Nehemia 1

1 Hakalia babarima Nehemia nsɛm ni: Ɔsram Kislev (bɛyɛ Obubuo) mpaemu akyi wɔ Ɔhene Artasasta adedi afe a ɛto so aduonu so no, na mewɔ Susa aban mu.

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 Me nuanom mmarima mu ɔbaako a wɔfrɛ no Hanani no ne mmarima bi a wofi Yuda ba bɛsraa me. Mibisaa wɔn Yudafo a nkae ne wɔn a wɔafi nnommum mu aba no ne Yerusalem ho asɛm.

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 Wɔka kyerɛɛ me se, “Nneɛma nkɔ yiye mma wɔn a wɔsan kɔɔ Yudaman mu no. Ɔhaw kɛse ne animguase aka wɔn. Wɔabubu Yerusalem fasu no agu fam, na wɔahyew apon no nso.”

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 Bere a metee eyinom no, metenaa ase sui. Nokware, mitwaa agyaadwo nna bi, bua dae, bɔɔ ɔsoro Nyankopɔn mpae.

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 Afei, mekae se, “Awurade, ɔsoro Nyankopɔn, Onyankopɔn a ɔyɛ ɔkɛse na ɔyɛ ɔnwonwani no, Onyankopɔn a ɔkora ne nokware dɔ apam a ɔwɔ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ no na wodi ne mmara nsɛm so no,

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 tie me mpaebɔ. Hwɛ me sɛ merebɔ mpae ma Israelfo anadwo ne awia. Mepae mu ka se, yɛayɛ bɔne atia wo. Yiw, mpo, me ara me fifo ne mʼankasa ayɛ bɔne!

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 Yɛayɛ bɔne kɛse sɛ yɛanni wo mmara nsɛm, wo mmara, ne wʼahyɛde a wonam wʼakoa Mose so de maa yɛn no so.

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 “Mesrɛ sɛ, kae asɛm a woka kyerɛɛ wʼakoa Mose se, ‘Sɛ moyɛ bɔne a, mɛtetew mo mu akɔ amanaman so.

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 Na sɛ mosan ba me nkyɛn, na mudi me mmara nsɛm so a, sɛ mpo, wɔatwa mo asu akɔ asase ano nohɔ koraa a, mede mo bɛsan aba faako a mayi asi hɔ sɛ wɔnhyɛ me din anuonyam no.’

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 “Yɛyɛ wʼasomfo, nnipa a wonam wo tumi kɛse so gyee yɛn no.

And they are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

11 Awurade, mesrɛ wo, tie me mpaebɔ. Tie yɛn mu bi a wɔn ani gye sɛ wɔhyɛ wo anuonyam no mpaebɔ. Mesrɛ sɛ, ma ensi me yiye, bere a merekɔ ɔhene nkyɛn akɔsrɛ no adom bi yi. Fa hyɛ ne koma mu, na ɔnyɛ me adɔe.” Na meyɛ ɔhene nsahyɛni.

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.