< 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.
Siku ya ishirini na nne ya mwezi huo huo watu wa Israeli walikusanyika, nao walikuwa wamefunga, nao walikuwa wamevaa magunia, nao wakaweka vumbi juu ya vichwa vyao.
2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
Wazao wa Israeli walijitenga na wageni wote. Walisimama na kukiri dhambi zao wenyewe na matendo maovu ya 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.
Walisimama mahali pao, na robo ya siku walisoma kutoka Kitabu cha Sheria ya Bwana Mungu wao. Na robo nyingine ya siku walikiri na kuinama mbele ya 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, Yeshua, Bani, Kadmieli, Shebaniya, Buni, Sherebia, Bani na Kenani, walisimama juu ya ngazi, wakamwita 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.
Ndipo Walawi, na Yeshua, na Kadmieli, na Bani, na Hashabneya, na Sherebia, na Hodia, na Shebania, na Pethalia, wakasema, “Simameni, mkamsifu Bwana, Mungu wenu, milele na milele.” “Libarikiwe jina lako tukufu, lililotukuka kuliko baraka zote na sifa zote.
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 ni Bwana. Wewe peke yako. Wewe umefanya mbinguni, mbingu za juu, na malaika wote wa vita vita, na dunia na kila kitu kilicho juu yake, na bahari na vyote vilivyomo. Unawapa wote uzima, na majeshi ya malaika wanakusujudia.
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 ndiwe Bwana, Mungu aliyemchagua Abramu, akamtoa kutoka Uri wa Wakaldayo, akamwita Ibrahimu.
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 moyo wake ulikuwa mkamilifu mbele yako, nawe ukafanya pamoja naye agano la kuwapa wazao wake nchi ya Wakanaani, na Mhiti, na Mwamori, na Perizi, na Myebusi, na Wagirgashi. Umeweka 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 shida ya baba zetu Misri na ukasikia kilio chao kando ya 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.
Wewe ulifanya ishara na maajabu juu ya Farao, na watumishi wake wote, na watu wote wa nchi yake, kwa maana ulijua kwamba Wamisri walifanya kwa kujivunia. Lakini ulijifanyia jina ambalo linasimama hadi siku 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.
Ukagawanya bahari mbele yao, wakavuka katikati ya bahari juu ya nchi kavu; na ukawatupa wale waliowa ndani ya kina, kama jiwe ndani ya maji ya kina.
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.
Wewe uliwaongoza kwa nguzo ya wingu wakati wa mchana, na kwa nguzo ya moto wakati wa usiku, ili kuwamulikia njiani waweze kutembea katika nuru yake.
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 juu ya Mlima Sinai ukazungumza nao kutoka mbinguni ukawapa amri za haki na sheria za kweli, amri nzuri na maagizo.
14 and made known to them thy holy sabbath, and commanded them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant.
Uliwajulisha sabato yako takatifu, ukawapa amri, maagizo, na sheria kupitia Musa mtumishi wako.
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.
Uliwapa chakula kutoka mbinguni kwa ajili ya njaa yao, na maji kutoka mwamba kwa kiu yao, ukawaambia waende kuimiliki nchi uliyowaapa kwa kiapo kuwapa.
16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly and stiffened their neck, and did not hearken to thy commandments,
Lakini wao na baba zetu walifanya uasi, nao walikuwa wakaidi, wala hawakuzitii amri zako.
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.
Walikataa kusikiliza, na hawakufikiri juu ya maajabu uliyofanya kati yao, lakini wakawa wakaidi, na katika uasi wao waliweka kiongozi ili wairudie hali ya utumwa. Lakini wewe ni Mungu ambaye amejaa msamaha, mwenye rehema na huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira, na wingi katika upendo thabiti. Wewe haukuwaacha.
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,
Wala hukuwaacha hata walipokwisha kutoa ndama katika chuma kilichochomwa na kusema, “Huyu ndio Mungu wenu aliyekuleta kutoka Misri,” wakati walipopotoka sana.
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.
Wewe, kwa huruma yako, hukuwaacha katika jangwa. Nguzo ya wingu iliyowangoza njiani haikuwaacha wakati wa mchana, wala nguzo ya moto usiku iliwaangazia barabara ambayo walipaswa kutembea.
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 mzuri kuwafundisha, na mana yako haukuwanyima kinywani mwao, na ukawapa maji kwa 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 uliwaruzuku jangwani, na hawakukosa chochote. Nguo zao hazikuchakaa na 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 watu, na ukawapa ardhi katika kila kona ya mbali. Basi 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 watoto wao kuwa wengi kama nyota za mbinguni, na ukawaingiza katika nchi. Uliwaambia baba zao waingie na kumiliki.
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.
Basi watu wakaingia, wakaimiliki nchi, ukawashinda wenyeji wa nchi hiyo, Wakanaani. Ukawatia mikononi mwao, pamoja na wafalme wao na watu wa nchi, ili Israeli afanye nao kama walivyotaka.
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.
Wao waliteka miji yenye nguvu na nchi yenye ustawi, nao wakachukua nyumba zenye vitu vyote vyema, birika zilizochimbwa, mizabibu na miti ya mizeituni, na miti ya matunda mengi. Kwa hiyo walikula na wakashiba na wakatosheka, na wakafurahi kwa wema wako.
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.
Basi hawakukutii na wakawaasi. Walitupa sheria yako nyuma ya migongo yao. Waliwaua manabii wako waliowaonya wakurudie wewe, nao wakafanya ukatili mkubwa.
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.
Kwa hiyo ukawatia mikononi mwa adui zao, aliyewatesa. Na wakati wa mateso yao, walikulilia na wewe uliwasikia kutoka mbinguni na mara nyingi ukawaokoa katika mikono ya adui zao, kwa sababu ya huruma zako nyingi.
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 baada ya kupumzika, wakafanya mabaya tena mbele yako, nawe ukawaacha mikononi mwa adui zao, kwa hiyo adui zao wakatawala juu yao. Hata walipokurudia na kukulilia, ukasikia kutoka mbinguni, mara nyingi ukawaokoa kwa sababu ya huruma yako.
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.
Uliwaonya ili wapate kurudi kwenye sheria yako. Hata hivyo walifanya kiburi na hawakusikiliza amri zako. Walifanya dhambi dhidi ya amri zako ambazo humpa uzima mtu yeyote anayezitii. Hawakuzitii, hawakuzitenda na walikataa kuzisikiliza.
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 ukachukiliana nao na kuwaonya kwa Roho wako kwa njia ya manabii wako. Hata hivyo hawakusikiliza. Kwa hiyo ukawatia mikononi mwa watu wa 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 huruma zako kubwa hukuwakomesha kabisa, au kuwaacha, kwa maana wewe ni Mungu mwenye rehema na mwenye huruma.
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, Mungu wetu, Mungu wetu mkuu, mwenye nguvu na mwenye kutisha, unayeweka agano lako na upendo wako, shida zote zilizotupata sisi, wafalme wetu, wakuu wetu, na makuhani wetu, na manabii wetu, na baba zetu, na watu wako wote tangu siku za wafalme wa Ashuru mpaka leo usizihesabu kuwa ni kidogo.
33 However thou are just in all that has come upon us, for thou have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly,
Wewe ni mwenye haki katika yote yaliyotupata, kwa kuwa umetenda kwa uaminifu, na tumefanya uovu.
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, wakuu wetu, makuhani wetu, na baba zetu hawakuishika sheria yako, wala hawakuzingatia amri zako au shuhuda zako ulizowashuhudia.
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 katika ufalme wao wenyewe, wakati walifurahia wema wako kwao, katika nchi kubwa na yenye mazao uliyoweka mbele yao, hawakukutumikia au kuacha 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.
Sasa sisi ni watumwa katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu kufurahia matunda yake na zawadi zake nzuri, na tazama, sisi ni watumwa!
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.
Mavuno mazuri kutoka nchi yetu huenda kwa wafalme uliowaweka juu yetu kwa sababu ya dhambi zetu. Watawala juu ya miili yetu na juu ya mifugo kama wanavyopenda. Tuna shida kubwa.
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 yote haya, tunafanya agano thabiti kwa kuandika. Kwenye hati iliyofungwa ni majina ya wakuu wetu, Walawi, na makuhani.”