Nehemia 6
1 Habari zilipofika kwa Sanbalati, Tobia, Geshemu Mwarabu, na adui zetu wengine kwamba nimejenga tena ukuta na hakuna nafasi iliyobakia ndani mwake, ingawa mpaka wakati huo sikuwa nimeweka milango kwenye malango,
And it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2 Sanbalati na Geshemu wakanitumia ujumbe huu: “Njoo, tukutane katika mojawapo ya vijiji katika nchi tambarare ya Ono.” Lakini walikuwa wakikusudia kunidhuru.
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 Kwa hiyo niliwatuma wajumbe kwao na majibu haya: “Kazi ninayoifanya ni kubwa sana, siwezi kuja. Kwa nini niiache kazi isimame nije kwenu?”
And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?
4 Mara nne walinitumia ujumbe wa namna iyo hiyo, na kila mara niliwapa jibu lile lile.
And they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them in the same manner.
5 Basi, mara ya tano, Sanbalati akamtuma msaidizi wake kwangu akiwa na ujumbe wa aina ile ile, naye alikuwa amechukua mkononi mwake barua isiyofungwa,
Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in this manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand,
6 iliyokuwa imeandikwa: “Habari imeenezwa miongoni mwa mataifa, naye Geshemu anasema kwamba ni kweli, kuwa wewe na Wayahudi mnafanya hila ya kuasi, ndiyo sababu mnajenga ukuta. Zaidi ya hayo, kufuatana na taarifa hizi, karibuni utakuwa mfalme wao,
in which was written: It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou buildest the wall, and according to these words thou wilt become their king.
7 na hata umewateua manabii wafanye tangazo hili kukuhusu wewe huko Yerusalemu: ‘Yuko mfalme katika Yuda!’ Sasa taarifa hii itarudishwa kwa mfalme. Basi njoo, tufanye shauri pamoja.”
And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem saying, There is a king in Judah! And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Nilimpelekea jibu hili: “Hakuna jambo kama hilo unalosema linalofanyika. Unalitunga tu kwenye kichwa chako.”
And I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9 Wote walikuwa wakijaribu kutuogopesha, wakifikiri hivi: “Mikono ya watu italegea kiasi kwamba hawataweza kufanya kazi, nayo haitakamilika.” Lakini niliomba, “Ee Mungu, sasa nitie mikono yangu nguvu.”
For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be slackened from the work, that it be not carried out. — Now therefore strengthen my hands!
10 Siku moja nilikwenda nyumbani kwa Shemaya mwana wa Delaya, mwana wa Mehetabeli, ambaye alikuwa amefungwa ndani ya nyumba yake. Akasema, “Tukutane katika nyumba ya Mungu, ndani ya Hekalu, na tufunge milango ya Hekalu, kwa sababu watu wanakuja kukuua. Naam, wanakuja usiku kukuua.”
And I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who had shut himself up. And he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they are coming to kill thee; even in the night are they coming to kill thee.
11 Lakini nikasema, “Je, mtu kama mimi akimbie? Au mtu kama mimi aende Hekaluni kuokoa maisha yake? Sitakwenda!”
And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, could go into the temple, and live? I will not go in.
12 Nilitambua kwamba Mungu hakumtuma, bali alitabiri dhidi yangu kwa sababu Tobia na Sanbalati walikuwa wamemwajiri.
And I perceived, and behold, God had not sent him; for he pronounced this prophecy against me; and Tobijah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 Alikuwa ameajiriwa kunitisha ili kwa kufanya jambo hili nitende dhambi, kisha waweze kuniharibia jina langu na kuniaibisha.
Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have wherewith to spread an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 Ee Mungu wangu, wakumbuke Tobia na Sanbalati kwa sababu ya yale waliyotenda. Pia kumbuka nabii mke Noadia na manabii wengine ambao wamekuwa wakijaribu kunitisha.
My God, remember Tobijah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear.
15 Basi ukuta ukakamilika siku ya ishirini na tano mwezi wa Eluli, kazi ambayo ilichukua siku hamsini na mbili.
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 Adui zetu wote waliposikia kuhusu hili, mataifa yote yaliyotuzunguka yakaogopa na kupoteza ujasiri, kwa sababu yalitambua kuwa kazi hii imefanyika kwa msaada wa Mungu wetu.
And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard [of it], all the nations that were about us were afraid and were much cast down in their own eyes, and they perceived that this work was wrought by our God.
17 Pia katika siku hizo wakuu wa Yuda walikuwa wakituma barua nyingi kwa Tobia, nayo majibu yaliyotoka kwa Tobia yaliendelea kuwajia.
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobijah, and those of Tobijah came to them.
18 Kwa kuwa watu wengi katika Yuda walikuwa wamemwapia Tobia, kwani alikuwa mkwewe Shekania mwana wa Ara, na Yehohanani mwanawe alikuwa amemwoa binti wa Meshulamu mwana wa Berekia.
For there were many in Judah sworn to him; for he was a son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19 Zaidi ya hayo, walikuwa wakiniarifu jinsi Tobia alivyo mtu mwema, nao walimwambia kila kitu nilichosema. Naye Tobia alituma barua za kunitisha.
Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. [And] Tobijah sent letters to put me in fear.
