Umsebenzi wokwakha uyathiywa
1Kwathi lapho izitha zakwaJuda nezakwaBenjamini sezizwile ukuthi abathunjwa bakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ithempeli, 2zasondela kuZerubabele nakuzo izinhloko zawoyise, zathi kubo: “Masakhe nani, ngokuba sifuna uNkulunkulu wenu njengani, sinikela kuye kwasemihleni ka-Esari Hadoni inkosi yase-Asiriya owasikhuphulela lapha.”
3Kepha oZerubabele noJeshuwa nensali yezinhloko zawoyise bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuzo: “Aninandaba nathi yokwakhela uNkulunkulu wethu indlu, kepha thina sodwa siyakumakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli njengokusiyala kwenkosi uKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya.”
4Abantu balelo zwe base bedangalisa izandla zabantu bakwaJuda, babesabisa ekwakheni, 5babaqashela abeluleki, bashafisa amasu abo zonke izinsuku zikaKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, kwaze kwaba sekubuseni kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya.
6Ekubuseni kuka-Ahashiveroshi, ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe, baloba bamangalela abakhileyo kwaJuda naseJerusalema.
7Emihleni ka-Aritahishashita oBishilamu, noMithiredati, noThabeyeli, nabanye abangane bakhe baloba ku-Aritahishashita inkosi yasePheresiya; okulotshiweyo kwakunjengokulotshwa kwesi-Aramu, kwachazwa ngesi-Aramu.
8URehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi, umbhali, babhala incwadi enje ku-Aritahishashita inkosi ngeJerusalema ngokuthi: 9URehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi, umbhali, nabanye abangane babo, amaDinayi, nama-Afarisathiki, namaTharipheli, nama-Afarisi, nama-Arikhevi, nabaseBabele, namaShushaniki, namaDehavi, nama-Elamu, 10nezinye izizwe ezathunjwa ngu-Osinaphari omkhulu nodumileyo, zahlaliswa emzini waseSamariya nakwelinye phesheya koMfula,* nokuthi nokuthi.
11Nansi impinda yencwadi abayithuma ku-Aritahishashita inkosi yokuthi:
“Izinceku zakho, abantu abaphesheya koMfula,* nokuthi nokuthi.
12“Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi abaJuda abakhuphuka kuwe sebefikile kithi eJerusalema; bayawakha umuzi ohlubukileyo nonengekayo; sebeyakuqeda izingange, bahlanganise izisekelo.
13“Makwazeke enkosini, kalokhu, ukuthi uma lo muzi wakhiwa, ziqedwe izingange, abayikuthela intela, nenkokhiso, nemali yendlela, okuyakulimaza amakhosi ekugcineni. 14Njengokuba manje sidla usawoti wendlu yenkosi, kungasifanele ukuba sibone ihlazo lenkosi, ngalokho sithumele sayazisa inkosi 15ukuba kucingwe encwadini yezindaba yawoyihlo; uyakufumana encwadini yezindaba, wazi ukuthi lo muzi ungumuzi ohlubukayo, olimaza amakhosi namazwe, nokuthi benzile ukwambuka phakathi kwawo kwasendulo; ngalokho lo muzi wachithwa. 16Siyazisa inkosi ukuthi uma lo muzi wakhiwa, ziqedwe izingange zawo, ngalokho awusayikuba nasiqephu phesheya koMfula.”*
17Inkosi yayisithuma incwadi kuRehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi umbhali nabanye abangane babo ababehlala eSamariya nakwelinye phesheya koMfula* yokuthi:
“Ukuthula, nokuthi nokuthi.
18“Incwadi enayithuma kithina ifundwe kahle phambi kwami. 19Ngayaleza, kwacingwa, kufumanisekile ukuthi lowo muzi uziphakamisele amakhosi kwasendulo nokuthi ukuhlubuka nokwambuka kwenziwe phakathi kwawo. 20Kade kwakukhona amakhosi anamandla naphezu kweJerusalema, ayebusa lonke elingaphesheya koMfula;* aphiwa intela, nenkokhiso, nemali yendlela. 21Makuyalezwe ukuba labo bantu bathiywe, ungakhiwa lowo muzi, ngize ngiyaleze mina. 22Xwayani ukuba ningayekethisi kulokho; kungase kwande ukonakala, kulimaze amakhosi, na?”
23Lapho impinda yencwadi yenkosi u-Aritahishashita isifundiwe phambi kwawoRehumi noShimshayi umbhali nabangane babo, bashesha baya eJerusalema kubaJuda, babathiya ngezikhwepha nangamandla.
24Wawusuthiywa umsebenzi wendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema. Wathiywa kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya.
