Nekkemiya 1
1 Ebigambo bya Nekkemiya mutabani wa Kakaliya: Awo mu mwezi gwa Kisuleevu mu mwaka ogw’amakumi abiri bwe nnali nga ndi mu lubiri mu kibuga ekikulu ekya Susani,
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 Kanani, omu ku baganda bange, n’ajja n’abamu ku basajja okuva mu Yuda, ne mubuuza ku bikwata ku kitundu ky’Abayudaaya ekyasigalawo, ne ku bifa mu Yerusaalemi.
that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 Ne bantegeeza nti, “Abaawaŋŋangusibwa abaddayo mu ssaza bali mu kabi kanene ne mu nnaku nnyingi; bbugwe wa Yerusaalemi yamenyebwa, era ne wankaaki waakyo yayokebwa omuliro.”
And they said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. Also the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates of it are burned with fire.
4 Awo bwe nawulira ebigambo ebyo, ne ntuula wansi ne nkaaba, ne mmala ebiro nga nnakuwadde, nga nsiiba era nga nsaba mu maaso ga Katonda w’eggulu.
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days. And I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 Ne njogera nti, “Ayi Mukama Katonda w’eggulu, Katonda omukulu ow’entiisa, akuuma endagaano ye, era ayagala abo abagondera amateeka ge.
and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:
6 Ozibule amaaso go, otege okutu okuwulira okusaba kw’omuddu wo kwe nsaba mu maaso go emisana n’ekiro ku lwa baddu bo abantu ba Isirayiri. Njatula ebibi bye twakola, ffe Abayisirayiri, nga nange n’ennyumba ya kitange mwe tuli.
Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou may hearken to the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the sons of Israel thy servants while I confess the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned.
7 Twasobya mu maaso go, ne tutagoberera mateeka go n’ebiragiro byo bye watuma omuddu wo Musa.
We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commanded thy servant Moses.
8 “Jjukira ebiragiro bye wawa omuddu wo Musa, ng’oyogera nti, ‘Bwe mutaabeerenga beesigwa, ndibasaasaanya mu mawanga,
Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commanded thy servant Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples,
9 naye bwe mulikyuka ne mukomawo gye ndi, ne mugondera amateeka gange, abantu bammwe abaawaŋŋangusibwa ne bwe banaabeeranga ku nkomerero y’eggulu, ndibakuŋŋaanyayo ne mbaleeta mu kifo kye neeroboza okubeerangamu Erinnya lyange.’
but if ye return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the outermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.
10 “Abo be baddu bo era be bantu bo be wanunula n’amaanyi go amangi era n’omukono gwo ogw’amaanyi.
Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou have redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11 Ayi Mukama, otege okutu eri okusaba kw’omuddu wo n’eri okusaba kw’abaddu bo abatya erinnya lyo. Omuddu wo omusobozese okulaba ekisa mu maaso g’omusajja ono.” Ebiro ebyo nnali musenero wa kabaka.
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name, and, I pray thee, prosper thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.
