tenei, ka kite ahau he mahi whakauaua rawa;
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 Tae noa ahau ki te wahi tapu o te Atua, katahi ahau ka mohio ki to ratou mutunga.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 He pono i whakaturia ratou e koe ki nga wahi pahekeheke; a whakataka ana e koe ki te ngaromanga.
Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 Ano te panga whakareretanga o to ratou hunanga! kua pau rawa i nga wehi.
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 Ka rite ki te rekanga kanohi, ina ara ake te tangata, tau whakahawea ki to ratou ahua, e te Ariki, ina ara ake koe.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21 Na mamae noa iho toku ngakau, a hukihuki ana oku whatumanawa.
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 He whakaarokore hoki ahau, he kuware: me te mea he kirehe ahau i tou aroaro.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
23 Ahakoa ra kei a koe tonu ahau; e puritia ana e koe toku ringa matau.
Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24 Ma tou whakaaro ahau e arahi; muri iho ka riro ahau i a koe ki te kororia.
Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
25 Ko wai hoki toku i te rangi ko koe anake? Kahore atu hoki oku i te whenua e hiahia ai, ko koe anake.
For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
26 Hemo iho oku kikokiko me toku ngakau: ko te Atua ia te kaha o toku ngakau, toku wahi ake ake.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 Na, ko te hunga e mamao atu ana i a koe ka mate: ka ngaro i a koe te hunga puremu katoa e whakarere nei i a koe.
For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.
28 Ko ahau ia, he pai ki ahau te whakatata ki te Atua: kua waiho e ahau te Ariki, a Ihowa, hei whakawhirinakitanga moku, kia whakapuakina ai e ahau au mahi katoa.
But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
