1
Ndipo kukatokea kilio kikuu cha watu, na wake zao, juu ya ndugu zao Wayahudi.
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.
2
Maana, walikuwako watu waliosema, Sisi, na wana wetu na binti zetu, tu wengi; na tupate ngano, tule, tukaishi.
Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”
3
Tena walikuwako wengine waliosema, Tumeweka rehani mashamba yetu, na mizabibu yetu, na nyumba zetu; tupate ngano, kwa sababu ya njaa.
Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
4
Tena walikuwako wengine waliosema, Tumekopa fedha ili kulipa kodi ya mfalme kwa kuweka rehani mashamba yetu, na mizabibu yetu.
Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.
5
Walakini miili yetu ni kama miili ya ndugu zetu, na watoto wetu kama watoto wao; kumbe! Mnawatia utumwani wana wetu na binti zetu kuwa watumishi, na baadhi ya binti zetu wamekwisha kutiwa utumwani; wala hatuwezi kujiepusha na hayo; maana watu wengine wana mashamba yetu na mizabibu yetu.
We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
6
Nami nilikasirika sana, niliposikia kilio chao, na maneno hayo.
When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,
7
Ndipo nikafanya shauri na nafsi yangu, nikagombana na wakuu na mashehe, nikawaambia, Mnatoza watu riba, kila mtu ndugu yake. Nikakutanisha mkutano mkubwa ili kushindana nao.
and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
8
Nikawaambia, Sisi kwa kadiri ya uwezo wetu tumewakomboa ndugu zetu Wayahudi, waliouzwa kwa makafiri; na ninyi mnataka kuwauza ndugu zenu, tena kuwauza ili sisi tuwanunue? Wakanyamaza kimya, wasiweze kusema neno lo lote.
and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.
9
Tena nalisema, Neno hili mnalolitenda si jema; je! Haiwapasi ninyi kwenda katika kicho cha Mungu wetu, kwa sababu ya mashutumu ya makafiri adui zetu?
So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?
10
Na mimi pia, na ndugu zangu, na watumishi wangu, twawakopesha fedha na ngano ili kupata faida? Tafadhali na tuliache jambo hili la riba.
I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.
11
Naomba, warudishieni leo hivi mashamba yao, na mashamba yao ya mizabibu, na mashamba yao ya mizeituni, na nyumba zao, na lile fungu la mia la fedha, na la ngano, na la divai, na la mafuta, mnalowatoza.
Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”
12
Ndipo wakasema, Tutawarudishia, wala hatutataka kitu kwao; tutafanya hivyo, kama ulivyosema. Kisha nikawaita makuhani, nikawaapisha, ya kwamba watafanya kama ahadi hiyo.
“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised.
13
Tena nikakung'uta nguo yangu, nikasema, Mungu na amkung'ute vivyo hivyo kila mtu nyumbani mwake, na kazini mwake, asiyeitimiza ahadi hiyo; naam, na akung'utwe vivyo hivyo, na kuwa hana kitu. Mkutano wote wakasema, Amina; wakamhimidi Bwana. Nao watu wakafanya kama ahadi hiyo.
I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
14
Tena tangu wakati huo nilipowekwa kuwa liwali wao katika nchi ya Yuda, tangu mwaka wa ishirini hata mwaka wa thelathini na mbili wa Artashasta mfalme, yaani, miaka kumi na miwili, mimi na ndugu zangu hatukula chakula cha liwali.
Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.
15
Lakini maliwali wa kwanza walionitangulia, wakawalemea watu, wakawatwalia chakula na mvinyo, zaidi ya shekeli arobaini za fedha; tena watumwa wao nao wakatawala juu ya watu; lakini mimi sikufanya hivyo, kwa kuwa nalimcha Mungu.
The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.
16
Naam, hata kazi ya ukuta huu tena nikaishika sana, wala hatukununua mashamba; na watumishi wangu wote wakakusanyika huko kazini.
Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
17
Pamoja na hayo wakawako mezani pangu, katika Wayahudi na mashehe, watu mia na hamsini, zaidi ya wale waliotujia kutoka kwa makafiri waliotuzunguka.
There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations.
18
Basi, maandalio yaliyoandaliwa kwa siku moja yalikuwa ng'ombe mmoja, na kondoo wazuri sita; tena nikaandaliwa kuku, na mara moja katika siku kumi akiba ya mvinyo ya namna zote; wala kwa hayo yote sikukidai chakula cha liwali, kwa kuwa utumwa ulikuwa mzito juu ya watu hao.
Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.
19
Unikumbukie, Ee Mungu wangu, kwa mema, yote niliyowafanyia watu hawa.
Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.