< 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 Nehemias the son of Helchias. And it came to pass in the month of Casleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in the castle 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.
That Hanani one of my brethren came, he and some men of Juda; and I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were 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: They that have remained, and are left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction, and reproach: and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof 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 when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of 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: I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee, and keep thy 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 thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the children of Israel thy servants: and I confess the sins of the children of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: 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 been seduced by vanity, and have not kept thy commandments, and ceremonies and judgments, which thou hast commanded thy 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 the word that thou commandedst to Moses thy servant, saying: If you shall transgress, I will scatter you abroad 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 my commandments, and do them, though you should be led away to the uttermost parts of the world, I will gather you from thence, and bring you back to the place which I have chosen for 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!
And these are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast redeemed by thy great strength, and by thy 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.
I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.