U-Ezra 1:1-11
1 Ngomnyaka wokuqala wokubusa kukaKhoresi+ inkosi yasePhesiya, uJehova wathinta inhliziyo* kaKhoresi inkosi yePhesiya. Ngakho inkosi yenza isimemezelo kuwo wonke umbuso wayo ukuze ilizwi likaJehova elakhulunywa nguJeremiya+ ligcwaliseke. Isimemezelo leso yasibhala phansi+ njalo sasisithi:
2 “Nanku okutshiwo nguKhoresi inkosi yasePhesiya, ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wamazulu usenginike yonke imibuso yomhlaba+ njalo ungithume ukuthi ngimakhele indlu eJerusalema+ yakoJuda.
3 Ngakho loba ngubani okhona phakathi kwabantu bakhe, uNkulunkulu wakhe kabe laye futhi kaye eJerusalema koJuda ayekwakha kutsha indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Phela yena unguNkulunkulu weqiniso njalo indlu yakhe yayiseJerusalema.*
4 Loba ngubani ongowezizweni+ kuloba yiphi indawo kancediswe ngomakhelwane bakhe. Kabamnike isiliva, legolide, lempahla, lezifuyo kanye lomnikelo wokuzithandela wendlu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso+ eyayiseJerusalema.’”
5 Ngemva kwalokho abakhokheli bezimuli zakoJuda lezakoBhenjamini labaphristi kanye lamaLevi balungiselela uhambo lokuyakwakha kutsha indlu kaJehova eyayiseJerusalema. Kwahamba bonke nje abantu uNkulunkulu ayethinte inhliziyo zabo.*
6 Bonke omakhelwane babo babanceda* ngokubanika izitsha zesiliva, lezegolide, lempahla, lezifuyo lezinye izinto eziligugu, kungabalwanga yonke iminikelo yokuzithandela eyayilethiwe.
7 INkosi uKhoresi layo yakhipha izitsha zendlu kaJehova ezazithethwe nguNebhukhadinezari eJerusalema wayazifaka endlini kankulunkulu wakhe.+
8 UKhoresi inkosi yasePhesiya wathi uMithiredathi umgcinisikhwama azilethe abesezibalela uSheshibhazari*+ induna yakoJuda.
9 Nanzi izinto ezabalwayo: Izitsha zegolide ezingu-30 ezinjengebhasikiti, lezitsha zesiliva ezingu-1 000 ezinjengebhasikiti, lezinye izitsha ezingu-29,
10 lemiganu yegolide emincane engu-30, lemiganu yesiliva emincane engu-410, lezinye izitsha ezingu-1 000.
11 Zonke izitsha zegolide lezesiliva zazingu-5 400. USheshibhazari wasuka lakho konke lokhu ngesikhathi abantu ababethunjiwe+ besuka eBhabhiloni besiya eJerusalema.
