Nehemia 9

1 Ɔsram Tisri (bɛyɛ Ahinime) da a ɛto so aduasa baako no, ɔmanfo no boaa wɔn ho ano, dii mmuada, furaa atweaatam, tuu mfutuma petee wɔn tirim.

Now on the twenty-fourth day of the same month the people of Israel were assembled and they were fasting, and they were wearing sackcloth, and they put dust on their heads.

2 Bere a wɔreka wɔn ankasa bɔne ne wɔn agyanom bɔne no, Israelfo no twee wɔn ho fii ananafo nyinaa ho.

The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood and confessed their own sins and the evil actions of their ancestors.

3 Wɔkenkan Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn, mmara nhoma no den bɛyɛ sɛ nnɔnhwerew abiɛsa kyerɛɛ wɔn. Afei, wɔde nnɔnhwerew abiɛsa bio kekaa wɔn bɔne nnidisonnidiso a na wɔresom Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn.

They stood up in their places, and for one-fourth of the day they read from the book of the law of Yahweh their God. For another fourth of the day they were confessing and bowing down before Yahweh their God.

4 Na Lewifo no bi gyina atrapoe so reteɛ mu frɛ Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn. Saa nnipa no ne Yesua, Bani, Kadmiel, Sebania, Buni, Serebia, Bani ne Kenani.

The Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani, stood on the stairs and they called out with a loud voice to Yahweh their God.

5 Afei, Lewifo ntuanofo a wɔne Yesua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hasabnia, Serebia, Hodia, Sebania ne Petahia teɛɛ mu frɛɛ ɔmanfo no se, “Monsɔre nkamfo Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn, efisɛ ɔte hɔ afebɔɔ!” Wɔtoaa so se, “Monkamfo ne din kronkron no. Ɛso sen sɛnea yebetumi adwene anaa yɛbɛka.

Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, “Stand up and give praise to Yahweh your God forever and ever.” “May they bless your glorious name, and may it be exalted above every blessing and praise.

6 Wo nko ara ne Awurade. Wo na wobɔɔ ɔsoro ne ɔsoro mu soro ne nsoromma nyinaa. Wo na wobɔɔ asase ne nea ɛwɔ so nyinaa ne ɛpo ne nea ɛwɔ mu nyinaa. Wo na wokora biribiara so ma no nkwa, na ɔsoro abɔfo nyinaa som wo.

You are Yahweh. You alone. You have made heaven, the highest heavens, with all their host, and the earth and everything on it, and the seas and all that is in them. You give life to them all, and the host of heaven worship you.

7 “Woyɛ Awurade Nyankopɔn a wuyii Abram fii Ur a ɛwɔ Kaldea asase so, san too no din Abraham.

You are Yahweh, the God who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name Abraham.

8 Odii wo nokware no, wo ne no yɛɛ apam sɛ, wode Kanaanfo, Hetifo, Perisifo Yebusifo ne Girgasifo asase bɛma ɔne nʼasefo. Na wudii wo bɔhyɛ so, efisɛ daa wudi wʼasɛm so.

You found his heart was faithful before you, and you made with him the covenant to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.

9 “Wuhuu amane ne awerɛhow a yɛn agyanom kɔɔ mu wɔ Misraim, na wotee wɔn su fi Po Kɔkɔɔ no ho.

You saw the affliction of our forefathers in Egypt and you heard their cry by the Sea of Reeds.

10 Woyɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne a ɛyɛ hu ne anwonwade kyerɛɛ Farao, nʼasomfo ne ne manfo nyinaa, efisɛ na wunim nhyɛso kwan a na Misraimfo no de wɔn fa so. Wowɔ anuonyam a ahyeta a ani mpa so da.

You gave signs and wonders against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians acted with arrogance against them. But you made a name for yourself which stands to this day.

11 Wopaee po mu maa wo nkurɔfo, sɛnea wobetumi afa asase wosee so. Na wusum wɔn atamfo guu po bun mu. Wɔmemem sɛ abo wɔ bun a emu dɔ no ase.

Then you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and threw those who pursued them into the depths, as a stone into deep waters.

12 Wonam omununkum fadum so dii yɛn agyanom anim awia ne ogya fadum so, dii wɔn anim anadwo sɛnea wobehu kwan.

You led them by a pillar of cloud during by day, and by a pillar of fire during the night to light the way for them to go.

13 “Wusian bepɔw Sinai, kasa kyerɛɛ wɔn fi ɔsoro. Wode mmara a ɛyɛ turodoo ne ahyɛde a ɛyɛ nokware brɛɛ wɔn.

On Mount Sinai you came down and you spoke with them from heaven and gave to them righteous decrees and true laws, good statutes and commandments.

14 Wokyerɛɛ wɔn mmara a ɛfa wo homeda kronkron ho. Na wonam wo somfo Mose so hyɛɛ wɔn sɛnea wonsi nni wʼahyɛde ne wo mmara no nyinaa so.

You made your holy Sabbath known to them, and you gave them commandments and statutes and a law through Moses your servant.

15 Bere a ɔkɔm dee wɔn no, womaa wɔn brodo a efi ɔsoro ne nsu a efi ɔbotan mu, bere a osukɔm dee wɔn no. Wohyɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnkɔfa asase a woaka ho ntam sɛ wode bɛma wɔn no.

You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and water from a rock for their thirst, and you said to them to go in to possess the land you swore on oath to give them.

16 “Nanso yɛn agyanom yɛɛ ahantan ne asoɔden, na wɔanni wʼahyɛde so.

But they and our ancestors acted disrespectfully, and they were stubborn, and did not listen to your commandments.

17 Wɔantie, na wɔankae wʼanwonwade a woyɛ maa wɔn no. Mmom, wɔtew atua yii ntuanoni sɛ ɔnsan mfa wɔn nkɔ wɔn nkoasom mu wɔ Misraim. Nanso woyɛ ɔdebɔnekyɛ, ahummɔbɔ ne ɔdomfo Nyankopɔn a wo bo kyɛ fuw na wʼadɔe dɔɔso. Enti woampo wɔn,

They refused to listen, and they did not think about the wonders that you had done among them, but became stubborn, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their slavery. But you are a God who is full of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. You did not abandon them.

18 bere a wɔyɛɛ nantwi ba na wɔka se, ‘Oyi ne mo nyame a, oyii mo fii Misraim no.’ Wɔyɛɛ bɔne, kekaa abususɛm a ɛyɛ hu.

Even when they had cast a calf out of molten metal and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great blasphemies,

19 “Nanso wo mmɔborɔhunu mu no, woannyaa wɔn amma wɔanwuwu wɔ sare no so. Omununkum fadum no kɔɔ so dii wɔn anim awia, na ogya fadum no kyerɛɛ wɔn kwan anadwo.

you, in your compassion, did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them on the way did not leave them during day, neither did the pillar of fire by night to light the way for them to go.

20 Wosomaa wo honhom pa no kyerɛɛ wɔn nea wɔnyɛ, na woannyae sɛ wobɛma wɔn brodo afi ɔsoro anaa nsu bere a osukɔm de wɔn.

Your good Spirit you gave them to instruct them, and your manna you did not withhold from their mouths, and water you gave them for their thirst.

21 Wohwɛɛ wɔn so mfe aduanan wɔ sare so. Saa bere no, biribiara anhia wɔn. Wɔn ntade antetew, na wɔn anan ase antaatae.

For forty years you provided for them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

22 “Woboaa yɛn agyanom ma wodii ahemman akɛse ne aman bebree so, na wode wo nkurɔfo duaa aman no afanan nyinaa so. Wɔfaa ɔhene Sihon a ofi Hesbon ne Basanhene Og asase no nyinaa.

You gave them kingdoms and peoples, assigning to them every corner of the land. Then they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 Womaa wɔn asefo dɔɔso sɛ ɔsoro nsoromma, na wode wɔn baa asase a woahyɛ wɔn agyanom ho bɔ no so.

You made their children as numerous as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you told their ancestors to go in and possess.

24 Wɔkɔfaa asase no. Wobrɛɛ aman no nyinaa ase wɔ wɔn anim. Na mpo, ahemfo ne Kanaanfo a wɔtenaa asase no so no tumi sae. Wo nkurɔfo ne wɔn dii no sɛnea wɔpɛ.

So the people went in and possessed the land and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites. You gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that Israel might do with them as they pleased.

25 Yɛn agyanom faa nkurow a wɔabɔ ho ban ne nsasebere no. Wɔfaa afi a nnepa wɔ mu ne asuten a wɔatutu dedaw no ne bobeturo ne ngofuw ne nnuabafuw no bebree. Enti wodidii ara kosii sɛ wɔdodɔ yɛɛ akɛse, na wɔn ani gyee wɔn ho wɔ wo nhyira mu.

They captured the fortified cities and a productive land, and they captured houses full of all good things, cisterns already cut out, vineyards and olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were satisfied and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in your great goodness.

26 “Nanso eyinom nyinaa akyi no, wɔyɛɛ asoɔden, tew wʼanim atua. Wɔtow wo mmara no guu nkyɛn. Wokunkum adiyifo a wɔhyɛɛ wɔn nkuran sɛ wɔnsan mmra wo nkyɛn no, na wɔkaa abususɛm a ɛyɛ hu.

Then they became disobedient and they rebelled against you. They threw your law behind their backs. They murdered your prophets who had warned them to turn back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.

27 Enti wode wɔn hyɛɛ wɔn atamfo nsa. Nanso wɔn amanehunu mu no, wosu frɛɛ wo, na wutiee wɔn fi ɔsoro. Na ahummɔbɔ a ɛso mu na wosomaa agyefo a wogyee wɔn fii wɔn atamfo nsam.

So you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. In the time of their suffering, they cried out to you, and you heard them from heaven, and because of your great mercies you sent them rescuers who rescued them out of the hand of their enemies.

28 “Nanso na nneɛma nyinaa rekɔ so yiye no, wo manfo san kɔɔ bɔne mu bio, na wosan maa wɔn atamfo dii wɔn so. Nanso bere biara a wo nkurɔfo besu afrɛ wo bio, apɛ mmoa no, wufi ɔsoro tiee wɔn bio. Wʼahummɔbɔ nwonwaso nti, wugyee wɔn ntoatoaso.

But after they had rest, they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so their enemies ruled over them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and many times because of your compassion you rescued them.

29 “Wobɔɔ wɔn kɔkɔ sɛ wɔnsan mmedi wo mmara no so, nanso wɔyɛɛ ahomaso ne asobrakye a wɔanni wʼahyɛde no so. Wɔanni wo mmara a sɛ nnipa di so a wɔnam so benya nkwa no so. Wɔnam ahomaso so, dan wɔn akyi kyerɛɛ wo a wɔampɛ sɛ wobetie wo.

You warned them so they might turn back to your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to your commands. They sinned against your decrees which give life to anyone who obeys them. They gave the stubborn shoulder-blade and stiffened their neck and refused to listen.

30 Wo dɔ nti, wunyaa wɔn ho ntoboase mfe bebree. Wosomaa wo honhom ma ɔnam adiyifo so bɔɔ wɔn kɔkɔ faa wɔn bɔne ho. Nanso wɔantie. Enti womaa abosonsomfo a wɔwɔ asase yi so no ho kwan ma wodii wɔn so bio.

For many years you put up with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they did not listen. So you gave them into the hand of the neighboring peoples.

31 Nanso wo mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso nti, woantɔre wɔn ase anaa woannyaa wɔn afebɔɔ. Woyɛ ɔdomfo ne ahummɔbɔ Nyankopɔn.

But in your great mercies you did not make a complete end of them, or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

32 “Afei, yɛn Nyankopɔn, ɔkɛse, otumfo ne ɔnwonwani Nyankopɔn a ne dɔ apam a ɔyɛe no ommu so, mma yɛn amanehunu a yɛkɔɔ mu no nyinaa nnyɛ ɔkwa wɔ wʼanim. Ɔhaw kɛse aba yɛn ne yɛn ahemfo, yɛn ahenemma ne asɔfo ne adiyifo ne yɛn agyanom so fi bere a Asiria ahemfo didii yɛn so nkonim, de besi saa bere yi.

Now therefore, our God—you great, mighty, and awesome God who keep your covenant and steadfast love—do not let all this hardship seem little to you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our ancestors, and on all your people from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.

33 Bere biara a wobɛtwe yɛn aso no, na ɛfata. Yɛayɛ bɔne kɛse a wotwe yɛn aso sɛnea ɛsɛ wɔ so.

You are just in everything that has come on us, for you have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.

34 Yɛn ahemfo, ahenemma, asɔfo, ne yɛn agyanom no anni wo mmara so anaa wʼahyɛde ne wo kɔkɔbɔ dennen no so.

Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law, nor paid attention to your commandments or your covenant decrees by which you warned them.

35 Mpo, bere a wɔn ankasa nyaa wɔn ahemman no, wɔansom wo wɔ bere a woahwie wʼayamye adom agu wɔn so no. Womaa wɔn nsase pa akɛse, nanso wɔannu wɔn ho amfi wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm ho.

Even in their own kingdom, while they enjoyed your great goodness to them, in the large and productive land you set before them, they did not serve you or turn away from their evil ways.

36 “Enti mprempren, yɛyɛ nkoa wɔ asase a nnepa abu so wɔ so a wode maa yɛn agyanom no so. Dodow yi nyinaa mu, yɛyɛ nkoa.

Now we are slaves in the land you gave our ancestors to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, and behold, we are slaves in it!

37 Nnɔbae a ebu so boro so no nyinaa akodi ahemfo a esiane yɛn bɔne nti, woatu wɔn sɛ wɔnhwɛ yɛn so no nsam. Wɔwɔ yɛn ne yɛn anantwi so tumi. Yɛsom wɔn sɛnea wɔpɛ, na yɛwɔ ahokyere kɛse mu.

The rich yield from our land goes to the kings you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.

38 “Eyinom nyinaa nti, yɛnam kurukyerɛw so rehyɛ bɔ a emu yɛ den. Saa nsɔwano krataa yi mu na yɛn ahenemma ne Lewifo ne asɔfo din wɔ.”

Because of all this, we make a firm covenant in writing. On the sealed document are the names of our princes, Levites, and priests.”