Haggai 1
1 [I am], Haggai, a prophet. I received a message from Yahweh on August 29th, during the second year that Darius was the king [of Persia]. I told this message to Shealtiel’s son Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Jehozadak’s son Jeshua, the Supreme Priest.
Ngomnyaka wesibili wenkosi uDariyu, ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yesithupha, ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngomphrofethi uHagayi lisiya kuZerubhabheli, indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, umbusi wakoJuda, lakuJoshuwa, indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu:
2 Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of heaven, told [me] that the people were saying that it was not yet time for them to rebuild Yahweh’s temple.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: “Abantu laba bathi, ‘Isikhathi sokwakha indlu kaThixo kasikafiki.’”
3 Then Yahweh gave me this message [to tell to the people of Jerusalem]:
Ngakho ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngomphrofethi uHagayi lisithi:
4 “It is not right [RHQ] for you to be living in luxurious houses while my temple is only ruins!
“Kuyisikhathi senu lina ngokwenu ukuba lihlale ezindlini zenu ezinhle, kodwa indlu le ilokhu ilunxiwa na?”
5 [I, ] Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of heaven, say this: Think about what is happening to you.
Khathesi nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: “Cabangani kuhle ngezindlela zenu.
6 You have planted a lot [of seeds], but you are not getting many [crops] to harvest. You eat [food], but you never get enough. You drink [wine], but you are still thirsty. You wear clothes, but you do not stay warm. You earn money, [but things are very expensive], with the result that [it is as though] [MET] [your money disappears because] you are putting it in purses/pockets that have [big] holes in them.”
Lihlanyele okunengi kodwa livuna okulutshwana. Liyadla, kodwa kalisuthi. Liyanatha, kodwa kalikholwa. Liyagqoka izigqoko, kodwa kalifudumali. Lihola imiholo liyifake esikhwameni esivuzayo.”
7 [So] this is what Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of heaven, says: “Think about what is happening to you.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: “Cabangani kuhle ngezindlela zenu.
8 [Then] go up into the hills, [cut down trees, ] and bring timber [down here], and rebuild my temple. When you do that, I will be pleased, and I will be honored.
Khwelani ezintabeni lehlise izigodo lakhe indlu ukuze ngithokoze ngayo njalo ngidunyiswe,” kutsho uThixo.
9 You expected [to harvest] plenty [of crops], but there were few [crops to harvest]. And when you brought the crops home, I caused them to spoil [IDM] quickly. The reason [that happened is that] my temple is a ruins, while each of you are busy building your own [beautiful] houses.
“Kade lilindele okunengi, kodwa khangelani, kusuke kwaba yingcosana. Elikulethe ekhaya, mina ngikuphephulele khatshana. Kungani na?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla. “Kungenxa yendlu yami elokhu ilunxiwa, ngesikhathi lina, omunye lomunye wenu, ebambeke ngendlu yakhe.
10 It is because of what you [are doing] that rain does not fall from the sky, and [as a result] there are no crops.
Ngakho-ke, ngenxa yenu amazulu asegodle amazolo lomhlaba amabele.
11 I have caused a (drought/severe lack of rain) on the hills and on your fields. The result has been that your grain [has withered], and your grapevines [MTY] and olive trees [MTY] and all your [other] crops have dried up. [Because of that, ] you and your cattle [do not have enough food], and the hard work that you have done will be for nothing.”
Ngilethe ukoma emasimini lasezintabeni, emabeleni, ewayinini elitsha, emafutheni lakukho konke okuvela emhlabathini, ebantwini lasenkomeni kanye lasemsebenzini wezandla zenu.”
12 Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and all the others of God’s people who were still alive obeyed the message that Yahweh our God had said, and they heeded the message that I had given them, because [they knew that] Yahweh our God had sent/appointed me. And the people revered Yahweh.
Lapho-ke uZerubhabheli, indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, loJoshuwa, indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu lensalela yonke yabantu balilalela ilizwi likaThixo uNkulunkulu wabo kanye lombiko kaHagayi umphrofethi ngoba wayethunywe nguThixo uNkulunkulu wabo. Abantu bamesaba uThixo.
13 Then [I], Haggai, who was Yahweh’s messenger, gave this message from Yahweh to the people: “I, Yahweh, declare that I am with you.”
Emva kwalokho, uHagayi isithunywa sikaThixo, wanika abantu ilizwi likaThixo leli: “Ngilani,” kutsho uThixo.
14 [So] Yahweh motivated Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the other people to want to rebuild the temple of our God, the Commander of the armies of angels. They gathered together and started to work to rebuild it.
Ngakho uThixo waqubula umoya kaZerubhabheli indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, umbusi wakoJuda, lomoya kaJoshuwa indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu, lomoya wensalela yabantu. Beza baqalisa ukusebenza endlini kaThixo uSomandla uNkulunkulu wabo,
15 [They started work] on September 21st, during the second year that Darius was the king.
ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga yesithupha ngomnyaka wesibili wenkosi uDariyu.
