Nehemiah Prays to the Lord
1These are the words of Nehemiah. He was the son of Hakaliah.
I was in the fort of Susa. I was there in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king. It was in the month of Kislev. 2At that time Hanani came from Judah with some other men. He was one of my brothers. I asked him and the other men about the Jews who were left alive in Judah. They had returned from Babylon. I also asked him about Jerusalem.
3He and the men with him said to me, “Some of the people who returned are still alive. They are back in the land of Judah. But they are having a hard time. They are ashamed. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire.”
4When I heard about these things, I sat down and wept. For several days I was very sad. I didn’t eat any food. And I prayed to the God of heaven. 5I said,
“Lord, you are the God of heaven. You are a great and wonderful God. You keep the covenant you made with those who love you and obey your commandments. You show them your love. 6Please pay careful attention to my prayer. See how your people are suffering. Please listen to me. I’m praying to you day and night. I’m praying for the people of Israel. We Israelites have committed sins against you. All of us admit it. I and my family have also sinned against you. 7We’ve done some very evil things. We haven’t obeyed the commands, rules and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8“Remember what you told him. You said, ‘If you people are not faithful, I will scatter you among the nations. 9But if you return to me, I will bring you back. If you obey my commands, I will gather you together again. I will bring you back from the farthest places on earth. I will bring you to the special place where I have chosen to put my Name.’
10“Lord, they are your people. They serve you. You used your great strength and mighty hand to set them free from Egypt. 11Lord, please pay careful attention to my prayer. Listen to the prayers of all of us. We take delight in bringing honor to your name. Give me success today when I bring my request to King Artaxerxes.”
I was the king’s wine taster.
Maombi Ya Nehemia
11:1 Neh 10:1; Ezr 7:8; Zek 7:1; Dan 8:2; Neh 2:1; Es 1:2Maneno ya Nehemia mwana wa Hakalia:
Katika mwezi wa Kisleu1:1 Kisleu ni mwezi wa tisa katika kalenda ya Kiyahudi; katika kalenda yetu ni Novemba/Desemba (ona pia Zekaria 7:1). katika mwaka wa ishirini, wakati nilikuwa ngomeni katika jumba la kifalme la Shushani, 21:2 Neh 7:2; 2Fal 21:4; Neh 7:6; Yer 52:28Hanani, mmoja wa ndugu zangu, alikuja kutoka Yuda akiwa na watu wengine, nami nikawauliza kuhusu mabaki ya Wayahudi wale walionusurika kwenda uhamishoni na pia kuhusu Yerusalemu.
31:3 Law 26:31; Mao 2:9; Yer 5:10; Law 26:31; 2Fal 25:10; Neh 2:3, 13, 17; Isa 22:9Wakaniambia, “Wale walionusurika kwenda uhamishoni, wale ambao wamerudi kwenye lile jimbo, wako katika taabu kubwa na aibu. Ukuta wa Yerusalemu umebomoka, na malango yake yamechomwa moto.”
41:4 Za 137:1; 2Nya 20:3; Ezr 9:4; Dan 9:3Niliposikia mambo haya, niliketi, nikalia. Kwa siku kadhaa niliomboleza na kufunga na kuomba mbele za Mungu wa mbinguni. 51:5 Kum 7:21; Neh 4:14; Kum 7:9; 1Fal 8:23; Ebr 6:13-18Kisha nikasema:
“Ee Bwana, Mungu wa mbinguni, mkuu na mwenye kuogofya, ambaye hulishika agano lake la upendo na wale wampendao na kutii amri zake, 61:6 2Nya 7:15; 1Fal 8:30; 2Nya 6:40; 1Fal 8:47tega masikio yako, na ufungue macho yako, ili usikie maombi ya mtumishi wako anayoomba mbele yako usiku na mchana kwa ajili ya watumishi wako, watu wa Israeli. Ninaungama dhambi zetu sisi Waisraeli, pamoja na zangu na za nyumba ya baba yangu, tulizotenda dhidi yako. 71:7 Kum 28:14-15; Za 106:6Tumetenda uovu sana mbele zako. Hatukutii amri, maagizo na sheria ulizompa Mose mtumishi wako.
81:8 Mwa 8:1; Law 26:33; Kum 4:25“Kumbuka agizo ulilompa Mose mtumishi wako, ukisema, ‘Kama mkikosa uaminifu, nitawatawanya miongoni mwa mataifa, 91:9 Kum 30:4; Eze 20:34-38; Mik 2:12lakini mkinirudia na kutii amri zangu, ndipo hata kama watu wenu walio uhamishoni wako mbali sana katika miisho ya dunia, nitawakusanya kutoka huko na kuwaleta mahali ambapo nimepachagua kuwa makao kwa ajili ya Jina langu.’
101:10 Kum 9:29; Isa 51:9-11; Dan 9:15“Hawa ni watumishi wako na watu wako, uliowakomboa kwa nguvu zako kuu na mkono wako wenye nguvu. 111:11 2Nya 6:40; Mwa 40:1; 32:11; Isa 26:8Ee Bwana, tega sikio lako na usikie maombi ya huyu mtumishi wako, na maombi ya watumishi wako wanaofurahia kuliheshimu Jina lako. Nipe leo, mimi mtumishi wako, mafanikio kwa kunipa kibali mbele ya mtu huyu.”
Kwa maana nilikuwa mnyweshaji wa mfalme.
