U-Ezra 5:1-17
5 Ngemva kwalokho, umprofethi uHagayi + nomprofethi uZakariya + umzukulu ka-Ido + baprofetha kumaJuda ayekwaJuda naseJerusalema, egameni likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owayenabo.
2 UZerubhabhele + indodana kaSheyalitiyeli noJeshuwa + indodana kaJehozadaki baqala ngaleso sikhathi ukwakha kabusha indlu kaNkulunkulu + eyayiseJerusalema; abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu babekanye nabo bebasiza. +
3 Ngaleso sikhathi uThathenayi umbusi ongaPhesheya Komfula* noShethari-bhozenayi nozakwabo beza kubo bababuza bathi: “Ubani oniyale ukuba nakhe le ndlu nokuba niqedele lesi sakhiwo?”
4 Base bebabuza bathi: “Obani amagama amadoda asebenza kulesi sakhiwo?”
5 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wayewaqaphile amadoda amadala akwaJuda, + futhi ababayekisanga kwaze kwaba yilapho umbiko usuthunyelwe kuDariyu nencwadi engokomthetho ephathelene nalokhu isibuyiselwe kubo.
6 Nansi ikhophi yencwadi uThathenayi umbusi wendawo engaPhesheya Komfula noShethari-bhozenayi nozakwabo, ababusi abangamaphini bendawo engaPhesheya Komfula, abayithumela eNkosini uDariyu;
7 bathumela umbiko kuyo, futhi nakhu abakubhala:
“KuDariyu inkosi:
“Konke ukuthula makube nawe!
8 Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi siye esifundazweni* sakwaJuda endlini kaNkulunkulu omkhulu, futhi yakhiwa ngamatshe amakhulu agingqelwe ezindaweni zawo, kufakwa nezingodo ezindongeni. Abantu bawenza ngomdlandla umsebenzi futhi uyathuthuka ngenxa yemizamo yabo.
9 Sibe sesiwabuza amadoda amadala akhona, sathi: ‘Ubani oniyale ukuba nakhe le ndlu nokuba niqedele lesi sakhiwo?’ +
10 Siwabuze namagama awo ukuze sikwazise, ukuze silobe amagama amadoda aholayo.
11 “Nansi impendulo asinike yona: ‘Siyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu wamazulu nomhlaba, sakha kabusha indlu eyayakhiwe eminyakeni eminingi edlule, eyakhiwa inkosi enkulu yakwa-Israyeli yayiqeda. +
12 Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi obaba bamcasula uNkulunkulu wamazulu, + wabanikela kuNebukhadinezari inkosi + yaseBhabhiloni, umKhaledi, owayibhidliza le ndlu + wayisa abantu ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni. +
13 Noma kunjalo, ngonyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi yaseBhabhiloni, iNkosi uKoresi yakhipha umyalo wokuba yakhiwe kabusha le ndlu kaNkulunkulu. +
14 Ngaphezu kwalokho, iNkosi uKoresi yakhipha izitsha zegolide nezesiliva zendlu kaNkulunkulu, lezo uNebukhadinezari ayezithathe ethempelini eJerusalema waziyisa ethempelini laseBhabhiloni. + Lezo zitsha zanikwa umuntu ogama lakhe uSheshibhazari, *+ uKoresi ayemenze umbusi. +
15 UKoresi wathi kuye: “Thatha lezi zitsha. Hamba uyozibeka ethempelini eliseJerusalema, futhi indlu kaNkulunkulu mayakhiwe kabusha endaweni yayo.” +
16 Lo Sheshibhazari wafika, wabeka izisekelo zendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema; + ibilokhu yakhiwa kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuze kube manje, kodwa ayikaqedwa.’ +
17 “Manje uma kubonakala kukuhle enkosini, makwenziwe uphenyo endlini yengcebo yenkosi elapho eBhabhiloni, ukuthi iNkosi uKoresi yawukhipha yini umyalo wokuba kwakhiwe kabusha leyo ndlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema; + futhi makuthunyelwe kithi isinqumo senkosi ngokuphathelene nalokhu.”
Imibhalo yaphansi
^ Noma, “ongaPhesheya Kwe-Ewufrathe.”
^ Noma, “esifundeni sombuso.”
^ Kungenzeka uZerubhabhele oku-Ezr 2:2; 3:8.
