1 K i te tino kaiwhakatangi. He himene ma nga tama a Koraha. Whakarongo ki tenei, e nga iwi katoa: tahuri mai o koutou taringa, e nga tangata katoa o te ao.

Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

2 E nga tangata iti, koutou ko nga tangata rahi, e te tangata taonga korua ko te rawakore.

Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

3 K a whakapuakina he matauranga e toku mangai: a he ata ngarahu te whakaaro o toku ngakau.

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:

4 K a titaha toku taringa ki te kupu whakarite; ka puaki taku pepeha i runga i te hapa.

I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.

5 K ia wehi ahau ki te aha i nga ra o te kino, ina karapotia ahau e te kino kei oku rekereke?

Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me?—

6 K o te hunga e whakawhirinaki ana ki o ratou taonga, e whakamanamana ana ki te nui o o ratou rawa;

They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. …

7 E kore tetahi o ratou e ahei te hoko i tona teina, te hoatu ranei i tetahi utu mona ki te Atua;

None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,

8 H e nui hoki te utu mo to ratou wairua, a me whakarere atu ake ake;

(For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,)

9 K ia ora tonu ai ia ake ake: kia kaua e kite i te pirau.

That he should still live perpetually, not see corruption.

10 E kite ana hoki ia e matemate ana nga tangata whakaaro nui, e ngaro ngatahi ana te poauau me te whakaarokore, a mahue iho o ratou taonga ki etahi atu.

For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

11 K i to ratou whakaaro puku, tera e pumau tonu o ratou whare me o ratou nohoanga, ki nga whakatupuranga katoa: huaina iho o ratou whenua ki o ratou ingoa.

Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.

12 H eoi kahore te tangata e noho tonu i roto i te honore: ko tona rite kei nga kararehe ka moti nei.

Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13 K o to ratou ara tenei, ara ko to ratou poauau: heoi e whakapai ana to ratou uri ki a ratou korero. (Hera.

This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. Selah.

14 K ei te hipi te rite: ko te wahi mo ratou ko te reinga; ko te mate hei hepara mo ratou, hei rangatira ano te hunga tika mo ratou i te ata; ko to ratou ataahua ma te reinga e whakamoti, kia kore ai he whare mona.

Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them.

15 M a te Atua ia toku wairua e hoko mai i te reinga: ko ia hoki hei tukunga atu moku. (Hera.

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. Selah.

16 K aua e wehi ua whai taonga te tangata, ina nui haere te kororia o tona whare;

Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:

17 K ahore hoki ana mea e mau atu ai ia ina mate; e kore tona kororia e tuku iho i muri i a ia.

For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.

18 W hakapai noa ia i tona wairua i a ia e ora ana; a ka whakamoemititia koe ua pai au mahi ki a koe ano.

Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime,—and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself,—

19 K a haere ia ki te whakatupuranga o ona tupuna: e kore rawa ratou e kite i te marama.

It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

20 K o te tangata e whakahonoretia ana, a kahore e whai whakaaro, kei nga kararehe ka moti nei tona rite.

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.