UZAKARIYA 7

₁Ngomnyaka wesine wokubusa kwekosi uDariyasi kwafika ilizwi lakaSomnini kuZakariya elangeni lesine lenyanga yethoba, okuyinyanga kaKhisilevu. ₂UBhethel-Sareseri wathuma uRerhemeleki nabantu bakhe bonyana bayokutenda uSomnini, ₃bebabuze abaphristi abasethempeleni lakaSomnini uMninimandlawoke nabaphorofidi bathi: “Kufuze ngilile enyangeni yesihlanu ngokuzila ukudla njengombana ngenzile eminyakeni eminengi na?”

₄Yeke ilizwi lakaSomnini uMninimandlawoke lafika kimi, mina Zakariya, lathi: ₅“Khuluma nabo boke abantu benarha le nabaphristi ubabuze uthi, ‘Lokha nagade nizilile nilila enyangeni yesihlanu neyekhomba iminyaka ematjhumi alikhomba edlulileko, ngambala benizilele mina na? ₆Lokha nanidla benisele emihlatjelwenenu bekungasi ngekokuzithabisa na?’ ₇Lawa akusiwo amezwi uSomnini awamemezela ngabaphorofidi baphambilini lokha iJerusalema isahlezwi ngokuthula, nalokha amaJuda nasahlala kiyo yoke imizi yakwaJuda na? _8-9Okumamezwi uSomnini awakhuluma ngabaphorofidi wathi, ‘Gcinani ukulunga okufaneleko emabandla nitjengise ukwethembeka nesirhawu omunye komunye. ₁₀Ningagandeleli umhlolokazi namkha intandani, isikhonzi namkha odududu. Ningazindlelani okumbi.’ ₁₁Kodwana baqinisa iinhloko bebathundubaza neendlebe zabo. ₁₂Lokhu bakwenzela eswilini ukuze bangalaleli ifundiso netjumayelo uSomnini ayimemezela ngoMoyakhe ngabaphorofidi baphambilini. Ngebangelo uSomnini uMninimandlawoke wasilingeka khulu. ₁₃USomnini uMninimandlawoke uthi, ‘Lokha nangibabizako akhange balalele, yeke nami, angizukubezwa nabarhuwelelako. ₁₄Ngabaphephula ngesivunguvungu ngabasa hlangana nezizwe zoke abangazaziko. Inarha yasala inesizungu ngemuva kwabo kangangobana kwakungekho okhambakhamba lapho. Bayenza njalo inarha ethabisako le yaba lirhalawumba.’ ”