1 Esdras
8:1 Emveni kwezi zinto, xa uArteshashta ukumkani wamaPersi engukumkani
kweza uEzra, unyana kaSaraya, unyana kaEzeriya, unyana kaHelekiya;
unyana kaSalum,
8:2 unyana kaSaduki, unyana ka-Ahitubhi, unyana ka-Amariya, unyana ka-Amariya.
U-Eziya, unyana kaMeremoti, unyana kaZaraya, unyana kaSehaya, yena
unyana kaBhokas, unyana ka-Abhisum, unyana kaPinehasi, unyana ka
nguElazare unyana ka-Aron umbingeleli omkhulu.
8:3 UEzra lo wenyuka ephuma eBhabheli, engumbhali, exhobe kakhulu
umthetho kaMoses, owawunikwe nguThixo kaSirayeli.
8:4 Ukumkani wamenzela imbeko; ngokuba wababalwa emehlweni akhe
izicelo.
8:5 Kwenyuka ke naye abathile boonyana bakaSirayeli, bevela eBhetelehem
kubaLevi, kwiimvumi ezingcwele, nabamasango, nabalungiseleli
itempile, ukuya eYerusalem,
8:6 Ngomnyaka wesixhenxe wobukumkani buka-Arteshashta, ngenyanga yesihlanu, oko
ibingumnyaka wesixhenxe wokumkani; ngokuba baphuma eBhabheli ngomhla wokuqala
wenyanga yokuqala, weza eYerusalem ngokwamaqela aphumelelayo
uhambo awabanika lona uYehova.
8:7 Kuba uEzra wayenobuchule kunene, kangangokuba akashiyanga nto emthethweni
kunye nemithetho kaYehova, kodwa wawafundisa onke amaSirayeli imimiselo nemithetho
izigwebo.
8:8 Ke kaloku ikopi yomyalelo, owabhalwa nguArteshashta
ukumkani, weza kuEzra umbingeleli, nomfundi womthetho kaYehova,
yile elandelayo;
8:9 Ukumkani uArteshashta kuEzra umbingeleli, nomfundi womthetho kaYehova
ithumela imibuliso:
8:10 Mna ke, ekubeni ndandiza kubabala, ndibawisele umthetho wokuba abanjalo
uhlanga lwamaYuda, nababingeleli nabaLevi phakathi kwethu
ngokomnqweno nomnqweno wokuhamba nawe ukuya eYerusalem.
8:11 Bonke ke ngoko abasukuba benako oko, mabamke nawe;
njengoko kubonakala kulungile kum, mna nakumahlakani am asixhenxe;
8:12 ukuze bayikhangele imicimbi yelakwaYuda neYerusalem, baqonde khona
oko kusemthethweni weNkosi;
8:13 uwuse umnikelo kuYehova kaSirayeli eYerusalem, mna nowam
Izihlobo zibhambathisile, nayo yonke igolide nesilivere esezweni
IBhabheli iya kufunyanwa kuYehova eYerusalem,
8:14 kwanaloo nto bayinikiweyo ngabantu, yetempile kaYehova
uThixo wabo eYerusalem, kuqokelelwe isilivere negolide
iinkunzi ezintsha zeenkomo, neenkunzi zeegusha, neemvana, neempahla zazo;
8:15 ukuze babingelele kuYehova amadini esibingelelweni
yeNkosi uThixo wabo, eseYerusalem.
8:16 Nento eniya kuyenza wena nabazalwana bakho ngesilivere nangegolide;
wenze ngokokuthanda kukaThixo wakho.
8:17 Neempahla ezingcwele zeNkosi, ezinikelwe kuwe ukuba ukusetyenziswa
itempile yoThixo wakho, eseYerusalem, uyimise phambi kwakho
UThixo eYerusalem.
8:18 Nantoni na othe wayikhumbula ngenxa yomsebenzi wetempile
wolikhupha kuThixo wakho ebuncwaneni bokumkani.
8:19 Kananjalo mna, ukumkani uArteshashta ndibawisele umthetho abagcini bobuncwane
eSiriya naseFenike, ukuba yonke into uEsdras umbingeleli noyifundayo
wothumela umyalelo kaThixo Osenyangweni, bamnike wona
ngesantya,
8:20 Ngexabiso lekhulu leetalente zesilivere, kwanjalo nengqolowa
nekhulu leekore, nekhulu leewayini, nezinye izinto
ubuninzi.
8:21 Zonke izinto mazenziwe ngenyameko ngokomthetho kaThixo
uThixo Osenyangweni, bungafiki uburhalarhume ebukumkanini bokumkani nobabo
oonyana.
8:22 Ndiyanithethela nam, ukuba ningafuneli rhafu, nokuba luluphi na uhlobo
nokuba nguwuphi na kubabingeleli, nabaLevi, neemvumi ezingcwele, nabamasango, nokuba nguwuphi na
abalungiseleli betempile, nabo bonke abanemisebenzi kule tempile, naba
kungabikho bani unagunya lakubamisela nantoni na.
8:23 Wena ke, Ezra, ngokobulumko bukaThixo misela abagwebi kunye
ukuze bagwebe kulo lonke elaseSiriya nelaseFenike
wazi umyalelo woThixo wakho; nabo bangaziyo uze ubafundise.
8:24 Nabani na othe wagqithisa umyalelo kaThixo wakho, nowokumkani;
wohlwaywa ngenyameko, nokuba kukufa, nokuba kungokuthile
isohlwayo, ngesohlwayo semali, okanye ngokuvalelwa entolongweni.
8:25 Wathi uEzra umbhali, Makabongwe uYehova yedwa, uThixo woobawo.
obeke ezi zinto entliziyweni yokumkani, ukuba azukise owakhe
indlu eseYerusalem;
8:26 wandizukisa emehlweni okumkani, namaphakathi akhe, nasemehlweni akhe
bonke abahlobo bakhe nabanumzana.
8:27 Ngoko ke ndakhuthazeka ngoncedo lukaYehova uThixo wam, ndaza ndahlanganisana
kunye namadoda akwaSirayeli, ukuba anyuke nam.
8:28 Zizo ezi iintloko ngokwemizalwane yabo, nokuba baninzi
izihandiba, ezanyuka nam, ziphuma eBhabheli, ebukumkanini bokumkani
Artexerxes:
8:29 koonyana bakaPinehasi nguGerson; koonyana bakaItamare nguGamayeli;
oonyana bakaDavide nguLetu, unyana kaSekaniya;
8:30 koonyana bakaPeretse nguZekariya; kunye naye babalelwa ikhulu
namadoda angamashumi amahlanu.
8:31 koonyana bakaPahati wakwaMowabhi nguEliyawoniya unyana kaZaraya, ekunye naye.
amakhulu amabini amadoda.
8:32 koonyana bakaZatowa nguShekaniya unyana kaItselus, enabathathu.
ikhulu lamadoda: koonyana baka-Adin nguObhete unyana kaYonatan, ekunye
kuye amadoda angamakhulu amabini anamanci mahlanu.
8:33 koonyana bakaElam nguYosiya unyana kaGotaliya, enamadoda amashumi asixhenxe;
8:34 koonyana bakaShafatiya nguZaraya unyana kaMikayeli, ekunye naye;
amadoda amashumi asixhenxe.
8:35 koonyana bakaYowabhi nguAbhadiya unyana kaIzelus, enamakhulu amabini kunye naye;
namadoda alishumi elinamabini.
8:36 koonyana bakaBhanidi nguAsalimoti unyana kaYoshafiya, enamadoda alishumi elinababini;
ikhulu elinamanci mathandathu amadoda.
8:37 koonyana bakaBhabhi nguZekariya unyana kaBhebhayi, enamashumi amabini anababini;
amadoda asibhozo:
8:38 koonyana baka-Astati nguYohane unyana ka-Akatan, enekhulu elikunye naye;
namadoda alishumi.
8:39 koonyana baka-Adonikam bokugqibela, ngawo la amagama abo.
uElifeleti, noJeweli, noShemaya, benamadoda amashumi asixhenxe;
8:40 koonyana bakaBhago, uthi unyana kaIshtalkuro, enamashumi asixhenxe;
amadoda.
8:41 Aba ndabahlanganisela ndawonye emlanjeni ogama liyiTheras, apho sasinga khona
samisa iintente zethu iintsuku ezintathu: ndaza ke ndabahlola.
8:42 Ndafumana khona namnye wababingeleli nabaLevi.
8:43 Ndathumela kuElazare, nakuIduweli, nakuMasman;
8:44 noAlenatan, noMamaya, noYoribhas, noNatan, noEnatan, noZekariya,
kunye noMosollamon, amadoda aziintloko nafundileyo.
8:45 Ndabaxelela ukuba baye kuSadeyu umthetheli-waka, obengaphakathi
indawo yokugcina ubuncwane:
8:46 Wabawisela umthetho wokuba bathethe kuDadeyu nowakhe
bazalwana, nakubagcini-mali kule ndawo, ukuba basithumele abanje
babe ngababingeleli endlwini kaYehova.
8:47 Bathi ke, ngesandla esithe nkqi seNkosi yethu, basizisela iingcibi
oonyana bakaMoli, unyana kaLevi, unyana kaSirayeli, nguAshebhiya, nonyana wakhe
noonyana bakhe nabazalwana bakhe baba lishumi elinesibhozo.
8:48 noAsebhiya, noAnnus, no-Osaya umninawa wakhe, koonyana baka
UKenani noonyana babo babengamashumi amabini amadoda.
8:49 nakubakhonzi betempile, awabamiselayo uDavide, nabakhonzi bakhe
iinkulu zenkonzo yabaLevi, kubakhonzi beNkosi
itempile yayingamakhulu amabini anamanci mabini, abamagama abo axeliweyo achazwe.
8:50 Ndababhambathisa ke ukudla amadodana khona, phambi kweNkosi yethu, ukuba ndicele
uhambo lwakhe olunenkqubela, kuthi nakwabo babenathi, ngokuba
abantwana bethu, neenkomo;
8:51 Kuba ndandineentloni ukucela kukumkani abaqhubi beenyawo, nabamahashe, nabaqhubi;
sizikhusele kwiintshaba zethu.
8:52 Kuba besithe kukumkani, amandla kaYehova uThixo wethu ebeya kuba nako
abe nabo bamfunayo, ubaxhase ngeendlela zonke.
8:53 Saphinda sayibongoza iNkosi, ngazo ezo zinto, samfumana
ububele kuthi.
8:54 Ndahlula kubathetheli bababingeleli ishumi elinababini, noEsebrias, noEsebrias
noAssaniya, enamadoda alishumi kubazalwana babo;
8:55 Ndazilinganisa ngegolide, nesilivere, neempahla ezingcwele zengcwele kaYehova
indlu yeNkosi yethu, ukumkani, nebhunga lakhe, nabathetheli, kunye
wonke uSirayeli wayenikile.
8:56 Ndayilinganisa, ndanikela kubo amakhulu amathandathu anamanci mahlanu
neetalente zesilivere, neempahla zesilivere ezilikhulu leetalente, nenye
ikhulu leetalente zegolide;
8:57 namashumi amabini eempahla zegolide, neempahla zegolide zalishumi elinambini, zezobhedu;
Ubhedu olubengezela njengegolide.
8:58 Ndathi kubo, Nina ningcwele kuYehova, neempahla zenu
zingcwele, igolide nesilivere isibhambathiso kuYehova uYehova
koobawo bethu.
8:59 Lindani, nizigcine, nide nizinikele kubaphathi bababingeleli
nakubaLevi, nakwiinkulu zezindlu zooyise zakwaSirayeli, ngoobani
EYerusalem, kumagumbi endlu kaThixo wethu.
8:60 Ababingeleli nabaLevi bayamkela isilivere negolide
zaza impahla leyo yazisa eYerusalem etempileni kaYehova
Nkosi.
8:61 Kwaye sanduluka emlanjeni iTeras ngomhla weshumi elinesibini lokuqala
Saza seza eYerusalem ngesandla esithe nkqi seNkosi yethu
sahamba nathi, yasihlangula ekuqalekeni kohambo lwethu
saphuma kuzo zonke iintshaba, saya ke eYerusalem.
8:62 Sakuba khona iintsuku zantathu, safumana igolide nesilivere leyo
isikali sanikelwa endlwini yeNkosi yethu ngosuku lwesine kwaze kwaba
UMarmoti, unyana kaIri, umbingeleli.
8:63 Waye noElazare unyana kaPinehasi, benoYobhadi;
unyana kaYesu, noMoweti unyana kaSabhan, abaLevi, bahlangulwa bonke
kubo ngenani nangobunzima.
8:64 Babhalwa ke bonke ubunzima bazo, kwangelo lixa.
8:65 Kananjalo abo babephume ekuthinjweni babebingelela kubo
UYehova, uThixo kaSirayeli, iinkunzi ezintsha zeenkomo zalishumi elinambini, kumaSirayeli onke, zamashumi asibhozo
neenkunzi zeegusha ezilishumi elinesithandathu;
8:66 neemvana zombingelelo woxolo zalishumi elinambini, zalishumi elinambini; yonke ye
zibe lidini kuNdikhoyo.
8:67 Bayinikela imithetho yokumkani kumagorha okumkani;
Kubaphathi baseKelosriya naseFenike; bababeka abantu
netempile kaThixo.
8:68 Ke kaloku, zakubon’ ukuba zenziwe ezi zinto, beza kum abaphathi, bathi,
8:69 Ke uhlanga lwakwaSirayeli, abathetheli, nababingeleli, nabaLevi, abalubekanga
basuse kubo abantu bolunye uhlanga, nezingcoliso zelizwe
ziintlanga, kumaKanan, namaHeti, namaPersi, namaYebhusi, namaYebhusi
amaMowabhi, namaYiputa, namaEdom.
8:70 Ngokuba bazeka bona noonyana babo bezekile neentombi zabo;
imbewu engcwele ixubene nabasemzini; kwaye ukusuka
Ukuqala kwalo mcimbi kwabakho abalawuli nabakhulu
abanesabelo kobu bubi.
8:71 Kwathi, ndakukuva oko, ndazikrazula iingubo zam ezingcwele
Wandihluthula neenwele zentloko yam, neendevu zam, wandihlalisa
phantsi kulusizi kwaye kunzima kakhulu.
8:72 Ngoko ke bonke abo babechukunyiswe lilizwi likaYehova uThixo kaSirayeli
ubuthelana kum, ndakuzilela ubugwenxa, ndahlala phantsi ke mna
ndizele kukukhathazeka, kude kube ngumbingelelo wangokuhlwa.
8:73 ndasuka ekuzileni, ndazikrazula iingubo zam, nesambatho esingcwele sikrazulwa;
kwaye ndiguqa ngamadolo am, kwaye ndizolulele izandla zam eNkosini,
8:74 Ndathi, Ndidana, ndineentloni phambi kwakho;
8:75 Kuba izono zethu ziye zanda phezu kweentloko zethu, kunye nokungazi kwethu
yafikelela ezulwini.
8:76 Kususela kwimihla yoobawo, sibekho, sikhulu;
isono, unanamhla.
8:77 nangenxa yezono zethu, nezoobawo bethu, kunye nabazalwana bethu, nookumkani bethu, kunye
ababingeleli bethu banikelwa kubo ookumkani behlabathi, ekreleni, na
ukuba kuthinjwa, ukuba lixhoba ekudaneni, unanamhla.
8:78 Kwaye ngoku senzelwe inceba ngandlela ithile ivela kuwe, Owu
Nkosi, ukuba kushiywe ingcambu negama endaweni yakho
indawo engcwele;
8:79 nokusityhilela isikhanyiso endlwini kaYehova uThixo wethu, nokusikhanyisela
Siphe ukudla ngexesha lobukhoboka bethu.
8:80 Noko ke, xa sasisebukhobokeni, asishiywanga sishiywe yiNkosi yethu; kodwa yena
Wasenzela inceba phambi kookumkani bamaPersi, basinika ukudla;
8:81 Ewe, wayizukisa itempile yeNkosi yethu, wayivusa enkangala
eZiyon, ukuba basinikele umnquba okunene amaYuda naseYerusalem;
8:82 Kwaye ngoku, Owu Nkosi, siya kuthini na, xa sinazo ezi zinto? kuba sinako
uwugqithile umthetho wakho, owawunika ngesandla sakho
abakhonzi abaprofeti, besithi,
8:83 Ilizwe eningena kulo, ukuba nilihluthe ngokwelifa, lilizwe;
bengcoliswe ngokungcola kwabasemzini, benjenjalo
wayizalisa ngobunqambi babo.
8:84 Ke ngoko iintombi zenu aniyi kuzibandakanya noonyana bazo;
iintombi zabo nizekele oonyana benu.
8:85 Kananjalo anisayi kufuna ukuba noxolo nabo, ukuze nibe ngabo
nomelele, nidle izinto ezilungileyo zelizwe, nize nimke kulo
libe lilifa lelizwe koonyana benu kude kuse ephakadeni.
8:86 Kwaye konke oko kwenzekileyo kwenziwa kuthi ngenxa yemisebenzi yethu ekhohlakeleyo nemikhulu
izono; ngokuba wena, Yehova, uzenze zalula izono zethu;
8:87 Wasinika ingcambu enje, kodwa sibuye sabuyela kuyo
siwugqithile umyalelo wakho, sizixube nobunqambi boYehova
izizwe zomhlaba.
8:88 Akunakuba noburhalarhume na kuthi, ukuba usitshabalalise, ude umke?
thina asiyongcambu, nambewu, nagama?
8:89 Unyanisile, Yehova kaSirayeli, ngokuba thina sisele siyingcambu namhla.
8:90 Uyabona, siphambi kwakho ebugwenxeni bethu, ngokuba asinakuma
kungabi sabakho ngenxa yezi zinto ziphambi kwakho.
8:91 Kwathi, ekuthandazeni kwakhe uEsdras, wasivuma isivumo sakhe, elila, walala phantsi.
emhlabeni phambi kwetempile, kwabuthelana kuye bevela
IYerusalem inkitha enkulu kakhulu yamadoda, nabafazi, nabantwana;
kwabakho ukulila okukhulu esihlweleni.
8:92 Wadanduluka ke uYekoniya, unyana kaYehusi, wakoonyana bakaSirayeli, esithi,
bathi, Ezra, sonile eNkosini uYehova, sazeka
abafazi basemzini bezizwe zelizwe, kwaye ngoku wonke uSirayeli uphakamile.
8:93 Masimfungele uYehova, ukuba siya kubalahla bonke abafazi bethu;
Esasithabathayo ezintlangeni, ndawonye noonyana bazo;
8:94 njengoko umise ngako, nakubo bonke abawuthobelayo umthetho weNkosi.
8:95 Suk’ ume, usike ityala; ngokuba le nto iphambi kwakho;
siya kuba nawe; yenza ubukroti.
8:96 Wesuka ke uEzra, wamfungisa umphathi wababingeleli;
abaLevi bakumaSirayeli onke ukuba benze ngokwezo zinto; bafunga ke.