Chapter 1
1 Ibali likaNehemiya unyana kaHakaliya. Kwathi ngenyanga enguKislevu, ngomnyaka wamashumi amabini, ndakubona ukuba ndiseShushan komkhulu,
2 kwafika uHanani, omnye wakubazalwana bam, enamadoda avela kwaYuda. Ndababuza iindaba zamaYuda, amasalela asindileyo ekuthinjweni, nezeYerusalem.
3 Bathi kum, Amaqongqolo asele ekuthinjweni, kwaYuda, asebubini obukhulu, nasekungcikivweni; nodonga lweYerusalem luqhekekile, namasango ayo atshe ngumlilo.
4 Kwathi ndakuweva la mazwi, ndahlala phantsi, ndalila, ndenza isijwili iintsuku, ndazila ukudla, ndathandaza phambi koThixo wamazulu,
5 ndathi, Camagu, Yehova, Thixo wamazulu, Thixo omkhulu, owoyikekayo, obagcinelayo umnqophiso nenceba abamthandayo, abayigcinayo imithetho yakhe.
6 Indlebe yakho mayikhe ibazeke, namehlo akho makhe avuleke, ukuze uwuphulaphule umthandazo womkhonzi wakho, endiwuthandazayo phambi kwakho ngoku, imini nobusuku, ngenxa yoonyana bakaSirayeli, abakhonzi bakho; nokuzixela kwam izono zoonyana bakaSirayeli, esone ngazo kuwe, Mna nendlu kabawo sonile;
7 sonakalisile, senza ububi ngakuwe. Asiyigcinanga imithetho, nemimiselo, namasiko, obumwisele umthetho ngawo uMoses umkhonzi wakho.
8 Khawulikhumbule ilizwi owamwisela umthetho ngalo uMoses umkhonzi wakho, elithi, Ukuba nina nithe nenza ubumenemene, ndonichithachithela ezizweni;
9 ke ukuba nithe nabuyela kum, nayigcina imithetho yam, nayenza, nokuba kuthe kwabakho kuni abagxothelwe ekupheleni kwezulu; ndobabutha nalapho, ndibazise kuloo ndawo ndiyinyulele ukulibeka kuyo igama lam.
10 Aba ke ngabakhonzi bakho, nabantu bakho, owabakhulula ngamandla akho amakhulu, nangesandla sakho esithe nkqi.
11 Camagu, Nkosi yam, indlebe yakho mayikhe ibazelwe umthandazo womkhonzi wakho, nomthandazo wabakhonzi bakho, abathanda ukoyika igama lakho. Khawumphumelelise umkhonzi wakho namhla, umfumanise imfesane phambi kwale ndoda. Ke mna ndibe ndingumngcamli kukumkani.