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 it came to the hearing of Sanballat, and Tobiyah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein, although up to that time I had not yet 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 unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in Kephirim, in the plain of Ono. But they were thinking of doing 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 unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it lying, and come down to you?
4 Mara nne walinitumia ujumbe wa namna iyo hiyo, na kila mara niliwapa jibu lile lile.
And they sent unto me after this manner four times; 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 unto me in like manner the fifth time his young man 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,
Therein was written, It hath been heard among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think of rebelling; wherefore thou art building up the wall; and that thou art to be king unto them, according to these reports.
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 that thou hast also set up prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem, saying, He is king in Judah: and now there may be reported to the king something like these words. Now therefore come, and let us take counsel together.
8 Nilimpelekea jibu hili: “Hakuna jambo kama hilo unalosema linalofanyika. Unalitunga tu kwenye kichwa chako.”
Then I sent unto him, saying, “There hath been done nothing like these reports of which thou speakest; but out of thy own heart thou inventest them.”
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 wished to make us afraid, thinking, Their hands will be withdrawn from the work, so that it will not be 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.”
And I came also into the house of Shema'yah the son of Delayah the son of Mehetabel, who had shut himself up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us lock the doors of the temple; for they are coming to slay thee: yea, in the night are they coming to slay thee.
11 Lakini nikasema, “Je, mtu kama mimi akimbie? Au mtu kama mimi aende Hekaluni kuokoa maisha yake? Sitakwenda!”
And I said, Should a man like me flee? and who is there that is like me, that would 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 that, lo, God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy over me, because Tobiyah 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, in order that I should become afraid, and do so, and sin, and that it might serve them for an evil report, so that they might cast reproach upon 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.
Think, O my God, of Tobiyah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also of No'adyah the prophetess, and the rest of the prophets, who wished to make me afraid.
15 Basi ukuta ukakamilika siku ya ishirini na tano mwezi wa Eluli, kazi ambayo ilichukua siku hamsini na mbili.
And so was the wall finished on 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, when our enemies heard this, and all the nations that were about us saw it, that they sank greatly in their own eyes; and they perceived that by the aid of our God had this work been wrought.
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 despatched frequently their letters unto Tobiyah, and those of Tobiyah came unto 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 many in Judah were sworn friends unto him; because he was the son-in-law of Shechanyah the son of Arach, and Jehochanan his son had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Bercehyah.
19 Zaidi ya hayo, walikuwa wakiniarifu jinsi Tobia alivyo mtu mwema, nao walimwambia kila kitu nilichosema. Naye Tobia alituma barua za kunitisha.
Also his good deeds were they reporting before me, and my words they used to carry out to him: also Tobiyah sent letters to make me afraid.
