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,

These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of 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, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, 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.

And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

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 these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before 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 said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion 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.

let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.

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 behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave 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;

Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant 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 return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

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

They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.

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.

O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)