Waiata 73
1 He himene na Ahapa. He pono, he pai te Atua ki a Iharaira; ki te hunga ngakau ma.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 Ko ahau ia, wahi iti kua tapepa oku waewae: me i kotahi kua paheke oku takahanga.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 I hae hoki ahau ki te hunga whakahi, i toku kitenga i te tangata hara e kake ana.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Kahore hoki he whakawiringa a te mate i a ratou: he maro ano o ratou uaua.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 Kahore nga mea whakapouri tangata e pa ki a ratou; kahore ano ratou e whiua tahitia me te mano tangata.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like 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 is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
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 eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 E whakahi ana ratou, e korero kino ana mo te whakatoi: kei runga noa ake a ratou korero.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
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 the heavens, and their tongue walketh through 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 His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 E mea ana ratou, Ma te aha e matau ai te Atua? He matauranga koia to te Runga Rawa?
And they say: 'How doth 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, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 He pono he maumau taku mea i toku ngakau kia ma, taku horoi hoki i oku ringa ki te harakore.
Surely in vain have I cleansed 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 all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 Me i ki ahau, Ka penei taku korero; na e tinihanga ana ahau ki te whakatupuranga o au tamariki.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 I taku meatanga kia matauria tenei, ka kite ahau he mahi whakauaua rawa;
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 Tae noa ahau ki te wahi tapu o te Atua, katahi ahau ka mohio ki to ratou mutunga.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 He pono i whakaturia ratou e koe ki nga wahi pahekeheke; a whakataka ana e koe ki te ngaromanga.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 Ano te panga whakareretanga o to ratou hunanga! kua pau rawa i nga wehi.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
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 a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 Na mamae noa iho toku ngakau, a hukihuki ana oku whatumanawa.
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 He whakaarokore hoki ahau, he kuware: me te mea he kirehe ahau i tou aroaro.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Ahakoa ra kei a koe tonu ahau; e puritia ana e koe toku ringa matau.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 Ma tou whakaaro ahau e arahi; muri iho ka riro ahau i a koe ki te kororia.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me 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.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 Hemo iho oku kikokiko me toku ngakau: ko te Atua ia te kaha o toku ngakau, toku wahi ake ake.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and 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, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray 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 as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
