UNehemiya 5
1 Ngalesosikhathi amadoda labomkabo baxokozela kakhulu besola abazalwane babo bamaJuda.
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 Abanye babesithi, “Thina lamadodana lamadodakazi ethu sibanengi kakhulu; ukuthi sidle ukuze siphile kumele sizuze amabele.”
For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, [are] many: therefore we take up corn [for them], that we may eat, and live.
3 Abanye babesithi, “Sesibambisa ngamasimu ethu, langezivini zethu kanye lemizi yethu ukuzuza amabele ngesikhathi sendlala.”
[Some] also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 Abanye njalo labo babesithi, “Sesiseboleka imali ukuze sikwazi ukubhadala imithelo yenkosi eyamasimu ethu lezivini zethu.
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.
5 Loba siyinyamanye legazi linye labantu bakithi njalo loba amadodana ethu elingana lawabo, kodwa sizibona sesifuqela amadodana lamadodakazi ethu ebugqilini. Abanye bamadodakazi ethu bavele sebegqilaziwe, kodwa kasilamandla, ngoba amasimu ethu lezivini zethu sekungokwabanye.”
Yet now our flesh [is] as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and [some] of our daughters are brought to bondage [already]: neither [is it] in our power [to redeem them]; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 Ngathi sengizwile ukukhala kwabo kanye lensolo yabo, ngathukuthela kakhulu.
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 Ngakuhlolisisa kuhle konke lokhu engqondweni yami ngasengicala izikhulu lezinduna. Ngathi, “Libhadalisa abantu bakini inzuzo!” Ngasengibiza umhlangano omkhulu ukuthi ngiqondane labo,
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact interest, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8 ngathi, “Ngokusemandleni ethu, sesabahlenga abazalwane bethu abangamaJuda ababethengiselwe kwabeZizwe. Kodwa manje selibathengisa abafowenu, babuye bathengiselwe kithi njalo!” Bathula ngoba baswela abangakutsho.
And I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold to us? Then they held their peace, and found nothing [to answer].
9 Ngaqhubeka ngathi, “Elikwenzayo kakulunganga. Kungani lingahambi ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu na ukuze lingaklolodelwa yizitha zethu zabeZizwe?
Also I said, That [is] not good which ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10 Mina labafowethu labantu bami lathi siyabeboleka abantu imali lamabele. Kodwa ukufuna inzuzo kakuphele!
I likewise, my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 Babuyiseleni khona manje amasimu abo, lezivini zabo, lezihlahla zabo zama-oliva kanye lezindlu zabo, njalo lenzuzo yokweboleka leyo eliyithathayo kubo, ingxenye eyodwa yekhulu emalini, emabeleni, ewayinini elitsha lemafutheni.”
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, also the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12 Bathi, “Sizakubuyisela. Njalo kasiyikubiza lutho kubo. Sizakwenza njengoba usitsho.” Ngasengibiza abaphristi ngathi izikhulu lezinduna kabenze isifungo sokuthi bazakwenza lokho abakuthembisileyo.
Then said they, We will restore [them], and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
13 Njalo ngathintitha amavinqo esigqoko sami ngathi, “UNkulunkulu uzamthintitha kanje emkhupha endlini yakhe laselifeni lakhe wonke umuntu ongemi ngalesi isithembiso. Kanjalo umuntu onjalo kathintithwe achithwe!” Besizwa lokho umhlangano wonke wathi, “Ameni,” badumisa uThixo. Abantu benza njengokuthembisa kwabo.
Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
14 Kwathi njalo, kusukela ngomnyaka wamatshumi amabili wokubusa kweNkosi u-Athazekisisi, sengibekiwe ukuba ngumbusi wabo elizweni lakoJuda, kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wakhe wamatshumi amathathu lambili, iminyaka elitshumi lambili, mina labazalwane bami kasizange sikuthinte ukudla okwakwabelwe umbusi.
Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15 Kodwa ababusi bangaphambili, labo abangandulelayo, babethwalisa nzima abantu ngokuthatha kubo amashekeli esiliva angamatshumi amane phezu kokudla lewayini. Labasekeli babo labo bathwalisa nzima abantu. Kodwa ngenxa yokumesaba uNkulunkulu mina kangikwenzanga lokho.
But the former governors, that [had been] before me were chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bore rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16 Esikhundleni salokho, ngazinikela emsebenzini womduli lo. Wonke amadoda ayelami abuthana khona ukuzasebenza; kasizange sizizuzele umhlaba.
Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants [were] gathered thither to the work.
17 Phezu kwalokho, amaJuda alikhulu lamatshumi amahlanu kanye lezinduna babesidla kwami kanye lalabo abeza kithi bevela ezizweni eziseduze.
Moreover, [there were] at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came to us from among the heathen that [were] about us.
18 Insuku ngensuku kwakuhlatshwa inkabi eyodwa, lezimvu zekhethelo eziyisithupha, lenkukhu, kulungiselwe mina, kuthi kuzozonke insuku ezilitshumi kulethwe yonke imihlobo yewayini. Phezu kwakho konke lokhu, kangizange ngikubize lokho kudla okwakuyisabelo sombusi, ngoba abantu laba babethwele nzima ngezinto ezifunekayo.
Now [that] which was prepared [for me] daily [was] one ox [and] six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days an abundance of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I required not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19 Ungikhumbule ngomusa, Oh Nkulunkulu wami, ngenxa yakho konke esengikwenzele lababantu.
Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done for this people.
