< Zechariah 7 >

1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of Jehovah came to Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chislev.
Mugore rechina raMambo Dhariasi, shoko raJehovha rakasvika kuna Zekaria pazuva rechina romwedzi wepfumbamwe, mumwedzi weKisirevhi.
2 Now those of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to entreat the favor of Jehovah,
Vanhu veBhetieri vakanga vatuma Sharezeri naRegemi-Mereki, pamwe chete navanhu vavo, kuti vaende kuna Jehovha
3 and to speak to the priests of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
kundokumbira kuvaprista veimba yaJehovha Wamasimba Ose nokuvaprofita vachiti, “Ndochema nokutsanya nomwedzi wechishanu here, sezvandakaita kwamakore mazhinji aya?”
4 Then the word of Jehovah of hosts came to me, saying,
Ipapo shoko raJehovha Wamasimba Ose rakasvika kwandiri richiti,
5 Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy years, did ye at all fast to me, even to me?
“Bvunza vanhu vose venyika uye navaprista kuti, ‘Pamakatsanya uye mukachema mumwedzi wechishanu nowechinomwe kwamakore makumi manomwe akapfuura, makatsanyira ini zvechokwadi here?
6 And when ye eat, and when ye drink, do ye not eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
Uye pamaidya nokunwa, makanga musingangozvifadzi here?
7 Should ye not hear the words which Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?
Aya haasiwo here mashoko aJehovha akaparidzwa kubudikidza navaprofita vekare, Jerusarema namaguta aro akaripoteredza parakanga riri parugare uye richibudirira, uye nyika yeNegevhi nomujinga mezvikomo zvokumavirira muchakagarwa navanhu?’”
8 And the word of Jehovah came to Zechariah, saying,
Uye shoko raJehovha rakasvikazve kuna Zekaria richiti,
9 Thus Jehovah of hosts has spoken, saying, Execute true justice, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother.
“Zvanzi naJehovha Wamasimba Ose, ‘Tongai nokururamisira kwezvokwadi; muitirane tsitsi nenyasha.
10 And do not oppress the widow, nor the fatherless, the sojourner, nor the poor man. And let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.
Musamanikidza chirikadzi kana nherera, mutorwa kana murombo. Musafungirana zvakaipa mumwoyo menyu.’
11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.
“Asi vakaramba kuteerera; mukuzvikudza vakafuratira uye vakadzivira nzeve dzavo.
12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from Jehovah of hosts.
Vakaomesa mwoyo yavo sedombo romusarasara uye vakasateerera kumurayiro kana kumashoko aJehovha Wamasimba Ose aakanga atuma noMweya wake kubudikidza navaprofita vekare. Saka Jehovha Wamasimba Ose akatsamwa zvikuru.
13 And it has come to pass that, as he cried, and they would not hear, so they shall cry, and I will not hear, said Jehovah of hosts.
“‘Pandakadana, havana kuteerera; saka pavakadana, handina kuvateerera,’ ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha Wamasimba Ose.
14 But I will scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned. For they laid the pleasant land desolate.
‘Ndakavaparadzira nechamupupuri pakati pendudzi dzose, uko kwavakava vatorwa. Nyika yakava dongo shure kwavo zvokuti hapana aizogona kupinda kana kubudamo. Izvi ndizvo zvavakaita kunyika yaifadza, ikava dongo.’”

< Zechariah 7 >