Neemi 9
1 Sou vennkatriyèm jou nan menm mwa a, tout moun pèp Izrayèl yo reyini pou fè jèn pou mande Bondye padon pou peche yo. Tout moun te la, yon rad sak kòlèt sou yo, pousyè tè kouvri tout tèt yo pou fè wè jan yo te nan lapenn.
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 Tout moun pèp Izrayèl yo mete kò yo ansanm. Yo pa kite ankenn moun lòt nasyon mele ak yo. Epi se konsa yo kanpe, yo konmanse di tou sa yo menm yo fè ki mal ansanm ak tout peche zansèt yo te fè.
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 Pandan twazè, yo tout rete kanpe kote yo te ye a, y'ap tande moun ap li nan liv lalwa Seyè a, Bondye yo a. Apre sa, pandan twazè ankò, yo t'ap di tout peche yo te fè, epi yo tonbe ajenou ap adore Seyè a, Bondye a.
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 Yo te moute yon lestrad pou moun Levi yo. Men moun ki te kanpe sou lestrad la: Se te Jozye, Bani, Kadmyèl, Chebanya, Bouni, Cherebya, Bani ak Kenani. Yo t'ap lapriyè byen fò nan pye Bondye.
[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.
5 Apre sa, moun Levi sa yo: Jozye, Kadmyèl, Bani, Achabnya, Cherebya, Odija, Chebanya ak Petaja pran lapawòl. Yo di: -Leve non, mezanmi! Fè lwanj Seyè a, Bondye nou an, pou toutan toutan! Se pou nou tout fè lwanj non li ki gen pouvwa, malgre moun p'ap janm ka rive fin di li mèsi ni fè lwanj li jan li merite l' la.
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 Seyè, se ou menm ki sèl mèt. Pa gen lòt. Se ou ki fè syèl la, sa ki anwo syèl la ansanm ak tout sa ki ladan l'. Se ou ki fè tè a ak tou sa ki sou li, lanmè a ak tou sa ki ladan l'. Se ou ki bay tout bagay sa yo lavi. Tout pouvwa nan syèl la bese tèt devan ou pou adore ou.
“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 Seyè, se ou menm Bondye ki te chwazi Abram, ki te fè l' kite lavil Our nan peyi Kalde. Ou chanje non l', ou rele l' Abraram.
“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 Lè ou wè li te soti pou l' kenbe pawòl li ak ou, ou pase yon kontra avè l'. Ou pwomèt w'ap ba li peyi moun Kanaran yo, peyi moun Et yo ak peyi moun Amori yo, peyi moun Ferezi yo, peyi moun Jebis yo ak peyi moun Gigach yo pou li ak pou pitit pitit li yo. Ou te kenbe pwomès ou yo paske ou pa janm nan bay manti.
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 Ou te wè jan zansèt nou yo t'ap soufri nan peyi Lejip. Ou te tande jan yo t'ap rele mande sekou bò lanmè Wouj la.
“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 Ou te fè anpil mirak ak mèvèy pou pini farawon an, moun ki t'ap sèvi l' yo ansanm ak tout pèp peyi Lejip la paske ou te konnen jan moun sa yo t'ap maltrete pèp ou a. Depi lè sa a, y'ap nonmen nou ou jouk jòdi a.
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 Ou louvri yon chemen nan lanmè a pou pèp la pase san pye yo pa mouye. Moun ki t'ap pousib yo, ou neye yo nan fon lanmè. Yo fè fon tankou wòch nan gwo lanmè.
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 Lajounen se avèk yon gwo nwaj ou moutre yo chemen pou yo pran. Lannwit, avèk yon flanm dife, ou klere chemen kote pou yo pase.
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 Ou soti nan syèl la, ou desann sou mòn Sinayi a pou pale ak yo. Ou ba yo regleman ki pou fè yo mache dwat, lwa ki gen verite ladan l'. Ou ba yo bon prensip ak bon kòmandman.
“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 Ou moutre yo pou yo mete jou repo a apa pou ou. Ou voye Moyiz, sèvitè ou la, pou li ba yo tout kòmandman, tout lòd ak lalwa ou mande pou yo swiv.
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 Lè yo te grangou, ou ba yo pen ki soti nan syèl la. Lè yo te swaf dlo, ou fè dlo pete soti nan wòch. Ou ba yo lòd pou y' al pran pou yo peyi ou te pwomèt ou t'ap ba yo a.
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 Men, zansèt nou yo kite lògèy vire lòlòj yo. Yo fè tèt di, yo derefize obeyi lòd ou te ba yo.
“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.
17 Yo refize obeyi ou, yo bliye tout bèl mèvèy ou te fè pou yo. Yo fè tèt di, yo chwazi yon chèf pou mennen yo tounen nan esklavaj peyi Lejip la. Men, ou se Bondye ki konn padonnen. Ou gen pitye, ou gen bon kè. Ou pa fè kòlè fasil, Ou pa t' janm sispann renmen yo. Ou pa t' lage yo.
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 Yo fonn metal, yo fè yon zidòl fòm yon ti towo bèf. Epi yo di se li menm ki bondye yo, bondye ki te fè yo moute soti kite peyi Lejip. Lè sa a, se pi gwo jouman yo ta ka fè ou!
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 Men, ou pa vire do ou kite yo nan dezè a, sitèlman ou te gen anpil pitye pou yo. Ou pa t' wete nwaj ki t'ap moutre yo chemen pou yo pran lajounen, ni gwo flanm dife ki t'ap klere chemen pou yo te pran lannwit.
“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 Ou pran ti gout nan lespri ou, ou ba yo pou yo ka gen konprann. Ou toujou ba yo laman pou yo manje, ou toujou ba yo dlo lè yo te swaf dlo.
You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.
21 Pandan karantan, ou pran swen yo nan dezè a: yo pa janm manke anyen! Rad sou yo pa janm fini, pye yo pa janm anfle.
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 Ou lage nan men yo peyi anpil wa ak anpil pèp. Ou separe l' ba yo pou chak moun viv nan limit ou ba yo. Yo pran peyi Esbon, kote wa Siyon t'ap gouvènen an, ak peyi Bazan kote wa Og te chèf la.
“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 Ou ba yo anpil pitit, menm kantite ak zetwal nan syèl la. Ou mennen yo nan peyi ou te pwomèt zansèt yo ou t'ap fè yo pran pou yo a.
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 Yo anvayi peyi Kanaran, yo pran l' pou yo. Ou fè moun peyi Kanaran an bese tèt devan yo. Ou lage tout wa yo ak tout pèp ki t'ap viv nan peyi a nan men pèp ou a, pou yo te fè ak yo sa yo te vle.
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 Pèp ou a mache pran tout lavil ki te gen gwo fò pou defann yo, ak tout bon venn tè moun yo. Yo pran tout kay yo ansanm ak tout byen ki te ladan yo. Yo jwenn sitèn tou fouye, jaden rezen, jaden oliv ak pyebwa k'ap donnen an kantite. Yo manje, yo plen vant yo, yo vin gra. Yo pran plezi jwi tout kantite bèl bagay ou te ba yo.
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 Men, yo rete konsa, yo vire do ba ou, yo fè wondonmon. Yo pran lalwa ou la, yo voye l' jete dèyè do yo. Yo touye pwofèt ou te voye ak mesaj pou ba yo avètisman pou yo te ka tounen vin jwenn ou. Se pa ti kras manke yo te manke ou dega!
“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 Se konsa, ou lage yo nan men moun ki pa vle we yo, ki bat yo nan lagè, ki mete pye sou kou yo. Nan tray yo te ye a, yo rele mande ou sekou. Ou rete nan syèl la, ou reponn yo. Ou te gen pitye pou yo, ou voye chèf pou delivre yo anba men moun ki t'ap peze yo.
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 Men, kou ou ba yo yon ti souf, yo konmanse ap fè sa ki mal ankò devan ou. Ou lage yo nan men lènmi ki t'ap kraze yo. Lè sa a ankò, yo pran rele nan pye ou. Ou menm menm, ou rete nan syèl la, ou reponn yo. Ou sitèlman gen bon kè, se pa ni de ni twa fwa ou delivre yo.
“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 Ou te avèti yo, ou te mande yo pou yo obeyi tout lòd ou yo. Men, lògèy vire lòlòj yo, yo refize swiv kòmandman ou yo. Yo fè bagay ki pa dakò ak lòd ou ba yo. Epi se lè yon moun swiv lòd ou yo, li jwenn lavi! Men, yo fè wòklò, yo fè tèt di, yo derefize obeyi ou.
“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 Pandan lontan lontan, ou pran pasyans ak yo, ou voye lespri ou sou pwofèt ou yo pou avèti yo. Men, yo bouche zòrèy yo pou yo pa tande. Lè sa a, ou lage yo nan men moun lòt nasyon yo.
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 Men, ou sitèlman gen bon kè, ou pa fin detwi yo nèt, ou pa lage yo nèt ale. Paske ou se yon Bondye ki gen bon kè, yon Bondye ki gen pitye pou moun!
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 Koulye a, Bondye nou, ou se yon Bondye ki gen pouvwa, yon Bondye ki gen fòs kouraj, yon Bondye ki fè moun respekte l'. W'ap toujou kenbe kontra ou te pase a, ou p'ap janm sispann gen bon kè. Tanpri, chonje lafliksyon ki te tonbe sou nou tout, sou wa nou yo, sou chèf nou yo, sou prèt nou yo, sou pwofèt nou yo, sou zansèt nou yo ak sou tout pèp la, depi lè wa peyi Lasiri yo t'ap peze nou an rive jouk koulye a. Pa kite nou soufri tou sa pou gremesi.
“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 Nan tou sa ki rive nou an, ou te gen rezon ou nan pla men ou. Paske, ou menm ou toujou kenbe pawòl ou. Se nou menm ki toujou ap fè sa ki mal.
[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.
34 Wi, wa nou yo, chèf nou yo, prèt nou yo ak zansèt nou yo pa t' fè sa ki nan lalwa ou la. Yo pa t' koute kòmandman ak avètisman ou te ba yo.
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 Lè yo t'ap viv nan peyi yo a avèk pwòp wa yo, avèk tout gwo benediksyon ou te ba yo, nan gwo peyi plen bon venn tè ou te mete nan men yo a, yo pa t' sèvi ou, yo pa t' sispann fè move bagay.
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 Jòdi a, nou tounen esklav nan pwòp peyi nou, nan peyi ou te bay zansèt nou yo, pou yo te ka pwofite rekòt tè a bay ak tout lòt riches ki ladan l'. Nou tounen esklav lakay nou!
“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 Tout rekòt peyi a al nan pòch wa ou mete sou kou nou. Tou sa, paske nou te fè peche. Yo fè sa yo vle ak nou ansanm ak bèt nou yo. Aa! Gade nan ki mizè nou ye non!
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 Avèk tout bagay sa yo ki rive nou, jòdi a nou menm pèp Izrayèl la, n'ap pran yon angajman, n'ap kouche l' sou papye. Epi tout chèf nou yo, tout moun Levi nou yo ak tout prèt nou yo pral siyen dokiman an anvan nou mete so sou li.
“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.”
