Nehemiah 9

1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sack clothes, and earth upon them.

Pada hari kedua puluh empat, masih di bulan ketujuh, seluruh rakyat Israel berkumpul untuk mengaku dosa. Mereka berpuasa, memakai kain karung, dan menaruh abu di atas kepala sebagai tanda berkabung karena dosa mereka sendiri. Mereka sudah memisahkan diri dari semua orang yang bukan bangsa Israel. Mereka berdoa mengakui dosa-dosa dan kesalahan-kesalahan mereka maupun nenek moyang mereka.

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

Selama tiga jam, kitab Taurat dibacakan kepada mereka, dan selama tiga jam berikutnya mereka mengaku dosa di hadapan TUHAN sambil bersujud menyembah Dia.

4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

Sekelompok orang Lewi— yaitu Yesua, Bani, Kadmiel, Sebanya, Buni, Serebya, Bani, dan Kenani— berdiri di panggung. Mereka memanjatkan doa dengan nyaring kepada TUHAN Allah.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Selanjutnya, Yesua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hasabneya, Serebya, Hodia, Sebanya, dan Petahya berkata, “Berdirilah dan pujilah TUHAN Allahmu yang hidup selama-lamanya!” Lalu mereka berdoa, “Ya, Allah yang mulia, biarlah Engkau dipuji dan diagungkan dengan segala hormat!

6 You, even you, are LORD alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.

Ya Allah, Engkaulah TUHAN yang Mahaesa. Engkau yang menciptakan seluruh tingkat surga dan langit, bumi dan segala isinya, serta lautan dan semua yang ada di dalamnya. Engkau yang memberi kehidupan bagi segala makhluk. Pasukan malaikat surgawi pun bersujud menyembah-Mu.

7 You are the LORD the God, who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham;

Engkaulah TUHAN Allah yang sudah memilih Abram. Engkau membawa dia keluar dari Ur di wilayah Babel dan mengubah namanya menjadi Abraham.

8 And found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and have performed your words; for you are righteous:

Engkau mengetahui bahwa dia setia kepada-Mu, maka Engkau mengadakan perjanjian dengannya untuk memberikan negeri yang didiami bangsa Kanaan, Het, Amori, Feris, Yebus, dan Girgasi kepada anak cucunya. Engkau sudah menepati janji-Mu itu, karena Engkau adil dan setia.

9 And did see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red sea;

Engkau melihat penderitaan nenek moyang kami di negeri Mesir dan mendengar jeritan mereka minta tolong di tepi Laut Merah.

10 And showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for you knew that they dealt proudly against them. So did you get you a name, as it is this day.

Maka Engkau melakukan perbuatan dahsyat dan membuat keajaiban melawan raja Mesir, para pejabatnya, dan seluruh rakyatnya, sebab Engkau tahu betapa kejamnya mereka terhadap nenek moyang kami. Karena perbuatan ajaib-Mu itu, Engkau ditakuti bangsa-bangsa sampai sekarang.

11 And you did divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors you threw into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

Engkau membelah Laut Merah di hadapan nenek moyang kami sehingga mereka bisa menyeberang melalui tanah yang kering. Ke dalam laut Engkau menenggelamkan pasukan Mesir yang mengejar mereka, bagaikan batu dilempar ke dasar lautan yang bergelora.

12 Moreover you led them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

Di padang belantara, Engkau menuntun mereka dengan tiang awan pada siang hari, dan pada waktu malam, Engkau menerangi jalan mereka dengan tiang berapi.

13 You came down also upon mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

Dari surga Engkau turun ke atas gunung Sinai dan berbicara kepada mereka. Engkau memberi mereka peraturan-peraturan dan ketetapan-ketetapan yang adil serta hukum-hukum dan perintah-perintah yang baik.

14 And made known unto them your holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your servant:

Melalui hamba-Mu Musa, Engkau mengajar mereka untuk menjaga kesucian hari Sabat-Mu dan memberikan berbagai perintah, ketetapan, serta hukum kepada mereka.

15 And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.

Ketika umat-Mu lapar, Engkau menyediakan roti surgawi yang disebut manna. Ketika mereka haus, Engkau mengeluarkan air dari sebuah batu. Engkau memerintahkan mereka untuk merebut dan menduduki negeri yang sudah Engkau janjikan kepada mereka.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to your commandments,

Tetapi nenek moyang kami sombong. Mereka keras kepala dan tidak menaati perintah-perintah-Mu.

17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not.

Mereka menolak untuk taat. Mereka lupa hal-hal ajaib yang sudah Engkau lakukan di hadapan mereka. Karena keras kepala, mereka malah ingin mengangkat seorang pemimpin untuk membawa mereka kembali ke dalam perbudakan di Mesir. Tetapi Engkau Allah yang maha pengampun. Engkau murah hati, penuh belas kasih, panjang sabar, dan setia. Engkau tidak meninggalkan mereka.

18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;

Nenek moyang kami membuat berhala berbentuk anak sapi. Kata mereka, ‘Inilah dewa kita yang sudah membawa kita keluar dari Mesir.’ Mereka berulang kali menghina Engkau dengan perbuatan yang keterlaluan seperti itu.

19 Yet you in your manifold mercies forsook them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.

“Namun, Engkau TUHAN yang maha pengasih! Engkau tidak meninggalkan mereka di padang belantara. Tiang awan-Mu tetap menuntun mereka pada waktu siang dan tiang berapi tetap menerangi jalan mereka di kala malam.

20 You gave also your good spirit to instruct them, and withheld not your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

Roh-Mu memberikan kuasa kepada Musa untuk mengajar mereka dengan lemah lembut. Engkau tetap menurunkan manna untuk mereka makan dan menyediakan air ketika mereka haus.

21 Yea, forty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

Selama empat puluh tahun di padang belantara Engkau memelihara mereka. Pakaian mereka tidak menjadi usang dan kaki mereka tidak pernah menjadi bengkak.

22 Moreover you gave them kingdoms and nations, and did divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

Engkau menolong mereka mengalahkan banyak kerajaan dan bangsa, lalu Engkau membagi-bagikan negeri Kanaan kepada suku-suku umat-Mu. Mereka mengambil alih seluruh wilayah Raja Sihon dari Hesbon dan Raja Og dari Basan.

23 Their children also multiplied you as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

Engkau membuat anak cucu mereka sebanyak bintang-bintang di langit, dan menuntun mereka memasuki negeri yang sudah Engkau janjikan kepada nenek moyang mereka.

24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would.

Saat umat-Mu masuk untuk menguasai, Engkau menolong mereka menaklukkan bangsa Kanaan, penduduk negeri ini. Engkau menyerahkan raja-raja dan rakyat mereka, sehingga nenek moyang kami berkuasa penuh atas mereka.

25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

Bangsa Israel merebut kota-kota berbenteng dan tanah yang subur. Mereka merampas rumah-rumah yang penuh dengan berbagai harta, sumur-sumur yang sudah digali, kebun-kebun anggur dan zaitun yang sudah ditanami, juga pohon buah-buahan yang berlimpah. Mereka makan sampai kenyang dan menjadi gemuk. Bangsa Israel hidup senang karena kebaikan-Mu.

26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their backs, and slew your prophets which testified against them to turn them to you, and they wrought great provocations.

Tetapi kemudian mereka menjadi tidak taat kepada-Mu dan memberontak melawan Engkau. Mereka mengabaikan Hukum-Mu, dan membunuh para nabi-Mu yang memperingatkan mereka untuk kembali kepada-Mu. Mereka terus menghina Engkau dengan berbagai perbuatan yang sangat keterlaluan.

27 Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto you, you heard them from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

Oleh sebab itu, Engkau menyerahkan umat-Mu kepada musuh-musuh yang menindas mereka. Di saat menderita, mereka berseru kepada-Mu minta tolong. Dari surga Engkau mendengar jeritan mereka, dan satu demi satu Engkau mengutus para hakim untuk menyelamatkan mereka, sebab Engkau penuh belas kasihan.

28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before you: therefore left you them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto you, you heard them from heaven; and many times did you deliver them according to your mercies;

Namun, saat keadaan tenteram mereka kembali berdosa kepada-Mu. Maka Engkau membiarkan musuh-musuh menindas mereka. Ketika mereka berseru minta tolong lagi, Engkau mendengarkan mereka dari surga. Berulang kali Engkau tetap menyelamatkan mereka, sebab Engkau sungguh penuh belas kasihan.

29 And testified against them, that you might bring them again unto your law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto your commandments, but sinned against your judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them; ) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

Engkau memberi peringatan kepada mereka untuk kembali pada hukum-Mu, tetapi mereka sombong dan tidak mau menaati perintah-perintah-Mu. Padahal, jika seseorang menaati perintah-perintah-Mu, dia akan hidup sejahtera, tetapi mereka terus saja berdosa, keras kepala, suka memberontak, dan menutup telinga terhadap Engkau.

30 Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands.

Selama bertahun-tahun, Engkau tetap sabar. Roh-Mu memberikan kuasa kepada para nabi untuk mengajar dan memperingatkan mereka, tetapi mereka tetap tidak mau taat. Maka Engkau membiarkan mereka dikalahkan oleh pasukan bangsa-bangsa di sekeliling mereka.

31 Nevertheless for your great mercies' sake you did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.

Walaupun begitu, Engkau tidak meninggalkan mereka ataupun memusnahkan mereka seluruhnya, karena Engkau murah hati dan penuh belas kasihan.

32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keep covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before you, that has come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.

Oleh sebab itu, ya Allah, Engkau yang sangat mengagumkan karena Engkau mahabesar, mahakuasa, dan selalu setia pada perjanjian-Mu, janganlah abaikan semua penderitaan yang sudah kami alami, baik para raja, imam, nabi, nenek moyang, maupun seluruh rakyat kami. Kami sudah tertindas sejak zaman raja Asyur sampai hari ini.

33 Nevertheless you are just in all that is brought upon us; for you have done right, but we have done wickedly:

Semua hukuman yang sudah menimpa kami adalah wujud keadilan-Mu. Kami memang layak dihukum, karena kami sudah melakukan banyak kesalahan terhadap Engkau yang selalu setia.

34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor hearkened unto your commandments and your testimonies, wherewith you did testify against them.

Para raja, pejabat, imam, dan nenek moyang kami tidak menaati hukum-hukum-Mu. Mereka tidak menghiraukan perintah-perintah dan peringatan-peringatan-Mu.

35 For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

Mendekati waktu pembuangan umat Israel ke negeri Babel, saat mereka masih menikmati berbagai berkat yang Engkau limpahkan di negeri yang subur dan luas ini, mereka tidak melayani Engkau dan tidak berpaling dari perbuatan jahat mereka.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that you gave unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:

Lihatlah, ya Allah, negeri yang sudah Engkau berikan kepada nenek moyang kami sekarang dijajah bangsa lain. Di tanah kami sendiri, yang seharusnya kami nikmati, kami justru menjadi budak!

37 And it yields much increase unto the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

Hasil panen dan ternak kami menjadi milik para raja yang sudah Engkau tempatkan untuk menguasai kami. Bahkan kehidupan kami pun dikendalikan mereka! Ya, akibat dosa kami sendiri, sekarang kami sangat menderita.”

38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

Berdasarkan doa pengakuan dosa itu, kami membuat sebuah perjanjian tertulis, yang disahkan dengan stempel oleh para pemimpin, orang-orang Lewi, dan imam-imam.