Ezra 9
1 Kipindi mambo hayo yanatendeka, wakuu wakaja kwangu na kuniambia,”Watu wa Israel, Makuhani na walawi hawakuweza kujitenga wenyewe kutoka kwa watu wa nchi zingine na maovu yao: Wakanaani, Wahiti, Waperuzi, wayebusi, Waamoni, Wamoabu, Wamisri na Waamori.
And when these things were finished, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands in their abominations, [even] the Chananite, the Ethite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, and the Moserite and the Amorite.
2 Kwa kuwa wamewachukua baadhi ya binti na watoto wa kiume, wamejichanganya watu watakatifu na watu wa nchi nyingine na wakuu na viongozi wamekuwa wa kwanza katika imani hii potofu.
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers [has been] first in this transgression.
3 Niliposikia haya, nikachana nguo zangu na kanzu na kunyoa nywele kichwani na ndevu na nikakaa chini kutafakari.
And when I heard this thing, I tore my garments, and trembled, and plucked [some] of the hairs of my head and of my beard, and sat down mourning.
4 Na wale wote waliotetemeka kwa neno la Mungu wa Israel kuhusu imani potofu walikusanyika kwangu wakati nimakaa chini nikiwa na aibu hadi kufikia kipindi cha sadaka za jioni.
Then there assembled to me all that followed the word of the God of Israel, on account of the transgression of the captivity; and I remained mourning until the evening sacrifice.
5 Lakini katika sadaka ya jioni nikasimama kwenye nafasi yangu nikiwa mnyenyekevu na nguo ilichanika na kanzu, na nikapiga magoti na kunyoosha mikono yangu kwa Yahwe Mungu wangu. Nikasema
And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had tore my garments, then I trembled, and I bow myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God,
6 “Mungu wangu, nina aibu na sistahili kuinua uso wangu kwako, makosa yetu yamekuwa hadi kuvuka kichwani na maovu yetu yameongezeka kufika mbinguni.
and I said, O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded, O my God, to lift up my face to you: for our transgressions have abounded over our head, and our trespasses have increased even to heaven.
7 Kuanzia siku ya watangulizi wetu mpaka sasa tumekuwa katika maovu makuu. Makosa yetu, viongozi, makuhani, walikuwa katika mikono ya mfalme wa dunia hii, katika upanga, matekani na kunyanyaswa na tuna aibu ya uso hata leo.
From the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass until this day: and because of our iniquities we, and our kings, and our children, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the Gentiles by the sword, and by captivity, and by spoil, and with shame of our face, as at this day.
8 sasa kwa kipindi kifupi, neema kutoka kwa Yahwe Mungu wetu imekuja kutuacha mabaki wachache na kutupa kuhimmili sehemu takatifu. Hii ilikuwa ni kwa ajili ya Mungu wetu kututia nuru macho yetu na kutupa unafuuu sisi tulio watumwa.
And now our God has dealt mercifully with us, so as to leave us to escape, and to give us an establishment in the place of his sanctuary, to enlighten our eyes, and to give a little quickening in our servitude.
9 Kwa kuwa sisi tu watumwa, lakini Mungu bado hajatusahau lakini ameongeza agano la uaminifu kwetu, ameyatenda haya mbele ya macho ya mfalme wa Uajemi ili kwamba haweze kutupatia nguvu mpya. Ili kwamba tuweze kujenga nyumba ya Mungu na tuweze kuondoa majuto. Alitenda hayo ili kwamba aweze kutupatia msingi wa usalama katika Yuda na Yerusalem.
For we are slaves, yet in our servitude the Lord our God has not deserted us; and he has extended favor to us in the sight of the kings of the Persians, to give us a quickening, that they should raise up the house of our God, and restore the desolate places of it, and to give us a fence in Juda and Jerusalem.
10 Lakini sasa Mungu wetu, tuseme nini baaada ya haya? Tumesahau amri zako.
What shall we say, our God, after this? for we have forsaken your commandments,
11 amri ambazo uliwapa manabii watumishi wako, pale uliposema, “Nchi hii mnayoingia kuimiliki ni nchi chafu. Imechanganyikana na watu wasio na utaratibu. ameenea kutoka sehemu moja hadi nyingine kwa uchafu wao.
which you have given us by the hand of your servants the prophets, saying, The land, into which you go to inherit it, is a land subject to disturbance by the removal of the people of the nations for their abominations, wherewith they have filled it from one end to the other by their uncleanness.
12 Hivyo sasa, msiwape binti zenu kwa watoto wao, msichukue binti zao kwa ajili ya watoto wenu, msitafute amani kwao na fadhili, ili kwamba muweze kuwa imara na kula vizuri vya nchi, hivyo utasababisha watoto wenu kumiliki kwa wakati wote.”
And now give not your daughters to their sons, and take not of their daughters for your sons, neither shall you seek their peace or their good for ever: that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and transmit it as an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 Baada ya yote kutokea kwetu kwa sababu ya uovu wetu na makosa yetu makuu, tokea hapo, Mungu wetu, hukutazama makosa yetu na kutuadhibu tulivyostahili na ukatuacha kama mabaki.
And after all that is come upon us because of our evil deeds, and our great trespass, [it is clear] that there is none such as our God, for you has lightly visited our iniquities, and given us deliverance;
14 Tunaweza kuvunja tena amri zako na kuingiliana katika ndoa, na hawa watu wasiofuata utaratibu? Je hautachukia na kututowesha sote hakuna wa kubaki, hakuna wa kutoroka?
whereas we have repeatedly broken your commandments, and intermarried with the people of the lands: be not very angry with us to [our] utter destruction, so that there should be no remnant or escaping one.
15 Yahwe, Mungu wa Israel, wewe ni mwenye haki, kwa kuwa tumebaki wachache mabaki hadi siku ya leo. Tazama, tuko mbele yako na makosa yetu, kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja anayeweza kusimama mbele kwa sababu ya hili.
O Lord God of Israel, you [are] righteous; for we remain [yet] escaped, as at this day: behold, we [are] before you in our trespasses: for we can’t stand before you on this account.
