Nehemiah 5
1 Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
Kisha wale wanaume na wake zao wakalia kwa nguvu dhidi ya Wayahudi wenzao.
2 For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
Kwa maana kulikuwa na baadhi ya watu ambao walisema, “Sisi na wana wetu na binti zetu tupo wengi. Basi hebu tupate nafaka tuweze kula na tukae tuishi.”
3 Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.
Pia kulikuwa na baadhi ya watu ambao walisema, “Tunaweka rehani mashamba yetu, mizabibu yetu, na nyumba zetu ili tupate nafaka wakati wa njaa.”
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute [upon] our fields and our vineyards.
Wengine pia walisema, “Tumekopesha pesa kulipa kodi ya mfalme kwenye mashamba yetu na mashamba yetu ya mizabibu.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [already]: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
Hata hivyo sasa miili yetu na damu ni sawa na ndugu zetu, na watoto wetu ni sawa na watoto wao. Tunalazimishwa kuuza wana wetu na binti zetu kuwa watumwa. Baadhi ya binti zetu tayari wamekuwa watumwa. Lakini hatuna nguvu za kusaidia kwa sababu watu wengine sasa wana mashamba yetu na mizabibu yetu.”
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Nilikasirika sana niliposikia kilio chao na maneno haya.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.
Kisha nikafikiri juu ya hili, na kuleta mashtaka dhidi ya wakuu na viongozi. Nikawaambia, “Ninyi mnatafuta riba, kila mmoja kutoka kwa ndugu yake mwenyewe.” Nikakutanisha kusanyiko kubwa juu yao
8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
na kuwaambia, “Sisi, kwa kadiri tulivyoweza, tumewakomboa toka utumwani ndugu zetu wa Kiyahudi ambao walikuwa wameuzwa kwa mataifa, lakini hata mnawauza ndugu na dada zenu ili wauzwe tena kwetu!” Walikuwa kimya na hawakupata neno la kusema.
9 Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
Pia nikasema, 'Mnachokifanya sio kizuri. Je, hampaswi kutembea katika hofu ya Mungu wetu ili kuzuia malalamiko ya mataifa ambayo ni adui zetu?
10 And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
Mimi na ndugu zangu na watumishi wangu tunawapa fedha na nafaka. Lakini lazima tuache kutoza riba juu ya mikopo hii.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
Warudishieni leo leo mashamba yao, mizabibu yao, mashamba yao ya mizeituni, na nyumba zao na asilimia ya fedha, nafaka, divai mpya, na mafuta mliyowatoza.”
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
Wakasema, “Tutarudisha kile tulichochukua kutoka kwao, wala hatutahitaji kitu kutoka kwao. Tutafanya kama unavyosema.” Ndipo nikawaita makuhani, na kuwaapisha kuwafanya kama walivyoahidi.
13 Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.
Nikakung'uta vazi langu, nikasema, “Basi Mungu aondoe nyumba na mali ya kila mtu asiyetimiza ahadi yake. Kwa hiyo akung'utwe na kuwa hana kitu. Kusanyiko lote likasema “Amina,” na wakamsifu Bwana. Na watu wakafanya kama walivyoahidi.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
Kwa hiyo tangu wakati niliowekwa kuwa mkuu wao katika nchi ya Yuda, tangu mwaka wa ishirini mpaka mwaka wa thelathini na pili wa mfalme Artashasta, miaka kumi na miwili, mimi na ndugu zangu hatukula chakula kilichotolewa kwa gavana.
15 But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
Lakini wakuu wa zamani waliokuwa kabla yangu waliwaweka watu mizigo mizito, na wakachukua kwao shekeli arobaini za fedha kwa ajili ya chakula na divai yao ya kila siku. Hata watumishi wao waliwadhulumu watu. Lakini sikufanya hivyo kwa sababu ya hofu ya Mungu.
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
Niliendelea kufanya kazi kwenye ukuta, na hatukununua ardhi. Na watumishi wangu wote walikusanyika huko kwa ajili ya kazi hiyo.
17 Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.
Katika meza yangu walikuwa Wayahudi na maafisa, watu 150, isipokuwa wale waliokuja kwetu kutoka kwa mataifa waliokuwa wakituzunguka.
18 Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
Kila kitu kilichoandaliwa kila siku kilikuwa ng'ombe moja, kondoo sita waliochaguliwa, na ndege, na kila siku kumi aina zote za divai nyingi. Na hata kwa haya yote sikuhitaji mahitaji ya chakula cha gavana, kwa sababu madai yalikuwa mazito sana juu ya watu.
19 Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
Nikumbuke, Ee Mungu wangu, kwa wema, kwa sababu ya yote niliyoyafanya kwa watu hawa.
