< Nehemiah 1 >
1 These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
Hakalia babarima Nehemia nsɛm ni: Ɔsram Kislev (bɛyɛ Obubuo) mpaemu akyi wɔ Ɔhene Artasasta adedi afe a ɛto so aduonu so no, na mewɔ Susa aban mu.
2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
Me nuanom mmarima mu ɔbaako a wɔfrɛ no Hanani no ne mmarima bi a wofi Yuda ba bɛsraa me. Mibisaa wɔn Yudafo a nkae ne wɔn a wɔafi nnommum mu aba no ne Yerusalem ho asɛm.
3 And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
Wɔka kyerɛɛ me se, “Nneɛma nkɔ yiye mma wɔn a wɔsan kɔɔ Yudaman mu no. Ɔhaw kɛse ne animguase aka wɔn. Wɔabubu Yerusalem fasu no agu fam, na wɔahyew apon no nso.”
4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Bere a metee eyinom no, metenaa ase sui. Nokware, mitwaa agyaadwo nna bi, bua dae, bɔɔ ɔsoro Nyankopɔn mpae.
5 Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,
Afei, mekae se, “Awurade, ɔsoro Nyankopɔn, Onyankopɔn a ɔyɛ ɔkɛse na ɔyɛ ɔnwonwani no, Onyankopɔn a ɔkora ne nokware dɔ apam a ɔwɔ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ no na wodi ne mmara nsɛm so no,
6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
tie me mpaebɔ. Hwɛ me sɛ merebɔ mpae ma Israelfo anadwo ne awia. Mepae mu ka se, yɛayɛ bɔne atia wo. Yiw, mpo, me ara me fifo ne mʼankasa ayɛ bɔne!
7 We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.
Yɛayɛ bɔne kɛse sɛ yɛanni wo mmara nsɛm, wo mmara, ne wʼahyɛde a wonam wʼakoa Mose so de maa yɛn no so.
8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
“Mesrɛ sɛ, kae asɛm a woka kyerɛɛ wʼakoa Mose se, ‘Sɛ moyɛ bɔne a, mɛtetew mo mu akɔ amanaman so.
9 but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’
Na sɛ mosan ba me nkyɛn, na mudi me mmara nsɛm so a, sɛ mpo, wɔatwa mo asu akɔ asase ano nohɔ koraa a, mede mo bɛsan aba faako a mayi asi hɔ sɛ wɔnhyɛ me din anuonyam no.’
10 They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.
“Yɛyɛ wʼasomfo, nnipa a wonam wo tumi kɛse so gyee yɛn no.
11 O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
Awurade, mesrɛ wo, tie me mpaebɔ. Tie yɛn mu bi a wɔn ani gye sɛ wɔhyɛ wo anuonyam no mpaebɔ. Mesrɛ sɛ, ma ensi me yiye, bere a merekɔ ɔhene nkyɛn akɔsrɛ no adom bi yi. Fa hyɛ ne koma mu, na ɔnyɛ me adɔe.” Na meyɛ ɔhene nsahyɛni.