Ezra
5 Ngemuva kwaloko umphrofethi Hagayi+ nemphrofethi Zakhariya+ longumtukulu wa-Ido,+ baphrofetha kumaJuda lebekaseveni lakaJuda naseJerusalema, ngelibito laNkulunkulu wema-Israyeli lobekanawo. 2 Ngako Zerubhabheli+ indvodzana yaSheyaltiyeli naJeshuwa+ indvodzana yaJehosadaki baphindze bacala kwakha indlu yaNkulunkulu+ lebeyiseJerusalema, futsi baphrofethi baNkulunkulu bebanabo, babasekela.+ 3 Ngaleso sikhatsi Thathenayi lobekangumbusi wesifundza lesisenshonalanga yeYufrathe* kanye naShethari-boznayi nalabanye labebasebenta nabo beta kubo, bababuta batsi: “Ngubani loninike imvume yekwakha lendlu neyekucedzela lesakhiwo?” 4 Babuye bababuta batsi: “Bobani emabito alamadvodza lakha lesakhiwo?” 5 Kodvwa Nkulunkulu abewanaka* emadvodza lamadzala akaJuda,+ futsi abazange bawayekelise ngobe bebamele kutsi kutfunyelwe umbiko kuDariyusi nekutsi kubuye incwadzi lesuka kuye lemayelana nalendzaba.
6 Naku lobekubhalwe kulencwadzi leyatfunyelwa kuDariyusi inkhosi isuka kuThathenayi umbusi wesifundza lesisenshonalanga yeYufrathe naShethari-boznayi kanye nalabo labasebenta naye, lokungulabanye baholi besifundza lesisenshonalanga yeYufrathe; 7 batfumela umbiko kuye, babhala batsi:
“KuDariyusi inkhosi:
“Kuthula akube nawe! 8 Sifisa kwatisa inkhosi kutsi besiye kulesifundza sakaJuda kulendlu yaNkulunkulu lomkhulu, sakhandza yakhiwa ngematje lamakhulu futsi kufakwa netingodvo kulolubondza. Labantfu basebenta ngekutimisela futsi ngenca yaloko lomsebenti uchubekela embili. 9 Sibese sibuta emadvodza lamadzala akhona satsi: ‘Ngubani loninike imvume yekwakha lendlu neyekucedzela lesakhiwo?’+ 10 Siphindze sawabuta emagama awo kute sitewubhala emagama alamadvodza lahamba embili kulomsebenti bese siyakutjela.
11 “Asiphendvule atsi: ‘Sitinceku taNkulunkulu wemazulu nemhlaba, futsi sivusetela indlu lebeyakhiwe eminyakeni leminyenti leyendlulile, leyakhiwa yinkhosi lenkhulu yaka-Israyeli.+ 12 Kodvwa ngenca yekutsi bobabe batfukutselisa Nkulunkulu wemazulu,+ wabanikela esandleni seNkhosi Nebukhadnezari+ yaseBhabhulona, lengumKhaledi, leyabhidlita lendlu+ futsi yatsatsa labantfu yabatfumbela eBhabhulona.+ 13 Nobe kunjalo, ngemnyaka wekucala weNkhosi Khuresi yaseBhabhulona, iNkhosi Khuresi yakhipha umyalo wekutsi yakhiwe kabusha lendlu yaNkulunkulu.+ 14 Ngetulu kwaloko, iNkhosi Khuresi yakhipha titja teligolide netelisiliva tendlu yaNkulunkulu lebetisethempelini leliseBhabhulona, leto Nebukhadnezari labetitsetse ethempelini leliseJerusalema watiletsa ethempelini leliseBhabhulona.+ Taniketwa indvodza lokutsiwa nguSheshbasari,*+ Khuresi labeyente umbusi.+ 15 Khuresi watsi kuyo: “Tsatsa letitja utiyise ethempelini leliseJerusalema, futsi wakhe kabusha indlu yaNkulunkulu lapho beyakhiwe khona.”+ 16 Ngako Sheshbasari weta wafike wabeka sisekelo sendlu yaNkulunkulu+ eJerusalema, futsi kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi yacala kwakhiwa, kodvwa isengakacedvwa.’+
17 “Nangabe kukuhle enkhosini, akwentiwe luphenyo endzaweni leseBhabhulona lokugcinwa kuyo tintfo letiligugu tebukhosi, kute kutfolwe kutsi iNkhosi Khuresi yawukhipha yini vele umyalo wekutsi kwakhiwe kabusha lendlu yaNkulunkulu eJerusalema,+ futsi sicela inkhosi isitfumelele sincumo sayo lesiphatselene nalendzaba.”