Waiata 1

1 Ka hari te tangata kahore nei e haere i te whakaaro o te tangata kino, a kahore e tu i te ara o te hunga hara, kahore ano e noho i te nohoanga o te hunga whakahi.

[God] is pleased with those who do not do what [MET] wicked people advise them to do, and who do not imitate the behavior of [MET] sinful people, and who do not join in with people who (ridicule/sneer at) [God].

2 Engari ko te ture a Ihowa tana e whakaahuareka ai; kei tona ture ona whakaaro i te ao, i te po.

Those whom God is pleased with delight in doing the things that he has instructed/taught us to do. They read and think about Yahweh’s requirements, day and night.

3 E rite hoki ia ki te rakau i whakatokia ki te taha o nga awa wai, e whai hua nei i te po e hua ai: e kore tona rau e memenga; a ka pono ana mea katoa e mea ai ia.

They [constantly produce/do things that please God] just like fruit trees that have been planted along the banks of a stream produce fruit at the right time every year. [Like] trees that never wither, they succeed in everything that they do.

4 E kore e pera nga tangata kino; engari ka rite ki te papapa e aia ana e te hau.

But wicked people are not like that! Wicked people are [as worthless as] chaff that is blown away by the wind.

5 Ae ra, e kore e tu te hunga kino i te whakawakanga, me te hunga hara i te whakaminenga o te hunga tika.

Therefore, wicked people (will not be acquitted/will be condemned) [LIT] when [God] judges people, and furthermore, sinful people will not even be present when [God] gathers righteous people together,

6 E matau ana hoki a Ihowa ki te ara o te hunga tika: ko te ara ia o te hunga kino e ngaro.

because he guides and protects righteous people, but the path that the wicked walk on leads them to where they will be destroyed/punished [by God forever].