UZekhariya 4
1 Ingilosi eyayikhuluma lami yabuya njalo yazangivusa njengomuntu evuswa ebuthongweni.
Then the angel who had been talking with me returned, and he called to me as though I had been asleep.
2 Yangibuza yathi, “Ubonani na?” Ngaphendula ngathi, “Ngibona uluthi lwesibane olwenziwe ngokugcweleyo ngegolide, lulomganu phezulu lezibane eziyisikhombisa lezimbobo zezibane eziyisikhombisa.
He asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a lampstand [made] completely of gold. There is a small bowl [for olive oil] at the top, and there are seven [small] lamps around the bowl, and a place for a wick on each lamp.
3 Njalo kulezihlahla zama-oliva ezimbili eduze kwalo, esinye ngakwesokunene komganu, esinye kwesokhohlo.”
Furthermore, I see two olive trees, one at the right side of the lampstand and one at the left side.”
4 Ngayibuza ingilosi eyayikhuluma lami, ngathi, “Kuyini lokhu, nkosi yami?”
I asked the angel who was talking with me, “Sir, what are these?”
5 Yaphendula yathi, “Kawukwazi ukuthi yizinto bani lezi?” Ngathi, “Hatshi, nkosi yami.”
He replied, “Surely you know [RHQ] what they are?” I replied, “No, I do not know.”
6 Yasisithi kimi, “Nanti ilizwi likaThixo kuZerubhabheli, ‘Hatshi ngempi kumbe ngamandla, kodwa ngoMoya wami,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
Then he said to me, “This is the message that Yahweh [says that you should give] to Zerubbabel [the governor of Judah: ‘You will do what I want you to do, but it will] not be by your own strength or power. It will be [done] by [the power of] my Spirit, says the Commander of the armies of angels.
7 Uvele uyini, wena ntaba enkulu? KuZerubhabheli uzakuba ngumhlabathi owendlalekileyo. Khonapho usezaletha ilitshe lokuphetha abantu bememeza besithi, ‘Nkulunkulu libusise! Nkulunkulu libusise!’”
Zerubbabel, you [have many difficult matters to handle. They are like] high mountains [MET]. But they will [become easy to handle, as though] they will become flat land. And you will bring [to the temple] the final stone [to complete the rebuilding of the temple]. When you do that, [all the people] will shout repeatedly, “It is beautiful! May God bless it!”’”
8 Kwasekufika ilizwi likaThixo kimi lisithi:
Then Yahweh gave me [another] message.
9 “Izandla zikaZerubhabheli zisibekile isisekelo saleli ithempeli; izandla zakhe zizaliqedisa ukulakha. Ngakho lizakwazi ukuthi uThixo uSomandla ungithumile kini.
He said [to me], “Zerubbabel [SYN] laid the first stone in the foundation of the temple, and he will put the last stone in its place. When that happens, the people will know that [it is I, the Commander of the armies of angels, who] have sent you to them.” And he said, “The seven bowls represent the eyes of Yahweh, who looks back and forth at everything [that happens] on the earth.”
10 Ngubani oludelelayo usuku lwezinto ezincane? Amehlo kaThixo ayisikhombisa agcwala umhlaba wonke jikelele azathokozelela ukubona intambo yokuqondisa esandleni sikaZerubhabheli?”
No one [RHQ] should think that little things that are done at the beginning of a big project are unimportant. [When the temple is almost finished being rebuilt, ] Zerubbabel will use a (plumb line/string with a stone fastened to it) [to see if the walls they are building are straight]; so when the people see that, they will rejoice.”
11 Ngasengiyibuza ingilosi, ngathi, “Lezi zihlahla ezimbili zama-oliva kwesokunene lakwesokhohlo phezu koluthi lwesibane ngezani?”
Then I asked the angel, “What is [the meaning of] the two olive trees, one on each side of the lampstand?
12 Ngayibuza futhi ngathi, “Amahlumela la amabili omʼoliva eceleni kwezinti ezimbili zegolide okumpompoza kuzo amafutha aligolide zona ziyini?”
And what [the meaning of] the two olive branches, one alongside each of the gold pipes from which [olive] oil flows to the lamps?”
13 Yaphendula yathi, “Kawuzazi ukuthi ziyini na?” Ngathi, “Hatshi, nkosi yami.”
He replied, “Surely [RHQ] you know what they are?” I replied, “No, sir, [I do not know.]”
14 Yasisithi, “Laba yibo ababili abagcotshiweyo ukukhonza iNkosi yomhlaba wonke.”
So he said, “They represent the two [men who have been] appointed [MTY] to serve the Lord who [rules] the entire earth.”
