U-Ezra
4 Lapho izitha zikaJuda noBhenjamini + zizwa ukuthi labo ababuya ekudingisweni + bakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ithempeli, 2 ngokushesha zaya kuZerubhabhele nakwabayizinhloko zemindeni yoyise zathi kubo: “Sivumeleni sakhe kanye nani; ngoba nathi sikhonza* uNkulunkulu wenu, + besilokhu simenzela imihlatshelo kusukela ezinsukwini zika-Esari-hadoni + inkosi yase-Asiriya, owasiletha lapha.” + 3 Nokho, uZerubhabhele noJeshuwa nazo zonke izinhloko zemindeni yoyise yakwa-Israyeli bathi kubo: “Aningeni ndawo ekwakheleni uNkulunkulu wethu indlu, + ngoba sizomakhela thina uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu, njengoba nje uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya esiyalile.” +
4 Abantu bezwe babelokhu bebadikibalisa* abantu bakwaJuda, bebaqeda amandla emsebenzini wokwakha. + 5 Baqasha abeluleki ukuze bashafise izinhlelo zabo + zonke izinsuku zikaKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya kwaze kwabusa uDariyu inkosi + yasePheresiya. 6 Ekuqaleni kokubusa kuka-Ahashiveroshi, babhala incwadi emangalela abantu bakwaJuda nabaseJerusalema. 7 Ezinsukwini zika-Aritahishashita inkosi yasePheresiya, uBishilamu, uMithiredati, uThabeyeli nabo bonke ozakwabo babhalela iNkosi u-Aritahishashita; leyo ncwadi bayihumushela olimini lwesi-Aramu, + bayibhala ngezinhlamvu zesi-Aramu.*
8 * URehumi isikhulu esiyinhloko sikahulumeni noShimshayi umbhali babhalela iNkosi u-Aritahishashita incwadi ekhuluma kabi ngeJerusalema, ngale ndlela: 9 (Yayivela kuRehumi isikhulu esiyinhloko sikahulumeni noShimshayi umbhali nabo bonke ozakwabo, abahluleli nondunankulu abangaphansi, onobhala, abantu base-Erekhi, + abaseBhabhiloni, abaseShushani, + okungukuthi, ama-Elamu, + 10 nazo zonke ezinye izizwe u-Asenaphari omkhulu nohloniphekile aziyisa ekudingisweni wazihlalisa emadolobheni aseSamariya, + ezinye wazihlalisa ngaPhesheya Komfula,* manje 11 nayi incwadi abayithumela kuyo.)
“Nkosi u-Aritahishashita, ivela ezincekwini zakho, amadoda angaPhesheya Komfula: 12 Inkosi mayazi ukuthi amaJuda akhuphukele lapha kithi evela kuwe afikile eJerusalema. Alakha kabusha leli dolobha elidlubulundayo nelikhohlakele, aseyaziqeda izindonga + nokulungisa izisekelo. 13 Manje inkosi mayazi ukuthi uma leli dolobha lingase lakhiwe kabusha nezindonga zalo ziqedwe, akukho ntela nankokhiso + namali yomgwaqo abazoyikhipha, lokho kuzobangela ukuba amakhosi alahlekelwe umcebo. 14 Njengoba sidla usawoti wasesigodlweni,* akufaneleki ukuba sibone izinto ezithandwa inkosi ziphazanyiswa, ngenxa yalokhu siye sathumela lo mbiko ukuze sazise inkosi, 15 ukuze kuphenywe encwadini yemibhalo egciniwe yokhokho bakho. + Encwadini yemibhalo egciniwe uzothola ukuthi leli dolobha liyidolobha elidlubulundayo, liyingozi emakhosini nasezifundazweni,* futhi ngaphakathi kulo bekulokhu kukhona abashoshozela ukuvukela kusukela endulo. Yingakho leli dolobha laqothulwa. + 16 Sazisa inkosi ukuthi uma leli dolobha lakhiwa kabusha nezindonga zalo seziqediwe, ngeke ukwazi ukulawula* indawo engaPhesheya Komfula.” +
17 Inkosi yathumela izwi kuRehumi isikhulu esiyinhloko sikahulumeni nakuShimshayi umbhali nakubo bonke abanye ozakwabo ababehlala eSamariya nakubo bonke abanye ababengaPhesheya Komfula:
“Sanibonani! 18 Incwadi yasebukhosini enisithumele yona ifundwe* ngokucacile phambi kwami. 19 Ngiyale ukuba kwenziwe uphenyo, kwatholakala ukuthi kusukela kudala leli dolobha liye lajikela amakhosi, ladlubulunda futhi lavukela. + 20 Kwakunamakhosi anamandla eJerusalema ayebusa yonke indawo engaPhesheya Komfula, futhi ayekhokhelwa intela, inkokhiso nemali yomgwaqo. 21 Manje khiphani umyalo wokuba la madoda ayeke ukusebenza, ukuze idolobha lingakhiwa kabusha kuze kube yilapho mina ngikhipha umyalo. 22 Qaphelani ukuba ningakudebeseleli ukwenza lokhu, ukuze izinto ezithandwa inkosi zingabe zisaphazanyiswa.” +
23 Ngemva kokuba le khophi yencwadi yomthetho evela eNkosini u-Aritahishashita isifundiwe phambi kukaRehumi noShimshayi umbhali nozakwabo, baphuthuma baya kumaJuda eJerusalema bawamisa ngenkani. 24 Wama ngaleso sikhathi umsebenzi endlini kaNkulunkulu eyayiseJerusalema; wama nsi kwaze kwaba unyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya. +