< Neyemi 1 >
1 Maloba ya Neyemi, mwana mobali ya Akalia. Na mobu ya tuku mibale ya bokonzi ya Aritakizerisesi, na sanza ya kisilevi, wana nazalaki nanu na Size, mboka mokonzi,
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 Anani, moko kati na bandeko na ngai, ayaki elongo na bato mosusu wuta na Yuda. Natunaki bango sango ya Bayuda oyo babikaki mpe batikalaki wuta na bowumbu, mpe sango ya Yelusalemi.
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 Balobaki na ngai: « Bayuda oyo babikaki mpe batikalaki wuta na bowumbu bazali kovanda kati na etuka ya Yuda mpe bazali na pasi mingi mpe na soni makasi; mir ya Yelusalemi etondi na madusu, mpe bikuke na yango ebebisamaki na moto. »
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 Tango kaka nayokaki makambo oyo nyonso, namivandisaki na mabele mpe nakomaki kolela. Nasalaki mikolo mwa mingi ya matanga, na kokila bilei mpe na kosambela Nzambe ya Likolo.
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 Nabondelaki: « Oh Yawe, Nzambe ya Likolo, Nzambe monene mpe Nzambe ya somo! Yo oyo obatelaka boyokani mpe bolingo na Yo epai ya bato oyo balingaka Yo mpe batosaka mibeko na 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 tika ete litoyi na Yo eyoka na bokebi mpe miso na Yo ezala ya kofungwama mpo na koyoka libondeli oyo mowumbu na Yo azali kosala liboso na Yo, butu mpe moyi, na tina na basali na Yo, bana ya Isalaele. Nazali kotubela masumu oyo biso bana ya Isalaele, ezala ngai mpe libota ya tata na ngai, tosalaki liboso na Yo.
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 Tosalaki solo mabe makasi liboso na Yo; totosaki te mitindo, bikateli mpe mibeko oyo opesaki na nzela ya Moyize, mosali na Yo.
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 Nabondeli Yo, kanisa maloba oyo otindaki Moyize, mosali na Yo, koloba: ‹ Soki botamboli na bosembo te, nakopanza bino kati na bikolo ya bapaya.
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 Kasi soki bozongeli Ngai mpe botosi mibeko na Ngai, wana, ezala soki bato na bino bakenda mosika na bowumbu kino na suka ya mokili, nakosangisa bango wuta kuna mpe nakomema bango na esika oyo naponaki mpo na kovandisa Kombo na Ngai. ›
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 Bazali basali na Yo mpe bato na Yo, oyo osilaki kokangola na nguya monene na Yo mpe na makasi ya loboko na Yo!
Now they [are] your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed with your great power, and with your strong hand.
11 Oh Nkolo, nabondeli Yo, tika ete litoyi na Yo eyoka na bokebi libondeli ya mowumbu na Yo mpe libondeli ya bawumbu na Yo mosusu oyo bazali kosepela kopesa lokumu na Kombo na Yo! Na mokolo ya lelo, longisa mowumbu na Yo mpe salela ye ngolu na miso ya moto oyo! » Nzokande, na tango wana, nazalaki kalaka oyo azalaki kotala makambo oyo etali masanga ya mokonzi.
[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.