Neemi 1
1 Men istwa Neemi, pitit gason Akalya a, jan li menm li te rakonte l' la. Se te nan mwa Kislèv. Lè sa a, wa Atagzèsès te gen ventan depi li t'ap gouvènen. Mwen menm, Neemi, mwen te lavil Souz, kapital peyi a.
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
2 Anani, yonn nan frè m' yo, rive soti nan peyi Jida ansanm ak kèk lòt moun. Mwen mande yo nouvèl jwif yo, ti ponyen moun pèp Izrayèl ki te soti nan peyi kote yo te depòte yo epi ki tounen nan peyi yo a, ansanm ak nouvèl lavil Jerizalèm.
Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 Yo reponn mwen: Moun ki tounen soti nan peyi kote yo te depòte yo epi ki rete laba nan peyi nou an anba gwo pwoblèm. Yo pa konn sa pou yo fè tèlman yo wont. Kanta miray lavil Jerizalèm yo, yo te fin kraze. Gwo pòtay yo menm te menm jan an toujou depi dife te fin boule yo a.
They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
4 Lè m' tande sa, mwen chita atè, mwen pran kriye. Mwen pase anpil jou konsa nan gwo lapenn. Mwen pa manje, mwen t'ap lapriyè Bondye ki nan syèl la.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 Mwen di: -Aa, Seyè, Bondye ki nan syèl la, ou se yon Bondye ki gen pouvwa, yon Bondye ki fè moun gen krentif pou ou. Ou kenbe pawòl ou te bay nan kontra ou la. Ou toujou gen pitye pou moun ki renmen ou, pou moun ki swiv lòd ou yo.
and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments,
6 Tanpri, voye je ou sou mwen menm k'ap sèvi ou la. Panche zòrèy ou pou tande lapriyè m'ap fè nan pye ou koulye a, lajounen kou lannwit, pou sèvitè ou yo, moun pèp Izrayèl yo. Mwen rekonèt tou sa moun pèp Izrayèl yo fè ki mal devan je ou. Mwen rekonèt ni mwen menm ni zansèt mwen yo nou fè peche.
let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 Nou aji mal anpil avè ou. Nou pa swiv tout kòmandman, tout lòd ak tout regleman ou te bay Moyiz, sèvitè ou la, pou nou.
We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.
8 Koulye a, chonje pawòl ou te bay Moyiz, sèvitè ou la, lòd ki di nou: Si nou menm, moun pèp Izrayèl yo, nou pa kenbe pawòl mwen yo, m'ap gaye nou sou latè nan mitan tout lòt nasyon yo.
“Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you among the peoples;
9 Men, si nou tounen vin jwenn mwen, si nou pran swiv kòmandman mwen yo pou nou fè sa m' di nou fè, yo te mèt depòte nou jouk byen lwen nan dènye bout latè a, m'ap sanble nou, m'ap fè nou tounen kote mwen chwazi pou m' rete a.
but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’
10 Enben! Seyè, men yo, moun k'ap sèvi ou yo. Men pèp ou a, pèp ou te delivre ak gwo pouvwa ou ak fòs ponyèt ou a.
“Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
11 Aa! Seyè, panche zòrèy ou pou tande lapriyè mwen menm, sèvitè ou, m'ap fè nan pye ou, lapriyè tout sèvitè ou yo ki pran plezi nan gen krentif pou ou. Tanpri, Seyè, fè tout bagay mache byen pou mwen jòdi a. Fè wa a resevwa m' byen. Lè sa a, mwen te chèf kanbiz wa a.
Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
