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 in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa 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.
Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who 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.”
They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates 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.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several 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 beg you, LORD, 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 your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, 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 you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.
8 “Jjukira ebiragiro bye wawa omuddu wo Musa, ng’oyogera nti, ‘Bwe mutaabeerenga beesigwa, ndibasaasaanya mu mawanga,
“Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you 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 you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost 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 your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your 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.
Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
