1 H e teka ranei kua takoto he pakanga mo te tangata i runga i te whenua, he rite ano ona ra ki nga ra o te kaimahi?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

2 E rite ana ki te pononga, e matenui nei ki te atarangi, ki te kaimahi, e tumanako nei ki te utu mo tana mahi;

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

3 K oia toku rite, ka whiwhi nei ki nga marama horihori, a he mauiui nga po kua whakaritea moku.

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 K a takoto ahau, ka mea ahau, A hea ahau ara ai? he roa ia te po; heoi ka tahurihuri kau ahau a ao noa.

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5 K o te kakahu mo oku kikokiko he kutukutu, he pokuru oneone; ka kukuti toku kiri, a ka ngatata ano.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

6 K o oku ra hohoro atu i te rakau a te kaiwhatu; pau ake, te ai he tumanakohanga atu.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

7 K ia mahara he hau oku ra; heoi ano kitenga o toku kanohi i te pai.

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

8 K o te kanohi o te tangata e kite ana i ahau, heoi ano tona tirohanga mai ki ahau: kei runga i ahau ou kanohi, heoi kahore iho ahau.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

9 M emeha atu te kapua, ngaro atu: he pera ano te tangata e haere ana ki te urupa; e kore e hoki ake.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

10 E kore ia e hoki mai ano ki tona whare, e kore ano tona wahi e mahara ki a ia i muri.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

11 N a e kore e kaiponuhia e ahau toku mangai; ka korero ahau i toku wairua e mamae nei; ka tangi i te kawa i toku ngakau.

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 H e moana ranei ahau, he tohora, i mea ai koe i te kaitirotiro moku/

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 K i te mea ahau, kei toku moenga ahau te marie ai, ma toku takotoranga e whakamama taku tangi;

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;

14 N a ka whakahaehaetia ahau e koe ki nga moe, ka whakawehia ahau ki nga mea e whakakitea mai.

Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15 A ki ta toku wairua he pai te tarona; pai ake te mate i enei wheua oku.

So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16 E whakarihariha ana ahau ki toku ora; kahore oku hiahia kia ora tonu ahau: waiho noa iho ahau, he mea teka noa hoki oku ra.

I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 H e aha te tangata, i whakanuia ai e koe? i anga ai tou ngakau ki a ia?

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

18 I titiro ai koe i a ia i tenei ata, i tenei ata, i honohono ai tau whakamatautau i a ia?

And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19 K ia pehea ake te roa ou kahore nei e tahuri atu i ahau, oku kahore nei e waiho noa iho e koe, kia horomia ai toku huware?

How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 M ehemea kua hara ahau, kia aha atu ahau ki a koe, e te kaitiaki o nga tangata? he aha ahau i waiho ai e koe hei patunga mau i taimaha iho ai ahau ki ahau ano.

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

21 H e aha koe te whakarere noa ai i toku he, te whakapahemo ai i toku kino? Akuanei hoki ahau moe ai ki te puehu, a ka ata rapu koe i ahau, otiia kahore noa iho ahau.

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.