U-Ezra 1
1 Kwathi ngomnyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi yePerisiya, ekugcwalisekeni kwelizwi leNkosi ngomlomo kaJeremiya, iNkosi yavusa umoya kaKoresi inkosi yePerisiya ukuthi edlulise isimemezelo embusweni wakhe wonke, njalo langombhalo, esithi:
During the first year that Cyrus ruled [the] Persian [Empire], he did something that fulfilled what Jeremiah had prophesied. Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write this message, and then Cyrus sent this message throughout his empire:
2 Utsho njalo uKoresi inkosi yePerisiya: INkosi, uNkulunkulu wamazulu, inginikile yonke imibuso yomhlaba; layo ingilayile ukuyakhela indlu eJerusalema ekoJuda.
“I, King Cyrus, who rule [the] Persian [Empire], declare this: 'Yahweh, the God [who is in/rules] from heaven, has caused me to become the ruler of all the kingdoms [that I know about] on the earth. And he has appointed me [to enable his people] to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, in Judah [land].
3 Ngubani ophakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bayo? UNkulunkulu wakhe kabe laye, enyukele eJerusalema ekoJuda, akhe indlu yeNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli (unguNkulunkulu) oseJerusalema.
All you people who belong to God may go up to Jerusalem to rebuild this temple for Yahweh, the God who lives in Jerusalem, the God [who is worshiped by you] Israeli people. I desire/hope that your God will be with you [and help those who go there].
4 Laloba ngubani oseleyo lakuyiphi yezindawo lapho ahlala njengowezizwe khona, kakuthi abantu bendawo yakibo bamsekele ngesiliva, langegolide, langempahla, langezifuyo, kanye lomnikelo wesihle wendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema.
Those people who are in places where Israelis are living, whose ancestors were exiled here, should contribute silver and gold to those who go. They should also give them supplies [that they will need for the journey to Jerusalem]. They should also give them some livestock, and gifts of money to help build the temple of God in Jerusalem.'”
5 Kwasekusukuma inhloko zaboyise bakoJuda loBhenjamini, labapristi lamaLevi, laye wonke uNkulunkulu ayevuse umoya wakhe, ukuthi benyukele ukwakha indlu yeNkosi eseJerusalema.
Then God motivated some of the priests and (Levites/men who did work in the temple) and some of the leaders of the tribes that were descended from Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem. Those whom God motivated got ready to return to Jerusalem and build the temple for Yahweh there.
6 Labo bonke ababebaphahlile baqinisa izandla zabo ngezitsha zesiliva, ngegolide, ngempahla, langezifuyo, langezinto eziligugu, ngaphandle kwakho konke okwakunikelwe ngesihle.
All of their neighbors helped them by giving them things made of silver and things made of gold, and supplies for the journey, and livestock. They also gave them other valuable gifts, and also gave them money [to buy things for building the temple].
7 UKoresi inkosi laye wakhupha izitsha zendlu yeNkosi, uNebhukadinezari ayezikhuphe eJerusalema wazifaka endlini yabonkulunkulu bakhe.
King Cyrus brought out the valuable things that King Nebuchadnezzar’s [soldiers] had taken from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem and put in the temple of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods [in Babylon].
8 UKoresi inkosi yePerisiya wasezikhupha ngesandla sikaMithiredathi umphathisikhwama owazibalela uSheshibazari isiphathamandla sakoJuda.
Cyrus commanded Mithredath, the treasurer of [the] Persian [Empire], to count all these items and then give them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of [the group that was going to return to] Judah.
9 Leli-ke linani lazo: Imiganu yegolide engamatshumi amathathu, imiganu yesiliva eyinkulungwane, izingqamu ezingamatshumi amabili lesificamunwemunye,
This is a list of the items that Cyrus donated: 30 large gold dishes 1,000 large silver dishes 29 silver (censers/incense burning pans)
10 inkezo zegolide ezingamatshumi amathathu, ezinye inkezo zesiliva ezingamakhulu amane letshumi, ezinye izitsha eziyinkulungwane.
30 gold bowls 410 silver bowls 1,000 other items.
11 Zonke izitsha zegolide lezesiliva zazizinkulungwane ezinhlanu lamakhulu amane. Zonke lezi uSheshibazari wazenyusa lalabo ababenyuswe ekuthunjweni bevela eBhabhiloni besiya eJerusalema.
All together, there were 5,400 items made of silver or gold, that [were given to] Sheshbazzar [to] take with him when he and the others returned to Jerusalem.
