Ezra 9
1 Baada ya mambo haya kutendeka, viongozi walinijia na kusema, “Watu wa Israeli, wakiwemo makuhani na Walawi, hawakujitenga na majirani zao katika kufanya machukizo, kama yale ya Wakanaani, Wahiti, Waperizi, Wayebusi, Waamoni, Wamoabu, Wamisri na Waamori.
And after these things were accomplished, the princes came to me, saying: The people of Israel, and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, and from their abominations, namely, of the Chanaanites, and the Hethites, and the Pherezites, and the Jebusites, and the Ammonites, and the Moabites, and the Egyptians, and the Amorrhites.
2 Wamewaoa baadhi ya binti zao kuwa wake zao na wake za wana wao, nao wamechanganya taifa takatifu na watu waliowazunguka. Nao viongozi na maafisa wamekuwa mstari wa mbele katika njia hii potovu.”
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands. And the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression.
3 Niliposikia jambo hili nilirarua koti langu na joho langu, nikazingʼoa nywele za kichwa changu na ndevu zangu na kuketi nikishangaa.
And when I had heard this word, I rent my mantle and my coat, and plucked off the hairs of my head and my beard, and I sat down mourning.
4 Kisha kila mmoja aliyetetemeshwa na maneno ya Mungu wa Israeli alikusanyika kunizunguka kwa sababu ya upotovu huu wa hao watu waliorudi kutoka utumwani. Nami niliketi pale nikishangaa mpaka wakati wa dhabihu ya jioni.
And there were assembled to me all that feared the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that were come from the captivity, and I sat sorrowful, until the evening sacrifice.
5 Ndipo wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni nikainuka kutoka kujidhili kwangu nikiwa na koti na joho langu lililoraruka, nikapiga magoti mikono yangu ikiwa imeinuliwa kwa Bwana Mungu wangu.
And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my affliction, and having rent my mantle and my garment, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord my God,
6 Nami nikaomba: “Ee Mungu wangu, natahayari na kuona aibu kukuinulia uso wangu Mungu wangu, kwa sababu dhambi zetu zimejikusanya hata kupita juu ya vichwa vyetu na hatia yetu imefika mbinguni.
And said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins are grown up even unto heaven,
7 Tokea siku za babu zetu mpaka sasa, hatia yetu imekuwa kubwa. Kwa sababu ya dhambi zetu, sisi na wafalme wetu na makuhani wetu tumekabiliwa na vita, utumwa, kutekwa na kudhiliwa katika mikono ya wafalme wa kigeni, kama ilivyo leo.
From the days of our fathers: and we ourselves also have sinned grievously unto this day, and for our iniquities we and our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the lands, and to the sword, and to captivity, and to spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is at this day.
8 “Lakini sasa, kwa muda mfupi, Bwana Mungu wetu amekuwa na neema kwa kutuachia mabaki na kutupa mahali imara katika mahali pake patakatifu, hivyo Mungu wetu atupa mwanga machoni petu na unafuu katika utumwa wetu.
And now as a little, and for a moment has our prayer been made before the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and give us a pin in his holy place, and that our God would enlighten our eyes, and would give us a little life in our bondage.
9 Ingawa tu watumwa, Mungu wetu hajatuacha katika kufungwa kwetu. Ametuonyesha huruma mbele ya wafalme wa Uajemi: Ametujalia maisha mapya kwa kujenga upya nyumba ya Mungu wetu na kukarabati magofu yake, naye ametupa ukuta wa ulinzi katika Yuda na Yerusalemu.
For we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God hath not forsaken us, but hath extended mercy upon us before the king of the Persians, to give us life, and to set up the house of our God, and rebuild the desolations thereof, and to give us a fence in Juda and Jerusalem.
10 “Lakini sasa, Ee Mungu wetu, tunaweza kusema nini baada ya hili? Kwa maana tumedharau maagizo
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
11 uliyoyatoa kupitia watumishi wako manabii uliposema: ‘Nchi mnayoiingia kuimiliki ni nchi iliyochafuliwa na uovu wa watu wake. Kwa matendo yao ya machukizo wameijaza nchi kwa unajisi wao kutoka mwisho mmoja hadi mwingine.
Which thou hast commanded by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying: The land which you go to possess, is an unclean land, according to the uncleanness of the people, and of other lands, with their abominations, who have filled it from mouth to mouth with their filth.
12 Kwa hiyo, msiwaoze binti zenu kwa wana wao wala binti zao kwa wana wenu. Msitafute mkataba wa urafiki nao kwa wakati wowote. Ndipo mtakapofanikiwa na kula mema ya nchi na kuwaachia watoto wenu nchi hiyo kama urithi wao wa milele.’
Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and take not their daughters for your sons, and seek not their peace, nor their prosperity forever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat the good things of the land, and may have your children your heirs for ever.
13 “Yale yaliyotupata ni matokeo ya matendo yetu mabaya, pia hatia yetu kubwa. Hata hivyo, wewe Mungu wetu, umetuadhibu kidogo kuliko dhambi zetu zilivyostahili na umetupa mabaki kama haya.
And after all that is come upon us, for our most wicked deeds, and our great sin, seeing that thou our God hast saved us from our iniquity, and hast given us a deliverance as at this day,
14 Je, tutavunja maagizo yako tena na kuoana na watu ambao hufanya mambo ya machukizo? Je, hutakuwa na hasira ya kutosha juu yetu na kutuangamiza, bila kutuachia mabaki wala atakayenusurika?
That we should not turn away, nor break thy commandments, nor join in marriage with the people of these abominations. Art thou angry with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to be saved?
15 Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, wewe ni mwenye haki! Leo hii tumeachwa kama mabaki. Tupo hapa mbele zako na hatia yetu, ingawa katika hali hii hakuna hata mmoja wetu anayeweza kusimama mbele zako.”
O Lord God of Israel, thou art just: for we remain yet to be saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there can be no standing before thee in this matter.
