Nehemia 1

1 Ny tantaran’ i Nehemia, zanak’ i Hakalia. Tamin’ ny volana Kisleo tamin’ ny taona faharoa-polo, raha tany an-dapa any Sosana aho,

This is the account of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was in the fortress at Susa.

2 dia tonga Hanany, anankiray amin’ ny rahalahiko, mbamin’ ny lehilahy sasany avy tany Joda; ary nanontaniako azy ny amin’ ny Jiosy efa afaka, izay sisa tamin’ ny fahababoana, ary ny amin’ i Jerosalema.

Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men. I asked them about the remnant of the Jewish exiles who had returned from captivity, and also about Jerusalem.

3 Ka hoy no navaliny ahy: Ny sisa tamin’ ny fahababoana izay any amin’ ny tany any dia mitondra fahoriana be sy latsa; ary voarodana ny mandan’ i Jerosalema sady nodoran’ ny afo ny vavahadiny.

They told me, “The remnant who are left from the exile are there in the province, but they are having a great deal of trouble and feel humiliated. Jerusalem's walls have been knocked over, and its gates burned down.”

4 Ary rehefa nandre izany teny izany aho, dia nipetraka nitomany sady niferinaina andro maro ary nifady hanina sy nivavaka teo anatrehan’ Andriamanitry ny lanitra

When I heard the news, I sat down, weeping and mourning for days, fasting and praying to the God of heaven.

5 ka nanao hoe: Indrisy! ry Jehovah, Andriamanitry ny lanitra, Andriamanitra lehibe sy mahatahotra, Izay mitandrina fanekena sy famindram-po amin’ izay tia Azy sy mitandrina ny didiny,

Then I prayed, “Please, Lord God of heaven—the great and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love with those who love him and keep his commandments—

6 aoka hihaino ny sofinao ary hihiratra ny masonao, mba hohenoinao ny vavaky ny mpanomponao, izay ataoko eto anatrehanao ankehitriny andro aman’ alina ho an’ ny Zanak’ Isiraely mpanomponao sy izay anekeko ny fahotan’ ny Zanak’ Isiraely, izay efa nanotanay taminao; fa izaho sy ny mpianakavin-draiko dia samy efa nanota avokoa.

please listen and focus your attention on the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you now, day and night, on behalf of your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you, including my own sins and those of my family.

7 Efa nanao izay ratsy indrindra taminao izahay ka tsy nitandrina ny didy, na ny lalàna, na ny fitsipika, izay nandidianao an’ i Mosesy mpanomponao.

We have done terrible things to offend you and we have not kept the commandments, laws, and regulations that you gave to your servant Moses.

8 Hotsarovanao anie ilay teny nandidianao an’ i Mosesy mpanomponao hoe: Raha manao izay mahadiso ianareo, dia hampiely anareo any amin’ ny firenena maro Aho;

Please remember what you told Moses when you said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9 nefa raha miverina amiko kosa ianareo ka mitandrina ny didiko sy mankatò azy, na dia hisy voaroaka hatrany am-paravodilanitra aza ianareo, dia avy any no hanangonako azy, ka ho entiko ho ao amin’ ny fitoerana izay nofidiko hampitoerako ny anarako izy.

but if you come back to me and follow my commandments and obey them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will gather them together and bring them to the place I have chosen where I will be honored.

10 Ary ireo dia mpanomponao sy olonao, izay navotanao tamin’ ny herinao lehibe sy ny tananao mahery.

They are your servants and our people. You saved them by your great power and incredible ability.

11 Koa mitaraina aminao aho, ry Jehovah ô, mihainoa ny fivavaky ny mpanomponao sy ny fivavaky ny mpanomponao rehetra izay faly amin’ ny fahatahorana ny anaranao; ary hambinina anie ny mpanomponao anio, ary aoka hahazo famindram-po eo imason’ io lehilahy io aho. Fa mpitondra kapoaky ny mpanjaka aho.

Lord, please respond to my prayer and to the prayers of those who love to worship you. Please let me be successful today and make the king sympathetic to me.” I was the king's cupbearer.