To The Word – Day 156

₂Ngoko ke ngomhla wokuqala kwinyanga yesixhenxe umbingeleli uEzra weza nayo ebandleni incwadi yomthetho – ibandla elo ke yayingamadoda nabafazi nabo bonke ababesebeqabuke ingqondo. ₃Wawufunda ukusukela kusasa kwada kwasemin' emaqanda, emile ejonge apho ebaleni phambi kweSango laManzi, esiva amadoda, abafazi, nabo bonke ababesebeqabuke ingqondo. Bonke ke abo bantu bayiphulaphula ngomdla loo ncwadi yomthetho yayifundwa.

₄Ke umchazi-mthetho uEzra lo wayemi kwiqonga elenziwe ngamaplanga, lenzelwe eso siganeko. Ngasekunene kwakhe kwakumi uMatitiya, uShema, uAnaya, u-Uriya, uHilekiya, noMaseya; ngasekhohlo inguPedaya, uMishayeli, uMalkiya, uHashum, uHashbhadana, uZakariya, noMeshulam.

₅UEzra wayivula ke incwadi leyo. Bonke ke abantu babembona, kuba wayemi ebavelele. Uthe ke akuyivula, bema ngeenyawo abantu. ₆UEzra ke watyibela, encoma uNdikhoyo, uThixo omkhulu. Ke bona abantu baphakamisa izandla, baza bathelela bathi: “*Amen! Makube njalo!” Baza ke bagoba banqula uNdikhoyo bejonge phantsi.

₇Ke abaLevi uYeshuwa, uBhani, uShrebhiya, uJamin, uAkubhi, uShabhetayi, uHodiya, uMaseya, uKelita, uAzariya, uJozabhadi, uHanani, noPelaya, babafundisa umthetho abantu, besamile njalo apho. ₈Babefunda encwadini yomthetho kaThixo, baze ke batolike beyichaza ukuze ivakale ebantwini loo nto ifundwayo.

₉Ke umlawuli uNehemiya, ekunye nombingeleli ongumchazi-mthetho uEzra, nabaLevi ababefundisa abantu, bathi kubo bonke: “Le yimini eyodwa kuNdikhoyo uThixo wenu. Ngoko ke musani ukulila nenze isijwili.” Kaloku bonke abantu babentywizisa ngoku bawaphulaphuleyo amazwi omthetho.

₁₀Ke uNehemiya wathi kubo: “Hambani niyokutya izimuncu-muncu, ukutya okumnandi neziselo, nide niphe nâbo bangenakutya. Le yimini ekhethekileyo yeNkosi yethu. Ngayo musani ukuba lusizi; kaloku uNdikhoyo uza kunomeleza ngovuyo lwakhe.”

₁₁Ke abaLevi babazolisa abantu, besithi: “Le yimini eyodwa, zolani. Sanukuba lusizi.”

₁₂Ngoko ke bonke abantu baya kwenza itheko, batya, basela, besabelana ngokutya benemincili, kuba kaloku ngoku bewaqondile amazwi ababewacaciselwe.

₁₃Ngomhla wesibini wenyanga leyo ke iinkulu zemizi zinababingeleli nabaLevi zaqokelelana kuEzra umchazi-mthetho ukuze ziqwalasele amazwi omthetho. ₁₄Apho kuloo mthetho wayalelwa nguNdikhoyo ngoMosis bafumanisa kubhaliwe kwathiwa amaSirayeli makahlale kumaphempe ngethuba letheko lenyanga yesixhenxe, ₁₅kananjalo balishumayele ilizwi elo linwenwele kuzo zonke iidolophu naseJerusalem, besithi: “Phumani niye kweleentaba, nibuye namahlamvu omnquma, nalowo wasendle, awemetile, nawesundu, naweminye imithi, ukuze ngawo kwenziwe amaphempe njengoko kubhaliweyo.”

₁₆Baphuma ke abantu, baza babuya namahlamvu emithi, bazakhela ngawo amaphempe kumaphahla abo, kwiinkundla zemizi yabo, nakwiinkundla zendlu kaThixo, ngokunjalo nasebaleni elingakwiSango laManzi nelingakwiSango likaEfrayim. ₁₇Lonke ke elo gqiza lalibuye ekuthinjweni lazakhela amaphempe, laza lahlala kuwo. Ke ukusukela kwimihla kaYoshuwa unyana kaNune kude kube lelo thuba amaSirayeli la ayengazange alibhiyozele ngale ndlela eli theko. Ewe, ayonwabe ngovuyo olukhulu.

₁₈Ukuqalela kwimini yokuqala mihla le uEzra wayefunda incwadi yomthetho kaThixo. Elo theko ke balibhiyozela iintsuku ezisixhenxe, baza ke ngosuku lwesibhozo bahlangana belibandla ngokommiselo womthetho.

₁Ke kaloku ngomhla wamashumi amabini anesine kwakuloo nyanga amaSirayeli aqokelelana, azila, anxiba ezirhwexayo, ezigalela ngomhlaba entloko. ₂AmaSirayeli omthonyama azahlukanisa neentlanga, ema ngeenyawo, azivuma izono zawo ndawonye nobugwenxa booyise. ₃Ema ezindaweni zawo, afunda kwincwadi yomthetho *kaNdikhoyo uThixo wawo isithuba sesahlulo sesine semini, aza ke ngesinye isahlulo sesine avuma izono enqula uNdikhoyo uThixo wawo. ₄Ke bona abaLevi uYeshuwa, uBhani, uKademiyeli, uShebhaniya, uBhuni, uSherebhiya, uBhani, noKenani, bema eqongeni, bedanduluka bebiza kuNdikhoyo uThixo wabo. ₅Aba baLevi bangooYeshuwa, uKademiyeli, uBhani, uHashabeneya, uSherebhiya, uHodiya, uShebhaniya, noPetaya, basuka bathi: “Phakamani nibonge uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, umahlal' ehleli ngonaphakade kanaphakade, nithi:

₃₈“Ngenxa yale ngcombolo ingaka ke, thina ngoku sizibophelela ngesivumelwano – nasi sisibhalile – ke iinkokheli zethu, abaLevi nababingeleli bethu, basitywine ngophawu lwabo.”

₁Owokuqala ukusayina isivumelwano ibingumlawuli uNehemiya unyana kaHakaliya, emva koko yaba nguZedekiya.

₂Basayina ke naba: ababingeleli:

₂₈Xa bebonke ke abantu, ababingeleli, abaLevi, abalindi-masango, iimvumi, izicaka zendlu kaThixo, nabo bonke abazahluleyo kwiintlanga ezingabamelwana, loo nto beyenza ngenxa yomthetho kaThixo, bekunye nabafazi babo nabo bonke oonyana neentombi zabo, abo sebeqabuke ingqondo, ₂₉bonke ke aba ngoku bazibandakanya namawabo azizikhulu, bazibophelela ngeshwangusha kunye nesifungo sokuthobela umthetho kaThixo awawukhupha ngesicaka sakhe uMosis, imiyalelo, imiqathango, nemimiselo yeNkosi yethu *uNdikhoyo.

₃₀Babhambathisa besithi: “Soze iintombi zethu sizendisele kwiintlanga esimelene nazo; noonyana bethu soze bazithathe iintombi zeentlanga.

₃₁“Izizwe esimelene nazo xa zishishina zisithengisela nantoni na, noba yingqolowa, *ngoMhla wokuPhumla, asisoze sithenge nto kuzo ngoMhla wokuPhumla nangaluphi na usuku olungcwele. Njalo ngonyaka wesixhenxe asiyi kuwulima umhlaba; kananjalo siya kuwatshitshisa onke amatyala.

₃₂“Kunyaka ngamnye sizibophelela ngesifungo sokuthobela umyalelo wokuba sinikele ngesiliva eziigram ezintlanu ukuxhasa umsebenzi wendlu kaThixo. ₃₃Sonikela ukuze sibe khona isonka esihlala sihleli etafileni, umnikelo ohlala uhleli weenkozo, namadini atshiswayo, amadini oMhla wokuPhumla, amatheko okuthwasa kwenyanga, namatheko amisiweyo, iminikelo eyodwa, amadini esono okungxengxezela uSirayeli, kwenziwe yonke imisebenzi yendlu kaThixo wethu.

₃₄“Thina babingeleli nabaLevi noluntu luphela, siwenzile amaqashiso okumisela indlu nganye ithuba layo kunyaka ngamnye lokuzisa umrhumo weenkuni zomlilo weqonga likaNdikhoyo uThixo wethu njengoko kubhaliwe emthethweni.

₃₅“Kunyaka ngamnye siya kuluzisa ulibo lwemveliso yamasimi ndawonye nesiqhamo somthi ngamnye endlwini kaNdikhoyo.

₃₆“Kwanjengokuba kubhaliwe emthethweni amazibulo ezindlu zethu, aweenkomo zethu, awemfuyo enkulu nemfutshane, xa ewonke siya kuwazisa endlwini kaThixo wethu, kubabingeleli abasebenza kuyo.

₃₇“Ngaphezu koko siya kugalela koovimba bendlu kaThixo wethu, sinikezele kubabingeleli umgubo wolibo lwengqolowa, iminikelo yeenkozo, kunye neziqhamo zayo yonke imithi esinayo, kananjalo newayini entsha namafutha omnquma. Kananjalo sonikela ngesishumi semveliso yethu kubaLevi; kaloku ngabaLevi abaqokelela izishumi kuzo zonke iidolophu esisebenza kuzo. ₃₈Umbingeleli womlibo ka-Aron wobapheleka abaLevi xa besamkela izishumi. Ke bona abaLevi bokhupha isishumi sezo zishumi basise endlwini kaThixo wethu, sifakwe engxoweni koovimba. ₃₉AmaSirayeli ndawonye nabaLevi bokhupha umnikelo wokutya okuziinkozo nowolibo lwewayini namafutha omnquma, bawuse koovimba apho zigcinwa khona izinto zeNdawo eNgcwele, apho bahlala khona ababingeleli abalungiselelayo, abalindi-masango, kunye neemvumi.

“Soze siyilahle indlu kaThixo wethu.”

₁Ke kaloku iinkokheli zesizwe zazinza eJerusalem, baza abanye abantu benza amaqashiso ukuze kwishumi ngalinye labantu umntu omnye aphume aye kuma eJerusalem, isixeko esingcwele, baze ke abaseleyo abalithoba beme kwiidolophu zabo. ₂Abantu babancoma abo bazinikelela ukuya kuma eJerusalem.

₃Nazi iinkokheli zephondo ezaya kuhlala eJerusalem: Ke amanye amaSirayeli, ababingeleli, abaLevi, nezicaka zendlu kaThixo, nenzala yezicaka zikaSolomon, yahlala kwiidolophu zelakwaJuda; yangulowo nalowo wahlala emzini wakhe kwezo dolophu zahlukeneyo; ₄babe ke abanye abakwaJuda nabakwaBhenjamin behleli eJerusalem.

Kwinzala kaJuda yaba nguAtaya unyana kaUziya, kaZakariya, ka-Amariya, kaShefatiya, kaMahalaleli, inzala kaPerezi, ₅noMaseya unyana kaBharuki, unyana kaKolihoze, kaHazaya, ka-Adaya, kaYoyaribhi, kaZakariya, inzala kaShela. ₆Iyonke inzala kaPerezi, eyayihlala eJerusalem, yayingamagorha angamakhulu amane anamashumi amathandathu anesibhozo.

₇Inzala kaBhenjamin yayinguSalu unyana kaMeshulam, kaJowedi, kaPedaya, kaKolaya, kaMaseya, kaItiyeli, kaYesaya, ₈nabalandeli bakhe, uGabhayi noSalayi, bebonke bengamadoda angamakhulu alithoba anamashumi amabini anesibhozo. ₉Inkokheli yabo yayinguJoweli unyana kaZikri, yena uJuda unyana kaSenuwa evelele isiphaluka sesibini sesixeko.

₁₀Kubabingeleli yayinguYedaya unyana kaJoyaribhi, uJakin, ₁₁uSeraya unyana kaHilekiya, kaMeshulam, kaZadoki, kaMareyoti, ka-Ahitubhi owayongamele indlu kaThixo, ₁₂namahlakani abo awayeqhuba umsebenzi wendlu kaThixo bengamadoda angamakhulu asibhozo anamashumi amabini anambini; uAdaya unyana kaJeroham, kaPelaliya, ka-Amzi, kaZakariya, kaPashure, kaMalekiya, ₁₃namahlakani akhe, iinkulu zezindlu, bengamadoda angamakhulu amabini anamashumi amane anesibini; uAmashesayi unyana ka-Azarele, ka-Azayi, kaMeshilemoti, kaImere, ₁₄namahlakani akhe, iinto ezingamagorha, ikhulu elinamashumi amabini anesibhozo. Inkokheli yabo yayinguZabhediyeli unyana kaHagedolim.

₁₅KubaLevi yayinguShemaya unyana kaHashubhi, ka-Azerikam, kaHashabhiya, kaBhuni; ₁₆uShabhetayi noYozabhadi, bobabini iziinkulu zabaLevi ezazongamele umsebenzi wangaphandle kwindlu kaThixo; ₁₇uMataniya unyana kaMika, kaZabbedi, ka-Asafu, umbhexeshi kwezokubulela nezokuthandaza; uBhakebhukiya owayelisekela kumahlakani akhe; noAbheda unyana kaShamuwa, kaGalali, kaYedutun. ₁₈Bebonke abaLevi kwisiXeko esiNgcwele babengamakhulu amabini anamashumi asibhozo anane.

₁₉Abalindi-masango yayinguAkubhi, uTalmon, namahlakani abo awayelinda amasango, amadoda alikhulu elinamashumi asixhenxe anesibini.

₂₀Amanye ke amaSirayeli nababingeleli nabaLevi ayekuzo zonke iidolophu zakwaJuda, ulowo nalowo ekumzi olilifa looyise-mkhulu.

₂₁Izicaka zendlu kaThixo zazihlala kwinduli iOfeli, uZiha noGishpa beziinkokheli zazo.

₂₂Inkokheli yabaLevi eJerusalem yayingu-Uzi unyana kaBhani, kaHashabhiya, kaMataniya, kaMika. U-Uzi lo wayengomnye kwinzala ka-Asafu eyayikwiimvumi zenkonzo yendlu kaThixo. ₂₃Iimvumi ezi zaziphantsi kwemiyalelo kakumkani, umsebenzi wazo wemihla ngemihla uxhomekeke kuye.

₂₄UPetaniya unyana kaMeshezabheli, omnye wenzala kaZera unyana kaJuda, wayesisandla sikakumkani kuyo yonke imicimbi emayela noluntu.

₂₅Ngokumayela neelali namasimi azo, abanye kubantu bakwaJuda babehlala eKiriyati-arbha namaphandle ayingqongileyo, eDibhon neziphaluka, eKabhezeli neelali zayo, ₂₆eYeshuwa, eMolada, eBhete-pelete, ₂₇eHazare-shuwali, eBheshebha neelali zayo, ₂₈eZikelage, eMekona neziphaluka, ₂₉e-En-rimon, eZora, eYamuti, ₃₀eZanowa, eAdulam neelali zazo, eLakishe namasimi ayo, eAzeka neziphaluka. Ewe, babethe qwelele kuwo wonke loo mmandla ukusuka eBheshebha kuye kwintili yeHinom.

₃₁Inzala kaBhenjamin eyayivela eGebha yayihlala eMikmas, eAya, eBhetele neziphaluka, ₃₂eAnatoti, eNobhi, eAnaniya, ₃₃eHazore, eRama, eGitayim, ₃₄eHadide, eZebhoyim, eNebhalati, ₃₅eLodi, eOno, nakwiNtili yeeNgcibi.

₃₆Amanye kumaqela abaLevi akwaJuda ema kwaBhenjamin.

₁Naba ababingeleli nabaLevi ababuya noZerubhabheli unyana kaShelatiyeli kunye noYeshuwa: uSeraya, uJeremiya, uEzra, ₂uAmariya, uMaluki, uHatushe, ₃uShekaniya, uRehum, uMeremoti, ₄uIdo, uGineton, uAbhiya, ₅uMiyamin, uMadiya, uBhilega, ₆uShemaya, uJoyaribhi, uYedaya, ₇uSalu, uAmoki, uHilekiya, noYedaya. Ezi ke ziinkokheli zababingeleli kunye namahlakani azo ngexesha likaYeshuwa.

₈AbaLevi yayinguYeshuwa, uBhinuwi, uKademiyeli, uSherebhiya, uJuda, kunye noMataniya. Yena kunye namahlakani akhe babejongene neengoma zokubulela. ₉UBhakebhukiya noUni namahlakani abo babemi bekhangelene nabo ezinkonzweni.

₁₀UYeshuwa yayinguyise kaYoyakim, uYoyakim enguyise kaEliyashibhi, uEliyashibhi enguyise kaJoyada, ₁₁uJoyada enguyise kaJonatan, uJonatan enguyise kaYaduwa.

₁₂Nazi iinkulu zemizi yababingeleli ngemihla kaYoyakim:

₂₂Ke kaloku iinkulu zemizi yabaLevi ngemihla kaEliyashibhi, kaJoyada, kaJohanan, noYaduwa kunye nezababingeleli zabhaliswa ngexesha lolawulo lukakumkani uDariyo wasePeshiya. ₂₃Kanti ke iinkulu zemizi kwinzala yabaLevi ukuthi xhaxhe ngexesha likaJohanan unyana kaEliyashibhi zafakwa kwincwadi yeengcombolo zembali. ₂₄Iinkokheli zabaLevi yayinguHashabhiya, uSherebhiya, uYeshuwa unyana kaKademiyeli namahlakani abo, awayesima ekhangelene nabo esenza iindumiso nemibulelo, elinye iqela lithelela elinye ngokomyalelo kaDavide umfo wakwaThixo.

₂₅UMataniya, uBhakebhukiya, uObhadiya, uMeshulam, uTalmon, noAkubhi, babengabalindi-masango ababegada oovimba ngasemasangweni. ₂₆Babelungiselela ngemihla kaYoyakim unyana kaYeshuwa, kaYozadaki, nangemihla kaNehemiya umlawuli, noEzra umbingeleli ongumchazi-mthetho.

₂₇Ngethuba lonikezelo lodonga lwaseJerusalem abaLevi baya kufunwa apho babehlala khona, baza baziswa eJerusalem, ukuze balubhiyozele ngemihlali unikezelo olo ngeengoma zokubulela, becula bekhalisa amacangci, iihapu, nemirhubhe. ₂₈Neemvumi zaqokelelwa kummandla ojikeleze iJerusalem, nakwiilali zamaNetofa, ₂₉naseBhete-giligali, nakummandla waseGebha, naseAzemavete. Kaloku iimvumi ezo zazizenzele iilali kummandla ojikeleze iJerusalem. ₃₀Akuba ezihlambulule wona ngokwawo abaLevi ahlambulula nabantu, amasango, kwanodonga.

₃₁Iinkokheli zakwaJuda ndazidibanisa phezu kodonga. Ndamisela neekwayala ezinkulu zambini, zatsho ngemibongo. Enye yaqabela phezu kodonga, yajonga ngasekunene ekuyeni kwiSango lobuLongwe. ₃₂UHoshaya nesiqingatha seenkokheli zakwaJuda zalandela ₃₃kunye noAzariya, uEzra, uMeshulam, ₃₄uJuda, uBhenjamin, uShemaya, uJeremiya, ₃₅kunye nabanye ababingeleli, bephethe amaxilongo, uZakariya unyana kaJonatan, kaShemaya, kaMataniya, kaMikaya, kaZakure, ka-Asafu, ₃₆namahlakani akhe, uShemaya, uAzarele, uMilalayi, uGilalayi, uMayi, uNataniyeli, uJuda, noHanani, benezikhalisi ezamiselwa nguDavide umfo wakwaThixo. Ke loo mngcelele wawukhokelwa nguEzra umchazi-mthetho. ₃₇Xa bekwiSango loMthombo bathi ngqo ngezinyuko zesixeko sikaDavide, benyuka bekhangele eludongeni, bayidlula ngasentla indlu kaDavide, bajonga empuma kwiSango laManzi.

₃₈Ikwayala yesibini yona yaqhuba iyifulathele leyo yokuqala. Ndalandela ndiphezu kodonga ndinesiqingatha sabantu, sadlula iNqaba yamaZiko, saya kuDonga oluBanzi, ₃₉salidlula iSango lakwaEfrayim, nelikaYeshana kunye neleeNtlanzi, neNqaba kaHananeli, naleyo yeKhulu, see xhaxhe ngeSango leeGusha. Yaza ke yema kwiSango labaLindi.

₄₀Ke ezo kwayala zazisenza imibongo, zema ngeendawo zazo endlwini kaThixo, ngokunjalo nam ndinesiqingatha samagosa, ₄₁kunye nababingeleli – uEliyakim, uMaseya, uMiniyamin, uMikaya, uEliyohenayi, uZakariya, noHananiya, namaxilongo abo – ₄₂kanti ke noMaseya, uShemaya, uElazare, u-Uzi, uYohanan, uMalkiya, uElam, noEzere. Ikwayala yayintyiloza ibhexeshwa nguYezeraya. ₄₃Ngaloo mini ke benza amadini amaninzi bevuya, kuba uThixo ebathe jize ngovuyo olukhulu. Abafazi nabantwana nabo babechulumacha. Intsholo yemincili apho eJerusalem yayivakala nasekudeni.

₄₄Ngelo thuba ke kwamiselwa amadoda okujonga oovimba bemirhumo, ulibo, kunye nezishumi. Kumasimi angqonge iidolophu ayeza kuthatha isabelo sababingeleli nabaLevi, asizise koovimba ngokommiselo womthetho. Kaloku uJuda wayanelisekile lulungiselelo lwabo babingeleli nabaLevi. ₄₅Babemlungiselela uThixo wabo, beyenza nenkonzo yentlambululo, kwanjengeemvumi nabalindi-masango, ngokomyalelo kaDavide nonyana wakhe uSolomon. ₄₆Kaloku kwakudala ngemihla kaDavide noAsafu kwakukho ababhexeshi-kwayala xa kuculwa awokudumisa nokubonga uThixo. ₄₇Ngoko ke ngemihla kaZerubhabheli noNehemiya uSirayeli ephela wayikhupha imirhumo yemihla ngemihla, wanika iimvumi nabalindi-masango. Wazikhupha nezabelo zabanye abaLevi, kananjalo nabaLevi bazikhupha izabelo zenzala ka-Aron.

₁Ngaloo mini ke incwadi kaMosis yafundwa ngokuvakalayo, besiva nabantu, kwaza ke kwafumaneka kubhaliwe apho kuyo kwathiwa akukho m-Amon namMowabhi uya kuze angeniswe ebandleni likaThixo. ₂Kaloku ezi ntlanga zona zange ziwamkele ziwaphe kutya namanzi amaSirayeli, koko zasuka zawathengela uBhalam ukuba awashwabulele. Kambe ke uThixo wethu elo lishwa waliguqula walenza ithamsanqa. ₃Bathe ke abantu bakuwuva lo mthetho, basuka bamchwethela phaya wonke umntu osondele kuSirayeli kodwa engowomlibo weentlanga.

₄Ngaphambi koku ke uEliyashibhi umbingeleli yayinguye ojonge oovimba bendlu kaThixo. Wayeqhogene noTobhiya, ₅wada ke wamnika nendlu enkulu eyayinguvimba weminikelo yeenkozo, isiqhumiso kunye nezinto zendlu kaThixo. Zazilapho nezishumi zeenkozo, iwayini entsha, kunye namafutha omnquma, zinto ezo ke zazimiselwe ukuba sisabelo sabaLevi, iimvumi, nabalindi-masango, kwanemirhumo esisabelo sababingeleli.

₆Ke kaloku ngeli thuba kwenzeka ezi zinto, mna ndandingekho eJerusalem. Kaloku ngonyaka wamashumi amathathu anambini wolawulo lukakumkani uAtashasta waseBhabheli ndakhe ndabuyela komkhulu eBhabheli. Emva kwethutyana ke ndabuya ndacela, ₇ndaza ke ndabuyela eJerusalem. Ngoko ke ndaba nokubuva ububi obabenziwe nguEliyashibhi ngokunika uTobhiya indlu ephakathi enkundleni yendlu kaThixo. ₈Ndakhathazeka gqitha, ndaza ke iimpahla zendlu kaTobhiya ndazithatha ndaziphosa ngaphandle kwaloo ndlu. ₉Ndanika umyalelo wokuba ahlanjululwe loo magumbi, ndaza ke emva koko ndayibuyisela kwakuwo impahla yendlu kaThixo kunye neminikelo yeenkozo neziqhumiso.

₁₀Kananjalo ndafumanisa ukuba izabelo zabaLevi abasazinikwa, kuba bona kunye neemvumi ezilungiselelayo, xa bebonke babebuyele emasimini abo. ₁₁Ngoko ke ndawakhalimela amagosa, ndawabuza ndathi: “Ngani ukuba ingakhathalelwa kangaka indlu kaThixo?” Ndababiza ke ndabaqokelela, ndabamisa ngeendawo zabo.

₁₂Xa ewonke uJuda wazizisa izishumi zeenkozo, iwayini entsha, namafutha omnquma, wazifaka koovimba. ₁₃Ndamisa umbingeleli uShelemiya, umchazi-mthetho uZadoki, nomLevi ogama linguPedaya, bajonga oovimba, bencediswa nguHanan unyana kaZakure, kaMataniya. Kaloku la madoda ayesaziwa ngokuthembeka. Yayingawo athwele uxanduva lokwabela amawawo.

₁₄Thixo wam, uze undikhumbule ngale nto, ungawucimi umsebenzi ongaka endiwenze ngentembeko enje ngenxa yendlu kaThixo wam neenkonzo zayo.

₁₅Ngaloo mihla ke kwelakwaJuda ndabona amadoda exovula iwayini *ngoMhla wokuPhumla, ethwele ukudla okuziinkozo, ekulayisha ezidonkini kunye newayini, idiliya, amakhiwane, nezinye iindidi zemithwalo. Zonke ke ezo zinto ayezizisa eJerusalem ngoMhla wokuPhumla. Ke kaloku ndawalumkisa ukuba angathengisi kutya ngaloo mhla. ₁₆Amadoda aseTire awayehlala eJerusalem ayesiza neentlanzi nazo zonke izinto ezithengiswayo ezithengisa kubantu bakwaJuda apho eJerusalem ngoMhla wokuPhumla. ₁₇Ndazikhalimela izikhulu zakwaJuda, ndisithi kuzo: “Yinkohlakalo yani le niyenzayo – ukuxabhela uMhla wokuPhumla? ₁₈Andithi nooyihlo benza kwaloo nto, ukuze nje uThixo athobe esi sithwakumbe phezu kwethu nakwesi sixeko? Ngoku ke nina uSirayeli nisamqhwayela ingqumbo engaphezulu ngokuxabhela uMhla wokuPhumla.”

₁₉Kwakusithi xa athi rhece amathunzi kumasango aseJerusalem ngomhla owandulela uMhla wokuPhumla, ndiyalele ukuba zivalwe iingcango, ze zingavulwa ude udlule uMhla wokuPhumla. Amanye amadoda am ndawamisa emasangweni ukuze agade kungangeniswa mthwalo ngoMhla wokuPhumla. ₂₀Ngamathuba athile abashishini nabathengisi beendidi zonke babebuchithela ngaphandle kweJerusalem ubusuku. ₂₁Ke kaloku ndabakhalimela ndathi: “Ngani ukuba ubusuku nibuchithele ngaphandle kodonga? Ndiya kuniphatha ngezandla ukuba nikhe naphinda.” Ukusukela ngelo thuba ke abaphindanga beze ngoMhla wokuPhumla. ₂₂Ke abaLevi ndabayalela ukuba bazihlambulule, baze baye kulinda amasango, ukuze uMhla wokuPhumla uhlale ukhethekile.

Nangale nto ke uze undikhumbule, Thixo wam, undenzele inceba ngokobukhulu bezibele zakho.

₂₃Kananjalo ke ngaloo mihla ndafumanisa ukuba kukho amaJuda athathe iintombi zaseAshodode, ezakwa-Amon, nezaseMowabhi. ₂₄Isiqingatha sabantwana babo sasithetha ulwimi lwaseAshdode okanye olunye lweelwimi zeentlanga, sona isiJuda bengakwazi kusithetha. ₂₅Ndabakhalimela ndabaqalekisa. Amanye aloo madoda ndawabetha, ndawaxhwitha iinwele amanye. Ndathi makafunge egameni likaThixo, ndisithi: “Aniyi kuzinikela iintombi zenu zithathwe ngoonyana babo, ningayi kubayeka noonyana benu bathathe iintombi zabo, ukanti nani ngokwenu. ₂₆Andithi na kaloku ukumkani kaSirayeli uSolomon wôna kwangale mitshato? Kuzo zonke izizwe akukho kumkani wayefana naye. Wayethandwa nguThixo wakhe, waza wamenza ukumkani phezu koSirayeli ephela, kodwa ke abafazi abaziintlanga bamrhuqela esonweni. ₂₇Ke ngaba nithi nathi masihambe kweli khondo lenu, senze le nkohlakalo yokungathembeki kuThixo wethu ngokuthatha abafazi abaziintlanga?”

₂₈Omnye koonyana bakaJoyada unyana kaEliyashibhi umbingeleli omkhulu wayethathe intombi kaSanebhalati umHoron. Ke mna ndamgxotha uJoyada.

₂₉Uze ubakhumbule, Thixo wam, kuba babuxabhele ububingeleli kunye nomnqophiso wobubingeleli nowobuLevi.

₃₀Ngoko ke ndabahlambulula ababingeleli nabaLevi kuzo zonke izidyobho zeentlanga, ndaza ke elowo nalowo kubo ndamnika umsebenzi wakhe. ₃₁Ndamisela amathuba okuziswa kweenkuni ndawonye nawokuziswa kolibo.

Uze undikhumbule undazelelele, Thixo wam.