Nehemia 9
1 E odiechiengʼ mar piero ariyo gangʼwen mar dweno, jo-Israel nochokore kanyakla, ka gitweyo chiemo kendo ka girwako pien gugru ka gibuko wiyegi gi buru.
On October 31, the people gathered together again. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), they wore clothes made from rough cloth, and they put dirt on their heads [to show that they were sorry for their sins].
2 Jogo ma jo-Israel hie nopogore moa kuom jopinje mamoko. Negichungʼ ma gihulo richogi kod timbe mag anjawo mag kweregi.
The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.
3 Negichungʼ kanyo kendo ne gisomo Kitabu mar Chik mar Jehova Nyasaye ma Nyasachgi kuom seche adek, kendo ne gihulo richogi ka gipako Jehova Nyasaye ma Nyasachgi kuom seche adek mamoko.
The scroll that contained the laws of Yahweh, the God whom they [worshiped], was read to them for three hours. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and they worshiped Yahweh.
4 Jo-Lawi mane ochungʼ e raidhi kaywak matek ni Jehova Nyasaye ma Nyasachgi ne gin, Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebania, Buni, Sherebia, Bani kod Kenani.
[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.
5 To jo-Lawi kaka, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneya, Sherebia, Hodia, Shebania kod Pethahia nowacho niya, “Chungʼuru malo mondo upak Jehova Nyasaye ma Nyasachu mantiere mochwere manyaka chiengʼ.” “Ogwedh nyingi man-gi duongʼ, kendo mad tingʼe malo moloyo gweth kod pak duto.
Then [the leaders of] the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “While you are standing there, praise Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever!” [Then one of them continued by praying this to God], “Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! You are much greater than anything that we can think about or talk about!
6 In kende e Jehova Nyasaye. Ne ichweyo polo nyaka polo man malo mogik, to gi gik moko duto manie iye, gi piny to gi gik moko duto man kuome, nembe kod gik moko duto manie igi. Ichiwo ngima ne gik moko duto, kendo jopolo pakoi.
“You only are God. You made the sky and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas/oceans and everything that is in them. You are the one who gives life to everything and helps them remain alive. All the angels who are in heaven worship you.
7 “In e Jehova Nyasaye, mane oyiero Abram mi igole oa Ur mar jo-Kaldea bangʼe imiye nying ni Ibrahim.
“Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, Abraham.
8 Ne iyudo ka en ngʼat ma ja-adiera e nyimi, kendo ne iloso kode singruok ni inimi nyikwaye piny jo-Kanaan, jo-Hiti, jo-Amor, jo-Perizi, jo-Jebus, kod jo-Girgash. Iserito singruok marino nikech in ja-ratiro.
You saw that he was trustworthy. Then you made (an agreement with/a promise to) him, saying that you would give [to him and] to his descendants the land that the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Amor, Periz, Jebus, and Girgash lived in. And you have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.
9 “Ne ineno kaka kwerewa nosandore e piny Misri; kendo ne iwinjo ywakgi kane gichopo e Nam Makwar.
“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.
10 Ne ioro ranyisi mag honni kod gik miwuoro ne Farao, kendo kuom jotende duto kod jopinyni duto, nimar ne ingʼeyo kaka jo-Misri ne tiyo jowa githuon. Ne iloso nyingi, ma pod en kamano nyaka chil kawuono.
Because you knew that the leaders of Egypt were treating our ancestors very arrogantly, you performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king and his officials and all his people to suffer. As a result, you became famous then, and you are still famous!
11 Ne ibaro nam makwar ka gineno, mondo ne mi gikal kama otwo, makmana jogo mane lawogi ne inyumo e bwo nam, mana kaka kidi modir e ataro mar pi.
You caused the Red Sea to divide, with the result that your people walked through it on the ground without [getting their feet] wet. [After they were all safely on the other side, ] you [caused the water to come back again], and you hurled into the deep water the [soldiers of the Egyptian army] that were pursuing our ancestors. Their soldiers sank into the deep sea like stones!
12 Godiechiengʼ ne itelonegi gi bor polo, to gotieno to ne itelonegi gi mach makakni mondo omigi ler e wangʼ yo kama ne giwuothoe.
During each day you led our ancestors with a bright cloud that resembled a huge pillar, and each night you led them by a flaming cloud that gave them light to show them where to walk.
13 “Ne ilor e Got Sinai; mane iwuoyo kodgi gie polo. Ne imiyogi puonj kod chike makare kendo madiera kendo ne imiyogi puonj maber.
“When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.
14 Ne imiyo gingʼeyo Sabato-ni maler mi imiyogi chike, kod buche kokalo kuom jatichni Musa.
You taught them about your holy (Sabbath/day of rest), and you gave many kinds of laws to your servant Moses for him to tell to the people.
15 Ka kech ne kayogi to ne imiyogi makati koa e polo kendo ka riyo noloyogi to ne ikelo pi koa e kor lwanda; bende ne inyisogi mondo gidhi gikaw pinyno mane isesingo kikwongʼori ni ibiro miyogi.
When they were hungry, you gave them manna from the sky; and when they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You commanded them to go and take, from the people who lived there, the land which you had promised to give to them.
16 “To kwerewa, nobedo jongʼayi kendo joma tokgi tek, mine ok giluoro chikegi.
“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.
17 Negitamore winji kendo ne ok giparo honni mane itimo e diergi. Tokgi nobedo matek kendo e ngʼanyo margino ne giyiero jatelo mondo gidog gibed wasumbini. To in Nyasaye maweyone ji richogi, ma jangʼwono kendo maneno ne ji lit, iyi bende ok wangʼ piyo kendo hera mari ogundho.
They refused to heed you, and they forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. Instead, they became stubborn [IDM], and they appointed someone to lead them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives us and who is kind and merciful [to us]. You do not quickly become angry. You always faithfully love us.
18 Omiyo ne ok ijwangʼogi kata obedo nine gitimo timbe mag anjawo, ka giloso kido mar nyaroya mi giwacho niya, ‘Ma en nyasachu, mane ogolou e piny Misri.’
So, even though their [leaders] made an idol that resembled a calf and insulted you by saying [about the idol], ‘This is our god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ you did not desert them.
19 “Nikech ngʼwono mari mathoth ne ok ijwangʼogi e thim. Godiechiengʼ, bor polo nodhi nyime ka telonegi e yo, to gotieno mach makakni nomedo menyonegi kama giluwo.
“Because you always act mercifully, you did not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.
20 Ne ichiwo Roho mari maber mondo opuonjgi. Ne ok ituonogi manna, kendo ne imiyogi pi kuom riyo mane oloyogi.
You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.
21 Ne iritogi e thim kuom higni piero angʼwen; onge gimoro amora mane gionge godo, lepgi ne ok oti kata tiendegi bende ne ok okuot.
For 40 years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they had everything [that they needed]. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up [even though they were continually walking].
22 “Ne imiyogi loyo pinyruodhi kod ogendini, mi ipogogi nyaka kuonde motimo ongoro. Negikawo piny Sihon ma ruodh Heshbon kod piny Og ma ruodh Bashan.
“You helped our ancestors to defeat armies of great kings who ruled many people-groups. By doing that, you enabled our ancestors to (occupy/live in) even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon [city] and the land over which King Og ruled in [the] Bashan [area].
23 Ne imiyo yawuotgi obedo mangʼeny ka sulwe manie lwasi, mi ikelogi nyaka e piny mane isingone kweregi mondo odhiye kendo okaw.
You caused our ancestors’ descendants to become as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into this land, the land that you told their fathers to enter and occupy.
24 Yawuotgi nodonjo mi gikawo pinyno. Niloyonegi jo-Kanaan, mane odak e pinyno; ne ichiwonegi jo-Kanaan, kaachiel gi ruodhi mag-gi gi jopinyno, mondo gitimgi kaka bernegi.
Their sons went in and took the land [from the people that lived there]. You enabled them to defeat the descendants of Canaan who lived here in this land. You enabled them to conquer the descendants of Canaan and their kings and the people whom they ruled. You enabled our ancestors to do to those people whatever they wanted to do.
25 Negikawo mier madongo mochiel motegno gohinga kod lowo mamiyo; bende negikawo udi mopongʼ gi gik mangʼeny mabeyo, sokni mane osekuny, puothe mzabibu, gi mag zeituni kod yiende mag olembe mangʼeny. Negichiemo ma giyiengʼ kendo negibedo gi mor mogundho; negiil kuom berni maduongʼ mane itimonegi.
Our ancestors captured cities that had walls around them, and they took possession of fertile land. They took possession of houses that were full of good things, where there were wells that were already dug. They took possession of many vineyards and groves of olive trees and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to and became fat. They were delighted in all these good things that you gave to them.
26 “Kata kamano negibedo maonge luor mi gingʼanyoni; kendo wigi nowil kod chikeni. Neginego jonabi magi; mane osebedo ka puonjogi mondo gidwog iri; negitimo timbe maricho miwuoro.
“But they disobeyed you and rebelled against you. They (turned their backs on/rejected) your laws. They killed the prophets who warned them that they should return to you. They badly insulted you.
27 Omiyo ne ichiwogi e lwet wasikgi, mane omiyogi tingʼ mapek. To kane tingʼ mapek oromogi ne giywakni. Ne iwinjogi koa e polo, kendo gi ngʼwononi mogundho ne imiyogi jokony, mane oresogi giaye lwet wasikgi.
So you allowed their enemies to defeat them. But when their enemies caused them to suffer, they called out to you. You heard them from heaven, and because you are very merciful, you sent them people to help them, and those leaders rescued them from their enemies.
28 “To apoya nono kane giseyudo yweyo, negitimo gima ok owinjore e nyim wangʼi. Bangʼe ne ijwangʼogi e lwet wasikgi mondo omi wasikgigo obed ruodhgi. To kane gichak giywakni kendo ne iwinjogi ka in e polo, to e ngʼwononi mogundho ne iresogi kuom kinde ka kinde.
“But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did things that displeased you. So again you allowed their enemies to conquer them. But whenever they cried out to you again [to help them], you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them many times.
29 “Ne isiemogi mondo gidwog kuom chikni, to negibedo jongʼayi kendo ma ok oluoro chikeni. Negitimo richo kuom chayo puonj magi, maka ngʼato orito to kelone ngima. Negilokore giweyi ka tokgi tek ta mi ok girito chikeni.
“You warned them that they should again [obey] your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your commands. They sinned by disobeying what you commanded them to do, the things that would enable them to live a good long life [if they obeyed them]. They stubbornly refused [IDM] to listen to you and continued sinning.
30 Kuom higni mangʼeny ne ihori kodgi. Kuom Roho mari ne ipuonjori kodgi kokalo kuom jonabi magi. Kata kamano, ne ok gichiko itgi malongʼo, omiyo ne ichiwogi ne joma ok jo-Yahudi.
You were patient with them for many years. You warned them trough [the messages] your Spirit gave to the prophets. But they did not (heed/pay attention to) those messages. So again you allowed [the armies of] other nations to defeat them.
31 To e ngʼwono mari makende ne ok itiekogi chuth bende ne ok ijwangʼogi, nikech in Nyasaye ma jangʼwono kendo makecho joge.
But because you act very mercifully, you did not get rid of them completely or abandon them [forever]. You are a very gracious/kind and merciful God!
32 “Emomiyo koro sani, yaye Nyasachwa, in e Nyasaye maduongʼ, Nyasaye nyakalaga kendo Nyasaye Maratego bende in e Nyasaye marito singruokne mar hera. Kik ikaw chandruok mwanenogi mayot; chandruokgi osebiro kuomwa, kuom ruodhi magwa kod jotendwa, kuom jodolo magwa kod jonabi, kuom kwerewa kod jogi duto, kochakore ndalo loch mag ruodhi jo-Asuria nyaka kawuono.
“Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as [you promised in] your agreement with us that you would do! But now we are experiencing great difficulties/hardships. Great troubles have come to us, to our kings, to our [other] leaders, to our priests, and to our prophets. We have been experiencing these troubles since [the armies of] the kings of Assyria [conquered us], and we are still experiencing them. We ask that you sincerely think about [LIT] all these things.
33 Kuom mago duto mosetimorenwa, isebedo jangʼad bura makare; isebedo ja-adiera, ka wan ne watimo marach.
[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.
34 Ruodhi magwa, jotendwa, jodolo mawa kod kwerewa ne ok oluwo chikni; ne ok gichiko itgi ne puonj magi kata siem mane imiyogi.
Our kings and other leaders and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave to them.
35 Kata ndalo mane pod gin e bwo loch ruodhigi giwegi, kane pod gichamo mwandu mogundho mane imiyogi kendo gidak e piny malach kendo momewo mane ipogonegi, ne ok gitini bende ne ok giweyo timbegi maricho.
Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you. They refused to quit doing what was evil.
36 “To koro wan wasumbini e piny mane imiyo kwerewa mondo omi gicham olembe moa kanyo kod gik moko mabeyo monyago.
“So now we are [like] slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here.
37 Gik moko ma pinywani nyago dhi mana ne ruodhi miketo mondo otiwa nikech richowa. Gin gi teko kuom dendwa kendo gitimo mana gima gihero ni jambwa, to wan, to wan gi midhiero miwuoro.
Because we have sinned, [we cannot eat the things that grow here]. The kings that now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and [take] our cattle. We have to serve them and do the things that please them. We are experiencing great misery/distress.
38 “Kuom magi duto, waketo winjruok motweyowa, kwandiko wechegi piny, kendo jotendwa, gi jo-Lawi mawa kod jodolo mawa keto lwetgi kaka joneno.”
“However, we [Israeli] people now are making an agreement/promise [to obey you], and we are writing this agreement/promise [on a scroll]. We will write on it the names of our leaders and the names of the Levites and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it.”
