Nehemiya 9

1 Pa tsiku la 24 la mwezi womwewo, Aisraeli anasonkhana pamodzi ndi kusala chakudya, kuvala ziguduli ndi kudzithira dothi pa mutu.

And on the twenty and fourth day of this month were the children of Israel assembled with fasting, and in sackclothes, and with earth upon them.

2 Aisraeliwa anadzipatula pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndipo anayimirira nayamba kuwulula machimo awo ndi zolakwa za makolo awo.

And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all children of the strangers: and they stood forward and made confession for their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

3 Anthuwo anayimirira pomwepo, ndipo anamva mawu a mʼbuku la malamulo a Yehova akuwerengedwa kwa maora enanso atatu ndipo anakhala maora ena atatu akuwulula machimo awo ndi kupembedza Yehova Mulungu wawo.

And they stood up in their standing-place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God the fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they made confession, and prostrated themselves before the Lord their God.

4 Pa makwerero okhalapo alevi anayimirirapo anthu awa: Yesuwa, Bani, Kadimieli, Sebaniya, Buni, Serebiya, Bani ndi Kenani. Iwowa ankapemphera mokweza mawu kwa Yehova Mulungu wawo.

Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua' and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebanyah, Bunni, Sherebyah, Bani, and Kenani, and they cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God.

5 Ndipo Alevi awa: Yesuwa, Kadimieli, Bani, Hasabaneya, Serebiya, Hodiya, Sebaniya ndi Petahiya anati: “Imirirani ndipo mutamande Yehova Mulungu wanu, amene ndi wamuyaya.” “Litamandike dzina lake laulemerero limene liposa madalitso ndi matamando onse.

Then said the Levites, Jeshua', and Kadmiel, Bani, Chashabneyah, Sherebyah, Hodiyah, Shebanyah, and Pethachyah, Arise! bless ye the Lord your God from eternity to eternity. And let men bless thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 Inu nokha ndiye Yehova. Munalenga kumwamba, ngakhale kumwambamwamba, zolengedwa zonse zimene zili mʼmenemo. Munalenga dziko ndi zonse zokhalamo, nyanja ndi zonse zili mʼmenemo. Zonse mumazisunga ndi moyo ndipo zonse za kumwamba zimakupembedzani.

Thou indeed art the Eternal One alone: It is thou that hast made the heavens with all their host, the earth, and all that is upon her, the seas, and all that is in them, and thou givest life to them all; and the host of the heavens bow down before thee.

7 “Inu ndinu Yehova Mulungu amene munasankha Abramu ndi kumutulutsa mʼdziko la Uri wa ku Kaldeya ndi kumutcha dzina lake Abrahamu.

Thou art indeed the Lord the [true] God, who didst choose Abram, and bring him forth out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and change his name to Abraham;

8 Inu munaona kuti mtima wake unali wokhulupirika kwa inu, ndipo munapangana naye pangano lakuti mudzapereka kwa zidzukulu zake dziko la Akanaani Ahiti, Aamori, Aperezi, Ayebusi ndi Agirigasi. Inu mwasunga lonjezo lanu chifukwa ndinu wolungama.

And thou didst find his heart faithful before thee: and thou madest with him the covenant to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Emorites, and the Perizittes, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashite—to give it to his seed: and thou hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous.

9 “Munaona kuzunzika kwa makolo athu ku Igupto. Munamva kufuwula kwawo pa Nyanja Yofiira.

And thou didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and their cry didst thou hear by the Red Sea;

10 Inu munachita zizindikiro zozizwitsa ndi zodabwitsa kutsutsana ndi Farao, pamaso pa Farao, nduna zake ndi anthu onse a mʼdziko lake, pakuti Inu munadziwa kuti anazunza makolo athu. Inu munadzipangira nokha dzina, monga zilili mpaka lero lino.

And thou didst display signs and wonders on Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they had dealt presumptuously against them; and thou didst [thus] make thyself a name, as it is this day.

11 Inu munagawa nyanja anthu anu akupenya, kotero kuti anadutsa powuma, koma munamiza mʼmadzi akuya anthu amene ankawalondola monga mmene uchitira mwala mʼmadzi ozama.

And the sea didst thou divide before them, so that they passed through the midst of the sea on dry land; and their pursuers didst thou throw into the deeps, like a stone in mighty waters.

12 Masana munkawunikira ndi chipilala cha mtambo ndipo usiku munkawunikira ndi chipilala cha moto njira yonse imene ankayendamo.

And by a pillar of cloud didst thou lead them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night, to give light unto them on the way whereon they should go.

13 “Munatsika pa Phiri la Sinai, ndipo munawayankhula kuchokera kumwamba. Munawapatsa malangizo olungama, ziphunzitso zoona ndiponso malamulo abwino.

Also on mount Sinai camest thou down, and spokest with them from heaven; and thou gavest them upright ordinances, and truthful laws, good statutes and commandments;

14 Inu munawadziwitsa kuti tsiku lanu la Sabata ndi loyera ndipo munawapatsa malamulo ndi ziphunzitso.

And thy holy sabbath madest thou known unto them, and commandments, statutes, and a law didst thou enjoin on them, by the hand of Moses thy servant.

15 Pamene anali ndi njala munawapatsa buledi wochokera kumwamba. Pamene anali ndi ludzu munawapatsa madzi otuluka mʼthanthwe. Munawawuza kuti apite kukalanda dziko limene munalonjeza kuti mudzawapatsa.”

And bread from heaven didst thou give them for their hunger, and water out of the rock broughtest thou forth for them for their thirst; and thou didst order them to go in to take possession of the land concerning which thou hadst lifted up thy hand to give it unto them.

16 “Koma makolo athu anadzikuza ndi kuwumitsa khosi, ndipo iwo sanamvere malamulo anu.

And they and our fathers acted presumptuously, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments.

17 Anakana kumvera ndipo sanakumbukire zodabwitsa zimene munachita pakati pawo. Koma iwo anawumitsa khosi, nakuwukirani podzisankhira okha mtsogoleri kuti awatsogolere kubwerera ku ukapolo ku dziko la Igupto. Koma ndinu Mulungu wokhululukira, wokoma mtima ndi wachifundo wosapsa mtima msanga ndi wachikondi chachikulu chosasinthika. Choncho Inu simunawasiye.

And they refused to obey, and remembered not thy marvelous deeds which thou hadst done with them; but they hardened their neck, and [spoke of] appointing a chief to return to their bondage, in their rebellion; but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, and forsookest them not.

18 Ngakhale pamene iwo anadziwumbira fano la mwana wangʼombe ndi kuti, ‘Uyu ndi mulungu wanu amene anakutulutsani mʼdziko la Igupto,’ kapena pamene anachita chipongwe choopsa.

Yea, although they had made for themselves a molten calf, and said, 'This is thy god that hath brought thee up out of Egypt,' and had practised great provocations:

19 “Koma Inu ndi chifundo chanu chachikulu, simunawasiye mʼchipululu. Chipilala cha mtambo sichinasiye kuwatsogolera pa njira yawo masana ndipo chipilala cha moto sichinasiye kuwatsogolera pa njira yawo usiku.

Yet in thy abundant mercies didst thou not forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them on the way; nor the pillar of fire by night, to give them light on the way whereon they should go.

20 Inu munawapatsa mzimu wanu wabwino kuti uwalangize. Inu simunawamane chakudya cha mana chija, ndipo munawapatsa madzi akumwa.

And thy good spirit thou gavest to make them intelligent, and thy manna thou withheldest not from their mouth, and water thou gavest them for their thirst.

21 Munawasunga zaka makumi anayi mʼchipululu ndipo sanasowe kanthu kalikonse. Zovala zawo sizinathe kapena mapazi awo kutupa.”

And forty years didst thou provide for them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out; and their feet swelled not.

22 “Inu munawapatsa mafumu ndi mayiko mʼmanja mwawo. Munawagawiranso mayiko achilendo akutali kwambiri. Munabwera nawo mʼdziko la Sihoni mfumu ya Hesiboni ndi dziko la Ogi mfumu ya Basani kuti alowemo nʼkulitenga kukhala lawo.

Thou gavest them also kingdoms and nations, which thou didst divide into various corners: and they took possession of the land of Sichon, even the land of the king of Cheshbon, and the land of 'Og the king of Bashan.

23 Munachulukitsa ana awo aamuna ngati nyenyezi za mlengalenga. Ndipo munawabweretsa mʼdziko limene munawuza makolo awo kuti alilowe ndi kulitenga.

And their children didst thou multiply like the stars of heaven, and then broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst ordered their fathers to enter in to take possession of it.

24 Choncho zidzukulu zawo zinapita ndi kukalandira dzikolo. Inu munagonjetsa pamaso pawo, Akanaani amene amakhala mʼdzikolo. Inde munapereka mʼmanja mwawo mafumu awo pamodzi ndi anthu a mʼdzikomo kuti achite nawo monga angafunire.

And the children entered in and took possession of the land; and thou didst humble before them the inhabitants of the land, the Cana'anites, and gavest them up into their hands, with their kings, and the nations of the land, that they might do with them according to their pleasure.

25 Iwo analanda mizinda yotetezedwa ndi dziko lachonde. Anatenganso nyumba zodzaza ndi zinthu zonse zabwino, zitsime zokumbidwa kale, mitengo ya mphesa, mitengo ya olivi ndi mitengo yambiri ya zipatso. Ndipo anadya nakhuta ndipo anali athanzi. Choncho ankakondwa chifukwa cha ubwino wanu wopambana.

And they captured fortified cities, and a fat soil; and they took possession of houses full of all good things, hewn-out wells, vineyards, and olive-yards, and fruit trees in abundance; and they ate, and were satisfied, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

26 “Komabe iwo anakhala osamvera ndipo anakuwukirani nafulatira malamulo anu. Anapha aneneri anu, amene anakawadandaulira kuti abwerere kwa Inu. Anachita chipongwe choopsa.

Then became they disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and they slew thy prophets who had warned them to bring them back unto thee, and they practised great provocations.

27 Pamene anazunzidwa anafuwulira kwa Inu, ndipo Inu munawamvera muli kumwambako. Ndipo mwa chifundo chanu chachikulu munkawapatsa atsogoleri amene ankawapulumutsa mʼmanja mwa adani awo.”

Thereupon thou gavest them up into the hand of their adversaries, who oppressed them: and in the time of their distress they used to cry unto thee, and thou ever heardest them from heaven; and according to thy abundant mercies thou wast wont to give them helpers, who helped them out of the hand of their adversaries.

28 “Koma akangokhala pa mtendere ankayambanso kuchita zoyipa pamaso panu. Choncho munkawapereka mʼmanja mwa adani awo amene ankawalamulira. Komabe pamene ankabwerera ndi kumalira kwa Inu, Inu munkawamva muli kumwambako. Chifukwa cha chifundo chanu chochuluka, nthawi zonse munkawapulumutsa.

But when [once more] they had rest, they did again evil before thee: wherefore thou didst leave them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them; and when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou wast wont to hear them from heaven, and thou didst ever deliver them according to thy mercies many times.

29 “Inu munkawachenjeza kuti abwerere ndi kuyamba kutsata malamulo anu. Koma iwo ankadzitukumula ndipo sankamvera malamulo anu. Iwo anachimwira malangizo anu amene munati ‘Amapatsa moyo kwa munthu wowamvera.’ Iwo ankakufulatirani, nawumitsa makosi awo osafuna kukumverani.

And thou gavest them warning to bring them back unto thy law: yet they acted presumptuously, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, and sinned against thy ordinances, which a man is to do that he may live through them: and they rendered their shoulder rebellious, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

30 Munapirira nawo kwa zaka zambiri. Munkawachenjeza ndi Mzimu wanu kudzera mwa aneneri anu, koma iwo sankakumverani. Choncho munawapereka mʼmanja mwa anthu a mayiko ena.

Yet thou gavest them indulgence many years, and didst warn them through thy spirit by means of thy prophets; but they gave no ear: therefore didst thou give them up into the hand of the nations of the lands.

31 Komabe mwachifundo chanu chachikulu simuwatheretu kapena kuwataya pakuti ndinu Mulungu wokoma mtima ndi wachifundo.

Yet in thy abundant mercies hast thou not made an entire end of them, and thou hast not forsaken them; for a gracious and merciful God art thou.

32 “Nʼchifukwa chake, tsono, Inu Mulungu wathu, Mulungu wamkulu, wamphamvu ndi woopsa kwambiri mumasunga pangano ndi chikondi chosasinthika. Musalole kuti mavuto onse amene atigwera ife, mafumu athu, atsogoleri athu, ansembe athu, aneneri athu, makolo athu ndi anthu ena onse kuyambira nthawi ya mafumu a ku Asiriya mpaka lero aoneke ochepa pamaso panu.

And now, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest the covenant and kindness, let not be esteemed as little before thee all the hardship that hath befallen us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day.

33 Koma Inu mwakhala wolungama pa zonse zimene zakhala zikutichitikira. Mwachita zokhulupirika, koma ife tachita zolakwa.

Nevertheless thou art righteous in all that is come over us; for thou hast acted [according to] truth, but we have done wickedly.

34 Ndipotu mafumu athu, atsogoleri athu, ansembe athu ndi makolo athu sanatsatire mawu anu. Iwo sanalabadire za malamulo anu ngakhale mawu anu owachenjeza amene munawapatsa.

Also our kings, our priests, and our fathers have not executed thy law, and have not listened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst warn them.

35 Ngakhale ankadzilamulira okha, nʼkumalandira zabwino zochuluka mʼdziko lalikulu ndi lachonde limene munawapatsa, koma iwo sanakutumikireni kapena kusiya ntchito zawo zoyipa.

But they in their kingdom, and in thy abundant goodness which thou hadst given unto them, and in the ample and fat land which thou hadst given up before them, did indeed not serve thee, and they turned not away from their wicked deeds.

36 “Tsono, taonani! Ife lero ndife akapolo, ndife akapolo mʼdziko limene munapereka kwa makolo athu kuti azidya zipatso zake ndi zabwino zake zonse.

Behold, we are this day servants: and as regardeth the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat its fruit and its good things, behold, we are servants in it;

37 Tsono chifukwa cha machimo athu, mafumu amene munawayika kuti azitilamulira angodzilemeretsa ndi chuma chambiri cha dzikoli. Iwo ali ndi mphamvu zolamulira matupi athu ndi ngʼombe zathu momwe afunira. Zedi, ife tili mʼmavuto aakulu.”

And it yieldeth its products in abundance for the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins; also over our bodies have they dominion, and over our cattle [also] at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

38 “Chifukwa cha zonsezi, ife tikuchita mgwirizano wokhazikika, pochita kulemba, ndipo atsogoleri athu, Alevi athu ndi ansembe athu asindikiza chidindo chawo pa mgwirizanowo.”

And because of all this, we make a faithful covenant, and write it down; and on the sealed document are our princes, our Levites, and our priests.