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-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth, and dirt on them.

2 Wazao wa Israeli walijitenga na wageni wote. Walisimama na kukiri dhambi zao wenyewe na matendo maovu ya baba zao.

The offspring of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners 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.

They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed and worshiped 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 Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani of the Levites stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to 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, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting! 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 are the LORD, even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army 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 chose Abram, brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, 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.

found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his offspring, 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.

“You saw 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 against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for yourself, as it is today.

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.

You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, 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, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which 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 also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

14 Uliwajulisha sabato yako takatifu, ukawapa amri, maagizo, na sheria kupitia Musa mtumishi wako.

and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by 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 the sky for their hunger, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst, and commanded 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 behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen 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. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, 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 abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them.

18 Wala hukuwaacha hata walipokwisha kutoa ndama katika chuma kilichochomwa na kusema, “Huyu ndio Mungu wenu aliyekuleta kutoka Misri,” wakati walipopotoka sana.

Yes, when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awful blasphemies,

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 didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which 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 didn’t withhold 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.

“Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.

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 peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even 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.

You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said 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 peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased.

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.

They took fortified cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, 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, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.

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 adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hands of their adversaries.

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 you left them in the hands of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered 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 to your law. Yet they were arrogant, and didn’t listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened 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 you put up with them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not listen. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

31 Lakini kwa huruma zako kubwa hukuwakomesha kabisa, au kuwaacha, kwa maana wewe ni Mungu mwenye rehema na mwenye huruma.

“Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of 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 awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

33 Wewe ni mwenye haki katika yote yaliyotupata, kwa kuwa umetenda kwa uaminifu, na tumefanya uovu.

However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, 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.

Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified 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 rich land which you gave before them. They didn’t turn 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 today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, 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.

It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies and over our livestock, 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.”

Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it.”