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 castle,
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 brethren, came out of Judah, he and certain men; and I asked them concerning the Jews that 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 unto me: 'The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof 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 LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awful God, that keepeth covenant and mercy with them that 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 mayest hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel Thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children 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 didst command 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 didst command Thy servant Moses, saying: If ye deal treacherously, 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 unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersed were in the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto 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 hast 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 prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.' Now I was cupbearer to the king.
