Nehemia 1
1 Maneno ya Nehemia mwana wa Hakalia Ikawa, katika mwezi wa Kisleu, katika mwaka wa ishirini, nilikuwa katika mji mkuu wa Sushani,
[I am] Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. [I am writing] this account [of what I did when I returned to Jerusalem. After King Artaxerxes had been ruling the Persian Empire] for almost 20 years, near the end of that year, I was in Susa, the capital [of Persia].
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.
My brother Hanani came to visit me. He and some other men had just returned from Judah. I queried them about the Jews who were living there, whose [parents] had been (exiled/taken forcefully) [to Babylonia many years previously]. I also asked them about [what was happening in] 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.”
They said to me, “The Jews in Jerusalem who returned there from Babylonia are living in a very difficult situation. The walls of the city have been broken down, and even the city gates have been burned down.”
4 Na mara tu niliposikia maneno haya, nikakaa na kulia, na kwa siku niliendelea kuomboleza na kufunga na kuomba mbele ya Mungu wa mbinguni.
When I heard that, I sat down and cried. For several days I mourned, and I (fasted/abstained from eating food), and I prayed to our God, [who is/rules] in 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.
I said, “Yahweh, [you who are/rule] in heaven, you are a wonderful and awesome God. You keep your promise to faithfully love those who love you and who obey your commands.
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.
Now please look down and listen to what I am praying. I pray during the day and at night for your Israeli people. I confess that we Israeli people have sinned. Even my family and I have sinned against you.
7 Tumefanya uovu sana juu yako, na hatukuzingatia amri, sheria, na hukumu ambazo ulimwamuru mtumishi wako Musa.
We have acted very wickedly. [Many years ago] your servant Moses gave us your laws and all the things you commanded us to do [DOU], but we have not obeyed/done them.
8 Tafadhali kumbuka neno ulilomuamuru mtumishi wako Musa, 'mkitenda pasipo uaminifu, nitawatawanya kati ya mataifa,
“But please remember what you told your servant Moses. You said, ‘If you sin, I will scatter you among the ([heathen nations/nations that do not believe in me]).
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 you return to me and obey my commands, even if you have been exiled to very remote/distant places on the earth, I will bring you back here [to Israel], the land that I [MTY] have chosen to be honored in.’
10 Sasa wao ni watumishi wako na watu wako, ambao uliwaokoa kwa nguvu yako kubwa na kwa mkono wako wenye nguvu.
“We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
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.
Yahweh, please hear this prayer of mine, and the prayers of all your people who are delighted to revere you [MTY]. Today I will go to the king, to request that he do me a great favor. Please motivate him to act kindly toward me, in order that I will be successful [in obtaining what I want].” At that time, I was the one whose work was to taste all the food and drink before it was served to the king, [to be sure that no one had put poison in it].
