Nehemia 9
1 Pazuva ramakumi maviri namana romwedzi iwoyo, vaIsraeri vakaungana pamwe chete, vachizvinyima zvokudya vakapfeka masaga uye vaine guruva pamisoro yavo.
On October 31, the people gathered together again. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), they wore clothes made from rough cloth, and they put dirt on their heads [to show that they were sorry for their sins].
2 Avo vaiva zvizvarwa zvavaIsraeri vakazvitsaura kubva pakati pavatorwa vose. Vakamira panzvimbo dzavo vakareurura zvivi zvavo nezvitadzo zvavo.
The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.
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.
The scroll that contained the laws of Yahweh, the God whom they [worshiped], was read to them for three hours. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and they worshiped Yahweh.
4 VaRevhi vaiti Jeshua, Bhani, Kadhimieri, Shebhania, Bhuni, Sherebhia, Bhani naKenani, vakamira pakakwirira vakadanidzira nenzwi guru kuna Jehovha Mwari wavo.
[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.
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 leaders of] the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “While you are standing there, praise Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever!” [Then one of them continued by praying this to God], “Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! You are much greater than anything that we can think about or talk about!
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.
“You only are God. You made the sky and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas/oceans and everything that is in them. You are the one who gives life to everything and helps them remain alive. All the angels who are in heaven worship you.
7 “Ndimi Jehovha Mwari, makasarudza Abhurahama mukamubudisa kubva munyika yeUri yavaKaradhea mukamutumidza kuti Abhurahama.
“Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, 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 saw that he was trustworthy. Then you made (an agreement with/a promise to) him, saying that you would give [to him and] to his descendants the land that the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Amor, Periz, Jebus, and Girgash lived in. And you have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.
9 “Makaona kutambudzika kwamadzitateguru edu muIjipiti; mukanzwa kuchema kwavo paGungwa dzvuku.
“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were 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.
Because you knew that the leaders of Egypt were treating our ancestors very arrogantly, you performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king and his officials and all his people to suffer. As a result, you became famous then, and you are still famous!
11 Makapamura gungwa pamberi pavo, naizvozvo vakayambuka napasi pakaoma, asi makamedza vaivatevera kwakadzika, sedombo mumvura ine simba.
You caused the Red Sea to divide, with the result that your people walked through it on the ground without [getting their feet] wet. [After they were all safely on the other side, ] you [caused the water to come back again], and you hurled into the deep water the [soldiers of the Egyptian army] that were pursuing our ancestors. Their soldiers sank into the deep sea like stones!
12 Makavatungamirira neshongwe yegore masikati mukavatungamirira usiku neshongwe yomoto kuti vavhenekerwe munzira yavaizofamba nayo.
During each day you led our ancestors with a bright cloud that resembled a huge pillar, and each night you led them by a flaming cloud that gave them light to show them where to walk.
13 “Makaburuka paGomo reSinai, mukataura navo kubva kudenga. Makavapa mitemo nemirayiro yakarurama neyakanaka, uye mitemo nezvakarayirwa zvakanaka.
“When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.
14 Makavazivisa Sabata renyu dzvene mukavapa zvamakarayira, mitemo nemirayiro kubudikidza nomuranda wenyu Mozisi.
You taught them about your holy (Sabbath/day of rest), and you gave many kinds of laws to your servant Moses for him to tell to the people.
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 manna from the sky; and when they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You commanded them to go and take, from the people who lived there, the land which you had promised to give to them.
16 “Asi ivo madzitateguru edu, vakava namanyawi uye nemitsipa mikukutu, vakasateerera zvamakavarayira.
“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.
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 heed you, and they forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. Instead, they became stubborn [IDM], and they appointed someone to lead them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives us and who is kind and merciful [to us]. You do not quickly become angry. You always faithfully love us.
18 kunyange zvavo vakazviitira chifananidzo chemhuru vachiti, ‘Uyu ndiye mwari wenyu, akakubudisai kubva muIjipiti,’ kana pavakamhura zvinonyangadza kwazvo.
So, even though their [leaders] made an idol that resembled a calf and insulted you by saying [about the idol], ‘This is our god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ you did not desert them.
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.
“Because you always act mercifully, you did not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.
20 Makavapa Mweya wenyu wakanaka kuti uvarayire. Hamuna kuvanyima mana yenyu, uye panyota yavo makavapa mvura.
You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.
21 Makavararamisa kwamakore makumi mana mugwenga; havana chavakashayiwa, nguo dzavo hadzina kubvaruka uye makumbo avo haana kuzvimba.
For 40 years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they had everything [that they needed]. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up [even though they were continually walking].
22 “Makavapa ushe nendudzi, mukavapa nyika yose kusvika kumagumo ayo. Vakatora nyika yaSihoni mambo weHeshibhoni nenyika yaOgi mambo weBhashani.
“You helped our ancestors to defeat armies of great kings who ruled many people-groups. By doing that, you enabled our ancestors to (occupy/live in) even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon [city] and the land over which King Og ruled in [the] Bashan [area].
23 Makaita kuti vana vavo vawande senyeredzi dziri mudenga, mukavauyisa kunyika yamakaudza madzibaba avo kuti vapinde vaitore.
You caused our ancestors’ descendants to become as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into this land, the land that you told their fathers to enter and occupy.
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 sons went in and took the land [from the people that lived there]. You enabled them to defeat the descendants of Canaan who lived here in this land. You enabled them to conquer the descendants of Canaan and their kings and the people whom they ruled. You enabled our ancestors to do to those people whatever they wanted to do.
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.
Our ancestors captured cities that had walls around them, and they took possession of fertile land. They took possession of houses that were full of good things, where there were wells that were already dug. They took possession of many vineyards and groves of olive trees and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to and became fat. They were delighted in all these good things that you gave to them.
26 “Asi havana kuteerera uye vakakumukirai; vakafuratira murayiro wenyu. Vakauraya vaprofita venyu, vaivarayira kuti vadzokere kwamuri; vakamhura zvainyadza kwazvo.
“But they disobeyed you and rebelled against you. They (turned their backs on/rejected) your laws. They killed the prophets who warned them that they should return to you. They badly insulted you.
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 allowed their enemies to defeat them. But when their enemies caused them to suffer, they called out to you. You heard them from heaven, and because you are very merciful, you sent them people to help them, and those leaders rescued 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.
“But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did things that displeased you. So again you allowed their enemies to conquer them. But whenever they cried out to you again [to help them], you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them many times.
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 that they should again [obey] your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your commands. They sinned by disobeying what you commanded them to do, the things that would enable them to live a good long life [if they obeyed them]. They stubbornly refused [IDM] to listen to you and continued sinning.
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 trough [the messages] your Spirit gave to the prophets. But they did not (heed/pay attention to) those messages. So again you allowed [the armies of] other nations to defeat them.
31 Asi netsitsi dzenyu huru hamuna kuvaparadza kana kuvarasa, nokuti muri Mwari ane nyasha netsitsi.
But because you act very mercifully, you did not get rid of them completely or abandon them [forever]. You are a very gracious/kind 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.
“Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as [you promised in] your agreement with us that you would do! But now we are experiencing great difficulties/hardships. Great troubles have come to us, to our kings, to our [other] leaders, to our priests, and to our prophets. We have been experiencing these troubles since [the armies of] the kings of Assyria [conquered us], and we are still experiencing them. We ask that you sincerely think about [LIT] all these things.
33 Pane zvakaitika kwatiri, imi makanga makarurama; makanga makatendeka, asi isu takaita zvakaipa.
[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.
34 Madzimambo edu, vatungamiri vedu, vaprista vedu namadzibaba edu havana kutevera murayiro wenyu; havana kuita hanya nokurayira kwenyu kana yambiro dzamakavapa.
Our kings and other leaders and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave to them.
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.
Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you. They refused to quit doing what was evil.
36 “Asi tarirai, tava nhapwa nhasi, nhapwa munyika yamakapa madzitateguru edu kuti vadye zvibereko zvayo uye nezvimwe zvakanaka zvainobereka.
“So now we are [like] slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow 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.
Because we have sinned, [we cannot eat the things that grow here]. The kings that now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and [take] our cattle. We have to serve them and do the things that please them. We are experiencing great misery/distress.
38 “Nokuda kwezvose izvi, tiri kuita chitenderano chakasimba, tichichinyora, vatungamiri vedu, uye vaRevhi vedu navaprista vedu vachaisa chisimbiso chavo pachiri.”
“However, we [Israeli] people now are making an agreement/promise [to obey you], and we are writing this agreement/promise [on a scroll]. We will write on it the names of our leaders and the names of the Levites and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it.”
