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 Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
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.
Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them about the Jews who 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.”
They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned 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.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several days; and I fasted and prayed 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 said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and 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 your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, I 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 against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.
8 Tafadhali kumbuka neno ulilomuamuru mtumishi wako Musa, 'mkitenda pasipo uaminifu, nitawatawanya kati ya mataifa,
“Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you among the peoples;
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 keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’
10 Sasa wao ni watumishi wako na watu wako, ambao uliwaokoa kwa nguvu yako kubwa na kwa mkono wako wenye nguvu.
“Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your 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.
Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
