1 Esdra
8:1 Futhi ngemva kwalezi zinto, lapho u-Aritahishashita inkosi yasePheresiya wabusa
kwafika u-Esdra, indodana kaSaraya, indodana ka-Ezeriya, indodana kaHelkiya,
indodana kaSalum,
8:2 indodana kaSaduki, indodana ka-Ahithubi, indodana ka-Amariya, indodana
U-Eziya indodana kaMeremoti indodana kaZaraya indodana kaShaviya
indodana kaBhoka, indodana ka-Abisumu, indodana kaFinehasi, indodana
u-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni umpristi omkhulu.
8:3 Lo Esdras wenyuka evela eBhabhiloni, njengoba umbhali, kokuba ekulungele kakhulu e
umthetho kaMose, owanikezwa uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.
8:4 Inkosi yayisimhlonipha, ngokuba wathola umusa emehlweni akhe kuzo zonke zakhe
izicelo.
8:5 Kwakhuphuka kanye naye abanye babantwana bakwa-Israyeli, kusukela
abapristi bamaLevi, nabahlabeleli abangcwele, nabalindisango, nezikhonzi ze
ithempeli eJerusalema,
8:6 Ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wokubusa kuka-Aritahishashita, ngenyanga yesihlanu, lokhu
kwakungumnyaka wesikhombisa wenkosi; ngoba baphuma eBhabhiloni ngosuku lokuqala
ngenyanga yokuqala, wafika eJerusalema njengabaphumelelayo
uhambo uJehova abanika lona.
8:7 Ngoba u-Esdras wayenekhono elikhulu kakhulu, kangangokuthi akashiyanga lutho emthethweni
nemiyalo yeNkosi, kodwa wafundisa wonke u-Israyeli izimiso kanye
izahlulelo.
8:8 Manje ikhophi ikhomishana, eyabhalwa kusukela Artexerxes the
yeza ku-Ezra umpristi nomfundi womthetho weNkosi,
yilokhu okulandelayo;
8:9 Inkosi u-Aritahishashita ku-Ezra, umpristi nomfundi womthetho weNkosi
ithumela ukubingelela:
8:10 Njengoba nginqume ukwenza ngomusa, Ngiye wayala, ukuthi abanjalo of
isizwe samaJuda, nesabapristi namaLevi siphakathi kwethu
embusweni, njengoba ethanda futhi ethanda ukuya nawe eJerusalema.
8:11 Ngakho-ke bonke abathanda lokho mabahambe nawe;
njengoba kukuhle kimi nakubangane bami abayisikhombisa abeluleki;
8:12 Ukuze babheke izindaba zaseJudiya naseJerusalema, ngokuvumelana
lokho okusemthethweni weNkosi;
8:13 Futhi uthwale izipho eNkosini ka-Israyeli eJerusalema, mina neyami
abangani bafungile, nalo lonke igolide nesiliva ezweni
IBhabhiloni lingatholwa, eNkosini eJerusalema,
8:14 Ngalokho futhi okuyinto inikezwe abantu ethempelini leNkosi
uNkulunkulu wabo eJerusalema: kuqoqwe isiliva negolide
izinkunzi, nezinqama, namawundlu, nempahla yakho;
8:15 Ukuze banikele imihlatshelo eNkosini phezu kwe-altare
kaJehova uNkulunkulu wabo oseJerusalema.
8:16 Futhi noma yini wena nabafowenu eniyakwenza ngesiliva negolide.
wenze ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu wakho.
8:17 Futhi izitsha ezingcwele zeNkosi, ezinikelwe kuwe ukusetshenziswa
ithempeli likaNkulunkulu wakho eliseJerusalema wolibeka phambi kwakho
UNkulunkulu eJerusalema.
8:18 Futhi noma yini enye into oyokhumbula ukusetshenziswa ethempelini
kaNkulunkulu wakho, wolikhipha endlini yengcebo yenkosi.
8:19 Futhi mina, inkosi u-Aritahishashita, futhi nginiyalile abagcini bengcebo
eSiriya naseFenike, ukuthi noma yini u-Esdras umpristi nomfundi
womthetho woPhezukonke uNkulunkulu uyakuthumela ukuba amnike wona
ngesivinini,
8:20 Ukuze isamba amathalenta ayikhulu esiliva, ngokufanayo nokolweni ngisho
namakhora ayikhulu, nezingcezu zewayini eziyikhulu, nezinye izinto phakathi
inala.
8:21 Konke makwenziwe ngenkuthalo ngokomthetho kaNkulunkulu
uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, ukuba intukuthelo ingezi phezu kombuso wenkosi nowakhe
amadodana.
8:22 Ngiyaniyala futhi, ukuthi ningadingi intela, nanoma yisiphi esinye isibopho
noma yimuphi wabapristi, noma amaLevi, noma abahlabeleli abangcwele, noma abalindisango, noma
izikhonzi zethempeli, nanoma yimuphi onemisebenzi kuleli thempeli, futhi
ukuze kungabikho muntu onegunya lokubeka utho phezu kwabo.
8:23 Futhi wena, Esdras, ngokuvumelana nokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu, beka abahluleli futhi
abahluleli, ukuze bahlulele kulo lonke elaseSiriya nelaseFenike bonke labo
wazi umthetho kaNkulunkulu wakho; lalabo abangaziyo uzabafundisa.
8:24 Futhi noma ubani oweqa umthetho kaNkulunkulu wakho nowenkosi,
uyakujeziswa ngokukhuthala, noma ngokufa, noma okunye
isijeziso, ngesijeziso semali, noma ngokuboshwa.
8:25 Wayesethi u-Ezra umbhali: "Makabongwe uJehova oyedwa, uNkulunkulu wawobaba.
ofake lezi zinto enhliziyweni yenkosi ukuba ikhazimulise eyakhe
indlu eseJerusalema:
8:26 Futhi uye wangidumisa emehlweni enkosi, kanye nabeluleki bayo, futhi
bonke abangane bakhe nezicukuthwane.
8:27 Ngakho ngakhuthazeka ngosizo lweNkosi uNkulunkulu wami, futhi wabutha
kanyekanye amadoda akwa-Israyeli ukuba akhuphuke nami.
8:28 Futhi lezi yizinduna ngokwemindeni yabo futhi eziningana
izikhulu, ezakhuphuka nami zisuka eBabele ekubuseni kwenkosi
U-Artexerxes:
8:29 Kumadodana kaFinehasi: nguGerson; emadodaneni ka-Itamari: nguGamayeli;
amadodana kaDavide: uLethu indodana kaSekaniya;
8:30 Kumadodana kaPerezi, uZakariya; kanye naye kwabalwa ikhulu
namadoda angamashumi ayisihlanu.
8:31 Kumadodana kaPhahati Mowabi: ngu-Eliyaonia, indodana kaZaraya, kanye naye.
amadoda angamakhulu amabili.
8:32 Kumadodana kaZathowa, uSekaniya indodana ka-Izelu, futhi kanye naye abathathu.
amadoda ayikhulu: emadodaneni ka-Adini, u-Obeti indodana kaJonathani, kanye
kuye amadoda angamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisihlanu.
8:33 Kumadodana ka-Elamu: UJosiya indodana kaGotholiya, futhi kanye naye amadoda angamashumi ayisikhombisa.
8:34 Kumadodana kaShafathias, uZaraya, indodana kaMikayeli, futhi kanye naye
amadoda angamashumi ayisikhombisa;
8:35 Kumadodana kaJowabe: ngu-Abhadiya indodana ka-Izelu, futhi kanye naye abangamakhulu amabili
namadoda ayishumi nambili.
8:36 Kumadodana kaBanidi: ngu-Asalimoti indodana kaJosafaya,
amadoda ayikhulu namashumi ayisithupha.
8:37 Kumadodana kaBabi, uZakariya indodana kaBebayi, futhi kanye naye abangamashumi amabili nambili
amadoda ayisishiyagalombili:
8:38 Kumadodana ka-Astati, uJohane indodana ka-Akhatan, futhi kanye naye ikhulu
namadoda ayishumi:
8:39 Amadodana ka-Adonikamu wokugcina, futhi lawa angamagama awo.
no-Elifeleti, noJeweli, noShemaya, kanye nabo amadoda angamashumi ayisikhombisa;
8:40 Kumadodana kaBago, Uthi indodana ka-Istalkurus, futhi kanye naye abangamashumi ayisikhombisa
amadoda.
8:41 Futhi lezi ngabuthela ndawonye emfuleni okuthiwa Theras, lapho thina
samisa amatende ethu izinsuku ezintathu: ngase ngiwahlola.
8:42 Kodwa lapho ngingatholanga khona noyedwa wabapristi namaLevi.
8:43 Ngathumela ku-Eleyazare, futhi Iduweli, futhi Masman.
8:44 Futhi Alnathani, futhi Mamayas, futhi Joribas, futhi uNathani, Ewunatan, Zakariya,
kanye noMosollamon, amadoda ayinhloko futhi afundile.
8:45 Futhi ngabatshela ukuthi kufanele baye kuSaddewu induna, owayephakathi
indawo yengcebo:
8:46 Futhi wabayala ukuba bakhulume kuDadewu futhi wakhe
bazalwane, nakubagcinimali kuleyo ndawo, ukuba basithumelele abanjalo
ukuze enze umsebenzi wobupristi endlini yeNkosi.
8:47 Futhi ngesandla esinamandla seNkosi yethu, basilethela kithi amadoda anekhono
amadodana kaMoli indodana kaLevi, indodana ka-Israyeli, no-Asebebiya, neyakhe
amadodana nabafowabo, beyishumi nesishiyagalombili.
8:48 Futhi Asebiya, futhi Annus, no-Osayas umfowabo, kusukela amadodana
UKanunewu namadodana abo babengamadoda angamashumi amabili.
8:49 nasezincekwini zethempeli uDavide ayezimisile, kanye
izinhloko zenkonzo yamaLevi, izinceku zenkosi
ithempeli lamakhulu amabili namashumi amabili, uhlu lwamagama abo abonisiwe.
8:50 Futhi lapho ngafunga ukuzila ukudla izinsizwa phambi kweNkosi yethu, ukucela
ngaye uhambo oluhle kithi nakwabakithi, ngokuba
abantwana bethu, nezinkomo;
8:51 Ngoba nganginamahloni ukucela izinyawo enkosini, nabamahhashi, futhi ukuqhuba for
sivikele ezitheni zethu.
8:52 Ngoba sasithe enkosini, ukuthi amandla eNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu kufanele
abe nabo abamfunayo, abasekele ngazo zonke izindlela.
8:53 Futhi saphinda sayincenga iNkosi yethu mayelana nalezi zinto, futhi samthola
umusa kithi.
8:54 Khona-ke ngahlukanisa abayishumi nambili kubapristi abakhulu, Esebrias, futhi
u-Asaniya, namadoda ayishumi kubafowabo kanye nabo;
8:55 Ngazikala igolide, nesiliva, nezitsha ezingcwele
indlu yeNkosi yethu, inkosi, nomkhandlu wayo, nezikhulu, kanye
wonke u-Israyeli, wayenikile.
8:56 Futhi lapho sengiyilinganisele, Nganikela kubo amakhulu ayisithupha namashumi amahlanu
amathalenta esiliva, nezitsha zesiliva ezingamatalenta ayikhulu, nenye
amathalenta ayikhulu egolide,
8:57 Futhi izitsha zegolide ezingamashumi amabili, nezitsha eziyishumi nambili zethusi, ngisho ecolekileyo
ithusi, elibenyezela njengegolide.
8:58 Futhi ngathi kubo, Nobabili ningcwele eNkosini, futhi izitsha
zingcwele, igolide nesiliva kuyisifungo eNkosini uJehova
kobaba bethu.
8:59 Qaphelani, nizigcine, nize nizinikele kubaholi babapristi
namaLevi, nasezinhloko zemindeni yakwa-Israyeli, e
Jerusalema, emakamelweni endlu kaNkulunkulu wethu.
8:60 Ngakho abapristi namaLevi, ababethole isiliva negolide
izitsha zaziyisa eJerusalema ethempelini likaJehova
Nkosi.
8:61 Futhi kusukela emfuleni Theras sasuka ngosuku lweshumi nambili lokuqala
ngenyanga, beza eJerusalema ngesandla esinamandla seNkosi yethu, eyayikhona
kanye nathi: futhi kusukela ekuqaleni kohambo lwethu iNkosi yasikhulula
sivela kuzo zonke izitha, ngakho safika eJerusalema.
8:62 Futhi lapho sase sikhona izinsuku ezintathu, igolide nesiliva okwakukhona
kukalwa kwanikelwa endlini yeNkosi yethu ngosuku lwesine ku
uMarmoti umpristi indodana ka-Iri.
8:63 Futhi kanye naye kwakungu-Eleyazare, indodana kaFinehasi, futhi kanye nabo kwakunguJosabadi
indodana kaJesu noMothi indodana kaSabbani, amaLevi;
ngenani nangesisindo.
8:64 Futhi yonke isisindo sabo sabhalwa kuze kube ngehora elifanayo.
8:65 Futhi labo ababephuma ekuthunjweni banikela imihlatshelo
uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, izinkunzi eziyishumi nambili ku-Israyeli wonke, ezingamashumi ayisishiyagalombili
nezinqama eziyishumi nesithupha,
8:66 Amawundlu angamashumi ayisithupha nambili, izimpongo zomhlatshelo, eziyishumi nambili; konke kwe
babe ngumhlatshelo weNkosi.
8:67 Futhi banikeza imiyalo yenkosi kubaphathi benkosi 'futhi
kubabusi baseKelosriya naseFenike; basebehlonipha abantu
lethempeli likaNkulunkulu.
8:68 Manje lapho lezi zinto sezenzekile, ababusi beza kimi, futhi bathi:
8:69 Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli, izikhulu, abapristi namaLevi, abazange babeke
kude nabo abezizwe bezwe, nokungcola kwezizwe
kwabezizwe, kumaKhanani, namaHeti, namaPheresi, namaJebusi, kanye
abakwaMowabi, abaseGibithe, nabakwa-Edomi.
8:70 Ngoba bobabili namadodana abo baye bashada namadodakazi abo, futhi
inzalo engcwele ixubene nabantu abezizwe bezwe; futhi kusukela
ukuqala kwalolu daba ababusi nabakhulu bebelokhu
abahlanganyeli balobu bubi.
8:71 Futhi ngokushesha lapho ngizwile lezi zinto, Ngaklebhula izingubo zami, futhi engcwele
ingubo, wahluthula izinwele zekhanda lami nesilevu sami, wangihlalisa
phansi kudabukile futhi kusinda kakhulu.
8:72 Ngakho bonke ababethuthumela ngaleso izwi leNkosi uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli
babuthana kimi, ngililela ububi, ngahlala
egcwele usizi kwaze kwaba ngumnikelo wakusihlwa.
8:73 Bese ngisukuma ekuzileni, izingubo zami nengubo engcwele zidatshuliwe.
futhi ngiguqe ngamadolo, futhi ngelulela izandla zami eNkosini,
8:74 Ngathi: O Nkosi, Ngijabhile futhi nginamahloni phambi kobuso bakho;
8:75 Ngoba izono zethu zanda ngaphezu kwamakhanda ethu, futhi ukungazi kwethu baye
wafinyelela ezulwini.
8:76 Ngoba kusukela esikhathini sokhokho bethu besilokhu futhi sisesikhundleni esikhulu
isono, kuze kube namuhla.
8:77 Futhi ngenxa yezono zethu nokhokho bethu 'thina nabafowethu namakhosi ethu kanye
abapristi bethu banikelwa emakhosini omhlaba, enkembeni, futhi
ekuthunjweni, lempangoni eyihlazo kuze kube lamuhla.
8:78 Futhi manje ngandlela-thile umusa siboniswe kuwe, O
Nkosi, ukuba kushiywe impande negama endaweni yakho
indawo engcwele;
8:79 Futhi ukusembula kithi ukukhanya endlini yeNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, futhi
siphe ukudla ngesikhathi sobugqili bethu.
8:80 Yebo, lapho sisebugqilini, asishiywanga yiNkosi yethu; kodwa yena
wasenzela umusa phambi kwamakhosi asePheresiya, asinika ukudla;
8:81 Yebo, futhi wahlonipha ithempeli leNkosi yethu, futhi wavusa incithakalo
Siyoni, ukuthi basinikeze ukuhlala okuqinisekile eJudiya naseJerusalema.
8:82 Manje, O Nkosi, sizothini, njengoba sinalezi zinto? ngoba sinakho
weqe imiyalo yakho, owanikela ngayo ngesandla sakho
izinceku zabaprofethi, ethi:
8:83 Ukuthi izwe eningena kulo ukulidla njengefa, liyizwe
bengcoliswe ngokungcoliswa kwabafokazi bezwe, futhi baba
waligcwalisa ngokungcola kwabo.
8:84 Ngakho manje aniyikuhlanganisa amadodakazi enu emadodaneni abo, noma
niyakuthathela amadodana enu amadodakazi abo.
8:85 Ngaphezu kwalokho, anisoze nafuna ukuba nokuthula nabo, ukuze nibe
liqine, lidle okuhle kwelizwe, ukuze litshiye
ifa lezwe kubantwana benu kuze kube phakade.
8:86 Futhi konke okwehleleyo kwenziwa kithi ngenxa yemisebenzi yethu emibi nemikhulu
izono; ngokuba wena, Jehova, wenza izono zethu zibe lula;
8:87 Futhi wasinika impande enjalo, kodwa siye sabuyela emuva
seqa umthetho wakho, sizixubanise nokungcola kweNkosi
izizwe zomhlaba.
8:88 Ubungeke yini uthukuthele ngathi ukuze usibhubhise, uze uhambe
thina asimpande, nanzalo, nagama na?
8:89 O Nkosi ka-Israyeli, wena uqinisile, ngoba thina sisele siyimpande namuhla.
8:90 Bheka, manje siphambi kwakho ebubini bethu, ngoba asinakuma
futhi ngenxa yalezi zinto eziphambi kwakho.
8:91 Futhi njengoba u-Esdras emthandazweni wakhe wenza isivumo sakhe, ekhala, futhi elele phansi.
emhlabathini phambi kwethempeli, kwabuthana kuye bevela
eJerusalema isixuku esikhulu kakhulu samadoda nabesifazane nabantwana: ngokuba
kwaba khona ukukhala okukhulu phakathi kwesixuku.
8:92 Khona-ke uJekoniya indodana kaJewelu, omunye wabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wamemeza.
bathi: “O Esdras, sonile eNkosini uNkulunkulu, siganile
abesifazane abangaziwa bezizwe zezwe, futhi manje wonke u-Israyeli uphakeme.
8:93 Masenze isifungo eNkosini, ukuthi siyakulahla bonke abafazi bethu,
esakuthatha kwabezizwe kanye nabantwana babo;
8:94 Njengoba nje umisile, futhi bonke abalalela umthetho weNkosi.
8:95 Vuka, ubulale, ngokuba le ndaba iqondene nawe;
sizakuba nawe: yenza isibindi.
8:96 Ngakho u-Esdras wasukuma, futhi wafunga induna yabapristi kanye
amaLevi ka-Israyeli wonke ukuba enze ngalezo zinto; bafunga kanjalo.