Nehemiah 9

1 And in the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel have been gathered with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth on them;

Katika siku ya ishirini na nne ya mwezi ule ule, Waisraeli walikusanyika pamoja, wakifunga na kuvaa nguo za gunia na kujitia mavumbi vichwani mwao.

2 and the seed of Israel are separated from all sons of a stranger, and stand and confess concerning their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers,

Wale wa uzao wa Israeli walijitenga na wageni wote. Wakasimama mahali pao, na kuungama dhambi zao na uovu wa baba zao.

3 and rise up on their station, and read in the Scroll of the Law of their God YHWH a fourth of the day, and a fourth they are confessing and bowing themselves to their God YHWH.

Wakasimama pale walipokuwa, wakasoma kutoka kwenye kile Kitabu cha Sheria ya Bwana Mungu wao kwa muda wa robo siku, na wakatumia robo nyingine kwa kuungama dhambi na kumwabudu Bwana Mungu wao.

4 And there stand up on the ascent, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, Chenani, and they cry with a loud voice to their God YHWH.

Walawi wafuatao walikuwa wamesimama kwenye ngazi: Yeshua, Bani, Kadmieli, Shebania, Buni, Sherebia, Bani na Kenani. Hawa walimlilia Bwana Mungu wao kwa sauti kubwa.

5 And the Levites say, [even] Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, Pethahiah, “Rise, bless your God YHWH, From age to age, And they bless the Name of Your glory That [is] exalted above all blessing and praise.

Nao Walawi Yeshua, Kadmieli, Bani, Hashabnea, Sherebia, Hodia, Shebania na Pethahia wakasema: “Simameni mkamsifu Bwana Mungu wenu, yeye ambaye ni Mungu tangu milele hata milele. “Libarikiwe jina lake tukufu, litukuzwe juu ya baraka zote na sifa.

6 You [are] He, O YHWH, Yourself—You have made the heavens, The heavens of the heavens, and all their host, The earth and all that [are] on it, The seas and all that [are] in them, And You are keeping all of them alive, And the host of the heavens are bowing themselves to You.

Wewe peke yako ndiwe Bwana. Uliziumba mbingu, hata mbingu za mbingu na jeshi lote la mbinguni, dunia na vyote vilivyo ndani yake, na pia bahari na vyote vilivyomo ndani yake. Huvipa vitu vyote uhai, nalo jeshi la mbinguni linakuabudu wewe.

7 You [are] He, O YHWH God, Who fixed on Abraham, And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldeans, And made his name Abraham,

“Wewe ni Bwana Mungu uliyemchagua Abramu na kumtoa kutoka Uru ya Wakaldayo, nawe ukamwita Abrahamu.

8 And found his heart steadfast before You, So as to make with him the covenant, To give the land of the Canaanite, The Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, To give [it] to his seed. And You establish Your words, For You [are] righteous,

Uliona kuwa moyo wake ni mwaminifu kwako, nawe ukafanya Agano naye kuwapa wazao wake nchi ya Wakanaani, Wahiti, Waamori, Waperizi, Wayebusi na Wagirgashi. Umetimiza ahadi yako kwa sababu wewe ni mwenye haki.

9 And see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And their cry have heard by the Sea of Suph,

“Uliona mateso ya baba zetu huko Misri, ukasikia kilio chao huko Bahari ya Shamu.

10 And give signs and wonders on Pharaoh, And on all his servants, And on all the people of his land, For You have known that they have acted proudly against them, And You make to Yourself a name as [at] this day.

Ulituma ishara za miujiza na maajabu dhidi ya Farao, dhidi ya maafisa wake wote na watu wote wa nchi yake, kwa kuwa ulifahamu jinsi Wamisri walivyowafanyia ufidhuli. Ukajifanyia jina linalodumu hadi leo.

11 And You have cleaved the sea before them, And they pass over into the midst of the sea on the dry land, And their pursuers You have cast into the depths, As a stone, into the strong waters.

Ukagawa bahari mbele yao, ili waweze kupita katikati yake penye nchi kavu, lakini uliwatupa Wamisri waliowafuatilia katika vilindi, kama jiwe kwenye maji mengi.

12 And by a pillar of cloud You have led them by day, And by a pillar of fire by night, To lighten to them the way in which they go.

Mchana uliwaongoza kwa nguzo ya wingu, na usiku kwa nguzo ya moto kuwamulikia njia iliyowapasa kuiendea.

13 And on Mount Sinai You have come down, Even to speak with them from the heavens, And You give to them right judgments, And true laws, good statutes and commands.

“Ulishuka katika Mlima Sinai, ukanena nao kutoka mbinguni. Uliwapa masharti na sheria zile ambazo ni za kweli na haki, pia amri na maagizo mazuri.

14 And Your holy Sabbath You have made known to them, And commands, and statutes, and law, You have commanded for them, By the hand of Your servant Moses;

Uliwafahamisha Sabato yako takatifu na ukawapa amri, maagizo na sheria kupitia mtumishi wako Mose.

15 And bread from the heavens You have given to them for their hunger, And water from a rock have brought out to them for their thirst, And say to them to go in to possess the land That You have lifted up Your hand to give to them.

Katika njaa yao uliwapa mkate kutoka mbinguni, na katika kiu yao uliwatolea maji kutoka kwenye mwamba. Uliwaambia waingie na kuimiliki nchi ambayo ulikuwa umeapa kuwapa kwa mkono ulioinuliwa.

16 And they and our fathers have acted proudly, And harden their neck, And have not listened to Your commands,

“Lakini wao, baba zetu, wakawa na kiburi na shingo ngumu, nao hawakutii maagizo yako.

17 Indeed, they refuse to listen, And have not remembered Your wonders that You have done with them, And harden their neck and appoint a head, To turn back to their service, in their rebellion; And You [are] a God of pardons, Gracious, and merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, And have not forsaken them.

Wakakataa kusikiliza na kushindwa kukumbuka miujiza uliyoifanya miongoni mwao. Wakawa na shingo ngumu, na katika uasi wao wakamchagua kiongozi ili warudi kwenye utumwa wao. Lakini wewe ni Mungu mwenye kusamehe, mwenye neema na mwingi wa huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira, ni mwingi wa upendo. Kwa hiyo hukuwaacha,

18 Also, when they have made to themselves a molten calf, And say, This [is] your god That brought you up out of Egypt, And do great despisings,

hata wakati walijitengenezea sanamu ya ndama ya kusubu na kusema, ‘Huyu ni mungu wenu, aliyewapandisha kutoka nchi ya Misri,’ au walipofanya makufuru makubwa.

19 and You, in Your abundant mercies, Have not forsaken them in the wilderness—The pillar of the cloud has not turned aside from off them by day, To lead them in the way, And the pillar of the fire by night, To give light to them and the way in which they go.

“Kwa sababu ya huruma zako kuu hukuwaacha jangwani. Wakati wa mchana ile nguzo ya wingu haikukoma kuwaongoza katika njia yao, wala nguzo ya moto haikuacha kuwamulikia usiku njia iliyowapasa kuiendea.

20 And Your good Spirit You have given, To cause them to act wisely; And Your manna You have not withheld from their mouth, And water You have given to them for their thirst,

Uliwapa Roho wako mwema ili kuwafundisha. Hukuwanyima mana yako vinywani mwao, nawe ukawapa maji kwa ajili ya kiu yao.

21 And forty years You have nourished them in a wilderness; They have not lacked; Their garments have not worn out, And their feet have not swelled.

Kwa miaka arobaini uliwatunza jangwani. Hawakukosa chochote, na nguo zao hazikuchakaa wala miguu yao haikuvimba.

22 And You give to them kingdoms, and peoples, And apportion them to the corner, And they possess the land of Sihon, And the land of the king of Heshbon, And the land of Og king of Bashan.

“Uliwapa falme na mataifa, ukiwagawia hata mipaka ya mbali. Wakaimiliki nchi ya Sihoni mfalme wa Heshboni, na nchi ya Ogu mfalme wa Bashani.

23 And You have multiplied their sons as the stars of the heavens, And bring them into the land That You have said to their fathers to go in to possess.

Uliwafanya wana wao kuwa wengi kama nyota za angani, nawe ukawaleta katika nchi ambayo uliwaambia baba zao kuingia na kuimiliki.

24 And the sons come in, and possess the land, And You humble the inhabitants of the land—the Canaanites—before them, And give them into their hand, and their kings, And the peoples of the land, To do with them according to their pleasure.

Wana wao wakaingia na kuimiliki nchi. Uliwatiisha Wakanaani mbele yao, walioishi katika nchi, ukawatia Wakanaani mikononi mwao, pamoja na wafalme wao na watu wa nchi, wawafanyie kama wapendavyo.

25 And they capture fortified cities, and fat ground, And possess houses full of all good, Dug-wells, vineyards, and olive-yards, And fruit-trees in abundance, And they eat, and are satisfied, And become fat, And delight themselves in Your great goodness.

Wakateka miji yenye ngome na nchi yenye rutuba, wakamiliki nyumba zilizojazwa na vitu vizuri vya kila aina, visima vilivyochimbwa tayari, mashamba ya mizabibu, mashamba ya mizeituni na miti yenye matunda kwa wingi. Wakala, wakashiba nao wakanawiri sana, wakajifurahisha katika wema wako mwingi.

26 And they are disobedient, And rebel against You, And cast Your law behind their back, And Your prophets they have slain, Who testified against them, To bring them back to You, And they do great despisings,

“Lakini hawakukutii nao wakaasi dhidi yako, wakatupa sheria zako nyuma yao. Wakawaua manabii wako, waliowaonya ili wakurudie, na wakafanya makufuru makubwa.

27 And You give them into the hand of their adversaries, And they distress them, And in the time of their distress they cry to You, And You, from the heavens, hear, And according to Your abundant mercies, Give saviors to them, And they save them out of the hand of their adversaries.

Hivyo ukawatia mikononi mwa adui zao, ambao waliwatesa. Lakini walipoteswa, wakakulilia wewe. Kutoka mbinguni uliwasikia, nawe kwa huruma zako kuu ukawapa waokozi, waliowaokoa kutoka mikononi mwa adui zao.

28 And when they have rest, They turn back to do evil before You, And You leave them in the hand of their enemies, And they rule over them; And they return, and call You, And You hear from the heavens, And deliver them many times, According to Your mercies,

“Lakini mara walipokuwa na raha, wakafanya maovu tena machoni pako. Kisha ukawaacha mikononi mwa adui zao, nao wakawatawala. Walipokulilia tena, ukasikia kutoka mbinguni, na kwa huruma zako ukawaokoa kila mara.

29 And testify against them, To bring them back to Your law; And they have acted proudly, And have not listened to Your commands, And against Your judgments have sinned—Which man does and has lived in them—And they give a stubborn shoulder, And have hardened their neck, And have not listened.

“Ukawaonya warudi katika sheria yako, lakini wakawa na kiburi na hawakutii amri zako. Wakatenda dhambi dhidi ya maagizo yako ambayo kwayo mtu ataishi kama akiyatii. Kwa ukaidi wakakugeuzia kisogo, wakawa na shingo ngumu na wakakataa kusikiliza.

30 And You draw over them many years, And testify against them by Your Spirit, By the hand of Your prophets, And they have not given ear, And You give them into the hand of peoples of the lands,

Kwa miaka mingi ulikuwa mvumilivu kwao. Kwa njia ya Roho wako ukawaonya kupitia manabii wako. Hata hivyo hawakujali, basi ukawatia mikononi mwa mataifa jirani.

31 and in Your abundant mercies You have not made them a consumption, Nor have forsaken them; For a God, gracious and merciful, [are] You.

Lakini kwa rehema zako kuu hukuwakomesha wala kuwaacha, kwa kuwa wewe ni Mungu mwenye neema na rehema.

32 And now, O our God—God, the great, the mighty, And the fearful, Keeping the covenant and the kindness—Do not let all the travail that has found us be little before You, For our kings, for our heads, and for our priests, And for our prophets, and for our fathers, And for all Your people, From the days of the kings of Asshur to this day;

“Basi sasa, Ee Mungu wetu, uliye mkuu, mwenye nguvu na Mungu wa kuogofya, mwenye kushika agano lake la upendo, usiache taabu hizi zote zionekane kuwa kitu kidogo mbele za macho yako, taabu hizi zilizotupata, juu ya wafalme wetu na viongozi, juu ya makuhani wetu na manabii, juu ya baba zetu na watu wako wote, tangu siku za wafalme wa Ashuru hadi leo.

33 And You [are] righteous concerning all that has come on us, For You have done truth, And we have done wickedly;

Katika hayo yote yaliyotupata, umekuwa mwenye haki, na umetenda kwa uaminifu, wakati sisi tumetenda mabaya.

34 And our kings, our heads, Our priests, and our fathers, Have not done Your law, Nor attended to Your commands, And to Your testimonies, That You have testified against them;

Wafalme wetu, viongozi wetu, makuhani wetu na baba zetu hawakufuata sheria yako. Hawakuzingatia amri zako wala maonyo uliyowapa.

35 And they, in their kingdom, And in Your abundant goodness, That You have given to them, And in the land, the large and the fat, That You have set before them, Have not served You, Nor turned back from their evil doings.

Hata walipokuwa wangali katika ufalme wao, wakiufurahia wema wako mkuu katika nchi kubwa na yenye rutuba uliyowapa, hawakukutumikia wala kugeuka kutoka njia zao mbaya.

36 Behold, we—today—[are] servants, And the land that You have given to our fathers, To eat its fruit and its good, Behold, we [are] servants on it,

“Lakini tazama, sisi ni watumwa leo, watumwa katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu ili wapate kula matunda yake na vitu vingine vizuri inayozalisha.

37 And its increase it is multiplying to the kings Whom You have set over us In our sins; And over our bodies they are ruling, And over our livestock, According to their pleasure, And we [are] in great distress.

Kwa sababu ya dhambi zetu, mavuno yake mengi huenda kwa wafalme uliowaweka watutawale. Wanatawala juu ya miili yetu na mifugo yetu kama wapendavyo. Tuko katika dhiki kuu.

38 And for all this we are making a steadfast covenant, And are writing, And over him who is sealed [Are] our heads, our Levites, [and] our priests.”

“Kwa sababu ya haya yote, tunajifunga katika mapatano, na kuyaandika, nao viongozi wetu, Walawi wetu na makuhani wetu wanatia mihuri yao.”