U-Ezra 10

1 Lapho u-Ezra wayekhuleka njalo evuma izono, ekhala eziwisela phansi phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, ixuku elikhulu labako-Israyeli kubalisa amadoda labafazi labantwana, babuthana kuye. Labo bakhala kabuhlungu.

Now while Ezra prayed, and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

2 Yikho uShekhaniya indodana kaJehiyeli, omunye wesizukulwane sika-Elamu, wathi ku-Ezra, “Kasizange sithembeke kuNkulunkulu wethu ngoba sathatha abafazi bezizweni ebantwini esakhelene labo. Kodwa loba kunjalo ithemba lisekhona ngo-Israyeli.

And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married strange women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.

3 Manje kasenzeni isivumelwano phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu ukubalahla bonke labobafazi labantwababo njengeseluleko senkosi yami lalabo abayesabayo imilayo kaNkulunkulu wethu. Kakwenziwe ngendlela yoMthetho.

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

4 Sukuma; indaba le isezandleni zakho. Thina sizakusekela, yikho yiba lesibindi ukwenze.”

Arise; for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

5 Ngakho u-Ezra waphakama wafungisa bonke abakhokheli babaphristi labaLevi lo-Israyeli wonke ukwenza lokho okwakumisiwe. Basenza lesosifungo.

Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware.

6 U-Ezra wasesuka endlini kaNkulunkulu waya endlini kaJehohanani indodana ka-Eliyashibi. Elapho kadlanga lutho njalo kazange anathe manzi, ngoba waqhubeka elilela ukungathembeki kwezithunjwa.

Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.

7 Kwasekukhutshwa isimemezelo kulolonke elakoJuda kanye leJerusalema ukuthi zonke izithunjwa kaziqoqane eJerusalema.

And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

8 Ingqe ngubani ongafikanga phakathi kwensuku ezintathu wayezathathelwa yonke impahla alayo, kulandelwa isinqumo sezinduna labadala, kuthi yena ngokwakhe axotshwe emphakathini walabo ababethunjiwe.

and that whosoever came not within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of the captivity.

9 Phakathi kwalezonsuku ezintathu wonke amadoda akoJuda lakoBhenjamini ayesebuthene eJerusalema. Kwathi ngelanga lamatshumi amabili lenyanga yesificamunye bonke abantu babehlezi esigcawini phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, bekhathazekile ngombuthano lowo njalo begxanxwa lizulu elalisina.

Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

10 Kwathi u-Ezra umphristi wasukuma wathi kubo, “Kalithembekanga; lisuke lathatha abafazi bezizweni, lengeza icala lika-Israyeli.

And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have trespassed, and have married strange women, to increase the guilt of Israel.

11 Manje-ke vumani izono zenu kuThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho benu, lenze intando yakhe. Zahlukaniseni kulababantu elakhelene labo lasebafazini benu abezizwe.”

Now therefore make confession unto the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the strange women.

12 Inkundla yonke yaphendula ngelizwi elikhulu yathi: “Uqondile! Kumele senze njengoba usitsho.

Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, as thou hast said concerning us, so must we do.

13 Kodwa kulabantu abanengi lapha futhi lesi yisikhathi sezulu; ngakho ngeke sime lapha phandle. Futhi indaba le ingazake iphethwe ngosuku olulodwa kumbe ezimbili, ngoba sonile kakhulu ngento le.

But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.

14 Akuthi izinduna zethu zisimele thina sonke. Akuthi wonkemuntu emizini yethu othethe umfazi wabezizwe eze ngesikhathi esimisiweyo, eze labadala kanye labehluleli balowomuzi, luze ludede kithi ulaka olwesabekayo lukaNkulunkulu wethu.”

Let now our princes be appointed for all the congregation, and let all them that are in our cities which have married strange women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be despatched.

15 Kwaba nguJonathani kuphela, indodana ka-Asaheli loJahizeya indodana kaThikhiva, besekelwa nguMeshulami loShabhethayi umLevi abakuphikisayo lokhu.

Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this [matter]: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

16 Ngakho izithunjwa zenza njengokwakumisiwe. U-Ezra umphristi wakhetha amadoda ayeyizinhloko zezimuli, oyedwa emulini, bonke baqanjwa ngamabizo. Ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yetshumi bahlala phansi bawahlolisisa lawomacala,

And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, [with] certain heads of fathers’ [houses], after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were separated; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

17 kwathi ngelanga lokuqala ngenyanga yokuqala baqeda ukuphatha indaba yamadoda ayethethe abafazi bezizweni.

And they made an end with all the men that had married strange women by the first day of the first month.

18 Phakathi kwezizukulwane zabaphristi, laba abalandelayo yibo ababethethe abafazi bezizweni: Abesizukulwane sikaJeshuwa indodana kaJozadaki labafowabo: uMaseya, u-Eliyezari, uJaribhi loGedaliya.

And among the sons of the priests there were found that had married strange women: [namely], of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.

19 (Bonke baphakamisa izandla zabo bafunga ukubalahla abafazi babo, kwathi ngenxa yecala labo ngulowo wakhupha inqama emhlambini ukuba ngumnikelo wesono.)

And they gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt.

20 Abesizukulwane sika-Imeri: nguHanani loZebhadiya.

And of the sons of Immer; Hanani and Zebadiah.

21 Abesizukulwane sikaHarimi: nguMaseya, lo-Elija, loShemaya, loJehiyeli lo-Uziya.

And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

22 Abesizukulwane sikaPhashuri: ngu-Eliyonayi, loMaseya, lo-Ishumayeli, loNethaneli, loJozabhadi lo-Eleyasa.

And of the sons of Pashhur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23 Phakathi kwabaLevi nampa: uJozabhadi, loShimeyi, loKhelaya (kutshiwo uKhelitha), loPhethahiya, loJuda lo-Eliyezari.

And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 Phakathi kwabahlabeleli nampa: u-Eliyashibi. Phakathi kwabalindimasango: nguShalumi, loThelemu lo-Uri.

And of the singers; Eliashib; and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

25 Phakathi kwabanye abako-Israyeli: Abesizwe sikaPharoshi: nguRamiya, u-Iziya, uMalikhija, uMijamini, u-Eliyezari, uMalikhija loBhenaya.

And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.

26 Abesizukulwane sika-Elamu: nguMathaniya, uZakhariya, uJehiyeli, u-Abhidi, uJeremothi lo-Elija.

And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.

27 Abesizukulwane sikaZathu: ngu-Eliyonayi, u-Eliyashibi, uMathaniya, uJeremothi, uZabhadi lo-Aziza.

And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

28 Abesizukulwane sikaBhebhayi: nguJehohanani, uHananiya, uZabhayi lo-Athilayi.

And of the sons of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.

29 Abesizukulwane sikaBhani: nguMeshulami, uMaluki, u-Adaya, uJashubi, uSheyali loJeremothi.

And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.

30 Abesizukulwane sikaPhahathi-Mowabi: ngu-Adina, uKhelali, uBhenaya, uMaseya, uMathaniya, uBhezaleli, uBhinuwi loManase.

And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

31 Abesizukulwane sikaHarimi: ngu-Eliyezari, u-Ishiya, uMalikhija, uShemaya, uSimiyoni,

And [of] the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon;

32 uBhenjamini, uMaluki, loShemariya.

Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.

33 Abesizukulwane sikaHashumi: nguMathenayi, uMathatha, uZabhadi, u-Elifelethi, uJeremayi, uManase loShimeyi.

Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.

34 Abesizukulwane sikaBhani: nguMadayi, u-Amramu, u-Uweli,

Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel;

35 uBhenaya, uBhedeya, uKheluhi,

Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi;

36 uVaniya, uMeremothi, u-Eliyashibi,

Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib;

37 uMathaniya, uMathenayi loJasu.

Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu;

38 Abesizukulwane sikaBhinuwi loBhani: nguShimeyi,

and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei;

39 uShelemiya, uNathani, u-Adaya,

and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah;

40 uMakhinadebhayi, uShashayi, uSharayi,

Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai;

41 u-Azareli, uShelemiya, uShemariya,

Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah;

42 uShalumi, u-Amariya loJosefa.

Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.

43 Abesizukulwane sikaNebho: nguJeyiyeli, uMathithiya, uZabhadi, uZebhina, uJadayi, uJoweli loBhenaya.

Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah.

44 Bonke laba bathatha abafazi bezizweni, abanye babo bazala abantwana labafazi labo.

All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.