Ezara 4
1 Adani a Yuda ndi Benjamini anamva kuti anthu obwera ku ukapolo aja akumangira Nyumba Yehova, Mulungu wa Israeli.
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
2 Tsono anapita kwa Zerubabeli ndi kwa atsogoleri a mabanja awo ndi kunena kuti, “Mutilole kuti tikuthandizeni kumangaku chifukwa ife timapembedza Mulungu wanu monga momwe mumachitira inu, ndipo takhala tikupereka nsembe kwa Iye kuyambira nthawi ya Esrahadoni, mfumu ya ku Asiriya, amene anabwera nafe kuno.”
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3 Koma Zerubabeli, Yesuwa ndi atsogoleri ena otsala a mabanja a Aisraeli anayankha kuti, “Inu simungatithandize kumangira Nyumba Yehova, Mulungu wathu. Tokha tidzamumangira Nyumba Yehova, Mulungu wa Aisraeli, monga mfumu Koresi, mfumu ya Perisiya inatilamulira.”
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 Tsono anthu a mʼdzikomo anayamba kuchititsa ulesi anthu a ku Yuda, ndi kuwachititsa mantha kuti aleke ntchito yomangayo.
Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
5 Analemba alangizi ena kuti alepheretse cholinga chawo pa ntchitoyo pa nthawi yonse ya Koresi, mfumu ya ku Perisiya, ndiponso mpaka pamene Dariyo mfumu ya ku Perisiya ankalamulira dzikolo.
They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 Mfumu Ahasiwero atangoyamba kulamulira dzikolo, adani aja analemba kalata yoneneza anthu a Yuda ndi Yerusalemu.
At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Ndiponso mʼnthawi ya Aritasasita mfumu ya Perisiya, Bisilamu, Mitiredati, Tabeeli ndi anzawo ena analemba kalata inanso kwa Aritasasita. Kalatayo inalembedwa mʼChiaramu ndipo ankatanthauzira poyiwerenga.
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.
8 Rehumu mkulu wankhondo ndi Simisai mlembi, nawonso analemba kalata yawo yoneneza anthu a ku Yerusalemu kwa mfumu Aritasasita. Anayilemba motere:
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
9 Kalata yochokera kwa Rehumu, mkulu wa gulu lankhondo, mlembi Simisai ndi anzawo awa: oweruza, nduna, akuluakulu ena, anthu a ku Peresiya, Ereki, Babuloni, Susa mʼdziko la Elamu,
From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
10 ndi mitundu ina imene mkulu wolemekezeka, Osanipara anayisamutsa ndi kuyikhazika mʼmizinda ya Samariya ndi mʼmadera ena apatsidya la Yufurate.
and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.
11 Mawu a mʼkalata ya kwa Aritasasita anali awa: Kwa mfumu Aritasasita: Kuchokera kwa atumiki anu, anthu a kutsidya kwa Yufurate:
(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:
12 Amfumu tati mudziwe kuti Ayuda amene anabwera kuno kuchokera kwanuko apita ku Yerusalemu ndipo akumanganso mzinda wa anthu owukira ndi oyipa uja. Akumaliza makoma ake ndipo akukonzanso maziko.
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.
13 Kuwonjeza apo amfumu mudziwe kuti ngati amalize kumanganso mzindawu ndi kukonzanso makoma ake, adzaleka kukhoma msonkho, kulipira ndalama zakatundu olowa mʼdziko kapena msonkho wina uliwonse, ndipo chuma cha thumba la ufumu chidzachepa.
Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
14 Popeza tsono ife timadya nawo kwa mfumu sitiyenera tizingoonerera zinthu zochititsa mfumu manyazi. Nʼchifukwa chake tikutumiza uthenga kwa inu a mfumu kuti mudziwe zonse.
Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king
15 Choncho pachitike kafukufuku mʼbuku la mbiri yakale ya makolo anu. Mʼbuku la mbiri zakale mudzapezamo ndi kuwerenga kuti mzinda umenewu ndi waupandu, wosautsa mafumu ndi nduna zamʼmadera zomwe. Kuyambira kale wakhala ukuwukira ulamuliro uliwonse. Nʼchifukwa chake mzinda umenewu anawuwononga.
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
16 Tsono tikukudziwitsani amfumu kuti ngati mzinda umenewu umangidwanso ndi makoma ake nʼkutsirizidwanso ndiye kuti inu simudzalamuliranso chigawo cha patsidya pa Yufurate.
We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.
17 Mfumu inatumiza yankho ili: Mkulu wa gulu lankhondo Rehumu, mlembi Simisai ndi anzanu onse amene akukhala ku Samariya ndi mʼzigawo zina zonse za Patsidya pa Yufurate. Landirani moni.
Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
18 Kalata imene munatumiza ija yawerengedwa bwino lomwe pamaso panga.
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
19 Ine nditalamula kuti afufuze nkhaniyi kwapezekadi kuti mzinda umenewu uli ndi mbiri yowukira mafumu ndi kuti zaupandu ndi zowukira zinkachitikadi mʼmenemo.
I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.
20 Mafumu amphamvu akhala akulamulira Yerusalemu ndi chigawo chonse cha Patsidya pa Yufurate. Iwo ankalandira msonkho ndi kulipira ndalama zakatundu olowa mʼdziko pa kanthu kena kalikonse.
And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
21 Tsopano inu khazikitsani lamulo kuti anthu amenewo asiye ntchitoyo, asamangenso mzindawo mpaka ine nditalamula
Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
22 Musachedwe kuchita zimenezi. Kodi ine ndingalole bwanji kuti zowononga zotere zikule ndi kupweteka ine mfumu?
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
23 Kalata ya mfumu Aritasasitayi itangowerengedwa pamaso pa Rehumu ndi Simisai mlembi uja, ndi anzawo onse, iwo anapita msangamsanga ku Yerusalemu kukawaletsa Ayuda aja mwamphamvu kuti asapitirire ntchito yawo.
When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
24 Motero ntchito yomanga Nyumba ya Mulungu ku Yerusalemu inayimitsidwa mpaka chaka cha chiwiri cha ulamuliro wa Dariyo mfumu ya ku Perisiya.
Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
