Ezra 9
1 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.
Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying: 'The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 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.
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.'
3 Niliposikia haya, nikachana nguo zangu na kanzu na kunyoa nywele kichwani na ndevu na nikakaa chini kutafakari.
And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down appalled.
4 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.
Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of them of the captivity; and I sat appalled until the evening offering.
5 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
And at the evening offering I arose up from my fasting, even with my garment and my mantle rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God;
6 “Mungu wangu, nina aibu na sistahili kuinua uso wangu kwako, makosa yetu yamekuwa hadi kuvuka kichwani na maovu yetu yameongezeka kufika mbinguni.
and I said: 'O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.
7 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.
Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to spoiling, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 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.
And now for a little moment grace hath been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 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.
For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a fence in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 Lakini sasa Mungu wetu, tuseme nini baaada ya haya? Tumesahau amri zako.
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken Thy commandments,
11 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.
which Thou hast commanded by Thy servants the prophets, saying: The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, wherewith they have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.
12 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.”
Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity for ever; that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 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.
And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant,
14 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?
shall we again break Thy commandments, and make marriages with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not Thou be angry with us till Thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15 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.
O LORD, the God of Israel, Thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day; behold, we are before Thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before Thee because of this.'
