UZakariya

7 Ngonyaka wesine weNkosi uDariyu, izwi likaJehova lafika kuZakariya, + ngosuku lwesine lwenyanga ka-9, okungukuthi, inyanga kaKhisilevi.* 2 Abantu baseBhethele bathuma uSharezeri noRegemi-meleki namadoda angaphansi kwakhe ukuba banxuse umusa* kaJehova, 3 bathi kubapristi bendlu* kaJehova wamabutho nakubaprofethi: “Ngikhale yini ngenyanga yesihlanu, + ngizile ukudla, njengoba ngenzile kule minyaka eminingi edlule?”

4 Izwi likaJehova wamabutho laphinde lafika kimi, lathi: 5 “Yithi kubo bonke abantu bezwe nakubapristi, ‘Lapho nizila ukudla futhi nilila ngenyanga yesihlanu nangenyanga yesikhombisa + iminyaka engu-70, + ingabe ngempela nanizilela mina ukudla? 6 Lapho nidla nalapho niphuza, naningadli yini ukuze kuzuze nina futhi naningaphuzi yini ukuze nizijabulise? 7 Akufanele yini nilalele amazwi uJehova awamemezela ngabaprofethi abedlule, + ngesikhathi kusenabantu eJerusalema nasemadolobheni alizungezile futhi kunokuthula, nalapho kusahlala abantu eNegebhi naseShefela?’ ”

8 Izwi likaJehova laphinde lafika kuZakariya, lathi: 9 “Yilokhu uJehova wamabutho akushoyo, ‘Yahlulelani ngobulungisa beqiniso; + nibonisane uthando oluqotho + nesihe. 10 Ningamphambi umfelokazi noma intandane, + isifiki + noma ompofu, + futhi ningacebelani okubi ezinhliziyweni zenu.’ + 11 Kodwa babelokhu benqaba ukulalela, + ngenkani bafulathela, + bavala izindlebe zabo ukuze bangezwa. + 12 Benza izinhliziyo zabo zaba njengedayimane, *+ babengawulaleli umthetho* namazwi uJehova wamabutho awathumela ngomoya wakhe, ngabaprofethi abedlule. + Ngakho kwafika intukuthelo enkulu ivela kuJehova wamabutho.” +

13 “ ‘Njengoba babengalaleli lapho ngibiza, *+ nami angilalelanga lapho bebiza,’ + kusho uJehova wamabutho. 14 ‘Ngabahlakaza ngesiphepho baya kuzo zonke izizwe ababengazazi, + izwe lashiywa liyincithakalo ngemva kwabo, kungekho muntu onqamula kulo noma obuyela kulo; + ngoba baphendula izwe elihle laba yinto eshaqisayo.’ ”