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:
Awo mu mwaka ogw’olubereberye ogw’obufuzi bwa Kuulo kabaka wa Buperusi, ekigambo Mukama kye yayogerera mu Yeremiya ne kituukirira, Mukama n’akoma ku mutima gwa Kuulo kabaka w’e Buperusi okulangirira mu bwakabaka bwe bwonna, n’okukiteeka mu buwandiike nti,
2 Utsho njalo uKoresi inkosi yePerisiya: INkosi, uNkulunkulu wamazulu, inginikile yonke imibuso yomhlaba; layo ingilayile ukuyakhela indlu eJerusalema ekoJuda.
“Bw’ati bw’ayogera Kuulo kabaka w’e Buperusi nti, “‘Obwakabaka bwonna obw’omu nsi Mukama Katonda w’eggulu abumpadde, era annonze okumuzimbira yeekaalu e Yerusaalemi mu Yuda.
3 Ngubani ophakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bayo? UNkulunkulu wakhe kabe laye, enyukele eJerusalema ekoJuda, akhe indlu yeNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli (unguNkulunkulu) oseJerusalema.
Omuntu yenna mu mmwe abantu be, Katonda we abeere naye, agende e Yerusaalemi mu Yuda addaabirize yeekaalu ya Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri, Katonda ali mu Yerusaalemi.
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.
Na buli Muyisirayiri eyasigalawo gy’ali, abantu abo baabeeramu, banaamuwa ffeeza ne zaabu, n’ebintu n’ebisolo ebirundibwa, obutasaako ebiweebwayo bye bawaayo ku bwabwe ebya yeekaalu ya Katonda eri mu Yerusaalemi.’”
5 Kwasekusukuma inhloko zaboyise bakoJuda loBhenjamini, labapristi lamaLevi, laye wonke uNkulunkulu ayevuse umoya wakhe, ukuthi benyukele ukwakha indlu yeNkosi eseJerusalema.
Awo abakulu b’ennyumba za Yuda ne Benyamini, ne bakabona, n’Abaleevi, na buli muntu Katonda gwe yakubiriza, ne beeteekateeka okwambuka okugenda okuddaabiriza yeekaalu ya Mukama eri mu Yerusaalemi.
6 Labo bonke ababebaphahlile baqinisa izandla zabo ngezitsha zesiliva, ngegolide, ngempahla, langezifuyo, langezinto eziligugu, ngaphandle kwakho konke okwakunikelwe ngesihle.
Baliraanwa baabwe bonna ne babawa ebintu ebya ffeeza ne zaabu, n’ebintu ebirala n’ebisolo ebirundibwa, n’ebirabo eby’omuwendo omungi, okwo nga kwe kuli ebiweebwayo bye baawaayo nga beeyagalidde.
7 UKoresi inkosi laye wakhupha izitsha zendlu yeNkosi, uNebhukadinezari ayezikhuphe eJerusalema wazifaka endlini yabonkulunkulu bakhe.
Ebintu ebyali mu yeekaalu ya Mukama, Nebukadduneeza bye yanyaga mu Yerusaalemi n’abiteeka mu ssabo lya bakatonda be, Kabaka Kuulo, n’abiggyayo.
8 UKoresi inkosi yePerisiya wasezikhupha ngesandla sikaMithiredathi umphathisikhwama owazibalela uSheshibazari isiphathamandla sakoJuda.
Kuulo kabaka w’e Buperusi n’abikwasa Misuledasi omuwanika, eyabikwasa Sesubazzali omulangira wa Yuda.
9 Leli-ke linani lazo: Imiganu yegolide engamatshumi amathathu, imiganu yesiliva eyinkulungwane, izingqamu ezingamatshumi amabili lesificamunwemunye,
Guno gwe gwali omuwendo gwabyo: Esowaani eza zaabu amakumi asatu 30, Esowaani eza ffeeza lukumi 1,000, Ebiso ebya ffeeza amakumi abiri mu mwenda 29,
10 inkezo zegolide ezingamatshumi amathathu, ezinye inkezo zesiliva ezingamakhulu amane letshumi, ezinye izitsha eziyinkulungwane.
Ebibya ebya zaabu amakumi asatu 30, n’ebibya ebya ffeeza ebigenderako ebikumi bina mu kumi 410, n’ebintu ebirala lukumi 1,000.
11 Zonke izitsha zegolide lezesiliva zazizinkulungwane ezinhlanu lamakhulu amane. Zonke lezi uSheshibazari wazenyusa lalabo ababenyuswe ekuthunjweni bevela eBhabhiloni besiya eJerusalema.
Byonna awamu ebintu ebya zaabu ne ffeeza byali enkumi ttaano mu ebikumi bina. Sesubazzali n’agenda nabyo byonna e Yerusaalemi okuva e Babulooni mu buwaŋŋanguse.
