U-Ezra 7
1 Ngemva kwalezizinto, ngesikhathi sokubusa kuka-Athazekisisi inkosi yasePhezhiya, u-Ezra indodana kaSeraya, indodana ka-Azariya, indodana kaHilikhiya,
And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2 indodana kaShalumi, indodana kaZadokhi indodana ka-Ahithubi,
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3 indodana ka-Amariya, indodana ka-Azariya, indodana kaMerayothi,
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4 indodana kaZerahiya, indodana ka-Uzi, indodana kaBhukhi,
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5 indodana ka-Abhishuwa, indodana kaFinehasi, indodana ka-Eliyazari, indodana ka-Aroni umphristi omkhulu,
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the head priest;
6 u-Ezra lo weza evela eBhabhiloni. Wayeyisifundiswa esazi kakhulu ngoMthetho kaMosi, owawuphiwe nguThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Inkosi yayimuphe konke ayekucelile, ngoba isandla sikaThixo uNkulunkulu wakhe sasiphezu kwakhe.
Ezra himself has come up from Babylon, and he [is] a scribe ready in the Law of Moses, that YHWH God of Israel gave, and the king gives to him—according to the hand of his God YHWH on him—all his request.
7 Abanye abako-Israyeli, labaphristi, lamaLevi, labahlabeleli, labalindi bamasango lezinceku zethempelini labo babuya eJerusalema ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wokubusa kwenkosi u-Athazekisisi.
And there go up of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8 U-Ezra wafika eJerusalema ngenyanga yesihlanu ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wenkosi.
And he comes to Jerusalem in the fifth month, that [is in] the seventh year of the king,
9 Wayeqalise uhambo lwakhe esuka eBhabhiloni ngelanga lakuqala lenyanga yokuqala, wafika eJerusalema ngelanga lakuqala lenyanga yesihlanu, ngoba isandla somusa sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwakhe.
for on the first of the month he has founded the ascent from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he has come to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him,
10 Ngoba u-Ezra wayezinikele ekufundeni lokugcina uMthetho kaThixo lokufundisa izimiso zawo ko-Israyeli.
for Ezra has prepared his heart to seek the Law of YHWH, and to do, and to teach in Israel statute and judgment.
11 Nansi incwadi iNkosi u-Athazekisisi ayeyiphe u-Ezra umphristi lomabhalane, indoda eyayifundile ezindabeni zemithetho lezimiso zikaThixo ku-Israyeli:
And this [is] a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commands of YHWH, and of His statutes on Israel:
12 Athazekisisi, nkosi yamakhosi, Ku-Ezra umphristi, umfundisi womthetho kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini: Ngiyabingelela.
“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the Law of the God of the heavens, and at such a time:
13 Manje-ke ngimisa umthetho wokuthi ingqe ngubani wako-Israyeli osembusweni wami, kugoqela abaphristi labaLevi, ofisa ukuhamba lawe eJerusalema, kahambe.
By me has been made a decree that everyone who is willing, in my kingdom, of the people of Israel and of its priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem with you, go;
14 Uthunywa yinkosi labacebisi bayo abayisikhombisa ukuba uyofunisisa ngoJuda langeJerusalema mayelana loMthetho kaNkulunkulu wakho, owuphetheyo.
because that from the king and his seven counselors you are sent, to inquire concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem, with the Law of God that [is] in your hand,
15 Njalo ubothatha isiliva legolide elinikwe ngesihle yinkosi labacebisi bayo kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ohlala eJerusalema,
and to carry silver and gold that the king and his counselors willingly offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling place [is] in Jerusalem,
16 kanye lesiliva legolide lonke ongalizuza elizweni laseBhabhiloni kanye leminikelo yokuzizwela eyabantu labaphristi benikelela ithempeli likaNkulunkulu wabo eJerusalema.
and all the silver and gold that you find in all the province of Babylon, with the free-will offerings of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly, for the house of their God that [is] in Jerusalem,
17 Ngaleyomali umele uthenge inkunzi, lenqama, lamazinyane ezimvu amaduna, ndawonye leminikelo yabo yamabele leyokunathwayo, konke kunikelwe e-alithareni lethempeli likaNkulunkulu wenu eJerusalema.
therefore you speedily buy with this money, bullocks, rams, lambs, and their presents, and their drink-offerings, and bring them near to the altar of the house of your God that [is] in Jerusalem,
18 Wena labazalwane bakho abangamaJuda selingenza lokho okuyabe kufanele ngesiliva legolide eliseleyo, mayelana lentando kaNkulunkulu wenu.
and that which to you and to your brothers is good to do with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God you do.
19 Hambisani kuNkulunkulu weJerusalema zonke impahla eliziphathisiweyo ezokukhonza ethempelini likaNkulunkulu wenu.
And the vessels that are given to you, for the service of the house of your God, make perfect before the God of Jerusalem;
20 Akuthi loba yini efunekayo ethempelini likaNkulunkulu wenu elifuna ukuthi izuzakale, kayidingwe ngendleko ephuma esikhwameni senkosi.
and the rest of the necessary things of the house of your God, that it falls to you to give, you give from the treasure-house of the king.
21 Mina, iNkosi Athazekisisi ngimisa umthetho wokuthi bonke abaphathi bezikhwama abangaphetsheya kweYufrathe baphe u-Ezra umphristi, umfundisi woMthetho kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini ngokuphangisa loba yini ayicelayo kini,
And by me—I Artaxerxes the king—is made a decree to all treasurers who [are] beyond the river, that all that Ezra the priest, scribe of the Law of the God of the heavens, asks of you, be done speedily:
22 kuze kube ngamathalenta esiliva alikhulu, lamasaka alikhulu engqoloyi, imigqomo elikhulu yewayini, imigqomo elikhulu yamafutha e-oliva, letswayi elingelakulinganiswa.
To silver one hundred talents, and to wheat one hundred cors, and to wine one hundred baths, and to oil one hundred baths, and salt without reckoning;
23 Ingqe yini emiswe nguNkulunkulu wasezulwini, kakwenziwe ngokukhuthala kusenzelwa ithempeli likaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. Kakudingeki ukuthi ulaka luze lwehliselwe phezu kwenkosi lamadodana ayo.
all that [is] by the decree of the God of the heavens, let be done diligently for the house of the God of the heavens; for why is there wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons?
24 Yazini njalo ukuthi kalilamvumo yokubiza imithelo loba inkongozelo yenkosi kumbe imbadalo yokungenisa impahla elizweni kubaphristi, labaLevi, labahlabeleli, labalindimasango, lezinceku zethempelini loba kwezinye izisebenzi zale indlu kaNkulunkulu.
And to you we are making known, that on any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and servants of the house of God, tribute and custom there is no authority to lift up.
25 Yikho wena Ezra, ngokuhlakanipha olakho okukaNkulunkulu wakho, beka abathonisi labehluleli ukwahlulela kuhle bonke abantu abangaphetsheya kweYufrathe, bonke abayaziyo imithetho kaNkulunkulu wenu. Kumele ufundise labo abangayaziyo.
And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, that [is] in your hand, appoint magistrates—even judges who may be judging—judging all the people who are beyond the river, to all knowing the Law of your God, and he who has not known, you cause to know;
26 Lowo ongawulaleliyo umthetho kaNkulunkulu wenu lomthetho wenkosi ngeqiniso umele ajeziswe ngokufa, loba ngokuxotshwa, loba ngokuhluthunelwa impahla loba ngokufakwa entolongweni.
and any who does not do the Law of your God, and the law of the king, judgment is done speedily on him, whether to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of riches, and to bonds.”
27 Udumo kalube kuThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho bethu, okufakileyo enhliziyweni yenkosi ukuletha inhlonipho endlini kaThixo eJerusalema ngale indlela
Blessed [is] YHWH, God of our fathers, who has given such a thing as this in the heart of the king, to beautify the house of YHWH that [is] in Jerusalem,
28 njalo otshengise umusa wakhe kini phambi kwenkosi labeluleki bakhe lazozonke izinduna zakhe ezilamandla. Ngenxa yokuthi isandla sikaThixo uNkulunkulu wami besiphezu kwami, ngaba lesibindi ngaqoqa amadoda angabakhokheli ko-Israyeli ukuthi bahambe lami.
and to me has stretched out kindness before the king and his counselors, and before all the mighty heads of the king: and I have strengthened myself as the hand of my God YHWH [is] on me, and I gather out of Israel heads to go up with me.
