U-Ezra 9
1 Sezenziwe zonke lezi izinto, abakhokheli beza kimi bathi, “Abantu bako-Israyeli bonke, labaphristi, labaLevi kabazehlukanisanga labantu bezizwe abalezenzo ezinengekayo, abanjengamaKhenani, amaHithi, amaPherizi, amaJebusi, ama-Amori, amaMowabi, amaGibhithe lama-Amoni.
Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying: 'The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 Bathatha amanye amadodakazi abo aba ngomkabo bathathela lamadodana abo, baxubanisa isizwe esingcwele labantu abahlezi labo. Njalo abakhokheli lezikhulu yibo abakhokheleyo kulokhu kungathembeki.”
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.'
3 Ngathi ngikuzwa lokho ngadabula isigqoko sami lejazi lami, ngadonsa inwele ekhanda lami lezindevu zami ngahlala phansi ngididekile.
And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down appalled.
4 Kwasekusithi wonke lowo owethuswa ngamazwi kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli waziqoqa phansi kwami ngenxa yalokhu ukona kwezithunjwa. Ngahlala khonapho ngididekile kwaze kwaba ngumhlatshelo wakusihlwa.
Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of them of the captivity; and I sat appalled until the evening offering.
5 Kwathi-ke ngomhlatshelo wakusihlwa, ngaphakama ekuzehliseni kwami, isigqoko sami lejazi lami kudabukile, ngaguqa, izandla zami zivuliwe kuThixo uNkulunkulu wami
And at the evening offering I arose up from my fasting, even with my garment and my mantle rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God;
6 ngakhuleka ngathi: “Oh Nkulunkulu wami, ngiyangekile kakhulu njalo ngilenhloni ukuphakamisela ubuso bami kuwe, Nkulunkulu wami, ngoba izono zethu ziphakeme kulamakhanda ethu lecala lethu selifikile emazulwini.
and I said: 'O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.
7 Kusukela ensukwini zabokhokho bethu kuze kube manje, icala lethu likhulu. Ngenxa yezono zethu, thina lamakhosi ethu labaphristi bethu sesilokhu sidliwa yinkemba njalo sigqilazwa, siphangwa njalo siyangiswa ngamakhosi ezizwe, njengoba kunjalo lalamuhla.
Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to spoiling, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 Kodwa khathesi, okwesikhatshana nje, uThixo uNkulunkulu wethu ube lomusa ngokusitshiyela insalela lokusipha indawo eqinileyo endlini yakhe engcwele, okuthi ngakho uNkulunkulu wethu uletha ukukhanya emehlweni ethu lokukhululeka kancinyane ekugqilazweni kwethu.
And now for a little moment grace hath been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 Lokuba siyizigqili, uNkulunkulu wethu kasidelanga ebugqilini bethu. Usitshengise umusa emehlweni amakhosi asePhezhiya; usiphile impilo entsha ukuba sakhe kutsha indlu kaNkulunkulu wethu sivuselele amanxiwa ayo, njalo usesiphile umduli wokusivikela koJuda laseJerusalema.
For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a fence in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 Kodwa manje, awu Nkulunkulu wethu, kuyini esingakutsho sekwenzakale lokhu? Ngoba siyidelile imilayo
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken Thy commandments,
11 owayinika ngezinceku zakho abaphrofethi uze uthi: ‘Ilizwe eselingena kulo ukulithatha yilizwe elingcolisiweyo ngokuxhwala kwabantu balo. Ngemikhuba yabo enengekayo sebeligcwalise ngamanyala abo kusukela ngapha kwalo kuze kufike ekucineni ngale.
which Thou hast commanded by Thy servants the prophets, saying: The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, wherewith they have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.
12 Ngakho-ke lingendiseli amadodakazi enu emadodaneni abo kumbe amadodana enu athathe amadodakazi abo. Lingadingi isibopho sobudlelwano labo loba nini, ukuze liqine lidle izinto ezinhle zelizwe elizalitshiyela abantwabenu njengelifa laphakade.’
Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity for ever; that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 Osekwenzakele kithi kungumvuzo wezenzo zethu ezimbi lecala lethu elikhulu, ikanti wena Nkulunkulu wethu usijezise okunganeno kwezono zethu wasipha abayinsalela kanje.
And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant,
14 Sizaphinda njalo sephule imilayo yakho sendiselane labantu bezizwe abagila imikhuba eyenyanyekayo kangaka na? Ungaze wasizondela kakhulu na usibhubhise ungasitshiyeli lansalela loba abasindileyo na?
shall we again break Thy commandments, and make marriages with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not Thou be angry with us till Thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15 Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ulungile! Namhlanje sisele njengensalela. Nanku silapha phambi kwakho ngecala lethu, lokuba engekho ongema ebukhoneni bakho ngenxa yalo icala lethu.”
O LORD, the God of Israel, Thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day; behold, we are before Thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before Thee because of this.'
