1
Basi hapo Ezra alipokuwa akiomba na kuungama, akilia, na kujiangusha kifudifudi mbele ya nyumba ya Mungu, wakamkusanyikia katika Israeli wote kusanyiko kubwa sana la wanaume, na wanawake, na watoto; maana watu hao walikuwa wakilia sana.
While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.
2
Hata Shekania, mwana wa Yehieli, mmoja wa wana wa Elamu, akajibu, akamwambia Ezra, Sisi tumemkosa Mungu wetu, nasi tumeoa wanawake wageni wa watu wa nchi hizi; lakini kungaliko tumaini kwa Israeli katika jambo hili.
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.
3
Haya basi! Na tufanye agano na Mungu wetu, kuachana na wake zetu, na wale waliozaliwa nao, tukilifuata shauri la bwana wangu, na shauri la hao wanaoitetemekea amri ya Mungu wetu; mambo haya na yatendeke kwa kuifuata torati.
So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.
4
Inuka; maana shughuli hii yakuhusu wewe; na sisi tu pamoja nawe; uwe na moyo mkuu, ukaitende.
Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”
5
Ndipo Ezra akaondoka, akawaapisha wakuu wa makuhani, na Walawi, na Israeli wote, ya kwamba watafanya kama hayo. Basi wakaapa.
So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.
6
Kisha Ezra akaondoka hapo mbele ya nyumba ya Mungu, akaingia katika chumba cha Yehohanani, mwana wa Eliashibu; hata, alipofika huko, hakula mkate, wala hakunywa maji; kwa maana alilia kwa sababu ya kosa lile la watu wa uhamisho.
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7
Wakapiga mbiu katika Yuda yote na Yerusalemu, ya kwamba wana wote wa uhamisho wakusanyike pamoja huko Yerusalemu;
And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.
8
na ya kwamba mtu awaye yote asiyekuja katika muda wa siku tatu, kwa shauri lile la wakuu na wazee, basi aondolewe mali zake zote, akatengwe yeye mwenyewe na mkutano wa uhamisho.
Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
9
Ndipo wanaume wote wa Yuda na Benyamini wakakusanyika katika muda wa siku tatu; ulikuwa mwezi wa kenda, siku ya ishirini ya mwezi; na watu wote wakaketi katika uwanja mbele ya nyumba ya Mungu, wakitetemeka kwa sababu ya neno hilo, na kwa sababu ya mvua kubwa.
So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.
10
Kisha Ezra, kuhani, akasimama, akawaambia, Mmekosa, mmeoa wanawake wageni, kuiongeza hatia ya Israeli.
Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.
11
Sasa basi, ungameni mbele za Bwana, Mungu wa baba zenu, mkatende alipendalo; mkajitenge na watu wa nchi, tena na wanawake wageni.
Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”
12
Ndipo mkutano wote wakajibu, wakasema, kwa sauti kuu, Kama ulivyosema katika habari yetu, ndivyo vitupasavyo kutenda.
And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!
13
Lakini watu hawa ni wengi, tena ni wakati wa mvua nyingi, nasi hatuwezi kusimama nje, tena kazi hii si kazi ya siku moja, wala ya siku mbili; maana tumekosa sana katika jambo hili.
But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.
14
Basi maakida wetu na wawekwe kwa ajili ya mkutano wote, na watu wote walio katika miji yetu, waliooa wanawake wageni, na waje nyakati zilizoamriwa, tena pamoja nao na waje wazee wa kila mji, na makadhi wa miji hiyo, hata ghadhabu kali ya Mungu wetu itakapotuondokea mbali, jambo hili likamalizike.
Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”
15
Yonathani, mwana wa Asaheli, na Yazeya, mwana wa Tikwa, hawa peke yao ndio waliosimama kulipinga neno hilo; na Meshulamu, na Shabethai Mlawi, wakawasaidia.
(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.)
16
Basi wana wa uhamisho wakafanya hivyo. Na Ezra, kuhani, akatengwa, pamoja na baadhi ya wakuu wa mbari za mababa, kwa hesabu ya mbari ya baba zao; na hao wote kwa majina yao. Wakaketi siku ya kwanza ya mwezi wa kumi, ili kulichunguza jambo hilo.
So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation,
17
Wakamaliza mambo ya wanaume wote, waliokuwa wameoa wanawake wageni, siku ya kwanza ya mwezi wa kwanza.
and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.
18
Basi, miongoni mwa makuhani walionekana wengine waliokuwa wameoa wanawake wageni; wa wana wa Yoshua, mwana wa Yosadaki, na nduguze; Maaseya, na Eliezeri, na Yaribu, na Gedalia.
Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19
Nao wakatoa ahadi ya kwamba wataachana na wake zao; na kwa kuwa walikuwa na hatia, wakatoa kondoo mume kwa hatia yao.
They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.
20
Na wa wana wa Imeri; Hanani, na Zebadia.
From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21
Na wa wana wa Harimu; Maaseya, na Eliya, na Shemaya, na Yehieli, na Uzia.
From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22
Na wa wana wa Pashuri; Elioenai, na Maaseya, na Ishmaeli, na Nethaneli, na Yozabadi, na Elasa.
From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23
Na wa Walawi; Yozabadi, na Shimei, na Kelaya (ndiye Kelita), na Pethahia, na Yuda, na Eliezeri.
Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24
Na wa waimbaji; Eliashibu. Na wa mabawabu; Shalumu, na Telemu, na Uri.
From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25
Na wa Israeli; wa wana wa Paroshi; Ramia, na Izia, na Malkiya, na Miyamini, na Eleazari, na Malkiya, na Benaya.
And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26
Na wa wana wa Elamu; Matania, na Zekaria, na Yehieli, na Abdi, na Yeremothi, na Eliya.
From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27
Na wa wana wa Zatu; Elioenai, na Eliashibu, na Matania, na Yeremothi, na Zabadi, na Aziza.
From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28
Na wa wana wa Bebai; Yehohanani, na Hanania, na Zakai, na Athlai.
From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29
Na wa wana wa Bani; Meshulamu, na Maluki, na Adaya, na Yashubu, na Sheali, na Yeremothi.
From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30
Na wa wana wa Pahath-Moabu; Adna, na Kelali, na Benaya, na Maaseya, na Matania, na Besaleli, na Binui, na Manase.
From the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31
Na wa wana wa Harimu; Eliezeri, na Ishiya, na Malkiya, na Shemaya, na Shimeoni,
From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32
na Benyamini, na Maluki, na Shemaria.
Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33
Na wa wana wa Hashumu; Matenai, na Matata, na Zabadi, na Elifeleti, na Yeremai, na Manase, na Shimei.
From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34
Na wa wana wa Bani; Maadai, na Amramu, na Ueli,
From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35
na Benaya, na Bedeya, na Keluhi,
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
36
na Wania, na Meremothi, na Eliashibu,
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37
na Matania, na Matenai, na Yaasu.
Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38
Na wa wana wa Binui; Shimei,
From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei,
39
na Shelemia, na Nathani, na Adaya,
Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40
na Maknadebai, na Shashai, na Sharai,
Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41
na Azareli, na Shelemia, na Shemaria,
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42
na Shalumu, na Amaria, na Yusufu.
Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43
Na wa wana wa Nebo; Yeieli, na Matithia, na Zabadi, na Zebina, na Ido, na Yoeli, na Benaya.
And from the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44
Hao wote walikuwa wameoa wanawake wageni; na wake zao wengine walikuwa wamezaa watoto.
All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.