UZakhariya 7

₁Kwathi ngonyaka wesine wokubusa kwenkosi uDariyu izwi likaSimakade lafika kuZakhariya ngosuku lwesine ngenyanga yesishiyagalolunye, kuKhisilevi. ₂IBhethele lalithume uSharezeri, noRegemu Melekhi nabantu babo ukuyonxusa ebusweni bukaSimakade, ₃nokukhuluma kubaphristi abasendlini kaSimakade Wamabandla nakubaphrofethi, bathi: “Ngikhale yini ngenyanga yesihlanu, ngizile, njengoba ngenzile kule minyaka eminingi kangaka, na?”

₄Kwase kufika kimi izwi likaSimakade Wamadla, lathi: ₅“Buza kubo bonke abantu bezwe nakubaphristi, uthi: ‘Ekuzileni nasekulileni kwenu ngenyanga yesihlanu neyesikhombisa kule minyaka engama-70 ngabe ngempela nanizilele Mina yini na? ₆Lapho nidla niphuza, anizidleli, niziphuzele nina yini na? ₇Akusiwo yini amazwi lawa uSimakade awamemezela ngesandla sabaphrofethi bakuqala, lapho iJerusalema lalihleli ngokuthula, imizi yalo elizungeze nxazonke, iNegevu namagquma kwakuhleli ngokuthula na?’ ”

₈Izwi likaSimakade lafika kuZakhariya, lathi: ₉“Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uthi: ‘Yehlulelani izehlulelo eziliqiniso, nibe nokwethembeka nozwelo, kube yilowo nalowo komunye. ₁₀Ningacindezeli abafelokazi, izintandane, abafokazi, nabampofu. Kungabi bikho odlinzela omunye okubi enhliziyweni yakhe.’

₁₁“Kepha benqaba ukulalela, bapikla, bavala izindlebe zabo ukuba bangezwa. ₁₂Benza izinhliziyo zabo zaba lukhuni njengetshe, ukuba bangawuzwa umthetho namazwi uSimakade Wamabandla akuthumele ngoMoya wakhe ngesandla sabaphrofethi bakuqala; ngalokho uSimakade Wamabandla wathukuthela kakhulu.

₁₃“ ‘Kwathi nakuba ebabiza, kodwa abalalelanga, kanjalo-ke nabo bayakungibiza, kepha angiyukubalalela,’ ” kusho uSimakade Wamabandla.

₁₄“ ‘Ngiyakubaphephulela kude kuzo zonke izizwe abangazazi. Izwe selisele liyincithakalo, akekho odlulayo nobuyayo kulo, ngokuba izwe elihle balenze laba yincithakalo.’ ”