1 H e himene na Ahapa. He pono, he pai te Atua ki a Iharaira; ki te hunga ngakau ma.

For sure God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2 K o ahau ia, wahi iti kua tapepa oku waewae: me i kotahi kua paheke oku takahanga.

But as for me, my feet came close to falling. My steps had almost tripped.

3 I hae hoki ahau ki te hunga whakahi, i toku kitenga i te tangata hara e kake ana.

For I was jealous of the proud when I saw that all was going well with the sinful.

4 K ahore hoki he whakawiringa a te mate i a ratou: he maro ano o ratou uaua.

For they suffer no pain in their death, and their body is fat.

5 K ahore nga mea whakapouri tangata e pa ki a ratou; kahore ano ratou e whiua tahitia me te mano tangata.

They do not have the troubles of other men or suffer like other men.

6 N a reira, ano he hei te whakakake e awhi nei i a ratou, ano he kakahu te tutu e hipokina nei ratou.

So they wear pride around their neck. Fighting covers them like a coat.

7 P upuhi ana o ratou kanohi i te ngako: nui ake nga mea i a ratou i a o ratou ngakau i hiahia ai.

They are so fat that their eyes are pushed out. The crazy thoughts of their hearts run wild.

8 E whakahi ana ratou, e korero kino ana mo te whakatoi: kei runga noa ake a ratou korero.

They laugh at the truth, and speak sinful things about making it hard for others. They speak from a high place.

9 T utuki tonu to ratou mangai ki nga rangi: e kopikopiko ana hoki to ratou arero i runga i te whenua.

They say bad things against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.

10 K oia tona iwi i hoki mai ai ki konei: a e whakawiria ana he wai mo ratou, ki tonu te kapu.

And so his people return to this place and drink water from a full cup.

11 E mea ana ratou, Ma te aha e matau ai te Atua? He matauranga koia to te Runga Rawa?

They say, “How does God know? Is there much learning with the Most High?”

12 N ana, ko te hunga kino tenei, kei runga tonu i te whenua rangatira, e hua ana o ratou taonga.

See, this is what the sinful are like. They always have it easy and their riches grow.

13 H e pono he maumau taku mea i toku ngakau kia ma, taku horoi hoki i oku ringa ki te harakore.

For no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned.

14 E whiua ana hoki ahau i te roa o te ra, e pakia ana i nga ata katoa.

For I have suffered all day long. I have been punished every morning.

15 M e i ki ahau, Ka penei taku korero; na e tinihanga ana ahau ki te whakatupuranga o au tamariki.

I would not have been true to Your children if I had spoken this way.

16 I taku meatanga kia matauria tenei, ka kite ahau he mahi whakauaua rawa;

It was too hard for me when I tried to understand this,

17 T ae noa ahau ki te wahi tapu o te Atua, katahi ahau ka mohio ki to ratou mutunga.

until I went into the holy place of God. Then I understood their end.

18 H e pono i whakaturia ratou e koe ki nga wahi pahekeheke; a whakataka ana e koe ki te ngaromanga.

For sure, You set the sinful in places where there is danger at every step. You throw them down to be destroyed.

19 A no te panga whakareretanga o to ratou hunanga! kua pau rawa i nga wehi.

How they are destroyed right away! They come to an end with much fear.

20 K a rite ki te rekanga kanohi, ina ara ake te tangata, tau whakahawea ki to ratou ahua, e te Ariki, ina ara ake koe.

Like a dream when one wakes up, so You will hate what they look like when You rise up, O Lord.

21 N a mamae noa iho toku ngakau, a hukihuki ana oku whatumanawa.

My heart was troubled and I was hurt inside.

22 H e whakaarokore hoki ahau, he kuware: me te mea he kirehe ahau i tou aroaro.

I was without reason and did not know better. I was like an animal before You.

23 A hakoa ra kei a koe tonu ahau; e puritia ana e koe toku ringa matau.

Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand.

24 M a tou whakaaro ahau e arahi; muri iho ka riro ahau i a koe ki te kororia.

You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after this, You will bring me into shining-greatness.

25 K o wai hoki toku i te rangi ko koe anake? Kahore atu hoki oku i te whenua e hiahia ai, ko koe anake.

Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You.

26 H emo iho oku kikokiko me toku ngakau: ko te Atua ia te kaha o toku ngakau, toku wahi ake ake.

My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever.

27 N a, ko te hunga e mamao atu ana i a koe ka mate: ka ngaro i a koe te hunga puremu katoa e whakarere nei i a koe.

For, see, those who are far from You will be lost from You forever. You have destroyed all those who are not faithful to You.

28 K o ahau ia, he pai ki ahau te whakatata ki te Atua: kua waiho e ahau te Ariki, a Ihowa, hei whakawhirinakitanga moku, kia whakapuakina ai e ahau au mahi katoa.

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my safe place. So I may tell of all the things You have done.