Waiata 73
1 He himene na Ahapa. He pono, he pai te Atua ki a Iharaira; ki te hunga ngakau ma.
A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
2 Ko ahau ia, wahi iti kua tapepa oku waewae: me i kotahi kua paheke oku takahanga.
But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
3 I hae hoki ahau ki te hunga whakahi, i toku kitenga i te tangata hara e kake ana.
through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
4 Kahore hoki he whakawiringa a te mate i a ratou: he maro ano o ratou uaua.
For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
5 Kahore nga mea whakapouri tangata e pa ki a ratou; kahore ano ratou e whiua tahitia me te mano tangata.
They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
6 Na reira, ano he hei te whakakake e awhi nei i a ratou, ano he kakahu te tutu e hipokina nei ratou.
So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
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 out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
8 E whakahi ana ratou, e korero kino ana mo te whakatoi: kei runga noa ake a ratou korero.
Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
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 in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
10 Koia tona iwi i hoki mai ai ki konei: a e whakawiria ana he wai mo ratou, ki tonu te kapu.
Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
11 E mea ana ratou, Ma te aha e matau ai te Atua? He matauranga koia to te Runga Rawa?
“How does God know?” they say, “And has the Most High any knowledge?”
12 Nana, ko te hunga kino tenei, kei runga tonu i te whenua rangatira, e hua ana o ratou taonga.
See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
13 He pono he maumau taku mea i toku ngakau kia ma, taku horoi hoki i oku ringa ki te harakore.
Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
14 E whiua ana hoki ahau i te roa o te ra, e pakia ana i nga ata katoa.
for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
15 Me i ki ahau, Ka penei taku korero; na e tinihanga ana ahau ki te whakatupuranga o au tamariki.
But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
16 I taku meatanga kia matauria tenei, ka kite ahau he mahi whakauaua rawa;
So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
17 Tae noa ahau ki te wahi tapu o te Atua, katahi ahau ka mohio ki to ratou mutunga.
till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
18 He pono i whakaturia ratou e koe ki nga wahi pahekeheke; a whakataka ana e koe ki te ngaromanga.
Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
19 Ano te panga whakareretanga o to ratou hunanga! kua pau rawa i nga wehi.
One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in 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.
Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
21 Na mamae noa iho toku ngakau, a hukihuki ana oku whatumanawa.
So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
22 He whakaarokore hoki ahau, he kuware: me te mea he kirehe ahau i tou aroaro.
show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
23 Ahakoa ra kei a koe tonu ahau; e puritia ana e koe toku ringa matau.
But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.
24 Ma tou whakaaro ahau e arahi; muri iho ka riro ahau i a koe ki te kororia.
By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to 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 the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
26 Hemo iho oku kikokiko me toku ngakau: ko te Atua ia te kaha o toku ngakau, toku wahi ake ake.
Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
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 see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.
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 I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.
