Nahimiyaa 1
1 Dubbii Nahimiyaa ilma Hakaaliyaa: Waggaa digdammaffaatti jiʼa Kaaseluu jedhamu keessa utuu ani gamoo Suusaa keessa jiruu,
[I am] Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. [I am writing] this account [of what I did when I returned to Jerusalem. After King Artaxerxes had been ruling the Persian Empire] for almost 20 years, near the end of that year, I was in Susa, the capital [of Persia].
2 obboloota koo keessaa Hanaaniin namoota biraa wajjin Yihuudaadhaa dhufe; anis waaʼee hambaa Yihuudoota boojuu jalaa baʼanii fi waaʼee Yerusaalem isaan nan gaafadhe.
My brother Hanani came to visit me. He and some other men had just returned from Judah. I queried them about the Jews who were living there, whose [parents] had been (exiled/taken forcefully) [to Babylonia many years previously]. I also asked them about [what was happening in] Jerusalem.
3 Isaanis akkana naan jedhan; “Warri boojuudhaa deebiʼanii kutaa biyyaa kana keessa jiraatan rakkinaa fi salphina guddaa keessa jiru. Dallaan Yerusaalem diigamee karraawwan ishees ibiddaan gubamaniiru.”
They said to me, “The Jews in Jerusalem who returned there from Babylonia are living in a very difficult situation. The walls of the city have been broken down, and even the city gates have been burned down.”
4 Anis waan kana dhageenyaan gad taaʼee booʼee guyyoota muraasaaf nan gadde; soomees fuula Waaqa samii durattin kadhadhe.
When I heard that, I sat down and cried. For several days I mourned, and I (fasted/abstained from eating food), and I prayed to our God, [who is/rules] in heaven.
5 Akkanas nan jedhe: “Yaa Waaqayyo Waaqa samii, Waaqa guddichaa fi sodaachisaa, kan warra si jaallatanii ajaja kee eeganiif kakuu jaalala keetii eegdu,
I said, “Yahweh, [you who are/rule] in heaven, you are a wonderful and awesome God. You keep your promise to faithfully love those who love you and who obey your commands.
6 akka kadhannaa ani garbichi kee halkanii fi guyyaa fuula kee duratti waaʼee garboota kee saba Israaʼel kadhadhu dhageessuuf gurri kee haa banamu; iji kees haa ilaalu. Ani cubbuu nu Israaʼeloonni, ani mataan koo fi manni abbaa koo sitti hojjenne nan hima.
Now please look down and listen to what I am praying. I pray during the day and at night for your Israeli people. I confess that we Israeli people have sinned. Even my family and I have sinned against you.
7 Nu akka malee hammina sitti hojjenneerra. Nu ajaja, labsii fi seera ati garbicha kee Museetti kennite sana hin eegne.
We have acted very wickedly. [Many years ago] your servant Moses gave us your laws and all the things you commanded us to do [DOU], but we have not obeyed/done them.
8 “Qajeelfama garbicha kee Museetti kennite sana yaadadhu; innis akkana jedha; ‘Yoo isin amanamuu baattan ani saboota keessa isin nan bittinneessa;
“But please remember what you told your servant Moses. You said, ‘If you sin, I will scatter you among the ([heathen nations/nations that do not believe in me]).
9 garuu yoo isin gara kootti deebitanii ajaja koo eegdan, yoo namoonni keessan kanneen boojiʼaman daarii lafaa jiraatan illee ani achii walitti isaanin qabee gara iddoo ani akka Maqaan koo achi jiraatuuf filadhe sanaatti isaan nan fida.’
But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you have been exiled to very remote/distant places on the earth, I will bring you back here [to Israel], the land that I [MTY] have chosen to be honored in.’
10 “Isaan garboota kee fi saba kee warra ati humna kee guddaa fi harka kee jabaa sanaan furtee dha.
“We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
11 Yaa Gooftaa, gurri kee kadhannaa garbicha kee kanaa fi kadhannaa garboota kee warra maqaa kee sodaachuutti gammadanii sirriitti haa dhagaʼu. Fuula namicha kanaa duratti surraa isaaf kennuudhaan harʼa garbicha kee milkeessi.” Ani nama mootichaaf daadhii buusun ture.
Yahweh, please hear this prayer of mine, and the prayers of all your people who are delighted to revere you [MTY]. Today I will go to the king, to request that he do me a great favor. Please motivate him to act kindly toward me, in order that I will be successful [in obtaining what I want].” At that time, I was the one whose work was to taste all the food and drink before it was served to the king, [to be sure that no one had put poison in it].
