Nehemiah 1

1 Ọ̀rọ̀ Nehemiah ọmọ Hakaliah. Ní oṣù Kisleu ní ogún ọdún (ìjọba Ahaswerusi ọba Persia) nígbà tí mo wà ní ààfin Susa,

The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. And it happened that, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the capital city of Susa.

2 Hanani, ọ̀kan nínú àwọn arákùnrin mi wá láti Juda pẹ̀lú àwọn ọkùnrin kan, mo sì béèrè lọ́wọ́ wọn nípa àwọn Júù tí ó ṣẹ́kù tí wọn kò kó ní ìgbèkùn, àti nípa Jerusalẹmu.

And Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived, he and some men of Judah. And I questioned them about the Jews who had remained and were left behind from the captivity, and about Jerusalem.

3 Wọ́n sọ fún mi pé, “Àwọn tí ó kù tí a kó ní ìgbèkùn tí wọ́n sì padà sí agbègbè ìjọba wà nínú wàhálà púpọ̀ àti ẹ̀gàn. Odi Jerusalẹmu ti wó lulẹ̀ a sì ti fi iná sun ẹnu ibodè rẹ̀.”

And they said to me: “Those who have remained and have been left behind from the captivity, there in the province, are in great affliction and in disgrace. And the wall of Jerusalem has been broken apart, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 Nígbà tí mo gbọ́ àwọn nǹkan wọ̀nyí, mo jókòó mo sì sọkún. Mo ṣọ̀fọ̀, mo gbààwẹ̀, mo sì gbàdúrà fún ọjọ́ díẹ̀ níwájú Ọlọ́run ọ̀run.

And when I had heard this manner of words, I sat down, and I wept and mourned for many days. I fasted and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.

5 Nígbà náà ni mo wí pé: “Olúwa, Ọlọ́run ọ̀run, Ọlọ́run tí ó tóbi tí ó sì ní ẹ̀rù, tí ó ń pa májẹ̀mú ìfẹ́ rẹ̀ mọ́ pẹ̀lú wọn tí ó fẹ́ ẹ tí wọ́n sì ń pa àṣẹ mọ́.

And I said: “I beg you, O Lord, God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love you and who keep your commandments:

6 Jẹ́ kí etí rẹ kí ó ṣí sílẹ̀, kí ojú ù rẹ kí ó sì ṣí sílẹ̀ láti gbọ́ àdúrà tí ìránṣẹ́ rẹ ń gbà ní iwájú rẹ ní ọ̀sán àti ní òru fún àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ, àwọn ènìyàn Israẹli. Mo jẹ́wọ́ ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ àwa ọmọ Israẹli àti tèmi àti ti ilé baba mi, tí a ti ṣẹ̀ sí ọ.

may your ears be attentive, and may your eyes be open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you today, night and day, for the sons of Israel, your servants. And I am confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which they have sinned against you. We have sinned, I and my father’s house.

7 Àwa ti ṣe búburú sí ọ. A kò sì pa àṣẹ ìlànà àti òfin tí ìwọ fún Mose ìránṣẹ́ rẹ mọ́.

We have been seduced by vanity. And we have not kept your commandments and ceremonies and judgments, which you have instructed to your servant Moses.

8 “Rántí ìlànà tí o fún Mose ìránṣẹ́ rẹ, wí pé, ‘Bí ìwọ bá jẹ́ aláìṣòótọ́, èmi yóò fọ́n yín ká sí àárín àwọn orílẹ̀-èdè.

Remember the word which you commanded to your servant Moses, saying: ‘When you will have transgressed, I will disperse you among the nations.

9 Ṣùgbọ́n tí ẹ̀yin bá yípadà sí mi, tí ẹ bá sì pa àṣẹ mi mọ́, nígbà náà bí àwọn ènìyàn yín tí a kó ní ìgbèkùn tilẹ̀ wà ní jìnnà réré ìpẹ̀kun ọ̀run, èmi yóò kó wọn jọ láti ibẹ̀, èmi yóò sì mú wọn wá, sí ibi tí èmi ti yàn bí i ibùgbé fún orúkọ mi.’

But if you will return to me, and keep my precepts, and do them, even if you will have been led away to the furthest reaches of the heavens, I will gather you from there, and I will lead you back to the place that I have chosen so that my name would dwell there.’

10 “Àwọn ni ìránṣẹ́ rẹ àti ènìyàn rẹ àwọn tí ìwọ rà padà pẹ̀lú agbára ńlá rẹ àti ọwọ́ agbára ńlá rẹ.

And these same are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great strength and by your powerful hand.

11 Olúwa, jẹ́ kí etí rẹ ṣí sílẹ̀ sí àdúrà ìránṣẹ́ rẹ yìí, àti sí àdúrà àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ tí wọ́n ní inú dídùn láti bọ̀wọ̀ fún orúkọ rẹ. Fún ìránṣẹ́ rẹ ní àṣeyọrí lónìí kí o sì síjú àánú wò ó níwájú ọkùnrin yìí.” Nítorí tí mo jẹ́ agbọ́tí ọba nígbà náà.

I beg you, O Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who are willing to fear your name. And so, guide your servant today, and grant to him mercy before this man.” For I was the cupbearer of the king.