Nehemiah 1
1 This is the account of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was in the fortress at Susa.
Hakalia babarima Nehemia nsɛm nie: Ɔbosome Kislew (bɛyɛ Ɔpɛnimaa) mpaemu akyi wɔ Ɔhene Artasasta adedie afe a ɛtɔ so aduonu so no, na mewɔ Susa aban mu.
2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men. I asked them about the remnant of the Jewish exiles who had returned from captivity, and also about Jerusalem.
Me nuanom mmarima mu baako a wɔfrɛ no Hanani no ne mmarima bi a wɔfiri Yuda ba bɛsraa me. Mebisaa wɔn Yudafoɔ a wɔatumi atena nnommumfa mu no ho asɛm ne sɛdeɛ nsɛm rekɔ so wɔ Yerusalem.
3 They told me, “The remnant who are left from the exile are there in the province, but they are having a great deal of trouble and feel humiliated. Jerusalem's walls have been knocked over, and its gates burned down.”
Wɔka kyerɛɛ me sɛ, “Nneɛma nkɔ yie mma wɔn a wɔsane kɔɔ Yudaman mu no. Ɔhaw kɛseɛ ne animguaseɛ aka wɔn. Wɔabubu Yerusalem ɔfasuo no agu fam, na wɔahye apono no nso.”
4 When I heard the news, I sat down, weeping and mourning for days, fasting and praying to the God of heaven.
Ɛberɛ a metee yeinom no, metenaa ase suiɛ. Nokorɛm, metwaa agyaadwoɔ nna bi, bua daeɛ, bɔɔ ɔsoro Onyankopɔn mpaeɛ.
5 Then I prayed, “Please, Lord God of heaven—the great and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love with those who love him and keep his commandments—
Afei, mekaa sɛ, “Ao Awurade, ɔsoro Onyankopɔn, Onyankopɔn a ɔyɛ kɛseɛ na ɔyɛ ɔnwanwani no, Onyankopɔn a ɔkora ne nokorɛ dɔ apam a ɔwɔ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ no na wɔdi ne mmaransɛm so no,
6 please listen and focus your attention on the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you now, day and night, on behalf of your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you, including my own sins and those of my family.
tie me mpaeɛbɔ. Hwɛ me sɛ merebɔ mpaeɛ ma Israelfoɔ anadwo ne awia. Mepae mu ka sɛ, yɛayɛ bɔne atia wo. Aane, mpo, me ara me fiefoɔ ne mʼankasa ayɛ bɔne!
7 We have done terrible things to offend you and we have not kept the commandments, laws, and regulations that you gave to your servant Moses.
Yɛayɛ bɔne kɛseɛ sɛ yɛanni wo mmaransɛm, wo mmara, ne wʼahyɛdeɛ a wonam wʼakoa Mose so de maa yɛn no so.
8 Please remember what you told Moses when you said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
“Mesrɛ sɛ, kae asɛm a woka kyerɛɛ wʼakoa Mose sɛ, ‘Sɛ moyɛ bɔne a, mɛtete mo mu akɔ amanaman so.
9 but if you come back to me and follow my commandments and obey them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will gather them together and bring them to the place I have chosen where I will be honored.
Na sɛ mosane ba me nkyɛn, na modi me mmaransɛm so a, sɛ mpo, wɔatwa mo asuo kɔ asase ano nohoa koraa a, mede mo bɛsane aba baabi a mayi asi hɔ sɛ wɔnhyɛ me din animuonyam.’
10 They are your servants and our people. You saved them by your great power and incredible ability.
“Yɛyɛ wʼasomfoɔ, nnipa a wonam wo tumi kɛseɛ so gyee yɛn no.
11 Lord, please respond to my prayer and to the prayers of those who love to worship you. Please let me be successful today and make the king sympathetic to me.” I was the king's cupbearer.
Ao Awurade, mesrɛ wo, tie me mpaeɛbɔ. Tie yɛn mu bi a wɔn ani gye sɛ wɔhyɛ wo animuonyam no mpaeɛbɔ. Mesrɛ sɛ, ma ɛnsi me yie wɔ ɛberɛ a merekɔ ɔhene nkyɛn akɔbisa no adom bi yi. Fa hyɛ nʼakoma mu, na ɔnyɛ me adɔeɛ.” Saa mmerɛ no na meyɛ ɔhene nsãhyɛni.
