Àdúrà Nehemiah
1Ọ̀rọ̀ Nehemiah ọmọ Hakaliah:
Ní oṣù Kisleu ní ogún ọdún (ìjọba Ahaswerusi ọba Persia) nígbà tí mo wà ní ààfin Susa, 2Hanani, 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.
3Wọ́n 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.”
4Nígbà tí mo gbọ́ àwọn nǹkan wọ̀nyí, mo jókòó mo sì sọkún. Mo ṣọ̀fọ̀, mo gbààwẹ̀, mo sì gbàdúrà fún ọjọ́ díẹ̀ níwájú Ọlọ́run ọ̀run. 5Nígbà 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. 6Jẹ́ 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. 7Àwa ti ṣe búburú sí ọ. A kò sì pa àṣẹ ìlànà àti òfin tí ìwọ fún Mose ìránṣẹ́ rẹ mọ́.
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. 9Ṣùgbọ́n 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.’
10“Àwọn ni ìránṣẹ́ rẹ àti ènìyàn rẹ àwọn tí ìwọ rà padà pẹ̀lú agbára ńlá rẹ àti ọwọ́ agbára ńlá rẹ. 11Olúwa, 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 ṣíjú àánú wò ó níwájú Ọkùnrin yìí.”
Nítorí tí mo jẹ́ agbọ́tí ọba nígbà náà.
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.
