U-Ezra 5

1 Ngalesosikhathi uHagayi umphrofethi loZakhariya umphrofethi, umzukulu ka-Ido babephrofitha kubaJuda laseJerusalema ngebizo likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli onguye owayephezu kwabo.

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that [were] in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, [even] to them.

2 Kwasekusithi uZerubhabheli indodana kaShelathiyeli loJeshuwa indodana kaJozadaki baqalisa ukwakha kutsha indlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu babelabo bebancedisa.

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets of God helping them.

3 Ngalesosikhathi uThathenayi umbusi wangaphetsheya kweYufrathe loShethari-Bhozenayi labaphathisi babo baya kubo bababuza bathi, “Ngubani olivumeleyo ukwakha kutsha ithempeli leli lokuvuselela lesisakhiwo?”

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

4 Babuza njalo bathi, “Ngobani amabizo amadoda ayakhayo indlu le na?”

Then said we to them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

5 Kodwa ilihlo likaNkulunkulu wabo lalibalindile abadala babaJuda njalo kabazange beme kuze kuyefika umbiko kuDariyu kubuye njalo impendulo yakhe ibhaliwe.

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this [matter].

6 Le yiyo incwadi eyathunyelwa nguThathenayi umbusi wangaphetsheya kweYufrathe loShethari-Bhozenayi labasekeli babo, izinduna zaphetsheya kweYufrathe yaya kuDariyu iNkosi.

The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who [were] on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king:

7 Umbiko abawuthumelayo wawubhalwe kanje: Kuyo iNkosi uDariyu: Ukubingelela okuhle.

They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus; To Darius the king, all peace.

8 Inkosi kufanele yazi ukuthi saya esiqintini sakoJuda, ethempelini likaNkulunkulu omkhulu. Abantu bayalakha ngamatshe amakhulu, kunqunyiswa imijabo emidulini. Umsebenzi uqhutshwa ngokukhuthala, njalo uyaphambili ngokuphangisa ukhokhelwa yibo.

Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work proceedeth rapidly, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Sabuza abadala bakhona sathi, “Ngubani oliphe imvumo yokwakha kutsha leli ithempeli lokuvuselela isakhiwo lesi?”

Then we asked those elders, [and] said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to erect these walls?

10 Njalo sababuza amabizo abo ukuze sibhale amabizo abakhokheli babo sisenzela ukukwazisa.

We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that [were] the chief of them.

11 Nansi impendulo abasipha yona: “Siyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu wezulu lomhlaba, yikho silakha kutsha ithempeli elakhiwa kudala, elakhiwa yinkosi enkulu yako-Israyeli yaliqeda.

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was erected these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up.

12 Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi okhokho bethu bamthukuthelisa uNkulunkulu wasezulwini, wabanikela ezandleni zikaNebhukhadineza umKhaladiya, inkosi yaseBhabhiloni owalibhidlizayo lelithempeli abantu wabaxotshela eBhabhiloni.

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 Kodwa ngomnyaka wokuqala kaKhurosi inkosi yaseBhabhiloni, iNkosi uKhurosi wakhupha isimemezelo sokuthi kwakhiwe indlu kaNkulunkulu.

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, [the same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

14 Wabuye wasusa ethempelini laseBhabhiloni impahla zegolide lesiliva ezendlu kaNkulunkulu ezazithethwe nguNebhukhadineza ethempelini eJerusalema waziletha ethempelini eBhabhiloni. Kwathi iNkosi uKhurosi yazinika indoda eyayithiwa nguSheshibhazari, eyamkhetha ukuba ngumbusi,

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to [one], whose name [was] Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

15 wamtshela wathi, ‘Thatha impahla lezi uhambe lazo uyezibeka ethempelini eJerusalema. Njalo yakha kakutsha indlu kaNkulunkulu endaweni yayo.’

And said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that [is] in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.

16 Yikho uSheshibhazari weza wabeka izisekelo zendlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Kusukela ngalelolanga kuze kube manje ibilokhu isakhiwa kodwa kayikapheli.”

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, [and] laid the foundation of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and [yet] it is not finished.

17 Ngakho-ke nxa kulungile enkosini, kakudingisiswe ezincwadini zezindaba zamakhosi aseBhabhiloni kubonwe ingabe yikho na ukuthi iNkosi uKhurosi wayesenzile isimemezelo sokuthi yakhiwe indlu le kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Lapho-ke inkosi kayisithumele isinqumo sayo ngendaba le.

Now therefore, if it [seemeth] good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure-house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it is [so], that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.