Zekaria 7
1 Tarik angʼwen mar dwe mar ochiko, e higa mar angʼwen mar loch Darius, wach Jehova Nyasaye nobiro ni Zekaria.
When Darius had been the emperor for almost four years, on December 7, Yahweh gave me [another] message.
2 Noyudo jo-Bethel ooro Shareza gi Regem-Melek, kod jogi moko, mondo okwa Jehova Nyasaye gweth,
The people of Bethel [city] sent two men, Sharezer and Regem-Melech, along with some other men, [to the temple of Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels, ] to request that Yahweh bless them.
3 ka gipenjo jodolo mag od Jehova Nyasaye Maratego kod jonabi niya, “Bende owinjore aywagi kendo atwe chiemo e dwe mar abich kaka asebedo ka atimo kuom higni mangʼeny?”
They also asked the priests at Yahweh’s temple and the prophets [this question]: “For many years, during the fifth month [and during the seventh month of each year], we have mourned and (fasted/abstained from eating food). Should we [continue to do that]?”
4 Eka wach Jehova Nyasaye Maratego nobirona, kawacho niya,
Then the Commander of the armies of angels gave me a message.
5 “Penj ji duto manie piny, kaachiel gi jodolo ni, ‘Kane utweyo chiemo kendo uywak e dwe mar abich gi mar abiriyo kuom higni piero abiriyo mokalogo duto, bende an ema ne utweyona chiemo adier?
[He said], “Tell [RHQ] the priests and all the [other] people of Judah that during the past 70 years, when they mourned and fasted during the fifth and seventh months [of each year], it was not really [RHQ] me, [Yahweh], whom they were [honoring].
6 Koso kane uchiemo kendo umetho, donge nuchiemo kendo umetho mana ne un uwegi?
And when they ate and drank, it was really [RHQ] to [benefit] themselves.
7 Magi donge e weche mane Jehova Nyasaye owacho kotiyo gi jonabi machon, e kinde mane Jerusalem gi mier molwore ne nigi kwe kendo dhi maber, bende e kinde ma Negev gi pinje manie tie gode ma yo podho chiengʼ ne pok ji odakie?’”
That is certainly [RHQ] what I continually told the former prophets to proclaim [to the people], when Jerusalem and the nearby towns were prosperous and filled with people, and people [also] lived in the desert area to the south and in the foothills [to the west].”
8 Eka wach Jehova Nyasaye nochako obiro ni Zekaria niya,
Yahweh gave another message to me, saying
9 “Ma e gima Jehova Nyasaye Maratego wacho, ‘Ngʼaduru bura madier; nyisuru tim ngʼwono kod kech ni jowadu.
“[Tell the people that] this is what the Commander of the armies of angels says: ‘Do what is just/right, and act kindly and mercifully toward each other.
10 Kik usand dhako ma chwore otho kata nyathi kich, kata jadak, kata jadhier. Kik upar timo marach ni jowadu gie chunyu.’
Do not (oppress/treat cruelly) widows or orphans or foreigners or poor people. Do not even think about doing evil to anyone else.’”
11 “To negitamore winjo wechena; mi gingʼanyona kendo gidino parogi mondo kik giwinj wechena.
But the people refused to pay attention [to what Yahweh said]. They turned their backs [to him], and put their hands over their ears in order to not hear [what he said].
12 Ee, negiketo chunygi obedo matek ta mana ka kidi, kendo ne gidagi winjo chik kata weche ma Jehova Nyasaye Maratego nooronigi kuom Roho kokonyore gi jonabi machon. Omiyo Jehova Nyasaye Maratego nokecho ahinya.
They were very stubborn [IDM], and they would not listen to the laws [that God gave to Moses] or the messages that the Commander of the armies of angels told his Spirit to give to the prophets who were now dead. So the Commander of the armies of angels was very angry.
13 “‘Kane aluongo, ne ok giwinjo, omiyo gin bende kane giluongo to ne ok anyal yienegi,’ Jehova Nyasaye Maratego owacho.
The Commander of the armies of angels says, “When I called/spoke [to the people], they would not listen. So when they called/prayed [to me], I did not listen.
14 ‘Ne akeyogi ka kalausi e kind ogendini ma ok gingʼeyo. Piny mane giweyo nolokore gunda bangʼ-gi mane onge ngʼama kadhe kata dhiye. Kamano e kaka negimiyo piny majaberno olokore gunda.’”
And I caused them to be scattered among many nations, where they were strangers. [It was as though] [MET] a whirlwind [picked them up and carried them away from their country]. The country/land that they [were forced to] leave was ruined, with the result that no one could [live there or even] travel through it. [It was previously] a delightful land, but they caused it to become (desolate/like a desert).”
