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,
Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors on 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 some one of 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, so that 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.
Yet they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after 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 like 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,
Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause you build the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words.
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 you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it 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.”
Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your 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 made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, 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.”
Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut 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 will come to slay you; yes, in the night will they come to slay you.
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, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 Nilitambua kwamba Mungu hakumtuma, bali alitabiri dhidi yangu kwa sababu Tobia na Sanbalati walikuwa wamemwajiri.
And, see, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah 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 matter for 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, think you on Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that 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 in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and 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 thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was worked of 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 Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah 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, because he was the 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 reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
