Izraa 4
1 Diinonni Yihuudaa fi Beniyaam yeroo akka warri boojuudhaa deebiʼan sun Waaqayyo Waaqa Israaʼeliif mana qulqullummaa ijaaraa jiran dhagaʼanitti,
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.
2 gara Zarubaabelii fi gara hangafoonni maatiiwwanii dhufanii akkana jedhaniin; “Sababii nus akkuma keessan Waaqa keessan barbaannee bara Eesarhadoon mooticha Asoor kan as nu fide sanaatii jalqabnee aarsaa dhiʼeessafii turreef nus isin wajjin haa ijaarru.”
They came to Zerubbabel and the family leaders and said, “Please let us help you with the building work, for we worship your God like you do. In fact we have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3 Zarubaabel, Yeeshuuʼaa fi hangafoonni maatii Israaʼel kaan garuu, “Isin mana Waaqa keenyaa nu wajjin ijaaruuf qooda hin qabdan. Numa qofatu akkuma Qiiros Mootichi Faares nu ajaje sanatti Waaqayyo Waaqa Israaʼeliif mana qulqullummaa ijaara” jedhanii deebisan.
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the family leaders of Israel replied, “You can't share with us in building a Temple for our God. Only we can build it for the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what Cyrus the king of Persia has ordered us to do.”
4 Namoonni naannoo isaanii akka isaan itti fufanii ijaaruu sodaataniif namoota Yihuudaa abdii kutachiisuuf kaʼan.
Then the local people set out to intimidate the people of Judah and make them too scared to go on building.
5 Isaanis bara Qiiros mooticha Faaresiitii jalqabee hamma bara Daariyoos mooticha Faaresitti jiru hunda kaayyoo isaanii gufachiisuudhaaf qondaaltota isaaniin morman itti bitan.
They bribed officials to oppose them and to obstruct their plans. This continued during the whole reign of Cyrus king of Persia up until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 Isaanis jalqaba bara mootummaa Ahashweroositti saba Yihuudaa fi kan Yerusaalem himatan.
When Ahasuerus became king the local people sent him a written accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Bara Arxeksis mooticha Faares keessa Biishlaam, Mitredaat, Xaabiʼeelii fi michoota isaa biraa xalayaa tokko Arxeksisitti barreessan. Xalayaan sunis qubee Araamaayikii fi afaan Araamaayikiin barreeffame.
During the time of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their fellow officers wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic.
8 Rehuum ajajaan qondaaltichii fi Shiimshaayi barreessaan sun Yerusaalemiin mormuudhaan akkana jedhanii xalayaa tokko Arxeksis mootichatti barreessan:
Rehum the officer in command and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes condemning Jerusalem stating,
9 Rehuum ajajaan qondaaltichi, Shiimshaayi barreessaa fi michoota isaanii kaan wajjin jechuunis abbootii murtii fi qondaaltota namoota Tiripooliis, Faaresi, Arkii fi Baabilon dhufan, akkasumas warra Elaamota Suusaa dhufan bulchanii fi
This comes from Rehum the officer in command, Shimshai the scribe, and fellow officers: the judges and officials and those in charge of Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
10 namoota Osnaapher guddichii fi kabajamaan sun biyyaa baasee magaalaa Samaariyaa keessaa fi Laga Efraaxiis gama qubachiise kaan wajjin barreessan.
and the rest of the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria and other places west of the Euphrates.
11 Kun garagalcha xalayaa jarri isaaf erganii ti. Gara Arxeksis Mootichaa, tajaajiltoota kee warra Laga Efraaxiisiin Gamaa irraa:
The following is a copy of the letter they sent to him. To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, men beyond the River Euphrates:
12 Mootichi akka Yihuudoonni si biraa gara keenya dhufan sun Yerusaalem dhaqanii magaalaa finciltuu fi hamtuu sana deebisanii ijaaraa jiran beekuu qaba. Isaan dallaa dhagaa deebisanii ijaaruudhaan hundeewwan ishee jajjabeessaa jiru.
Your Majesty should be informed that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, completing repairs to the walls, and mending its foundations.
13 Kana malee iyyuu mootichi akka yoo magaalaan kun ijaaramtee dallaan ishee jajjabeeffame akka siʼachi qaraxni, gibirri yookaan ashuuraan hin argamnee fi akka galiin mootummaas gad buʼu beekuu qaba.
Your Majesty should realize that if this city is rebuilt and its walls repaired, they will not pay tax, tribute, or fees, and the king's revenue will suffer.
14 Nu amma waan itti gaafatamummaa masaraa mootummaa qabnuu fi waan akka mootichi ulfina dhabu arguu hin feeneef akka mootichi beekuuf jennee ergaa kana itti ergineerra;
Now because we are in the king's service and it is not right for us to see Your Majesty disrespected, we are sending this letter so that you can be informed,
15 kunis akka manneen galmee abbootii keetii sakattaʼamaniif. Atis galmeewwan kana keessatti akka magaalaan kun durumaa jalqabdee magaalaa finciltuu, kan moototaa fi kutaalee biyyaa rakkiftu, iddoo finciltuu taate ni argita. Wanni magaalaan kun barbadeeffamteefis kanuma.
and order a search of the royal archives. You will discover in these records that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and countries, having often risen up in revolt in the past. That is what led to this city being destroyed.
16 Yaa mooticha, yoo magaalaan kun ijaaramee dallaan isaas jajjabeeffame, akka ati Laga Efraaxiis Gamaa waan tokko illee hin qabaanne nu sitti himna.
We wish to inform Your Majesty that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed, you will lose this province west of the Euphrates.
17 Mootichis akkana jedhee deebii kana erge: Gara Rehuum ajajaa qondaaltichaa, Shiimshaayi barreessaa fi michoota isaanii kanneen Samaariyaa keessaa fi Efraaxiisiin gama jiraatan kaaniitti: Nagaan keenya isin haa gaʼu.
The king replied as follows: “To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and fellow officers living in Samaria and in other areas west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
18 Xalayaan isin nuuf ergitan sun dubbifamee fuuluma koo duratti hiikameera.
The letter you sent to us has been translated and read to me.
19 Anis ajaja kennee galmeen qoratameera; magaalaan kunis akka durumaa jalqabee moototatti fincilaa turte, akka isheen holqa finciltootaa fi mormitootaa taates beekameera.
I ordered a search to be conducted. It was discovered that this city has often risen up in revolt against kings in the past, frequently promoting insurrection and rebellion.
20 Yerusaalem mootota ciccimoo guutummaa Gama Laga Efraaxiis bulchan qabdi turte; qaraxni, gibirrii fi ashuuraan isaaniif kennama ture.
Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and throughout the whole area west of the Euphrates, and they received tax, tribute, and fees.
21 Akka magaalaan kun deebifamtee hin ijaaramne hamma ani labsii baasutti akka isaan hojii dhaabaniif isin amma namoota kanneenitti ajaja dabarsaa.
Issue an immediate order for these men to stop work. This city is not to be rebuilt until I authorize it.
22 Akka waan kana hin tuffanneef of eeggadhaa. Maaliif hamma rakkoon kun guddatee fedhii mootummaatti gufuu taʼutti ittuma dhiiftuu?
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why should this problem be allowed to grow and damage royal interests?”
23 Akkuma garagalchi xalayaa Arxeksis Mootichaa sun fuula Rehuum, Shiimshaayi barreessaa fi michoota isaanii duratti dubbifameen isaan yoosuma gara Yihuudoota Yerusaalem keessa jiraatanii dhaqanii humnaan hojii isaan dhaabsisan.
As soon as this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their fellow officers, they rushed to the Jews in Jerusalem and used their power to forcibly make them stop work.
24 Akkasiin hojiin mana Waaqaa kan Yerusaalem keessaa sun hamma waggaa lammaffaa bara Daariyoos mooticha Faaresitti ni dhaabatte.
Consequently work on God's Temple in Jerusalem came to a halt. The stoppage continued until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.
