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 ta ilikanene Ovaisraeli
1 Ehepaululo laNehemia yaHakalja.
Mohani yaKislev, momudo omutimilongo mbali fimbo nda li mombala yaSusa, 2 Hanani, umwe womovakwetu ye novalumenhu vamwe va dja kuJuda ve uya kwaame. Ndele nde va pula Ovajuda, ovaxupifwa va xupa po kokukwatwa ve li ngahelipi, naJerusalem oshi li ngahelipi. 3 Ndele va lombwela nge kutya, oonakuxupilwa venya va xupa po kokukwatwa, va fyaala moshilongo, ove li moluhepo linene nomefifohoni. Ohotekuma yaJerusalem oya ngumaunwa po noivelo yasho ya xwikwa po nomundilo. 4 Ndele eshi nda uda eendjovo edi, ame nda kala omutumba nokulila ndele nda nyika oluhodi omafiku mahapu. Ndele nde lidilika nonda indila koshipala shaKalunga komeulu, 5 ndele handi ti: “Akutu Omwene Kalunga komeulu, Oove Kalunga munene u nokutilika, ou ho diinine ehangano nonghenda kwaava ve ku hole ndele hava diinine oipango yoye, 6 okutwi kwoye naku ude nomesho oye naa pashuke, u pwilikine omailikano omupiya woye, ame eshi handi ilikanene koshipala shoye omutenya noufiku ovana vaIsrael, ovapiya voye, nokuhepaulula omatimba ovana vaIsrael, aa twa nyona kwoove; naame yo neumbo lange la nyona. 7 Fye twa nyona unene kwoove, ndele inatu diinina oipango neenghedimhango nomalombwelo, aa wa lombwela omupiya woye Moses. 8 Dimbulukwa hano ondjovo we i lombwela omupiya woye Moses nokutya: ‘Ngeenge tamu liteeka, Ame ohandi ke mu halakanifila mokati koiwana, 9 ndelenee ngeenge tamu lialuluka kwaame ndele tamu diinine oipango yange ndele tamu i wanifa, ovo va tewatewa nande va kale fiyo okomunghulo weulu, Ame ohandi va eta monhele oyo nde i hoolola edina lange li kale mo.’ 10 Vo ndishi ovapiya voye noshiwana shoye, ovo we va xupifa neenghono doye dinene neke loye la pama. 11 Akutu Omwene, okutwi kwoye naku ude hano eindilo lovapiya voye ovo va hala okutila edina loye! Ndele nena eli pa omupiya woye elao, u mu pe onghenda komesho yomulumenhu ou.” Osheshi ame nda li omupindili wohamba.
