< 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,
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
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.
Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about 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 told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned 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.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, 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,
Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and 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 Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house 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 behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave 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, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter 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 return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’
10 Bazali basali na Yo mpe bato na Yo, oyo osilaki kokangola na nguya monene na Yo mpe na makasi ya loboko na Yo!
They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty 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.
O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

< Neyemi 1 >