UNehemiya 12
1 Laba ngabaphristi labaLevi ababuya loZerubhabheli indodana kaSheyalithiyeli kanye loJeshuwa: USeraya, uJeremiya, u-Ezra,
[Many] priests and [other] descendants of Levi returned (from Babylonia/to Jerusalem) with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. They included Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 u-Amariya, uMaluki, uHathushi,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 uShekhaniya, uRehumi, uMeremothi,
Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 u-Ido, uGinethoni, u-Abhija,
Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5 uMijamini, uMowadiya, uBhiliga,
Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 uShemaya, uJoyaribi, uJedaya,
Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 uSalu, u-Amoki, uHilikhiya loJedaya. Laba babengabakhokheli babaphristi labakhulu babo ngezinsuku zikaJeshuwa.
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. All those men were leaders of the priests during the time that Jeshua [was the Supreme Priest].
8 AbaLevi babe nguJeshuwa, loBhinuwi, loKhadimiyeli, loSherebhiya, loJuda njalo loMathaniya, okwathi yena, labakhula bakhe yibo ababekhokhela izingoma zenkonzo yokubonga.
[Some of the other] descendants of Levi who returned were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. They were in charge of singing songs to thank [God].
9 UBhakhibhukhiya lo-Uni, labakhula babo, babesima ngale bakhangelane labo ezinkonzweni.
Bakbukiah, Unni, and other descendants of Levi formed a choir that stood opposite the other group [and sang in reply to them].
10 UJeshuwa wayenguyise kaJoyakhimu, uyise ka-Eliyashibi, u-Eliyashibi uyise kaJoyada,
Jeshua [who was the Supreme Priest] was the father of Joiakim, who was the father of Eliashib, who was the father of Joiada,
11 uJoyada uyise kaJonathani, uJonathani uyise kaJaduwa.
who was the father of Jonathan, who was the father of Jaddua.
12 Ngezinsuku zikaJoyakhimu, laba babezinhloko zezimuli zabaphristi: abendlu kaSeraya, nguMeraya; abendlu kaJeremiya nguHananiya;
When Joiakim was the Supreme Priest, these were the leaders of the clans of priests: Meraiah, from [the clan of] Seraiah; Hananiah, from [the clan of] Jeremiah;
13 abendlu ka-Ezra, nguMeshulami; abendlu ka-Amariya, nguJehohanani;
Meshullam, from [the clan of] Ezra; Jehohanan, from [the clan of] Amariah;
14 abendlu kaMaluki, nguJonathani; abendlu kaShebhaniya, nguJosefa;
Jonathan, from [the clan of] Malluch; Joseph, from [the clan of] Shecaniah;
15 abendlu kaHarimi, ngu-Adina; abendlu kaMeremothi, nguHelikhayi;
Adna, from [the clan of] Harim; Helkai, from [the clan of] Meremoth/Maraioth;
16 abendlu ka-Ido, nguZakhariya; abendlu kaGinethoni, nguMeshulami;
Zechariah, from [the clan of] Iddo; Meshullam, from [the clan of] Ginnethon;
17 abendlu ka-Abhija nguZikhiri; abendlu kaMiniyamini lekaMowadiya, nguPhilithayi;
Zicri, from [the clan of] Abijah. There was also a leader from [the clan of] Miniamin; Piltai, from [the clan of] Moadiah;
18 abendlu kaBhiliga nguShamuwa; abendlu kaShemaya nguJonathani;
Shammua, from [the clan of] Bilgah; Jehonathan, from [the clan of] Shemaiah;
19 abendlu kaJoyaribi, nguMathenayi; abendlu kaJedaya, ngu-Uzi;
Mattenai, from [the clan of] Joiarib; Uzzi, from [the clan of] Jedaiah;
20 abendlu kaSalu, nguKhalayi; abendlu ka-Amoki, ngu-Ebheri;
Kallai, from [the clan of] Sallu/Sallai; Eber, from [the clan of] Amok;
21 abendlu kaHilikhiya, nguHashabhiya; abendlu kaJedaya nguNethaneli.
Hashabiah, from [the clan of] Hilkiah; and Nethanel, from [the clan of] Jedaiah.
22 Abazinhloko zezindlu zabaLevi ngezinsuku zika-Eliyashibi, loJoyada, uJohanani loJaduwa, kanye lezabaphristi, babhalwa phansi kubusa uDariyu wasePhezhiya.
During the years that Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua [were Supreme Priests], they (wrote/kept a list of) the names of the clans who were descendants of Levi. When Darius was the king of Persia, they stopped writing that list.
23 Abakhokheli bezimuli ezizukulwaneni zikaLevi kuze kube yisikhathi sikaJohanani indodana ka-Eliyashibi babhalwa phansi encwadini yemilando.
They wrote the names of the leaders of the clans who were descendants of Levi in the Book of Events [in Israel], but they stopped writing those names when Eliashib’s grandson Johanan [was the Supreme Priest].
24 Abakhokheli babaLevi babengoHashabhiya, loSherebhiya, loJeshuwa indodana kaKhadimiyeli, labakhula babo ababesima baqondane labo nxa bedumisa njalo besenza inkonzo yokubonga, yilabo bevumela abanye, njengokwamiswa nguDavida umuntu kaNkulunkulu.
These are the leaders of the clans [who are] descendants of Levi: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel and others who were divided into two groups. The two groups faced each other, one group replying to the other, during the time that they praised and thanked God. They did that just as King David, the man who served God well, had instructed.
25 UMathaniya, loBhakhibhukhiya, u-Obhadaya, uMeshulami, uThalimoni lo-Akhubi babe ngabalindimasango ababelinda iziphala emasangweni.
These singers included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. The men who guarded the storerooms close to the gates [of the temple] were Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub.
26 Bawenza umsebenzi lo ngezinsuku zikaJoyakhimu indodana kaJeshuwa, indodana kaJozadaki, langezinsuku zikaNehemiya umbusi lo-Ezra umphristi lombhali.
They did that work during the time that Joiakim, who was the son of Jeshua and the grandson of Jehozadak, [was the Supreme Priest, ] and I was the governor, and Ezra was the priest who knew the Jewish laws very well.
27 Ekunikelweni komduli waseJerusalema, abaLevi badingwa lapho ababehlala khona balethwa eJerusalema ukuzathakazelela umkhosi wokunikelwa ngezingoma langokubonga langokutshaya izigubhu lamachacho lemiqangala.
When we dedicated the wall around Jerusalem, we summoned the descendants of Levi [who help the priests] from the nearby places where they [were living]. We asked them to [join with us to] celebrate when we dedicated the wall. We wanted them to sing songs to thank [Yahweh] and make music by playing cymbals and harps and other stringed instruments.
28 Abahlabeleli labo balethwa ndawonye besuka emangweni oseduze leJerusalema, basuka emizini yamaNethofa,
We summoned the descendants of Levi who habitually sang together. They came to Jerusalem from nearby areas [where they had settled], and from places around Netophah [town southeast of Jerusalem],
29 eBhethi Giligali, lasemangweni waseGebha le-Azimavethi, ngoba abahlabeleli basebezakhele imizi eduze leJerusalema.
and from three places [northeast of Jerusalem]—Beth Gilgal [city] and the areas around Geba and Azmaveth. Those singers had built villages to live in near Jerusalem.
30 Kwathi lapho abaphristi labaLevi sebezihlambulule ngokomkhuba, bahlambulula abantu, amasango lomduli.
[When they came to Jerusalem], the priests and [other] descendants of Levi [who help the priests] performed rituals to cause themselves to be acceptable to God, and then they performed similar rituals to purify the [other] people, the gates, and the wall.
31 Ngathi abakhokheli bakoJuda bakhwele phezu komduli. Njalo ngamisa amaqembu amakhulu amabili awabahlabeleli ukuthi babonge. Elinye lalimele likhwele phezulu komduli kwesokunene, kusiya ngesangweni loBulongwe.
Then I gathered together the leaders of Judah on top of the wall, and I appointed them to lead two large groups to march around the city [on top of the wall], thanking God. [As they faced the city, ] one group walked to the right toward the Dung Gate.
32 UHoshayiya lengxenye yabakhokheli bakoJuda babalandela,
Behind their leaders marched Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah.
33 kunye lo-Azariya, lo-Ezra, loMeshulami,
Behind them marched a group of priests who were blowing trumpets. They were Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. Next came Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
34 loJuda, loBhenjamini, loShemaya, loJeremiya,
35 kanye labanye abaphristi ababelamacilongo, loZakhariya indodana kaJonathani, indodana kaShemaya, indodana kaMathaniya indodana kaMikhaya, indodana kaZakhuri, indodana ka-Asafi,
36 labakhula bakhe oShemaya, lo-Azareli, loMilalayi, loGilalayi, loMayi, loNethaneli, loJuda loHanani bephethe amachacho njengokwakumiswe nguDavida umuntu kaNkulunkulu. U-Ezra umbhali nguye owayekhokhele udwendwe.
Behind them marched other members of Zechariah’s clan: Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They all were playing the same kinds of musical instruments that King David had played [many years previously]. Ezra, the man who knew the Jewish laws very well, marched in front of this group.
37 SebeseSangweni loMthombo baqhubeka bakhwela izinyathelo eziya eMzini kaDavida emqansweni oya emdulini bedlula ngaphezulu kwendlu kaDavida baya eSangweni laManzi ngempumalanga.
When they reached the Fountain Gate, they went up the steps to David’s City, past his palace, and then to the wall at the Water Gate, on the east side [of the city].
38 Iqembu lesibili labahlabeleli lona lafulathela elakuqala laya le. Ngabalandela phezu komduli ngilengxenye yabantu, sedlula uMphotshongo waMaziko siqonda uMduli Obanzi,
The other group of those who were thanking [Yahweh] marched to the left on top of the wall. I followed them with half of the people. [We marched] past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall.
39 sedlula isango lika-Efrayimi, leSango likaJeshana, iSango leNhlanzi, uMphotshongo kaHananeli loMphotshongo weKhulu saze sayafika eSangweni leZimvu. ESangweni laBalindi bafika bema.
[From there we marched] past Ephraim Gate, Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred Soldiers, to the Sheep Gate. We finished marching near the gate into the temple.
40 Amaqembu lawo abahlabeleli amabili ayesipha ukubonga asesima ezindaweni zawo endlini kaNkulunkulu; lami ngenze njalo, kanye lengxenye yezinduna,
Both the groups reached the temple while they were thanking God. They stood in their places there. The leaders who were with me [also stood with me in our places].
41 labaphristi o-Eliyakhimu, loMaseya, loMiniyamini, loMikhaya, lo-Eliyonayi, loZakhariya loHananiya belamacilongo abo
My group included these priests who were [all blowing] trumpets: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, Hananiah,
42 njalo loMaseya, loShemaya, lo-Eliyezari, lo-Uzi, loJehohanani, loMalikhija, lo-Elamu lo-Ezeri. Amaqembu abahlabeleli ahlabela ekhokhelwa nguJezirahiya.
[another] Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers, whose leader was Jezrahiah, sang loudly.
43 Ngalelolanga banikela imihlatshelo emangalisayo, bethokoza ngoba uThixo wayebaphe ukuthokoza okukhulu. Abesifazane kanye labantwana labo bathokoza. Umsindo wokuthokoza eJerusalema wawuzwakala kude.
[After we went outside the temple, ] we offered many sacrifices. We men all rejoiced because God had caused us to be very happy. The women and the children also rejoiced. People far away could hear the noise that we made there in Jerusalem.
44 Ngalesosikhathi kwakhethwa amadoda ukugcina iziphala zalokho okwakulethwa, izithelo zokuqala kanye lokwetshumi. Okusuka emasimini aseduzane lamadolobho babemele bakulethe eziphaleni lezo zilinganiso ezazivumelwa nguMthetho okwabaphristi labaLevi, ngoba uJuda wayejabuliswe ngumsebenzi owawuqhutshwa ngamaphristi lamaLevi.
On that day, men were appointed {they appointed men} to be in charge of the storerooms where they kept the money that people contributed [for the temple]. They also kept there [the other things that the people contributed—] the tithes and the first part of the grain and fruit that was harvested each year. Those men collected those things from the fields/farms near the cities, and [took them to Jerusalem and] gave them to the priests and the [other] descendants of Levi, as [Moses had said in his] laws that they should do. All the Israeli people were happy about the work that the priests and the descendants of Levi did,
45 Bayiphatha inkonzo kaNkulunkulu wabo lenkonzo yokuhlanjululwa, njalo benzenjalo labahlabeleli kanye labalindimasango, njengemilayo kaDavida lendodana yakhe uSolomoni.
because they performed the rituals to purify things, and the other rituals that God had commanded. The musicians in the temple also did their work as King David and his son Solomon had declared that they should do.
46 Ngoba kudala, ensukwini zikaDavida lo-Asafi, kwakulabaqondisi babahlabeleli labezingoma zokudumisa lokubonga uNkulunkulu.
Ever since the time that David had been the king and Asaph had been his chief musician, the musicians had led the people while they sang songs to praise and thank God.
47 Yikho ngezinsuku zikaZerubhabheli loNehemiya, ama-Israyeli onke apha isabelo sansukuzonke esabahlabeleli labalindimasango. Baphinda njalo babeka eceleni esinye isabelo esabanye abaLevi, kwathi abaLevi labo bacezula okunye kwabo kwaba ngokwabosendo luka-Aroni.
During the years that Zerubbabel and I governed the Israeli people, they all contributed the food that the singers and temple gatekeepers needed each day. They gave (a tithe/10%) of their crops to the descendants of Levi [who helped the priests], and those descendants of Levi gave (a tithe/10%) of that to [the priests, who were] descendants of Aaron [the first Supreme Priest].
