Nehemia 1
1 Maneno ya Nehemia mwana wa Hakalia Ikawa, katika mwezi wa Kisleu, katika mwaka wa ishirini, nilikuwa katika mji mkuu wa Sushani,
The words of Nehemiah the son of Chachalyah. And it came to pass in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan, the capital,
2 mmoja wa ndugu zangu, Hanani, alikuja pamoja na watu wengine kutoka Yuda, nami nikawauliza kuhusu Wayahudi waliopona, Wayahudi waliosalia waliokuwa huko, na kuhusu Yerusalemu.
That there came Chanani, one of my brethren, himself with certain men of Judah: and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 Wakaniambia, “Wale waliokuwa katika mkoa ule waliookoka katika kifungo wapo katika shida kubwa na aibu kwa sababu ukuta wa Yerusalemu umebomolewa na milango yake imeteketezwa kwa moto.”
And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great misery and in disgrace; and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and her gates are burnt with fire.
4 Na mara tu niliposikia maneno haya, nikakaa na kulia, na kwa siku niliendelea kuomboleza na kufunga na kuomba mbele ya Mungu wa mbinguni.
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned some days, and I was fasting, and praying before the God of heaven.
5 Ndipo nikasema, “Wewe ndiwe Bwana, Mungu wa mbinguni, Mungu uliye mkuu na kushangaza, unayetimiza agano na upendo wa kudumu pamoja na wale wanaokupenda na kushika amri zake.
And I said, I beseech thee, O Lord the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth the covenant and kindness for those that love him and for those that keep his commandments:
6 Sikiliza maombi yangu na fungua macho yako, ili uisikie sala ya mtumishi wako kwamba sasa nasali mbele yako mchana na usiku kwa ajili ya watu wa Israeli watumishi wako. Mimi ninakiri dhambi za watu wa Israeli, ambazo tumefanya dhidi yako. Wote mimi na nyumba ya baba yangu tumefanya dhambi.
Let thy ear now be attentive, and thy eyes be open, I entreat thee, to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I am praying this day before thee, by day and by night, in behalf of the children of Israel thy servants, and [as] I confess for the sins of the children of Israel, [with] which we have sinned against thee: yea, I also and my father's house have sinned.
7 Tumefanya uovu sana juu yako, na hatukuzingatia amri, sheria, na hukumu ambazo ulimwamuru mtumishi wako Musa.
We have dealt very corruptly toward thee: and we have not kept the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.
8 Tafadhali kumbuka neno ulilomuamuru mtumishi wako Musa, 'mkitenda pasipo uaminifu, nitawatawanya kati ya mataifa,
Remember, I beseech thee, the word with which thou didst charge Moses thy servant, saying, If ye become truly unfaithful, I will indeed scatter you among the nations.
9 lakini mkirudi kwangu na kufuata amri zangu na kuzifanya, ingawa watu wako walienea chini ya mbingu za mbali, Nami nitawakusanya kutoka huko na kuwaleta mahali pale nilipopachagua ili kulifanya jina langu.'
But if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them: [then] though your outcasts should be at the utmost parts of heaven, from there will I gather them, and I will bring them unto the place which I have chosen to let my name dwell there.
10 Sasa wao ni watumishi wako na watu wako, ambao uliwaokoa kwa nguvu yako kubwa na kwa mkono wako wenye nguvu.
And they are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11 Bwana, naomba, sikiliza sasa maombi ya watumishi wako na sala ya watumishi wako ambao hufurahia kuheshimu jina lako. Sasa unifanikishe mimi mtumishi wako leo, na unijalie rehema mbele ya mtu huyu.” Nilikuwa mnyweshaji wa mfalme.
I beseech thee, O Lord, do let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who are desirous to fear thy name; and grant success, I pray thee, to thy servant this day, and let him find mercy in the sight of this man —But I was butler by the king.
