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 children of the exile were building the temple unto the Lord 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 came they near to Zerubbabel, and to the chiefs of the divisions, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for like you will we seek your God; and unto him do we sacrifice since the days of Essar-chaddon the king of Asshur, who hath brought us up hither.

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 of the divisions of Israel, said unto them, It is not obligatory on you and on us to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together must build unto the Lord the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4 Kwasekusithi abantu balelolizwe baqalisa ukubadondisa abantu bakoJuda babenza besaba ukuqhubeka besakha.

Then did the people of the land weaken the hands of the people of Judah, and frightened them off from building;

5 Bathenga abacebisi bokudunga umsebenzi bawunyampise ngasosonke isikhathi sokubusa kukaKhurosi inkosi yasePhezhiya kwaze kwaba sekubuseni kukaDariyu inkosi yasePhezhiya.

And they hired against them counsellors, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus the king of Persia, and even until the reign of Darius the king of Persia.

6 Ekuqaleni kokubusa kuka-Ahasuweru bethesa abantu bakoJuda labaseJerusalema icala.

And in the reign of Achashverosh, 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 wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes the king of Persia: and the writing of the letter was written in Aramic, and interpreted in Aramic.

8 URehumi umlawuli webutho loShimishayi unobhala babhala incwadi isiya ku-Athazekisisi inkosi besola iJerusalema besithi:

Rechum the counsellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a certain letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, as followeth:

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] Rechum the counsellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, from Din, and Apharsathach, Tarpel, Apharass, Erech, Babylon, Shushan, Dehav, and 'Elam,

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 honored Assnapper had brought into exile, and settled in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and so forth.

11 (Nanka amazwi encwadi leyo abayibhalayo.) Kuyo iNkosi u-Athazekisisi, Ivela ezincekwini zakho, abantu abangaphetsheya kweYufrathe:

This is the copy of the letter which they sent unto him, even unto king Artaxerxes: Thy servants the men on this side 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 made known unto the king, that the Jews who removed away from thee are come up to us unto Jerusalem: they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and are completing the walls, and are joining together 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 now known unto the king, that, if this city be rebuilt, and the walls be completed, they will not give tax, tribute, and toll, and the royal revenues will suffer damage.

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 proper for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and let the king know this:

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 memorable events of thy fathers, and thou wilt find in the book of the memorable events, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have practised sedition within the same from the most ancient time; for which cause this city was destroyed.

16 Inkosi siyazisela ukuthi aluba idolobho leli lingakhiwa, imiswe njalo imiduli yalo, izakube ingasasalanga lalutho ngaphetsheya kweYufrathe.

We let the king know that, if this city be rebuilt, and its walls be completed, by this means thou wilt have no more any portion on this side of the river.

17 Inkosi yathumela impendulo le: KuRehumi umlawuli wempi loShimishayi unobhala labo bonke abaphathisana labo abahlala eSamariya lakwezinye izindawo ngaphetsheya kweYufrathe: Ngiyalibingelela.

Then sent the king a reply unto Rechum the counsellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest of those beyond the river, Peace, and so forth.

18 Incwadi elasithumela yona isiguqulwe ulimi yabalwa phambi kwami.

The letter which ye have sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19 Ngakhupha ilizwi kwaphenywa, kwafunyanwa ukuthi idolobho leli lilembali ende eyokuvukela amakhosi, liyindawo yokuhlamuka lokuxhwala.

And an order was given by me, and search was made, and it was found that this city from the most ancient time hath lifted itself up against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been practised therein.

20 IJerusalema isike yaba lamakhosi alamandla ayebusa kulolonke elangaphetsheya kweYufrathe, kubhadalwa kuwo imithelo, inkongozelo yenkosi lemithelo yokungenisa impahla elizweni.

And that mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over all the countries beyond the river; and that tax, tribute, and toll was given unto them.

21 Manje-ke khuphani umlayo kulawomadoda ukuthi kabamise umsebenzi, ukuze idolobho leli lingakhiwa ngize ngitsho mina.

Now give ye the order to stop these men, and this city shall not be built, until the order be given from me.

22 Nanzelelani ukuthi lingayilibali indaba le. Kuyekelelwani indaba le ikhula yona ilimaza izifiso zenkosi?

Take heed now that ye commit no error in this: that not any injury may grow [out of this] to the damage of the kings.

23 Incwadi yeNkosi u-Athazekisisi yonela ukubalelwa uRehumi loShimishayi unobhala lalabo ababephathisa bahle bahamba masinyane kubaJuda eJerusalema bababamba ngamandla ukumisa umsebenzi.

Thereupon so soon as the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rechum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they did go up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and stopped them by force and power.

24 Kanjalo umsebenzi wendlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema wema kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu inkosi yasePhezhiya.

Then was stopped the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem, and it remained interrupted until the second year of the reign of Darius the king of Persia.