Nekkemiya 9

1 Awo ku lunaku olw’amakumi abiri mu ennya mu mwezi gwe gumu, Abayisirayiri ne bakuŋŋaana ne basiiba, nga bambadde ebibukutu era nga beesiize enfuufu ku mitwe gyabwe.

On October 31, the people gathered together again. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), they wore clothes made from rough cloth, and they put dirt on their heads [to show that they were sorry for their sins].

2 Ab’ezzadde lya Isirayiri beeyawula ku bannamawanga bonna, ne bayimirira mu bifo byabwe ne baatula ebibi byabwe n’obutali butuukirivu bwa bajjajjaabwe.

The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.

3 Ne bayimirira we baali ne basoma mu Kitabo ky’Amateeka ga Mukama Katonda waabwe, okumala essaawa ssatu, n’oluvannyuma ne baatula era ne basinza Mukama Katonda waabwe okumala essaawa endala nga ssatu.

The scroll that contained the laws of Yahweh, the God whom they [worshiped], was read to them for three hours. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and they worshiped Yahweh.

4 Bano be Baleevi abaali bayimiridde ku madaala: Yesuwa, ne Baani, ne Kadumyeri, ne Sebaniya, ne Bunni, ne Serebiya, ne Baani ne Kenani, abaakoowoolanga Mukama Katonda waabwe mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka.

[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.

5 Awo Abaleevi, Yesuwa, ne Kadumyeri, ne Baani, ne Kasabuneya, ne Serebiya, ne Kodiya, ne Sebaniya ne Pesakiya ne boogera nti, “Muyimirire, mwebaze Mukama Katonda wammwe ow’emirembe n’emirembe.” “Erinnya lyo ligulumizibwe, litiibwe era ligulumizibwe okukira okusinza kwonna n’okutendereza kwonna.

Then [the leaders of] the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “While you are standing there, praise Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever!” [Then one of them continued by praying this to God], “Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! You are much greater than anything that we can think about or talk about!

6 Ggwe wekka, ggwe Mukama, era ggwe wakola eggulu, n’eggulu erya waggulu, n’eggye lyalyo lyonna, n’ensi n’ebigirimu byonna, n’ennyanja n’ebigirimu byonna. Buli kintu gw’okiwa obulamu, era n’eggye ery’omu ggulu likusinza.

“You only are God. You made the sky and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas/oceans and everything that is in them. You are the one who gives life to everything and helps them remain alive. All the angels who are in heaven worship you.

7 “Ggwe Mukama Katonda, eyalonda Ibulaamu n’omuggya mu Uli eky’Abakaludaaya n’omutuuma Ibulayimu.

“Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, Abraham.

8 Walaba omutima gwe nga mwesigwa gy’oli, n’okola naye endagaano, okuwa bazzukulu be ensi ey’Abakanani, n’Abakiiti, n’Abamoli, n’Abaperezi, n’Abayebusi, n’Abagirugaasi; era otuukiriza ekyo kye wasuubiza kubanga oli mutuukirivu.

You saw that he was trustworthy. Then you made (an agreement with/a promise to) him, saying that you would give [to him and] to his descendants the land that the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Amor, Periz, Jebus, and Girgash lived in. And you have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.

9 “Walaba okubonaabona kwa bajjajjaffe mu Misiri, n’owulira okukaaba kwabwe ku lubalama lw’Ennyanja Emyufu.

“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.

10 Waweereza obubonero obwewuunyisa n’ebyamagero eri Falaawo, n’eri abakungu be, n’eri abantu be bonna ab’ensi ye, kubanga wamanya engeri Abayisirayiri gye baajoogebwamu. Weekolera erinnya eryayatiikirira, n’okutuusa leero.

Because you knew that the leaders of Egypt were treating our ancestors very arrogantly, you performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king and his officials and all his people to suffer. As a result, you became famous then, and you are still famous!

11 Wayawula mu mazzi g’ennyanja n’ogalaza ebbali n’ebbali mu maaso gaabwe, ne bayita wakati mu y’oku lukalu, naye abaali babagoberera wabazaaya mu buziba, ng’ejjinja bwe likasukibwa mu mazzi ag’amaanyi.

You caused the Red Sea to divide, with the result that your people walked through it on the ground without [getting their feet] wet. [After they were all safely on the other side, ] you [caused the water to come back again], and you hurled into the deep water the [soldiers of the Egyptian army] that were pursuing our ancestors. Their soldiers sank into the deep sea like stones!

12 Emisana wakulemberanga abantu bo n’empagi ey’ekire, era n’ekiro wabakulemberanga n’empagi ey’omuliro okubamulisiza ekkubo lye baali bateekwa okukwata.

During each day you led our ancestors with a bright cloud that resembled a huge pillar, and each night you led them by a flaming cloud that gave them light to show them where to walk.

13 “Wava mu ggulu, n’okka ku Lusozi Sinaayi n’oyogera gye bali. Wabawa ebiragiro eby’obwenkanya, n’amateeka ag’amazima, byonna nga birungi.

“When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.

14 Wabamanyisa Ssabbiiti yo entukuvu, era n’obawa ebiragiro n’amateeka ng’oyita mu muddu wo Musa.

You taught them about your holy (Sabbath/day of rest), and you gave many kinds of laws to your servant Moses for him to tell to the people.

15 Bwe baalumwa enjala wabawa emmere okuva mu ggulu, ne bwe baalumwa ennyonta n’obawa amazzi okuva mu lwazi; n’obagamba bagende balye ensi gye wabalayiririra.

When they were hungry, you gave them manna from the sky; and when they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You commanded them to go and take, from the people who lived there, the land which you had promised to give to them.

16 “Naye bo bajjajjaffe ne beekulumbaza ne bakakanyaza ensingo zaabwe ne batagondera biragiro byo.

“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.

17 Baagaana okukuwuliriza, ne batassaayo mwoyo okujjukira ebyamagero bye wakolera mu bo. Baakakanyaza ensingo zaabwe, era mu bujeemu bwabwe ne balonda omukulembeze okuddayo mu buddu bwabwe. Naye ggwe Katonda asonyiwa, ow’ekisa era ajjudde okusaasira, alwawo okusunguwala era ajjudde okwagala, tewabaleka.

They refused to heed you, and they forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. Instead, they became stubborn [IDM], and they appointed someone to lead them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives us and who is kind and merciful [to us]. You do not quickly become angry. You always faithfully love us.

18 Ne bwe beebumbira ennyana ensanuuse ne boogera nti, ‘Ono ye katonda wammwe eyabaggya mu Misiri,’ ne bakola n’ebitasaana bingi, mu kusaasira kwo okungi tewabaleka mu ddungu.

So, even though their [leaders] made an idol that resembled a calf and insulted you by saying [about the idol], ‘This is our god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ you did not desert them.

19 “Emisana, empagi ey’ekire teyalekerawo kubaluŋŋamya mu kkubo lyabwe, newaakubadde ekiro, empagi ey’omuliro nayo teyalekerawo kubaakira mu kkubo lye baali bateekwa okukwata.

“Because you always act mercifully, you did not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.

20 Wabawa Omwoyo omulungi okubayigiriza, so tewabammanga manu okulya, era wabawanga n’amazzi okumalawo ennyonta yaabwe.

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.

21 Wabalabirira okumala emyaka amakumi ana mu ddungu, ne batabulwa kintu, so n’engoye zaabwe tezaayulika newaakubadde ebigere byabwe okuzimba.

For 40 years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they had everything [that they needed]. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up [even though they were continually walking].

22 “Wabawa obwakabaka n’amawanga, n’obawa na buli nsonda ey’ebyalo. Baalya ensi ya Sikoni kabaka w’e Kesuboni, n’ensi ya Ogi kabaka w’e Basani.

“You helped our ancestors to defeat armies of great kings who ruled many people-groups. By doing that, you enabled our ancestors to (occupy/live in) even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon [city] and the land over which King Og ruled in [the] Bashan [area].

23 Wayaza abazzukulu baabwe ne baba bangi ng’emmunyeenye ez’omu ggulu, n’obaleeta mu nsi gye wagamba bajjajjaabwe okuyingira bagirye.

You caused our ancestors’ descendants to become as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into this land, the land that you told their fathers to enter and occupy.

24 Bazzukulu baabwe baayingira ne balya ensi, ne bawangula Abakanani abaabeeranga mu nsi, n’obawaayo mu mikono gyabwe wamu ne bakabaka baabwe, n’abantu b’ensi zaabwe ne babakola nga bwe baagala.

Their sons went in and took the land [from the people that lived there]. You enabled them to defeat the descendants of Canaan who lived here in this land. You enabled them to conquer the descendants of Canaan and their kings and the people whom they ruled. You enabled our ancestors to do to those people whatever they wanted to do.

25 Baawamba ebibuga ebyaliko bbugwe n’ensi enjimu, ne batwala amayumba agaali gajudde ebintu ebirungi ebya buli ngeri, enzizi ezasimibwa edda, n’ennimiro ez’emizabbibu, n’ennimiro ez’emizeeyituuni, n’emiti egy’ebibala mingi nnyo. Baalya ne bakkuta era ne banyirira, n’okubasanyusa n’obasanyusanga olw’obulungi bwo.

Our ancestors captured cities that had walls around them, and they took possession of fertile land. They took possession of houses that were full of good things, where there were wells that were already dug. They took possession of many vineyards and groves of olive trees and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to and became fat. They were delighted in all these good things that you gave to them.

26 “Naye tebaakugondera, baakujeemera ne batagoberera mateeka go. Batta bannabbi bo, abaababuuliriranga okudda gy’oli; baakola ebitasaana.

“But they disobeyed you and rebelled against you. They (turned their backs on/rejected) your laws. They killed the prophets who warned them that they should return to you. They badly insulted you.

27 Kyewava obawaayo eri abalabe baabwe ne bababonyaabonya. Naye nga babonaabona bwe batyo, ne bakukaabirira, n’obawulira okuva mu ggulu, n’olw’okusaasira kwo okungi ennyo n’obaweereza abaabanunula era abaabalokola okuva mu mukono gw’abalabe baabwe.

So you allowed their enemies to defeat them. But when their enemies caused them to suffer, they called out to you. You heard them from heaven, and because you are very merciful, you sent them people to help them, and those leaders rescued them from their enemies.

28 “Naye bwe baafunanga emirembe, baddangamu okukola ebibi mu maaso go. Kyewava obawaayo mu mukono gw’abalabe baabwe, babafuge. Bwe baakukaabiriranga nate, ng’obawulira okuva mu ggulu, n’obalokolanga emirundi mingi ng’okusaasira kwo bwe kuli.

“But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did things that displeased you. So again you allowed their enemies to conquer them. But whenever they cried out to you again [to help them], you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them many times.

29 “Wabalabula okuddamu okugoberera amateeka go, naye ne baba b’amalala, ne batagondera biragiro byo. Baajeemera ebiragiro, ebireetera omuntu obulamu bw’aba ng’abigondedde. Baakunyooma ne bakuvaako, ne bakakanyaza ensingo zaabwe, ne bagaana okuwulira.

“You warned them that they should again [obey] your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your commands. They sinned by disobeying what you commanded them to do, the things that would enable them to live a good long life [if they obeyed them]. They stubbornly refused [IDM] to listen to you and continued sinning.

30 Wabagumiikiriza okumala emyaka mingi, Omwoyo wo n’abayigirizanga ng’ayita mu bannabbi bo, naye ne batassaayo mwoyo, kyewava obawaayo mu mukono gw’abamawanga agabaliraanye.

You were patient with them for many years. You warned them trough [the messages] your Spirit gave to the prophets. But they did not (heed/pay attention to) those messages. So again you allowed [the armies of] other nations to defeat them.

31 Naye olw’okusaasira kwo okungi, tewabaviirako ddala so tewabaleka, kubanga oli Katonda ow’ekisa era ajjudde okusaasira.

But because you act very mercifully, you did not get rid of them completely or abandon them [forever]. You are a very gracious/kind and merciful God!

32 “Kale nno, Ayi Katonda waffe, omukulu ow’ekitiibwa, Katonda ow’entiisa, akuuma endagaano ye ey’okwagala, toganya bizibu bino byonna kututuukako: ebizibu ebyatuuka ne ku bakabaka baffe, ne ku bakulembeze baffe, ne ku bakabona baffe, ne ku bannabbi baffe, ne ku bajjajjaffe, ne ku bantu bo bonna okuva mu biro ebya bakabaka b’e Bwasuli n’okutuusa leero.

“Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as [you promised in] your agreement with us that you would do! But now we are experiencing great difficulties/hardships. Great troubles have come to us, to our kings, to our [other] leaders, to our priests, and to our prophets. We have been experiencing these troubles since [the armies of] the kings of Assyria [conquered us], and we are still experiencing them. We ask that you sincerely think about [LIT] all these things.

33 Mu byonna ebitutuukako, wali wa bwenkanya, era omwesigwa naye ffe nga tukola bibi byereere.

[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.

34 Bakabaka baffe, n’abakulembeze baffe, ne bakabona baffe, ne bajjajjaffe, tebaagobereranga mateeka go, nga tebassaayo mwoyo ku biragiro byo newaakubadde nga wabalabulanga.

Our kings and other leaders and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave to them.

35 Ne bwe baali mu bwakabaka bwabwe, nga basanyuka nnyo, mu nsi engazi era enjimu, tebaakuweerezanga newaakubadde okukyuka okuleka amakubo gaabwe amabi.

Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you. They refused to quit doing what was evil.

36 “Laba, tuli baddu leero, abaddu mu nsi gye wawa bajjajjaffe okulya ebibala byamu n’ebirungi ebirala by’ereeta.

“So now we are [like] slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here.

37 Olw’ebibi byaffe, ebikungulwa eby’ensi eyo ebingi bitwalibwa bakabaka be wassaawo okutufuga. Batufuga n’ente zaffe nga bwe baagala, era tuli mu nnaku nnyingi nnyo.”

Because we have sinned, [we cannot eat the things that grow here]. The kings that now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and [take] our cattle. We have to serve them and do the things that please them. We are experiencing great misery/distress.

38 “Olw’ebyo byonna, tukola naawe endagaano ey’enkalakkalira, ne tugiteeka mu buwandiike; abakulembeze baffe, n’Abaleevi baffe, ne bakabona baffe ne bagissaako omukono n’envumbo zaabwe.”

“However, we [Israeli] people now are making an agreement/promise [to obey you], and we are writing this agreement/promise [on a scroll]. We will write on it the names of our leaders and the names of the Levites and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it.”