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,
The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. And it happened that, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the capital city 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.
And Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived, he and some men of Judah. And I questioned them about the Jews who had remained and were left behind from the captivity, and 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 said to me: “Those who have remained and have been left behind from the captivity, there in the province, are in great affliction and in disgrace. And the wall of Jerusalem has been broken apart, and its gates have been 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.
And when I had heard this manner of words, I sat down, and I wept and mourned for many days. I fasted and prayed before the face of 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.
And I said: “I beg you, O Lord, God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love you and who keep your 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;
may your ears be attentive, and may your eyes be open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you today, night and day, for the sons of Israel, your servants. And I am confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which they have sinned against you. We have sinned, I and my father’s house.
7 waseketho e nyimi adier kendo ok waseluoro chike kod puonj mane imiyo jatichni Musa.
We have been seduced by vanity. And we have not kept your commandments and ceremonies and judgments, which you have instructed to your servant Moses.
8 “Parie puonj mane imiyo jatichni Musa, kiwacho ni, ‘Ka ok ubedo jo-ratiro, to abiro keyou e dier ogendini,
Remember the word which you commanded to your servant Moses, saying: ‘When you will have transgressed, I will disperse 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 will return to me, and keep my precepts, and do them, even if you will have been led away to the furthest reaches of the heavens, I will gather you from there, and I will lead you back to the place that I have chosen so that my name would dwell there.’
10 “Gin jotichgi kendo jogi, mane ireso gi tekoni maduongʼ kod badi maratego.
And these same are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great strength and by your powerful 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.
I beg you, O Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who are willing to fear your name. And so, guide your servant today, and grant to him mercy before this man.” For I was the cupbearer of the king.
