Zakhariya
7 Ngemnyaka wesine wekubusa kweNkhosi Dariyusi, Jehova wakhuluma naZakhariya+ ngelilanga lesine enyangeni yesi-9, lokuyinyanga yaKhislevu.* 2 Bantfu baseBetheli batfumela Shareseri naRegemi-meleki kanye netinceku takhe kuze bayobancengela kuJehova kutsi abentele umusa, 3 bafike babute baphristi labasendlini* yaJehova wemabutfo kanye nebaphrofethi, batsi: “Silile* yini ngenyanga yesihlanu+ futsi sikuzile yini kudla, njengobe besisolo senta yonkhe leminyaka?”
4 Jehova wemabutfo waphindze wakhuluma nami watsi: 5 “Khuluma nabo bonkhe bantfu labakulelive kanye nebaphristi utsi: ‘Ngesikhatsi nizila kudla futsi nilila ngenyanga yesihlanu neyesi-7+ kuyo yonkhe leminyaka lengu-70,+ benisuke nizilela mine yini? 6 Ngesikhatsi nidla futsi ninatsa, beningenteli yini kutijabulisa nine? 7 Akukafaneli yini nikulalele loko lokwashiwo nguJehova asebentisa baphrofethi bakadzeni,+ ngesikhatsi kusahlala bantfu eJerusalema nasemadolobheni lakhelene nayo futsi kusenekuthula, nangesikhatsi kusahlala bantfu eNegebhu naseShefela?’”
8 Jehova waphindze wakhuluma naZakhariya watsi: 9 “Naku lokushiwo nguJehova wemabutfo: ‘Yehlulelani ngekulunga+ nangekungakhetsi, futsi niphatsane ngelutsandvo lolucotfo+ nangemusa. 10 Ningamgebengi umfelokati, intsandzane,+ umuntfu wekuhamba+ nemuntfu loweswele,+ futsi ningakhelani emacebo lamabi etinhlitiyweni tenu.’+ 11 Kodvwa bachubeka banganaki,+ futsi bebanenkhani,*+ bavala netindlebe tabo bangalaleli.+ 12 Bacinisa tinhloko tabo*+ futsi bangawulaleli umtsetfo* waJehova wemabutfo kanye nemavi labekawakhulume ngemoya wakhe asebentisa baphrofethi bakadzeni.+ Ngako Jehova wemabutfo wabatfukutselela kakhulu.”+
13 “‘Njengobe bangazange balalele nangibabita,*+ nami angizange ngibalalele nabangibita,’+ kusho Jehova wemabutfo. 14 ‘Ngabasakata ngesivunguvungu, ngabasakatela kuto tonkhe tive lebebangatati.+ Live lasala likhala libhungane futsi bekute nalowendlula kulo nobe lowabuyela kulo;+ ngobe bagucula lelive lelihle laba yindzawo lengenamsebenti.’”