1
Na mambo hayo yalipokwisha kutendeka, wakuu wakanikaribia, wakisema, Watu wa Israeli, na makuhani, na Walawi, hawakujitenga na watu wa nchi hizi, wamefanya sawasawa na machukizo yao, yaani, ya Wakanaani, na Wahiti, na Waperizi, na Wayebusi, na Waamoni, na Wamoabi, na Wamisri, na Waamori.
After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
2
Maana wametwaa binti zao kuwa wake zao, na wake za watoto wao; basi mbegu takatifu wamejichanganya na watu wa nchi hizi; naam, mkono wa wakuu na mashehe umetangulia katika kosa hili.
Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”
3
Nami niliposikia hayo, nikararua nguo yangu na joho yangu, nikang'oa nywele za kichwa changu, na ndevu zangu, nikaketi kwa mshangao.
When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.
4
Ndipo wakanikusanyikia watu wote walioyatetemekea maneno ya Mungu wa Israeli, kwa sababu ya lile kosa la watu wa uhamisho; nami nikaketi kwa mshangao hata wakati wa sadaka ya jioni.
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.
5
Na wakati wa sadaka ya jioni nikainuka baada ya kunyenyekea kwangu, nguo yangu na joho yangu zimeraruliwa, nikaanguka magotini nikakunjua mikono yangu mbele za Bwana, Mungu wangu;
At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
6
nikasema, Ee Mungu wangu, nimetahayari, naona haya kuinua uso wangu mbele zako, Mungu wangu; kwa maana maovu yetu ni mengi, hata yamefika juu ya vichwa vyetu, na hatia yetu imeongezeka na kufika mbinguni.
and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
7
Tangu siku za baba zetu tumekuwa na hatia kupita kiasi hata leo; na kwa sababu ya maovu yetu sisi, na wafalme wetu, na makuhani wetu, tumetiwa katika mikono ya wafalme wa nchi hizi, tumepigwa kwa upanga, tumechukuliwa mateka, tumenyang'anywa mali zetu, tumetiwa haya nyuso zetu, kama hivi leo.
From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and subjected to the sword and to captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.
8
Na sasa kwa muda kidogo tumeneemeshwa na Bwana, Mungu wetu, hata akatuachia mabaki yaokoke, akatupa msumari katika mahali pake patakatifu. Mungu wetu atutie nuru machoni mwetu, tuburudike kidogo katika kufungwa kwetu.
But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.
9
Maana sisi tu watumwa; lakini Mungu wetu hakutuacha katika utumwa wetu, bali ametufikilizia rehema zake, mbele ya wafalme wa Uajemi, ili kutuburudisha, kuisimamisha nyumba ya Mungu wetu, na kuitengeneza palipobomoka, atupe ukuta katika Yuda na Yerusalemu.
Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but He has extended to us grace in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and giving us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
10
Na sasa, Ee Mungu wetu, tuseme nini baada ya hayo? Maana tumeziacha amri zako,
And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments
11
ulizoziamuru kwa midomo ya watumishi wako, manabii, ukisema, Nchi ile, mnayoiendea ili kuimiliki, ni nchi ya uchafu, kwa sababu ya uchafu wa watu wa nchi zile, kwa ajili ya machukizo yao, yaliyoijaza tangu upande huu mpaka upande huu, kwa uchafu wao.
that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end.
12
Basi, msiwape wana wao binti zenu, wala msitwae binti zao kuwa wake za wana wenu, wala msiwatakie amani wala kufanikiwa milele; ili mpate kuwa hodari, na kula wema wa nchi hiyo, na kuwaachia watoto wenu iwe urithi wa milele.
Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’
13
Na baada ya hayo yote yaliyotupata kwa sababu ya matendo yetu mabaya, na kwa sababu ya hatia yetu iliyo kuu, ikiwa wewe Mungu wetu hukutuadhibu kama tulivyostahili kwa maovu yetu, tena umetupa mabaki;
After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),
14
je! Tuzivunje tena amri zako, tukajiunge na watu wanaotenda machukizo hayo, kwa kuoana nao? Je! Usingekasirika nasi hata kutuangamiza kabisa, pasisalie mabaki yo yote, wala mtu wa kuokoka?
shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?
15
Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, wewe ndiwe mwenye haki, maana sisi tumesalia, mabaki yaliyookoka, kama hivi leo; tazama, sisi tupo hapa wenye hatia mbele zako; maana hapana mtu awezaye kusimama mbele zako kwa sababu ya jambo hili.
O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”