U-Ezra 4
1 Kwathi lapho izitha zakoJuda lakoBhenjamini sezizwile ukuthi ababeyizithunjwa basebesakha ithempeli likaThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity were building a temple to Jehovah, the God of Israel,
2 beza kuZerubhabheli lakulabo ababezinhloko zezimuli bathi, “Yekelani silincedise ukwakha ngoba lathi, njengani, siyamdinga uNkulunkulu wenu njalo kukade sisenza imihlatshelo kuye kusukela esikhathini sika-Esarihadoni inkosi yase-Asiriya, onguye owasiletha lapha.”
then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers, and said to them, Let us build with you, for we seek your God, as ye do, and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria who brought us up here.
3 Kodwa uZerubhabheli, loJeshuwa labo bonke ababezinhloko zezimuli zako-Israyeli baphendula bathi, “Kalilani lakho ukwakhisana lathi ithempeli likaNkulunkulu wethu. Thina sodwa sizalakha, silakhela uThixo, uNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli, njengokulaywa kwethu nguKhurosi, inkosi yasePhezhiya.”
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers of Israel, said to them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God, but we ourselves together will build to Jehovah, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.
4 Kwasekusithi abantu balelolizwe baqalisa ukubadondisa abantu bakoJuda babenza besaba ukuqhubeka besakha.
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5 Bathenga abacebisi bokudunga umsebenzi bawunyampise ngasosonke isikhathi sokubusa kukaKhurosi inkosi yasePhezhiya kwaze kwaba sekubuseni kukaDariyu inkosi yasePhezhiya.
and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 Ekuqaleni kokubusa kuka-Ahasuweru bethesa abantu bakoJuda labaseJerusalema icala.
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Njalo kwathi ngezinsuku zika-Athazekisisi inkosi yasePhezhiya uBhishilamu, loMithiredathi loThabheli labo bonke abangane babo baloba incwadi isiya ku-Athazekisisi. Incwadi leyo yayibhalwe ngolimi lwesi-Aramayikhi ngendlela yokuloba kwawo ama-Aramu.
And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue.
8 URehumi umlawuli webutho loShimishayi unobhala babhala incwadi isiya ku-Athazekisisi inkosi besola iJerusalema besithi:
Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this way.
9 URehumi umlawuli webutho loShimishayi unobhala kanye labo bonke abahlangene labo, abehluleli lezinduna zabantu abasuka eThripholi, ePhezhiya, e-Ereki leBhabhiloni lama-Elamu aseSusa,
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
10 kanye labanye abantu inkosi enkulu ehloniphekayo u-Ashuribhaniphali (u-Osinaphari) eyabaxotshayo yayabahlalisa edolobheni laseSamariya lakwezinye izindawo ngaphetsheya kweYufrathe.
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest beyond the River, and so forth.
11 (Nanka amazwi encwadi leyo abayibhalayo.) Kuyo iNkosi u-Athazekisisi, Ivela ezincekwini zakho, abantu abangaphetsheya kweYufrathe:
This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.
12 Inkosi ifanele yazi ukuthi amaJuda afikayo kithi lapha evela kuwe aseye eJerusalema njalo sebelakha kutsha idolobho lelo elihlamukayo, elibi kakhulu. Sebevusa imiduli bevuselela lezisekelo.
Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from thee have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and the evil city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
13 Phezu kwalokho inkosi kufanele ukuba yazi ukuthi aluba idolobho leli lingaze lakhiwe lemiduli yalo imiswe njalo, kakusayikubhadalwa imithelo lenkongozelo yenkosi, lomthetho wokungenisa impahla ezweni, besekusithi-ke isikhwama senkosi sisilele izimali.
Be it known now to the king, that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
14 Pho njengoba thina silomlandu ophuma esigodlweni njalo kungafanelanga ukuthi sibone inkosi idelelwa, sithumela umbiko lo ukuyazisa inkosi,
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and certified to the king,
15 ukuze kuhlolisiswe ezingwalweni zezindaba ezatshiywa yilabo abakwandulelayo. Kulezongwalo uzathola ukuthi idolobho leli lidolobho lokuhlamuka, lilohlupho emakhosini lakwezinye izigaba zombuso, liyindawo yokuhlamuka kulokhu kwasukela endulo. Yilokho okwabangela ukubhidlizwa kwalelidolobho.
that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers. So thou shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces. And that they have made sedition within the same of old time, for which cause this city was laid waste.
16 Inkosi siyazisela ukuthi aluba idolobho leli lingakhiwa, imiswe njalo imiduli yalo, izakube ingasasalanga lalutho ngaphetsheya kweYufrathe.
We certify to the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means thou shall have no portion beyond the River.
17 Inkosi yathumela impendulo le: KuRehumi umlawuli wempi loShimishayi unobhala labo bonke abaphathisana labo abahlala eSamariya lakwezinye izindawo ngaphetsheya kweYufrathe: Ngiyalibingelela.
Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
18 Incwadi elasithumela yona isiguqulwe ulimi yabalwa phambi kwami.
The letter which ye sent to us has been plainly read before me.
19 Ngakhupha ilizwi kwaphenywa, kwafunyanwa ukuthi idolobho leli lilembali ende eyokuvukela amakhosi, liyindawo yokuhlamuka lokuxhwala.
And I decreed, and search has been made. And it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.
20 IJerusalema isike yaba lamakhosi alamandla ayebusa kulolonke elangaphetsheya kweYufrathe, kubhadalwa kuwo imithelo, inkongozelo yenkosi lemithelo yokungenisa impahla elizweni.
There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River, and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.
21 Manje-ke khuphani umlayo kulawomadoda ukuthi kabamise umsebenzi, ukuze idolobho leli lingakhiwa ngize ngitsho mina.
Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree shall be made by me.
22 Nanzelelani ukuthi lingayilibali indaba le. Kuyekelelwani indaba le ikhula yona ilimaza izifiso zenkosi?
And take heed that ye be not slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Incwadi yeNkosi u-Athazekisisi yonela ukubalelwa uRehumi loShimishayi unobhala lalabo ababephathisa bahle bahamba masinyane kubaJuda eJerusalema bababamba ngamandla ukumisa umsebenzi.
Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them cease by force and power.
24 Kanjalo umsebenzi wendlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema wema kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu inkosi yasePhezhiya.
Then the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
