Nehemia 1
1 Mashoko aNehemia mwanakomana waHakaria: Mumwedzi waKisirevhi mugore ramakumi maviri, pandainge ndiri panhare yeSusa,
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 Hanani, mumwe wehama dzangu, akauya achibva kuJudha navamwe varume, ndikavabvunza pamusoro pavaJudha vakasara avo vakapunyuka pakutapwa, uyewo napamusoro peJerusarema.
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 Vakati kwandiri, “Avo vakapunyuka pakutapwa uye vakadzokera kudunhu vari mudambudziko guru napakunyadziswa. Rusvingo rweJerusarema rwakakoromorwa, uye masuo arwo akapiswa nomoto.”
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 Pandakanzwa zvinhu izvi, ndakagara pasi ndikachema. Ndakaita mazuva ndichichema, ndichinyengetera uye ndichitsanya pamberi paMwari wokudenga.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 Ipapo ndakati: “Haiwa Jehovha, Mwari wokudenga, Mwari mukuru uye anotyisa anochengeta sungano yake yorudo naavo vanomuda uye vanoteerera mirayiro yake,
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 nzeve yenyu ngaiteerere uye meso enyu asvinure kuti munzwe munyengetero womuranda wenyu wandinonyengetera pamberi penyu masikati nousiku nokuda kwavaranda venyu, vanhu veIsraeri.
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 Takaita zvakaipa kwazvo pamberi penyu. Hatina kuteerera zvamakarayira, mitemo yenyu nemirayiro yamakapa Mozisi muranda wenyu.
We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.
8 “Rangarirai zvamakarayira muranda wenyu Mozisi, muchiti, ‘Kana musina kutendeka, ndichakuparadzirai pakati pendudzi,
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 asi kana mukadzokera kwandiri uye mukateerera zvandakarayira, ipapo kunyange kana vakatapwa vavanhu venyu vari kumagumo edenga, ndichavaunganidza vabveko ndigovauyisa kunzvimbo yandakasarudza kuti ive ugaro hweZita rangu.’
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 “Varanda venyu nevanhu venyu, vamakadzikinura nesimba renyu guru uye noruoko rwenyu rune simba.
They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.
11 Haiwa Jehovha, nzeve yenyu ngainzwe munyengetero womuranda wenyu uyu nomunyengetero wavaranda venyu vanofarira kukudza zita renyu. Itai kuti muranda wenyu abudirire nhasi uye mumupe nyasha pamberi pomurume uyu.” Ndakanga ndiri mudiri wamambo.
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.)
