Nehemia 9
1 Mweri-inĩ o ro ũcio, mũthenya wa mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ na ĩna, andũ a Isiraeli makĩũngana hamwe mehingĩte kũrĩa irio na makehumba nguo cia makũnia, o na makeitĩrĩria tĩĩri mĩtwe yao.
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].
2 Arĩa maarĩ a rũciaro rwa andũ a Isiraeli nĩmeyamũranĩtie na ageni othe. Makĩrũgama o andũ handũ hao, makiumbũra mehia mao na waganu wa maithe mao.
The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.
3 Makĩrũgama o ro hau maarĩ, magĩthoma Ibuku rĩa Watho wa Jehova Ngai wao ihinda rĩa gĩcunjĩ gĩa kana kĩa mũthenya, na magĩtũmĩra gĩcunjĩ o kĩngĩ gĩa kana makiumbũra mehia na magĩthathaiyagia Jehova Ngai wao.
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.
4 Na rĩrĩ, ngathĩ-inĩ nĩ haarũgamĩte Alawii, nĩo Jeshua, na Bani, na Kadimieli, na Shebania, na Buni, na Sherebia, na Bani, na Kenani, nao magakayagĩra Jehova Ngai wao na mĩgambo maanĩrĩire.
[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.
5 Nao Alawii nĩo Jeshua, na Kadimieli, na Bani, na Hashabineia, na Sherebia, na Hodia, na Shebania, na Pethahia, makiuga atĩrĩ, “Rũgamai mũgooce Jehova Ngai wanyu, ũcio ũtũũraga tene na tene.” “Kũrathimwo nĩ rĩĩtwa rĩaku rĩrĩ riiri, narĩo rĩrotũũgĩrio gũkĩra ũgooci na irathimo ciothe.
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!
6 Wee wiki nowe Jehova. Nĩwe wombire igũrũ, o igũrũ kũrĩa kũraya mũno, na ũkĩũmba mbũtũ cia njata ciakuo, na thĩ na kĩrĩa gĩothe kĩrĩ kuo, na maria na indo ciothe iria irĩ thĩinĩ wamo. Nĩwe ũheaga indo ciothe muoyo, nacio mbũtũ cia igũrũ nĩigũthathaiyagia.
“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.
7 “Wee nĩwe Jehova Ngai, ũrĩa wathuurire Aburamu ũkĩmũruta Uri-ya-Akalidei na ũkĩmũtua rĩĩtwa rĩngĩ Iburahĩmu.
“Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, Abraham.
8 Nĩwonire atĩ ngoro yake nĩyakwĩhokete, nawe ũkĩgĩa na kĩrĩkanĩro nake atĩ nĩũkahe njiaro ciake bũrũri wa Akaanani, na wa Ahiti, na wa Aamori, na wa Aperizi, na wa Ajebusi, na wa Agirigashi. Nĩũhingĩtie kĩĩranĩro gĩaku nĩ tondũ ũrĩ mũthingu.
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.
9 “Nĩwonire ũrĩa maithe maitũ ma tene maathĩĩnĩkire marĩ bũrũri wa Misiri; ũkĩigua kĩrĩro kĩao marĩ hau Iria-inĩ Itune.
“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.
10 Ũkĩringa ciama na morirũ, na ũgĩũkĩrĩra Firaũni, na anene ake othe, na andũ a bũrũri wake othe, nĩgũkorwo nĩwamenyete ũrĩa andũ a Misiri metĩĩaga makĩmahinyĩrĩria. Nawe ũkĩĩgĩĩra igweta, rĩrĩa rĩtũũraga nginya ũmũthĩ.
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!
11 Nĩwagayanirie Iria Itune mbere yao, nĩ ũndũ ũcio magĩtuĩkanĩria iria gatagatĩ harĩa haatuĩkĩte thĩ nyũmũ, no arĩa maamaingatithĩtie ũkĩmaikia kũu kũriku o ta ihiga rĩikĩtio maaĩ-inĩ mariku mũno.
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!
12 Mũthenya wamatongoragia na gĩtugĩ gĩa itu, naguo ũtukũ ũkamatongoria na gĩtugĩ kĩa mwaki gĩa kũmamũrĩkĩra njĩra ĩrĩa mekũgera.
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.
13 “Nĩwaikũrũkire Kĩrĩma-inĩ gĩa Sinai, ũkĩmaarĩria kuuma igũrũ. Nĩwamaheire mĩtabarĩre na mawatho ma kĩhooto na magĩrĩru, na kĩrĩra gĩaku gĩa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, o na maathani mega.
“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.
14 Nĩwamamenyithirie Thabatũ yaku theru na ũkĩmahe maathani, na kĩrĩra gĩaku gĩa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na mawatho kũgerera kanua ka Musa ndungata yaku.
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.
15 Hĩndĩ ya ngʼaragu nĩwamaheire irio kuuma igũrũ, na rĩrĩa maarĩ anyootu ũkĩmahe maaĩ kuuma rwaro-inĩ rwa ihiga; wamaathire mathiĩ makegwatĩre bũrũri ũrĩa wehĩtĩte woete guoko na igũrũ atĩ nĩũkamahe.
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.
16 “No rĩrĩ, maithe maitũ ma tene magĩĩtĩĩa na makĩũmia ngoro ciao, makĩaga gwathĩkĩra maathani maku.
“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.
17 Makĩrega kũigua na makĩaga kũririkana ciama iria waringĩte gatagatĩ-inĩ kao. Nĩmoomirie ngingo, na tondũ wa ũremi wao magĩĩthuurĩra mũtongoria nĩgeetha macooke ũkombo-inĩ wao. No rĩrĩ, we ũrĩ Ngai ũrekanagĩra mehia, na ũrĩ mũtugi na mũigua tha, ndũhiũhaga kũrakara na ũiyũrĩtwo nĩ wendo. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndwamatiganĩirie,
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.
18 o na rĩrĩa methondekeire mũhianano wa njaũ, makiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Ĩno nĩyo ngai yanyu ĩrĩa yamũrutire bũrũri wa Misiri,’ kana o na rĩrĩa meekire maũndũ mooru mũno ma gũkũruma.
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.
19 “Tondũ wa tha ciaku nyingĩ, ndwamatiganĩirie kũu werũ-inĩ. Gĩtugĩ gĩa itu gĩtiagire kũmatongoria njĩra-inĩ yao mũthenya, kana gĩtugĩ kĩa mwaki gĩkĩaga kũmamũrĩkĩra ũtukũ njĩra ĩrĩa mekũgerera.
“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.
20 Wamaheire Roho waku mwega amarutage. Ndwagire kũmahe mana marĩe, kana ũkĩaga kũmahe maaĩ maanyoota.
You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.
21 Ihinda rĩa mĩaka mĩrongo ĩna nĩwamatũũririe werũ-inĩ; matiagire kĩndũ o nakĩ, ningĩ nguo ciao itiigana gũthira, kana magũrũ mao makĩimba.
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].
22 “Nĩwamaheire mothamaki na ndũrĩrĩ, ũkĩmagaĩra o nginya mĩhaka-inĩ ya kũraya. Magĩtaha bũrũri wa Sihoni mũthamaki wa Heshiboni, na bũrũri wa Ogu mũthamaki wa Bashani.
“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].
23 Waingĩhirie ariũ ao o ta njata cia matu-inĩ na ũkĩmakinyia bũrũri ũrĩa werĩte maithe mao matoonye makawĩgwatĩre ũtuĩke wao.
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.
24 Ariũ ao nĩmatoonyire, makĩĩgwatĩra bũrũri ũcio. Ũgĩtooria andũ a Kaanani arĩa maatũũraga bũrũri ũcio mbere yao; ũkĩneana andũ a Kaanani kũrĩ o, hamwe na athamaki ao na andũ a bũrũri ũcio, ũkĩmaneana moko-inĩ mao meke nao o ũrĩa mangĩendire.
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.
25 Nĩmatunyanire matũũra maarĩ mairigĩre na thingo cia hinya, na mĩgũnda mĩnoru, makĩĩgwatĩra nyũmba ciaiyũrĩte indo njega cia mĩthemba yothe, na ithima iria cienjetwo, na mĩgũnda ya mĩthabibũ, na mĩgũnda ya mĩtamaiyũ, na mĩtĩ mĩingĩ mũno ya matunda. Makĩrĩa, nginya makĩhũũna na makĩagĩra mĩĩrĩ; magĩkenera wega waku mũingĩ.
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.
26 “No nĩmagire gwathĩka, magĩkũremera, na makĩhutatĩra watho waku. Nĩmooragire anabii aku arĩa maamataaraga nĩguo mamacookie kũrĩ we; magĩĩka maũndũ mooru mũno ma gũkũruma.
“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.
27 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, ũkĩmaneana moko-inĩ ma thũ ciao, nacio ikĩmahinyĩrĩria. No rĩrĩa maahinyĩrĩirio, magĩgũkaĩra. Ũkĩmaigua kuuma igũrũ, na tondũ wa tha ciaku nyingĩ ũkĩmahe andũ a kũmahonokia, nao makĩmateithũra kuuma moko-inĩ ma thũ ciao.
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.
28 “No maarĩkia kũgĩa na ũhurũko, magĩcookerera gwĩka maũndũ mooru maitho-inĩ maku. Hĩndĩ ĩyo ũkĩmatiganĩria moko-inĩ ma thũ ciao nĩgeetha imaathe. Na rĩrĩa maagũkaĩire rĩngĩ, ũkĩmaigua ũrĩ o kũu igũrũ, na tondũ wa tha ciaku nĩwamahonokagia kaingĩ.
“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.
29 “Nĩwamataarire macookerere watho waku, no-o magĩĩtĩĩa na makĩrega gwathĩkĩra maathani maku. Makĩĩhia nĩkũregana na mawatho maku marĩa mangĩtũũria mũndũ muoyo angĩmaathĩkĩra. Nĩ ũndũ wa kũngʼathia, magĩkũhutatĩra, makĩũmia ngingo, na makĩrega gũkũigua.
“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.
30 Nĩwamakirĩrĩirie mĩaka mĩingĩ. Na ũndũ wa Roho waku, nĩwamakaanagia na tũnua twa anabii aku. No matiigana gũkũigua, na nĩ ũndũ ũcio ũkĩmaneana moko-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ iria maariganĩtie nacio.
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.
31 No tondũ wa tha ciaku nyingĩ, ndwamaniinire kana ũkĩmatiganĩria, nĩgũkorwo ũrĩ Mũrungu mũtugi na mũigua tha.
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!
32 “Na rĩu-rĩ, Wee Ngai witũ, Mũrungu mũnene ũrĩ hinya na wa gwĩtigĩrwo, o wee ũhingagia kĩrĩkanĩro gĩaku kĩa wendo, ndũkareke moritũ maya moneke arĩ ũndũ mũnini maitho-inĩ maku, moritũ maya matũkorete, na magakora athamaki aitũ na atongoria aitũ, na magakora athĩnjĩri-Ngai na anabii aitũ, na magakora maithe maitũ na andũ aku othe, kuuma matukũ ma athamaki a Ashuri nginya ũmũthĩ.
“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.
33 Maũndũ-inĩ macio mothe matũkorete, wee ũkoretwo ũrĩ na kĩhooto; wĩkĩte maũndũ na wĩhokeku, o rĩrĩa ithuĩ tũhĩtĩtie.
[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.
34 Athamaki aitũ, na atongoria aitũ, na athĩnjĩri-Ngai aitũ na maithe maitũ, matiarũmĩrĩire watho waku; matiathikĩrĩirie maathani maku kana mataaro marĩa wamaheire.
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.
35 O na rĩrĩa maarĩ ũthamaki-inĩ wao, magĩkenagĩra wega waku mũnene bũrũri-inĩ ũcio mwariĩ na mũnoru ũrĩa wamaheete, matiagũtungatĩire kana magĩtigana na njĩra ciao cia waganu.
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.
36 “No rĩrĩ, ũmũthĩ ũyũ tũrĩ ngombo, ngombo bũrũri-inĩ ũrĩa waheire maithe maitũ ma tene nĩguo marĩĩage matunda maguo na indo iria ingĩ njega ikũraga kuo.
“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.
37 Tondũ wa mehia maitũ, magetha maguo maingĩ mathiiaga kũrĩ athamaki arĩa ũigĩte igũrũ riitũ. Maathaga mĩĩrĩ iitũ na ngʼombe ciitũ o ũrĩa mekwenda. Tũrĩ ahinyĩrĩrie mũno.
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.
38 “Nĩ ũndũ wa ũguo-rĩ, nĩtũgũthondeka kĩrĩko gĩa gũtũũra na twandĩkanĩre, nao atongoria aitũ, na Alawii aitũ na athĩnjĩri-Ngai aitũ makĩhũũre mũhũũri.”
“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.”
