Nehemia 1
1 Mashoko aNehemia mwanakomana waHakaria: Mumwedzi waKisirevhi mugore ramakumi maviri, pandainge ndiri panhare yeSusa,
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: Now it happened in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the fortress of Susa,
2 Hanani, mumwe wehama dzangu, akauya achibva kuJudha navamwe varume, ndikavabvunza pamusoro pavaJudha vakasara avo vakapunyuka pakutapwa, uyewo napamusoro peJerusarema.
that one of my brothers, Hanani, came with some people from Judah, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, the remnant of the Jews who were there, and about Jerusalem.
3 Vakati kwandiri, “Avo vakapunyuka pakutapwa uye vakadzokera kudunhu vari mudambudziko guru napakunyadziswa. Rusvingo rweJerusarema rwakakoromorwa, uye masuo arwo akapiswa nomoto.”
They said to me, “Those in the province who survived the captivity are in great trouble and disgrace because the wall of Jerusalem has been broken open, and its gates have been set on fire.”
4 Pandakanzwa zvinhu izvi, ndakagara pasi ndikachema. Ndakaita mazuva ndichichema, ndichinyengetera uye ndichitsanya pamberi paMwari wokudenga.
As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and for days I continued grieving and 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, “You are Yahweh, God of heaven, the God who is great and awesome, who keeps the covenant and steadfast love 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.
Listen to my prayer and open your eyes, so you may hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants. I am confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned 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 acted very wickedly against you, and we have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules you commanded your servant Moses.
8 “Rangarirai zvamakarayira muranda wenyu Mozisi, muchiti, ‘Kana musina kutendeka, ndichakuparadzirai pakati pendudzi,
Please call to mind the word you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you act unfaithfully, 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 follow my commandments and do them, though your people were scattered under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to that place where I have chosen to make my name remain.'
10 “Varanda venyu nevanhu venyu, vamakadzikinura nesimba renyu guru uye noruoko rwenyu rune simba.
Now they are your servants and your people, whom you have rescued by your great power and by your strong 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.
Yahweh, I beg you, listen now to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to honor your name. Now give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” I served as cupbearer to the king.
