Nehemiah 1
1 The words of Nehemias the son of Helchias. And it came to pass in the month of Casleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in the castle of Susa,
Maneno ya Nehemia mwana wa Hakalia: Katika mwezi wa Kisleu katika mwaka wa ishirini, wakati nilikuwa ngomeni katika jumba la kifalme la Shushani,
2 That Hanani one of my brethren came, he and some men of Juda; and I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
Hanani, mmoja wa ndugu zangu, alikuja kutoka Yuda akiwa na watu wengine, nami nikawauliza kuhusu mabaki ya Wayahudi wale walionusurika kwenda uhamishoni na pia kuhusu Yerusalemu.
3 And they said to me: They that have remained, and are left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction, and reproach: and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.
Wakaniambia, “Wale walionusurika kwenda uhamishoni, wale ambao wamerudi kwenye lile jimbo, wako katika taabu kubwa na aibu. Ukuta wa Yerusalemu umebomoka, na malango yake yamechomwa moto.”
4 And when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.
Niliposikia mambo haya, niliketi, nikalia. Kwa siku kadhaa niliomboleza na kufunga na kuomba mbele za Mungu wa mbinguni.
5 And I said: I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee, and keep thy commandments:
Kisha nikasema: “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa mbinguni, mkuu na mwenye kuogofya, ambaye hulishika agano lake la upendo na wale wampendao na kutii amri zake,
6 Let thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the children of Israel thy servants: and I confess the sins of the children of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father’s house have sinned.
tega masikio yako, na ufungue macho yako, ili usikie maombi ya mtumishi wako anayoomba mbele yako usiku na mchana kwa ajili ya watumishi wako, watu wa Israeli. Ninaungama dhambi zetu sisi Waisraeli, pamoja na zangu na za nyumba ya baba yangu, tulizotenda dhidi yako.
7 We have been seduced by vanity, and have not kept thy commandments, and ceremonies and judgments, which thou hast commanded thy servant Moses.
Tumetenda uovu sana mbele zako. Hatukutii amri, maagizo na sheria ulizompa Mose mtumishi wako.
8 Remember the word that thou commandedst to Moses thy servant, saying: If you shall transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
“Kumbuka agizo ulilompa Mose mtumishi wako, ukisema, ‘Kama mkikosa uaminifu, nitawatawanya miongoni mwa mataifa,
9 But if you return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though you should be led away to the uttermost parts of the world, I will gather you from thence, and bring you back to the place which I have chosen for my name to dwell there.
lakini mkinirudia na kutii amri zangu, ndipo hata kama watu wenu walio uhamishoni wako mbali sana katika miisho ya dunia, nitawakusanya kutoka huko na kuwaleta mahali ambapo nimepachagua kuwa makao kwa ajili ya Jina langu.’
10 And these are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast redeemed by thy great strength, and by thy mighty hand.
“Hawa ni watumishi wako na watu wako, uliowakomboa kwa nguvu zako kuu na mkono wako wenye nguvu.
11 I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Ee Bwana, tega sikio lako na usikie maombi ya huyu mtumishi wako, na maombi ya watumishi wako wanaofurahia kuliheshimu Jina lako. Nipe leo, mimi mtumishi wako, mafanikio kwa kunipa kibali mbele ya mtu huyu.” Kwa maana nilikuwa mnyweshaji wa mfalme.
