Nehemiah 6

1 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),

Wakati Sanbalati, Tobia, Geshemu Mwarabu na adui zetu wengine waliposikia kwamba nilijenga upya ukuta na kwamba hakuna sehemu yoyote iliyoachwa ya wazi, ingawa sijawaweka milango katika malango,

2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.

Sanbalati na Geshemu akatuma wajumbe akasema, “Njoni, tukutane pamoja mahali fulani katika tambarare ya Ono.” Lakini walitaka kunidhuru.

3 I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?”

Niliwatuma wajumbe kwao, nikasema, “Ninafanya kazi kubwa na siwezi kushuka. Kwa nini kazi isimame wakati nitakapoondoka na kuja kwako?”

4 They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way.

Walituma ujumbe huo huo mara nne, na mimi niliwajibu vile vile kila wakati.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,

Sanbalati alimtuma mtumishi wake kwangu kwa njia ile ile mara ya tano, na barua iliyo wazi mkononi mwake.

6 in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.

Imeandikwa, “Inaripotiwa kati ya mataifa, na Geshemu pia anasema, kwamba wewe na Wayahudi mna mpango wa kuasi, kwa sababu hiyo ndio mnajenga ukuta. Kutokana na taarifa hizi, unakaribia kuwa mfalme wao.

7 You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let’s take counsel together.”

Nawe umewachagua manabii kutangaza habari zako juu ya Yerusalemu, wakisema, “Kuna mfalme huko Yuda!” Unaweza kuwa na hakika mfalme atasikia ripoti hizi. Basi, hebu njoo tuzungumze.

8 Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”

Kisha nikamtuma neno nikisema, “mambo kama hayo hayajafanyika kama unavyosema, kwa maana ndani ya moyo wako umeyabuni.”

9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.

Kwa maana wote walitaka kututisha, wakifikiri, “Wataacha mikono yao kufanya kazi hiyo, na haitafanyika.” Lakini sasa, Mungu, tafadhali imarisha mikono yangu.

10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let’s shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you.”

Nikaenda nyumbani kwa Shemaya mwana wa Delaya, mwana wa Mehetabeli, aliyefungwa nyumbani mwake. Akasema, “Hebu tukutane pamoja katika nyumba ya Mungu, ndani ya hekalu, na tufunge milango ya hekalu, kwa maana wanakuja kukuua. Usiku wanakuja kukuua.”

11 I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

Nikajibu, “Je! Mtu kama mimi ninaweza kukimbia? Na mtu kama mimi ninaweza kuingia hekaluni ili nipate kuishi? Sitaingia.”

12 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

Niligundua kwamba sio Mungu aliyemtuma, lakini alikuwa amefanya unabii dhidi yangu. Tobia na Sanbalati walimwajiri.

13 He was hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

Walimpa kazi kunifanya niwe na hofu, ili nifanye kile alichosema na kutenda dhambi, hivyo wangeweza kunipa jina baya ili kuniaibisha.

14 “Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.”

Mungu wangu, wakumbuke Tobia na Sanbalati, na yote waliyofanya. Pia mkumbuke nabii Noadia na manabii wengine ambao walijaribu kunifanya niogope.

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

Kwa hiyo ukuta ukamalizika siku ya ishirini na tano ya mwezi wa Eluli, baada ya siku hamsini na mbili.

16 When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

Adui zetu wote waliposikia hayo, mataifa yote yaliyotuzunguka, waliogopa na wakakata tamaa sana machoni pao wenyewe. Kwa maana walijua kazi hiyo ilifanyika kwa msaada wa Mungu wetu.

17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

Wakati huu wakuu wa Yuda walituma barua nyingi kwa Tobia, na barua za Tobia zikawajia.

18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.

Kwa maana walikuwa wengi huko Yuda waliofungwa kwa kiapo chake, kwa sababu alikuwa mkwewe Shekania, mwana wa Ara. Mwanawe Yehohanani alikuwa amekuwa mkewe Meshulamu mwana wa Berekia.

19 Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

Pia walizungumza nami kuhusu matendo yake mema na kumwambia maneno yangu. Barua zililetwa kwangu kutoka kwa Tobia kunitisha.