In 1827 the Church Missionary Society published a book called Kenehihi containing extracts from the bible, the Lord's Prayer and seven hymns, all of which were translated into te reo Māori. 400 copies were printed in Sydney. Kenehihi is the Māori word for Genesis – the book opens with the first three chapters of Genesis. This is the first hymn from the book. A translation reads:
Who is the Lord?
It is Jehovah
The God who gave
his son
Why indeed did
He make this gift?
For eternal life so that
our sins may die
These sins of ours
how will they die?
Through his death
we will live
His blood was shed
To appease
Jehovah
Praise Jehovah
Who has shown us
the true life
Praise Jehovah
Praise him, Halleluiah
H[alleluiah] H[alleluiah] H[alleluiah] praise him
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Hocken Library, University of Otago
Reference:
S13-326b
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