1 This is the account of what Nehemiah son of Hacaliah accomplished.
Nehemiah's Concern for Jerusalem
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor of Persia, I, Nehemiah, was in Susa, the capital city. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived from Judah with another group, and I asked them about Jerusalem and about the other Jews who had returned from exile in Babylonia. 3 They told me that those who had survived and were back in the homeland were in great difficulty and that the foreigners who lived nearby looked down on them. They also told me that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down and that the gates had not been restored since the time they were burned. 4 When I heard all this, I sat down and wept.
For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God, 5 “Lord God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command. 6 Look at me, Lord, and hear my prayer, as I pray day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess that we, the people of Israel, have sinned. My ancestors and I have sinned. 7 We have acted wickedly against you and have not done what you commanded. We have not kept the laws which you gave us through Moses, your servant. 8 Remember now what you told Moses: ‘If you people of Israel are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the other nations. 9 But then if you turn back to me and do what I have commanded you, I will bring you back to the place where I have chosen to be worshiped, even though you are scattered to the ends of the earth.’
10 “Lord, these are your servants, your own people. You rescued them by your great power and strength. 11 Listen now to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to honor you. Give me success today and make the emperor merciful to me.”
In those days I was the emperor's wine steward.
Nehemia me rikendere Jerusalem
1 Inga owo omaserekarerero waimbi Nehemia, omuzandu wa Hakalja, mbya tjita.
Momueze Kislev mombura oitjamirongo vivari, Artakerkes tja ri ombara ya Persie, ami, Nehemia, mba ri mOsusa, otjihuro ohongora. 2 Hanani, umwe wovangu vandje, weya okuza kOjuda puna ovarumendu tjiva. Nami mbe ve pura Jerusalem nOvajuda ovakwetu, mba kotokere okuza kouhuura mObabilon. 3 Owo ve ndji raera kutja imba mba hupire nu mba kotokere kozoyawo va ri mouzeu ounene, nokutja imba ovozonganda mba turire popezu ve ve nyengura. Owo wina ve ndji raera kutja otumbo twa Jerusalem ingee twa haṋika, nokutja omivero ingee kaviya yarurwa ko okuza koruveze ndwi ndu vya nyosirwe. 4 Ami tji mba zuva oviṋa mbi mba kara pehi ne riri.
Oure womayuva tjiva mba kara moruhoze, ambe ritjaere kovikurya, nekumbu nai ku Ndjambi: 5 “Muhona, Ndjambi weyuru! Oove Ndjambi omunene ngu u sokutiriwa! Ove u ṱakamisa omerikutiropamwe woye nouṱakame puna imba mbe ku suvera, nu mbe kara nonḓuviro komatwako woye. 6 Puratena, nu u tare ku ami, Muhona! Ndji zuvira ongumbiro yandje tji me kumbire ovakarere voye, ihi otjiwaṋa tja Israel, ouṱuku nomutenya. Ami me rihepura kutja eṱe, Ovaisrael, twa tjita ouvi; ootate mukururume na ami twa tura ondjo. 7 Eṱe twa tjita ourunde komurungu woye, nu katu yenenisire imbi mbi wa rakiza. Eṱe katu ṱakamisire omatwako ngu we tu pa notjinyo tja Moses, omukarere woye. 8 Zemburuka omambo ngu wa raera ku Moses, indu tji wa tja: ‘Eṋe, tjiwaṋa tja Israel, tji mu hi nouṱakame mu ami, me mu rimbi mokati koviwaṋa. 9 Nungwari tji mwa kotoka ku ami namu tjiti imbi mbi mbe mu rakiza me mu yarura koṋa ku mbe mu toororera okurikotamenenwa po, nangarire kutja mwa rimbara nga kovikoro vyehi.’
10 “Muhona, ovakarere voye owo mba, ihi otjiwaṋa tjoye omuini. Ove we ve yama nomasa nouvara woye. 11 Nambano zuvira ongumbiro yandje nozongumbiro zovakarere voye avehe varwe mbe vanga okukuyozika. Ndji pao ouṋingandu ndinondi, nu u tjite kutja ombara i ṱotjari na ami.”
Moruveze ndo ami tjandje owami omutirire womavinu wombara.
