Waiata 120

1 He waiata; he pikitanga. I tangi, ahau ki a Ihowa i toku matenga; a i whakahoki kupu mai ia ki ahau.

A Song of the Ascents. Unto Jehovah in my distress I have called, And He answereth me.

2 E Ihowa, whakaorangia toku wairua i te ngutu teka, i te arero hianga.

O Jehovah, deliver my soul from a lying lip, From a deceitful tongue!

3 Ko te aha e hoatu ki a koe? ko te aha hoki e tapiritia atu mau, e te arero hianga?

What doth He give to thee? And what doth He add to thee? O deceitful tongue!

4 Ko nga pere koi a te hunga nunui, me nga waro hunipa.

Sharp arrows of a mighty one, with broom-coals.

5 Aue, toku mate, to te manene i Meheke, toku hoki e noho nei i nga teneti o Kerara!

Woe to me, for I have inhabited Mesech, I have dwelt with tents of Kedar.

6 Kua roa te nohoanga tahitanga o toku wairua ki te tangata e kino ana ki te ata noho.

Too much hath my soul dwelt with him who is hating peace.

7 Mo te ata noho ahau, engari ka korero ahau, ka anga ratou ka whawhai.

I [am] peace, and when I speak they [are] for war!