Nehemiah's Reforms
1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
Siku hiyo walisoma katika kitabu cha Musa masikioni mwa watu; na ndani yake yalionekana maneno haya yameandikwa, ya kwamba Mwamoni na Mmoabi wasiingie katika kusanyiko la Mungu milele;
2 because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
kwa sababu hawakuwalaki wana wa Israeli kwa chakula na maji, bali walimwajiri Balaamu juu yao ili awalaani; lakini Mungu aliigeuza ile laana kuwa baraka.
3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
Ikawa walipoisikia torati, wakawatenga Israeli na umati wa watu waliochanganyika nao.
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
Na kabla ya hayo, Eliashibu, kuhani, aliyewekwa avisimamie vyumba vya nyumba ya Mungu wetu, kwa kuwa alikuwa karibu yake Tobia,
5 and he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
alikuwa amemtengenezea chumba kikubwa, hapo walipoweka zamani sadaka za unga, na ubani, na vyombo, na zaka za nafaka, na divai, na mafuta, walivyoamriwa kuwapa Walawi, na waimbaji, na mabawabu; tena sadaka za kuinuliwa zilizokuwa za makuhani.
6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
Lakini wakati huo wote mimi sikuwako huko Yerusalemu; maana katika mwaka wa thelathini na mbili wa Artashasta, mfalme wa Babeli, nalimrudia mfalme; na baada ya siku kadha wa kadha nikaomba ruhusa tena kwa mfalme.
7 and I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
Nami nikaja Yerusalemu, nikafahamu yale mabaya, ambayo Eliashibu ameyatenda kwa ajili ya Tobia, kwa kumtengenezea chumba katika nyua za nyumba ya Mungu.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
Nami nikasikitika sana; basi nikavitupa nje vyombo vyote vya Tobia vitoke humo chumbani.
9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
Kisha nikatoa amri, nao wakavisafisha vyumba; nami nikavirudisha humo vyombo vya nyumba ya Mungu, pamoja na sadaka za unga na ubani.
10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
Tena nikaona ya kwamba Walawi hawakupewa sehemu zao; basi wamekimbia Walawi na waimbaji, waliofanya kazi, kila mtu shambani kwake.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Ndipo nikagombana na mashehe, nikasema, Mbona nyumba ya Mungu imeachwa? Kisha nikawakusanya, nikawaweka mahali pao.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
Ndipo Yuda wote walipoleta zaka za nafaka, na mvinyo, na mafuta, kwenye hazina.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
Nami nikawaweka watunza hazina juu ya hazina, yaani, Shelemia kuhani, na Sadoki mwandishi, na wa Walawi, Pedaya; na wa pili wao alikuwa Hanani, mwana wa Zakuri, mwana wa Matania; kwani walihesabiwa kuwa waaminifu, na ilikuwa juu yao kuwagawia ndugu zao.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
Unikumbukie hayo, Ee Mungu wangu, wala usifute fadhili zangu nilizozitenda kwa ajili ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu, na kwa taratibu zake.
Keeping the Sabbath
15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
Siku hizo naliona katika Yuda watu wengine waliokanyaga mashinikizo ya mvinyo siku ya sabato, na wengine waliochukua miganda, na kuwapakia punda zao; tena na mvinyo, na zabibu, na tini, na namna zote za mizigo, waliyoileta Yerusalemu, siku ya sabato; nami nikashuhudia juu yao siku ile waliyouza vyakula.
16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
Tena wakakaa humo watu wa Tiro, walioleta samaki, na biashara za kila namna, wakawauzia wana wa Yuda siku ya sabato, na mumo humo Yerusalemu.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
Ndipo nikagombana na wakuu wa Yuda, nikawaambia, Ni neno baya gani hili mnalofanya ninyi, na kuinajisi siku ya sabato?
18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
Je! Sivyo hivyo walivyofanya baba zenu; na Mungu wetu, je! Hakuyaleta mabaya haya yote juu yetu, na juu ya mji huu? Nanyi hata hivyo mwazidi kuleta ghadhabu juu ya Israeli kwa kuinajisi sabato!
19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
Ikawa malango ya Yerusalemu yalipoanza kuwa na giza kabla ya sabato, naliamuru milango ifungwe, nikaamuru isifunguliwe hata sabato iishe; na baadhi ya watumishi wangu nikawaweka juu ya malango, ili usiingizwe mzigo wo wote siku ya sabato.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
Basi wenye biashara na wachuuzi wa bidhaa za kila namna wakalala nje ya Yerusalemu mara mbili tatu.
21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
Ndipo nikawashuhudia, nikawaambia, Mbona mwalala mbele ya ukuta? Mkitenda hivi tena, nitawakamata. Tangu wakati ule hawakuja tena siku ya sabato.
22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
Kisha nikawaamuru Walawi wajitakase, nao waje kuyalinda malango, ili kuitakasa siku ya sabato. Unikumbukie hayo nayo, Ee Mungu wangu, ukaniachilie sawasawa na wingi wa rehema zako.
23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
Tena siku zizo hizo nikawaona wale Wayahudi waliokuwa wameoa wanawake wa Ashdodi, na Amoni, na Moabu;
24 and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
na watoto wao wakanena nusu kwa lugha ya Ashdodi, wala hawakuweza kunena kwa Kiyahudi, bali kwa lugha ya watu hao mojawapo.
25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying , Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
Nikagombana nao, nikawalaani, nikawapiga baadhi yao, na kuwang'oa nywele zao; nikawaapisha kwa Mungu, nikasema, Msiwaoze wana wao binti zenu, wala msiwatwae binti zao ili waolewe na wana wenu, wala na ninyi wenyewe.
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
Je! Sulemani, mwana wa Daudi, hakufanya dhambi kwa kutenda hayo? Lakini katika mataifa mengi hapakuwa na mfalme mwingine mfano wake. Tena alipendwa na Mungu wake, naye Mungu akamfanya mfalme juu ya Israeli; walakini wanawake wageni walimkosesha hata yeye.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
Basi, na sisi, je! Tuwasikilize ninyi kutenda neno hili baya, hata kumhalifu Mungu wetu kwa kuwaoa wanawake wageni?
28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
Na mwana mmoja wa Yoyada, mwana wa Eliashibu, kuhani mkuu, alikuwa mkwewe Sanbalati, Mhoroni, basi nikamfukuza kwangu.
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
Uwakumbuke, Ee Mungu wangu, jinsi walivyounajisi ukuhani, na agano la ukuhani na la Walawi.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
Hivyo nikawatakasa na kila kitu kigeni, nami nikawaagizia zamu makuhani na Walawi, kila mtu kazini mwake;
31 and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
na matoleo ya kuni nyakati zilizoamriwa, na malimbuko. Nikumbuke, Ee Mungu wangu, ili unitendee mema.
