Isahluko 1
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Amazwi kaNehemiya indodana kaHakaliya. Kwathi ngenyanga kaKhisilevi, ngomnyaka wamashumi amabili ngisendlini yenkosi yaseShushani,
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kwafika uHanani omunye wabafowethu, yena nabantu bakwaJuda; ngababuza ngabaJuda ababesele besindile ekuthunjweni nangeJerusalema.
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Bathi kimi: “Insali eseleyo ekuthunjweni lapho ezweni isekuhluphekeni okukhulu nasehlazweni; ugange lwaseJerusalema lubhidliziwe, namasango alo ashisiwe ngomlilo.”
4
Kwathi lapho ngizwa lawo mazwi, ngahlala phansi, ngakhala izinyembezi, ngalila izinsuku ezithile, ngazila ukudla, ngakhuleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu wezulu,
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ngathi: “Ngiyanxusa, Jehova Nkulunkulu wezulu, wena Nkulunkulu omkhulu nowesabekayo, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa nabakuthandayo nabagcina imiyalo yakho,
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ukuba indlebe yakho ilalele, namehlo akho avuleke, ukuze uzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho engiwukhuleka phambi kwakho ngalesi sikhathi imini nobusuku ngenxa yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli izinceku zakho, lapho ngivuma izono zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli esone ngazo kuwe; yebo, nami nendlu kababa sonile.
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Senzile kabi kakhulu kuwe, asigcinanga imiyalo, nezimiso, nezahlulelo owayala ngakho inceku yakho uMose.
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“Ake ulikhumbule izwi owayala ngalo inceku yakho uMose ngokuthi: ‘Uma niphambuka, mina ngiyakunihlakazela phakathi kwezizwe;
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kepha uma nibuyela kimi, nigcine imiyalo yami, niyenze, noma abaxoshiweyo benu bebe semajukujukwini ezulu, ngiyakubabutha lapho nokho, ngibayise endaweni engiyikhethe ukubeka igama lami kuyo.’
10
“Bayizinceku zakho nabantu bakho obahlengile ngamandla akho amakhulu nangesandla sakho esiqinileyo.
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Ngicela, Nkosi, ukuba indlebe yakho izwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho nomkhuleko wezinceku zakho ezithokoza ngokwesaba igama lakho, uhlahlamelise inceku yakho namuhla, uyinike umusa emehlweni alo muntu.” Bheka, ngangingumphathisitsha wenkosi.