UNERHEMIYA 1
Umthandazo kaNerhemiya
1Amezwi alandelako akhulunywa nguNerhemiya umsa kaRhakaliya:
Kwathi ngenyanga kaKisilevu, emnyakeni wamatjhumi amabili ngisebuphephelweni beTjhutjhani 2uRhanani okungomunye wabomnakwethu, weza namadoda athileko bavela kwaJuda. Mina-ke ngababuza ngeJerusalema nangamasalela wamaJuda asindako lokha nasithunjwako. 3Bona bangiphendula bathi: “Amasalela ahlala ngesifundeni sakwaJuda nekungilawo asindako ekuthunjweni, akhungathwe lisizi nokurhubutjhwa okukhulu. Imithangala yeJerusalema igiriziwe namasango wakhona atjhiswe ngomlilo.”
4Kwathi lokha nangizwa amezwi lawo, ngahlala phasi ngalila. Ngazila ukudla amalangana ngithandaza phambi kwakaZimu wezulwini, 5ngathi: “Maye Somnini, Zimu wezulwini! Wena unguZimu omkhulu, owesabekako, ogcina isivumelwano nothembekileko kilabo abakukhathalelako nabagcina imiyalwakho. 6Kwanga uSomnini angangilalela, angitjheje ukuze ezwe umthandazo incekwakho ewuthandaza phambi kwakho ubusuku nemini mayelana neenceku zakho ama-Israyeli. Mina ncekwakho ngivuma izono ama-Israyeli akone ngazo, godu ngivuma nezami nezomndenami. 7Senze okumbi khulu phambi kwakho Somnini begodu azange silonde imiyalo, iimiso kanye nemithetho owayala ngayo incekwakho uMosi. 8Nje-ke Somnini, khumbula ilizwi owayala ngalo incekwakho uMosi lokha nawuthi, ‘Naningathembekiko ngizanihlakazela hlangana nebakosozizwe; 9kodwana nanibuyela kimi nilonde imiyalwami beniyenze, ngizanibutha nginibuyisele endaweni engiyikhethileko ukuze ngenze ibizo lami lihlale lapho. Ngizakubutha nalabo abahlakazekileko abasemajukujukwini akude ngaphasi komkayi.’ 10Ama-Israyeli aziinceku nabantu bakho owabahlenga ngamandlakho amakhulu nangesandla sakho esiqinileko. 11Awu Somandla, ngibawa ulalele umthandazo wencekwakho kanye nomthandazo weenceku zakho ezithokozela ukuhlonipha ibizo lakho. Nje-ke yipha namhlanjesi incekwakho ukuphumelela uyenzele umusa emehlweni wekosi le.”
Ngesikhatheso bengimphathikapho wekosi leyo.
© Bible Society of South Africa 2012. Used with permission. All rights reserved.