Nehemia 13
1 Siku hiyo, Kitabu cha Mose kilisomwa kwa sauti kuu, na watu wote wakasikia. Humo ilionekana imeandikwa kwamba hakuna Mwamoni wala Mmoabu atakayeruhusiwa katika kusanyiko la watu wa Mungu,
On that day, a portion, was read in the book of Moses, in the ears of the people, —and it was found written therein, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not enter into the convocation of God, unto times age-abiding;
2 kwa sababu hawakuwalaki Waisraeli kwa chakula na maji. Badala yake walimwajiri Balaamu kuwalaani (lakini hata hivyo Mungu wetu aligeuza laana kuwa baraka).
because they met not the sons of Israel, with bread and with water, —but hired against them Balaam, to curse them, although our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 Watu waliposikia sheria hii, waliwatenga watu wote wasio Waisraeli waliokuwa wa uzao wa kigeni.
So it came to pass, when they had heard the law, —that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
4 Kabla ya hili, kuhani Eliashibu alikuwa amewekwa kuwa msimamizi wa vyumba vya ghala ya nyumba ya Mungu wetu. Alikuwa na uhusiano wa karibu na Tobia,
Now, before this, Eliashib the priest, who was set over a chamber of the house of God, was allied unto Tobiah;
5 naye alikuwa amempa Tobia chumba kikubwa ambacho mwanzo kilikuwa kikitumika kuweka sadaka za nafaka, uvumba na vyombo vya Hekalu, pamoja na zaka za nafaka, divai mpya na mafuta waliyoagizwa Waisraeli kwa ajili ya Walawi, waimbaji na mabawabu wa lango, pamoja na matoleo kwa makuhani.
so he prepared him a large chamber, where aforetime they used to lay the meal-offering, the frankincense, and the utensils, and the tithe of the corn, the new wine and the oil, in charge of the Levites, and the singers, and the doorkeepers, —and the heave-offerings for the priests.
6 Lakini wakati haya yote yalipokuwa yakitendeka, sikuwa Yerusalemu, kwa kuwa katika mwaka wa thelathini na mbili wa utawala wa Artashasta mfalme wa Babeli nilikuwa nimerudi kwa mfalme. Baadaye nilimwomba ruhusa,
But, throughout all this [time], was I not in Jerusalem, —for, in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I came unto the king, and, at the end of certain days, obtained I leave of the king;
7 nikarudi Yerusalemu. Hapo niligundua jambo la uovu alilofanya Eliashibu kwa kumpa Tobia chumba katika nyua za nyumba ya Mungu.
and came to Jerusalem, —and had intelligence of the wickedness which Eliashib had committed for Tobiah, in preparing for him a chamber, in the courts of the house of God;
8 Nilikasirika sana na nikavitupa nje vyombo vyote vya Tobia.
and it grieved me exceedingly, —and I cast forth all the household utensils of Tobiah, outside of the chamber.
9 Nilitoa amri kutakasa vyumba, kisha nikavirudisha vifaa vya nyumba ya Mungu, pamoja na sadaka za nafaka na uvumba.
Then commanded I, and they purified the chambers, —and I put back there, the utensils of the house of God, the meal-offering and the frankincense.
10 Pia niligundua kuwa mafungu yaliyopangwa kupewa Walawi hawakuwa wamepewa, nao Walawi wote na waimbaji waliowajibika kwa huduma walikuwa wamerudi katika mashamba yao.
Then came I to know, that, the portions of the Levites, had not been given [them], —so that the Levites and the singers, who had been doing the work, had fled every one to his field.
11 Basi niliwakemea maafisa na kuwauliza, “Kwa nini nyumba ya Mungu imepuuzwa?” Kisha niliwaita pamoja na kuwaweka kwenye nafasi zao.
Therefore contended I with the deputies, and said, Wherefore is the house of God, forsaken? So I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12 Yuda wote walileta zaka za nafaka, divai mpya na mafuta kwenye ghala.
Then, all Judah, brought in the tithe of corn, and new wine, and oil, unto the treasuries;
13 Nikamweka kuhani Shelemia, mwandishi Sadoki, na Mlawi aliyeitwa Pedaya kuwa wasimamizi wa ghala, na kumfanya Hanani mwana wa Zakuri, mwana wa Matania kuwa msaidizi wao, kwa sababu watu hawa walionekana kuwa waaminifu. Walipewa wajibu wa kugawa mahitaji kwa ndugu zao.
and I made treasurers over the treasuries—Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from among the Levites, and, next unto them, Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, —for faithful were they accounted, and it was [laid] upon them to distribute unto their brethren.
14 Ee Mungu wangu, unikumbuke kwa hili, wala usifute kile nilichokifanya kwa uaminifu kwa ajili ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu na kwa ajili ya huduma yake.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, —and do not wipe out my lovingkindnesses, which I have done for the house of my God, and for those keeping charge thereof.
15 Siku hizo nikaona watu katika Yuda wakikanyaga mashinikizo ya divai siku ya Sabato na kuleta nafaka wakiwapakiza punda, pamoja na divai, zabibu, tini na aina nyingine za mizigo. Nao walikuwa wakileta haya yote Yerusalemu siku ya Sabato. Kwa hiyo niliwaonya dhidi ya kuuza vyakula siku hiyo.
In those days, saw I in Judah—some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and lading asses, moreover also wine, grapes, and figs, and every kind of burden, which they were bringing into Jerusalem on the sabbath day, —so I protested against it, as a day for them to sell provisions.
16 Watu kutoka Tiro waliokuwa wakiishi Yerusalemu walileta samaki na aina nyingi za bidhaa na kuziuza Yerusalemu siku ya Sabato kwa watu wa Yuda.
And, men of Tyre, dwelt therein, who were bringing in fish—and every kind of ware for sale, —and were selling, on the sabbath, to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem;
17 Niliwakemea wakuu wa Yuda na kuwaambia, “Ni uovu gani huu mnaofanya wa kuinajisi siku ya Sabato?
so I contended with the nobles of Judah, —and said unto them, What is this wicked thing which, ye, are doing, and profaning the sabbath day?
18 Je, baba zenu hawakufanya mambo kama haya, hata wakamsababisha Mungu wetu kuleta maafa haya yote juu yetu na juu ya mji huu? Sasa bado mnazidi kuchochea ghadhabu yake dhidi ya Israeli kwa kuinajisi Sabato.”
Was it not, thus, your fathers did, and our God brought upon us all this calamity, and upon this city?—and, ye, would add indignation against Israel, by profaning the sabbath!
19 Wakati vivuli vya jioni vilipoangukia juu ya malango ya Yerusalemu kabla ya Sabato, niliamuru milango ifungwe, wala isifunguliwe mpaka Sabato iishe. Nikawaweka baadhi ya watu wangu mwenyewe kwenye malango ili pasiwepo mzigo utakaoingizwa ndani siku ya Sabato.
And it came to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem made a shadow before the sabbath, then gave I word, and they shut the doors, and I gave word, that they should not open them, until after the sabbath, —and, some of my young men, set I near the gates, so that no burden should be brought in, on the sabbath day.
20 Mara moja au mbili wachuuzi na wauzaji wa bidhaa za aina zote walilala usiku nje ya mji wa Yerusalemu.
But the traders and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Lakini niliwaonya na kuwaambia, “Kwa nini mnalala karibu na ukuta? Kama mkifanya hivi tena, nitawaadhibu.” Kuanzia wakati ule hawakuja tena siku ya Sabato.
Therefore I testified against them, and said unto them, Wherefore are ye lodging against the wall? if ye do it again, a hand, will I thrust upon you, —From that time, they came not on the sabbath.
22 Kisha nikawaamuru Walawi kujitakasa na kwenda kulinda malango ili kutunza Sabato iwe takatifu. Ee Mungu wangu, unikumbuke kwa ajili ya hili pia, nawe unionyeshe wema wako sawasawa na upendo wako mkuu.
And I gave word to the Levites, that they should be purifying themselves and coming in, as keepers of the gates, to hallow the sabbath day. This also, remember to me, O my God, and have pity upon me, according to the abundance of thy lovingkindness.
23 Zaidi ya hayo, niliona Wayahudi waliokuwa wameoa wanawake kutoka Ashdodi, Amoni na Moabu.
Moreover, in these days, saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab;
24 Nusu ya watoto wao walizungumza lugha ya Kiashidodi au lugha ya watu wengine, bali hawakuweza kuzungumza Kiyahudi.
and, their children, were one-half speaking the language of Ashdod, and understood not how to speak the language of the Jews, —but after the tongue of both people.
25 Niliwakemea na kuwalaani. Niliwapiga baadhi ya watu na kungʼoa nywele zao. Niliwaapisha kwa jina la Mungu na kusema: “Msiwaoze binti zenu kwa wana wao, wala binti zao wasiolewe na wana wenu wala ninyi wenyewe.
So I contended with them, and laid a curse upon them, and I smote, from among them, certain men, and pulled out their hair, —and I put them on oath by God, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take of their daughters, for your sons nor for yourselves.
26 Je, Solomoni hakutenda dhambi kwa sababu ya wanawake wa namna hiyo? Miongoni mwa mataifa mengi hapakuwepo mfalme kama yeye. Alipendwa na Mungu wake. Naye Mungu alimweka kuwa mfalme juu ya Israeli yote, lakini hata yeye, wanawake wa mataifa mengine walimfanya atende dhambi.
Was it not, over these things, that Solomon king of Israel sinned—though, among many nations, there was no king such as he, and he was, beloved by his God, and so God gave him to be king over all Israel, —even him, did foreign women, cause to sin.
27 Je, tulazimike sasa kusikia kwamba ninyi pia mmefanya uovu huu mkubwa na kutokuwa waaminifu kwa Mungu wetu kwa kuoa wanawake wa kigeni?”
Unto you, then, shall we hearken, to do all this great wickedness, to act unfaithfully with our God, —by marrying foreign wives?
28 Mmoja wa wana wa Yoyada mwana wa Eliashibu kuhani mkuu alikuwa mkwewe Sanbalati Mhoroni. Nami nilimfukuza mbele yangu.
And, one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, —therefore I chased him from me.
29 Ee Mungu wangu, uwakumbuke, kwa sababu wamenajisi ukuhani, na agano la kikuhani na la Walawi.
Remember them, O my God, —on account of the Defilings of the Priesthood, and the Covenant of the Priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Kwa hiyo niliwatakasa makuhani na Walawi kutokana na chochote kilichokuwa cha kigeni, na kuwapa wajibu, kila mmoja katika kazi yake.
So I purified them from everything foreign, —and appointed charges unto the priests and unto the Levites, every one in his work;
31 Pia nilihakikisha kwamba matoleo ya kuni yaliletwa kwa wakati unaopaswa, na malimbuko kwa wakati wake. Ee Mungu wangu, unikumbuke, unitendee mema.
also for the offering of wood, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good!
