1 “ As for you, sing a song of sorrow for the leaders of Israel,

Na whakahuatia he tangi mo nga rangatira o Iharaira,

2 a nd say: ‘What was your mother? A female lion among lions! She lay down with young lions. She raised her young ones.

Mea atu hoki, He aha tou whaea? He raiona uha: i roto ia i nga raiona e takoto ana, ko ana kuao he mea whakatupu nana i roto i nga raiona,

3 S he brought up one of her little ones, and he became a lion. He learned to catch his food. He ate men.

Na atawhaitia ake ana e ia tetahi o ana kuao; kua rahi: kua ako ki te hopu tupapaku mana; kua kai tangata.

4 T he nations heard about him, and he was caught in their trap. And they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

I rongo ano nga iwi ki a ia; i mau ia ki roto ki ta ratou poka; na kawea ana e ratou, mekameka rawa, ki te whenua o Ihipa.

5 Y our mother waited until she saw that her hope was lost. Then she took another of her little ones and made him a young lion.

Na, i tona kitenga he tatari kau tana a kua kore tana i tumanako ai, na, ka mau ki tetahi atu o ana kuao, meinga ana e ia hei kuao rahi.

6 H e walked up and down among the lions. He became a young lion and learned to catch his food. He ate men.

Na kei te haereere tera i roto i nga raiona, kua rahi, kua ako ki te hopu tupapaku mana: kua kai tangata.

7 H e wrecked their strong towers and destroyed their cities. The land and all who were in it were filled with fear because of the loud noise he made.

I mohio ano ia ki o ratou whare kingi, whakaururuatia ana e ia o ratou pa, moti iho te whenua me ona tini mea i te haruru o tona hamama.

8 T hen the nations came against him from their lands all around. They spread their net over him, and he was caught in their trap.

Katahi ia ka whakaekea e nga iwi o nga kawanatanga i tetahi taha, i tetahi taha; horahia ana e ratou he kupenga ki runga ki a ia; kua mau ia ki roto ki ta ratou poka.

9 T hey put him in a prison with chains and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison so that his voice would never be heard again on the mountains of Israel.

Na ka tutakina atu ia, mea rawa ki te mekameka, ka kawea ki te kingi o Papurona: i kawea ia ki nga pa kaha, kia kore ai tona reo e rangona i muri ki runga ki nga maunga o Iharaira.

10 Y our mother was like a vine in your grape-field, planted by the water. It gave much fruit and was full of branches because there was much water.

I rite tou whaea ki te waina, ou toto na ano, he mea whakato ki te taha o nga wai: he mea whai hua, he mea whai manga, he maha hoki no nga wai.

11 I ts branches were strong enough to be made into sticks held by rulers to show their power. It grew as high as the clouds. Everyone saw how high it was and that it had many branches.

He peka kaha ano ona hei hepeta mo nga kingi; purero tonu ratou, roa tonu, i roto i nga manga pururu, i kitea atu ratou e purero ana, me ona manga maha.

12 B ut it was pulled up by the roots in anger and thrown down to the ground. The east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branch was torn off so that it dried up. And fire destroyed it.

Otiia i hutia ia i runga i te aritarita, maka iho ki te whenua, maroke ake ona hua i te hau marangai: i whatiwhatiia ona peka kaha, maroke ake; kainga ake e te ahi.

13 N ow it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.

Na inaianei kua oti ia te whakato ki te koraha, ki te whenua maroke, waikore.

14 F ire has spread from its largest branch and has destroyed its young branches and its fruit. No strong branch is left on it to be made into a stick for a ruler.’ This is a song of sorrow, and is to be used as a death song.”

A kua puta atu he ahi i roto i nga peka o ona manga, pau ake ona hua; kore ake ona peka kaha hei hepeta kingi. He tangi tenei, ka waiho ano hei tangi.