U-Ezra 1:1-11
1 Ngonyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi + yasePheresiya, ukuze kufezeke izwi likaJehova elakhulunywa ngoJeremiya, + uJehova washukumisa uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya ukuba enze isimemezelo kuwo wonke umbuso wakhe, leso asibhala naphansi, + sithi:
2 “Yilokhu uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya akushoyo, ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wamazulu unginike yonke imibuso yomhlaba + futhi ungiyale ukuba ngimakhele indlu eJerusalema + elikwaJuda.
3 Ubani phakathi kwenu ongowesizwe sakhe? Kwangathi uNkulunkulu wakhe angaba naye, amvumele aye eJerusalema elikwaJuda, akhe kabusha indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli—unguNkulunkulu weqiniso—ondlu yakhe yayiseJerusalema.*
4 Noma ubani oyisifiki, + noma ngabe ukuphi, omakhelwane bakhe* mabamsize bamnike isiliva negolide, izimpahla nemfuyo kanye nomnikelo wokuzithandela wendlu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso + eyayiseJerusalema.’ ”
5 Izinhloko zemindeni yoyise bakwaJuda nabakwaBhenjamini nabapristi namaLevi—wonke umuntu owashukunyiswa uNkulunkulu weqiniso—balungela ukukhuphuka bayokwakha kabusha indlu kaJehova eyayiseJerusalema.
6 Bonke abantu ababebazungezile babasiza ngokubanika* izinto zesiliva, ezegolide, izimpahla, imfuyo nezinto eziyigugu, ngaphandle kwayo yonke iminikelo yokuzithandela.
7 INkosi uKoresi yakhipha nezinto zendlu kaJehova ezazithathwe uNebukhadinezari eJerusalema wazibeka endlini kankulunkulu wakhe. +
8 UKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya wazikhipha waziphathisa uMithiredati umgcini-sikhwama owazibalela uSheshibhazari *+ isikhulu sakwaJuda.
9 Kwakuyilezi: izitsha zegolide ezimise okukabhasikidi ezingu-30, izitsha zesiliva ezimise okukabhasikidi ezingu-1 000, ezinye izitsha ezingu-29,
10 izitsha ezincane zegolide ezingu-30, izitsha ezincane zesiliva ezingu-410 nezinye izimpahla ezingu-1 000.
11 Zonke izinto zegolide nezesiliva zazingu-5 400. USheshibhazari wazikhuphula zonke lezi zinto lapho abantu abadingisiwe + bekhishwa eBhabhiloni beyiswa eJerusalema.
Imibhalo yaphansi
^ Noma kungaba, “oseJerusalema.”
^ NgesiHebheru, “abantu bendawo.”
^ NgesiHebheru, “ngokuqinisa izandla zabo.”
^ Kungenzeka uZerubhabhele ku-Ezr 2:2 naku-3:8.
