1¶ Kua hoha toku wairua ki toku ora; ka tukua e ahau taku tangi kia rere ana; ka korero ahau i te kikiwatanga o toku ngakau.
1My soul hath been weary of my life, I leave off my talking to myself, I speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2Ka mea ahau ki te Atua, Kaua ahau e whakahengia; whakakitea ki ahau te take i totohe ai koe ki ahau.
2I say unto God, `Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive [with] me.
3He mea pai ranei ki a koe kia tukino koe, kia whakahawea ki te mahi a ou ringa, a kia whiti tou marama ki te whakaaro o te hunga kino?
3Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?
4He kanohi kikokiko ranei ou? he penei ranei tau titiro me ta te tangata titiro?
4Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth — seest Thou?
5He rite ranei ou ra ki o te tangata ra? He rite ranei ou tau ki o te tangata ra?
5As the days of man [are] Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?
6I uiuia ai e koe toku kino, i rapua ai e koe toku hara?
6That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?
7Ahakoa e mohio ana ano koe ehara ahau i te mea he, kahore ano tetahi hei whakaora i roto i tou ringa?
7For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.
8¶ Na ou ringa ahau i mahi, i hanga, he mea hono marie i tetahi taha, i tetahi taha; otiia e whakangaromia ana ahau e koe.
8Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!
9Kia mahara ra, nau ahau i hanga, ano he paru; tera ranei koe e whakahoki ano i ahau ki te puehu?
9Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.
10He teka ianei he mea riringi ahau nau ano he waiu, meinga ana ahau e koe kia tetepe ano he tiihi?
10Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?
11Nau ahau i whakakakahu ki te kiri, ki te kikokiko, a nau ano ahau i hohou ki te wheua, ki te uaua.
11Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.
12Whakawhiwhi ana ahau e koe ki te ora, ki te atawhai, a he tirotirohanga mai nau i mau ai toku wairua.
12Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.
13Heoi huna ana ano enei mea e koe i roto i tou ngakau: e mohio ana hoki ahau kei a koe ano tenei.
13And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this [is] with Thee.
14¶ Ki te hara ahau, ka matauria e koe; e kore ano koe e whakakahore ki toku he.
14If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,
15Ki te he ahau, aue toku mate: ki te tika ahau, e kore tonu e ara toku mahunga; he ki hoki noku i te whakama me te titiro iho ki toku mate.
15If I have done wickedly — wo to me, And righteously — I lift not up my head, Full of shame — then see my affliction,
16A ki te whakarewa ake toku mahunga i a ia, ka whaia ahau e koe ano he raiona; a ka whakakite ano koe i a koe, i tou miharo, ki ahau.
16And it riseth — as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back — Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.
17E whakahoutia ana e koe au kaiwhakaatu i oku he, e whakanuia ana hoki e koe tou riri ki ahau; ko nga putanga ketanga ko te whawhai hei pehi i ahau.
17Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare [are] with me.
18He aha ra ahau i whakaputaina mai ai e koe i roto i te kopu? te hemo noa atu ai ahau, a kihai tetahi kanohi i kite i ahau.
18And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
19Penei kua rite ahau, ano kua kahore noa iho; kua mauria atu ahau i te kopu ki te urupa.
19As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,
20He teka ranei he torutoru oku ra? Kati ra, waiho ake koa ahau, kia ahua makoha ana i tenei wa iti,
20Are not my days few? Cease then, and put from me, And I brighten up a little,
21Keiwha haere, ahau ki te wahi e kore nei ahau e hoki mai, ki te whenua o te pouri, o te atarangi o te mata;
21Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,
22Ki te whenua o te pouri kerekere, o te tino o te pouri; he whenua no te atarangi o te mate, kahore nei o reira tikanga, a ko tona marama, koia ano te pouri.
22A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade — and no order, And the shining [is] as thick darkness.`