1 This is the account of what Nehemiah son of Hacaliah accomplished.
Nehemiah's Concern for Jerusalem
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor of Persia, I, Nehemiah, was in Susa, the capital city. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived from Judah with another group, and I asked them about Jerusalem and about the other Jews who had returned from exile in Babylonia. 3 They told me that those who had survived and were back in the homeland were in great difficulty and that the foreigners who lived nearby looked down on them. They also told me that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down and that the gates had not been restored since the time they were burned. 4 When I heard all this, I sat down and wept.
For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God, 5 “Lord God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command. 6 Look at me, Lord, and hear my prayer, as I pray day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess that we, the people of Israel, have sinned. My ancestors and I have sinned. 7 We have acted wickedly against you and have not done what you commanded. We have not kept the laws which you gave us through Moses, your servant. 8 Remember now what you told Moses: ‘If you people of Israel are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the other nations. 9 But then if you turn back to me and do what I have commanded you, I will bring you back to the place where I have chosen to be worshiped, even though you are scattered to the ends of the earth.’
10 “Lord, these are your servants, your own people. You rescued them by your great power and strength. 11 Listen now to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to honor you. Give me success today and make the emperor merciful to me.”
In those days I was the emperor's wine steward.
1 Ono orivoya ni tase Nemaya ŋgwa Akalia ro Koyebe owo.
Ta Nemaya ro ta Yerusalema rota
Imba Kiselevu rosi, ndroa 'buteritu si, 'dooko ma Nemaya orivoya 'bakici 'desi Susa ya. 2 Anani alo aza ädrupii maro ro, esate lidri azaka be ni Yuda yasi; meji ànya te ta Yerusalema rota ndi Yudai se kopayi vobe ni vomidiro Babelona yasi robe. 3 Ànya itiyitate märi ekye, 'dise cini kopayi vobe ago koriyibe wari ya kai orivoya rriti 'desi ya ago driupi ya. Otoga tiṛi Yerusalema ro kpate vuru, ago dereŋwa nai asi za te. 4 Ondro meri tase ono te oko marite vuru, ago miliyite.
Miliyite u'duna amba, ago mugu akpa te. Maye mätu te Lu vo'buyakuru ro ri makye: 5 “Äye OPI Lu vo'buyakuru ro, mi orivoya Lu 'desi para ago orooro ro, mise nyäti tao'baro miro te ndi ŋgalu äduako miro be ànya se kuluyi mibe ago kayibe ota miro ätina ono ri. 6 Nyeri ma ago mindre vo mädri. Nyeri mätu ma ruindu'ba miro ro se mabe oyena miri kitu si ago kpa ŋgäkyi si ta ruindu'bai miro lidri miro Yisaraele ro rota ono. Ma takozi eṛo tana ama lidri Yisaraele ro ono màye takozi te mi lomvo. Zutui maro ndi mabe màye takozi te. 7 Màye tate koziro milomvo, ago mäti tase mita ama be oyene ono kote, ndi ota miro se nyozobe ämäri ruindu'ba miro Musa si ono kote. 8 Miyi ata se nyata tana be ruindu'ba miro Musa si 'do, se mikye ‘Ondro ka'do ami lidri Yisaraele ro nyà'dote ta'diriako märi, meperena ami ndi tu'dei azaka lakosi. 9 Oko ondro ka'do nyègote mare ago nyä̀ti ota maro te ago mìye tase mata ami be sina 'do te, 'dooko mologona ami 'da kovole vose manjibe ma mätuza kigye 'do ya, ondro epere ami gica ädu 'bädri ro yasi owo.’
10 “OPI, ànya orivoya ruindu'bai miro ago lidri miro, se mipa ànya te mbarapara miro ndi aṛi be si. 11 Äye Opi nyeri mätu ma ruindu'ba miro ro ndi mätu ruindu'bai miro se koleyibe mi orone robe. Nyozo kandrakado ma ruindu'ba miro ri ondro, ago mi'ba ya 'bädri'ba ro kuni malomvo.”
Tu kai si ma orivoya vino ozo'ba 'bädri'ba ro.