< Zekaraya 8 >
1 Okwu Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile ruru m ntị na-asị,
Then the Lord Almighty sent another message to me.
2 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru: “Ana m ekwo ekworo dị ukwuu nʼihi Zayọn. Nʼezie, ekworo ahụ na-anụ m ọkụ dị ukwuu nʼahụ.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says. I am jealously protective of the people of Zion; I am extremely passionate about them.
3 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Aga m alọghachi na Zayọn, bịa biri na Jerusalem. Mgbe ahụ, a ga-akpọ Jerusalem, obodo Eziokwu. A ga-akpọkwa ugwu Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile Ugwu Nsọ.”
This is what the Lord says. I have returned to Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the “Faithful City,” and the mountain of the Lord Almighty the “Holy Mountain.”
4 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru, “Agadi ndị ikom na agadi ndị inyom ga-anọdụkwa ala ọzọ na mbara ụzọ niile nke Jerusalem, onye ọbụla ga-ejidekwa mkpara nʼaka ya nʼihi ọnụọgụgụ afọ ha gbara.
This is what the Lord Almighty says. Old people will be able to sit again in the streets of Jerusalem, each with their walking sticks they need because of their age.
5 Okporoụzọ nke obodo ahụ niile ga-ejupụtakwa nʼụmụntakịrị ndị nwoke na ndị nwanyị na-egwugharị egwu na ama ebe ahụ.”
The streets will be full of boys and girls playing happily.
6 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru, “O nwere ike bụrụ na ihe ndị a ga-adị ka ihe dịkarịrị ike imezu nʼanya ndị ahụ ga-afọdụ nʼoge ahụ, ma ọ ga-abụ ihe dịkarịrị ike ime nʼanya m?” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwubiri.
This is what the Lord Almighty says. It may seem too good to be true now, to you who remain of my people in these days. But is it impossible for me to do? asks the Lord Almighty.
7 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru, “Aga m azọpụta ndị m site na mba niile dị nʼọwụwa anyanwụ na nʼọdịda anyanwụ.
This is what the Lord Almighty says. I will save my people from the countries to the east and to the west.
8 Aga m akpọghachitekwa ha, mee ka ha biri na Jerusalem. Ha ga-abụkwa ndị m, mụ onwe m ga-abụ Chineke ha, onye ezi omume na onye kwesiri ntụkwasị obi.”
I will bring them back and they will live in Jerusalem, and they will be my people and I will be their God, trustworthy and true.
9 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru: “Ka aka unu sie ike, ka enwe ike wuo ụlọnsọ a, unu ndị na-anụ ugbu a otu okwu ahụ, nke ndị amụma kwuru mgbe a tọrọ ntọala iwugharị ụlọnsọ m, bụ ụlọ Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile.
This is what the Lord Almighty says. Be strong, so that the Temple may be completed. Everyone who is here today is listening to the same words from the prophets who were present on the day when the foundation of the Lord Almighty's Temple was laid.
10 Tupu ụbọchị ahụ, akwụbeghị ma ndị mmadụ ma ụmụ anụmanụ ụgwọ ọrụ ha. Ọ dịghịkwa udo dịrị onye ọbụla na-apụ apụ maọbụ onye na-abata abata nʼihi ndị iro ya, ebe m mere ka onye ọbụla bụrụ onye na-emegide ibe ya.
Before that time there wasn't enough for people or for animals. No one could live normally because they were not safe from their enemies, and I set everyone against each other.
11 Ma ugbu a, agaghị m emeso ndị fọdụrụ nʼala a, dịka m si meso ha nʼoge gara aga.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwupụtara.
But now I won't treat those who remain of my people like I treated them before, declares the Lord Almighty.
12 “Nʼihi na mkpụrụ ga-eto nke ọma, osisi vaịnị ga-amị mkpụrụ ya, ala ubi ga-ewepụtakwa ihe omume, igirigi eluigwe ga-ezokwasịkwa ala. Ihe ndị a niile ka m ga-enye ndị fọdụrụ nʼala a ka ọ bụụrụ ha ihe nketa.
They will sow in peace; the vine will produce grapes; the soil will grow crops and the heavens will water them. I will make sure this happens to all those who remain of this people.
13 Dịka unu bụ Juda na Izrel si bụrụ ihe a na-abụ ọnụ nʼetiti mba dị iche iche, otu a ka m ga-esi zọpụta unu, unu ga-abụkwa ngọzị. Unu atụla ụjọ, kama meenụ ka aka unu sie ike nʼọrụ unu.”
People of Judah and Israel: just as you were considered a curse among the nations, so I will save you and you will become a blessing. Don't be afraid! Be strong!
14 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru, “Dịka m si kpebie ime ka ihe ọjọọ bịakwasị unu, na dịka m na-egosighị ebere nʼahụ nna nna unu ha mgbe ha kpasuru m iwe,” ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile na-ekwu,
For this is what the Lord Almighty says: I decided to bring disaster on you when your forefathers angered me and I did not change my mind.
15 “otu a ka m kpebikwara ọzọ nʼụbọchị ndị a imere Jerusalem na Juda ihe ọma. Unu atụla ụjọ.
But now I have made up my mind to do good to Jerusalem and the people of Judah. Don't be afraid!
16 Ihe ndị a ka unu ga-eme: Kwuonụ eziokwu nye ibe unu, kpeenụ ikpe eziokwu nʼụlọikpe unu, nke a na-eweta udo.
This what you have to do: Tell each other the truth. In your courts judge honestly and truthfully, which makes for peace.
17 Unu echela echiche ọjọọ megide ibe unu; unu ahụla ịṅụ iyi ụgha nʼanya. Ihe ndị a niile ka m kpọrọ asị,” otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri ya.
Don't think up evil schemes against one another. Stop your love of lies. I hate all this, declares the Lord.
18 Okwu Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile ruru m ntị na-asị,
The Lord Almighty gave me another message.
19 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile na-ekwu: “Ibu ọnụ unu na-ebu nʼọnwa nke anọ, ọnwa nke ise, ọnwa nke asaa na nʼọnwa nke iri ga-aghọrọ unu oge ịṅụrị ọṅụ na oge obi ụtọ. Ha ga-abụrụ Juda mmemme obi ụtọ. Nʼihi ya, hụnụ eziokwu na udo nʼanya.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: The fasts you observe in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth month will become times of joy and happiness for the people of Judah—they will be festivals of celebration. But love truth and peace.
20 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile na-ekwukwa: “Ndị dị iche iche na ndị bi nʼọtụtụ obodo dị iche iche ka ga-abịa.
This is what the Lord Almighty says: People from many nations and cities will yet come to Jerusalem,
21 Ndị bi nʼotu obodo ga-ejekwa nʼobodo ọzọ, sị, ‘Ka anyị jee na-atụfughị oge gaa rịọọ Onyenwe anyị arịrịọ, ka anyị chọọnụ Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile. Mụ onwe m na-ejekwa.’
going from one city to another saying, “Let us be sure to go and seek the Lord and ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty. I myself am going!”
22 Ọtụtụ ndị mmadụ na ọtụtụ mba dị ike ga-abịa Jerusalem ịchọ Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile, na ịrịọ ya arịrịọ.”
Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty and seek the Lord.
23 Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru, “Nʼụbọchị ndị ahụ, mmadụ iri, ndị ga-esi na mba dị iche iche, ndị na-asụkwa asụsụ dị iche iche, ga-ejide otu onye Juda aka nʼọnụ ọnụ uwe ya na-asị, ‘Kwere ka anyị soro gị jee, nʼihi na anyị anụla na Chineke nọnyeere unu.’”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: At that time ten men from different nations and languages will grab hold of the hem of a Jewish man's robe and plead, “Please take us with you for we have heard that God is with you.”