1 ¶ My breath is corrupt, my days are cut off, and the grave is ready for me.

Kua pau toku manawa, moti rawa oku ra, kua rite te urupa moku.

2 N ow there are only mockers with me, upon whose bitterness my eye continues to gaze.

He pono he hunga tawai enei kei ahau, a kei roto tonu toku kanohi i a ratou whakakarangitanga.

3 P ut up now, give me surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

Tena ra, homai he punga ko koe tonu hei whakakapi turanga moku; ko wai hei papaki ringa ki ahau?

4 F or with these, thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore, thou shalt not exalt them.

Kua huna hoki e koe to ratou ngakau kei mohio; na reira e kore koe e whakaneke ake i a ratou.

5 H e that speaks flattery to his neighbour, even the eyes of his sons shall fail.

Ko te tangata e whaki ana i ona hoa, he mea mo te utu, ko nga kanohi tonu o ana tamariki e hemo.

6 H e has made me a byword of the peoples; and before them I have been as a tambourine.

Kua meinga hoki ahau e ia hei hahani ma nga iwi; a kua waiho marakerake ahau hei whakaetietinga.

7 M y eyes are dim by reason of sorrow, and all my thoughts are as a shadow.

Kua atarua toku kanohi i te tangi, rite tonu ki te atarangi oku wahi katoa.

8 U pright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

Ka miharo te hunga tika ki tenei, a ka whakaoho te tangata harakore i a ia ano hei whakahe i te atuakore.

9 T he righteous shall hold on to his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Otiia ka mau te tangata tika ki tona ara, a ko te tangata ringa ma ka neke haere ake te kaha.

10 ¶ But return all of you, and come now; for I shall not find one that is wise among you.

Ko koutou katoa ia tahuri, anga mai nei, e kore hoki tetahi tangata mahara e kitea e ahau i roto i a koutou.

11 M y days are past, my thoughts were broken off, even the purposes of my heart.

Kua pahemo oku ra, motumotuhia ake oku whakaaro i whakatakoto ai, tae noa ki nga whakaaro o toku ngakau.

12 T hey changed the night into day; the light is short because of the darkness.

Ko te po kua meinga e ratou hei ao; ko te marama, e ki ana ratou, e tata tonu ana ki te pouri.

13 I f I wait, Sheol is my house; I have made my bed in the darkness.

Ki te titiro ahau i te reinga hei whare moku; mehemea kua wharikitia e ahau toku moenga ki te pouri;

14 I have said to the pit, Thou art my father; to the worms, my mother, and my sister.

Mehemea kua karanga ahau ki te pirau, ko koe toku papa; ki te iro ranei, ko koe toku whaea, toku tuahine!

15 A nd where shall my hope be now? As for my hope, who shall see it?

Kei hea ra he tumanakohanga atu moku? A ko taku e tumanako atu ai ko wai e kite?

16 T hey shall go down to the bars of Sheol, and together they shall rest in the dust.

Ka riro ki raro ki nga taha o te reinga, ina whai okiokinga i roto i te puehu.