To The Word – Day 155

₁Nali ibali likaNehemiya unyana kaHakaliya. Kunyaka wamashumi amabini kwinyanga uKislevu, ndathi ndikomkhulu eSusa, ₂kwafika uHanani omnye kumawethu, evela kwelakwaJuda namanye amadoda. Ndabancina ngemibuzo, ndifuna ukuqonda ngemeko yamaJuda abhungcileyo ekuthinjweni, nangobume beJerusalem.

₃Bandiphendula bathi: “Abo basindileyo, baza babuya ekuthinjweni, bakho phaya kwiphondo lakwaJuda, kambe bakwinkxwaleko enkulu nasehlazweni. Iindonga zeJerusalem ziwile, namasango ayo atshiswe ngomlilo.”

₄Ndithe ke ndakuziva ezi zinto ndahlala phantsi ndalila. Yaba ziintsuku ndizilile, ndingatyi, koko ndithandaza uThixo wamazulu. ₅Ndasuka ndathi:

“Camagu, *Ndikhoyo, Thixo wamazulu, ngangalala yoThixo owoyikekayo owugcinayo umnqophiso wakho wentembeko kwabo bakuthandayo, beyithobela imiyalelo yakho! ₆Khawubek' iindlebe, uvul' amehlo akho, ukuze uwuve umthandazo owenziwa sisicaka sakho phambi kwakho umhla nezolo, ngenxa yezicaka zakho amaSirayeli. Ndiyavuma, mna kunye nendlu kabawo, ndawonye namaSirayeli, sikonile. ₇Inkulu inkohlakalo esiyenzileyo kuwe; asiyithobelanga imiyalelo nemimiselo nemithetho owayinikezela kwisicaka sakho uMosis.

₈“Khawusikhumbule isiyalo owasinika isicaka sakho uMosis, usithi: ‘Xa nithe ananyaniseka ndiya kunichitha-chitha phakathi kwezizwe, ₉kodwa ukuba nithe nabuyela kum, nayithobela imiyalelo yam, bothi noba sebechithakele beseziphelweni zomhlaba abantu bakowenu, ndibaqokelele khona apho, ndibabuyisele kule ndawo ndayinyulayo ukuze lihlale kuyo igama lam.’

₁₀“Bazizicaka nabantu bakho owabakhulula ngaloo mandla nobo bungangamsha besandla sakho. ₁₁Khawubek' iindlebe, Nkosi yam, uwuve umthandazo wesicaka sakho esi, ndawonye nowezo zicaka zakho zikulangazelela ngentlonelo. Namhlanje khawusiphumelelise isicaka sakho, usenze samkeleke kulo mfo.”

Ngelo thuba ke ndandiyinjoli kakumkani.

₁Ngenyanga uNisan kunyaka wamashumi amabini kakumkani uAtashasta, ngethuba lokunikwa kwakhe iwayini, ndayithatha iwayini leyo ndamnika. Ukumkani wayengazange andibone ndilusizi ngaphambili, ₂ngoko ke ukumkani wathi kum: “Ungaguli nje, ngani ke ukuba bunxunguphale kangaka ubuso bakho? Makube ikho into ekuhluphayo entliziyweni.”

Ndasuka ndoyika, ₃kodwa ndathi kukumkani: “Phil' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani! Bebungathini ubuso bam ukungathi rhubaxa xa isixeko abângcwatywa kuso oobawo singamabhodlo, amasango aso etshatyalaliswe ngomlilo?”

₄Ukumkani wathi kum: “Yintoni ke oyifunayo?”

Ndathandaza uThixo wamazulu, ₅ndaza ke ndathi kukumkani: “Xa kukholekile kuwe, kumkani, nesicaka sakho esi sisamkeleka kuwe, ndithume kwelakwaJuda kwisixeko abângcwatywa kuso oobawo, ukuze ndisivuse.”

₆Ke ukumkani, enokumkanikazi ecaleni kwakhe, wathi kum: “Loba ngakanani olo hambo; khona, uya kubuya nini?” Kwakholeka ke kukumkani ukundikhulula, ndaza ke ndammisela ixesha.

₇Kananjalo ndathi kuye: “Ukuba uyakholwa, kumkani, uze undinike iileta eziya kubalawuli belentshona ye-Efrati, ukuze bangandithinteli ukudlulela kwelakwaJuda. ₈Uze undiphathise neleta eya kuAsafu umgcini-mahlathi okumkani, ukuze andinike imithi yokwenza imiqadi yamasango enqaba ekufuphi nendlu kaThixo, neyokwakha iindonga zesixeko, ndawonye nendawo yam yokuhlala.” Ngenxa yesandla esikulunga sikaThixo wam esasiphezu kwam ukumkani wazamkela zonke ezo zicelo zam. ₉Ndaya ke kubalawuli belentshona ye-Efrati, ndabanika ezo leta zazivela kukumkani. Kananjalo ke ukumkani wayendikhuphele namagosa omkhosi, namajoni amahashe.

₁₀USanebhalati umHoron, noTobhiya igosa lom-Amon, bathe bakuyiva le nto, suka bakhathazeka yinto yokuba kubekho umntu oze kuphuhlisa intlalo-ntle yamaSirayeli.

₁₁Ndaya eJerusalem, ndaza emva kweentsuku ezintathu ₁₂ndaphuma ngobusuku ndinebathwana lamadoda. Zange ndixelele mntu ngento uThixo wam ayibeke entliziyweni yam ukuba ndiyenzele iJerusalem. Kwakungekho nazinto zokukhwela ngaphandle kwaleyo ndandikhwele kuyo.

₁₃Ngobusuku njalo ndaphuma ngeSango leNtili, ndaya ngakwiQula likaDyakalashe neSango lobuLongwe, ndazihlola ezo ndonga zidilikileyo naloo masango atshiswe ngomlilo. ₁₄Ndadlulela kwiSango loMthombo neQula loKumkani; kambe ke andibanga nako ukudlula khona ndikhwele. ₁₅Ewe, intili ndayinyuka ngobusuku ndizihlola iindonga. Ndaza ke ndajika, ndangena ngeSango leNtili. ₁₆Abaphathi babengandazi apho ndiye khona nento endandiyenza, kuba ndandingekathethi nto kumaJuda, nababingeleli, nezikhulu, nabaphathi, nabanye ababeza kusebenza.

₁₇Ndaza ndathi kubo: “Ngaba niyayibona na le nkxwaleko sikuyo? IJerusalem ingamabhodlo; amasango ayo atshiswe ngomlilo. Ngoko ke yizani sizivuse iindonga zeJerusalem, ukuze siphume ehlazweni.” ₁₈Kananjalo ndabaxelela ngesandla esikulunga sikaThixo wam ebesiphezu kwam, ngokunjalo namazwi athethwe ngukumkani kum.

Baphendula ke bathi: “Masiqalise ukwakha.” Baqalisa ke ukuwenza loo msebenzi mhle.

₁₉Kambe ke uSanebhalati umHoron, noTobhiya igosa lom-Amon, noGeshem um-Arabhu, bakuyiva loo nto, basuka baphoxisa bahlekisa ngathi, besithi: “Yintoni le niyenzayo? Nizama ukuvukelana nokumkani?”

₂₀Ndabaphendula ndathi: “UThixo wamazulu uza kusiphumelelisa. Thina zicaka zakhe siza kuqalisa ukwakha; kambe ke nina aninasabelo eJerusalem, ningenalo nalubango; nangokwasezimbalini aninalungelo kuyo.”

₁Ke umbingeleli omkhulu uEliyashibhi kunye noogxa bakhe ababingeleli bahamba baya kwakha iSango leeGusha. Balinikezela, bawabuyisela namasango, bakha baya kuthi xhaxhe ngeNqaba yeKhulu abayinikezelayo, baqhuba bema ngeNqaba kaHananeli. ₂Amadoda aseJeriko ayesakha kufuphi nabo, ngakuwo kusakha uZakure unyana kaImri.

₃ISango leeNtlanzi lona lakhiwa ngoonyana bakaHasena. Bayigxumeka imiqadi, bazifaka iingcango zalo, neziqhobosho nemivalo. ₄UMeremoti, unyana kaUriya, kaHakoze, walungisa umgama olandelayo. Ke yena wayelandelwa nguMeshulam unyana kaBherekiya kaMeshezabheli, owayelandelwa nguZadoki unyana kaBhana, xa bebonke besakha. ₅Umgama olandelayo wawusakhiwa ngamadoda aseTekowa, nto nje izikhulu zawo zazingafuni kufaka gxalaba kuloo msebenzi phantsi komphathi wazo.

₆UJoyada unyana kaPaseya noMeshulam unyana kaBhesodiya balungisa iSango eliDala. Bayigxumeka imiqadi, bazifaka iingcango neziqhobosho nemivalo. ₇Kufuphi nabo kwakusebenza amadoda aseGibheyon naseMizpa, uMelatiya waseGibheyon noYadon waseMeronoti, ndawo ezo zaziphantsi komlawuli wakwelentshona ye-Efrati. ₈U-Uziyeli unyana kaHarehaya omnye weengcibi zegolide wayelungisa umgama olandelayo. Ke yena uHananiya, omnye wabenzi-ziqholo, wayesebenza loo mgama ulandelayo. Iindonga zeJerusalem bazilungisa bema ngoDonga oluBanzi. ₉URefaya unyana kaYuri, umlawuli wesiqingatha seJerusalem, wayelungisa umgama olandelayo. ₁₀UYedaya unyana kaHarumafi wayelungisa iindawo ekufuphi nendlu yakhe, kufuphi naye inguHatushe unyana kaHashabheniya. ₁₁UMalekiya unyana kaHarim noHashubhi unyana kaPahati-mowabhi babelungisa enye indawo kunye neNqaba yamaZiko. ₁₂Ke yena uShalum unyana kaHaloheshe umlawuli wesiqingatha seJerusalem wayelungisa umgama olandelayo ekunye neentombi zakhe.

₁₃ISango leNtili lalilungiswa nguHanum kunye nabemi baseZanowa. Balakha balifaka iingcango neziqhobosho nemivalo. Kananjalo balungisa umgama oziimitha ezimakhulu mane anamashumi amahlanu kudonga olo, bema ngeSango lobuLongwe.

₁₄ISango lobuLongwe lalungiswa nguMalkiya unyana kaRekabhi, umphathi wesithili saseBhete-kerem. Walifaka iingcango neziqhobosho nemivalo.

₁₅UShalum unyana kaKolihoze, umlawuli weMizpa, walungisa iSango loMthombo. Walifulela, walifaka iingcango neziqhobosho nemivalo. Walungisa nodonga lweQula laseShela ngakuMyezo kaKumkani, wee xhaxhe ngezinyuko zendlela ehla iphuma kwisiXeko sikaDavide. ₁₆Ngaphaya kwakhe yayinguNehemiya unyana ka-Azebhuki, umlawuli wesiqingatha seBhete-zure. Walungisa wada wajongana namangcwaba akwaDavide, wee xhaxhe ngequla elakhiweyo nendlu yabalindi.

₁₇Ngakuye ke kwakusebenza abaLevi abaphantsi koRehum unyana kaBhani, kwalandela uHashabhiya umlawuli wesiqingatha seKehila, emele isithili sakhe. ₁₈Kufuphi naye kwakusebenza amawabo aphantsi koBhawayi unyana kaHenadadi umlawuli wesinye isiqingatha seKehila. ₁₉Kwakulandela uEzere unyana kaYeshuwa umlawuli weMizpa, elungisa enye indawo ukusukela ekunyukeni kwidolo eliya kwiNqaba yeziXhobo. ₂₀Wayelandelwa nguBharuki unyana kaZabhayi esebenza ngenyameko kwenye indawo ukusuka edolweni ukuya esangweni lendlu yombingeleli omkhulu uEliyashibhi. ₂₁Kufuphi naye yayinguMeremoti unyana kaUriya, kaHakozi, elungisa omnye umgama osukela esangweni lendlu kaEliyashibhi kuye ekupheleni kwayo.

₂₂Ngakuye apho kwakusebenza ababingeleli bommandla obangqongileyo. ₂₃Ngaphaya kwabo kwakulungisa uBhenjamin noHashubhi phambi kwendlu yabo, belandelwa nguAzariya unyana kaMaseya, ka-Ananiya, elungisa ngasendlwini yakhe. ₂₄Ngakuye yayinguBhinuwi unyana kaHenadadi elungisa enye indawo esukela kwindlu ka-Azariya ukuya edolweni nakuyo ikona. ₂₅UPalali unyana kaUzayi wayesebenza malunga nedolo nenqaba evelele amantla ebhotwe kufuphi nenkundla yabalindi. Kufuphi naye yayinguPedaya unyana kaParoshe ₂₆kunye nezicaka zendlu kaThixo ezazihlala kwinduli iOfeli, zalungisa zaya kuma ngakwiSango laManzi ngasempuma nakwinqaba eveleleyo. ₂₇Ngakubo yayingamadoda aseTekowa elungisa enye indawo ukusukela ngakuloo nqaba iveleleyo ukuya kudonga lweOfeli.

₂₈Phezu kweSango lamaHashe ababingeleli babelungisa elowo phambi kwendlu yakhe. ₂₉Balandelwa nguZadoki unyana kaImere esebenza malunga nendlu yakhe. Ngakuye yayinguShemaya unyana kaShekaniya, umlindi wesango elisempuma, naye evusa udonga. ₃₀Wayelandelwa nguHananiya unyana kaShelemiya noHanun unyana wesithandathu kaZalafi belungisa enye indawo. Ngakubo yayinguMeshulam unyana kaBherekiya esakha malunga nendawo awayehlala kuyo, ₃₁kufuphi naye inguMalkija, enye yeengcibi zegolide. Yena walungisa wee xhaxhe ngendlu yezicaka zikaThixo neyabarhwebi, malunga neSango labaHloli, wema ngegumbi eliphezu kwekona. ₃₂Phakathi kwegumbi eliphezu kwekona neSango leeGusha kwakulungisa iingcibi zegolide nabarhwebi.

₁Akuva ukuba siyalwakha udonga uSanebhalati wachukumiseka wakhathazeka gqitha. Waphoxisa ngawo amaJuda, ₂ethetha bekho noogxa bakhe nomkhosi waseSamariya. Wayesithi: “Zenza ntoni ezi ngcekengceke zamaJuda? Athi angaluvusa na olu donga lwawo? Ngaba aza kwenza amadini, asuke agqibe ukwakha udonga ngemini enye? Ngaba oba nako ukuwenza asebenziseke la matye akwezaa ngqumba zenkunkuma, lawa atshileyo?”

₃Ke uTobhiya umAmon owayesecaleni kwakhe wathi: “Iyintoni yona khona le bayakhayo? Kolu donga lwabo lwamatye kungathi kuqabele impungutye lusuke luwe!”

₄Khawuve usivelele, Thixo wethu, kuba sideliwe. Izishwabulo zabo zibuyisele kwaphezu kwabo. Banikezele babe ngamaxhoba kwilizwe lokuthinjwa. ₅Ungalingcwabi ityala labo, nezono zabo ungazisusi emehlweni akho. Kaloku bona babagibisele ngezithuko abakhi.

₆Ngoko ke saqhuba salwakha udonga lwada lwasisiqingatha ukuphakama. Kaloku abantu babesebenza ngokuzinikela.

₇USanebhalati, uTobhiya, ama-Arabhu, ama-Amon, namadoda aseAshdode, bathi bakuva ukuba umsebenzi wokuvusa iindonga zeJerusalem uqhubele phambili, zaye nezikhewu zivaliwe, basuka bakhathazeka gqitha. ₈Badibana bonke, benza iyelenqe lokuza kulwa neJerusalem, badale isiphithi-phithi. ₉Kambe ke sakhunga kuThixo wethu, samisa abalindi ukujongana nabo imini nobusuku.

₁₀Ke bona abantu bakwaJuda bathi: “Abasebenzi bayaphelelwa ngamandla ngoku, ibe yona inkunkuma ininzi kangangokuba singabi nako ukuqhubela phambili silwakhe udonga.”

₁₁Neentshaba zethu zathi: “Bothi bengekasiqondi okanye basibone, sibe sesiphakathi kwabo, sibaqwakanise bafe, ume lo msebenzi.”

₁₂Ke amaJuda awayemelene nazo ezi ntshaba eza kaninzi-ninzi kuthi esixelela esithi: “Noba ningathini na ziza kusihlasela.”

₁₃Ngoko ke ndamisa abantu emva kwezona ndawo zimfutshane apho eludongeni, iindawo ezisesichengeni, ndabamisa ngokwemizi, bexhobe ngamakrele, imikhonto, neentolo. ₁₄Emva kokuba ndikhe ndaqwalasela ndajonga, ndasuka ndathetha nezikhulu, namagosa, nabanye abantu, ndathi: “Musani ukuboyika; khumbulani iNkosi, ingangalala eyoyikekayo, nibalwele abantakwenu, oonyana neentombi, abafazi namakhaya enu.”

₁₅Iintshaba zethu zeva ukuba siyaliqonda iyelenqe lazo nokudodotyaliswa kwalo nguThixo; saza ke thina sonke yangulowo nalowo wabuyela emsebenzini wakhe eludongeni.

₁₆Ukusuka loo mini ke isiqingatha samadoda am saba semsebenzini, sabe ke esinye sixhobe sif' amacala ngoomikhonto, oomakhaka, oozintolo, nezikhuselo. Amagosa ke ema emva kwabo bonke abantu bakwaJuda ₁₇ababesakha udonga. Abathwala iimpahla zokwakha, babesebenza ngesandla esinye, esinye siphethe izixhobo; ₁₈umakhi ngamnye wayenxule ikrele lakhe ecaleni ngoku asebenzayo. Ke indoda evuthela isigodlo yayisoloko ikunye nam.

₁₉Ke kaloku ndathetha nezikhulu, namagosa, nabantu ngokubanzi, ndathi: “Lo msebenzi wethu ubanzi, uthe xakalala, saye ke thina sahluka-hlukene ekusebenzeni eludongeni apha. ₂₀Ngoko ke, nanini na nisiva isandi sesigodlo, khawulezani nize kuthi kuloo ndawo. UThixo wethu uza kusilwela.”

₂₁Ngoko ke saqhuba sisebenza ngesiqingatha samadoda aphethe imikhonto ukusukela xa kuthi qheke ukusa kude kube lungcwalazi. ₂₂Ngelo thuba ke ndathi ebantwini: “Umakhi ngamnye enomncedisi wakhe ebusuku makalale phakathi eJerusalem, khon' ukuze abe ngumlindi wayo, ze ke emini abe ngumakhi.” ₂₃Mna namawethu, namadoda angabalindi, sasingazikhululi iimpahla esizinxibileyo; sasihlala sigaxele izikhali noba siya kukha amanzi.

₁Ngoku ke amadoda nabafazi bawo benza isimbonono bekhalazela amawabo angamaJuda. ₂Abanye babesithi: “Thina noonyana neentombi zethu sibaninzi; ngoko ke ukuze sibe nokutya siphile kufuneka sikufumane ukudla.”

₃Abanye ke babesithi: “Sibambise ngamasimi ethu, nezidiliya, namakhaya, ukuze sizuze ukudla ngethuba lendlala.”

₄Kwakukho nabathi: “Siboleke imali ukuze sibe nokuhlawula irhafu yakomkhulu ngenxa yamasimi nezidiliya zethu, ₅kodwa nangona sibanye ngegazi namawethu la, futhi oonyana bethu befana nababo, kodwa thina oonyana neentombi zethu bazizisulu zobukhoboka. Ezinye kwiintombi zethu sezingene ebukhobokeni; ke thina asinakwenza nto, kuba amasimi nezidiliya zethu zathathwa zanikwa bantu bambi.”

₆Ndithe ke ndakusiva esi simbonono sabo, ndawonye nezityholo zabo, ndasuka ndacaphuka kakhulu. ₇Ndawetyisa engqondweni lo mcimbi, ndaza ke ndazikhalazela izikhulu namagosa, ndathi: “Nicinezela amawenu ngokutsala ingeniso kwakuwo!” Ngoko ke ndabiza imbizo ukuze ichophele lo mbandela wabo, ₈ndathi: “Senze unako-nako sawakhulula ngokuwathenga amawethu angamaJuda awayethengiswe kwiintlanga. Ngoku ke nina nithengisa ngabo abantakwenu, nisenzela ukuba baphinde bathengiswe kwakuthi.” Kwathi cwaka ke, kuba babengenayo indlela yokuziphendulela.

₉Ndaqhuba ndathi: “Le nto niyenzayo ayilunganga. Ngani ukuba ningamhloneli uThixo, khon' ukuze niziphephe izinyeliso zeentlanga eziziintshaba zethu? ₁₀Mna nabantakwethu namadoda akwam siyababoleka abantu imali nokudla. Ngoko ke masiyeke ukubaxhaphaza sizuze ingeniso. ₁₁Khanibabuyisele kwanamhlanje amasimi, izidiliya, izinquma, nezindlu zabo, ngokunjalo nala matyala banibamba wona: isahlulo sekhulu semali, ingqolowa, iwayini, kunye namafutha omnquma.”

₁₂Ke bona bathi: “Siza kubabuyisela; futhi asisayi kubuya sibahlawulise nto ngaphezulu. Siza kwenza ngokokuthetha kwakho.”

Ndaza ke ndabiza ababingeleli, zona izikhulu, namagosa, ndathi mabafunge ukuba baza kusifezekisa isithembiso sabo. ₁₃Ndawuvuthulula umnweba wam ndisithi: “Ngamana wenjenje uThixo ukuyivuthulula indlu yakhe, kunye naye nabani na onezinto, ongavumiyo ukusifezekisa esi sithembiso. Umntu onjalo makavuthululwe ashiywe eyimpula kalujaca!”

Ndithe ke ndakutsho, ibandla lonke lathelela lathi: “*Amen,” lamdumisa uNdikhoyo. Ngenene ke abantu benza ngokwesithembiso sabo.

₁₄Ngaphezu koko ke, ukusukela kunyaka wamashumi amabini kakumkani uAtashasta, ekumiselweni kwam ukuba ndibe ngumlawuli welakwaJuda, yada yangunyaka wakhe wamashumi mathathu anambini – ishumi elinambini leminyaka emva koko – mna ndawonye namawethu asizange sikutye ukutya okwakusisabelo somlawuli. ₁₅Kambe ke bona abalawuli abandandulelayo, babemisela abantu uxanduva lomthwalo oyisiliva ebunzima busisahlulo sesihlanu sekhilogram ukongeza ukutya newayini ababeyikhupha. Nabancedisi babo babebaxhaphaza abantu. Kodwa ke mna ngenxa yokuhlonela uThixo andiyenzanga loo nto. ₁₆Ndaweni yaloo nto mna ndazinikela ekwakheni udonga. Onke amadoda am ayehlanganela ukusebenza; asizange sizifunele mhlaba.

₁₇Kananjalo ke mna ndandisitya namaJuda alikhulu elinamashumi amahlanu, kunye nabaphathiswa ndawonye nâbo babeze kuthi besuka kwizizwe ezisingqongileyo. ₁₈Ngemini nganye ndandilungiselelwa inkabi yenkomo, iigusha ezintandathu ezikhethiweyo, neenkuku; kuze ke njalo ngeshumi leentsuku ndinikwe iindidi zonke zewayini ibe ninzi. Nakuba kunjalo ke, mna andizange ndikubize ukutya okusisabelo somlawuli, kuba ezi ndleko zaziluxanduva phezu kwabantu.

₁₉Ndikhumbule undazelele, Thixo wam, kuzo zonke izinto endizenzele aba bantu.

₁Ke kaloku kwavakala kuSanebhalati, uTobhiya, noGeshem umArabhu, nezinye ke iintshaba zethu, ukuba ndibuye ndalwakha udonga, akwasala nasinye isikhewu, nangona ukuza kuthi gaa kwelo thuba ndandingekazifaki iingcango zamasango. ₂Ke uSanebhalati noGeshem bandithumelela umyalezo othi: “Khawufike sidibane kwenye yeedolophana kumathafa aseOno.”

Kambe ke babesenza iyelenqe lokundenzakalisa. ₃Ngoko ke ndabathumelela izigidimi ndisithi: “Ndenza umsebenzi omkhulu apha, ngoko ke andinako ukuwuyeka ndize kuni. Ngani ukuba ume umsebenzi ndilibele kukuza kuni?” ₄Lo myalelo bawuthumela kane kum, mna ke ezo zihlandlo zozine ndawuphendula kwangaloo mpendulo inye.

₅Kwisihlandlo sesihlanu ke uSanebhalati wathumela ihlakani lakhe eliphethe kwalo myalezo mnye uyileta engavalwanga ₆ebhalwe ngolu hlobo:

“Kukho ingxelo eyaziwayo phakathi kwezizwe – yaye ke uGeshem uthi iyinyaniso. Kuthiwa wena ndawonye namaJuda niceba uvukelo; kungeso sizathu nivusa olu donga nje. Ngaphezu koko ke ngokwale ngxelo wena uzimisele ukuba ngukumkani wawo, ₇kangangokuba sowude wamisela abashumayeli ukuze benze isihlokomiso ngawe apha eJerusalem, bathi: ‘Ukho ukumkani welakwaJuda!’ Le ngxelo ke iza kufikelela kukumkani; ngoko ke wena yiza ukuze sithetha-thethane.”

₈Ndamthumelela le mpendulo ke, ndathi: “Ayikho into enjengale uyithethayo; kuphela wena uyikha entloko le nto uyithethayo.”

₉Ewe, babezama ukusoyikisa besithi: “Baza kutyhafa ukuze umsebenzi bawuyeke ungagqitywanga.”

Kambe ke ndathandaza ndathi: “Thixo wethu, zomeleze izandla zam!”

₁₀Ngenye imini ndaya endlwini kaShemaya unyana kaDelaya kaMetabheli owayezivalele emzini wakhe. Waza ke wathi: “Masiye kuhlangana endlwini kaThixo, singene ngaphakathi, sivale iingcango, kuba kukho abantu abafuna ukukubulala; ewe, baza kukubulala ngobusuku.”

₁₁Kambe ke ndathi apho kuye: “Uthi ingaze ibaleke indoda enjengam nje? Okanye ke uthi ndingade ndiye kungena endlwini kaThixo ukusindisa ubomi bam? Hayi bo! Andiy' apho!” ₁₂Ewe, ndayiqonda into yokuba akathunywanga nguThixo, koko undishumayeza ezi zinto kuba ethengwe nguTobhiya noSanebhalati. ₁₃Wayethengwe ukuze andigrogrise, khon' ukuze ngale nto ndenze isono, bona ke banditshabhise ngegama elibi.

₁₄Awu, Thixo wam, uze ubakhumbule ooTobhiya noSanebhalati ngale nto bayenzileyo; ungamlibali nomshumayelikazi uNowadiya nabo bonke abashumayeli abazama ukundigrogrisa.

₁₅Ke lona udonga lwagqitywa ngomhla wamashumi amabini anantlanu wenyanga uEluli, emva kweentsuku ezingamashumi amahlanu anambini lwaqalwayo. ₁₆Zithe ke iintshaba zethu zakuziva ezi ndaba, ndawonye nezizwe ezingabamelwana ezazibona ngamehlo, suka zaphelelwa kukuzithemba kwazo, kuba kaloku ziqonda ukuba lo msebenzi wenziwe ngoncedo lukaThixo wethu.

₁₇Ngaloo mihla ke izikhulu zakwaJuda zazithumela intaphane yeeleta kuTobhiya; neempendulo ke zazithululeka ukungena zivela kuTobhiya. ₁₈Kaloku amaJuda amaninzi ayenqophisene naye, njengoko wayengumkhwenyana kaShekaniya unyana ka-Ara, unyana wakhe uYohanan ethathe intombi kaMeshulam unyana kaBherekiya. ₁₉Ngaphezu koko kaloku babengoosiputsu abandinika ingxelo yemisebenzi yakhe emihle, bandule ke ukuya kumxelela loo nto ndiyithethileyo mna. Ke yena uTobhiya wayendithumelela iileta zokundigrogrisa.

₁Emva kokugqitywa kodonga ndafakela iingcango ezindaweni zazo, kwaza kwamiselwa abalindi-masango, iimvumi, nabaLevi. ₂Ndamisela umntakwethu uHanani ukuba avelele iJerusalem, ekunye noHananiya ingqwayi-ngqwayi yenqaba, kuba wayengumfo onentembeko, uThixo emhlonela ngaphezu koninzi lwabantu. ₃Kubo ke ndathi: “Makangavulwa amasango aseJerusalem ide ibe seyiqinile imini. Ngethuba besekhona abalindi-masango mabawavale mba amasango ngemivalo. Kananjalo miselani abemi baseJerusalem babe ngabalindi; abanye kwiindawo ezithile, abanye ke kufuphi nezindlu zabo.”

₄Ke kaloku isixeko esi sasisikhulu sithe gabalala, kodwa bembalwa abantu ngaphakathi, nezindlu ke zingekakhiwa. ₅Ngoku ke uThixo wam wathetha nam, ndaza ke ndaziqokelela izikhulu, amaphakathi noluntu luphela, ndamisela ukuba bonke babhalwe ngokwemizi yabo. Ndalufumana uludwe lwemilibo yokuzalwa kwâbo babebuye kuqala. Ke lona lwalumi ngolu hlobo: ₆Naba ke abantu beli phondo ababuyileyo ekuthinjweni ababethinjwe ngukumkani uNabhukadenezare waseBhabheli. Babuyela eJerusalem nakwaJuda, yangulowo nalowo waphindela kwidolophu yakowabo, ₇ndawonye noZerubhabheli, uYeshuwa, uNehemiya, uAzariya, uRamiya, uNamani, uModekayi, uBhileshan, uMisperete, uBhigwayi, uNehum noBhana.

Umlawuli:

Ke kaloku yathi yakufika inyanga yesixhenxe, amaSirayeli selezinzile ezidolophini zawo,