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 completed, the leaders approached me and said, "The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hethites, 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 mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Indeed, the hand of the officials and leaders has been foremost in this trespass."
3 Ngathi ngikuzwa lokho ngadabula isigqoko sami lejazi lami, ngadonsa inwele ekhanda lami lezindevu zami ngahlala phansi ngididekile.
When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
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 to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
5 Kwathi-ke ngomhlatshelo wakusihlwa, ngaphakama ekuzehliseni kwami, isigqoko sami lejazi lami kudabukile, ngaguqa, izandla zami zivuliwe kuThixo uNkulunkulu wami
At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Jehovah 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, "My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to 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 to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, 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.
Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Jehovah 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 bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to 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 its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 Kodwa manje, awu Nkulunkulu wethu, kuyini esingakutsho sekwenzakale lokhu? Ngoba siyidelile imilayo
"Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your 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 you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which 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 do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.'
13 Osekwenzakele kithi kungumvuzo wezenzo zethu ezimbi lecala lethu elikhulu, ikanti wena Nkulunkulu wethu usijezise okunganeno kwezono zethu wasipha abayinsalela kanje.
"After all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have 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 your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn't you be angry with us until you had 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.”
Jehovah, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is this day. Look, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this."
