Nehemaya 13

1 Nʼụbọchị ahụ, a gụpụtara okwu Chineke na ntị ndị Izrel site nʼakwụkwọ iwu Mosis. Mgbe a na-agụpụta ya, a chọpụtara na o megidere iwu na onye Amọn, maọbụ onye Moab, ga-eso nʼofufe ụlọnsọ ukwu Chineke.

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God for ever;

2 Nʼihi na ha bụ ndị iro ụmụ Izrel. Ha enyeghị ha ihe oriri na ihe ọṅụṅụ kama ha zụrụ Belam ka ọ bụọ ụmụ Izrel ọnụ. (Ma Chineke anyị gbanwere ịbụ ọnụ ahụ mee ka ọ ghọọ ngọzị.)

because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 Mgbe a gụpụtara iwu a, ndị Izrel chụpụrụ ndị mba ọzọ niile nọ nʼọgbakọ ha.

And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4 Ma tupu ihe ndị a niile emee, Eliashib onye bụ onye nchụaja, onye e doro nʼisi ilekọta ime ụlọ a na-achịkọba ihe nʼụlọ Chineke anyị, ya na Tobaya nwee ezi mmekọrịta,

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah,

5 o weere otu ọnụụlọ buru ibu a na-achịkọba ihe nye ya. Na mbụ, ọ bụ ọnụụlọ ebe a na-achịkọta onyinye ọka na ụda na-esi isi ụtọ, na ngwongwo ụlọnsọ, na efere mmanya ọhụrụ, na mmanụ oliv. Mosis enyelarị ya nʼiwu na ọ bụ ndị Livayị na ndị ọbụ abụ na ndị nche nwe onyinye ndị ahụ. Ndị nchụaja nwekwa oke nʼihe ndị a.

had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave offerings for the priests.

6 Mgbe ihe ndị a na-eme, anọghị m na Jerusalem, nʼihi na nʼiri afọ atọ na abụọ nke ọchịchị Ataksekses, eze Babilọn, a lọghachikwutere m eze. Ma e mesịrị m nata ya ike

But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king, and after certain days asked I leave of the king:

7 laghachikwa na Jerusalem. Nʼebe a ka m nọ mata banyere ihe ọjọọ ahụ Eliashib mere, inye Tobaya otu ọnụụlọ nke dị nʼogige ụlọ Chineke ka ọ bụrụ ebe izuike ya.

and I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8 Iwe were m nke ukwuu, nke mere na m sitere nʼọnụụlọ ahụ tụpụsịa ngwongwo Tobaya niile nʼezi.

And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9 Enyere m iwu ka e doo ọnụụlọ ndị ahụ niile ọcha, a chighachikwara m ngwongwo ụlọ Chineke niile nʼime ha, ha na onyinye mkpụrụ ọka, na ụda na-esi isi ụtọ ndị ahụ.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frankincense.

10 A chọpụtakwara m na-enyebeghị ndị Livayị oke ihe ruru ha, nke mere na ndị ọbụ abụ, na ndị nche ndị ọ bụ ọrụ ha i doo ofufe, alaghachila nʼubi ha dị iche iche.

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

11 Nʼihi ya, abaara m ha mba jụọ ha si: “Gịnị mere unu jiri gbakụta ụlọnsọ ukwu Chineke azụ?” Mgbe ahụ akpọghachiri m ndị Livayị nyekwa ha ọrụ ha nʼụlọnsọ.

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Ndị Juda niile bidokwara iweta ụtụ ha, na onyinye ọka, na mmanya vaịnị na mmanụ oliv ha nʼụlọ ịchịkọba ihe dị nʼụlọnsọ.

Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13 E tinyere m Shelemaya onye nchụaja, na Zadọk ode akwụkwọ, na Pedaia onye Livayị, ka ha bụrụ ndị na-elekọta ụlọ ịchịkọba ihe niile ahụ. Emekwara m Hanan nwa Zakua, nwa Matanaya, onye ga na-enyere ha aka, nʼihi na a gụrụ ha dịka ndị kwesiri ntụkwasị obi. Ọrụ ha bụ ikere ndị Livayị ibe ha niile oke.

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute unto their brethren.

14 Chineke m, biko cheta m nʼihi nke a, ehichapụkwala ihe niile m ji obi m niile rụọ nʼụlọnsọ gị na ije ozi niile ya.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances thereof.

15 Nʼụbọchị ndị ahụ, ka m hụrụ na Juda ndị na-azọcha mmanya vaịnị nʼụbọchị izuike, ndị ji ịnyịnya ibu na-ebubata ogbe ọka, na-ebokwasị ha nʼelu ịnyịnya ibu, tinyekwara mmanya, na mkpụrụ vaịnị na fiig, na ibu niile ọbụla. Ha na-ebubatakwa ha nʼime Jerusalem nʼụbọchị izuike. Nke a mere m ji dọọ ha aka na ntị megide ire nri nʼụbọchị ahụ.

In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals.

16 Ndị si obodo Taịa, bụ ndị birila na Jerusalem nọ na-ebubata azụ na ngwa ahịa ndị ọzọ dị iche iche, na-ere ha na Juda, nakwa na Jerusalem nʼụbọchị izuike.

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought in fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17 A baara m ndị a na-asọpụrụ na Juda mba, si ha, “Gịnị bụ ihe ọjọọ nke a unu na-eme, na-emerụ ụbọchị izuike?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

18 Ọ bụghị otu ihe a ka nna nna unu ha mere, nke mere na Chineke wetara ọdachi a tụkwasị anyị nakwa obodo a? Ugbu a, unu na-akpali ọnụma tụkwasị na nke dị megide Izrel site nʼimerụ ụbọchị izuike?”

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

19 Nʼihi nke a, enyere m iwu na a ga-emechi ọnụ ụzọ ama Jerusalem nʼuhuruchi tupu ụbọchị izuike, ruo mgbe ụbọchị izuike gafesịrị. Emere m ka ụfọdụ ndị ohu m na-anọ na nche nʼebe ahụ, ịhụ na ọ dịghị onye ahịa ọbụla ga-abata nʼime obodo Jerusalem nʼụbọchị izuike.

And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

20 Ya mere, ndị na-azụ ahịa na ndị na-ere ụdị ngwa ahịa dị iche iche, na-anọ ọnọdụ abalị nʼazụ Jerusalem, otu gboro maọbụ ugboro abụọ.

So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Ma a dọrọ ha aka na ntị, sị, “Gịnị ka unu ji na-anọ ọnọdụ abalị nʼakụkụ mgbidi a? Ọ bụrụ na unu eme ya ọzọ, aga m enye iwu ka e jide unu.” Site nʼụbọchị ahụ gaa nʼihu, ha abịakwaghị ọzọ nʼụbọchị izuike.

Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

22 Mgbe ahụ, enyere m ndị Livayị iwu ka ha doo onwe ha ọcha, nọọkwa na nche nʼọnụ ụzọ ama, ịhụ na onye ọbụla doro ụbọchị izuike nsọ. Chineke m, biko, cheta m nʼihi ihe ọma ndị a niile, nwee amara nʼebe m nọ, dịka ịba ụba nke obi ebere gị si dị.

And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

23 Ọzọ, nʼụbọchị ndị ahụ a hụrụ m ndị ikom Juda ndị lụtara ndị inyom site nʼetiti ndị Ashdọd, na ndị Amọn, na ndị Moab,

In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:

24 chọpụtakwa na ọkara nʼetiti ụmụ ha na-asụ naanị asụsụ ndị Ashdọd, maọbụ otu asụsụ nke ndị mba ọzọ, ma ha amaghị asụsụ Juda ma ọlị.

and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.

25 Ya mere, abaara m ha mba, bụkwaa ha ọnụ. Ụfọdụ ha ka m tiri ihe, dọọkwa ha nʼagịrị isi. Emesịa, emere m ka ha ṅụọ iyi nʼaha Chineke si: “Unu agaghị ekwekwa ka ụmụ ndị ikom na ndị inyom unu lụọ ndị mba ọzọ ma unu onwe unu agakwaghị alụtara ụmụ unu, maọbụ onwe unu, ndị inyom ndị mba ọzọ.

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

26 Ọ bụghị ọlụlụ di na nwunye dị otu a wetara ọdịda Solomọn? O nweghị eze ọzọ dị na mba ọbụla a pụrụ iji tụnyere Solomọn, nʼihi na Chineke ya hụrụ ya nʼanya mee ya eze ndị Izrel niile. Ma ọ bụ ndị nwunye mba ọzọ ọ lụrụ dubara ya na mmehie ikpere arụsị.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did strange women cause to sin.

27 Ugbu a, ọ bụ ka anyị gere na ntị na unu onwe unu na-emekwa ajọ ihe dị otu a, na unu ekwesighị ntụkwasị obi nye Chineke anyị, site nʼịlụ ndị inyom ndị mba ọzọ?”

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying strange women?

28 Ya mere, esitere m nʼebe m nọ chụpụ otu nʼime ụmụ ndị ikom Joiada, nwa Eliashib, onyeisi nchụaja, onye bụ ọgọ Sanbalat onye Hor.

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

29 Cheta ha, Chineke m, nʼihi na ha merụrụ ọrụ nchụaja, na ọgbụgba ndụ ọrụ nchụaja, na nke ndị Livayị.

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30 Ya mere, e doro m ndị nchụaja, na ndị Livayị ọcha, wezugakwa ihe ọbụla nke na-ekwesighị nʼebe ha nọ. E kenyere m ha ọrụ, onye ọbụla nʼije ozi ya.

Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed wards for the priests and for the Levites, every one in his work;

31 Emekwara m ka a na-ebubata nkụ nke ebe ịchụ aja nʼoge kwesiri, meekwa ka a na-ewebata onyinye mkpụrụ mbụ niile nʼoge ha. Cheta m Chineke, gosi m ihuọma gị.

and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.