Neemi 1

1 Pawòl a Néhémie yo, fis Hacalia a. Alò, sa te fèt nan mwa Kisleu a, nan ventyèm ane a, pandan mwen te nan kapital Suse la,

This is the account of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was in the fortress at Susa.

2 ke Hanani, youn nan frè mwen yo, e kèk nan mesye ki soti Juda yo te vini. Mwen te mande yo sou Jwif yo ki te chape, e ki te reziste malgre kaptivite a, epi sou Jérusalem.

Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men. I asked them about the remnant of the Jewish exiles who had returned from captivity, and also about Jerusalem.

3 Yo te di mwen: “Retay ki la nan pwovens lan, ki te chape e ki te reziste malgre kaptivite a nan gwo pwoblèm ak dezolasyon. Miray Jérusalem nan kraze nèt e pòtay li yo fin brile ak dife.”

They told me, “The remnant who are left from the exile are there in the province, but they are having a great deal of trouble and feel humiliated. Jerusalem's walls have been knocked over, and its gates burned down.”

4 Lè m te tande pawòl sila yo, mwen te chita la, mwen te kriye e fè gwo plent pandan kèk jou; epi mwen t ap fè jèn avèk lapriyè devan Bondye syèl la.

When I heard the news, I sat down, weeping and mourning for days, fasting and praying to the God of heaven.

5 Mwen te di: “Mwen sipliye W, O SENYÈ syèl la, Bondye ki gran e mèvèye a, ki gade akò Li avèk lanmou dous Li pou sila ki renmen Li yo e ki kenbe kòmandman Li yo,

Then I prayed, “Please, Lord God of heaven—the great and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love with those who love him and keep his commandments—

6 ke zòrèy W kapab atantif e zye Ou yo louvri pou tande lapriyè sèvitè Ou a ke mwen ap fè devan Ou koulye a, lajounen kon lannwit, nan non a fis Israël yo, pou konfese peche a fis Israël yo ke nou te fè kont Ou menm. Mwen menm avèk lakay papa m te peche.

please listen and focus your attention on the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you now, day and night, on behalf of your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you, including my own sins and those of my family.

7 Nou te byen konwonpi nan zak nou te fè kont Ou yo, e nou pa t kenbe kòmandman yo, règleman yo, òdonans yo, ke ou te kòmande a sèvitè Ou a, Moïse.

We have done terrible things to offend you and we have not kept the commandments, laws, and regulations that you gave to your servant Moses.

8 “Sonje pawòl ke Ou te kòmande sèvitè Ou a, Moïse, lè Ou te di: ‘Si nou pa fidèl, Mwen va gaye nou pami pèp yo;

Please remember what you told Moses when you said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9 men si nou retounen kote Mwen, kenbe kòmandman Mwen yo, e fè yo, malgre sila nan nou ki te gaye nan zòn pi izole nan syèl yo, Mwen va ranmase yo soti la, pou mennen yo rive nan plas kote Mwen te chwazi pou non Mwen te abite a.’

but if you come back to me and follow my commandments and obey them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will gather them together and bring them to the place I have chosen where I will be honored.

10 “Yo se sèvitè Ou e pèp Ou ke Ou te rachte pa gran pouvwa Ou, ak men pwisan Ou.

They are your servants and our people. You saved them by your great power and incredible ability.

11 O Senyè, mwen sipliye W, pou zòrèy ou kapab atantif a lapriyè a sèvitè Ou a ak lapriyè a sèvitè Ou yo ki pran plezi nan louwe non Ou. Fè sèvitè Ou a reyisi nan jou sila a, e bay li mizerikòd devan nonm sila a.” Alò, se te mwen ki te pote tas pou wa a.

Lord, please respond to my prayer and to the prayers of those who love to worship you. Please let me be successful today and make the king sympathetic to me.” I was the king's cupbearer.