Ezra
1:1 Manje ngomnyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya, ukuthi izwi likaJehova
kugcwaliseke ngomlomo kaJeremiya, iNKOSI yabavusa
umoya kaKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya, ukuze amemezele kulo lonke
wonke umbuso wakhe, wawubhala futhi, wathi:
1:2 Usho kanje uKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya: UJehova uNkulunkulu wezulu unginikile
yonke imibuso yomhlaba; futhi ungiyalile ukuthi ngimakhele
endlini eJerusalema, ekwaJuda.
1:3 Ngubani phakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bakhe? uNkulunkulu wakhe makabe naye, futhi
akhuphukele eJerusalema lakwaJuda, akhe indlu kaJehova
UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, (unguNkulunkulu,) oseJerusalema.
1:4 Futhi noma ubani osele kunoma iyiphi indawo lapho ehlala njengowezizwe, ake amadoda of
indawo yakhe imsize ngesiliva, nangegolide, nangezimpahla, nanga
nezilwane, ngaphandle komnikelo wesihle wendlu kaNkulunkulu ephakathi
eJerusalema.
1:5 Khona-ke kwasukuma izinhloko zawoyise bakwaJuda noBhenjamini, futhi
abapristi, namaLevi, nabo bonke labo uNkulunkulu ayewuvusile umoya wabo, ukuba
khuphukani ukwakha indlu kaJehova eseJerusalema.
1:6 Futhi bonke ababebazungezile baqinisa izandla zabo ngezitsha
ngesiliva, negolide, nempahla, nezinkomo, nangeligugu
izinto, ngaphezu kwakho konke okwanikelwa ngokuzithandela.
1:7 UKoresi, inkosi, wakhipha izitsha zendlu kaJehova.
uNebukadinesari ayeyikhiphile eJerusalema, wayibeka
endlini yawonkulunkulu bakhe;
1:8 Ngisho nalabo uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya wazikhipha ngesandla
uMitiredati umphathisikhwama, wazibalela uSheshibazare isikhulu
wakwaJuda.
1:9 Nansi inombolo yazo: izitsha zegolide ezingamashumi amathathu, eziyinkulungwane
izitsha zesiliva, imimese engamashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye;
1:10 Izitsha ezingamashumi amathathu zegolide, nezitsha zesiliva zohlobo lwesibili ezingamakhulu amane namashumi amane
eziyishumi, nezinye izitsha eziyinkulungwane.
1:11 Zonke izitsha zegolide nezesiliva zaziyizinkulungwane ezinhlanu nane
ikhulu. Zonke lezi uSheshibhazare wakhuphula kanye nabo ekuthunjweni
abakhushulelwa eJerusalema besuka eBabele.