UNehemiya 1

1 La ngamazwi kaNehemiya indodana kaHakhaliya: Kwathi ngenyanga kaKhisilevi ngomnyaka wamatshumi amabili, ngisenqabeni yaseSusa,

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 palace,

2 uHanani, omunye wabafowethu, wafika evela koJuda elamanye amadoda, ngababuza ngamaJuda lawo ayeyinsalela asinda ebugqilini, njalo ngabuza ngeJerusalema.

that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

3 Bathi kimi, “Labo abasindayo ebugqilini ababuyelayo elizweni baphakathi kohlupho olumangalisayo lokuyangeka okukhulu. Umduli weJerusalema wadilika lamasango ayo atshiswa ngomlilo.”

And they said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. Also the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates of it are burned with fire.

4 Ngathi sengizwile lezizinto ngahlala phansi ngakhala. Okwensuku ezithile ngalila, ngazila ukudla njalo ngikhuleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu wasezulwini.

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 Ngasengisithi: “Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wasezulwini, uNkulunkulu omkhulu owesabekayo, ogcina isivumelwano sakhe sothando lalabo abamthandayo, abalalela imilayo yakhe,

and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:

6 ake kuthi indlebe yakho ilalele lamehlo akho avuleke ukuze uzwe umkhuleko okhulekwa yinceku yakho kuwe imini lobusuku, ikhulekela izinceku zakho, abantu bako-Israyeli. Ngiyazivuma izono ezenziwe kuwe yithi ama-Israyeli, kugoqela mina lendlu kababa.

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou may hearken to the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the sons of Israel thy servants while I confess the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned.

7 Senzile ububi kuwe. Kasilalelanga imilayo yakho, izimemezelo lemithetho owayinika inceku yakho uMosi.”

We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commanded thy servant Moses.

8 Khumbula umlayo owalaya ngawo inceku yakho uMosi wathi, “Aluba lingathembekanga ngizalichithachitha phakathi kwezizwe,

Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commanded thy servant Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples,

9 kodwa nxa libuya kimi lilalele imilayo yami, lapho-ke loba abathunjiweyo bakini besemkhawulweni womhlaba, ngizabaqoqa besuka khonale ngibabuyise endaweni engiyikhethileyo ukuba likhaya leBizo lami.

but if ye return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the outermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.

10 Bazinceku zakho labantu bakho owabahlengayo ngamandla akho amakhulu lesandla sakho esilamandla.

Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou have redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

11 Oh Thixo, akuthi indlebe yakho ilalele umkhuleko wale inceku yakho, lomkhuleko wezinceku zakho ezithokoza ekwesabeni ibizo lakho. Phumelelisa inceku yakho lamuhla ngokuyipha isihawu phambi kwendoda le.” Ngangingumphathi wezitsha zokudla kwenkosi.

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, I pray thee, prosper thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.