Bible Reading Plan – Day 255

₁Kwaba khona ukukhala okukhulu kwabantu nawomkabo ngabafowabo abaJuda. ₂Ngokuba babekhona abathi: “Thina namadodana ethu namadodakazi ethu sibaningi; masithole amabele ukuba sidle, siphile.”

₃Babe khona nabathi: “Sibambisile ngamasimu ethu, nangezivini zethu, nangezindlu zethu; masithole amabele ngenxa yendlala.”

₄Babe khona nabathi: “Sitshelekile imali yokuthela enkosini ngamasimu ethu nangezivini zethu. ₅Nokho inyama yethu injengenyama yabafowethu, abantwana bethu banjengabantwana babo; bheka, sithobisa amadodana ethu namadodakazi ethu, abe yizigqila; amanye amadodakazi ethu asethotshisiwe; futhi awakho amandla ezandleni zethu, ngokuba amasimu ethu nezivini zethu sekungokwabanye.”

₆Ngathukuthela kakhulu lapho ngizwa ukukhala kwabo nalawo mazwi. ₇Inhliziyo yami isicabangile, ngathethisana nabakhulu nababusi, ngathi kubo: “Nina nonke nibiza inzalo omunye komunye.” Ngase ngibiza ibandla elikhulu ngabo. ₈Ngathi kubo: “Thina njengamandla esinawo sihlengile abafowethu abaJuda ababethengiselwe abezizwe; seniyakuthengisa ngabafowenu, bathengiselwe kithi, na?” Bathula, abafumananga zwi.

₉Ngathi futhi: “Akukuhle enikwenzayo; beningehambe yini ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu wethu ngenxa yokuthukwa kwethu ngabezizwe, izitha zethu, na? ₁₀Nami nabafowethu nezinceku zethu sibatsheleke imali namabele. Ake siyeke ukubiza le nzalo. ₁₁Ake nibuyisele namhlanje amasimu abo, nezivini zabo, neminqumo yabo, nezindlu zabo, nenxenye yekhulu yemali, neyamabele, neyewayini, neyamafutha enikubiza kubo kube yinzalo.”

₁₂Base bethi: “Sizakubuyisela kubo, singabizi lutho kubo; sizakwenza njengokusho kwakho.”

Ngase ngibiza abapristi, ngabafungisa ukuba benze njengalelo zwi. ₁₃Ngavuthulula ingubo yami, ngathi: “UNkulunkulu makavuthulule kanjalo bonke abantu abangagcini leli zwi ezindlini zabo nasemfuyweni yabo; mabavuthululwe kanjalo, babe yize.”

Lonke ibandla lathi: “Amen,” ladumisa uJehova. Abantu base benza njengalelo zwi.

₁₄Futhi kusukela osukwini engamiswa ngalo ukuba ngibe ngumbusi wabo ezweni lakwaJuda, kwasemnyakeni wamashumi amabili kuze kube semnyakeni wamashumi amathathu nambili ka-Aritahishashita inkosi, iminyaka eyishumi nabili, mina nabafowethu asidlanga isinkwa sombusi. ₁₅Kepha ababusi bokuqala ababe phambi kwami babebathwesile abantu, bathatha kubo isinkwa newayini kanye namashekeli* angamashumi amane esiliva; nezinceku zachachaza phezu kwabantu; kepha mina angenzanga kanjalo ngenxa yokumesaba uNkulunkulu. ₁₆Phezu kwalokho ngabambelela emsebenzini wogange, asithenganga zwe; zonke izinceku zami zabuthana khona emsebenzini.

₁₇AbaJuda nababusi, abantu abayikhulu namashumi ayisihlanu, badla etafuleni lami, kanye nabafika kithi bevela kwabezizwe abasizungezayo. ₁₈Okwalungiselwa usuku lwaba lunye nje kwakuyinkabi nezimvu eziyisithupha ezikhethekileyo; ngalungiselwa nezinyoni newayini eliningi lezinhlobo zonke kanye ngezinsuku eziyishumi; nokho angicelanga isinkwa sombusi, ngokuba ubugqila babusinda phezu kwalaba bantu.

₁₉Ngikhumbulele, Nkulunkulu wami, ngenxa yakho konke engikwenzele laba bantu, kube kuhle kimi.

₁Kwathi lapho oSanibalati, noThobiya, noGeshemi wase-Arabiya, nezinye izitha sebezwile ukuthi ngivusile ugange nokuthi akusasele sikhala, noma ngaleso sikhathi ngangingakamisi izivalo emasangweni, ₂oSanibalati noGeshemi bathumela kimi, bathi: “Woza sihlangane komunye wemizana yasethafeni lase-Ono.” Babehlose ukwenza okubi kimi. ₃Ngathuma izithunywa kubo, ngathi: “Ngisebenza umsebenzi omkhulu, anginakwehla; umsebenzi ubuyakumelani, ngiwuyeke, ngehlele kini, na?” ₄Bathumela kane kimi ngaleyo ndlela; ngabaphendula ngokunjalo.

₅USanibalati wayesethuma inceku yakhe kimi kanjalo ngokwesihlanu, iphethe incwadi evulekileyo esandleni sayo. ₆Kwakulotshwe kuyo ukuthi: “Kuzwakele ezizweni, naye uGashimu uthi wena nabaJuda nihlose ukuhlubuka, okungalokho uvusa ugange, ube yinkosi yabo; yebo, anjalo amazwi. ₇Futhi ubekile abaprofethi ukuba bashumayele ngawe eJerusalema ukuthi uyinkosi kwaJuda. Njengokuba lawo mazwi eyakuzwakala enkosini, mawuze, silulekane.”

₈Ngase ngithumela kuye, ngathi: “Azikho izinto ezinjengalezo ozishoyo; ziqanjwe nguwe enhliziyweni yakho.”

₉Ngokuba bonke babesethusa bethi: “Izandla zabo ziyakudangala emsebenzini ukuba ungenziwa.” Ngase ngikhuleka ngathi: “Kepha manje, Nkosi, qinisa izandla zami.”

₁₀Ngase ngiya endlini kaShemaya indodana kaDelaya kaMehetabeli owayezivalele. Wathi: “Masihlangane endlini kaNkulunkulu phakathi kwethempeli, sivale iminyango yethempeli, ngokuba bayakufika ukukubulala, yebo, ebusuku bayakufika bakubulale.”

₁₁Ngathi: “Umuntu onjengami abaleke na? Ngubani onjengami ongangena ethempelini, aphile, na? Angingeni.” ₁₂Ngaqonda ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengamthumile, kepha wakhuluma leso siprofetho ngami eqashiwe ngoThobiya noSanibalati. ₁₃Wayeqashelwe lokhu kokuba ngesabe, ngenze kanjalo, ngone, babe nombiko omubi, bangijivaze.

₁₄Ngakhuleka ngathi: “Khumbula, Nkulunkulu wami, oThobiya noSanibalati ngalezo zenzo zabo, nomprofethikazi uNohadiya, nabanye abaprofethi, ababengesabisa.”

₁₅Ugange lwaphela ngolwamashumi amabili nanhlanu lwenyanga ka-Eluli ngezinsuku ezingamashumi ayisihlanu nambili. ₁₆Kwathi lapho zonke izitha zikuzwa lokho, abezizwe bonke abasizungezayo, besaba, bayetha, ngokuba baqonda ukuthi lowo msebenzi wawenziwe nguNkulunkulu wethu.

₁₇Phezu kwalokho abakhulu bakwaJuda bathuma ngalezo zinsuku izincwadi eziningi kuThobiya, nezikaThobiya zafika kubo. ₁₈Ngokuba abaningi bakwaJuda babefungile kubo, ngokuba wayengumkhwenyana kaShekaniya indodana ka-Ara; indodana uJehohanani yayithathile indodakazi kaMeshulamu indodana kaBerekiya. ₁₉Bakhuluma ngezenzo zakhe ezinhle phambi kwami, bamukisa kuye amazwi ami. UThobiya wathuma izincwadi ukungesabisa.

₁Kwathi lapho ugange selwakhiwe, sengimisile izivalo, futhi kubekiwe abalindisango nabahlabeleli namaLevi, ₂ngayaleza uHanani umfowethu noHananiya induna yendlu yenkosi ukuba baphathe iJerusalema, ngokuba wayengumuntu othembekileyo, wamesaba uNkulunkulu kunabaningi. ₃Ngathi kubo: “Amasango aseJerusalema mawangavulwa lize lishise ilanga; besemi, mabavale izivalo, baziqinise; bekani abalindi kwabakhileyo eJerusalema, kube yilowo nalowo emlindweni wakhe, yilowo abe malungana nendlu yakhe.”

₄Umuzi wawubanzi nxazombili; wawumkhulu, kepha abantu babe yingcosana phakathi kwawo, izindlu zingakakhiwa. ₅UNkulunkulu wami wabeka enhliziyweni yami ukuba ngibuthe abakhulu, nababusi, nabantu, ukuze babhalwe ngezizukulwane. Ngafumana incwadi yezizukulwane zabakhuphuka kuqala, ngafumana kulotshiwe kuyo ukuthi:

₆Nampa abantwana bezwe abakhuphuka ekuthunjweni kubo ababethunjwe nguNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele, babuyela eJerusalema nakwaJuda, kwaba yilowo nalowo emzini wakubo, ₇abafika noZerubabele, noJeshuwa, noNehemiya, no-Azariya, noRahamiya, noNahamani, noMoridekayi, noBilishani, noMisipereti, noBigivayi, noNehumi, noBahana.

Umumo wamadoda abantu bakwa-Israyeli nanku: ₈abantwana bakwaPharoshi: yizinkulungwane ezimbili nekhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa nambili; ₉abantwana bakwaShefathiya: ngamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisikhombisa nambili; ₁₀abantwana bakwa-Ara: ngamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi ayisihlanu nambili; ₁₁abantwana bakwaPhahati Mowabi babantwana bakwaJeshuwa noJowabe: yizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu ayisishiyagalombili neshumi nesishiyagalombili; ₁₂abantwana bakwa-Elamu: yinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisihlanu nane; ₁₃abantwana bakwaZathu: ngamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili namashumi amane nanhlanu; ₁₄abantwana bakwaZakayi: ngamakhulu ayisikhombisa namashumi ayisithupha; ₁₅abantwana bakwaBinuwi: ngamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi amane nesishiyagalombili; ₁₆abantwana bakwaBebayi: ngamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili; ₁₇abantwana bakwa-Azigadi: yizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu namashumi amabili nambili; ₁₈abantwana bakwa-Adonikamu: ngamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi ayisithupha nesikhombisa; ₁₉abantwana bakwaBigivayi: yizinkulungwane ezimbili namashumi ayisithupha nesikhombisa; ₂₀abantwana bakwa-Adini: ngamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi ayisihlanu nanhlanu; ₂₁abantwana bakwa-Atheri kaHezekiya: ngamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalombili; ₂₂abantwana bakwaHashumi: ngamakhulu amathathu namashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili; ₂₃abantwana bakwaBesayi: ngamakhulu amathathu namashumi amabili nane; ₂₄abantwana bakwaHarifi: yikhulu neshumi nambili; ₂₅abantwana bakwaGibeyoni: ngamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nanhlanu.

₂₆Amadoda aseBetlehema naseNethofa: yikhulu namashumi ayisishiyagalombili nesishiyagalombili; ₂₇amadoda ase-Anathoti: yikhulu namashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili; ₂₈amadoda aseBeti Azimaveti: ngamashumi amane nambili; ₂₉amadoda aseKiriyati Jeharimi, naseKhefira, naseBeyeroti: ngamakhulu ayisikhombisa namashumi amane nantathu; ₃₀amadoda aseRama naseGeba: ngamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi amabili nanye; ₃₁amadoda aseMikimasi: yikhulu namashumi amabili nambili; ₃₂amadoda aseBethele nase-Ayi: yikhulu namashumi amabili nantathu; ₃₃amadoda elinye iNebo: ngamashumi ayisihlanu nambili; ₃₄abantwana bakwa-Elamu omunye: yinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisihlanu nane; ₃₅abantwana bakwaHarimi: ngamakhulu amathathu namashumi amabili; ₃₆abantwana baseJeriko: ngamakhulu amathathu namashumi amane nanhlanu; ₃₇abantwana baseLodi, naseHadidi, nase-Ono: ngamakhulu ayisikhombisa namashumi amabili nanye; ₃₈abantwana baseSenawa: yizinkulungwane ezintathu namakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye namashumi amathathu.

₃₉Abapristi: abantwana bakwaJedaya, abendlu kaJeshuwa: ngamakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye namashumi ayisikhombisa nantathu; ₄₀abantwana bakwa-Imeri: yinkulungwane namashumi ayisihlanu nambili; ₄₁abantwana bakwaPhashuri: yinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi amane nesikhombisa; ₄₂abantwana bakwaHarimi: yinkulungwane neshumi nesikhombisa.

₄₃AmaLevi: abantwana bakwaJeshuwa kaKadimiyeli babantwana bakwaHodeva: ngamashumi ayisikhombisa nane.

₄₄Abahlabeleli: abantwana bakwa-Asafa: yikhulu namashumi amane nesishiyagalombili.

₄₅Abalindisango: abantwana bakwaShalumi,

₄₆AmaNethini:* ngabantwana bakwaSiha, nabantwana bakwaHasufa, nabantwana bakwaThabawoti,

₅₇Abantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni:

₆₀Onke amaNethini* nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni babe ngamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisihiyagalolunye nambili.

₆₁Nampa abakhuphuka eTheliMela, naseTheli Harisha, naseKherubi, nase-Adoni, nase-Imeri, kepha bebengenakusho izindlu zawoyise nozalo lwabo ukuba babe ngabakwa-Israyeli yini: ₆₂abantwana bakwaDelaya, nabantwana bakwaThobiya, nabantwana bakwaNekhoda: ngamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi amane nambili.

₆₃Kubapristi: ngabantwana bakwaHobaya, nabantwana bakwaHakhosi, nabantwana bakwaBarizilayi owathatha umfazi kumadodakazi kaBarizilayi wakwaGileyadi, wabizwa ngegama lawo.

₆₄Labo bafuna ukubhalwa kwabo phakathi kwababhaliweyo ngezizukulwane, kepha akufunyanwanga; ngalokho kwathiwa bangcolile, bakhishwa ebupristini. ₆₅Umbusi washo kubo ukuba bangadli okungcwelengcwele, kuze kuvele umpristi one-Urimi neThumimi.*

₆₆Lonke ibandla selihlangene laliyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane nambili namakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisithupha, ₆₇ngaphandle kwezinceku zabo nezi ncekukazi zabo ezaziyizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa namakhulu amathathu namashumi amathathu nesikhombisa; babe nabahlabeleli besilisa nabesifazane abangamakhulu amabili namashumi amane nanhlanu. ₆₈Amahhashi abo ayengamakhulu ayisikhombisa namashumi amathathu nesithupha; iminyuzi* yabo yayingamakhulu amabili namashumi amane nanhlanu; ₆₉amakamela ayengamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu nanhlanu; izimbongolo zaziyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha namakhulu ayisikhombisa namashumi amabili.

₇₀Ezinye izinhloko zanikelela umsebenzi; umbusi wanikelela isikhwama amadarike* ayinkulungwane egolide, nezitsha ezingamashumi ayisihlanu, nezambatho zabapristi ezingamakhulu ayisihlanu namashumi amathathu. ₇₁Ezinye izinhloko zawoyise zanikelela isikhwama somsebenzi amadarike* ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili egolide namamane* ayizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amabili esiliva. ₇₂Abakunikelayo abanye abantu kwakungamadarike* ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili egolide, namamane* ayizinkulungwane ezimbili esiliva, nezambatho zabapristi ezingamashumi ayisithupha nesikhombisa.

₇₃Base behlala-ke abapristi, namaLevi, nabalindisango, nabahlabeleli, nabanye abantu, namaNethini,* naye wonke u-Israyeli emizini yabo.

Kwathi lapho inyanga yesikhombisa isifikile, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babe semizini yabo.

₁Bonke abantu babuthana njengomuntu munye esigcawini esasiphambi kweSango Lamanzi; bakhuluma ku-Ezra, umbhali, ukuba alethe incwadi yomthetho kaMose, uJehova ayeyale ngawo u-Israyeli.

₂U-Ezra, umpristi, wawuletha umthetho phambi kwebandla, abesilisa nabesifazane nabo bonke ababe nengqondo yokuzwa, ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yesikhombisa. ₃Wafunda kuwo phambi kwesigcawu esasiphambi kweSango Lamanzi, kusukela ekuseni kuze kube semini, phambi kwabesilisa nabesifazane nababe nengqondo yokuzwa; izindlebe zabantu bonke zalalela incwadi yomthetho.

₄U-Ezra umbhali wayemi ebhesitulu* lamapulangwe ababelenzele lo mgomo; eceleni kwakhe kwakumi oMatithiya, noShema, no-Anaya, no-Uriya, noHilikiya, noMahaseya ngakwesokunene sakhe, nangakwesokhohlo sakhe ngoPhedaya, noMishayeli, noMalikhiya, noHashumi, noHashibadana, noZakariya, noMeshulamu.

₅U-Ezra wayivula incwadi emehlweni abantu bonke, ngokuba wayengaphezulu kwabantu bonke, nalapho eyivula, bonke abantu basukuma. ₆U-Ezra wambonga uJehova uNkulunkulu omkhulu. Bonke abantu baphendula bathi: “Amen, Amen,” bephakamisa izandla zabo; bakhothama, bakhuleka kuJehova, ubuso babo bubheke phansi.

₇NoJeshuwa, noBani, noSherebiya, noJamini, no-Akubi, noShabethayi, noHodiya, noMahaseya, noKelitha, no-Azariya, noJozabadi, noHanani, noPhelaya, namaLevi bafundisa abantu umthetho, abantu besezindaweni zabo. ₈Bafunda encwadini, emthethweni kaNkulunkulu, bephumisela kahle; bachaza, babaqondisa okufundwayo.

₉UNehemiya owayengumbusi, no-Ezra umpristi nombhali, namaLevi ayebafundisa abantu, bathi kubantu bonke: “Lolu suku lungcwele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu; ningalili, ningakhali.” Ngokuba bonke abantu bakhala, lapho bezwa amazwi omthetho.

₁₀Wayesethi kubo: “Hambani nidle okunonileyo, niphuze okumnandi, nithumele izabelo kwabangalungiselwanga lutho, ngokuba lolu suku lungcwele kuJehova; ningadabuki, ngokuba injabulo kaJehova iyinqaba yenu.”

₁₁AmaLevi ayesethulisa abantu bonke, ethi: “Thulani, ngokuba lolu suku lungcwele; ningadabuki.”

₁₂Abantu bonke bahamba ukuba badle, baphuze, bathumele izabelo, bajabule kakhulu, ngokuba babeqondile amazwi ababewazisiwe.

₁₃Ngosuku lwesibili kwabuthana izinhloko zawoyise babantu bonke, nabapristi, namaLevi ku-Ezra umbhali ukuba baqaphele amazwi omthetho. ₁₄Bafumanisa kulotshiwe emthethweni ukuthi uJehova wayeyalile ngesandla sikaMose ukuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bahlale emadokodweni ngomkhosi wenyanga yesikhombisa, ₁₅bezwakalise, bathumele izwi emizini yabo yonke naseJerusalema lokuthi: “Phumani, niye entabeni, nilande amagatsha omnqumo, namagatsha omnqumo wasendle, namagatsha ombomvana, namagatsha esundu, namagatsha emithi edumbileyo, nenze amadokodo njengokulotshiweyo.”

₁₆Base bephuma abantu, balanda lokho, bazenzela amadokodo, kwaba yilowo nalowo ophahleni lwendlu, nasemagcekeni abo, nasemagcekeni endlu kaNkulunkulu, nasesigcawini seSango Lamanzi, nasesigcawini seSango lakwa-Efrayimi. ₁₇Ibandla lonke lababuyileyo ekuthunjweni lenza amadokodo, lahlala emadokodweni, ngokuba kusukela ezinsukwini zikaJeshuwa, indodana kaNuni, kuze kube yilolo suku abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babengenzanga kanjalo. Kwakukhona ukuthokoza okukhulu kakhulu.

₁₈Wafunda encwadini yomthetho kaNkulunkulu imihla ngemihla kusukela osukwini lokuqala kuze kube lusuku lokugcina. Bagubha umkhosi izinsuku eziyisikhombisa; ngosuku lwesishiyagalombili kwakungumhlangano ozothileyo njengomthetho.