Nehemia 1
1 Magi e weche Nehemia wuod Hakalia: E dwe mar Kislev e higa mar piero ariyo, kane pod antiere kama ochiel gi ohinga motegno mar Susa,
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
2 Hanani, ma en achiel kuom owetena, nobiro koa Juda kaachiel gi joma moko, kendo ne apenjogi kuom jo-Yahudi mane otony, bende ne apenjogi kuom Jerusalem.
Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 Ne giwachona niya, “Jogo mane otony oa e twech kendo modwogo e gwengʼni nigi chandruok malich to gi wichkuot. Ohinga mar Jerusalem osemukore kendo dhorangeyege osewangʼ gi mach.”
And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
4 Kane awinjo wechegi, to ne abet piny mi aywak. Kuom ndalo manok nakuyo kendo natweyo chiemo kalamo e nyim Nyasach polo.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 Bangʼe ne alemo kama: “Jehova Nyasaye, ma Nyasach Polo, in Nyasaye maduongʼ kendo malich miwuoro, marito singruok mare mar hera gi jogo mohere kendo morito chikene.
Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,
6 Yie ichik iti kendo iyaw wangʼi mondo iwinj lemo ma jatichni lamo odiechiengʼ gotieno ne jotichni, ma gin jo-Israel. Ahulo richowa ma wan jo-Israel, kaachiel gi an kod od wuora wasetimoni;
let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 waseketho e nyimi adier kendo ok waseluoro chike kod puonj mane imiyo jatichni Musa.
We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.
8 “Parie puonj mane imiyo jatichni Musa, kiwacho ni, ‘Ka ok ubedo jo-ratiro, to abiro keyou e dier ogendini,
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
9 to ka udwogo ira kendo urito chikena, to kata obedo ni jou oke e tungʼ piny ka tungʼ piny, abiro chokogi ka agologi kuondego mi akelgi kama aseyiero kaka kar dak mar Nyinga.’
but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’
10 “Gin jotichgi kendo jogi, mane ireso gi tekoni maduongʼ kod badi maratego.
They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.
11 Yaye, Ruoth Nyasaye, mad ichik iti ne lamo mar jatichnini kendo bende ni lamo mag jotichni man-gi ilo mar miyo nyingi luor. Mi jatichni odhi maber ka inyise ngʼwono e nyim ngʼatni.” Ne an jatingʼ divai mar ruoth.
O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
