Ezra 5

1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel they prophesied to them.

Abaprofethi, oHagayi umprofethi loZekhariya indodana kaIdo, basebeprofetha kumaJuda ayekoJuda laseJerusalema, ebizweni likaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli phezu kwawo.

2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build God's house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

Khonokho kwasuka oZerubhabheli indodana kaSalatiyeli loJeshuwa indodana kaJozadaki, baqala ukwakha indlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema, njalo kanye labo abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu bebasekela.

3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?"

Ngalesosikhathi kwafika kibo oTathenayi umbusi nganeno komfula loShethari-Bozenayi, labangane babo, bakhuluma kanje kibo: Ngubani obeke umthetho kini wokwakha lindlu lokuqedisa lumduli?

4 Then they asked them, "What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?

Sasesibatshela ngokunjalo: Ngobani amabizo abantu abakha lesisakhiwo?

5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Daryavesh, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

Kodwa ilihlo likaNkulunkulu wabo laliphezu kwabadala bamaJuda, ukuthi kababenzanga beme, ize ifike leyondaba kuDariyusi, baze babuyisele-ke incwadi ngayo.

6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Daryavesh the king;

Ikhophi yencwadi oTathenayi umbusi nganeno komfula loShethari-Bozenayi labangane bakhe amaAfarisathiki ayenganeno komfula abayithumela kuDariyusi inkosi;

7 they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Daryavesh the king, all peace.

bathumeza incwadi kuye, njalo kwabhalwa kanje kuyo: KuDariyusi inkosi, ukuthula konke.

8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.

Kakwaziwe enkosini ukuthi saya esabelweni sakoJuda, endlini kaNkulunkulu omkhulu, eyakhiwe ngamatshe amakhulu, izigodo sezifakiwe emidulwini; njalo lumsebenzi uyenziwa ngokuphangisa, uphumelela esandleni sabo.

9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?"

Sasesibabuza labobadala sakhuluma kanje kubo: Ngubani obeke umthetho kini wokwakha lindlu lokuqedisa lumduli?

10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.

Njalo sababuza amabizo abo ukuze sikwazise, ukuze sibhale amabizo abantu abazinhloko zabo.

11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

Langokunjalo babuyisela ilizwi kithi besithi: Thina siyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu wamazulu lomhlaba, sakha indlu eyayakhiwe iminyaka eminengi phambi kwalokhu, inkosi enkulu yakoIsrayeli eyayakha yayiqeda.

12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

Kodwa emva kwalokho obaba bamthukuthelisa uNkulunkulu wamazulu, wabanikela esandleni sikaNebhukadinezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni, umKhaladiya, owachitha lindlu, wathumbela abantu eBhabhiloni.

13 But in the first year of Koresh king of Babylon, Koresh the king made a decree to build this house of God.

Kodwa ngomnyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi yeBhabhiloni, uKoresi inkosi wamisa umthetho wokwakha lindlu kaNkulunkulu.

14 The gold and silver vessels also of God's house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Koresh the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

Njalo lezitsha zendlu kaNkulunkulu ezingezegolide lesiliva uNebhukadinezari ayezithethe wazisusa ethempelini eliseJerusalema waziletha ethempelini leBhabhiloni, lezo uKoresi inkosi wazikhupha ethempelini leBhabhiloni, zanikwa olebizo elinguSheshibazari ayembeke ukuthi abe ngumbusi.

15 and he said to him, 'Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God's house be built in its place.'

Wasesithi kuye: Thatha lezizitsha, uyezibeka ethempelini eliseJerusalema, lendlu kaNkulunkulu kayakhiwe endaweni yayo.

16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of God's house which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed.

Ngakho uSheshibazari lo wafika wabeka izisekelo zendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema; njalo kusukela kulesosikhathi kuze kube khathesi ilokhu isakhiwa, kayikapheli.

17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Koresh the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

Ngakho-ke uba kulungile enkosini kakuhlolisiswe endlini yokuligugu kwenkosi ekhona eBhabhiloni ukuthi kungaba yikuthi umthetho wenziwa yini nguKoresi inkosi wokwakha lindlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Kayithumele-ke intando yenkosi kithi mayelana lalinto.