Ezra Chapter 5

1. Abaprofethi, uHagayi umprofethi noZakariya indodana ka-Ido, baprofetha kubaJuda ababekwaJuda naseJerusalema ngegama likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owayephezu kwabo.

2. Kwase kusuka uZerubabele indodana kaSheyalitiyeli noJeshuwa, indodana kaJosadaki, baqala ukwakha indlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema; abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu babenabo bebasiza.

3. Ngasona leso sikhathi kwafika kubo uThathenayi, umbusi phesheya koMfula, noShethati Bozenayi, nabangane babo, basho kanje kubo, bathi: “Ngubani owaniyaleza ukwakha le ndlu nokuqeda lolu gange na?”

4. Khona sabatshela ukuthi angobani amagama abantu abakha le ndlu.

5. Kepha iso likaNkulunkulu wabo laliphezu kwamalunga abaJuda, ababathiyanga, ize iye leyo ndaba kuDariyu, kubuyiselwe impendulo ngayo ngencwadi.

6. Nansi impinda yencwadi uThathenayi, umbusi waphesheya koMfula, noShethari Bozenayi, nabangane bakhe ama-Afarisaki ayengaphesheya koMfula abayithuma kuDariyu inkosi;

7. bathuma incwadi kuye okulotshwe kuyo ukuthi: “KuDariyu inkosi; makube ngukuthula konke.

8. “Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi saya ezweni lakwaJuda endlini kaNkulunkulu omkhulu eyakhiwe ngamatshe amakhulu, imithi ifakwe ezindongeni; lo msebenzi uqhubeka ngesineke, unempumelelo ezandleni zabo.

9. “Sase sibuza kulawo malunga, sasho kuwo kanje, sathi: ‘Ngubani owaniyaleza ukwakha le ndlu nokuqeda lolu gange na?’

10. Sabuza namagama abo ukuba sikwazise, sibhale amagama abantu ababe yizinhloko zabo.

11. “Babuyisela impendulo kithi, bathi: ‘Thina siyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu wezulu nomhlaba, sakha indlu ekade yakhiwa sekudlule iminyaka eminingi, eyakhiwa yinkosi enkulu yakwa-Israyeli, yaqedwa.

12. Kepha ngokuba obaba bese bemthukuthelisile uNkulunkulu wezulu, wabanikela esandleni sikaNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele, umKaledi, owachitha le ndlu, wabamukisa, wabayisa eBabele.

13. “ ‘Kepha ngomnyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi yaseBabele, uKoresi inkosi wakhipha isimemezelo sokuba kwakhiwe le ndlu kaNkulunkulu.

14. Futhi izitsha zegolide nezesiliva zendlu kaNkulunkulu azikhipha uNebukadinesari ethempelini elaliseJerusalema wazingenisa ethempelini laseBabele, zona lezo uKoresi inkosi wazikhipha ethempelini laseBabele, zanikwa omunye ogama lakhe lalinguSheshebasari, owayemenze umbusi;

15. wathi kuye: “Thatha lezi zitsha, uye uzibeke ethempelini eliseJerusalema, indlu kaNkulunkulu yakhiwe endaweni yayo.”

16. Wayesefika lowo Sheshebasari, wabeka izisekelo zendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema; kusukela kuleso sikhathi kuze kube manje isakhiwa njalo, kayikapheli.’

17. “Ngalokho uma kukuhle enkosini, makucingwe endlini yengcebo yenkosi elapho eBabele ukuba kunjalo yini ukuthi uKoresi inkosi wakhipha isimemezelo sokuba kwakhiwe le ndlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema; inkosi mayithume kithi inhloso yayo ngalokho.”