Nehemiah 1
1 Words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah. And it cometh to pass, in the month of Chisleu, the twentieth year, and I have been in Shushan the palace,
La ngamazwi kaNehemiya indodana kaHakhaliya: Kwathi ngenyanga kaKhisilevi ngomnyaka wamatshumi amabili, ngisenqabeni yaseSusa,
2 and come in doth Hanani, one of my brethren, he and men of Judah, and I ask them concerning the Jews, the escaped part that have been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem;
uHanani, omunye wabafowethu, wafika evela koJuda elamanye amadoda, ngababuza ngamaJuda lawo ayeyinsalela asinda ebugqilini, njalo ngabuza ngeJerusalema.
3 and they say to me, 'Those left, who have been left of the captivity there in the province, [are] in great evil, and in reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burnt with fire.'
Bathi kimi, “Labo abasindayo ebugqilini ababuyelayo elizweni baphakathi kohlupho olumangalisayo lokuyangeka okukhulu. Umduli weJerusalema wadilika lamasango ayo atshiswa ngomlilo.”
4 And it cometh to pass, at my hearing these words, I have sat down, and I weep and mourn [for] days, and I am fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.
Ngathi sengizwile lezizinto ngahlala phansi ngakhala. Okwensuku ezithile ngalila, ngazila ukudla njalo ngikhuleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu wasezulwini.
5 And I say, 'I beseech thee, O Jehovah, God of the heavens, God, the great and the fearful, keeping the covenant and kindness for those loving Him, and for those keeping His commands,
Ngasengisithi: “Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wasezulwini, uNkulunkulu omkhulu owesabekayo, ogcina isivumelwano sakhe sothando lalabo abamthandayo, abalalela imilayo yakhe,
6 let Thine ear be, I pray Thee, attentive, and Thine eyes open, to hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, that I am praying before Thee to-day, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel Thy servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and the house of my father have sinned;
ake kuthi indlebe yakho ilalele lamehlo akho avuleke ukuze uzwe umkhuleko okhulekwa yinceku yakho kuwe imini lobusuku, ikhulekela izinceku zakho, abantu bako-Israyeli. Ngiyazivuma izono ezenziwe kuwe yithi ama-Israyeli, kugoqela mina lendlu kababa.
7 we have acted very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commands, and the statutes, and the judgments, that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant.
Senzile ububi kuwe. Kasilalelanga imilayo yakho, izimemezelo lemithetho owayinika inceku yakho uMosi.”
8 'Remember, I pray Thee, the word that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant, saying, Ye — ye trespass — I scatter you among peoples;
Khumbula umlayo owalaya ngawo inceku yakho uMosi wathi, “Aluba lingathembekanga ngizalichithachitha phakathi kwezizwe,
9 and ye have turned back unto Me, and kept My commands, and done them — if your outcast is in the end of the heavens, thence I gather them, and have brought them in unto the place that I have chosen to cause My name to tabernacle there.
kodwa nxa libuya kimi lilalele imilayo yami, lapho-ke loba abathunjiweyo bakini besemkhawulweni womhlaba, ngizabaqoqa besuka khonale ngibabuyise endaweni engiyikhethileyo ukuba likhaya leBizo lami.
10 And they [are] Thy servants, and Thy people, whom Thou hast ransomed by Thy great power, and by Thy strong hand.
Bazinceku zakho labantu bakho owabahlengayo ngamandla akho amakhulu lesandla sakho esilamandla.
11 'I beseech Thee, O Lord, let, I pray Thee, Thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto the prayer of Thy servants, those delighting to fear Thy Name; and give prosperity, I pray Thee, to Thy servant to-day, and give him for mercies before this man;' and I have been butler to the king.
Oh Thixo, akuthi indlebe yakho ilalele umkhuleko wale inceku yakho, lomkhuleko wezinceku zakho ezithokoza ekwesabeni ibizo lakho. Phumelelisa inceku yakho lamuhla ngokuyipha isihawu phambi kwendoda le.” Ngangingumphathi wezitsha zokudla kwenkosi.
