Nekkemiya 10
1 Abassaako emikono be bano: Nekkemiya owessaza, mutabani wa Kakaliya. Ne Zeddekiya,
(This is a list/These are the names) of those who signed the agreement: I, Nehemiah, the governor; and also Zedekiah.
2 ne Seraya, ne Azaliya, ne Yeremiya,
The priests who signed it were: Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 ne Pasukuli, ne Amaliya, ne Malukiya,
Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
4 ne Kattusi, ne Sebaniya, ne Malluki,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 ne Kalimu, ne Meremoosi, ne Obadiya,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 ne Danyeri, ne Ginnesoni, ne Baluki,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 ne Messulamu, ne Abiya, ne Miyamini,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 ne Maaziya, ne Birugayi ne Semaaya. Abo be baali bakabona.
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.
9 Abaleevi be bano: Yesuwa mutabani wa Azaniya, ne Binnuyi batabani ba Kenadaadi ne Kadimiyeeri
The [other] descendants of Levi who signed it were: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 n’abaabayambangako be ba Sebaniya, ne Kodiya, ne Kerita, ne Peraya, ne Kanani,
Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 ne Mikka, ne Lekobu, ne Kasabiya,
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 ne Zakkuli, ne Serebiya, ne Sebaniya,
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 ne Kodiya, ne Baani ne Beninu.
Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14 Abakulembeze b’abantu baali: Palosi, ne Pakasumowaabu, ne Eramu, ne Zattu, ne Baani,
The Israeli leaders who signed it were: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 ne Bunni, ne Azugaadi, ne Bebayi,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 ne Adoniya, ne Biguvaayi, ne Adini,
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 ne Ateri, ne Keezeekiya, ne Azzuli,
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 ne Kodiya, ne Kasumu, ne Bezayi,
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 ne Kalifu, ne Anasosi, ne Nebayi,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 ne Magupiyasi, ne Mesullamu, ne Keziri,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 ne Mesezaberi, ne Zadooki, ne Yadduwa,
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 ne Peratiya, ne Kanani, ne Anaya,
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 ne Koseya, ne Kananiya, ne Kassubu,
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 ne Kallokesi, ne Piruka, ne Sobeki,
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 ne Lekumu, ne Kasabuna, ne Maaseya,
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 ne Akiya, ne Kanani, ne Anani,
Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27 ne Malluki, ne Kallimu ne Baana.
Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
28 “Abantu abalala bakabona, n’Abaleevi, n’abaakuumanga wankaaki, n’abayimbi, n’abaweereza b’omu yeekaalu, n’abo bonna abeeyawula ku mawanga agaali gabaliraanye olw’Amateeka ga Katonda, awamu ne bakyala baabwe, ne batabani baabwe bonna ne bawala baabwe bonna; bonna abamanyi era abategeera
Then the rest of the people also made a solemn agreement. The people who did it included priests, temple gatekeepers, singers, and temple workers. They also included all the men from other countries who had separated themselves from the other foreigners living in Israel. These men, along with their wives, their sons and daughters who were old enough to understand [what they were doing, were people who wanted to obey God’s laws].
29 beegatte ku baganda baabwe abakungu balayire okugobereranga Amateeka ga Katonda agaabaweebwa Musa omuddu wa Katonda, n’okugonderanga, amateeka gonna, n’ebiragiro, byonna ebya Mukama Katonda waffe.
They all joined with their leaders in making this solemn agreement. They agreed to obey all the laws that God had given to Moses. They agreed to obey everything that Yahweh our God had commanded, and all his regulations and instructions. [And this is what they promised to do: ]
30 “Tusuubiza obutafumbiza bawala baffe mu bantu abatwetoolodde, newaakubadde okukkiriza batabani baffe okuwasa bawala baabwe.
“We will not allow our daughters to marry people who live in this land [who do not worship Yahweh], and we will not allow our sons to marry them.
31 “Abantu abamawanga agatwetoolodde, bwe banaaleetanga ebyamaguzi oba ebyokulya okubitunda ku lunaku olwa ssabbiiti, tetuubibagulengako ku Ssabbiiti newaakubadde ku lunaku olwatukuzibwa olulala lwonna. Buli mwaka ogw’omusanvu tetuulimenga ttaka lyaffe, era tunaasonyiwanga be tubanja bonna.
“If people from other countries who live in this land bring us grain or other things to sell to us on Sabbath days or any other sacred day, we will not buy anything from them. And in every seventh year, we will not plant any crops, and we will (cancel all debts/declare that people will no longer have to pay back what they owe us).
32 “Tunaatwalanga obuvunaanyizibwa okuwangayo eri Katonda waffe kimu kya kusatu ekya sekeri buli mwaka olw’obuweereza mu nnyumba ya Katonda waffe:
“We also promise that every year we will pay (one-eighth of an ounce/4 grams) of silver for the work of taking care of the temple.
33 olw’emigaati egy’okulaga; olw’ekiweebwayo eky’obutta ekya buli kiseera, n’olw’ekiweebwayo ekyokebwa ekya buli kiseera, n’olw’ebiweebwayo ebya Ssabbiiti, n’eby’embaga y’omwezi ogwakaboneka, n’embaga ezaateekebwawo n’olw’ebintu ebyatukuzibwa; n’olw’ebiweebwayo olw’ekibi okutangiririra Isirayiri; n’olw’emirimu gyonna egy’omu nnyumba ya Katonda waffe.
With that money they can buy these things: The sacred bread [that is placed before God], the grain that is burned [on the altar] each day, the lambs that were completely burned [on the altar], the sacred offerings for the Sabbath days and for celebrating each new moon and other festivals that God told us to celebrate, and other offerings that are dedicated to God, the animals to be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the Israeli people, and anything else that is needed for the work of taking care of the temple.
34 “Ffe bakabona, n’Abaleevi, n’abantu twekubidde obululu okumanya ebiseera ennyumba zaffe mwe zinaaleeteranga enku mu nnyumba ya Katonda waffe, okwakanga mu kyoto kya Mukama Katonda waffe nga kyaka buli mwaka, nga bwe kyawandiikibwa mu mateeka.
“Each year the priests, the [other] descendants of Levi who help the priests, and the rest of us will (cast lots/throw marked stones) to determine [for that year] which clans will provide wood to burn on the altar the sacrifices that are offered to Yahweh our God, in order to do what was written in the laws [God gave to Moses].
35 “Ate era tutwala obuvunaanyizibwa okulaba nga buli mwaka tuleeta mu nnyumba ya Mukama ebibala ebisooka ku bisimbe byaffe ne ku buli muti ogubala ebibala.
“We promise that each year each family will take to the temple an offering from the first grain that we harvest and from the first fruit that grows on our trees [that year].
36 “Era nga bwe kyawandiikibwa mu mateeka, tunaaletanga abaana aboobulenzi ababereberye, n’ennyana ennume ezisooka ez’ente zaffe, n’ennyana z’amagana gaffe, n’ez’ebisibo byaffe, eri bakabona abaweerereza mu nnyumba ya Katonda waffe.
“Also, we will take to the priests at the temple our firstborn sons and dedicate them to God. And we will also bring firstborn calves and lambs and baby goats [to be offered as sacrifices]. That is what is written in God’s laws [that we must do].
37 “Tunaaleetanga mu mawanika g’ennyumba ya Katonda waffe, eri bakabona, ekitole ekibereberye ku mmere gye tunaabanga tugoyezza, ne ku biweebwayo byaffe, ne ku bibala ebya buli muti gwaffe ebiriibwa, ne ku wayini waffe, ne ku mafuta. Ate era tunaaleeteranga Abaleevi ekimu eky’ekkumi ku bimera byaffe, kubanga Abaleevi be bakuŋŋaanya ebitundu eby’ekkumi mu byalo byaffe byonna gye tulimira.
“We will also take to the priests at the temple the flour made from the first grain [that we harvest each year], and our other offerings of wine, [olive] oil, and fruit. We will also take to the descendants of Levi [who help the priests] the tithes/10% of [the crops that we grow on] our land, because they are the ones who collect the tithes in all the villages where we work/live.
38 Kabona, ow’omu lulyo lwa Alooni, yanaawerekeranga abaleevi, bwe banaabanga bagenze okukima ebitundu eby’ekkumi, era Abaleevi banaaleetanga kimu kya kkumi ku bitundu eby’ekkumi mu nnyumba ya Katonda waffe, mu bisenge, mu mawanika.
The priests who are descendants of Aaron will be with the [other] descendants of Levi and supervise them when they collect the tithes. Then the descendants of Levi must take 10% of the things that people bring and put them in the storerooms in the temple.
39 Abantu ba Isirayiri okwo nga kw’otadde n’Abaleevi, banaaleetanga ebirabo byabwe eby’emmere ey’empeke, ne wayini omuggya, n’omuzigo mu mawanika, ebintu eby’omu kifo ekitukuvu gye biterekebwa, era bakabona abaweereza, n’abakuuma wankaaki n’abayimbi gye babeera. “Tetuulagajjalirenga nnyumba ya Katonda waffe.”
The descendants of Levi and [some of] the other Israeli people must take 10% of the offerings of grain, wine, and [olive] oil to the storerooms where the various utensils that are used in the temple are kept. That is the place where the priests who are serving at that time, the temple guards, and those who sing in the temple choir live. [We promise that] we will not neglect [taking care of the temple of our God].”
