1 H e waiata; he pikitanga. Na Horomona. Ki te kore e hanga e Ihowa te whare, he maumau mahi ta nga kaihanga; ki te kore e tiakina e Ihowa te pa, maumau mataara noa te kaitiaki.

Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

2 H e maumau to koutou ara wawe, to koutou noho roa i te po, ta koutou kai i te taro o te mauiui: ko tana moe tena ka homai nei ki tana e aroha ai.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his loved ones.

3 N a he taonga pumau na Ihowa nga tamariki, ko nga hua ano o te kopu tana utu.

Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 E rite ana ki nga pere i te ringaringa o te tangata kaha te whanau o te taitamarikitanga.

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

5 K a hari te tangata kua ki nei tana papa pere i a ratou: e kore ratou e whakama, ina korero ki o ratou hoariri i te kuwaha.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.