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 Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

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 want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.

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

When I am afraid, I will put my 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?

In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh 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.

All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.

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 conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.

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

Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.

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

You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?

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 my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that God is for me.

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

In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, I will praise his word.

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

I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

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

Your vows are on me, God. 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 delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.