Nehemiah
1 This na the things wey Ne·he·mi′ah* the son of Hac·a·li′ah talk: For the month of Chis′lev, for the 20th year, I be dey Shu′shan* the big strong house.* 2 That time, one of my brothers wey im name na Ha·na′ni, come from Judah with other men, and I ask them about the remaining Jew people wey come back from where them be slaves before, and I still ask them about Jerusalem. 3 Them answer say: “The people wey come back from where them be slaves before wey de stay for the area, dey for condition wey really bad and shame de catch them. The walls of Jerusalem scatter for ground and them don burn the gates with fire.”
4 As I just hear this things wey them talk, I sitdown and start to cry and mourn for some days, and I continue to fast and de pray for front of the God of heavens. 5 I talk say: “O Jehovah, the God of the heavens, the God wey dey great and wey people suppose de fear, the God wey de keep im agreement and show love wey no de fail to people wey love-am and wey de obey im commandments, 6 abeg, put ear for ground and make your eyes open to listen to the prayer of your servant wey I de pray to you today, na day and night I de pray about Israel people wey be your servants, and all that time I de confess the sins wey the people of Israel sin against you. We don sin, me and the family* of my papa. 7 True-true, we don do bad thing against you as we no follow the commandments, directions, and the things wey you don decide, wey you tell Moses your servant.
8 “Abeg, remember wetin you command* Moses your servant say: ‘If una no obey me, I go scatter una among the people. 9 But if una come back to me and obey my commandments, even if una scatter go far-far place for the heavens, I go gather una come back from there and bring una come the place wey I don choose to put my name.’ 10 Them be your servants and your people wey you save with your great power and your strong hand. 11 O Jehovah, abeg, make you put your ear for ground to listen to my prayer and the prayer of your servants wey de happy to fear your name, and abeg, help your servant succeed today, and make this man pity me.”
That time, I be person wey de give the king drink.