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 Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan 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.
That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which 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 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 plead to you, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keeps covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe 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 hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you: both 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 judgments, which you commandedst your servant Moses.
8 “Jjukira ebiragiro bye wawa omuddu wo Musa, ng’oyogera nti, ‘Bwe mutaabeerenga beesigwa, ndibasaasaanya mu mawanga,
Remember, I plead to you, the word that you commandedst your servant Moses, saying, If all of you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
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 all of you turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto 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 set my name 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.
O LORD, I plead to you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
