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].
Ọ̀rọ̀ Nehemiah ọmọ Hakaliah. Ní oṣù Kisleu ní ogún ọdún (ìjọba Ahaswerusi ọba Persia) nígbà tí mo wà ní ààfin 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, ọ̀kan nínú àwọn arákùnrin mi wá láti Juda pẹ̀lú àwọn ọkùnrin kan, mo sì béèrè lọ́wọ́ wọn nípa àwọn Júù tí ó ṣẹ́kù tí wọn kò kó ní ìgbèkùn, àti nípa Jerusalẹmu.
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.”
Wọ́n sọ fún mi pé, “Àwọn tí ó kù tí a kó ní ìgbèkùn tí wọ́n sì padà sí agbègbè ìjọba wà nínú wàhálà púpọ̀ àti ẹ̀gàn. Odi Jerusalẹmu ti wó lulẹ̀ a sì ti fi iná sun ẹnu ibodè rẹ̀.”
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.
Nígbà tí mo gbọ́ àwọn nǹkan wọ̀nyí, mo jókòó mo sì sọkún. Mo ṣọ̀fọ̀, mo gbààwẹ̀, mo sì gbàdúrà fún ọjọ́ díẹ̀ níwájú Ọlọ́run ọ̀run.
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.
Nígbà náà ni mo wí pé: “Olúwa, Ọlọ́run ọ̀run, Ọlọ́run tí ó tóbi tí ó sì ní ẹ̀rù, tí ó ń pa májẹ̀mú ìfẹ́ rẹ̀ mọ́ pẹ̀lú wọn tí ó fẹ́ ẹ tí wọ́n sì ń pa àṣẹ mọ́.
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.
Jẹ́ kí etí rẹ kí ó ṣí sílẹ̀, kí ojú ù rẹ kí ó sì ṣí sílẹ̀ láti gbọ́ àdúrà tí ìránṣẹ́ rẹ ń gbà ní iwájú rẹ ní ọ̀sán àti ní òru fún àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ, àwọn ènìyàn Israẹli. Mo jẹ́wọ́ ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ àwa ọmọ Israẹli àti tèmi àti ti ilé baba mi, tí a ti ṣẹ̀ sí ọ.
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.
Àwa ti ṣe búburú sí ọ. A kò sì pa àṣẹ ìlànà àti òfin tí ìwọ fún Mose ìránṣẹ́ rẹ mọ́.
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]).
“Rántí ìlànà tí o fún Mose ìránṣẹ́ rẹ, wí pé, ‘Bí ìwọ bá jẹ́ aláìṣòótọ́, èmi yóò fọ́n yín ká sí àárín àwọn orílẹ̀-èdè.
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.’
Ṣùgbọ́n tí ẹ̀yin bá yípadà sí mi, tí ẹ bá sì pa àṣẹ mi mọ́, nígbà náà bí àwọn ènìyàn yín tí a kó ní ìgbèkùn tilẹ̀ wà ní jìnnà réré ìpẹ̀kun ọ̀run, èmi yóò kó wọn jọ láti ibẹ̀, èmi yóò sì mú wọn wá, sí ibi tí èmi ti yàn bí i ibùgbé fún orúkọ mi.’
10 “We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
“Àwọn ni ìránṣẹ́ rẹ àti ènìyàn rẹ àwọn tí ìwọ rà padà pẹ̀lú agbára ńlá rẹ àti ọwọ́ agbára ńlá rẹ.
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].
Olúwa, jẹ́ kí etí rẹ ṣí sílẹ̀ sí àdúrà ìránṣẹ́ rẹ yìí, àti sí àdúrà àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ tí wọ́n ní inú dídùn láti bọ̀wọ̀ fún orúkọ rẹ. Fún ìránṣẹ́ rẹ ní àṣeyọrí lónìí kí o sì síjú àánú wò ó níwájú ọkùnrin yìí.” Nítorí tí mo jẹ́ agbọ́tí ọba nígbà náà.
