Ezra 4
1 Ary nony ren’ ny fahavalon’ ny Joda sy ny Benjamina fa ireo efa nody avy tamin’ ny fahababoana dia efa manao tempoly ho an’ i Jehovah, Andriamanitry ny Isiraely,
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.
2 dia nanatona an’ i Zerobabela sy ny lohan’ ny fianakaviana izy ka nanao taminy hoe: Aoka mba hiara-manao aminareo izahay, fa mitady an’ Andriamanitrareo tahaka anareo ihany koa izahay, ary ho Azy no namonoanay zavatra hatao fanatitra hatramin’ ny andron’ i Esara-hadona, mpanjakan’ i Asyria, izay efa nampakatra anay ho atỳ.
They came to Zerubbabel and the family leaders and said, “Please let us help you with the building work, for we worship your God like you do. In fact we have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3 Fa Zerobabela sy Jesoa mbamin’ ny namany lohan’ ny fianakaviana tamin’ ny Isiraely namaly azy hoe: Tsy misy raharaha hikambananareo aminay amin’ ny hanaovana trano ho an’ Andriamanitray; fa izahay ihany no hanao trano ho an’ i Jehovah, Andriamanitry ny Isiraely, araka izay efa nandidian’ itompokolahy Kyrosy, mpanjakan’ i Persia, anay.
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the family leaders of Israel replied, “You can't share with us in building a Temple for our God. Only we can build it for the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what Cyrus the king of Persia has ordered us to do.”
4 Ary ny tompon-tany nanao izay hampiraviravy tanana ny Jiosy sy nandevilevy azy mba tsy hanao ny trano
Then the local people set out to intimidate the people of Judah and make them too scared to go on building.
5 sady nanamby olona hanome hevitra hanohitra azy hahafoana ny heviny hatramin’ ny andro nanjakan’ i Kyrosy tany Persia ka hatramin’ ny nanjakan’ i Dariosy, mpanjakan’ i Persia.
They bribed officials to oppose them and to obstruct their plans. This continued during the whole reign of Cyrus king of Persia up until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 Ary raha vao nanjaka Ahasoerosy, dia nanoratra ho any aminy ireo hanendrikendrika ny mponina tany Joda sy Jerosalema.
When Ahasuerus became king the local people sent him a written accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Ary tamin’ ny andron’ i Artaksersesy no nanoratan’ i Bislama sy Mitredata sy Tabela mbamin’ ny namany sisa ho any amin’ i Artaksersesy, mpanjakan’ i Persia; ary ny soratra tamin’ ny taratasy dia nataony tarehin-tsoratra Syriana sady nataony teny Syriana koa.
During the time of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their fellow officers wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic.
8 Rehoma mpanolo-tsaina sy Simsay mpanoratra dia nanoratra taratasy ho any amin’ i Artaksersesy mpanjaka hanendrikendrika an’ i Jerosalema toy izao:
Rehum the officer in command and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes condemning Jerusalem stating,
9 Rehoma mpanolo-tsaina sy Simsay mpanoratra ary ny namany sisa, dia ny Dinaïta, ny Afarsatkita, ny Tarpelita, ny Afarsaïta, ny Arkevita, ny Babyloniana, ny Sosanita, ny Dehavita sy ny Elamita,
This comes from Rehum the officer in command, Shimshai the scribe, and fellow officers: the judges and officials and those in charge of Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
10 mbamin’ ny firenena sisa izay nentin’ i Asnapara lehibe sady malaza ho babo, ka namponeniny tany an-tanàna Samaria sy tany amin’ ny tany sasany etỳ an-dafin’ ny ony etỳ ......
and the rest of the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria and other places west of the Euphrates.
11 Izao no teny amin’ ny taratasy nampitondrainy ho any amin’ i Artaksersesy mpanjaka: Ny lehilahy mpanomponao etỳ an-dafin’ ny ony etỳ ......
The following is a copy of the letter they sent to him. To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, men beyond the River Euphrates:
12 Aoka ho fantatry ny mpanjaka fa ny Jiosy, izay niakatra avy tany aminao hankatỳ aminay, dia efa tonga any Jerosalema ka manamboatra ilay tanàna fikomiana sady ratsy, dia mahavita ny mandany izy izao ary manamboatra ny fanorenany koa.
Your Majesty should be informed that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, completing repairs to the walls, and mending its foundations.
13 Koa aoka ho fantatry ny mpanjaka fa raha hatao io tanàna io, ka hatsangana indray ny mandany, dia tsy hety handoa hetra, na haba, na sara, izy; ka dia hahatonga fatiantoka ho an’ ny fanjakana izany any aoriana.
Your Majesty should realize that if this city is rebuilt and its walls repaired, they will not pay tax, tribute, or fees, and the king's revenue will suffer.
14 Koa satria mahazo ny fivelomanay avy amin’ ny lapan’ ny mpanjaka izahay, dia tsy mety raha odianay tsy hita ny fatiantoky ny fanjakana, ka dia efa naniraka hampahafantatra ny mpanjaka izany izahay,
Now because we are in the king's service and it is not right for us to see Your Majesty disrespected, we are sending this letter so that you can be informed,
15 mba hizahana ny boky tantaran’ ny razanao; dia ho hitanao eo amin’ ny boky tantara, ka ho fantatrao fa tanàna fikomiana io tanàna io ka naha-fatiantoka ny mpanjaka sy ny tany maro, sady efa nisy fikomiana niseho tao hatrizay ela izay; koa izany no nandravana io tanàna io.
and order a search of the royal archives. You will discover in these records that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and countries, having often risen up in revolt in the past. That is what led to this city being destroyed.
16 Ary mampahafantatra ny mpanjaka izahay fa raha hamboarina io tanàna io, ka vita ny mandany, dia tsy hanana fanjakana amin’ ny etỳ an-dafin’ ny ony etỳ intsony ianao.
We wish to inform Your Majesty that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed, you will lose this province west of the Euphrates.
17 Dia nampitondrain’ ny mpanjaka ny valiny ho any amin-dRehoma mpanolo-tsaina sy Simsay mpanoratra mbamin’ ny namany sisa izay nonina tany Samaria sy tany amin’ ny tanàna sasany an-dafin’ ny ony, nanao hoe: Fiadanana ......
The king replied as follows: “To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and fellow officers living in Samaria and in other areas west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
18 Ny taratasy izay nampitondrainareo ho atỳ aminay dia efa voavaky tsara teo anatrehako;
The letter you sent to us has been translated and read to me.
19 ary izaho nandidy, ka nasaiko nizahana, dia hita fa nanandra-tena nikomy tamin’ ny mpanjaka maro hatrizay ela izay tokoa io tanàna io, ka nisy fikomiana sy fihodinana niseho teo.
I ordered a search to be conducted. It was discovered that this city has often risen up in revolt against kings in the past, frequently promoting insurrection and rebellion.
20 Ary efa nisy mpanjaka mahery izay nanjaka tany Jerosalema nanapaka ny tany rehetra any an-dafin’ ny ony ka nandoavana hetra sy haba ary sara.
Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and throughout the whole area west of the Euphrates, and they received tax, tribute, and fees.
21 Koa dia manaova didy hampitsahatra ireo olona ireo, mba tsy hamboarina io tanàna io, raha tsy mahazo teny avy atỳ amiko.
Issue an immediate order for these men to stop work. This city is not to be rebuilt until I authorize it.
22 Ary tandremo tsara, fandrao misy tsy vitanareo izany; fa nahoana no havela handroso ny ratsy ka hahatonga fatiantoka ho an’ ny fanjakana?
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why should this problem be allowed to grow and damage royal interests?”
23 Ary rehefa voavaky teo anatrehan-dRehoma mpanolo-tsaina sy Simsay mpanoratra mbamin’ ny namany ny taratasin’ i Artaksersesy mpanjaka, dia niakatra faingana ho any Jerosalema ho any amin’ ny Jiosy izy ka nampitsahatra azy an-keriny.
As soon as this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their fellow officers, they rushed to the Jews in Jerusalem and used their power to forcibly make them stop work.
24 Dia natsahatra tsy natao ny tranon’ Andriamanitra, izay tany Jerosalema; ary mbola nitsahatra ihany izany hatramin’ ny taona faharoa nanjakan’ i Dariosy, mpanjakan’ i Persia.
Consequently work on God's Temple in Jerusalem came to a halt. The stoppage continued until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.
