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,

The words of Neemias the son of Chelcia. And it came to pass in the month Chaseleu, of the twentieth year, that I was in Susan the palace.

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.

And Anani, one of my brethren, came, he and [some] men of Juda; and I asked them concerning those that had escaped, who had been left of the captivity, and concerning 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.”

And they said to me, The remnant, [even] those that are left of the captivity, [are] there in the land, in great distress and reproach: and the walls of Jerusalem [are] thrown down, and its gates are burnt with fire.

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.

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, [that] I sat down and wept, and mourned for [several] days, and continued fasting and praying before 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,

And I said, Nay, I pray you, O Lord God of heaven, the mighty, the great and terrible, keeping your covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to those that 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.

let now your ear be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, this day [both] day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, and make confession for the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you: both I and the house of my father have sinned.

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 altogether broken [covenant] with you, and we have not kept the commandments, and the ordinances, and the judgments, which you did command 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;

Remember, I pray you, the word wherewith you did charge your servant Moses, saying, If you break covenant [with me], I will disperse 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 turn again to me, and keep my commandments, and do them; if you should be scattered under the utmost [bound] of heaven, thence will I gather them, and I will bring them into the place which I have chosen to cause my name to dwell there.

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

Now they [are] your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed with your great power, and with your strong hand.

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.

[Turn] not [away], I pray you, O Lord, but let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and cause him to find mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was the king's cupbearer.