< Ezra 9 >

1 When as these things were done, the rulers came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the Priestes, and the Leuites are not separated from the people of the lands (as touching their abominations) to wit, of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Iebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Kipindi mambo hayo yanatendeka, wakuu wakaja kwangu na kuniambia,”Watu wa Israel, Makuhani na walawi hawakuweza kujitenga wenyewe kutoka kwa watu wa nchi zingine na maovu yao: Wakanaani, Wahiti, Waperuzi, wayebusi, Waamoni, Wamoabu, Wamisri na Waamori.
2 For they haue taken their daughters to theselues, and to their sonnes, and they haue mixed the holy seede with the people of the landes, and the hande of the princes and rulers hath bene chiefe in this trespasse.
Kwa kuwa wamewachukua baadhi ya binti na watoto wa kiume, wamejichanganya watu watakatifu na watu wa nchi nyingine na wakuu na viongozi wamekuwa wa kwanza katika imani hii potofu.
3 But when I heard this saying, I rent my clothes and my garment, and pluckt off the heare of mine head, and of my beard, and sate downe astonied.
Niliposikia haya, nikachana nguo zangu na kanzu na kunyoa nywele kichwani na ndevu na nikakaa chini kutafakari.
4 And there assembled vnto me all that feared the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of them of the captiuitie. And I sate downe astonied vntil the euening sacrifice.
Na wale wote waliotetemeka kwa neno la Mungu wa Israel kuhusu imani potofu walikusanyika kwangu wakati nimakaa chini nikiwa na aibu hadi kufikia kipindi cha sadaka za jioni.
5 And at the euening sacrifice I arose vp from mine heauinesse, and when I had rent my clothes and my garment, I fell vpon my knees, and spred out mine hands vnto the Lord my God,
Lakini katika sadaka ya jioni nikasimama kwenye nafasi yangu nikiwa mnyenyekevu na nguo ilichanika na kanzu, na nikapiga magoti na kunyoosha mikono yangu kwa Yahwe Mungu wangu. Nikasema
6 And said, O my God, I am confounded and ashamed, to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee my God: for our iniquities are increased ouer our head, and our trespasse is growen vp vnto the heauen.
“Mungu wangu, nina aibu na sistahili kuinua uso wangu kwako, makosa yetu yamekuwa hadi kuvuka kichwani na maovu yetu yameongezeka kufika mbinguni.
7 From the dayes of our fathers haue we bin in a great trespasse vnto this day, and for our iniquities haue we, our Kings, and our Priestes bene deliuered into the hand of the kings of the lands, vnto the sword, into captiuitie, into a spoyle, and into confusion of face, as appeareth this day.
Kuanzia siku ya watangulizi wetu mpaka sasa tumekuwa katika maovu makuu. Makosa yetu, viongozi, makuhani, walikuwa katika mikono ya mfalme wa dunia hii, katika upanga, matekani na kunyanyaswa na tuna aibu ya uso hata leo.
8 And now for a litle space grace hath bene shewed from the Lord our God, in causing a remnant to escape, and in giuing vs a nayle in his holy place, that our God may light our eyes, and giue vs a litle reuiuing in our seruitude.
sasa kwa kipindi kifupi, neema kutoka kwa Yahwe Mungu wetu imekuja kutuacha mabaki wachache na kutupa kuhimmili sehemu takatifu. Hii ilikuwa ni kwa ajili ya Mungu wetu kututia nuru macho yetu na kutupa unafuuu sisi tulio watumwa.
9 For though we were bondmen, yet our God hath not forsaken vs in our bondage, but hath enclined mercy vnto vs in the sight of the Kings of Persia, to giue vs life, and to erect the house of our God, and to redresse the places thereof, and to giue vs a wall in Iudah and in Ierusalem.
Kwa kuwa sisi tu watumwa, lakini Mungu bado hajatusahau lakini ameongeza agano la uaminifu kwetu, ameyatenda haya mbele ya macho ya mfalme wa Uajemi ili kwamba haweze kutupatia nguvu mpya. Ili kwamba tuweze kujenga nyumba ya Mungu na tuweze kuondoa majuto. Alitenda hayo ili kwamba aweze kutupatia msingi wa usalama katika Yuda na Yerusalem.
10 And nowe, our God, what shall we say after this? for we haue forsaken thy commandements,
Lakini sasa Mungu wetu, tuseme nini baaada ya haya? Tumesahau amri zako.
11 Which thou hast commanded by thy seruants the Prophets, saying, The land whereunto ye go to possesse it, is an vncleane land, because of the filthines of the people of the lands, which by their abominations, and by their vncleannes haue filled it from corner to corner.
amri ambazo uliwapa manabii watumishi wako, pale uliposema, “Nchi hii mnayoingia kuimiliki ni nchi chafu. Imechanganyikana na watu wasio na utaratibu. ameenea kutoka sehemu moja hadi nyingine kwa uchafu wao.
12 Now therfore shall ye not giue your daughters vnto their sonnes, neither shall ye take their daughters vnto your sonnes, nor seeke their peace nor wealth for euer, that yee may be strong and eate the goodnes of the lande, and leaue it for an inheritance to your sonnes for euer.
Hivyo sasa, msiwape binti zenu kwa watoto wao, msichukue binti zao kwa ajili ya watoto wenu, msitafute amani kwao na fadhili, ili kwamba muweze kuwa imara na kula vizuri vya nchi, hivyo utasababisha watoto wenu kumiliki kwa wakati wote.”
13 And after all that is come vpon vs for our euill deedes, and for our great trespasses, (seeing that thou our God hast stayed vs from being beneath for our iniquities, and hast giuen vs such deliuerance)
Baada ya yote kutokea kwetu kwa sababu ya uovu wetu na makosa yetu makuu, tokea hapo, Mungu wetu, hukutazama makosa yetu na kutuadhibu tulivyostahili na ukatuacha kama mabaki.
14 Should we returne to breake thy commadements, and ioyne in affinitie with the people of such abominations? wouldest not thou be angrie towarde vs till thou haddest consumed vs, so that there should be no remnant nor any escaping?
Tunaweza kuvunja tena amri zako na kuingiliana katika ndoa, na hawa watu wasiofuata utaratibu? Je hautachukia na kututowesha sote hakuna wa kubaki, hakuna wa kutoroka?
15 O Lord God of Israel, thou art iust, for we haue bene reserued to escape, as appeareth this day: beholde, we are before thee in our trespasse: therfore we canot stand before thee because of it.
Yahwe, Mungu wa Israel, wewe ni mwenye haki, kwa kuwa tumebaki wachache mabaki hadi siku ya leo. Tazama, tuko mbele yako na makosa yetu, kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja anayeweza kusimama mbele kwa sababu ya hili.

< Ezra 9 >