1 Nali ibali likaNehemiya unyana kaHakaliya. Kunyaka wamashumi amabini kwinyanga uKislevu, ndathi ndikomkhulu eSusa,
2 kwafika uHanani omnye kumawethu, evela kwelakwaJuda namanye amadoda. Ndabancina ngemibuzo, ndifuna ukuqonda ngemeko yamaJuda abhungcileyo ekuthinjweni, nangobume beJerusalem.
3 Bandiphendula bathi: “Abo basindileyo, baza babuya ekuthinjweni, bakho phaya kwiphondo lakwaJuda, kambe bakwinkxwaleko enkulu nasehlazweni. Iindonga zeJerusalem ziwile, namasango ayo atshiswe ngomlilo.”
4 Ndithe ke ndakuziva ezi zinto ndahlala phantsi ndalila. Yaba ziintsuku ndizilile, ndingatyi, koko ndithandaza uThixo wamazulu.
5 Ndasuka ndathi:“Camagu, *Ndikhoyo, Thixo wamazulu, ngangalala yoThixo owoyikekayo owugcinayo umnqophiso wakho wentembeko kwabo bakuthandayo, beyithobela imiyalelo yakho!