Nehemiah 1
1 [I am] Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. [I am writing] this account [of what I did when I returned to Jerusalem. After King Artaxerxes had been ruling the Persian Empire] for almost 20 years, near the end of that year, I was in Susa, the capital [of Persia].
Awa ndi mawu a Nehemiya mwana wa Hakaliya: Pa mwezi wa Kisilevi, chaka cha makumi awiri, pamene ndinali mu mzinda wa Susa,
2 My brother Hanani came to visit me. He and some other men had just returned from Judah. I queried them about the Jews who were living there, whose [parents] had been (exiled/taken forcefully) [to Babylonia many years previously]. I also asked them about [what was happening in] Jerusalem.
Hanani mmodzi mwa abale anga, anabwera ndi anthu ena kuchokera ku Yuda, ndipo ine ndinawafunsa za Ayuda otsala amene sanatengedwe ukapolo, ndiponso za mzinda wa Yerusalemu.
3 They said to me, “The Jews in Jerusalem who returned there from Babylonia are living in a very difficult situation. The walls of the city have been broken down, and even the city gates have been burned down.”
Anandiyankha kuti, “Amene sanatengedwe ukapolo aja ali pa mavuto aakulu ndipo ali ndi manyazi. Khoma la Yerusalemu ndilogamukagamuka ndipo zipata zake zinatenthedwa ndi moto.”
4 When I heard that, I sat down and cried. For several days I mourned, and I (fasted/abstained from eating food), and I prayed to our God, [who is/rules] in heaven.
Nditamva zimenezi, ndinakhala pansi ndi kuyamba kulira. Ndinalira kwa masiku angapo. Ndinkasala zakudya ndi kumapemphera pamaso pa Mulungu Wakumwamba.
5 I said, “Yahweh, [you who are/rule] in heaven, you are a wonderful and awesome God. You keep your promise to faithfully love those who love you and who obey your commands.
Ndinkati: “Inu Yehova, Mulungu wakumwamba, Mulungu wamkulu ndi woopsa. Mumasunga pangano ndi kuonetsa chikondi chosasinthika kwa onse amene amakukondani ndi kumvera malamulo anu.
6 Now please look down and listen to what I am praying. I pray during the day and at night for your Israeli people. I confess that we Israeli people have sinned. Even my family and I have sinned against you.
Tcherani khutu lanu ndi kutsekula maso anu kuti mumve pemphero la mtumiki wanune limene ndikupemphera usana ndi usiku pamaso panu kupempherera Aisraeli, atumiki anu. Ndikuvomereza machimo a Aisraeli amene tinakuchimwirani. Ndithu, ine ndi banja la makolo anga tinakuchimwirani.
7 We have acted very wickedly. [Many years ago] your servant Moses gave us your laws and all the things you commanded us to do [DOU], but we have not obeyed/done them.
Ife tinakuchitirani zoyipa zambiri. Sitinamvere mawu anu, malamulo ndi malangizo anu amene munapereka kwa mtumiki wanu Mose.
8 “But please remember what you told your servant Moses. You said, ‘If you sin, I will scatter you among the ([heathen nations/nations that do not believe in me]).
“Kumbukirani mawu amene munawuza mtumiki wanu Mose akuti, ‘Ngati mukhala osakhulupirika, ndidzakubalalitsani pakati pa mitundu ina.
9 But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you have been exiled to very remote/distant places on the earth, I will bring you back here [to Israel], the land that I [MTY] have chosen to be honored in.’
Koma mukabwerera kwa Ine, mukamvera malamulo anga ndi kuwatsatadi, ndiye kuti ngakhale anthu anu atabalalika kutali chotani, Ine ndidzawasonkhanitsa kuchokera kumeneko ndi kubwera nawo ku malo amene ndinasankha kuti azidzayitanira dzina langa.’
10 “We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
“Iwo ndi atumiki anu ndi anthu anu, amene munawawombola ndi mphamvu yanu yayikulu ndi dzanja lanu lamphamvu.
11 Yahweh, please hear this prayer of mine, and the prayers of all your people who are delighted to revere you [MTY]. Today I will go to the king, to request that he do me a great favor. Please motivate him to act kindly toward me, in order that I will be successful [in obtaining what I want].” At that time, I was the one whose work was to taste all the food and drink before it was served to the king, [to be sure that no one had put poison in it].
Inu Ambuye tcherani khutu lanu kuti mumve pemphero la mtumiki wanune ndiponso pemphero la atumiki anu amene amakondwera kuchitira ulemu dzina lanu. Lolani kuti mtumiki wanune zinthu zindiyendere bwino lero ndi kuti mfumu indichitire chifundo.” Nthawi imeneyi nʼkuti ndili woperekera zakumwa kwa mfumu.
