1 Amazwi kaNehemiya indodana kaHakaliya.Kwathi ngenyanga kaKhisilevi, ngomnyaka wamashumi amabili ngisendlini yenkosi yaseShushani,
2 kwafika uHanani omunye wabafowethu, yena nabantu bakwaJuda; ngababuza ngabaJuda ababesele besindile ekuthunjweni nangeJerusalema.
3 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,
5 ngathi: “Ngiyanxusa, Jehova Nkulunkulu wezulu, wena Nkulunkulu omkhulu nowesabekayo, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa nabakuthandayo nabagcina imiyalo yakho,
6 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.