1Zvino kunyunyuta kukuru kwakamuka pakati pavanhu navakadzi vavo pamusoro pehama dzavo vaJudha.
1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2nekuti vamwe vakati, Isu navanakomana vedu tiri vazhinji; ngatipiwe zviyo, tidye, tirarame.
2For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3Vamwezve vakati, Isu takaita minda yedu rubatso, neminda yedu yemizambiringa, nedzimba dzedu; ngatipiwe zviyo, nokuda kwenzara ino.
3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4Vamwezve vakati, Takakwereta mari, yokuripira nayo mutero wamambo, tikaita minda yedu rubatso, neminda yedu yemizambiringa.
4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5Kunyange zvakadaro zvino miviri yedu yakafanana nemiviri yehama dzedu, navana vedu vakafanana navana vavo; tarirai, tosunga vanakomana vedu navakunda vedu, vave varanda; vamwe vakunda vedu vatosungwa, isu hatine simba rokuzvidzivisa, nekuti minda yedu neminda yedu yemizambiringa yatova yavamwe.
5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6Ipapo ndakatsamwa kwazvo ndichinzwa kuchema kwavo namashoko iwayo.
6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7Zvino ndakarangarira mumoyo mangu, ndikaita nharo navakuru navarairi, ndikati kwavari, Imi munoreva mhindu, mumwe nomumwe pahama yake. Ipapo ndikakoka ungano huru pamusoro pavo.
7Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8Ndikati kwavari, Isu takadzikunura hama dzedu vaJudha dzakanga dzatengeswa kuvahedheni patakagona napo; zvino imwi moda kutengesa hama dzenyu, moda kuti dzitengeswe kwatiri here? Ipapo vakaramba vanyerere, vakashaiwa neshoko chose.
8And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9Ndikatiwo, Chinhu chamunoita chakaipa; ko hamufaniri kufamba muchitya Mwari wedu, kuti tirege kushorwa navavengi vedu vahedheni?
9Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10Neniwo nehama dzangu navaranda vangu, vakavapa chikwereti chemari nezviyo, tichireva mhindu. Haiwa, ngatirege mhindu iyo.
10I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11Dzoserai henyu kwavari iko nhasi minda yavo, neminda yavo yemizambiringa, neminda yavo yemiorivhi, nedzimba dzavo, uye nomugove wezana wemari, nezviyo, newaini, namafuta, zvamakatora kwavari iri mhindu.
11Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12Ipapo vakati, Tichazvidzosa, hatingarevi chinhu kwavari; sezvamunotaura, ndizvo zvatichaita. Zvino ndakadana vapristi, ndikavapikisa kuti vachaita izvozvo zvakapikirwa.
12Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13Ndikazuzawo nguvo dzangu, ndikati, Mwari ngaazuze mumwe nomumwe asingaiti izvozvo zvakapikirwa abve paimba yake napabasa rake; ngaazuzwe nokudururwa saizvozvo. Ipapo ungano yose yakati, Ameni! Vakarumbidza Jehovha. Vanhu vakaita izvozvo zvakapikirwa.
13Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
14Uyezve, kubva panguva yandakaitwa mubati wavo panyika yaJudha, kubva pagore ramakumi maviri kusvikira pagore ramakumi matatu namaviri ramambo Aritashasita, iwo makore ane gumi namaviri, ini nehama dzangu hatina kudya zvokudya zvomubati.
14Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15Asi vabati vokutanga, vakanditangira, vairemedza vanhu, vachitora kwavari zvokudya newaini, uyewo mashekeri esirivha ana makumi mana; navaranda vavowo vaibata vanhu nehasha; asi ini handina kuita saizvozvo, nekuti ndakatya Mwari.
15But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16Uye, ndakarambira pabasa rorusvingo urwu, hatina kutongotenga nyika, navaranda vangu vose vakanga vakaunganawo pabasa.
16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17Uye patafura yangu pakanga pana vaJudha navabati, varume vane zana namakumi mashanu, avo vaiuya kwatiri vachibva kuvahedheni vakanga vakatipoteredza vasingaverengwi.
17Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18Zvino zuva rimwe nerimwe kwaigadzirwa nzombe imwe, namakwai matanhatu akatsaurwa; ndaigadzirirwawo huku, uye kamwe pamazuva ane gumi waini zhinji yamarudzi ose; kunyange zvakadaro handina kukumbira zvokudya zvomubati, nekuti vanhu ava vakanga vachiremedzwa kwazvo nouranda.
18Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19Ndirangarirei, Mwari wangu, mundiitire zvakanaka nokuda kwezvose zvandakaitira rudzi urwu.
19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.