Nehemia 9
1 Katika siku ya ishirini na nne ya mwezi ule ule, Waisraeli walikusanyika pamoja, wakifunga na kuvaa nguo za gunia na kujitia mavumbi vichwani mwao.
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel assembled with fasting, and in sackcloths, and with ashes on their head.
2 Wale wa uzao wa Israeli walijitenga na wageni wote. Wakasimama mahali pao, na kuungama dhambi zao na uovu wa baba zao.
And the children of Israel separated themselves from every stranger, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
3 Wakasimama pale walipokuwa, wakasoma kutoka kwenye kile Kitabu cha Sheria ya Bwana Mungu wao kwa muda wa robo siku, na wakatumia robo nyingine kwa kuungama dhambi na kumwabudu Bwana Mungu wao.
And they stood in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their god: and they confessed [their sins] to the Lord, and worshipped the Lord their God.
4 Walawi wafuatao walikuwa wamesimama kwenye ngazi: Yeshua, Bani, Kadmieli, Shebania, Buni, Sherebia, Bani na Kenani. Hawa walimlilia Bwana Mungu wao kwa sauti kubwa.
[And] there stood upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jesus, and the sons of Cadmiel, Sechenia the son of Sarabia, sons of Choneni; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God.
5 Nao Walawi Yeshua, Kadmieli, Bani, Hashabnea, Sherebia, Hodia, Shebania na Pethahia wakasema: “Simameni mkamsifu Bwana Mungu wenu, yeye ambaye ni Mungu tangu milele hata milele. “Libarikiwe jina lake tukufu, litukuzwe juu ya baraka zote na sifa.
And the Levites, Jesus and Cadmiel, said, Rise up, bless the Lord our God forever and ever: and let them bless your glorious name, and exalt it with all blessing and praise.
6 Wewe peke yako ndiwe Bwana. Uliziumba mbingu, hata mbingu za mbingu na jeshi lote la mbinguni, dunia na vyote vilivyo ndani yake, na pia bahari na vyote vilivyomo ndani yake. Huvipa vitu vyote uhai, nalo jeshi la mbinguni linakuabudu wewe.
And Esdras said, You are the only true Lord; you made the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, and all their array, the earth, and all things that are in it, the seas, and all things in them; and you quicken all things, and the hosts of heaven worship you.
7 “Wewe ni Bwana Mungu uliyemchagua Abramu na kumtoa kutoka Uru ya Wakaldayo, nawe ukamwita Abrahamu.
You are the Lord God, you did choose Abram, and brought him out of the land of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name of Abraam:
8 Uliona kuwa moyo wake ni mwaminifu kwako, nawe ukafanya Agano naye kuwapa wazao wake nchi ya Wakanaani, Wahiti, Waamori, Waperizi, Wayebusi na Wagirgashi. Umetimiza ahadi yako kwa sababu wewe ni mwenye haki.
and you found his heart faithful before you, and did make a covenant with him to give to him and to his seed the land of the Chananites, and the Chettites, and Amorites, and Pherezites, and Jebusites, and Gergesites; and you have confirmed your words, for you [are] righteous.
9 “Uliona mateso ya baba zetu huko Misri, ukasikia kilio chao huko Bahari ya Shamu.
And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and you heard their cry at the Red Sea.
10 Ulituma ishara za miujiza na maajabu dhidi ya Farao, dhidi ya maafisa wake wote na watu wote wa nchi yake, kwa kuwa ulifahamu jinsi Wamisri walivyowafanyia ufidhuli. Ukajifanyia jina linalodumu hadi leo.
And you showed signs and wonders in Egypt, on Pharao and all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for you know that they behaved insolently against them: and you made yourself a name, as at this day.
11 Ukagawa bahari mbele yao, ili waweze kupita katikati yake penye nchi kavu, lakini uliwatupa Wamisri waliowafuatilia katika vilindi, kama jiwe kwenye maji mengi.
And you did cleave the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry land; and you did cast into the deep them that were about to pursue them, as a stone in the mighty water.
12 Mchana uliwaongoza kwa nguzo ya wingu, na usiku kwa nguzo ya moto kuwamulikia njia iliyowapasa kuiendea.
And you guided them by day by a pillar of cloud, and by night by a pillar of fire, to enlighten for them the way wherein they should walk.
13 “Ulishuka katika Mlima Sinai, ukanena nao kutoka mbinguni. Uliwapa masharti na sheria zile ambazo ni za kweli na haki, pia amri na maagizo mazuri.
Also you came down upon mount Sina, and you spoke to them out of heaven, and gave them right judgments, and laws of truth, ordinances, and good commandments.
14 Uliwafahamisha Sabato yako takatifu na ukawapa amri, maagizo na sheria kupitia mtumishi wako Mose.
And you did make known to them your holy sabbath; you did enjoin upon them commandments, and ordinances, and a law, by the hand of your servant Moses.
15 Katika njaa yao uliwapa mkate kutoka mbinguni, na katika kiu yao uliwatolea maji kutoka kwenye mwamba. Uliwaambia waingie na kuimiliki nchi ambayo ulikuwa umeapa kuwapa kwa mkono ulioinuliwa.
And you gave them bread from heaven for their food, and you brought them forth water from a rock for their thirst; and you bade them go in to inherit the land over which you stretched out your hand to give [it] them.
16 “Lakini wao, baba zetu, wakawa na kiburi na shingo ngumu, nao hawakutii maagizo yako.
But they and our fathers behaved proudly, and hardened their neck, and did not listen to your commandments,
17 Wakakataa kusikiliza na kushindwa kukumbuka miujiza uliyoifanya miongoni mwao. Wakawa na shingo ngumu, na katika uasi wao wakamchagua kiongozi ili warudi kwenye utumwa wao. Lakini wewe ni Mungu mwenye kusamehe, mwenye neema na mwingi wa huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira, ni mwingi wa upendo. Kwa hiyo hukuwaacha,
and refused to listen, and remembered not your wonders which you wrought with them; and they hardened their neck, and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt: but you, O God, [are] merciful and compassionate, longsuffering, and abundant in mercy, and you did not forsake them.
18 hata wakati walijitengenezea sanamu ya ndama ya kusubu na kusema, ‘Huyu ni mungu wenu, aliyewapandisha kutoka nchi ya Misri,’ au walipofanya makufuru makubwa.
And still farther they even made to themselves a molten calf, and said, These [are] the gods that brought us up out of Egypt: and they wrought great provocations.
19 “Kwa sababu ya huruma zako kuu hukuwaacha jangwani. Wakati wa mchana ile nguzo ya wingu haikukoma kuwaongoza katika njia yao, wala nguzo ya moto haikuacha kuwamulikia usiku njia iliyowapasa kuiendea.
Yet you in your great compassions did not forsake them in the wilderness: you did not turn away from them the pillar of the cloud by day, to guide them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to enlighten for them the way wherein they should walk.
20 Uliwapa Roho wako mwema ili kuwafundisha. Hukuwanyima mana yako vinywani mwao, nawe ukawapa maji kwa ajili ya kiu yao.
And you gave your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water in their thirst.
21 Kwa miaka arobaini uliwatunza jangwani. Hawakukosa chochote, na nguo zao hazikuchakaa wala miguu yao haikuvimba.
And you did sustain them forty years in the wilderness; you did not allow anything to fail them: their garments did not wax old, and their feet were not bruised.
22 “Uliwapa falme na mataifa, ukiwagawia hata mipaka ya mbali. Wakaimiliki nchi ya Sihoni mfalme wa Heshboni, na nchi ya Ogu mfalme wa Bashani.
Moreover, you gave them kingdoms, and did divide nations to them: and they inherited the land of Seon king of Esebon, and the land of Og king of Basan.
23 Uliwafanya wana wao kuwa wengi kama nyota za angani, nawe ukawaleta katika nchi ambayo uliwaambia baba zao kuingia na kuimiliki.
And you did multiply their children as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land of which you spoke to their fathers;
24 Wana wao wakaingia na kuimiliki nchi. Uliwatiisha Wakanaani mbele yao, walioishi katika nchi, ukawatia Wakanaani mikononi mwao, pamoja na wafalme wao na watu wa nchi, wawafanyie kama wapendavyo.
And they inherited it: and you did destroy from before them the dwellers in the land of the Chananites, and you gave into their hands them and their kings, and the nations of the land, to do to them as it pleased them.
25 Wakateka miji yenye ngome na nchi yenye rutuba, wakamiliki nyumba zilizojazwa na vitu vizuri vya kila aina, visima vilivyochimbwa tayari, mashamba ya mizabibu, mashamba ya mizeituni na miti yenye matunda kwa wingi. Wakala, wakashiba nao wakanawiri sana, wakajifurahisha katika wema wako mwingi.
And they took lofty cities, and inherited houses full of all good things, wells dug, vineyards, and olive yards, and every fruit tree in abundance: so they ate, and were filled, and grew fat, and rioted in your great goodness.
26 “Lakini hawakukutii nao wakaasi dhidi yako, wakatupa sheria zako nyuma yao. Wakawaua manabii wako, waliowaonya ili wakurudie, na wakafanya makufuru makubwa.
But they turned, and revolted from you, and cast your law behind their backs; and they killed your prophets, who testified against them to turn them back to you, and they wrought great provocations.
27 Hivyo ukawatia mikononi mwa adui zao, ambao waliwatesa. Lakini walipoteswa, wakakulilia wewe. Kutoka mbinguni uliwasikia, nawe kwa huruma zako kuu ukawapa waokozi, waliowaokoa kutoka mikononi mwa adui zao.
Then you gave them into the hand of them that afflicted them, and they did afflict them: and they cried to you in the time of their affliction, and you did hear them from your heaven, and in your great compassions gave them deliverers, and did save them from the hand of them that afflicted them.
28 “Lakini mara walipokuwa na raha, wakafanya maovu tena machoni pako. Kisha ukawaacha mikononi mwa adui zao, nao wakawatawala. Walipokulilia tena, ukasikia kutoka mbinguni, na kwa huruma zako ukawaokoa kila mara.
But when they rested, they did evil again before you: so you left them in the hands of their enemies, and they ruled over them: and they cried again to you, and you heard [them] from heaven, and did deliver them in your great compassions.
29 “Ukawaonya warudi katika sheria yako, lakini wakawa na kiburi na hawakutii amri zako. Wakatenda dhambi dhidi ya maagizo yako ambayo kwayo mtu ataishi kama akiyatii. Kwa ukaidi wakakugeuzia kisogo, wakawa na shingo ngumu na wakakataa kusikiliza.
And you did testify against them, to bring them back to your law: but they listened not, but sinned against your commandments and your judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them; and they turned their back, and hardened their neck, and heard not.
30 Kwa miaka mingi ulikuwa mvumilivu kwao. Kwa njia ya Roho wako ukawaonya kupitia manabii wako. Hata hivyo hawakujali, basi ukawatia mikononi mwa mataifa jirani.
Yet you did bear long with them many years, and did testify to them by your Spirit by the hand of your prophets: but they listened not; so you gave them into the hand of the nations of the land.
31 Lakini kwa rehema zako kuu hukuwakomesha wala kuwaacha, kwa kuwa wewe ni Mungu mwenye neema na rehema.
But you in your many mercies did not appoint them to destruction, and did not forsake them; for you are strong, and merciful, and pitiful.
32 “Basi sasa, Ee Mungu wetu, uliye mkuu, mwenye nguvu na Mungu wa kuogofya, mwenye kushika agano lake la upendo, usiache taabu hizi zote zionekane kuwa kitu kidogo mbele za macho yako, taabu hizi zilizotupata, juu ya wafalme wetu na viongozi, juu ya makuhani wetu na manabii, juu ya baba zetu na watu wako wote, tangu siku za wafalme wa Ashuru hadi leo.
And now, O our God, the powerful, the great, the mighty, and the terrible, keeping your covenant and your mercy, let not all the trouble seem little in your sight which has come upon us, and our kings, and our princes, and our priests, and our prophets, and our fathers, and upon all your people, from the days of the kings of Assur even to this day.
33 Katika hayo yote yaliyotupata, umekuwa mwenye haki, na umetenda kwa uaminifu, wakati sisi tumetenda mabaya.
But you [are] righteous in all the things that come upon us; for you have wrought faithfully, but we have greatly sinned.
34 Wafalme wetu, viongozi wetu, makuhani wetu na baba zetu hawakufuata sheria yako. Hawakuzingatia amri zako wala maonyo uliyowapa.
And our kings, and our princes, and our priests, and our fathers, have not performed your law, and have not given heed to your commandments, and [have not kept] your testimonies which you did testify to them.
35 Hata walipokuwa wangali katika ufalme wao, wakiufurahia wema wako mkuu katika nchi kubwa na yenye rutuba uliyowapa, hawakukutumikia wala kugeuka kutoka njia zao mbaya.
And they did not serve you in your kingdom, and in your great goodness which you gave to them, and in the large and fat land which you did furnish before them, and they turned not from their evil devices.
36 “Lakini tazama, sisi ni watumwa leo, watumwa katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu ili wapate kula matunda yake na vitu vingine vizuri inayozalisha.
Behold, we are servants this day, and [as for] the land which you gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good things of it, behold, we are servants upon it:
37 Kwa sababu ya dhambi zetu, mavuno yake mengi huenda kwa wafalme uliowaweka watutawale. Wanatawala juu ya miili yetu na mifugo yetu kama wapendavyo. Tuko katika dhiki kuu.
and its produce [is] abundant for the kings whom you did appoint over us because of our sins; and they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, as it pleases them, and we are in great affliction.
38 “Kwa sababu ya haya yote, tunajifunga katika mapatano, na kuyaandika, nao viongozi wetu, Walawi wetu na makuhani wetu wanatia mihuri yao.”
And in regard to all these circumstances we make a covenant, and write [it], and our princes, our Levites, [and] our priests, set their seal to [it].
