Nehemia 1
1 Ici nĩcio ciugo cia Nehemia mũrũ wa Hakalia: Atĩrĩrĩ, mweri-inĩ wa Kiselevu wa mwaka wa mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ, rĩrĩa ndaarĩ thĩinĩ wa nyũmba ya ũthamaki kũu Shushani-rĩ,
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: Now it happened in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the fortress of Susa,
2 Hanani, ũmwe wa ariũ a baba, agĩũka kuuma Juda arĩ na andũ angĩ, na ngĩmahooya ũhoro wa matigari ma Ayahudi arĩa maahonokete gũtahwo, o na ngĩmahooya ũhoro wa Jerusalemu.
that one of my brothers, Hanani, came with some people from Judah, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, the remnant of the Jews who were there, and about Jerusalem.
3 Nao makĩnjookeria atĩrĩ, “Andũ arĩa maahonokire gũtahwo, o acio marĩ kũu bũrũri-inĩ, marĩ na thĩĩna mũnene na makanyararwo mũno. Rũthingo rwa Jerusalemu nĩrũmomore, na ihingo ciaruo igacinwo na mwaki.”
They said to me, “Those in the province who survived the captivity are in great trouble and disgrace because the wall of Jerusalem has been broken open, and its gates have been set on fire.”
4 Rĩrĩa ndaiguire maũndũ macio, ngĩikara thĩ, ngĩrĩra. Ngĩikara ngĩcakayaga matukũ maigana ũna, ngĩĩhinga kũrĩa irio na ngĩhooya Ngai wa igũrũ.
As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and for days I continued grieving and fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 Ningĩ ngiuga atĩrĩ: “Wee Jehova Ngai wa Igũrũ, wee Mũrungu mũnene na wa kũmakania, ũrĩa ũhingagia kĩrĩkanĩro gĩake kĩa wendo kũrĩ arĩa mamwendete na magaathĩkĩra maathani make,
Then I said, “You are Yahweh, God of heaven, the God who is great and awesome, who keeps the covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.
6 ndagũthaitha ũtege gũtũ gwaku, na ũhingũre maitho maku ũigue ihooya rĩrĩa ndungata yaku ĩrahooya ĩrĩ mbere yaku mũthenya na ũtukũ nĩ ũndũ wa ndungata ciaku, andũ a Isiraeli. Nĩngumbũra mehia ma andũ a Isiraeli, na makwa, na ma nyũmba ya baba, marĩa ithuĩ tũkwĩhĩirie.
Listen to my prayer and open your eyes, so you may hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants. I am confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my father's house have sinned.
7 Nĩtwĩkĩte maũndũ ma waganu mũnene harĩwe. Tũtiathĩkĩire maathani na irĩra cia watho waku cia kũrũmĩrĩrwo, o na mawatho marĩa waheire Musa ndungata yaku.
We have acted very wickedly against you, and we have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules you commanded your servant Moses.
8 “Ririkana ũrutani ũrĩa waheire Musa ndungata yaku, ũkiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Mũngĩaga kwĩhokeka, nĩngamũhurunja gatagatĩ ka ndũrĩrĩ,
Please call to mind the word you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations,
9 no mũngĩkanjookerera na mwathĩkĩre maathani makwa, hĩndĩ ĩyo o na andũ anyu arĩa maatahĩtwo magatwarwo ituri cia thĩ kũrĩa kũraya mũno, nĩngamacookereria ndĩmarute kuo, ndĩmarehe kũndũ kũrĩa thuurĩte gũtuĩke gĩikaro kĩa Rĩĩtwa rĩakwa.’
but if you return to me and follow my commandments and do them, though your people were scattered under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to that place where I have chosen to make my name remain.'
10 “Acio nĩ ndungata ciaku na andũ aku, arĩa wakũũrire na ũndũ wa hinya waku mũnene na guoko gwaku kũrĩ ũhoti.
Now they are your servants and your people, whom you have rescued by your great power and by your strong hand.
11 Wee, Jehova, ndagũthaitha ũtege gũtũ ũigue mahooya ma ndungata ĩno yaku, o na mahooya ma ndungata ciaku iria ikenagio nĩ gwĩtigĩra rĩĩtwa rĩaku. Kĩreke ndungata yaku ĩgaacĩre ũmũthĩ na ũndũ wa gũtũma ĩtĩkĩrĩke harĩ mũndũ ũyũ.” Nĩ niĩ ndatwaragĩra mũthamaki kĩndũ gĩa kũnyua.
Yahweh, I beg you, listen now to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to honor your name. Now give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” I served as cupbearer to the king.
