Nehemia 9
1 Ɔsram Tisri (bɛyɛ Ahinime) da a ɛto so aduasa baako no, ɔmanfo no boaa wɔn ho ano, dii mmuada, furaa atweaatam, tuu mfutuma petee wɔn tirim.
Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth, and dirt on them.
2 Bere a wɔreka wɔn ankasa bɔne ne wɔn agyanom bɔne no, Israelfo no twee wɔn ho fii ananafo nyinaa ho.
The offspring of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
3 Wɔkenkan Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn, mmara nhoma no den bɛyɛ sɛ nnɔnhwerew abiɛsa kyerɛɛ wɔn. Afei, wɔde nnɔnhwerew abiɛsa bio kekaa wɔn bɔne nnidisonnidiso a na wɔresom Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn.
They stood up in their place, and read in the scroll of the Torah of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.
4 Na Lewifo no bi gyina atrapoe so reteɛ mu frɛ Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn. Saa nnipa no ne Yesua, Bani, Kadmiel, Sebania, Buni, Serebia, Bani ne Kenani.
Then Yeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani of the Levites stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.
5 Afei, Lewifo ntuanofo a wɔne Yesua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hasabnia, Serebia, Hodia, Sebania ne Petahia teɛɛ mu frɛɛ ɔmanfo no se, “Monsɔre nkamfo Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn, efisɛ ɔte hɔ afebɔɔ!” Wɔtoaa so se, “Monkamfo ne din kronkron no. Ɛso sen sɛnea yebetumi adwene anaa yɛbɛka.
Then the Levites, Yeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
6 Wo nko ara ne Awurade. Wo na wobɔɔ ɔsoro ne ɔsoro mu soro ne nsoromma nyinaa. Wo na wobɔɔ asase ne nea ɛwɔ so nyinaa ne ɛpo ne nea ɛwɔ mu nyinaa. Wo na wokora biribiara so ma no nkwa, na ɔsoro abɔfo nyinaa som wo.
You are the LORD, even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army of heaven worships you.
7 “Woyɛ Awurade Nyankopɔn a wuyii Abram fii Ur a ɛwɔ Kaldea asase so, san too no din Abraham.
You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, brought him out of Ur-Kasdim, gave him the name of Abraham,
8 Odii wo nokware no, wo ne no yɛɛ apam sɛ, wode Kanaanfo, Hetifo, Perisifo Yebusifo ne Girgasifo asase bɛma ɔne nʼasefo. Na wudii wo bɔhyɛ so, efisɛ daa wudi wʼasɛm so.
found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his offspring, and have performed your words, for you are righteous.
9 “Wuhuu amane ne awerɛhow a yɛn agyanom kɔɔ mu wɔ Misraim, na wotee wɔn su fi Po Kɔkɔɔ no ho.
“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Sea of Suf,
10 Woyɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne a ɛyɛ hu ne anwonwade kyerɛɛ Farao, nʼasomfo ne ne manfo nyinaa, efisɛ na wunim nhyɛso kwan a na Misraimfo no de wɔn fa so. Wowɔ anuonyam a ahyeta a ani mpa so da.
and showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for yourself, as it is today.
11 Wopaee po mu maa wo nkurɔfo, sɛnea wobetumi afa asase wosee so. Na wusum wɔn atamfo guu po bun mu. Wɔmemem sɛ abo wɔ bun a emu dɔ no ase.
You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
12 Wonam omununkum fadum so dii yɛn agyanom anim awia ne ogya fadum so, dii wɔn anim anadwo sɛnea wobehu kwan.
Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.
13 “Wusian bepɔw Sinai, kasa kyerɛɛ wɔn fi ɔsoro. Wode mmara a ɛyɛ turodoo ne ahyɛde a ɛyɛ nokware brɛɛ wɔn.
“You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,
14 Wokyerɛɛ wɔn mmara a ɛfa wo homeda kronkron ho. Na wonam wo somfo Mose so hyɛɛ wɔn sɛnea wonsi nni wʼahyɛde ne wo mmara no nyinaa so.
and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,
15 Bere a ɔkɔm dee wɔn no, womaa wɔn brodo a efi ɔsoro ne nsu a efi ɔbotan mu, bere a osukɔm dee wɔn no. Wohyɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnkɔfa asase a woaka ho ntam sɛ wode bɛma wɔn no.
and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.
16 “Nanso yɛn agyanom yɛɛ ahantan ne asoɔden, na wɔanni wʼahyɛde so.
“But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your commandments,
17 Wɔantie, na wɔankae wʼanwonwade a woyɛ maa wɔn no. Mmom, wɔtew atua yii ntuanoni sɛ ɔnsan mfa wɔn nkɔ wɔn nkoasom mu wɔ Misraim. Nanso woyɛ ɔdebɔnekyɛ, ahummɔbɔ ne ɔdomfo Nyankopɔn a wo bo kyɛ fuw na wʼadɔe dɔɔso. Enti woampo wɔn,
and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them.
18 bere a wɔyɛɛ nantwi ba na wɔka se, ‘Oyi ne mo nyame a, oyii mo fii Misraim no.’ Wɔyɛɛ bɔne, kekaa abususɛm a ɛyɛ hu.
Yes, when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awful blasphemies,
19 “Nanso wo mmɔborɔhunu mu no, woannyaa wɔn amma wɔanwuwu wɔ sare no so. Omununkum fadum no kɔɔ so dii wɔn anim awia, na ogya fadum no kyerɛɛ wɔn kwan anadwo.
yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.
20 Wosomaa wo honhom pa no kyerɛɛ wɔn nea wɔnyɛ, na woannyae sɛ wobɛma wɔn brodo afi ɔsoro anaa nsu bere a osukɔm de wɔn.
You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
21 Wohwɛɛ wɔn so mfe aduanan wɔ sare so. Saa bere no, biribiara anhia wɔn. Wɔn ntade antetew, na wɔn anan ase antaatae.
“Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.
22 “Woboaa yɛn agyanom ma wodii ahemman akɛse ne aman bebree so, na wode wo nkurɔfo duaa aman no afanan nyinaa so. Wɔfaa ɔhene Sihon a ofi Hesbon ne Basanhene Og asase no nyinaa.
Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
23 Womaa wɔn asefo dɔɔso sɛ ɔsoro nsoromma, na wode wɔn baa asase a woahyɛ wɔn agyanom ho bɔ no so.
You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.
24 Wɔkɔfaa asase no. Wobrɛɛ aman no nyinaa ase wɔ wɔn anim. Na mpo, ahemfo ne Kanaanfo a wɔtenaa asase no so no tumi sae. Wo nkurɔfo ne wɔn dii no sɛnea wɔpɛ.
“So the children went in and possessed the land; and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased.
25 Yɛn agyanom faa nkurow a wɔabɔ ho ban ne nsasebere no. Wɔfaa afi a nnepa wɔ mu ne asuten a wɔatutu dedaw no ne bobeturo ne ngofuw ne nnuabafuw no bebree. Enti wodidii ara kosii sɛ wɔdodɔ yɛɛ akɛse, na wɔn ani gyee wɔn ho wɔ wo nhyira mu.
They took fortified cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26 “Nanso eyinom nyinaa akyi no, wɔyɛɛ asoɔden, tew wʼanim atua. Wɔtow wo mmara no guu nkyɛn. Wokunkum adiyifo a wɔhyɛɛ wɔn nkuran sɛ wɔnsan mmra wo nkyɛn no, na wɔkaa abususɛm a ɛyɛ hu.
“Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.
27 Enti wode wɔn hyɛɛ wɔn atamfo nsa. Nanso wɔn amanehunu mu no, wosu frɛɛ wo, na wutiee wɔn fi ɔsoro. Na ahummɔbɔ a ɛso mu na wosomaa agyefo a wogyee wɔn fii wɔn atamfo nsam.
Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hands of their adversaries.
28 “Nanso na nneɛma nyinaa rekɔ so yiye no, wo manfo san kɔɔ bɔne mu bio, na wosan maa wɔn atamfo dii wɔn so. Nanso bere biara a wo nkurɔfo besu afrɛ wo bio, apɛ mmoa no, wufi ɔsoro tiee wɔn bio. Wʼahummɔbɔ nwonwaso nti, wugyee wɔn ntoatoaso.
But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore you left them in the hands of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies,
29 “Wobɔɔ wɔn kɔkɔ sɛ wɔnsan mmedi wo mmara no so, nanso wɔyɛɛ ahomaso ne asobrakye a wɔanni wʼahyɛde no so. Wɔanni wo mmara a sɛ nnipa di so a wɔnam so benya nkwa no so. Wɔnam ahomaso so, dan wɔn akyi kyerɛɛ wo a wɔampɛ sɛ wobetie wo.
and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they were arrogant, and didn’t listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear.
30 Wo dɔ nti, wunyaa wɔn ho ntoboase mfe bebree. Wosomaa wo honhom ma ɔnam adiyifo so bɔɔ wɔn kɔkɔ faa wɔn bɔne ho. Nanso wɔantie. Enti womaa abosonsomfo a wɔwɔ asase yi so no ho kwan ma wodii wɔn so bio.
Yet many years you put up with them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not listen. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
31 Nanso wo mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso nti, woantɔre wɔn ase anaa woannyaa wɔn afebɔɔ. Woyɛ ɔdomfo ne ahummɔbɔ Nyankopɔn.
“Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 “Afei, yɛn Nyankopɔn, ɔkɛse, otumfo ne ɔnwonwani Nyankopɔn a ne dɔ apam a ɔyɛe no ommu so, mma yɛn amanehunu a yɛkɔɔ mu no nyinaa nnyɛ ɔkwa wɔ wʼanim. Ɔhaw kɛse aba yɛn ne yɛn ahemfo, yɛn ahenemma ne asɔfo ne adiyifo ne yɛn agyanom so fi bere a Asiria ahemfo didii yɛn so nkonim, de besi saa bere yi.
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.
33 Bere biara a wobɛtwe yɛn aso no, na ɛfata. Yɛayɛ bɔne kɛse a wotwe yɛn aso sɛnea ɛsɛ wɔ so.
However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly.
34 Yɛn ahemfo, ahenemma, asɔfo, ne yɛn agyanom no anni wo mmara so anaa wʼahyɛde ne wo kɔkɔbɔ dennen no so.
Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them.
35 Mpo, bere a wɔn ankasa nyaa wɔn ahemman no, wɔansom wo wɔ bere a woahwie wʼayamye adom agu wɔn so no. Womaa wɔn nsase pa akɛse, nanso wɔannu wɔn ho amfi wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm ho.
For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them. They didn’t turn from their wicked works.
36 “Enti mprempren, yɛyɛ nkoa wɔ asase a nnepa abu so wɔ so a wode maa yɛn agyanom no so. Dodow yi nyinaa mu, yɛyɛ nkoa.
“Behold, we are servants today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it.
37 Nnɔbae a ebu so boro so no nyinaa akodi ahemfo a esiane yɛn bɔne nti, woatu wɔn sɛ wɔnhwɛ yɛn so no nsam. Wɔwɔ yɛn ne yɛn anantwi so tumi. Yɛsom wɔn sɛnea wɔpɛ, na yɛwɔ ahokyere kɛse mu.
It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
38 “Eyinom nyinaa nti, yɛnam kurukyerɛw so rehyɛ bɔ a emu yɛ den. Saa nsɔwano krataa yi mu na yɛn ahenemma ne Lewifo ne asɔfo din wɔ.”
Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it.”
