Nehemias 9

1 Ngayon sa ika-dalawampu't-apat na araw ng parehong na buwan, ang bayan ng Israel ay nagpulong at sila ay nag-ayuno, at nagsuot sila ng telang sako, at naglagay ng alikabok sa kanilang mga ulo.

On October 31, the people gathered together again. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), they wore clothes made from rough cloth, and they put dirt on their heads [to show that they were sorry for their sins].

2 Inihiwalay ng mga kaapu-apuhan ng Israel ang kanilang sarili mula sa lahat ng mga dayuhan. Tumayo sila at nagtapat ng kanilang sariling mga kasalanan at masasamang mga gawain ng kanilang mga ninuno.

The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.

3 Tumayo sila sa kanilang mga lugar, at sa ika-apat na araw nagbasa sila mula sa Aklat ng Batas ni Yahweh na kanilang Diyos. Sa isa pang ika-apat na araw sila ay nagtatapat at yumuyuko sa harap ni Yahweh na kanilang Diyos.

The scroll that contained the laws of Yahweh, the God whom they [worshiped], was read to them for three hours. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and they worshiped Yahweh.

4 Ang mga Levita, sila Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Sebanias, Buni, Serebias, Bani, at Kenani, ay tumayo sa mga hagdan at sila ay tumawag ng may malakas na tinig kay Yahweh na kanilang Diyos.

[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.

5 Tapos ang mga Levita, Jeshua, at Kadmiel, Bani, Hasabneias, Serebias, Hodias, Sebanias at Petahias, ay sinabing, “Tumayo kayo at magbigay ng papuri kay Yahweh na inyong Diyos magpakailanman.” “Nawa pagpalain nila ang iyong maluwalhating pangalan, at madakila ito nang higit sa anumang pagpapala at pagpupuri.

Then [the leaders of] the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “While you are standing there, praise Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever!” [Then one of them continued by praying this to God], “Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! You are much greater than anything that we can think about or talk about!

6 Ikaw si Yahweh. Ikaw lamang. Ginawa mo ang langit, ang pinakamataas na kalangitan, kasama ng lahat ng kanilang mga anghel na nakahanda para sa digmaan, at ang lupa at lahat nang naroon, at ang mga dagat at lahat ng nasa kanila. Nagbigay ka ng buhay sa kanilang lahat, at ang hukbo ng mga anghel ng langit ay sumasamba sa iyo.

“You only are God. You made the sky and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas/oceans and everything that is in them. You are the one who gives life to everything and helps them remain alive. All the angels who are in heaven worship you.

7 Ikaw si Yahweh, ang Diyos na pumili kay Abram, at ang naglabas sa kaniya sa Ur ng Caldea, at ang nagbigay sa kaniya ng pangalang Abraham.

“Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, Abraham.

8 Natagpuan mong tapat ang kaniyang puso sa iyong harapan, at gumawa ka ng tipan sa kaniya na ibibigay mo sa kaniyang mga kaapu-apuhan ang lupain ng Cananeo, Heteo, Amoreo, Perezeo, Jebuseo at ng Gergeseo. Pinanatili mo ang iyong pangako dahil ikaw ay matuwid.

You saw that he was trustworthy. Then you made (an agreement with/a promise to) him, saying that you would give [to him and] to his descendants the land that the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Amor, Periz, Jebus, and Girgash lived in. And you have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.

9 Nakita mo ang paghihirap ng aming mga ninuno sa Ehipto at narinig mo ang kanilang mga hinagpis sa dagat ng mga Tambo.

“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.

10 Nagbigay ka ng mga tanda at kababalaghan laban sa Paraon, at sa lahat ng kaniyang mga alipin, at sa lahat ng mga tao sa kaniyang lupain, dahil alam mo na ang mga taga-Ehipto ay kumilos nang may pagmamataas laban sa kanila. Pero gumawa ka ng pangalan para sa iyong sarili na nananatili hanggang sa araw na ito.

Because you knew that the leaders of Egypt were treating our ancestors very arrogantly, you performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king and his officials and all his people to suffer. As a result, you became famous then, and you are still famous!

11 At hinati mo ang dagat sa kanilang harapan, kaya dumaan sila sa tuyong lupa sa gitna ng dagat; at tinapon ang mga humabol sa kanila papunta sa mga kailaliman, gaya ng isang bato sa malalim na katubigan.

You caused the Red Sea to divide, with the result that your people walked through it on the ground without [getting their feet] wet. [After they were all safely on the other side, ] you [caused the water to come back again], and you hurled into the deep water the [soldiers of the Egyptian army] that were pursuing our ancestors. Their soldiers sank into the deep sea like stones!

12 Ginabayan mo sila sa pamamagitan ng isang haliging ulap sa araw, at sa pamamagitan ng haliging apoy sa gabi, para ilawan ang kanilang daan nang sa gayon makalakad sila sa liwanag nito.

During each day you led our ancestors with a bright cloud that resembled a huge pillar, and each night you led them by a flaming cloud that gave them light to show them where to walk.

13 Sa bundok ng Sinai bumaba ka at kinausap sila mula sa langit at binigyan mo sila ng makatuwirang mga kautusan at totoong mga batas, mabuting mga alituntunin at mga kautusan.

“When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.

14 Pinaalam mo ang iyong Banal na Pamamahinga sa kanila, at binigyan mo sila ng mga kautusan at alituntunin at batas sa pamamagitan ni Moises na iyong lingkod.

You taught them about your holy (Sabbath/day of rest), and you gave many kinds of laws to your servant Moses for him to tell to the people.

15 Binigyan mo sila ng tinapay mula sa langit para sa kanilang gutom, at tubig mula sa isang bato para sa kanilang uhaw, at sinabi mo sa kanila na pumunta para angkinin ang lupain na pinangako mo na ibibigay sa kanila.

When they were hungry, you gave them manna from the sky; and when they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You commanded them to go and take, from the people who lived there, the land which you had promised to give to them.

16 Pero sila at ang aming mga ninuno ay kumilos ng may kalapastanganan, at matigas ang ulo nila, at hindi nakinig sa iyong mga kautusan.

“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.

17 Tumanggi silang makinig, at hindi nila inisip ang tungkol sa mga kababalaghan na iyong ginawa sa kanilang kalagitnaan, pero naging mapagmatigas sila, at sa kanilang paghihimagsik sila ay nagtalaga ng pinuno na magbabalik sa kanila sa pagkakaalipin. Pero ikaw ang Diyos na puno ng kapatawaran, mapagbigay-loob at mahabagin, hindi madaling magalit, at sagana sa pag-ibig na hindi nagbabago. Hindi mo sila iniwan.

They refused to heed you, and they forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. Instead, they became stubborn [IDM], and they appointed someone to lead them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives us and who is kind and merciful [to us]. You do not quickly become angry. You always faithfully love us.

18 Hindi mo sila iniwan kahit na sila ay gumawa ng guya mula sa tinunaw na bakal at sinabing, 'Ito ang inyong Diyos na nag-alis sa inyo sa Ehipto,' habang sila ay gumagawa ng labis na mga kalapastanganan.

So, even though their [leaders] made an idol that resembled a calf and insulted you by saying [about the idol], ‘This is our god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ you did not desert them.

19 Ikaw, at ang iyong kahabagan, ay hindi nagpabaya sa kanila sa ilang. Ang haliging ulap na gagabay sa kanila sa kanilang daan ay hindi sila iniwan sa araw, maging ang haliging apoy sa gabi para bigyan ng liwanag ang kanilang daan kung saan sila maglalakad.

“Because you always act mercifully, you did not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.

20 Binigay mo ang mabuti mong Espiritu para turuan sila, at ang iyong manna ay hindi mo ipinagkait sa kanilang mga bibig, at binigyan mo sila ng tubig para sa kanilang pagkauhaw.

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.

21 Sa apatnapung taon ibinigay mo ang kanilang pangangailangan sa ilang, at hindi sila nagkulang. Ang kanilang mga kasuotan ay hindi nasira at ang kanilang mga paa ay hindi namaga.

For 40 years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they had everything [that they needed]. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up [even though they were continually walking].

22 Binigyan mo sila ng mga kaharian at mamamayan, at nagtakda ka sa kanila ng lupain sa bawat malalayong sulok. Kaya kinuha nila bilang pag-aari ang lupain ni Haring Sihon ng Hesbon, at ang lupain ng Og na hari ng Bashan.

“You helped our ancestors to defeat armies of great kings who ruled many people-groups. By doing that, you enabled our ancestors to (occupy/live in) even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon [city] and the land over which King Og ruled in [the] Bashan [area].

23 Ginawa mo ang kanilang mga anak na kasing dami ng bituin sa langit, at dinala mo sila sa lupain. Sinabi mo sa kanilang mga ninuno na pumunta at angkinin iyon.

You caused our ancestors’ descendants to become as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into this land, the land that you told their fathers to enter and occupy.

24 Kaya ang mga tao ay pumunta doon at inangkin ang lupain, at sinakop mo bago pa man sila manirahan sa lupain, ang mga Cananeo. Binigay mo sila sa kanilang mga kamay, kasama ng kanilang mga hari at mga mamamayan ng lupain, para magawa ng Israel ang anumang naisin nila sa kanila.

Their sons went in and took the land [from the people that lived there]. You enabled them to defeat the descendants of Canaan who lived here in this land. You enabled them to conquer the descendants of Canaan and their kings and the people whom they ruled. You enabled our ancestors to do to those people whatever they wanted to do.

25 Nasakop nila ang mga matatatag na lungsod at masaganang lupain, at nasakop nila ang mga bahay na puno ng lahat ng mabubuting bagay, ang mga balon ay nahukay na, ang mga ubasan at halamanan ng olibo, at punong prutas ay nananagana. Kaya sila ay kumain, nabusog, nasiyahan, at labis na natuwa sa kanilang mga sarili dahil sa iyong dakilang kabutihan.

Our ancestors captured cities that had walls around them, and they took possession of fertile land. They took possession of houses that were full of good things, where there were wells that were already dug. They took possession of many vineyards and groves of olive trees and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to and became fat. They were delighted in all these good things that you gave to them.

26 Pagkatapos, sila ay naging suwail at naghimagsik laban sa iyo. Tinapon nila ang iyong batas sa kanilang likuran. Pinatay nila ang iyong mga propeta na nagbabala sa kanila na bumalik sa iyo, at gumawa sila ng matinding mga kalapastanganan.

“But they disobeyed you and rebelled against you. They (turned their backs on/rejected) your laws. They killed the prophets who warned them that they should return to you. They badly insulted you.

27 Kaya binigay mo sila sa kamay ng kanilang mga kaaway, na nagdulot ng kanilang paghihirap. At sa oras ng kanilang paghihirap, sila ay umiyak sa iyo at dininig mo sila mula sa langit at maraming beses mo silang iniligtas sa kamay ng kanilang mga kaaway dahil sa inyong dakilang awa.

So you allowed their enemies to defeat them. But when their enemies caused them to suffer, they called out to you. You heard them from heaven, and because you are very merciful, you sent them people to help them, and those leaders rescued them from their enemies.

28 Pero pagkatapos nilang makapagpahinga, gumawa ulit sila ng kasamaan sa harapan mo, at ipinaubaya mo sila sa kamay ng kanilang mga kaaway, kaya pinamahalaan sila ng kanilang mga kaaway. Pero nang bumalik sila at umiyak sa iyo, dininig mo sila mula sa langit, at maraming beses, dahil sa iyong habag, na iniligtas mo sila.

“But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did things that displeased you. So again you allowed their enemies to conquer them. But whenever they cried out to you again [to help them], you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them many times.

29 Binalaan mo sila para manumbalik sila sa iyong batas. Pero kumilos sila nang may pagmamataas at hindi nakinig sa iyong mga kautusan. Sila ay nagkasala laban sa iyong mga kautusan na nagbibigay ng buhay sa sinumang sumusunod dito. Hindi nila sinunod ang mga iyon, at hindi nila ito binigyan ng pansin, at tinanggihan nilang makinig sa mga iyon.

“You warned them that they should again [obey] your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your commands. They sinned by disobeying what you commanded them to do, the things that would enable them to live a good long life [if they obeyed them]. They stubbornly refused [IDM] to listen to you and continued sinning.

30 Sa maraming taon, sila ay pinagtiisan mo at binalaan ayon sa iyong Espiritu sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga propeta. Gayumpaman hindi pa rin sila nakinig. Kaya ibinigay mo sila sa mga kalapit-bansa.

You were patient with them for many years. You warned them trough [the messages] your Spirit gave to the prophets. But they did not (heed/pay attention to) those messages. So again you allowed [the armies of] other nations to defeat them.

31 Pero sa iyong dakilang habag hindi mo sila lubusang nilipol, o pinabayaan, dahil ikaw ay mahabagin at maawain na Diyos.

But because you act very mercifully, you did not get rid of them completely or abandon them [forever]. You are a very gracious/kind and merciful God!

32 Kaya ngayon, aming Diyos, ang dakila, ang makapangyarihan, at ang kamangha-manghang Diyos, na siyang tumutupad sa kaniyang tipan at tapat na pagmamahal, huwag mong maliitin ang lahat ng paghihirap na dumating sa amin, sa aming mga hari, sa aming mga prinsipe, sa aming mga pari, sa aming mga propeta, at sa aming mga ninuno, at sa lahat na iyong mga tao mula sa araw ng mga hari ng Asiria hanggang sa araw na ito.

“Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as [you promised in] your agreement with us that you would do! But now we are experiencing great difficulties/hardships. Great troubles have come to us, to our kings, to our [other] leaders, to our priests, and to our prophets. We have been experiencing these troubles since [the armies of] the kings of Assyria [conquered us], and we are still experiencing them. We ask that you sincerely think about [LIT] all these things.

33 Ikaw ay makatuwiran sa lahat ng bagay na dumating sa amin, dahil matapat mo kaming pinakitunguhan, at kami ay kumilos nang may kasamaan.

[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.

34 Ang aming mga hari, mga prinsepe, mga pari, at mga ninuno ay hindi pinanatili ang iyong batas, ni binigyang pansin ang iyong mga kautusan o ang mga utos mo sa tipan na babala sa kanila.

Our kings and other leaders and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave to them.

35 Kahit na sa kanilang sariling kaharian, habang sila ay nagsasaya sa iyong dakilang kabutihan sa kanila, sa malaki at masaganang lupain na hinanda mo sa kanila, hindi sila naglingkod sa iyo o lumayo mula sa kanilang masasamang gawi.

Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you. They refused to quit doing what was evil.

36 Ngayon sa lupain na binigay mo sa aming mga ninuno para masiyahan sa mga prutas at mabubuting kaloob, kami ay mga alipin, tingnan mo, kami ay mga alipin!

“So now we are [like] slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here.

37 Ang masaganang ani mula sa aming mga lupain ay napupunta sa mga hari na iyong itinakda para sa amin dahil sa aming mga kasalanan. Sila ang namamahala sa aming mga katawan at sa aming mga alagang hayop ayon sa kanilang kagustuhan. Kami ay nasa labis na pagdurusa.

Because we have sinned, [we cannot eat the things that grow here]. The kings that now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and [take] our cattle. We have to serve them and do the things that please them. We are experiencing great misery/distress.

38 Dahil sa lahat ng ito, kami ay gumawa ng isang matatag na tipan sa kasulatan. Sa selyadong dokumento ay ang mga pangalan ng aming mga prinsipe, mga Levita at mga pari.”

“However, we [Israeli] people now are making an agreement/promise [to obey you], and we are writing this agreement/promise [on a scroll]. We will write on it the names of our leaders and the names of the Levites and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it.”