< UHagayi 2 >
1 Ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lanye lwenyanga yesikhombisa ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngoHagayi umphrofethi lisithi:
On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet, saying:
2 “Khuluma loZerubhabheli indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, umbusi wakoJuda, loJoshuwa indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu kanye lensalela yabantu. Babuze uthi,
“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them,
3 ‘Ngubani kini owasalayo owabona indlu le enkazimulweni yayo yakuqala na? Khathesi ikhangeleka injani kini na? Kayikhangeleki njengeze na?
‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’
4 Kodwa khathesi qina wena Zerubhabheli,’ kutsho uThixo. ‘Qina wena Joshuwa ndodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu. Qinani, lonke lina bantu belizwe,’ kutsho uThixo. ‘Lisebenze, ngoba ngilani,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.
5 ‘Lokhu yikho engakuvumelana lani ekuphumeni kwenu eGibhithe. UMoya wami uhlala phakathi kwenu. Lingesabi.’
This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid.”
6 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: ‘Ngesikhatshana nje ngizaphinda nginyikinye amazulu lomhlaba, ulwandle lelizwe elomileyo.
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 Ngizanyikinya izizwe zonke, abathandwayo kuzozonke izizwe bazakuza, njalo indlu le ngizayigcwalisa ngenkazimulo,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla,
I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.
8 ‘Isiliva ngesami legolide ngelami,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts.
9 ‘Inkazimulo yale indlu yakhathesi izakuba nkulu kuleyendlu yakuqala,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla. ‘Njalo indawo le ngizayipha ukuthula,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.”
The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares the LORD of Hosts.”
10 Ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga yesificamunwemunye, ngomnyaka wesibili kaDariyu, ilizwi likaThixo lafika kuHagayi umphrofethi lisithi:
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla uthi: ‘Buza abaphristi ukuthi umthetho uthini:
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling.
12 Nxa umuntu ethwele inyama engcwele ngomphetho wesigqoko sakhe, umphetho lowo uthinte isinkwa loba inyama ephekiweyo, iwayini, amafutha loba okunye ukudla, kuba ngcwele na?’” Abaphristi baphendula bathi, “Hatshi.”
If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests.
13 UHagayi wasesithi, “Nxa umuntu ongcoliswe yikuthinta isidumbu ethinta okunye kwalezizinto, kuyangcola na?” “Ye,” kwaphendula abaphristi, “kuyangcola.”
So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.
14 UHagayi wasesithi, “‘Kunjalo-ke emehlweni ami ngabantu laba langesizwe lesi,’ kutsho uThixo. ‘Lokho abakwenzayo loba abakunikelayo lapho kungcolile.
Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.
15 Khathesi cabangani kuhle ngalokhu kusukela ngalolusuku kusiya phambili, khumbulani ukuthi izinto zazinjani kungakabekwa elinye ilitshe phezu kwelinye ethempelini likaThixo.
Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,
16 Kwakusithi lapho umuntu efika enqunjini yezilinganiso ezingamatshumi amabili, kwakulezilitshumi kuphela. Kuthi lapho umuntu eye efatshini lewayini ukuba akhe izilinganiso ezingamatshumi amahlanu, kwakulezingamatshumi amabili kuphela.
from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths, there were but twenty.
17 Wonke umsebenzi wezandla zenu ngawutshaya ngomkhuhlane, ngesikhwekhwe langesiqhotho, kodwa kaliphendukelanga kimi,’ kutsho uThixo.
I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD.
18 ‘Kusukela lamhla kusiya phambili, kusukela ngalolusuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga yesificamunwemunye, cabangani kuhle ngosuku okwabekwa ngalo isisekelo sethempeli likaThixo. Cabangani kuhle:
Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully:
19 Kuselenhlanyelo eseleyo esiphaleni na? Kuze kube khathesi, ivini lomkhiwa, iphomegranathi lesihlahla se-Oliva asikatheli izithelo. Kusukela ngalolusuku kusiya phambili ngizalibusisa.’”
Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”
20 Ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngokwesibili kuHagayi ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga lisithi:
For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to Haggai, saying,
21 “Tshela uZerubhabheli umbusi wakoJuda ukuthi ngizanyikinya amazulu lomhlaba.
“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:
22 Ngizagenqula izihlalo zobukhosi ngichithe amandla emibuso yezizweni. Ngizagenqula izinqola zempi labagadi bazo; amabhiza labagadi bawo bazakuwa, ngamunye ngenkemba yomfowabo.
I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 ‘Ngalolosuku,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla, ‘ngizakuthatha wena nceku yami Zerubhabheli ndodana kaSheyalithiyeli,’ kutsho uThixo, ‘njalo ngizakwenza ube njengesongo eliluphawu lwami, ngoba sengikukhethile,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.”
On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts.”