U-Eksodusi 28
1 Wena-ke sondeza kuwe uAroni umnewenu lamadodana akhe kanye laye, phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli, ukuze bangisebenzele njengabapristi, uAroni, uNadabi loAbihu, uEleyazare loIthamari, amadodana kaAroni.
“Summon your [older] brother Aaron and his sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ([Set them apart/They are the ones whom I have chosen]) from [the rest of] the Israeli people, in order that they can serve me [by being] priests.
2 Umenzele-ke uAroni umnewenu izembatho ezingcwele, ezobukhosi lezokucecisa.
[Tell the people to] make beautiful clothes for Aaron, clothes that are [suitable for one who] has this dignified and sacred [work].
3 Wena-ke khuluma labo bonke abahlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo, engibagcwalise ngomoya wenhlakanipho, ukuze benze izembatho zikaAroni zokumehlukanisela ukungisebenzela njengompristi.
Talk to all the skilled workmen, those to whom I have given special ability. [Tell them] to make clothes for Aaron, for him to wear when he is (set apart/dedicated) [to become] a priest to serve me.
4 Lalezi yizembatho abazazenza; isembatho sesifuba le-efodi, lebhatshi, lesigqoko esilamabala, iqhiye, lebhanti; bamenzele uAroni umnewenu izembatho ezingcwele, lezamadodana akhe, ukuze angisebenzele njengompristi.
These are the clothes that they are to make: A sacred pouch for Aaron to wear over his chest, a sacred apron, a robe, an embroidered tunic/gown, a (turban/cloth to wrap around his head), and a sash/waistband. These are the clothes that your [older] brother Aaron and his sons must wear as they serve me [by doing the work that] priests do.
5 Bona-ke kabathathe igolide lokuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka lokuyibubende lokubomvu lelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu.
The skilled workmen must use fine linen and blue, purple, and red yarn/thread to make these clothes.”
6 Besebesenza i-efodi ngegolide, okuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, lokuyibubende, okubomvu, lelembu elicolekileyo lentambo ephothiweyo, umsebenzi wengcitshi.
“The skilled workmen must make the sacred apron from fine linen, and skillfully embroider it with blue, purple, and red yarn/thread.
7 Sizakuba lezichibi ezimbili zamahlombe, zihlangane emaceleni aso womabili, ukuze sihlanganiswe.
It must have two shoulder straps, to join the front part to the back part.
8 Ibhanti elelukwe ngobungcitshi le-efodi lakhe, elikuye, lizakuba njengomsebenzi walo, liyinto yinye, ngegolide, okuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, lokuyibubende, lokubomvu, lelembu elicolekileyo lentambo ephothiweyo.
A carefully-woven sash, which must be made from the same materials as the sacred apron, must be [sewn] onto the sacred apron.
9 Njalo uzathatha amatshe amabili ama-onikse, ubaze kuwo amabizo amadodana kaIsrayeli,
[A skilled workman] must take two [expensive] onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the twelve sons of Jacob.
10 ayisithupha kumabizo awo phezu kwelinye ilitshe, lamabizo ayisithupha aseleyo phezu kwelinye ilitshe, njengokuzalwa kwawo.
He must engrave the names in the order in which Jacob’s sons were born. He must engrave six names on one stone, and the other six names on the other stone.
11 Njengomsebenzi wombazi wamatshe, njengokubazwa kwendandatho elophawu, uzawabaza amatshe womabili, ngamabizo amadodana kaIsrayeli, uwenze amiswe ezisekelweni zegolide ezitshiliweyo.
A gem-cutter should engrave these names on the stones. Then he should enclose the stones in (settings/tiny gold frames).
12 Njalo uzabeka amatshe womabili ezichibini zamahlombe ze-efodi, amatshe esikhumbuzo ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli; loAroni uzathwala amabizo abo emahlombe akhe womabili phambi kweNkosi, kube yisikhumbuzo.
Then he should fasten the stones onto the shoulder straps [of the sacred apron], to represent the twelve Israeli tribes. In that way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes on his shoulders in order that [I], Yahweh, will never forget [my people] (OR, in order that [he will always] remember that [those tribes belong to] Yahweh).
13 Wenze lezisekelo ezitshiliweyo zegolide,
The settings for the stones must be made from gold.
14 lamaketane amabili egolide elicwengekileyo, uwenze ukuthi abe njengamagoda, umsebenzi ophothiweyo, amaketane aphothiweyo uwabophele ezisekelweni ezitshiliweyo zegolide.
[Tell them to] make two tiny chains that are braided like cords, and fasten the chains to the settings.”
15 Ubususenza isembatho sesifuba sokwahlulela, kube ngumsebenzi wengcitshi, uyenze njengomsebenzi we-efodi, ngegolide, okuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, lokuyibubende, lokubomvu, langelembu elicolekileyo lentambo ephothiweyo uzasenza.
“[Tell the skilled workman to] make a sacred pouch for Aaron to wear over his chest. [He will use the things he puts into the pouch] to determine [my answers to the questions he asks]. It must be made of the same materials as the sacred apron, and embroidered in the same way.
16 Kasilingane inhlangothi zozine, siphindwe kabili, ubude baso bube yikwelulwa kweminwe, lobubanzi baso bube yikwelulwa kweminwe.
It is to be square, and the material must be folded double, so that it is (9 in./22 cm.) on each side.
17 Njalo uhlele kuso inhlelo zamatshe, imizila emine yamatshe; umzila wesardiyusi, itopazi le-emeraldi, umzila wokuqala.
[The skilled workman must] fasten four rows of valuable stones onto the pouch. In the first row he must put a [red] ruby, a [yellow] topaz, and a [red] garnet.
18 Lomzila wesibili ube lerubi, isafire, lendayimana,
In the second row he must put a [green] emerald, a [blue] sapphire, and a [clear/white] diamond.
19 lomzila wesithathu ube lejasinte, i-agate, le-ametiste,
In the third row he must put a [red] jacinth, a [white] agate, and a [purple] amethyst.
20 lomzila wesine ube lebherule, le-onikse, lejaspi; amatshe la azasekelwa ngegolide ezisekelweni zawo ezitshiliweyo.
In the fourth row he must put a [yellow] beryl, a [red] carnelian, and a [green] jasper.
21 Lamatshe azakuba lamabizo amadodana kaIsrayeli, alitshumi lambili, lamabizo awo; njengokubazwa kwendandatho elophawu, yilelo lalelo lebizo lalo; azakuba ngawezizwe ezilitshumi lambili.
A gem-cutter should engrave on each of these twelve stones the name of one of the sons of Jacob. These names will represent the twelve Israeli tribes.
22 Wenze-ke esembathweni sesifuba amaketane aphothiweyo omsebenzi wegoda egolide elicwengekileyo,
The two [chains] that are made from pure gold and braided like cords are for [attaching] the sacred pouch [to the sacred apron].
23 wenze futhi phezu kwesembatho sesifuba amasongo amabili egolide, uwafake amasongo amabili emaceleni womabili esembatho sesifuba.
[The workman must] make two gold rings, and attach them to the upper corners of the sacred pouch.
24 Ufake amaketane amabili egolide aphothiweyo emasongweni amabili emaceleni esembatho sesifuba;
[He must make] two gold cords, and fasten one end of each cord to one of the rings.
25 kodwa izihloko zombili zamaketane womabili aphothiweyo uzifake ezisekelweni ezimbili ezitshiliweyo, uzibeke ezichibini ze-efodi, phambili kwayo kanye.
He must fasten the other end of each cord to the two settings [that enclose the stones]. In that way, the sacred pouch will be attached to the shoulder straps of the sacred apron.
26 Uzakwenza njalo amasongo amabili egolide, uwafake emaceleni womabili esembatho sesifuba, emphethweni waso ongaphakathi kwe-efodi.
Then [he must] make two more gold rings, and attach them to the lower corners of the sacred pouch, on the inside edges, next to the sacred apron.
27 Wenze futhi amasongo amabili egolide, uwafake ezichibini ezimbili ze-efodi, ngaphansi ngaphambili kwaso, eduze kokuhlangana kwazo, phezu kwebhanti elelukwe ngobungcitshi le-efodi.
[He must] make two more gold rings, and attach them to the lower part of the front of the shoulder straps, near to where [the shoulder straps] are joined [to the sacred apron], just above the carefully-woven sash/waistband.
28 Bazabophela-ke isembatho sesifuba ngamasongo aso emasongweni e-efodi ngentambo eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, ukuze sibe phezu kwebhanti elelukwe ngobungcitshi, njalo isembatho sesifuba singakhumuki e-efodini.
The skilled workman must tie the rings on the sacred pouch to the rings on the sacred apron with a blue cord, so that the sacred pouch is above the sash/waistband and does not come loose from the sacred apron.
29 Njalo uAroni uzathwala amabizo abantwana bakoIsrayeli esembathweni sesifuba sokwahlulela phezu kwenhliziyo yakhe, nxa engena endaweni engcwele, kube yisikhumbuzo phambi kweNkosi njalonjalo.
In that way, Aaron will have the names of the twelve Israeli tribes in the sacred pouch close to his chest when he enters the Holy Place. This will remind him that I, Yahweh, [will never forget my people] (OR, [that he represents my people when he talks to me, Yahweh]).
30 Uzafaka-ke esembathweni sesifuba sokwahlulela iUrimi leThumimi, njalo kube phezu kwenhliziyo kaAroni, nxa engena phambi kweNkosi; ngakho uAroni uzakuthwala ukwahlulelwa kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli phezu kwenhliziyo yakhe phambi kweNkosi njalonjalo.
Put into the sacred pouch the two things that the priest will use to determine my answers to the questions he asks. In that way, they will be close to his chest when he enters [the Holy Place to talk] to me. He will use them to find out what is my will for the Israeli people.”
31 Uzakwenza ibhatshi lonke le-efodi ngokuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka;
“[Tell the workmen to] use only blue [cloth] to make the robe that is to be worn underneath the priest’s sacred apron.
32 njalo sibe lesikhala sekhanda ngaphakathi kwaso, isikhala sibe lomphetho osizingelezeleyo, umsebenzi owelukiweyo, sibe njengesikhala sebhatshi lensimbi, ukuze singadabuki.
It is to have an opening through which [the priest] can put his head. They must sew a border around this opening, to keep the material from tearing.
33 Lemiphethweni yaso wenze amapomegranati ngokuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka lokuyibubende lokubomvu, emiphethweni yaso osizingelezeleyo, lamabhera egolide phakathi kwawo asizingelezeleyo,
At the lower edge on the robe, they must fasten [decorations that look like] pomegranate fruit. They must be [woven from] blue, purple, and red yarn/thread.
34 ibhera legolide lepomegranati, ibhera legolide lepomegranati, emiphethweni yebhatshi kuzingelezele.
Between each of these decorations, they must fasten a tiny gold bell.
35 UAroni kasembathele-ke ukukhonza, lokukhenceza kwaso kuzwakale lapho engena endaweni engcwele phambi kweNkosi, lalapho ephuma, ukuze angafi.
When Aaron enters the Holy Place [in the Sacred Tent] to do his work as a priest and when he leaves the Sacred Tent, the bells will ring [as he walks]. As a result, he will not die [because of disobeying my instructions].
36 Uzakwenza njalo incence ngegolide elicwengekileyo, ubaze kuyo ukubazwa kwendandatho elophawu: UBUNGCWELE ENKOSINI.
“[Tell them to] make a tiny ornament of pure gold, and tell a (skilled workman/gem-cutter) to engrave on it the words, ‘Dedicated to Yahweh.’
37 Uyifake phezu kwentambo eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, ukuze ibe phezu kweqhiye, ibe ngaphambili kweqhiye.
They should fasten this ornament to the front of the turban by a blue cord.
38 Izakuba sebunzini likaAroni, ukuze uAroni athwale ububi bezinto ezingcwele, abantwana bakoIsrayeli abazazingcwelisa, kuzo zonke izipho zabo ezingcwele; njalo izahlala isebunzini lakhe, ukuze bemukeleke phambi kweNkosi.
Aaron must always wear this on his forehead. In that way, Aaron himself will show [that he accepts] the guilt if the Israeli people offer [their sacrifices] to me in a way that is not correct, and I, Yahweh, will accept their sacrifices.
39 Uzakweluka njalo isigqoko ngelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu elilamabala, wenze leqhiye ngelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, lebhanti, umsebenzi womfekethisi ngenalithi.
“[Tell them to] weave the long-sleeved tunic/gown from fine linen. Also, they must make from fine linen a turban and a sash/waistband, and embroider [designs on it].
40 Wenzele-ke amadodana kaAroni izigqoko, uwenzele amabhanti, lezingowane uwenzele, kube ngokobukhosi lokuceca.
“[Tell them to] make beautiful long-sleeved tunics/gowns, sashes, and caps for Aaron’s sons. Make ones that will be suitable for those who have this dignified work.
41 Umgqokise zona uAroni umnewenu lamadodana akhe kanye laye, ubagcobe, ubehlukanise, ubangcwelise ukuze bangisebenzele njengabapristi.
Put these clothes on your [older] brother Aaron and on his sons. Then (set them apart/dedicate them) for this work by anointing them [with olive oil], in order that they may serve me [by being] priests.
42 Ubenzele labokabhudula bangaphansi belembu elicolekileyo okusibekela inyama yobunqunu, aqale ekhalweni afike emathangazini;
Also [tell them to] make linen undershorts for them. The undershorts should extend from their waists to their thighs, in order that no one can see their private parts.
43 njalo uAroni lamadodana akhe bawagqoke lapho bengena ethenteni lenhlangano kumbe lapho besondela elathini ukukhonza endaweni engcwele, hlezi bathwale ububi, bafe. Kuzakuba yisimiso esilaphakade kuye lakuyo inzalo yakhe emva kwakhe.
Aaron and his sons must always wear those undershorts when they enter the Sacred Tent or when they come near to the altar to offer sacrifices in the Holy Place. If they do not obey this command, I will cause them to die. Aaron and all his male descendants must obey this rule forever.”
