Nehemia 1
1 Hakalia babarima Nehemia nsɛm nie: Ɔbosome Kislew (bɛyɛ Ɔpɛnimaa) mpaemu akyi wɔ Ɔhene Artasasta adedie afe a ɛtɔ so aduonu so no, na mewɔ Susa aban mu.
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 Me nuanom mmarima mu baako a wɔfrɛ no Hanani no ne mmarima bi a wɔfiri Yuda ba bɛsraa me. Mebisaa wɔn Yudafoɔ a wɔatumi atena nnommumfa mu no ho asɛm ne sɛdeɛ nsɛm rekɔ so wɔ Yerusalem.
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 Wɔka kyerɛɛ me sɛ, “Nneɛma nkɔ yie mma wɔn a wɔsane kɔɔ Yudaman mu no. Ɔhaw kɛseɛ ne animguaseɛ aka wɔn. Wɔabubu Yerusalem ɔfasuo no agu fam, na wɔahye apono no nso.”
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 burnt with fire.”
4 Ɛberɛ a metee yeinom no, metenaa ase suiɛ. Nokorɛm, metwaa agyaadwoɔ nna bi, bua daeɛ, bɔɔ ɔsoro Onyankopɔn mpaeɛ.
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 Afei, mekaa sɛ, “Ao Awurade, ɔsoro Onyankopɔn, Onyankopɔn a ɔyɛ kɛseɛ na ɔyɛ ɔnwanwani no, Onyankopɔn a ɔkora ne nokorɛ dɔ apam a ɔwɔ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ no na wɔdi ne mmaransɛm so no,
and said, “I beg you, LORD, 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 tie me mpaeɛbɔ. Hwɛ me sɛ merebɔ mpaeɛ ma Israelfoɔ anadwo ne awia. Mepae mu ka sɛ, yɛayɛ bɔne atia wo. Aane, mpo, me ara me fiefoɔ ne mʼankasa ayɛ bɔne!
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 Yɛayɛ bɔne kɛseɛ sɛ yɛanni wo mmaransɛm, wo mmara, ne wʼahyɛdeɛ a wonam wʼakoa Mose so de maa yɛn no so.
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 “Mesrɛ sɛ, kae asɛm a woka kyerɛɛ wʼakoa Mose sɛ, ‘Sɛ moyɛ bɔne a, mɛtete mo mu akɔ amanaman so.
“Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you amongst the peoples;
9 Na sɛ mosane ba me nkyɛn, na modi me mmaransɛm so a, sɛ mpo, wɔatwa mo asuo kɔ asase ano nohoa koraa a, mede mo bɛsane aba baabi a mayi asi hɔ sɛ wɔnhyɛ me din animuonyam.’
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 “Yɛyɛ wʼasomfoɔ, nnipa a wonam wo tumi kɛseɛ so gyee yɛn no.
“Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
11 Ao Awurade, mesrɛ wo, tie me mpaeɛbɔ. Tie yɛn mu bi a wɔn ani gye sɛ wɔhyɛ wo animuonyam no mpaeɛbɔ. Mesrɛ sɛ, ma ɛnsi me yie wɔ ɛberɛ a merekɔ ɔhene nkyɛn akɔbisa no adom bi yi. Fa hyɛ nʼakoma mu, na ɔnyɛ me adɔeɛ.” Saa mmerɛ no na meyɛ ɔhene nsãhyɛni.
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.
