Ezra 4
1 Ie jinanji’ o rafelahi’ Iehoda naho i Beniamineo te nandranjy anjomba am’ Iehovà, Andrianañahare’ Israele o anam-pandrohizañeo,
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.
2 le niheo amy Zerobabele naho amo talèn’ anjomban-droaeo mb’eo, nanao ty hoe: Antao hindre hamboatse tika; fa paia’ay manahak’ anahareo t’i Andrianañahare’ areo vaho fa nisoroña’ay sikala’ amy andro’ i Esarkadone mpanjaka’ i Asore nanese anay mb’etoañey.
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 Fe nanoa’ i Zerobabele naho Iesòa vaho ty ila’ o mpiaoloñ’ anjomba’ Israeleo, ty hoe: Tsy aman-kanoañe ama’ay nahareo ami’ ty fandranjiañe anjomba ho aman’ Añahare’ay; zahay ka, ro hitrao-kandranjy ho amy Iehovà, Andrianañahare’ Israele, amy nandilia’ i Korese, mpanjaka’ i Parase anaiy.
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 Aa le nampiletraletra ty fità’ o nte-Iehoda ondati’ i taneio, fa nihehere’ iereo o namboatseo,
Then the local people set out to intimidate the people of Judah and make them too scared to go on building.
5 ie nanolo-vokàñe amo mpifeheo, hampineña o fisafiri’ iareoo amo hene’ andro’ i Korese, mpanjaka’ i Paraseo, pak’ amy fifehea’ i Dariavese, mpanjaka’ i Parasey.
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 Ie amy fifehea’ i Akasverosey, amy fifotora’ i fifeleha’ey, le nisokira’ iereo sisý o mpimone’ Iehoda naho Ierosalaimeo.
When Ahasuerus became king the local people sent him a written accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Le amo andro’ i Artaksastào ty nanokira’ i Bislame naho i Mitredate naho i Tabile miharo amo rañe’e ila’eo, amy Artaksastà, mpanjaka’ i Parase: sinokitse an-tsaontsy nte-Arame i taratasiy vaho nadika boak’ ami’ty saontsi’ Arame.
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 Nanokitse taratasy fandrabioñañe Ierosalaime amy Artaksastà, mpanjaka, t’i Rekome mpizaka naho i Simsay mpanokitse, amo hoe zao:
Rehum the officer in command and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes condemning Jerusalem stating,
9 Aa hoe ty sinoki’ i Rekome mpizaka naho i Simsay mpanokitse naho o rañe’e ila’eo; o mpizakao naho o mpifeleke zai’eo naho o siliketerao naho o nte-Erekeo, o nte-Baveleo, o nte Sosaneo, o nte-Dahavào vaho o nte-Elameo,
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 naho o kilakila’ ondaty ila’e nasese’ i Asenapare, mpanañ’ asy naho vañoñey vaho navotra’e androva’ i Somerone ao naho an-tane’ ila’e alafe’ i Saka atoiy—inao:
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 intoy ty taratasy hambañ’ amy nañitrifa’ iareo ama’ey, amy Artaksastà mpanjakay—o mpitoro’oo, ondaty alafe’ i Sakay atoio—le zao:
The following is a copy of the letter they sent to him. To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, men beyond the River Euphrates:
12 Ee te ho fohi’ i mpanjakay, te nivotrak’ ama’ay e Ierosalaime atoa o nte-Iehodà nionjoñe boak’ ama’oo; amboare’ iareo henaneo i rova mpiola naho ratiy, naho fa najado’ iareo o kijoli’eo vaho nampivitrañe o mananta’eo.
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 Aa ehe te ho fohi’ i mpanjakay henane zao te ie mivoatse ty rova toy vaho fonitse o kijoli’eo, le tsy handoa haba ndra vili-loha ndra fondro iereo, toly ndra hampiantoeñe ty fanontoña’ o mpanjakao.
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 Aa kanao ikama’ay ty sira’ i anjombam-panjakay, le tsy mañeva anay ty hahaoniñe ty fanalarañe i mpanjakay, aa le izay ty nampihitrifa’ay taroñe amy mpanjakay,
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 soa te ho hotsohotsoeñe o bokem-bolilin-droae’o hahaisake amy bokem-boliliy naho hahaoniñe te vata’e rova mpiola ty rova toy naho mpijoy mpanjaka naho fifeheañe, ie fa nitrobo fikitrohañe hatrela’e; le izay ty nampangoakoahañe ty rova toy.
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 Aa le taroñe’ay amy mpanjakay t’ie mivoatse ty rova toy naho fonitse o kijoli’eo, le tsy ho fanaña’o ka ty an-dafe’ i Sakay atoa.
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 Aa le nampisangitrife’ i mpanjakay amy Rekome mpizaka naho amy Sisa mpanokitsey naho amo mpiama’ iareo ila’e e Someroneo vaho amo ila’e alafe’ i Sakaio, ty vale’e: Fañanintsiñe, le zao;
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 nadika naho vinaky ama’ay añatrefako i taratasy nahitri’ areo ama’aiy.
The letter you sent to us has been translated and read to me.
19 Le namantoke iraho naho fa heneke i fitsikarahañey, le nizoeñe te nimpiola amo mpanjakao hatrela’e i rovay vaho fikitrofañe naho fikililiañe ty nanoeñe ao.
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 Toe teo ty mpanjaka ra’elahy nifehe Ierosalaime, nifeleke i fonga tane alafe’ i Sakaiy; le nitolorañe rorotse naho haba vaho fondro.
Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and throughout the whole area west of the Euphrates, and they received tax, tribute, and fees.
21 Aa le ametsaho zaka hampijihetse indaty rezay, tsy hamboatse i rovay, ampara’ te ampiboahako tsey.
Issue an immediate order for these men to stop work. This city is not to be rebuilt until I authorize it.
22 Mitomira arè tsy hilesa amy zay; ino ty hitomboa’ o fiantoañeo hijoy o mpanjakao?
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why should this problem be allowed to grow and damage royal interests?”
23 Ie vinaky aolo’ i Rekome naho i Sisay mpanokitse naho o mpiama’eo i hambañe amy taratasi’ i Artaksastà, mpanjakay, le nihitrihitry mb’e Ierosalaime mb’amo nte-Iehodao mb’eo, nanjitse ty ao an-kaozarañe naho senge hèry.
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 Aa le nijihetse i fitoloñañe añ’ anjomban’ Añahare e Ierosalaimey; le nizitse am-para’ ty taom-paha-roem-pifeleha’ i Dariavese, mpanjaka’ i Parasey.
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.
