UNehemiya 1

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

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

That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, who 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 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 its gates 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 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 LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe 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 thy ear now be attentive, and thy eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both 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 judgments, which thou didst command 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 didst command thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

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 turn to me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you driven to the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

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

Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast 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 thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.