Nekkemiya 12
1 Bano be bakabona n’Abaleevi abaakomawo ne Zerubbaberi mutabani wa Seyalutyeri ne Yesuwa: Seraya, ne Yeremiya, ne Ezera,
[Many] priests and [other] descendants of Levi returned (from Babylonia/to Jerusalem) with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. They included Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 ne Amaliya, ne Malluki, ne Kattusi,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 ne Sekaniya, ne Lekumu, ne Meremoosi,
Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 ne Iddo, ne Ginnesoyi, ne Abiya,
Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5 ne Miyamini, ne Maadiya, ne Biruga,
Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 ne Semaaya, ne Yoyalibu, ne Yedaya,
Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 ne Sallu, ne Amoki, ne Kirukiya ne Yedaya. Abo be baali abakulembeze ba bakabona ne baganda baabwe mu biro bya Yesuwa.
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. All those men were leaders of the priests during the time that Jeshua [was the Supreme Priest].
8 Abaleevi baali: Yesuwa, ne Binnuyi, ne Kadumyeri, ne Serebiya, ne Yuda ne Mattaniya awamu ne baganda be, abaakulemberanga ennyimba ez’okwebaza mu kusinza.
[Some of the other] descendants of Levi who returned were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. They were in charge of singing songs to thank [God].
9 Bakubukiya ne Unni ne baganda baabwe bo, baayimiriranga nga baboolekedde mu biseera eby’okusinza.
Bakbukiah, Unni, and other descendants of Levi formed a choir that stood opposite the other group [and sang in reply to them].
10 Yesuwa yali kitaawe wa Yoyakimu, ate Yoyakimu nga ye kitaawe wa Eriyasibu, ne Eriyasibu nga ye kitaawe wa Yoyaada,
Jeshua [who was the Supreme Priest] was the father of Joiakim, who was the father of Eliashib, who was the father of Joiada,
11 Yoyaada nga ye kitaawe wa Yonasaani, ate Yonasaani nga ye kitaawe wa Yadduwa.
who was the father of Jonathan, who was the father of Jaddua.
12 Mu biro bya Yoyakimu, bano be baali abakulu b’ennyumba za bakabona: eya Seraya, yali Meraya; eya Yeremiya, yali Kananiya;
When Joiakim was the Supreme Priest, these were the leaders of the clans of priests: Meraiah, from [the clan of] Seraiah; Hananiah, from [the clan of] Jeremiah;
13 eya Ezera, yali Mesullamu, eya Amaliya, yali Yekokanani;
Meshullam, from [the clan of] Ezra; Jehohanan, from [the clan of] Amariah;
14 eya Malluki, yali Yonasaani; eya Sebaniya, yali Yusufu;
Jonathan, from [the clan of] Malluch; Joseph, from [the clan of] Shecaniah;
15 eya Kalimu, yali Aduna; eya Merayoosi, yali Kerukayi;
Adna, from [the clan of] Harim; Helkai, from [the clan of] Meremoth/Maraioth;
16 eya Iddo, yali Zekkaliya; eya Ginnesoni, yali Mesullamu;
Zechariah, from [the clan of] Iddo; Meshullam, from [the clan of] Ginnethon;
17 eya Abiya, yali Zikuli; eya Miniyamini ne Mowadiya, yali Pirutayi;
Zicri, from [the clan of] Abijah. There was also a leader from [the clan of] Miniamin; Piltai, from [the clan of] Moadiah;
18 eya Biruga, yali Sammuwa; eya Semaaya, yali Yekonasaani;
Shammua, from [the clan of] Bilgah; Jehonathan, from [the clan of] Shemaiah;
19 eya Yoyalibu, yali Mattenayi; eya Yedaya, yali Uzzi;
Mattenai, from [the clan of] Joiarib; Uzzi, from [the clan of] Jedaiah;
20 eya Sallayi, yali Kallayi; eya Amoki, yali Eberi;
Kallai, from [the clan of] Sallu/Sallai; Eber, from [the clan of] Amok;
21 eya Kirukiya, yali Kasabiya; n’eya Yedaya, yali Nesaneeri.
Hashabiah, from [the clan of] Hilkiah; and Nethanel, from [the clan of] Jedaiah.
22 Abakulu b’ennyumba z’Abaleevi abaakola mu biro bya Eriyasibu, ne Yoyada, ne Yokanaani ne Yadduwa, awamu ne bakabona, baawandiikibwa mu mirembe gya Daliyo Omuperusi.
During the years that Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua [were Supreme Priests], they (wrote/kept a list of) the names of the clans who were descendants of Levi. When Darius was the king of Persia, they stopped writing that list.
23 Abakulu b’enju abaava mu bazzukulu ba Leevi okutuuka ku mulembe gwa Yokanaani mutabani wa Eriyasibu, ne bawandiikibwa mu bitabo eby’ebyafaayo.
They wrote the names of the leaders of the clans who were descendants of Levi in the Book of Events [in Israel], but they stopped writing those names when Eliashib’s grandson Johanan [was the Supreme Priest].
24 Abakulembeze b’Abaleevi baali: Kasabiya, ne Serebiya, ne Yesuwa mutabani wa Kadumyeri, n’abaabayambangako nga baboolekedde, nga batendereza era nga beebaza, ng’ekibinja ekimu kiddamu ekirala kye biyimba, nga Dawudi omusajja wa Katonda bwe yalagira.
These are the leaders of the clans [who are] descendants of Levi: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel and others who were divided into two groups. The two groups faced each other, one group replying to the other, during the time that they praised and thanked God. They did that just as King David, the man who served God well, had instructed.
25 Mattaniya, ne Bakubukiya, ne Obadiya, ne Mesullamu, ne Talumoni, ne Akkubu be baakuumanga amawanika g’oku miryango.
These singers included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. The men who guarded the storerooms close to the gates [of the temple] were Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub.
26 Baaweerereza mu biro bya Yoyakimu mutabani wa Yesuwa, mutabani wa Yozadaki, ne mu biro bya Nekkemiya owessaza, ne Ezera kabona era omuwandiisi.
They did that work during the time that Joiakim, who was the son of Jeshua and the grandson of Jehozadak, [was the Supreme Priest, ] and I was the governor, and Ezra was the priest who knew the Jewish laws very well.
27 Awo okutukuza kwa bbugwe wa Yerusaalemi bwe kwatuuka, ne banoonya Abaleevi okuva gye baabeeranga, ne baleetebwa e Yerusaalemi okujaguza nga bwe bayimba n’okukuba ebitaasa n’entongooli n’ennanga.
When we dedicated the wall around Jerusalem, we summoned the descendants of Levi [who help the priests] from the nearby places where they [were living]. We asked them to [join with us to] celebrate when we dedicated the wall. We wanted them to sing songs to thank [Yahweh] and make music by playing cymbals and harps and other stringed instruments.
28 Abayimbi nabo ne bajja okuva mu bitundu ebyetoolodde Yerusaalemi, nga bava mu byalo by’Abanetofa,
We summoned the descendants of Levi who habitually sang together. They came to Jerusalem from nearby areas [where they had settled], and from places around Netophah [town southeast of Jerusalem],
29 n’okuva mu Besugirugaali, n’okuva mu bitundu by’e Geba n’e Azumavesi; abayimbi baali beefunidde ebyalo okwetooloola Yerusaalemi.
and from three places [northeast of Jerusalem]—Beth Gilgal [city] and the areas around Geba and Azmaveth. Those singers had built villages to live in near Jerusalem.
30 Bakabona n’Abaleevi bwe baamala okwetukuza olw’emikolo egyo, ne balyoka batukuza abantu, n’emiryango ne bbugwe.
[When they came to Jerusalem], the priests and [other] descendants of Levi [who help the priests] performed rituals to cause themselves to be acceptable to God, and then they performed similar rituals to purify the [other] people, the gates, and the wall.
31 Ne ndyoka ntwala abakulembeze ba Yuda waggulu ku bbugwe, ne ndagira n’ebibinja bibiri eby’abayimbi okwebaza. Ekimu kyalaga waggulu wa bbugwe ku mukono ogwa ddyo, n’ekirala ne kiraga ku Mulyango gw’Obusa.
Then I gathered together the leaders of Judah on top of the wall, and I appointed them to lead two large groups to march around the city [on top of the wall], thanking God. [As they faced the city, ] one group walked to the right toward the Dung Gate.
32 Kosaaya ne kimu kyakubiri eky’abakulembeze ba Yuda ne babagoberera,
Behind their leaders marched Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah.
33 nga bali wamu ne Azaliya, ne Ezera, ne Mesullamu,
Behind them marched a group of priests who were blowing trumpets. They were Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. Next came Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
34 ne Yuda, ne Benyamini, ne Semaaya, ne Yeremiya,
35 ne bakabona abamu nga bakutte amakondeere, ne Zekkaliya mutabani wa Yonasaani, muzzukulu wa Semaaya, muzzukulu wa Mikaaya, muzzukulu wa Zakkuli, muzzukulu wa Asafu;
36 ne banne abaamuyambangako nga be bano: Semaaya, ne Azuleeri, ne Miralayi, ne Giralayi, ne Maayi, ne Nesaneeri, ne Yuda, ne Kanani, nga balina ebivuga ebyalagirwa Dawudi omusajja wa Katonda, era Ezera omuwandiisi, ye yabakulemberangamu.
Behind them marched other members of Zechariah’s clan: Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They all were playing the same kinds of musical instruments that King David had played [many years previously]. Ezra, the man who knew the Jewish laws very well, marched in front of this group.
37 Bwe baatuuka ku Mulyango gw’Oluzzi, ne bambuka amadaala g’Ekibuga kya Dawudi okutuukira ddala ku bbugwe; ne bayita ku lubiri lwa Dawudi ne batuuka ku Mulyango ogw’Amazzi, oguli ku luuyi olw’ebuvanjuba.
When they reached the Fountain Gate, they went up the steps to David’s City, past his palace, and then to the wall at the Water Gate, on the east side [of the city].
38 Ekibinja ekyokubiri eky’abayimbi, ne kiraga ku luuyi olwolekedde luli bali gye baali balaze. Nze ne kimu kyakubiri eky’abantu ne tubagoberera okutuukira ddala waggulu ku bbugwe, ne tuyita ku Munaala gw’Ebikoomi ne tutuuka ku Bbugwe Omugazi,
The other group of those who were thanking [Yahweh] marched to the left on top of the wall. I followed them with half of the people. [We marched] past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall.
39 ne ku Mulyango gwa Efulayimu, ne ku Mulyango gwa Yesana, ne ku Mulyango gw’Ebyennyanja, n’okutuuka ku Munaala gwa Kananeri, ne ku Munaala gw’Ekikumi, n’okutuukira ddala ku Mulyango gw’Endiga, ne tuyimirira ku Mulyango gw’Abambowa.
[From there we marched] past Ephraim Gate, Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred Soldiers, to the Sheep Gate. We finished marching near the gate into the temple.
40 Ebibinja byombi eby’abayimbi ne batuula mu bifo byabwe mu nnyumba ya Katonda; nange ne kimu kyakubiri eky’abakulembeze ne tutuula,
Both the groups reached the temple while they were thanking God. They stood in their places there. The leaders who were with me [also stood with me in our places].
41 awamu ne bakabona bano: Eriyakimu, ne Maaseya, ne Miniyamini, ne Mikaaya, ne Eriwenayi, ne Zekkaliya, ne Kananiya nga balina amakondeere;
My group included these priests who were [all blowing] trumpets: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, Hananiah,
42 Maaseya, ne Semaaya, ne Eriyazaali, ne Uzzi, ne Yekokanani, ne Malukiya, ne Eramu, ne Ezera nabo baaliwo. Abayimbi ne bayimba, Yekulakiya nga ye mukulu waabwe.
[another] Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers, whose leader was Jezrahiah, sang loudly.
43 Ku lunaku olwo, ne bawaayo ssaddaaka nnyingi nnyo nnyini, nga batendereza kubanga Katonda yali abawadde essanyu lingi nnyo nnyini. Abakazi n’abaana nabo ne basanyukira wamu nabo, era okujaguza okwo mu Yerusaalemi ne kuwulirwa mu bifo eby’ewala.
[After we went outside the temple, ] we offered many sacrifices. We men all rejoiced because God had caused us to be very happy. The women and the children also rejoiced. People far away could hear the noise that we made there in Jerusalem.
44 Mu kiseera ekyo, abantu ne balondebwa okulabiriranga amawanika omwaterekebwanga ebyaleetebwanga, nga mwe muli ebibala ebibereberye, ne kimu kya kkumi, nga bireetebwa okuva mu bibanja ebyetoolodde ebibuga, nga bwe kyalagibwa mu Mateeka, ne biweebwa bakabona n’Abaleevi. Yuda baali basanyufu olw’obuweereza bwa bakabona awamu n’obw’Abaleevi.
On that day, men were appointed {they appointed men} to be in charge of the storerooms where they kept the money that people contributed [for the temple]. They also kept there [the other things that the people contributed—] the tithes and the first part of the grain and fruit that was harvested each year. Those men collected those things from the fields/farms near the cities, and [took them to Jerusalem and] gave them to the priests and the [other] descendants of Levi, as [Moses had said in his] laws that they should do. All the Israeli people were happy about the work that the priests and the descendants of Levi did,
45 Bakabona n’Abaleevi ne bakwata embaga ya Katonda waabwe era ne bagitukuza, n’abayimbi awamu n’abakuumi ba wankaaki nabo ne bakola bwe batyo, ng’ekiragiro kya Dawudi ne Sulemaani mutabani we bwe kyali.
because they performed the rituals to purify things, and the other rituals that God had commanded. The musicians in the temple also did their work as King David and his son Solomon had declared that they should do.
46 Mu biro eby’edda, mu biseera bya Dawudi ne Asafu, waabangawo abakulu b’abayimbi, ate nga waliwo n’ennyimba ezaayimbibwanga okutendereza Katonda.
Ever since the time that David had been the king and Asaph had been his chief musician, the musicians had led the people while they sang songs to praise and thank God.
47 Noolwekyo mu biro bya Zerubbaberi ne mu biro bya Nekkemiya, Isirayiri kyeyava ewaayo ebibinja by’abayimbi n’abakuumi ba wankaaki. Ne balonda n’ekibinja ky’Abaleevi abalala, n’Abaleevi nabo ne balondayo ekibinja ekyava mu bazzukulu ba Alooni.
During the years that Zerubbabel and I governed the Israeli people, they all contributed the food that the singers and temple gatekeepers needed each day. They gave (a tithe/10%) of their crops to the descendants of Levi [who helped the priests], and those descendants of Levi gave (a tithe/10%) of that to [the priests, who were] descendants of Aaron [the first Supreme Priest].
