Ezra Chapter 4

1. Kwathi lapho izitha zakwaJuda nezakwaBenjamini sezizwile ukuthi abathunjwa bakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ithempeli,

2. zasondela kuZerubabele nakuzo izinhloko zawoyise, zathi kubo: “Masakhe nani, ngokuba sifuna uNkulunkulu wenu njengani, sinikela kuye kwasemihleni ka-Esari Hadoni inkosi yase-Asiriya owasikhuphulela lapha.”

3. Kepha oZerubabele noJeshuwa nensali yezinhloko zawoyise bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuzo: “Aninandaba nathi yokwakhela uNkulunkulu wethu indlu, kepha thina sodwa siyakumakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli njengokusiyala kwenkosi uKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya.”

4. Abantu balelo zwe base bedangalisa izandla zabantu bakwaJuda, babesabisa ekwakheni,

5. babaqashela abeluleki, bashafisa amasu abo zonke izinsuku zikaKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, kwaze kwaba sekubuseni kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya.

6. Ekubuseni kuka-Ahashiveroshi, ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe, baloba bamangalela abakhileyo kwaJuda naseJerusalema.

7. Emihleni ka-Aritahishashita oBishilamu, noMithiredati, noThabeyeli, nabanye abangane bakhe baloba ku-Aritahishashita inkosi yasePheresiya; okulotshiweyo kwakunjengokulotshwa kwesi-Aramu, kwachazwa ngesi-Aramu.

8. URehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi, umbhali, babhala incwadi enje ku-Aritahishashita inkosi ngeJerusalema ngokuthi:

9. URehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi, umbhali, nabanye abangane babo, amaDinayi, nama-Afarisathiki, namaTharipheli, nama-Afarisi, nama-Arikhevi, nabaseBabele, namaShushaniki, namaDehavi, nama-Elamu,

10. nezinye izizwe ezathunjwa ngu-Osinaphari omkhulu nodumileyo, zahlaliswa emzini waseSamariya nakwelinye phesheya koMfula, nokuthi nokuthi.

11. Nansi impinda yencwadi abayithuma ku-Aritahishashita inkosi yokuthi: “Izinceku zakho, abantu abaphesheya koMfula, nokuthi nokuthi.

12. “Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi abaJuda abakhuphuka kuwe sebefikile kithi eJerusalema; bayawakha umuzi ohlubukileyo nonengekayo; sebeyakuqeda izingange, bahlanganise izisekelo.

13. “Makwazeke enkosini, kalokhu, ukuthi uma lo muzi wakhiwa, ziqedwe izingange, abayikuthela intela, nenkokhiso, nemali yendlela, okuyakulimaza amakhosi ekugcineni.

14. Njengokuba manje sidla usawoti wendlu yenkosi, kungasifanele ukuba sibone ihlazo lenkosi, ngalokho sithumele sayazisa inkosi

15. ukuba kucingwe encwadini yezindaba yawoyihlo; uyakufumana encwadini yezindaba, wazi ukuthi lo muzi ungumuzi ohlubukayo, olimaza amakhosi namazwe, nokuthi benzile ukwambuka phakathi kwawo kwasendulo; ngalokho lo muzi wachithwa.

16. Siyazisa inkosi ukuthi uma lo muzi wakhiwa, ziqedwe izingange zawo, ngalokho awusayikuba nasiqephu phesheya koMfula.”

17. Inkosi yayisithuma incwadi kuRehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi umbhali nabanye abangane babo ababehlala eSamariya nakwelinye phesheya koMfula yokuthi: “Ukuthula, nokuthi nokuthi.

18. “Incwadi enayithuma kithina ifundwe kahle phambi kwami.

19. Ngayaleza, kwacingwa, kufumanisekile ukuthi lowo muzi uziphakamisele amakhosi kwasendulo nokuthi ukuhlubuka nokwambuka kwenziwe phakathi kwawo.

20. Kade kwakukhona amakhosi anamandla naphezu kweJerusalema, ayebusa lonke elingaphesheya koMfula; aphiwa intela, nenkokhiso, nemali yendlela.

21. Makuyalezwe ukuba labo bantu bathiywe, ungakhiwa lowo muzi, ngize ngiyaleze mina.

22. Xwayani ukuba ningayekethisi kulokho; kungase kwande ukonakala, kulimaze amakhosi, na?”

23. Lapho impinda yencwadi yenkosi u-Aritahishashita isifundiwe phambi kwawoRehumi noShimshayi umbhali nabangane babo, bashesha baya eJerusalema kubaJuda, babathiya ngezikhwepha nangamandla.

24. Wawusuthiywa umsebenzi wendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema. Wathiywa kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya.