Nehemaya 9
1 Nʼụbọchị nke iri abụọ na anọ nke otu ọnwa ahụ, ndị Izrel niile zukọkwara na obubu ọnụ, yiri uwe iru ụjụ, kpokwasịkwa onwe ha ntụ nʼisi.
On the twenty-fourth day of this same month, the Israelites met together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.
2 Ndị si nʼagbụrụ Izrel wezugakwara onwe ha site nʼebe ndị mba ọzọ niile nọ. Ha guzoro nʼọnọdụ ha kwupụta mmehie ha na ajọ omume nke nna nna ha.
Those of Israelite ancestry separated themselves from the foreigners, and stood to confess their sins and those of their forefathers.
3 Ha guzokwara nʼebe ahụ ha nọ gụọ site nʼakwụkwọ iwu nke Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke ha ruo awa atọ. Ha jikwa awa atọ nke ọzọ kwupụta mmehie ha, na ife Onyenwe anyị Chineke ha ofufe.
They spent three hours standing there reading the Book of the Law of the Lord their God, and another three hours confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord their God.
4 Mgbe ahụ Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebanaya, Buni, Sherebaya, Bani na Kenani rigoro guzo nʼelu ihe nguzo ndị Livayị. Ha jiri oke olu kpọkuo Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke ha.
The Levites stood on the stage and called out loudly to the Lord their God. (Their names were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani.)
5 Ndị Livayị ndị a, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneia, Sherebaya, Hodia, Shebanaya na Petahaya sịrị, “Bilienụ ọtọ, too Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu, onye na-adị site nʼebighị ebi ruo ebighị ebi.” “Ka aha gị dị ebube bụrụ ihe a gọziri agọzi, ka ọ bụrụ ihe e buliri elu karịa ngọzị niile na otuto niile.
Then the Levites announced: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God who lives eternally: ‘May who you are and your glory be blessed, and may you be lifted up above all blessing and praise.’” (The names of the Levites were Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah.)
6 Gị onwe gị, naanị gị bụ Onyenwe anyị. Gị kere eluigwe, ọ bụladị eluigwe kachasị elu, na kpakpando niile nke mbara eluigwe, ụwa na ihe niile dị nʼime ya, oke osimiri niile na ihe niile dị nʼime ha. Ọ bụ gị na-enye ihe niile ndụ, usuu niile nke eluigwe na-akpọkwa isiala nye gị.
They prayed, “Only you are the Lord. It was you who made the sky, the heavens with all their stars, the land and everything on it, the seas and everything in them. You give life to all of them, and all the heavenly beings worship you.
7 “Gị, onwe gị bụ Onyenwe anyị Chineke ahụ, onye họpụtara Ebram site nʼobodo Ụọ nke ndị Kaldịa, kpọpụta ya, gụgharịa aha ya ka ọ bụrụ Ebraham.
You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram, who led him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.
8 Ị hụkwara nʼobi ya kwesiri ntụkwasị obi nye gị, gị na ya gbakwara ndụ na ị ga-enye ụmụ ya ala ndị Kenan, nke ndị Het, nke ndị Amọrait, nke ndị Periz, nke ndị Jebus na nke ndị Gigash. I mezuola nkwa gị nʼihi na ị bụ onye ezi omume.
You knew he would be faithful to you, and made an agreement with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You kept your promise, because you do what is right.
9 “Ị hụrụ nsogbu na iru ụjụ niile nke nna nna anyị ha nʼala Ijipt; ị nụkwara akwa ha nʼakụkụ Osimiri Uhie.
You saw how much our forefathers were suffering in Egypt. You heard their cries for help at the Red Sea.
10 I gosiri Fero na ndịisi ọchịchị ya na ndị ya niile ọtụtụ ihe ịrịbama na ọrụ ebube nʼihi na ị hụrụ otu ha siri site na nganga juru ha obi mesoo ndị gị mmeso ọjọọ. Ụwa niile maara aha gị taa nʼihi ọrụ ebube ndị a niile ị rụrụ.
You performed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all his people of his land, for you recognized how arrogantly they treated our forefathers. You created a wonderful reputation for yourself that people still recognize to this day.
11 I kewara Osimiri Uhie abụọ mee ka ndị gị site nʼala akọrọ gafee. Ma i mere ka ndị iro ha na-achụ ha ọsọ nwụọ nʼime oke osimiri ahụ. Ha mikpuru dịka nkume danyere nʼime mmiri, nke oke osimiri.
You split the sea apart in front of them so that they could walk through it on dry ground. But you threw their pursuers into the depths of the sea, like stones thrown into raging waters.
12 I ji ogidi igwe ojii duo nna nna anyị ha nʼehihie, ma were ogidi ọkụ duo ha nʼabalị, inye ha ìhè ka ha ghara ijehie ụzọ.
You led them with a column of cloud during the day, and a column of fire at night, showing them the way which they should go.
13 “I sitere nʼeluigwe gwa ha okwu, ị rịdatara nʼugwu Saịnaị, ị nyere ha iwu na ntụziaka niile ziri ezi, nyekwa ha ụkpụrụ na ihe niile dị mma nke enyere nʼiwu.
You descended on Mount Sinai. You spoke to them from heaven. You gave them right ways to live, true laws, and good regulations and commandments.
14 I mere ka ha mata ụbọchị izuike gị dị nsọ, nyekwa ha iwu site nʼọnụ ohu gị Mosis, ka ha debe iwu gị na ụkpụrụ gị niile.
You explained your holy Sabbath to them. You gave them commandments and regulations and laws through your servant Moses.
15 I sitere nʼeluigwe nye ha achịcha mgbe agụụ gụrụ ha, sitekwa na nkume nye ha mmiri mgbe akpịrị kpọrọ ha nkụ. I sịkwara ha baa nʼime ala ahụ inweta ala ahụ bụ nke i weliri aka gị ṅụọ iyi inye ha.
When they were hungry you gave them bread from heaven, and when they were thirsty you brought water out of the rock for them. You told them to go and take ownership of the land which you had sworn to give them.
16 “Ma nna nna anyị ha erubeghị isi nʼokwu gị, nʼihi isiike ha na nganga ha.
But they and our forefathers acted arrogantly and became stubborn, and didn't pay attention to your commands.
17 Ha egeghị ntị ọbụla, ha echetakwaghị ihe ịrịbama niile i meere ha. Kama ha nupuru isi họpụtara onwe ha onyeisi ga-eduru ha ịlaghachi Ijipt. Ma ị bụ Chineke onye na-eme ebere, onye na-agbaghara mmehie ndị gị mgbe ọbụla. Ị bụ onye obiọma, onye iwe na-adịghị ewe ọsịịsọ. I jupụtara nʼịhụnanya na amara mgbe niile. Nʼihi ya, ị gbakụtaghị ha azụ,
They refused to listen to you, and forgot about all the miracles you did for them. They became obstinate and decided to choose themselves a leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and merciful, slow to get angry, and full of trustworthy love. You did not give up on them,
18 ọ bụladị mgbe ha meere onwe ha nwa ehi ha kpụrụ akpụ kwuo sị, ‘Nke a bụ chi unu. Ọ bụ ya si nʼala Ijipt dupụta anyị,’ maọbụ mgbe ha mehiere megide gị nʼụzọ niile.
even when they made themselves a metal calf and said, ‘This is your god who led you out of Egypt,’ and committed terrible blasphemies.
19 “Ma nʼihi obi ebere gị nke dị ukwuu, ị hapụghị ha ka ha nwụọ nʼọzara. Ogidi igwe ojii ahụ duuru ha ụbọchị niile, ma ogidi ọkụ ahụ dukwara ha abalị niile.
But you because you are so merciful didn't abandon them in the desert. The column of cloud didn't stop guiding them during the day, and the column of fire continued to light their way at night.
20 I zitere ezi Mmụọ nke gị ime ka ha nwee uche. Ị gbochikwaghị mánà gị iru ha ọnụ, ị nyekwara ha mmiri nʼihi akpịrị ịkpọ nkụ ha.
You gave your good Spirit to teach them. You did not stop feeding them with your manna, and you gave them water when they were thirsty.
21 Iri afọ anọ ka i debere ha ndụ nʼọzara. Ọ dịghị ihe kọrọ ha nʼoge ahụ. Uwe ha akaghị nka, ukwu ha azaghị.
You took care of them for forty years in the desert. Their clothes didn't wear out, they didn't want for anything. Their feet didn't even swell up!
22 “I nyere ha alaeze na mba dị iche iche, kenye ha ọbụladị ebe ndị dịkarịsịrị anya. Ha nwetara ala Saịhọn bụ eze Heshbọn, na ala Ọg bụ eze Bashan.
You gave them kingdoms and nations; you assigned their borders. They took control of the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon, and of Og, king of Bashan.
23 I mere ka ụmụ Izrel mụbaa dịka kpakpando nke eluigwe, ị kpọbatara ha nʼala ahụ i gwara ndị bụ nna ha ka ha baa nweta.
You made their descendants as countless as the stars of heaven, and led them to the land you had promised their fathers they would enter and possess.
24 Ụmụ ha banyere nweta ala ahụ. I meriri ndị Kenan nʼihu ha, bụ ndị bi nʼala ahụ. I weere ndị Kenan ahụ nyefee nʼaka ha, ha na ndị eze ha, na ndị niile bi nʼala ahụ ka ndị gị jiri ha mee ihe ọbụla ha kpebiri nʼobi ha.
Their descendants went in and took over the land. Right in front of them you conquered the Canaanites who lived there, handing over their kings and people so they could do with them whatever they wanted.
25 Ndị gị nwetara ala mara mma, na ọtụtụ obodo e wusiri ike; ha nwetakwara ọtụtụ ụlọ nke ihe ọma juru nʼime ha, na olulu mmiri e gwuru nke ọma, na ubi vaịnị mkpụrụ dị, na ubi oliv, na ọtụtụ osisi ọma ndị ọzọ na-amị mkpụrụ. Ha rijuru afọ, ahụ ha mara mma ile anya, ha ṅụrikwara ọṅụ nʼihi ngọzị ị gọziri ha.
They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of valuable things, water cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, and many fruit trees. They ate until they were full, and grew fat. They were so happy at how good you were to them.
26 “Ma ha nupuru isi nʼokwu gị, jụ iwu gị, gbuo ndị amụma tụrụ ha mmehie ha nʼihu, meekwa ọtụtụ ihe ọjọọ ndị ọzọ dị iche iche.
But they completely rebelled against you. They tossed your Law over their shoulders. They killed your prophets who warned them to try and bring them back to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.
27 Nʼihi nke a, i nyefere ha nʼaka ndị iro ha, ndị kpagburu ha. Ma nʼime mkpagbu ha, ha kpọkuru gị, ị nọkwa nʼeluigwe nụ ekpere ha, sitekwa nʼobi ebere gị zigara ha ndị bịara zọpụta ha, na ndị napụtara ha site nʼaka ndị iro ha.
So you handed them over to their enemies who treated them badly. In their suffering they cried out to you for help. But you heard their cries from heaven, and because you're so merciful you sent them leaders to save them from their enemies.
28 “Ma mgbe ihe bidoro ịgara ha nke ọma, ha mekwara ihe jọrọ njọ nʼihu gị. Ọzọkwa, i nyefere ha nʼaka ndị iro ha ka ndị iro ha merie ha. Ma mgbe ọbụla ndị gị chegharịkwutere gị, kpọkuo gị ka i nyere ha aka, ị na-anụ arịrịọ ha, sitekwa nʼobi ebere gị gbapụta ha.
However, as soon as they had peace, they went back to doing evil in your sight. So once more you handed them over to their enemies, who dominated them. They came back to you, and they cried out to you again. But you heard from heaven once more, and you saved them time and again because you are so merciful.
29 “Ị dọrọ ha aka na ntị sị ha lọghachi debe ihe i nyere nʼiwu. Ma ha sitere na nganga juru ha obi jụ idebe iwu gị. Ha mehiere megide ihe niile i nyere nʼiwu, ọ bụ ezie na ha maara na idebe ya ga-ewetara ha ndụ. Ma site nʼisiike ha, ha gbakụtara gị azụ, bụrụ ndị isiike na ndị jụrụ ige ntị.
You warned them to come back to your Law, but they were arrogant. They ignored your commands, and sinned against your rules, which, as you previously said, ‘If people obey they will live by them.’ They obstinately turned their backs on you and refused to listen.
30 Ma i sitere na ntachiobi gị nye ha ogologo oge ichegharị; ị dọrọ ha aka na ntị site nʼọnụ ndị amụma gị, ma ha egeghị ntị. Ya mere, i kwenyekwara ka ndị iro ha merie ha ọzọ.
You were patient with them for many years. You warned them by your Spirit through your prophets, but they didn't listen, so you handed them over to the other nations.
31 Ma nʼihi obi ebere gị i bibighị ha kpamkpam; ị gbakụtakwaghị ha azụ nʼihi na ị bụ Chineke onye dị ebere na onye amara.
But because of your wonderful mercy you did not finish with them, and you did not abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 “Ugbu a, Chineke anyị, Chineke dị ukwuu, onye dị ike dịkwa ebube, onye na-edebe ọgbụgba ndụ ịhụnanya ya, ka ọnọdụ ihe isi ike a ghara ịbụ ihe nta nʼanya gị. Ntaramahụhụ nke dakwasịrị anyị, ndị eze anyị na ndị ndu anyị, ndị nchụaja anyị, ndị amụma anyị, nna nna anyị ha na ndị gị niile, site nʼoge ndị eze Asịrịa buru ụzọ lụgbuo anyị nʼagha tutu ruo taa.
So now, our God, the great and powerful and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love, please don't see as unimportant all the hardships that have happened to us, and to our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our forefather and all your people, from the time of the Assyrian kings of Assyria up till now.
33 Ma gị onwe gị bụ onye ezi omume, nʼihe niile bịakwasịrị anyị; Ị mere ihe kwesiri, ebe anyị onwe anyị mere ajọ omume.
But you have done what is right regarding everything that has happened to us. You have always acted faithfully, while we have done so much evil.
34 Ndị eze anyị, ndị ndụ anyị na ndị nchụaja na nna nna anyị edebeghị iwu gị; ha aṅaghịkwa ntị nʼihe niile i nyere nʼiwu maọbụ ihe ama gị nke ị dọrọ ha aka na ntị idebe.
Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our forefathers did not follow your Law, and they ignored your commands and regulations you ordered them to keep.
35 Ọ bụladị mgbe ha nọ nʼalaeze nke aka ha na-ekpori ndụ, nke oke ịdị mma gị nke ị mere ka o rute ha aka, nʼala ọma ahụ sara mbara nwere ume i nyere ha, ha efeghị gị ofufe, ha esitekwaghị nʼụzọ ọjọọ ha chigharịa.
But they, even during the time they had their own kingdom, with so many blessings you had given them in the wide and fertile land you had provided for them, even then they refused to serve you and would not turn from their evil ways.
36 “Ma lee, anyị bụ ndị ohu taa, e, anyị bụ ndị ohu nʼala ahụ i nyere nna nna anyị ha, ka ọ bụrụ ebe ha ga-esi rie mkpụrụ ọ mịpụtara na ihe ọma ọ na-amịpụta.
Look at us now, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers to enjoy its fruit and all its good things. Look at us slaves here!
37 Nʼihi mmehie anyị, mkpụrụ ọma niile a na-esi na ya wepụta ka ndị eze ahụ niile i mere ka ha na-achị anyị na-ewere. Ha nwere ike nʼahụ anyị, na nʼebe anụ ụlọ anyị dị ka o si dị ha mma. Anyị na-ahụjukwa anya.
The rich harvests of this land go to the kings you have placed over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our cattle, doing whatever they want. We are suffering so much!”
38 “Nʼihi ihe ndị a niile, anyị na-ekwe gị nkwa ugbu a na anyị ga-efe gị. Anyị, ndịisi anyị, ndị Livayị na ndị nchụaja, na-etinye aha anyị nʼọgbụgba ndụ a.”
In response the people declared, “Considering all this, we are making a solemn agreement, putting it in writing. It is sealed by our leaders, Levites, and priests.”
