Nehemia 9
1 Pazuva ramakumi maviri namana romwedzi iwoyo, vaIsraeri vakaungana pamwe chete, vachizvinyima zvokudya vakapfeka masaga uye vaine guruva pamisoro yavo.
On the twenty-fourth day of this same month, the Israelites met together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.
2 Avo vaiva zvizvarwa zvavaIsraeri vakazvitsaura kubva pakati pavatorwa vose. Vakamira panzvimbo dzavo vakareurura zvivi zvavo nezvitadzo zvavo.
Those of Israelite ancestry separated themselves from the foreigners, and stood to confess their sins and those of their forefathers.
3 Vakamira pavakanga vari ndokuverenga kubva muBhuku roMurayiro waJehovha Mwari wavo kwechikamu chimwe chete muzvina chezuva, ndokupedzazve chimwe chikamu chimwe chete muzvina chezuva, vachireurura uye vachinamata Jehovha Mwari wavo.
They spent three hours standing there reading the Book of the Law of the Lord their God, and another three hours confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord their God.
4 VaRevhi vaiti Jeshua, Bhani, Kadhimieri, Shebhania, Bhuni, Sherebhia, Bhani naKenani, vakamira pakakwirira vakadanidzira nenzwi guru kuna Jehovha Mwari wavo.
The Levites stood on the stage and called out loudly to the Lord their God. (Their names were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani.)
5 Ipapo vaRevhi vaiti: Jeshua, Kadhimieri, Bhani, Hashabhineya, Sherebhia, Hodhia, Shebhania naPetahia vakati, “Simukai murumbidze Jehovha Mwari wenyu, anogara nokusingaperi-peri.” “Zita renyu rinobwinya ngariropafadzwe pamusoro pamakomborero nerumbidzo dzose.
Then the Levites announced: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God who lives eternally: ‘May who you are and your glory be blessed, and may you be lifted up above all blessing and praise.’” (The names of the Levites were Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah.)
6 Imi moga ndimi Jehovha. Makaita moga matenga, kunyange nokudenga denga, uye nenyeredzi zhinji dzose, nyika nezvose zviri pamusoro payo, makungwa nezvose zviri maari. Munopa upenyu kuzvinhu zvose, uye zvose zviri kudenga zvinokunamatai.
They prayed, “Only you are the Lord. It was you who made the sky, the heavens with all their stars, the land and everything on it, the seas and everything in them. You give life to all of them, and all the heavenly beings worship you.
7 “Ndimi Jehovha Mwari, makasarudza Abhurahama mukamubudisa kubva munyika yeUri yavaKaradhea mukamutumidza kuti Abhurahama.
You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram, who led him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.
8 Makawana mwoyo wake wakatendeka kwamuri, uye makaita sungano naye kuti mupe kuzvizvarwa zvake nyika yavaKenani, vaHiti, vaAmori, vaPerezi, vaJebhusi navaGirigashi. Makachengeta vimbiso yenyu nokuti makarurama.
You knew he would be faithful to you, and made an agreement with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You kept your promise, because you do what is right.
9 “Makaona kutambudzika kwamadzitateguru edu muIjipiti; mukanzwa kuchema kwavo paGungwa dzvuku.
You saw how much our forefathers were suffering in Egypt. You heard their cries for help at the Red Sea.
10 Makatuma zviratidzo nezvishamiso kuna Faro, navabati vake uye navanhu vose venyika yake, nokuti maiziva kuti vaIjipita vaizvikudza sei pamabatiro avakavaita. Makaitira zita renyu mukurumbira uripo nanhasi.
You performed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all his people of his land, for you recognized how arrogantly they treated our forefathers. You created a wonderful reputation for yourself that people still recognize to this day.
11 Makapamura gungwa pamberi pavo, naizvozvo vakayambuka napasi pakaoma, asi makamedza vaivatevera kwakadzika, sedombo mumvura ine simba.
You split the sea apart in front of them so that they could walk through it on dry ground. But you threw their pursuers into the depths of the sea, like stones thrown into raging waters.
12 Makavatungamirira neshongwe yegore masikati mukavatungamirira usiku neshongwe yomoto kuti vavhenekerwe munzira yavaizofamba nayo.
You led them with a column of cloud during the day, and a column of fire at night, showing them the way which they should go.
13 “Makaburuka paGomo reSinai, mukataura navo kubva kudenga. Makavapa mitemo nemirayiro yakarurama neyakanaka, uye mitemo nezvakarayirwa zvakanaka.
You descended on Mount Sinai. You spoke to them from heaven. You gave them right ways to live, true laws, and good regulations and commandments.
14 Makavazivisa Sabata renyu dzvene mukavapa zvamakarayira, mitemo nemirayiro kubudikidza nomuranda wenyu Mozisi.
You explained your holy Sabbath to them. You gave them commandments and regulations and laws through your servant Moses.
15 Vari pakati penzara makavapa chingwa chaibva kudenga, uye pavakanzwa nyota makavapa mvura yakabva padombo; makavaudza kuti vapinde kundotora nyika yamakanga mapika noruoko rwakasimudzwa kuti muvape.
When they were hungry you gave them bread from heaven, and when they were thirsty you brought water out of the rock for them. You told them to go and take ownership of the land which you had sworn to give them.
16 “Asi ivo madzitateguru edu, vakava namanyawi uye nemitsipa mikukutu, vakasateerera zvamakavarayira.
But they and our forefathers acted arrogantly and became stubborn, and didn't pay attention to your commands.
17 Vakaramba kuteerera uye vakasarangarira zvishamiso zvamakaita pakati pavo. Vakava nemitsipa mikukutu uye pakumukira kwavo vakagadza mutungamiri kuti vadzokere kuutapwa hwavo. Asi imi muri Mwari anokanganwira, ane nyasha nengoni, anononoka kutsamwa uye azere norudo. Naizvozvo hamuna kuvasiya,
They refused to listen to you, and forgot about all the miracles you did for them. They became obstinate and decided to choose themselves a leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and merciful, slow to get angry, and full of trustworthy love. You did not give up on them,
18 kunyange zvavo vakazviitira chifananidzo chemhuru vachiti, ‘Uyu ndiye mwari wenyu, akakubudisai kubva muIjipiti,’ kana pavakamhura zvinonyangadza kwazvo.
even when they made themselves a metal calf and said, ‘This is your god who led you out of Egypt,’ and committed terrible blasphemies.
19 “Nokuda kwengoni dzenyu huru hamuna kuvasiya mugwenga. Shongwe yegore haina kurega kuvatungamirira masikati panzira yavo, shongwe yomoto haina kurega kuvavhenekera usiku panzira yavaifanira kufamba nayo.
But you because you are so merciful didn't abandon them in the desert. The column of cloud didn't stop guiding them during the day, and the column of fire continued to light their way at night.
20 Makavapa Mweya wenyu wakanaka kuti uvarayire. Hamuna kuvanyima mana yenyu, uye panyota yavo makavapa mvura.
You gave your good Spirit to teach them. You did not stop feeding them with your manna, and you gave them water when they were thirsty.
21 Makavararamisa kwamakore makumi mana mugwenga; havana chavakashayiwa, nguo dzavo hadzina kubvaruka uye makumbo avo haana kuzvimba.
You took care of them for forty years in the desert. Their clothes didn't wear out, they didn't want for anything. Their feet didn't even swell up!
22 “Makavapa ushe nendudzi, mukavapa nyika yose kusvika kumagumo ayo. Vakatora nyika yaSihoni mambo weHeshibhoni nenyika yaOgi mambo weBhashani.
You gave them kingdoms and nations; you assigned their borders. They took control of the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon, and of Og, king of Bashan.
23 Makaita kuti vana vavo vawande senyeredzi dziri mudenga, mukavauyisa kunyika yamakaudza madzibaba avo kuti vapinde vaitore.
You made their descendants as countless as the stars of heaven, and led them to the land you had promised their fathers they would enter and possess.
24 Vanakomana vavo vakapinda vakatora nyika. Makakunda vaKenani pamberi pavo, vaigara munyika iyo; makapa vaKenani kwavari, pamwe chete namadzimambo avo uye navanhu vomunyika, kuti vaite zvavanoda navo.
Their descendants went in and took over the land. Right in front of them you conquered the Canaanites who lived there, handing over their kings and people so they could do with them whatever they wanted.
25 Vakapamba maguta akakombwa nenyika ine ivhu rakanaka, vakatora dzimba dzakanga dzakazara nemhando dzose dzezvinhu zvakanaka, matsime akacherwa kare, minda yemizambiringa, minda yemiorivhi nemiti yemichero yakawanda. Vakadya vakaguta vakava vakagwinya kwazvo; vakafara muukuru hwokunaka kwenyu.
They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of valuable things, water cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, and many fruit trees. They ate until they were full, and grew fat. They were so happy at how good you were to them.
26 “Asi havana kuteerera uye vakakumukirai; vakafuratira murayiro wenyu. Vakauraya vaprofita venyu, vaivarayira kuti vadzokere kwamuri; vakamhura zvainyadza kwazvo.
But they completely rebelled against you. They tossed your Law over their shoulders. They killed your prophets who warned them to try and bring them back to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.
27 Naizvozvo makavaisa kuvavengi vavo, avo vakavadzvinyirira. Asi pavakanga vava kudzvinyirirwa vakachema kwamuri. Makavanzwa muri kudenga, uye nengoni dzenyu huru makavapa vadzikinuri, vakavarwira kubva mumaoko avavengi vavo.
So you handed them over to their enemies who treated them badly. In their suffering they cried out to you for help. But you heard their cries from heaven, and because you're so merciful you sent them leaders to save them from their enemies.
28 “Asi pavakangowana zororo, vakaitazve zvakaipa pamberi penyu. Ipapo makavasiya mumaoko avavengi vavo kuti vavatonge. Zvino vakati vachemazve kwamuri, makavanzwa muri kudenga, nengoni dzenyu mukavarwira nguva nenguva.
However, as soon as they had peace, they went back to doing evil in your sight. So once more you handed them over to their enemies, who dominated them. They came back to you, and they cried out to you again. But you heard from heaven once more, and you saved them time and again because you are so merciful.
29 “Makavayambira kuti vadzokere kumurayiro wenyu, asi ivo vakazvikudza vakasateerera kurayira kwenyu. Vakatadza pane zvemirayiro, izvo zvinoraramisa munhu kana akazviteerera. Nokusindimara kwavo vakakufuratirai, vakaomesa mitsipa yavo uye vakaramba kuteerera.
You warned them to come back to your Law, but they were arrogant. They ignored your commands, and sinned against your rules, which, as you previously said, ‘If people obey they will live by them.’ They obstinately turned their backs on you and refused to listen.
30 Makava nomwoyo murefu navo kwamakore mazhinji. Makavayambira noMweya wenyu kubudikidza navaprofita venyu. Kunyange zvakadaro havana kuita hanya, saka makavapa kuvanhu vavakavakidzana navo.
You were patient with them for many years. You warned them by your Spirit through your prophets, but they didn't listen, so you handed them over to the other nations.
31 Asi netsitsi dzenyu huru hamuna kuvaparadza kana kuvarasa, nokuti muri Mwari ane nyasha netsitsi.
But because of your wonderful mercy you did not finish with them, and you did not abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 “Naizvozvo zvino, imi Mwari wedu, mukuru, ane simba, uye Mwari anotyisa, anochengeta sungano yake yorudo, matambudziko aya ose ngaarege kuva madiki pamberi penyu, matambudziko akauya pamusoro pedu, napamusoro pamadzimambo edu navatungamiri, napamusoro pavaprista vedu navaprofita, pamusoro pamadzibaba edu navanhu vose, kubva pamazuva amadzimambo avaAsiria kusvikira nhasi.
So now, our God, the great and powerful and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love, please don't see as unimportant all the hardships that have happened to us, and to our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our forefather and all your people, from the time of the Assyrian kings of Assyria up till now.
33 Pane zvakaitika kwatiri, imi makanga makarurama; makanga makatendeka, asi isu takaita zvakaipa.
But you have done what is right regarding everything that has happened to us. You have always acted faithfully, while we have done so much evil.
34 Madzimambo edu, vatungamiri vedu, vaprista vedu namadzibaba edu havana kutevera murayiro wenyu; havana kuita hanya nokurayira kwenyu kana yambiro dzamakavapa.
Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our forefathers did not follow your Law, and they ignored your commands and regulations you ordered them to keep.
35 Kunyange pavakanga vachibata ushe hwavo, vachifarira kunaka kwenyu kukuru kwavari munyika yamakavapa, munyika yakakura uye ine ivhu rakanaka, havana kukushumirai kana kusiya nzira dzavo dzakaipa.
But they, even during the time they had their own kingdom, with so many blessings you had given them in the wide and fertile land you had provided for them, even then they refused to serve you and would not turn from their evil ways.
36 “Asi tarirai, tava nhapwa nhasi, nhapwa munyika yamakapa madzitateguru edu kuti vadye zvibereko zvayo uye nezvimwe zvakanaka zvainobereka.
Look at us now, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers to enjoy its fruit and all its good things. Look at us slaves here!
37 Nokuda kwezvivi zvedu zvibereko zvayo zvizhinji zvava kuenda kumadzimambo amakaisa pamusoro pedu. Vane simba pamusoro pemiviri yedu uye vanoita zvavanoda nemombe dzedu. Tiri pakutambudzika kukuru.
The rich harvests of this land go to the kings you have placed over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our cattle, doing whatever they want. We are suffering so much!”
38 “Nokuda kwezvose izvi, tiri kuita chitenderano chakasimba, tichichinyora, vatungamiri vedu, uye vaRevhi vedu navaprista vedu vachaisa chisimbiso chavo pachiri.”
In response the people declared, “Considering all this, we are making a solemn agreement, putting it in writing. It is sealed by our leaders, Levites, and priests.”
