Nehemia 12
1 Hawa ndio makuhani na Walawi waliokuja pamoja na Zerubabeli mwana wa Shealueli, pamoja na Yoshua Seraya, Yeremia, Ezra,
[Many] priests and [other] descendants of Levi returned (from Babylonia/to Jerusalem) with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. They included Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amaria, Maluki, Hatushi,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 Shekania, Harimu na Meremothi.
Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Kulikuwa na Iddo, Ginethoni, Abiya,
Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5 Miyamini, Maazia, Bilgai,
Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaya, Yoyaribu, Yedaya,
Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Salu, Amoki, Hilkia, na Yedaya. Hawa walikuwa wakuu wa makuhani na washirika wao katika siku za Yoshua.
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. All those men were leaders of the priests during the time that Jeshua [was the Supreme Priest].
8 Walawi walikuwa Yeshua, Binui, Kadmieli, Sherebia, Yuda, na Matania, aliyekuwa akiongoza nyimbo za shukrani, pamoja na washirika wake.
[Some of the other] descendants of Levi who returned were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. They were in charge of singing songs to thank [God].
9 Bakbukia na Uno, washirika wao, walisimama pembeni yao wakati wa huduma.
Bakbukiah, Unni, and other descendants of Levi formed a choir that stood opposite the other group [and sang in reply to them].
10 Yoshua alikuwa babaye Yoyakimu, Yoyakimu alikuwa baba wa Eliashibu, Eliashibu alikuwa babaye Yoyada,
Jeshua [who was the Supreme Priest] was the father of Joiakim, who was the father of Eliashib, who was the father of Joiada,
11 Yoyada alimzaa Yonathani, Yonathani akamzaa Yadua.
who was the father of Jonathan, who was the father of Jaddua.
12 Katika siku za Yoyakimu hawa walikuwa makuhani, wakuu wa jamaa; Meraya alikuwa mkuu wa Seraya, Hanania alikuwa kiongozi wa Yeremia,
When Joiakim was the Supreme Priest, these were the leaders of the clans of priests: Meraiah, from [the clan of] Seraiah; Hananiah, from [the clan of] Jeremiah;
13 Meshulam alikuwa kiongozi wa Ezra, Yehohanani alikuwa kiongozi wa Amaria,
Meshullam, from [the clan of] Ezra; Jehohanan, from [the clan of] Amariah;
14 Yonathani alikuwa kiongozi wa Maluki, na Yusufu alikuwa kiongozi wa Shekania.
Jonathan, from [the clan of] Malluch; Joseph, from [the clan of] Shecaniah;
15 Ili kuendelea, Adna alikuwa kiongozi wa Harimu, Helkai kiongozi wa Meremothi,
Adna, from [the clan of] Harim; Helkai, from [the clan of] Meremoth/Maraioth;
16 Zekaria alikuwa kiongozi wa Ido, Meshulamu alikuwa kiongozi wa Ginethoni, na
Zechariah, from [the clan of] Iddo; Meshullam, from [the clan of] Ginnethon;
17 Zikri alikuwa kiongozi wa Abia wa Miyaamini. Piltai alikuwa kiongozi wa Maazia.
Zicri, from [the clan of] Abijah. There was also a leader from [the clan of] Miniamin; Piltai, from [the clan of] Moadiah;
18 Shamua alikuwa kiongozi wa Bilgai, Yehonathani alikuwa kiongozi wa Shemaya,
Shammua, from [the clan of] Bilgah; Jehonathan, from [the clan of] Shemaiah;
19 Matenai alikuwa kiongozi wa Yoyaribu, Uzi alikuwa kiongozi wa Yedaya,
Mattenai, from [the clan of] Joiarib; Uzzi, from [the clan of] Jedaiah;
20 Kalai alikuwa kiongozi wa Salu, Eberi alikuwa kiongozi wa Amok,
Kallai, from [the clan of] Sallu/Sallai; Eber, from [the clan of] Amok;
21 Hashabia alikuwa kiongozi wa Hilkia, na Nethanel alikuwa kiongozi wa Yedaya.
Hashabiah, from [the clan of] Hilkiah; and Nethanel, from [the clan of] Jedaiah.
22 Katika siku za Eliashibu, Walawi Eliashibu, Yoyada, Yohana, na Yadua waliandikwa kama vichwa vya familia, na makuhani waliandikwa wakati wa utawala wa Dariyo wa Persia.
During the years that Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua [were Supreme Priests], they (wrote/kept a list of) the names of the clans who were descendants of Levi. When Darius was the king of Persia, they stopped writing that list.
23 Wana wa Lawi na viongozi wao wa familia waliandikwa katika Kitabu cha tarehe hadi siku za Yohana mwana wa Eliashibu.
They wrote the names of the leaders of the clans who were descendants of Levi in the Book of Events [in Israel], but they stopped writing those names when Eliashib’s grandson Johanan [was the Supreme Priest].
24 Wakuu wa Walawi walikuwa Hashabia, Sherebia, na Yeshua mwana wa Kadmieli, pamoja na washirika wao, waliokuwa wamesimama mbele yao kumtukuza na kumshukuru, akijibu sehemu kwa sehemu, kwa kutii amri ya Daudi, mtu wa Mungu.
These are the leaders of the clans [who are] descendants of Levi: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel and others who were divided into two groups. The two groups faced each other, one group replying to the other, during the time that they praised and thanked God. They did that just as King David, the man who served God well, had instructed.
25 Matania, Bakbukia, Obadiya, Meshulamu, Talmoni na Akubu walikuwa walinzi wa malango waliokuwa wakiwa wamesimama katika vyumba vya hazina penye malango.
These singers included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. The men who guarded the storerooms close to the gates [of the temple] were Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub.
26 Walitumika katika siku za Yoyakimu, mwana wa Yoshua, mwana wa Yosadaki, na katika siku za Nehemiya, gavana na Ezra kuhani na mwandishi.
They did that work during the time that Joiakim, who was the son of Jeshua and the grandson of Jehozadak, [was the Supreme Priest, ] and I was the governor, and Ezra was the priest who knew the Jewish laws very well.
27 Katika kujitolea kwa ukuta wa Yerusalemu, watu walitafuta Walawi popote walipokuwa wakiishi, wakawaleta Yerusalemu ili kusherehekea kujitolea kwa furaha, pamoja na shukrani na kuimba kwa ngoma, vinanda na vinubi.
When we dedicated the wall around Jerusalem, we summoned the descendants of Levi [who help the priests] from the nearby places where they [were living]. We asked them to [join with us to] celebrate when we dedicated the wall. We wanted them to sing songs to thank [Yahweh] and make music by playing cymbals and harps and other stringed instruments.
28 Ushirika wa waimbaji walikusanyika pamoja kutoka wilaya iliyozunguka Yerusalemu na kutoka vijiji vya Wanetofathi.
We summoned the descendants of Levi who habitually sang together. They came to Jerusalem from nearby areas [where they had settled], and from places around Netophah [town southeast of Jerusalem],
29 Walikuja kutoka Beth-gilgali na kutoka katika mashamba ya Geba na Azmawethi, kwa kuwa waimbaji walikuwa wamejijengea vijiji karibu na Yerusalemu.
and from three places [northeast of Jerusalem]—Beth Gilgal [city] and the areas around Geba and Azmaveth. Those singers had built villages to live in near Jerusalem.
30 Makuhani na Walawi wakajitakasa, kisha wakawatakasa watu, milango na ukuta.
[When they came to Jerusalem], the priests and [other] descendants of Levi [who help the priests] performed rituals to cause themselves to be acceptable to God, and then they performed similar rituals to purify the [other] people, the gates, and the wall.
31 Kisha nilikuwa na viongozi wa Yuda kwenda juu ya ukuta, na mimi kuteua mikutano miwili mikubwa ya hao walioshukuru. Mmoja alienda upande wa kulia juu ya ukuta kuelekea lango la jaa.
Then I gathered together the leaders of Judah on top of the wall, and I appointed them to lead two large groups to march around the city [on top of the wall], thanking God. [As they faced the city, ] one group walked to the right toward the Dung Gate.
32 Hoshaya na nusu ya viongozi wa Yuda walimfuata,
Behind their leaders marched Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah.
33 na baada yake akaenda Azaria, Ezra na Meshulamu,
Behind them marched a group of priests who were blowing trumpets. They were Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. Next came Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
34 Yuda, Benyamini, Shemaya, Yeremia
35 na wana wa makuhani waliokuwa na tarumbeta, na Zekaria mwana wa Yonathani, mwana wa Shemaya, mwana wa Mataniya, mwana wa Mikaya, mwana wa Zakuri, mwana wa Asafu.
36 Na pia jamaa za Zekaria, Shemaya, Azareli, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneli, Yuda, Hanani, pamoja na vyombo vya muziki vya Daudi mtu wa Mungu. Ezra mwandishi alikuwa mbele yao.
Behind them marched other members of Zechariah’s clan: Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They all were playing the same kinds of musical instruments that King David had played [many years previously]. Ezra, the man who knew the Jewish laws very well, marched in front of this group.
37 Na kwa Lango la Chemchemi walikwenda moja kwa moja na madaraja ya mji wa Daudi juu ya kupanda kwa ukuta, juu ya nyumba ya Daudi, kwenye lango la Maji upande wa mashariki.
When they reached the Fountain Gate, they went up the steps to David’s City, past his palace, and then to the wall at the Water Gate, on the east side [of the city].
38 Na waimbaji wengine ambao walishukuru wakaenda upande mwingine. Niliwafuata juu ya ukuta pamoja na nusu ya watu, juu ya mnara wa vinyago, hadi kuta kubwa,
The other group of those who were thanking [Yahweh] marched to the left on top of the wall. I followed them with half of the people. [We marched] past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall.
39 na juu ya lango la Efraimu, na mlango wa kale, na kwa lango la samaki na mnara wa Hananeli na mnara wa Hamea, kwa lango la Kondoo, na wakasimama kwenye mlango wa walinzi.
[From there we marched] past Ephraim Gate, Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred Soldiers, to the Sheep Gate. We finished marching near the gate into the temple.
40 Kwa hiyo, mikutano miwili ya wale waliomshukuru walipata nafasi yao katika nyumba ya Mungu, na mimi pia nikachukua nafasi yangu na nusu ya viongozi pamoja nami.
Both the groups reached the temple while they were thanking God. They stood in their places there. The leaders who were with me [also stood with me in our places].
41 Na makuhani wakachukua nafasi zao Eliakimu, Maaseya, Miyamini, Mikaya, Elioenai, Zekaria, na Hanania wenye tarumbeta,
My group included these priests who were [all blowing] trumpets: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, Hananiah,
42 Maaseya, na Shemaya, Eleazari, Uzi, Yehohanani, Malkiya, Elamu, Ezeri. Waimbaji waliimba na Yezrahia kama wasimamizi.
[another] Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers, whose leader was Jezrahiah, sang loudly.
43 Walitoa dhabihu kubwa siku ile, wakafurahi, kwa sababu Mungu alikuwa amewafurahisha kwa furaha kubwa. Pia wanawake na watoto walifurahi. Hivyo furaha ya Yerusalemu ikasikiwa toka mbali.
[After we went outside the temple, ] we offered many sacrifices. We men all rejoiced because God had caused us to be very happy. The women and the children also rejoiced. People far away could hear the noise that we made there in Jerusalem.
44 Siku hiyo watu waliteuliwa juu ya nyumba ya hazina kwa ajili ya michango, matunda ya kwanza, na zaka, ili kuzikusanya ndani yao sehemu zinazohitajika katika sheria za makuhani na Walawi. Kila mmoja aliteuliwa kufanya kazi mashambani karibu na miji. Kwa maana Yuda alifurahi juu ya makuhani na Walawi waliokuwa wamesimama mbele yao.
On that day, men were appointed {they appointed men} to be in charge of the storerooms where they kept the money that people contributed [for the temple]. They also kept there [the other things that the people contributed—] the tithes and the first part of the grain and fruit that was harvested each year. Those men collected those things from the fields/farms near the cities, and [took them to Jerusalem and] gave them to the priests and the [other] descendants of Levi, as [Moses had said in his] laws that they should do. All the Israeli people were happy about the work that the priests and the descendants of Levi did,
45 Walifanya utumishi wa Mungu wao, na huduma ya utakaso, kwa mujibu wa amri ya Daudi na ya mwanawe Sulemani, na hivyo
because they performed the rituals to purify things, and the other rituals that God had commanded. The musicians in the temple also did their work as King David and his son Solomon had declared that they should do.
46 Zamani za kale, katika siku za Daudi na Asafu, kulikuwa na wasimamizi wa waimbaji, na kulikuwa na nyimbo za sifa na shukrani kwa Mungu.
Ever since the time that David had been the king and Asaph had been his chief musician, the musicians had led the people while they sang songs to praise and thank God.
47 Katika siku za Zerubabeli na katika siku za Nehemia, Israeli wote walitoa sehemu za kila siku kwa waimbaji na walinzi wa mlango. Wakaweka pembeni sehemu ya Walawi, na Walawi waliweka sehemu ya wana wa Haruni.
During the years that Zerubbabel and I governed the Israeli people, they all contributed the food that the singers and temple gatekeepers needed each day. They gave (a tithe/10%) of their crops to the descendants of Levi [who helped the priests], and those descendants of Levi gave (a tithe/10%) of that to [the priests, who were] descendants of Aaron [the first Supreme Priest].
