Nehemiah’s Prayer
1The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king.
Pemphero la Nehemiya
1Awa ndi mawu a Nehemiya mwana wa Hakaliya:
Pa mwezi wa Kisilevi, chaka cha makumi awiri, pamene ndinali mu mzinda wa Susa, 2Hanani mmodzi mwa abale anga, anabwera ndi anthu ena kuchokera ku Yuda, ndipo ine ndinawafunsa za Ayuda otsala amene sanatengedwe ukapolo, ndiponso za mzinda wa Yerusalemu.
3Anandiyankha kuti, “Amene sanatengedwe ukapolo aja ali pa mavuto aakulu ndipo ali ndi manyazi. Khoma la Yerusalemu ndilogamukagamuka ndipo zipata zake zinatenthedwa ndi moto.”
4Nditamva zimenezi, ndinakhala pansi ndi kuyamba kulira. Ndinalira kwa masiku angapo. Ndinkasala zakudya ndi kumapemphera pamaso pa Mulungu Wakumwamba. 5Ndinkati:
“Inu Yehova, Mulungu wakumwamba, Mulungu wamkulu ndi woopsa. Mumasunga pangano ndi kuonetsa chikondi chosasinthika kwa onse amene amakukondani ndi kumvera malamulo anu. 6Tcherani khutu lanu ndi kutsekula maso anu kuti mumve pemphero la mtumiki wanune limene ndikupemphera usana ndi usiku pamaso panu kupempherera Aisraeli, atumiki anu. Ndikuvomereza machimo a Aisraeli amene tinakuchimwirani. Ndithu, ine ndi banja la makolo anga tinakuchimwirani. 7Ife tinakuchitirani zoyipa zambiri. Sitinamvere mawu anu, malamulo ndi malangizo anu amene munapereka kwa mtumiki wanu Mose.
8“Kumbukirani mawu amene munawuza mtumiki wanu Mose akuti, ‘Ngati mukhala osakhulupirika, ndidzakubalalitsani pakati pa mitundu ina. 9Koma mukabwerera kwa Ine, mukamvera malamulo anga ndi kuwatsatadi, ndiye kuti ngakhale anthu anu atabalalika kutali chotani, Ine ndidzawasonkhanitsa kuchokera kumeneko ndi kubwera nawo ku malo amene ndinasankha kuti azidzayitanira dzina langa.’
10“Iwo ndi atumiki anu ndi anthu anu, amene munawawombola ndi mphamvu yanu yayikulu ndi dzanja lanu lamphamvu. 11Inu Ambuye tcherani khutu lanu kuti mumve pemphero la mtumiki wanune ndiponso pemphero la atumiki anu amene amakondwera kuchitira ulemu dzina lanu. Lolani kuti mtumiki wanune zinthu zindiyendere bwino lero ndi kuti mfumu indichitire chifundo.”
Nthawi imeneyi nʼkuti ndili woperekera zakumwa kwa mfumu.
