Nehemia 9
1 Siku ya ishirini na nne ya mwezi huo huo watu wa Israeli walikusanyika, nao walikuwa wamefunga, nao walikuwa wamevaa magunia, nao wakaweka vumbi juu ya vichwa vyao.
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sack clothes, and earth upon them.
2 Wazao wa Israeli walijitenga na wageni wote. Walisimama na kukiri dhambi zao wenyewe na matendo maovu ya baba zao.
And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
3 Walisimama mahali pao, na robo ya siku walisoma kutoka Kitabu cha Sheria ya Bwana Mungu wao. Na robo nyingine ya siku walikiri na kuinama mbele ya Bwana Mungu wao.
And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
4 Walawi, Yeshua, Bani, Kadmieli, Shebaniya, Buni, Sherebia, Bani na Kenani, walisimama juu ya ngazi, wakamwita Bwana, Mungu wao kwa sauti kubwa.
Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.
5 Ndipo Walawi, na Yeshua, na Kadmieli, na Bani, na Hashabneya, na Sherebia, na Hodia, na Shebania, na Pethalia, wakasema, “Simameni, mkamsifu Bwana, Mungu wenu, milele na milele.” “Libarikiwe jina lako tukufu, lililotukuka kuliko baraka zote na sifa zote.
Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
6 Wewe ni Bwana. Wewe peke yako. Wewe umefanya mbinguni, mbingu za juu, na malaika wote wa vita vita, na dunia na kila kitu kilicho juu yake, na bahari na vyote vilivyomo. Unawapa wote uzima, na majeshi ya malaika wanakusujudia.
You, even you, are LORD alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.
7 Wewe ndiwe Bwana, Mungu aliyemchagua Abramu, akamtoa kutoka Uri wa Wakaldayo, akamwita Ibrahimu.
You are the LORD the God, who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham;
8 Uliona moyo wake ulikuwa mkamilifu mbele yako, nawe ukafanya pamoja naye agano la kuwapa wazao wake nchi ya Wakanaani, na Mhiti, na Mwamori, na Perizi, na Myebusi, na Wagirgashi. Umeweka ahadi yako kwa sababu wewe ni mwenye haki.
And found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and have performed your words; for you are righteous:
9 Uliona shida ya baba zetu Misri na ukasikia kilio chao kando ya bahari ya shamu.
And did see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red sea;
10 Wewe ulifanya ishara na maajabu juu ya Farao, na watumishi wake wote, na watu wote wa nchi yake, kwa maana ulijua kwamba Wamisri walifanya kwa kujivunia. Lakini ulijifanyia jina ambalo linasimama hadi siku leo.
And showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for you knew that they dealt proudly against them. So did you get you a name, as it is this day.
11 Ukagawanya bahari mbele yao, wakavuka katikati ya bahari juu ya nchi kavu; na ukawatupa wale waliowa ndani ya kina, kama jiwe ndani ya maji ya kina.
And you did divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors you threw into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.
12 Wewe uliwaongoza kwa nguzo ya wingu wakati wa mchana, na kwa nguzo ya moto wakati wa usiku, ili kuwamulikia njiani waweze kutembea katika nuru yake.
Moreover you led them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
13 Ulishuka juu ya Mlima Sinai ukazungumza nao kutoka mbinguni ukawapa amri za haki na sheria za kweli, amri nzuri na maagizo.
You came down also upon mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
14 Uliwajulisha sabato yako takatifu, ukawapa amri, maagizo, na sheria kupitia Musa mtumishi wako.
And made known unto them your holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your servant:
15 Uliwapa chakula kutoka mbinguni kwa ajili ya njaa yao, na maji kutoka mwamba kwa kiu yao, ukawaambia waende kuimiliki nchi uliyowaapa kwa kiapo kuwapa.
And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.
16 Lakini wao na baba zetu walifanya uasi, nao walikuwa wakaidi, wala hawakuzitii amri zako.
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to your commandments,
17 Walikataa kusikiliza, na hawakufikiri juu ya maajabu uliyofanya kati yao, lakini wakawa wakaidi, na katika uasi wao waliweka kiongozi ili wairudie hali ya utumwa. Lakini wewe ni Mungu ambaye amejaa msamaha, mwenye rehema na huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira, na wingi katika upendo thabiti. Wewe haukuwaacha.
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not.
18 Wala hukuwaacha hata walipokwisha kutoa ndama katika chuma kilichochomwa na kusema, “Huyu ndio Mungu wenu aliyekuleta kutoka Misri,” wakati walipopotoka sana.
Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
19 Wewe, kwa huruma yako, hukuwaacha katika jangwa. Nguzo ya wingu iliyowangoza njiani haikuwaacha wakati wa mchana, wala nguzo ya moto usiku iliwaangazia barabara ambayo walipaswa kutembea.
Yet you in your manifold mercies forsook them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.
20 Uliwapa Roho wako mzuri kuwafundisha, na mana yako haukuwanyima kinywani mwao, na ukawapa maji kwa kiu yao.
You gave also your good spirit to instruct them, and withheld not your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
21 Kwa miaka arobaini uliwaruzuku jangwani, na hawakukosa chochote. Nguo zao hazikuchakaa na miguu yao haikuvimba.
Yea, forty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
22 Uliwapa falme na watu, na ukawapa ardhi katika kila kona ya mbali. Basi wakaimiliki nchi ya Sihoni mfalme wa Heshboni, na nchi ya Ogu mfalme wa Bashani.
Moreover you gave them kingdoms and nations, and did divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
23 Uliwafanya watoto wao kuwa wengi kama nyota za mbinguni, na ukawaingiza katika nchi. Uliwaambia baba zao waingie na kumiliki.
Their children also multiplied you as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
24 Basi watu wakaingia, wakaimiliki nchi, ukawashinda wenyeji wa nchi hiyo, Wakanaani. Ukawatia mikononi mwao, pamoja na wafalme wao na watu wa nchi, ili Israeli afanye nao kama walivyotaka.
So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
25 Wao waliteka miji yenye nguvu na nchi yenye ustawi, nao wakachukua nyumba zenye vitu vyote vyema, birika zilizochimbwa, mizabibu na miti ya mizeituni, na miti ya matunda mengi. Kwa hiyo walikula na wakashiba na wakatosheka, na wakafurahi kwa wema wako.
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26 Basi hawakukutii na wakawaasi. Walitupa sheria yako nyuma ya migongo yao. Waliwaua manabii wako waliowaonya wakurudie wewe, nao wakafanya ukatili mkubwa.
Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their backs, and slew your prophets which testified against them to turn them to you, and they wrought great provocations.
27 Kwa hiyo ukawatia mikononi mwa adui zao, aliyewatesa. Na wakati wa mateso yao, walikulilia na wewe uliwasikia kutoka mbinguni na mara nyingi ukawaokoa katika mikono ya adui zao, kwa sababu ya huruma zako nyingi.
Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto you, you heard them from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
28 Lakini baada ya kupumzika, wakafanya mabaya tena mbele yako, nawe ukawaacha mikononi mwa adui zao, kwa hiyo adui zao wakatawala juu yao. Hata walipokurudia na kukulilia, ukasikia kutoka mbinguni, mara nyingi ukawaokoa kwa sababu ya huruma yako.
But after they had rest, they did evil again before you: therefore left you them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto you, you heard them from heaven; and many times did you deliver them according to your mercies;
29 Uliwaonya ili wapate kurudi kwenye sheria yako. Hata hivyo walifanya kiburi na hawakusikiliza amri zako. Walifanya dhambi dhidi ya amri zako ambazo humpa uzima mtu yeyote anayezitii. Hawakuzitii, hawakuzitenda na walikataa kuzisikiliza.
And testified against them, that you might bring them again unto your law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto your commandments, but sinned against your judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them; ) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
30 Kwa miaka mingi ukachukiliana nao na kuwaonya kwa Roho wako kwa njia ya manabii wako. Hata hivyo hawakusikiliza. Kwa hiyo ukawatia mikononi mwa watu wa jirani.
Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands.
31 Lakini kwa huruma zako kubwa hukuwakomesha kabisa, au kuwaacha, kwa maana wewe ni Mungu mwenye rehema na mwenye huruma.
Nevertheless for your great mercies' sake you did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 Basi, Mungu wetu, Mungu wetu mkuu, mwenye nguvu na mwenye kutisha, unayeweka agano lako na upendo wako, shida zote zilizotupata sisi, wafalme wetu, wakuu wetu, na makuhani wetu, na manabii wetu, na baba zetu, na watu wako wote tangu siku za wafalme wa Ashuru mpaka leo usizihesabu kuwa ni kidogo.
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keep covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before you, that has come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
33 Wewe ni mwenye haki katika yote yaliyotupata, kwa kuwa umetenda kwa uaminifu, na tumefanya uovu.
Nevertheless you are just in all that is brought upon us; for you have done right, but we have done wickedly:
34 Wafalme wetu, wakuu wetu, makuhani wetu, na baba zetu hawakuishika sheria yako, wala hawakuzingatia amri zako au shuhuda zako ulizowashuhudia.
Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor hearkened unto your commandments and your testimonies, wherewith you did testify against them.
35 Hata katika ufalme wao wenyewe, wakati walifurahia wema wako kwao, katika nchi kubwa na yenye mazao uliyoweka mbele yao, hawakukutumikia au kuacha njia zao mbaya.
For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
36 Sasa sisi ni watumwa katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu kufurahia matunda yake na zawadi zake nzuri, na tazama, sisi ni watumwa!
Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that you gave unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:
37 Mavuno mazuri kutoka nchi yetu huenda kwa wafalme uliowaweka juu yetu kwa sababu ya dhambi zetu. Watawala juu ya miili yetu na juu ya mifugo kama wanavyopenda. Tuna shida kubwa.
And it yields much increase unto the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
38 Kwa sababu ya yote haya, tunafanya agano thabiti kwa kuandika. Kwenye hati iliyofungwa ni majina ya wakuu wetu, Walawi, na makuhani.”
And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
