1Ngasona leso sikhatsi baphrofethi lababili, boHagayi naZakhariya, umsa wa-Ido, bacala kukhulumela Nkulunkulu waka-Israyeli emaJudeni naseJerusalema. 2Watsi kube Zerubhabheli, umsa waSalatiyeli, naJeshuwa, umsa waJosadaki, baweve lamavi, bacala kuyakha kabusha indlu yaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Labaphrofethi baNkulunkulu babenabo, babasita.
3Ngasona leso sikhatsi Thathenayi, umbusi waseNshonalanga Yufrathe, naShethari Boznayi kanye nebangani babo bahamba baya kubo, bafike bababuta batsi: “Ngubani lona loninike leligunya lekwakha kabusha lelithempeli nelekuvusetela lesakhiwo?” 4Babuya bababuta batsi: “Bobani emabito alamadvodza lakha lendlu?” 5Kodvwa liso laNkulunkulu lalibelusile baholi bakaJuda, abazange bayekeliswe, kwaze kwabhalelwa Dariyusi umbiko, kwalindzelwa imphendvulo leyayibhalwe nguye phansi.
6Lena kwaba nguyona ncwadzi leyabhalwa boThathenayi, umbusi waseNshonalanga Yufrathe, naShethari Boznayi kanye nebangani babo lababetiphatsimandla taseNshonalanga Yufrathe, tayitfumela kuDariyusi. 7Lombiko wawufundzeka kanje:
“KuDariyusi, inkhosi!
“Sengatsi kungaba nekuthula.
8“Inkhosi kufanele yati kutsi sihambile saya esifundzeni sakaJuda, ethempelini laNkulunkulu lomkhulu. Bantfu balakha ngematje lamakhulu, bafaka netingodvo kulolubondza lwalo. Lomsebenti wentiwa ngenkhutsalo, kantsi futsi uchubeka kahle kakhulu.
9“Labaholi sibabutile satsi: ‘Ngubani lona loninike leligunya lekwakha kabusha lelithempeli kanye nekuvusetela lesakhiwo?’ 10Siphindze sababuta nemabito abo, khona sitekuwabhala phansi sikwatise emabito ebaholi babo.
11“Bona basiphendvule batsi: ‘Tsine sitinceku taNkulunkulu welizulu nemhlaba, silakha kabusha lelithempeli lelineminyaka leminyenti lakhiwa lacedvwa yinkhosi lenkhulu yaka-Israyeli. 12Kodvwa ngenca yekutsi bobabe batfukutselisa Nkulunkulu wasezulwini, wabe sewubanikela esandleni saNebukhadnezari, umKhaledi, inkhosi yaseBhabhulona, lowalibhidlita lelithempeli watfumba labantfu wabayisa eBhabhulona.
13“ ‘Noko ngemnyaka wekucala waKhuresi, inkhosi yaseBhabhulona, Khuresi wakhipha umtsetfo kutsi lelithempeli lakhiwe kabusha. 14Waze wakhulula ngisho netimphahla tegolide netesiliva Nebukhadnezari labetitsetse ethempelini eJerusalema watimikisa khona lena ethempelini eBhabhulona.
“ ‘Khuresi, inkhosi, watinika indvodza lekwakutsiwa nguSheshbasari, labesayibeke kutsi ibe ngumbusi, 15wayitjela watsi: “Tsatsa letimphahla uhambe nato ufike utibeke ethempelini eJerusalema; wakhe kabusha indlu yaNkulunkulu endzaweni yayo.” 16Ngako loSheshbasari waya lapho wafike wabeka tisekelo tendlu yaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Kusukela ngalelo langa kuze kube ngulamuhla seloku liyakhiwa, kodvwa noko lisengakapheli.’
17“Ngako-ke nakukuhle enkhosini, ake kuphenyisiswe emilandvweni yebukhosi eBhabhulona kutewutfolakala kahle kutsi Khuresi, inkhosi, wawukhipha ngempela yini lomtsetfo wekutsi yakhiwe kabusha lendlu yaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Inkhosi itawube seyiyasatisa sincumo sayo ngalendzaba.”
