U-Ezra 4

1 Kwathi izitha zakoJuda loBhenjamini sezizwile ukuthi abantwana bokuthunjwa babesakhela iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli ithempeli,

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building the temple to the LORD God of Israel;

2 basebesondela kuZerubhabheli lenhlokweni zaboyise bathi kibo: Kasakhe lani, ngoba siyamdinga uNkulunkulu wenu njengani, samhlabela kusukela ensukwini zikaEsarihadoni inkosi yeAsiriya owasenyusela lapha.

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, who brought us up hither.

3 Kodwa uZerubhabheli loJeshuwa lezinye inhloko zaboyise zakoIsrayeli bathi kibo: Kayisikho kwenu lathi ukwakhela uNkulunkulu wethu indlu, kodwa yithi sodwa esizakwakhela iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli njengokusilaya kwenkosi uKoresi inkosi yePerisiya.

But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4 Kwasekusithi abantu balelolizwe badondisa izandla zabantu bakoJuda, babesabisa ekwakheni.

Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 Basebebaqhatshela abeluleki ukufubisa icebo labo zonke izinsuku zikaKoresi inkosi yePerisiya, kwaze kwaba sekubuseni kukaDariyusi inkosi yePerisiya.

And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 Ekubuseni-ke kukaAhasuwerusi, ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe, babhala isimangalelo bemelene labahlali bakoJuda leJerusalema.

And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote [to him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 Njalo ensukwini zikaAthakisekisi oBishilamu, uMithiredathi, uTabeyeli labanye abakibo babhalela uAthakisekisi inkosi yePerisiya; lombhalo wencwadi wawubhalwe ngesiSiriya, uhunyutshwe ngesiSiriya.

And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter [was] written in the Syrian language, and interpreted in the Syrian language.

8 URehuma umlawuli loShimishayi umbhali babhala incwadi bemelene leJerusalema kuAthakisekisi inkosi, ngalindlela:

Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9 Khonokho uRehuma umlawuli loShimishayi umbhali labanye babangane babo, amaDinayi, amaAfarisathiki, amaTharipheli, amaAfarisi, amaArikhevi, amaBhabhiloni, amaShushaniki, amaDehavi, amaElamu,

Then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dianites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites,

10 lezinye izizwe uAsinaphari omkhulu lodumileyo azithumbayo wazihlalisa emzini ongoweSamariya, lezinye phetsheya komfula, lakhathesi.

And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest [that are] on this side of the river, and at such a time.

11 Le yikhophi yencwadi abayithumeza kuye, kuAthakisekisi inkosi: Izinceku, amadoda anganeno komfula, langesikhathi esinje.

This [is] the copy of the letter that they sent to him, [even] to Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men on this side of the river, and at such a time.

12 Kakwaziwe enkosini ukuthi amaJuda enyuka evela kuwe esiza kithi asefikile eJerusalema, ayawakha lowomuzi ovukelayo lomubi, aseqedisa imiduli, avuselela izisekelo.

Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came from thee to us are come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the noxious city, and have set up its walls, and joined the foundations.

13 Khathesi kakwaziwe enkosini ukuthi uba lumuzi usakhiwa lemiduli iphele, kabayikupha umthelo, imali eyimfanelo, lemali yendlela, futhi uzalimaza isikhwama samakhosi.

Be it known now to the king, that, if this city shall be built, and the walls set up [again], [then] they will not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and [so] thou wilt endamage the revenue of the kings.

14 Khathesi njengoba sisidla itswayi etswayini lesigodlo njalo kakusifanelanga ukuthi sibone ihlazo lenkosi, ngakho sithumele sayazisa inkosi;

Now because we have maintenance from [the king's] palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

15 ukuze kuhlolwe egwalweni lwezindaba zaboyihlo. Ngakho uzathola egwalweni lwezindaba, wazi ukuthi lumuzi ungumuzi ovukelayo, olimazayo emakhosini lemazweni, benza ukuhlamuka phakathi kwawo kwasezinsukwini zekadeni. Ngakho lumuzi wachithwa.

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so wilt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city [is] a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

16 Siyayazisa inkosi ukuthi uba lumuzi usakhiwa, lemiduli yawo iphele, ngalokho kawuyikuba lesabelo nganeno komfula.

We certify the king that, if this city shall be built [again], and its walls set up, by this means thou wilt have no portion on this side of the river.

17 Inkosi yathuma impendulo kuRehuma umlawuli loShimishayi umbhali labanye babangane babo abahlala eSamariya labanye abaphetsheya komfula: Ukuthula, langesikhathi esinje.

[Then] the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and [to] Shimshai the scribe, and [to] the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and [to] the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

18 Incwadi elayithumela kithi ifundiwe ngokucacileyo phambi kwami.

The letter which ye sent to us hath been plainly read before me.

19 Umlayo wasubekwa yimi, basebedinga bathola ukuthi kusukela ensukwini zendulo lumuzi uziphakamisele amakhosi, lomvukela lokuhlamuka kwenziwe phakathi kwawo.

And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and [that] rebellion and sedition have been made in it.

20 Kwake kwaba khona amakhosi alamandla phezu kweJerusalema ayebusa phezu kwakho konke ngaphetsheya komfula; lomthelo, imali eyimfanelo, lemali yendlela kwaphiwa wona.

There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all [countries] beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid to them.

21 Khathesi bekani umthetho ukwenza ukuthi lababantu bayekele ukuze lumuzi ungakhiwa kuze kwenziwe umthetho yimi.

Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until [another] commandment shall be given from me.

22 Njalo qaphelani ukuthi lingayekethisi ekwenzeni lokhu. Kungani ukonakala kuzakhula kukho ukulinyazwa kwamakhosi?

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23 Khonokho, kusukela ikhophi yencwadi kaAthakisekisi inkosi isifundiwe phambi kwaboRehuma loShimishayi umbhali labangane babo, baya masinyane eJerusalema kumaJuda, babenza bayekela ngengalo lamandla.

Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter [was] read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

24 Khonokho wema umsebenzi wendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema; wasusima kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyusi inkosi yePerisiya.

Then ceased the work of the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. So it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.