3 I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?"

3 Na ka unga tangata ahau ki a raua hei ki atu, He nui te mahi e mahi nei ahau; e kore e ahei kia heke atu. Kia whakamutua hei aha te mahi? ka whakarerea nei hoki e ahau, ki te heke atu ahau ki a korua.