U-EZRA 9

₁Emva kokobana izintwezo zenziwe, iinkhulu zeza kimi zafese zathi: “Abantu bakwa-Israyeli, abaphristi namaLevi, abakazihlukanisi emikhubeni eziinyenyiso zabantu ababazombelezileko, okutjho amaKanana, amaRhithi, amaPerizi, amaJebusi, ama-Amoni, amaMowabi, amaGibhide nama-Amori. ₂Bazithathele amanye wamadodakazi wabantwabo bona abe bafazi babo nabamadodanabo. Nje-ke imbewu ecwengileko seyizihlanganise nabantu beenarha ezibazombileko. Begodu isandla seenkhulu nabaphathi siphambili endabeni yokungathembeki le.” ₃Kwathi bona ngizwe lokho, ngadabula izambatho zami nephuraphurami, ngaruthula iinhluthu neendevu zami, ngahlala phasi ngikhenile. ₄Boke abagade banevalo ngelizwi lakaZimu wakwa-Israyeli ngokungathembeki kwabathunjwa, babuthana kimi. Begade ngisolo ngihlezi phasi njalo ngikhenile bekwaba sikhathi somnikelo wakusihlwa. ₅Kwathi ngomnikelo wakusihlwa ngasikima ekuzithobeni kwami, izambatho zami nephuraphurami kudabukile. Ngaguqa ngamadolo ngaphakamisela izandla zami kuSomnini uZimami, ₆ngathi: “Maye Zimu, kazi ngineenhloni nanginje. Iye ngineenhloni kangangokuthi ngihluleka nokuphakamisela ubuso bami kuwe, Zimami ngombana iimphambeko zethu zikhule khulu kuneenhloko zethu necala lethu selifike nemazulwini. ₇Sibe secaleni elikhulu kusukela emihleni yabobaba bekube namhlanje. Nje-ke ngebanga lezono zethu, thina namakhosethu kanye nabaphristi bethu sinikelwe ezandleni zamakhosi weenarha ezisizombelezileko. Iye, sinikelwe esabuleni, ekuthunjweni, ekuphangweni neenhlonini bekube namhlanje. ₈Kodwana esikhatjhaneni esifitjhanesi uSomnini uZimu ube nomusa wasitjhiyela imisalela bewasipha ububambelelo endawenakhe ecwengileko. Ngendlela leyo uZimethu ukhanyise amehlwethu bewasipha imvuselelo encani ebukhobokeni bethu. ₉Iye, simakhoboka, nokho uZimethu azange asitjhiye ebukhobokeni bethu: Ube nokwethembeka kithi phambi kwamakhosi wePheresiya. Wasipha imvuselelo kobana sakhe ithempeli lakaZimethu, ukuvuselela imithangala equqwini bewasipha umthangala osivikeleko kithi kwaJuda neJerusalema.

₁₀“Maye Zimethu, sizokuthini emva kwalokhu? Phela sifulathele imiyalwakho, ₁₁owayala ngayo ngeenceku zakho abaphorofidi lokha nawusithi, ‘Inarha eningena kiyo bona niyidle, kuyinarha esilaphazwe ngemikhuba enyenyisako yabantu abahlala kiyo. Ngokusilaphala kwabo bazalise inarha leyo ukusukela emaphethelweni amanye ukuya kwamanye. ₁₂Yeke ningendiseli amadodakazenu emadodanenabo, kanti nani ningathatheli amadodanenu amadodakazabo. Ningalingi nikhanukele ukuba nobudlelwano nabo begodu ningaze nifune ipumelelwabo. Ngalokho nizakuba namandla, nidle okuhle kwenarha beniyitjhiyele abantwabenu bona ibe lilifa labo nini nanini.’

₁₃“Emva kwakho koke okusehleleko ngenca yezenzo zethu ezimbi nangebanga lecala lethu elikhulu, nokho wena Zimu usibethe ngesibetho esingaphasi kwesono esisifaneleko begodu usitjhiyele amasalela wabantu abanjengalaba. ₁₄Alo, singabuya njani sephule imiyalwakho ngokuthathana nabantu abenza imikhuba enyenyisa kangaka? Kokwakho Zimethu, bekufanele bonyana uvuthe ngelaka usibhubhise bewungasitjhiyeli amasalela namkha abasindileko. ₁₅Maye Somnini, Zimu wakwa-Israyeli, ulungile ngombana sisele simisalela esindileko bekube namhlanje. Akhusuthi uyaqala, thina siphambi kwakho necala lethu nanyana kungekho ongajama phambi kwakho ngenca yalokho.”