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 ibázeke, 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, esoné ngazo kuwe, Mna nendlu kabawo sonile;
7. sonakalisile, senza ububi ngakuwe. Asiyigcinanga imithetho, nemimiselo, namasiko, obumwisele umthetho ngawo uMoses umkhonzi wakho.