Nehemiah 9

1 Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.

Katika siku ya ishirini na nne ya mwezi ule ule, Waisraeli walikusanyika pamoja, wakifunga na kuvaa nguo za gunia na kujitia mavumbi vichwani mwao.

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

Wale wa uzao wa Israeli walijitenga na wageni wote. Wakasimama mahali pao, na kuungama dhambi zao na uovu wa baba zao.

3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Jehovah their God.

Wakasimama pale walipokuwa, wakasoma kutoka kwenye kile Kitabu cha Sheria ya Bwana Mungu wao kwa muda wa robo siku, na wakatumia robo nyingine kwa kuungama dhambi na kumwabudu Bwana Mungu wao.

4 Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, and cried with a loud voice to Jehovah their God.

Walawi wafuatao walikuwa wamesimama kwenye ngazi: Yeshua, Bani, Kadmieli, Shebania, Buni, Sherebia, Bani na Kenani. Hawa walimlilia Bwana Mungu wao kwa sauti kubwa.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting. And blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Nao Walawi Yeshua, Kadmieli, Bani, Hashabnea, Sherebia, Hodia, Shebania na Pethahia wakasema: “Simameni mkamsifu Bwana Mungu wenu, yeye ambaye ni Mungu tangu milele hata milele. “Libarikiwe jina lake tukufu, litukuzwe juu ya baraka zote na sifa.

6 Thou are Jehovah, even thou alone, thou have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships thee.

Wewe peke yako ndiwe Bwana. Uliziumba mbingu, hata mbingu za mbingu na jeshi lote la mbinguni, dunia na vyote vilivyo ndani yake, na pia bahari na vyote vilivyomo ndani yake. Huvipa vitu vyote uhai, nalo jeshi la mbinguni linakuabudu wewe.

7 Thou are Jehovah, the God who chose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham,

“Wewe ni Bwana Mungu uliyemchagua Abramu na kumtoa kutoka Uru ya Wakaldayo, nawe ukamwita Abrahamu.

8 and found his heart faithful before thee, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his seed, and have performed thy words, for thou are righteous.

Uliona kuwa moyo wake ni mwaminifu kwako, nawe ukafanya Agano naye kuwapa wazao wake nchi ya Wakanaani, Wahiti, Waamori, Waperizi, Wayebusi na Wagirgashi. Umetimiza ahadi yako kwa sababu wewe ni mwenye haki.

9 And thou saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,

“Uliona mateso ya baba zetu huko Misri, ukasikia kilio chao huko Bahari ya Shamu.

10 and showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for thou knew that they dealt proudly against them, and got thee a name, as it is this day.

Ulituma ishara za miujiza na maajabu dhidi ya Farao, dhidi ya maafisa wake wote na watu wote wa nchi yake, kwa kuwa ulifahamu jinsi Wamisri walivyowafanyia ufidhuli. Ukajifanyia jina linalodumu hadi leo.

11 And thou divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land. And thou cast their pursuers into the depths as a stone into the mighty waters.

Ukagawa bahari mbele yao, ili waweze kupita katikati yake penye nchi kavu, lakini uliwatupa Wamisri waliowafuatilia katika vilindi, kama jiwe kwenye maji mengi.

12 Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou led them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.

Mchana uliwaongoza kwa nguzo ya wingu, na usiku kwa nguzo ya moto kuwamulikia njia iliyowapasa kuiendea.

13 Thou also came down upon mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

“Ulishuka katika Mlima Sinai, ukanena nao kutoka mbinguni. Uliwapa masharti na sheria zile ambazo ni za kweli na haki, pia amri na maagizo mazuri.

14 and made known to them thy holy sabbath, and commanded them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant.

Uliwafahamisha Sabato yako takatifu na ukawapa amri, maagizo na sheria kupitia mtumishi wako Mose.

15 And thou gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which thou had sworn to give them.

Katika njaa yao uliwapa mkate kutoka mbinguni, na katika kiu yao uliwatolea maji kutoka kwenye mwamba. Uliwaambia waingie na kuimiliki nchi ambayo ulikuwa umeapa kuwapa kwa mkono ulioinuliwa.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly and stiffened their neck, and did not hearken to thy commandments,

“Lakini wao, baba zetu, wakawa na kiburi na shingo ngumu, nao hawakutii maagizo yako.

17 and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou did among them, but stiffened their neck. And in their rebellion they appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and did not forsake them.

Wakakataa kusikiliza na kushindwa kukumbuka miujiza uliyoifanya miongoni mwao. Wakawa na shingo ngumu, na katika uasi wao wakamchagua kiongozi ili warudi kwenye utumwa wao. Lakini wewe ni Mungu mwenye kusamehe, mwenye neema na mwingi wa huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira, ni mwingi wa upendo. Kwa hiyo hukuwaacha,

18 Yea, when they had made a molten calf for them, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations,

hata wakati walijitengenezea sanamu ya ndama ya kusubu na kusema, ‘Huyu ni mungu wenu, aliyewapandisha kutoka nchi ya Misri,’ au walipofanya makufuru makubwa.

19 yet thou in thy manifold mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not depart from over them by day to lead them in the way, neither the pillar of fire by night to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

“Kwa sababu ya huruma zako kuu hukuwaacha jangwani. Wakati wa mchana ile nguzo ya wingu haikukoma kuwaongoza katika njia yao, wala nguzo ya moto haikuacha kuwamulikia usiku njia iliyowapasa kuiendea.

20 Thou also gave thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

Uliwapa Roho wako mwema ili kuwafundisha. Hukuwanyima mana yako vinywani mwao, nawe ukawapa maji kwa ajili ya kiu yao.

21 Yea, forty years thou sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes did not grow old, and their feet did not swell.

Kwa miaka arobaini uliwatunza jangwani. Hawakukosa chochote, na nguo zao hazikuchakaa wala miguu yao haikuvimba.

22 Moreover thou gave them kingdoms and peoples, which thou allotted after their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

“Uliwapa falme na mataifa, ukiwagawia hata mipaka ya mbali. Wakaimiliki nchi ya Sihoni mfalme wa Heshboni, na nchi ya Ogu mfalme wa Bashani.

23 Their sons thou also multiplied as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land concerning which thou said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

Uliwafanya wana wao kuwa wengi kama nyota za angani, nawe ukawaleta katika nchi ambayo uliwaambia baba zao kuingia na kuimiliki.

24 So the sons went in and possessed the land. And thou subdued the inhabitants of the land before them, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.

Wana wao wakaingia na kuimiliki nchi. Uliwatiisha Wakanaani mbele yao, walioishi katika nchi, ukawatia Wakanaani mikononi mwao, pamoja na wafalme wao na watu wa nchi, wawafanyie kama wapendavyo.

25 And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

Wakateka miji yenye ngome na nchi yenye rutuba, wakamiliki nyumba zilizojazwa na vitu vizuri vya kila aina, visima vilivyochimbwa tayari, mashamba ya mizabibu, mashamba ya mizeituni na miti yenye matunda kwa wingi. Wakala, wakashiba nao wakanawiri sana, wakajifurahisha katika wema wako mwingi.

26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and killed thy prophets who testified against them to turn them again to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

“Lakini hawakukutii nao wakaasi dhidi yako, wakatupa sheria zako nyuma yao. Wakawaua manabii wako, waliowaonya ili wakurudie, na wakafanya makufuru makubwa.

27 Therefore thou delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. And in the time of their trouble, when they cried to thee, thou heard from heaven, and according to thy manifold mercies thou gave them saviors who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.

Hivyo ukawatia mikononi mwa adui zao, ambao waliwatesa. Lakini walipoteswa, wakakulilia wewe. Kutoka mbinguni uliwasikia, nawe kwa huruma zako kuu ukawapa waokozi, waliowaokoa kutoka mikononi mwa adui zao.

28 But after they had rest, they again did evil before thee. Therefore thou left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. Yet when they returned, and cried to thee, thou heard from heaven, and many times thou delivered them according to thy mercies,

“Lakini mara walipokuwa na raha, wakafanya maovu tena machoni pako. Kisha ukawaacha mikononi mwa adui zao, nao wakawatawala. Walipokulilia tena, ukasikia kutoka mbinguni, na kwa huruma zako ukawaokoa kila mara.

29 and testified against them, that thou might bring them again to thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and did not hearken to thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and stiffened their neck, and would not hear.

“Ukawaonya warudi katika sheria yako, lakini wakawa na kiburi na hawakutii amri zako. Wakatenda dhambi dhidi ya maagizo yako ambayo kwayo mtu ataishi kama akiyatii. Kwa ukaidi wakakugeuzia kisogo, wakawa na shingo ngumu na wakakataa kusikiliza.

30 Yet many years thou bore with them, and testified against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore thou gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

Kwa miaka mingi ulikuwa mvumilivu kwao. Kwa njia ya Roho wako ukawaonya kupitia manabii wako. Hata hivyo hawakujali, basi ukawatia mikononi mwa mataifa jirani.

31 Nevertheless in thy manifold mercies thou did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them, for thou are a gracious and merciful God.

Lakini kwa rehema zako kuu hukuwakomesha wala kuwaacha, kwa kuwa wewe ni Mungu mwenye neema na rehema.

32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, let not all the travail seem little before thee, that has come upon us, on our kings, on our rulers, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

“Basi sasa, Ee Mungu wetu, uliye mkuu, mwenye nguvu na Mungu wa kuogofya, mwenye kushika agano lake la upendo, usiache taabu hizi zote zionekane kuwa kitu kidogo mbele za macho yako, taabu hizi zilizotupata, juu ya wafalme wetu na viongozi, juu ya makuhani wetu na manabii, juu ya baba zetu na watu wako wote, tangu siku za wafalme wa Ashuru hadi leo.

33 However thou are just in all that has come upon us, for thou have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly,

Katika hayo yote yaliyotupata, umekuwa mwenye haki, na umetenda kwa uaminifu, wakati sisi tumetenda mabaya.

34 neither have our kings, our rulers, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened to thy commandments and thy testimonies with which thou testified against them.

Wafalme wetu, viongozi wetu, makuhani wetu na baba zetu hawakufuata sheria yako. Hawakuzingatia amri zako wala maonyo uliyowapa.

35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gave them, and in the large and fat land which thou gave before them, neither did they turn from their wicked works.

Hata walipokuwa wangali katika ufalme wao, wakiufurahia wema wako mkuu katika nchi kubwa na yenye rutuba uliyowapa, hawakukutumikia wala kugeuka kutoka njia zao mbaya.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that thou gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good of it, behold, we are servants in it.

“Lakini tazama, sisi ni watumwa leo, watumwa katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu ili wapate kula matunda yake na vitu vingine vizuri inayozalisha.

37 And it yields much increase to the kings whom thou have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

Kwa sababu ya dhambi zetu, mavuno yake mengi huenda kwa wafalme uliowaweka watutawale. Wanatawala juu ya miili yetu na mifugo yetu kama wapendavyo. Tuko katika dhiki kuu.

38 And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it, and our rulers, our Levites, and our priests, seal to it.

“Kwa sababu ya haya yote, tunajifunga katika mapatano, na kuyaandika, nao viongozi wetu, Walawi wetu na makuhani wetu wanatia mihuri yao.”