A Cry of the People
1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
Ndipo kukatokea kilio kikuu cha watu, na wake zao, juu ya ndugu zao Wayahudi.
2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them , that we may eat, and live.
Maana, walikuwako watu waliosema, Sisi, na wana wetu na binti zetu, tu wengi; na tupate ngano, tule, tukaishi.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
Tena walikuwako wengine waliosema, Tumeweka rehani mashamba yetu, na mizabibu yetu, na nyumba zetu; tupate ngano, kwa sababu ya njaa.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
Tena walikuwako wengine waliosema, Tumekopa fedha ili kulipa kodi ya mfalme kwa kuweka rehani mashamba yetu, na mizabibu yetu.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them ; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
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.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Nami nilikasirika sana, niliposikia kilio chao, na maneno hayo.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
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.
8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer .
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.
9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
Tena nalisema, Neno hili mnalolitenda si jema; je! Haiwapasi ninyi kwenda katika kicho cha Mungu wetu, kwa sababu ya mashutumu ya makafiri adui zetu?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
Na mimi pia, na ndugu zangu, na watumishi wangu, twawakopesha fedha na ngano ili kupata faida? Tafadhali na tuliache jambo hili la riba.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
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.
12 Then said they, We will restore them , and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
Ndipo wakasema, Tutawarudishia, wala hatutataka kitu kwao; tutafanya hivyo, kama ulivyosema. Kisha nikawaita makuhani, nikawaapisha, ya kwamba watafanya kama ahadi hiyo.
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
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.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is , twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
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.
15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
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.
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
Naam, hata kazi ya ukuta huu tena nikaishika sana, wala hatukununua mashamba; na watumishi wangu wote wakakusanyika huko kazini.
17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
Pamoja na hayo wakawako mezani pangu, katika Wayahudi na mashehe, watu mia na hamsini, zaidi ya wale waliotujia kutoka kwa makafiri waliotuzunguka.
18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
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.
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Unikumbukie, Ee Mungu wangu, kwa mema, yote niliyowafanyia watu hawa.
