Nehemiah 9
1 On October 31, the people gathered together again. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), they wore clothes made from rough cloth, and they put dirt on their heads [to show that they were sorry for their sins].
Pa tsiku la 24 la mwezi womwewo, Aisraeli anasonkhana pamodzi ndi kusala chakudya, kuvala ziguduli ndi kudzithira dothi pa mutu.
2 The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.
Aisraeliwa anadzipatula pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndipo anayimirira nayamba kuwulula machimo awo ndi zolakwa za makolo awo.
3 The scroll that contained the laws of Yahweh, the God whom they [worshiped], was read to them for three hours. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and they worshiped Yahweh.
Anthuwo anayimirira pomwepo, ndipo anamva mawu a mʼbuku la malamulo a Yehova akuwerengedwa kwa maora enanso atatu ndipo anakhala maora ena atatu akuwulula machimo awo ndi kupembedza Yehova Mulungu wawo.
4 [Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.
Pa makwerero okhalapo alevi anayimirirapo anthu awa: Yesuwa, Bani, Kadimieli, Sebaniya, Buni, Serebiya, Bani ndi Kenani. Iwowa ankapemphera mokweza mawu kwa Yehova Mulungu wawo.
5 Then [the leaders of] the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “While you are standing there, praise Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever!” [Then one of them continued by praying this to God], “Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! You are much greater than anything that we can think about or talk about!
Ndipo Alevi awa: Yesuwa, Kadimieli, Bani, Hasabaneya, Serebiya, Hodiya, Sebaniya ndi Petahiya anati: “Imirirani ndipo mutamande Yehova Mulungu wanu, amene ndi wamuyaya.” “Litamandike dzina lake laulemerero limene liposa madalitso ndi matamando onse.
6 “You only are God. You made the sky and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas/oceans and everything that is in them. You are the one who gives life to everything and helps them remain alive. All the angels who are in heaven worship you.
Inu nokha ndiye Yehova. Munalenga kumwamba, ngakhale kumwambamwamba, zolengedwa zonse zimene zili mʼmenemo. Munalenga dziko ndi zonse zokhalamo, nyanja ndi zonse zili mʼmenemo. Zonse mumazisunga ndi moyo ndipo zonse za kumwamba zimakupembedzani.
7 “Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, Abraham.
“Inu ndinu Yehova Mulungu amene munasankha Abramu ndi kumutulutsa mʼdziko la Uri wa ku Kaldeya ndi kumutcha dzina lake Abrahamu.
8 You saw that he was trustworthy. Then you made (an agreement with/a promise to) him, saying that you would give [to him and] to his descendants the land that the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Amor, Periz, Jebus, and Girgash lived in. And you have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.
Inu munaona kuti mtima wake unali wokhulupirika kwa inu, ndipo munapangana naye pangano lakuti mudzapereka kwa zidzukulu zake dziko la Akanaani Ahiti, Aamori, Aperezi, Ayebusi ndi Agirigasi. Inu mwasunga lonjezo lanu chifukwa ndinu wolungama.
9 “You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.
“Munaona kuzunzika kwa makolo athu ku Igupto. Munamva kufuwula kwawo pa Nyanja Yofiira.
10 Because you knew that the leaders of Egypt were treating our ancestors very arrogantly, you performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king and his officials and all his people to suffer. As a result, you became famous then, and you are still famous!
Inu munachita zizindikiro zozizwitsa ndi zodabwitsa kutsutsana ndi Farao, pamaso pa Farao, nduna zake ndi anthu onse a mʼdziko lake, pakuti Inu munadziwa kuti anazunza makolo athu. Inu munadzipangira nokha dzina, monga zilili mpaka lero lino.
11 You caused the Red Sea to divide, with the result that your people walked through it on the ground without [getting their feet] wet. [After they were all safely on the other side, ] you [caused the water to come back again], and you hurled into the deep water the [soldiers of the Egyptian army] that were pursuing our ancestors. Their soldiers sank into the deep sea like stones!
Inu munagawa nyanja anthu anu akupenya, kotero kuti anadutsa powuma, koma munamiza mʼmadzi akuya anthu amene ankawalondola monga mmene uchitira mwala mʼmadzi ozama.
12 During each day you led our ancestors with a bright cloud that resembled a huge pillar, and each night you led them by a flaming cloud that gave them light to show them where to walk.
Masana munkawunikira ndi chipilala cha mtambo ndipo usiku munkawunikira ndi chipilala cha moto njira yonse imene ankayendamo.
13 “When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.
“Munatsika pa Phiri la Sinai, ndipo munawayankhula kuchokera kumwamba. Munawapatsa malangizo olungama, ziphunzitso zoona ndiponso malamulo abwino.
14 You taught them about your holy (Sabbath/day of rest), and you gave many kinds of laws to your servant Moses for him to tell to the people.
Inu munawadziwitsa kuti tsiku lanu la Sabata ndi loyera ndipo munawapatsa malamulo ndi ziphunzitso.
15 When they were hungry, you gave them manna from the sky; and when they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You commanded them to go and take, from the people who lived there, the land which you had promised to give to them.
Pamene anali ndi njala munawapatsa buledi wochokera kumwamba. Pamene anali ndi ludzu munawapatsa madzi otuluka mʼthanthwe. Munawawuza kuti apite kukalanda dziko limene munalonjeza kuti mudzawapatsa.”
16 “But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.
“Koma makolo athu anadzikuza ndi kuwumitsa khosi, ndipo iwo sanamvere malamulo anu.
17 They refused to heed you, and they forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. Instead, they became stubborn [IDM], and they appointed someone to lead them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives us and who is kind and merciful [to us]. You do not quickly become angry. You always faithfully love us.
Anakana kumvera ndipo sanakumbukire zodabwitsa zimene munachita pakati pawo. Koma iwo anawumitsa khosi, nakuwukirani podzisankhira okha mtsogoleri kuti awatsogolere kubwerera ku ukapolo ku dziko la Igupto. Koma ndinu Mulungu wokhululukira, wokoma mtima ndi wachifundo wosapsa mtima msanga ndi wachikondi chachikulu chosasinthika. Choncho Inu simunawasiye.
18 So, even though their [leaders] made an idol that resembled a calf and insulted you by saying [about the idol], ‘This is our god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ you did not desert them.
Ngakhale pamene iwo anadziwumbira fano la mwana wangʼombe ndi kuti, ‘Uyu ndi mulungu wanu amene anakutulutsani mʼdziko la Igupto,’ kapena pamene anachita chipongwe choopsa.
19 “Because you always act mercifully, you did not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.
“Koma Inu ndi chifundo chanu chachikulu, simunawasiye mʼchipululu. Chipilala cha mtambo sichinasiye kuwatsogolera pa njira yawo masana ndipo chipilala cha moto sichinasiye kuwatsogolera pa njira yawo usiku.
20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.
Inu munawapatsa mzimu wanu wabwino kuti uwalangize. Inu simunawamane chakudya cha mana chija, ndipo munawapatsa madzi akumwa.
21 For 40 years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they had everything [that they needed]. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up [even though they were continually walking].
Munawasunga zaka makumi anayi mʼchipululu ndipo sanasowe kanthu kalikonse. Zovala zawo sizinathe kapena mapazi awo kutupa.”
22 “You helped our ancestors to defeat armies of great kings who ruled many people-groups. By doing that, you enabled our ancestors to (occupy/live in) even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon [city] and the land over which King Og ruled in [the] Bashan [area].
“Inu munawapatsa mafumu ndi mayiko mʼmanja mwawo. Munawagawiranso mayiko achilendo akutali kwambiri. Munabwera nawo mʼdziko la Sihoni mfumu ya Hesiboni ndi dziko la Ogi mfumu ya Basani kuti alowemo nʼkulitenga kukhala lawo.
23 You caused our ancestors’ descendants to become as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into this land, the land that you told their fathers to enter and occupy.
Munachulukitsa ana awo aamuna ngati nyenyezi za mlengalenga. Ndipo munawabweretsa mʼdziko limene munawuza makolo awo kuti alilowe ndi kulitenga.
24 Their sons went in and took the land [from the people that lived there]. You enabled them to defeat the descendants of Canaan who lived here in this land. You enabled them to conquer the descendants of Canaan and their kings and the people whom they ruled. You enabled our ancestors to do to those people whatever they wanted to do.
Choncho zidzukulu zawo zinapita ndi kukalandira dzikolo. Inu munagonjetsa pamaso pawo, Akanaani amene amakhala mʼdzikolo. Inde munapereka mʼmanja mwawo mafumu awo pamodzi ndi anthu a mʼdzikomo kuti achite nawo monga angafunire.
25 Our ancestors captured cities that had walls around them, and they took possession of fertile land. They took possession of houses that were full of good things, where there were wells that were already dug. They took possession of many vineyards and groves of olive trees and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to and became fat. They were delighted in all these good things that you gave to them.
Iwo analanda mizinda yotetezedwa ndi dziko lachonde. Anatenganso nyumba zodzaza ndi zinthu zonse zabwino, zitsime zokumbidwa kale, mitengo ya mphesa, mitengo ya olivi ndi mitengo yambiri ya zipatso. Ndipo anadya nakhuta ndipo anali athanzi. Choncho ankakondwa chifukwa cha ubwino wanu wopambana.
26 “But they disobeyed you and rebelled against you. They (turned their backs on/rejected) your laws. They killed the prophets who warned them that they should return to you. They badly insulted you.
“Komabe iwo anakhala osamvera ndipo anakuwukirani nafulatira malamulo anu. Anapha aneneri anu, amene anakawadandaulira kuti abwerere kwa Inu. Anachita chipongwe choopsa.
27 So you allowed their enemies to defeat them. But when their enemies caused them to suffer, they called out to you. You heard them from heaven, and because you are very merciful, you sent them people to help them, and those leaders rescued them from their enemies.
Pamene anazunzidwa anafuwulira kwa Inu, ndipo Inu munawamvera muli kumwambako. Ndipo mwa chifundo chanu chachikulu munkawapatsa atsogoleri amene ankawapulumutsa mʼmanja mwa adani awo.”
28 “But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did things that displeased you. So again you allowed their enemies to conquer them. But whenever they cried out to you again [to help them], you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them many times.
“Koma akangokhala pa mtendere ankayambanso kuchita zoyipa pamaso panu. Choncho munkawapereka mʼmanja mwa adani awo amene ankawalamulira. Komabe pamene ankabwerera ndi kumalira kwa Inu, Inu munkawamva muli kumwambako. Chifukwa cha chifundo chanu chochuluka, nthawi zonse munkawapulumutsa.
29 “You warned them that they should again [obey] your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your commands. They sinned by disobeying what you commanded them to do, the things that would enable them to live a good long life [if they obeyed them]. They stubbornly refused [IDM] to listen to you and continued sinning.
“Inu munkawachenjeza kuti abwerere ndi kuyamba kutsata malamulo anu. Koma iwo ankadzitukumula ndipo sankamvera malamulo anu. Iwo anachimwira malangizo anu amene munati ‘Amapatsa moyo kwa munthu wowamvera.’ Iwo ankakufulatirani, nawumitsa makosi awo osafuna kukumverani.
30 You were patient with them for many years. You warned them trough [the messages] your Spirit gave to the prophets. But they did not (heed/pay attention to) those messages. So again you allowed [the armies of] other nations to defeat them.
Munapirira nawo kwa zaka zambiri. Munkawachenjeza ndi Mzimu wanu kudzera mwa aneneri anu, koma iwo sankakumverani. Choncho munawapereka mʼmanja mwa anthu a mayiko ena.
31 But because you act very mercifully, you did not get rid of them completely or abandon them [forever]. You are a very gracious/kind and merciful God!
Komabe mwachifundo chanu chachikulu simuwatheretu kapena kuwataya pakuti ndinu Mulungu wokoma mtima ndi wachifundo.
32 “Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as [you promised in] your agreement with us that you would do! But now we are experiencing great difficulties/hardships. Great troubles have come to us, to our kings, to our [other] leaders, to our priests, and to our prophets. We have been experiencing these troubles since [the armies of] the kings of Assyria [conquered us], and we are still experiencing them. We ask that you sincerely think about [LIT] all these things.
“Nʼchifukwa chake, tsono, Inu Mulungu wathu, Mulungu wamkulu, wamphamvu ndi woopsa kwambiri mumasunga pangano ndi chikondi chosasinthika. Musalole kuti mavuto onse amene atigwera ife, mafumu athu, atsogoleri athu, ansembe athu, aneneri athu, makolo athu ndi anthu ena onse kuyambira nthawi ya mafumu a ku Asiriya mpaka lero aoneke ochepa pamaso panu.
33 [We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.
Koma Inu mwakhala wolungama pa zonse zimene zakhala zikutichitikira. Mwachita zokhulupirika, koma ife tachita zolakwa.
34 Our kings and other leaders and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave to them.
Ndipotu mafumu athu, atsogoleri athu, ansembe athu ndi makolo athu sanatsatire mawu anu. Iwo sanalabadire za malamulo anu ngakhale mawu anu owachenjeza amene munawapatsa.
35 Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you. They refused to quit doing what was evil.
Ngakhale ankadzilamulira okha, nʼkumalandira zabwino zochuluka mʼdziko lalikulu ndi lachonde limene munawapatsa, koma iwo sanakutumikireni kapena kusiya ntchito zawo zoyipa.
36 “So now we are [like] slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here.
“Tsono, taonani! Ife lero ndife akapolo, ndife akapolo mʼdziko limene munapereka kwa makolo athu kuti azidya zipatso zake ndi zabwino zake zonse.
37 Because we have sinned, [we cannot eat the things that grow here]. The kings that now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and [take] our cattle. We have to serve them and do the things that please them. We are experiencing great misery/distress.
Tsono chifukwa cha machimo athu, mafumu amene munawayika kuti azitilamulira angodzilemeretsa ndi chuma chambiri cha dzikoli. Iwo ali ndi mphamvu zolamulira matupi athu ndi ngʼombe zathu momwe afunira. Zedi, ife tili mʼmavuto aakulu.”
38 “However, we [Israeli] people now are making an agreement/promise [to obey you], and we are writing this agreement/promise [on a scroll]. We will write on it the names of our leaders and the names of the Levites and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it.”
“Chifukwa cha zonsezi, ife tikuchita mgwirizano wokhazikika, pochita kulemba, ndipo atsogoleri athu, Alevi athu ndi ansembe athu asindikiza chidindo chawo pa mgwirizanowo.”
