< 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:
2 Utsho njalo uKoresi inkosi yePerisiya: INkosi, uNkulunkulu wamazulu, inginikile yonke imibuso yomhlaba; layo ingilayile ukuyakhela indlu eJerusalema ekoJuda.
3 Ngubani ophakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bayo? UNkulunkulu wakhe kabe laye, enyukele eJerusalema ekoJuda, akhe indlu yeNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli (unguNkulunkulu) oseJerusalema.
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.
5 Kwasekusukuma inhloko zaboyise bakoJuda loBhenjamini, labapristi lamaLevi, laye wonke uNkulunkulu ayevuse umoya wakhe, ukuthi benyukele ukwakha indlu yeNkosi eseJerusalema.
6 Labo bonke ababebaphahlile baqinisa izandla zabo ngezitsha zesiliva, ngegolide, ngempahla, langezifuyo, langezinto eziligugu, ngaphandle kwakho konke okwakunikelwe ngesihle.
7 UKoresi inkosi laye wakhupha izitsha zendlu yeNkosi, uNebhukadinezari ayezikhuphe eJerusalema wazifaka endlini yabonkulunkulu bakhe.
8 UKoresi inkosi yePerisiya wasezikhupha ngesandla sikaMithiredathi umphathisikhwama owazibalela uSheshibazari isiphathamandla sakoJuda.
9 Leli-ke linani lazo: Imiganu yegolide engamatshumi amathathu, imiganu yesiliva eyinkulungwane, izingqamu ezingamatshumi amabili lesificamunwemunye,
10 inkezo zegolide ezingamatshumi amathathu, ezinye inkezo zesiliva ezingamakhulu amane letshumi, ezinye izitsha eziyinkulungwane.
11 Zonke izitsha zegolide lezesiliva zazizinkulungwane ezinhlanu lamakhulu amane. Zonke lezi uSheshibazari wazenyusa lalabo ababenyuswe ekuthunjweni bevela eBhabhiloni besiya eJerusalema.
