Zekaria 7
1 Mugore rechina raMambo Dhariasi, shoko raJehovha rakasvika kuna Zekaria pazuva rechina romwedzi wepfumbamwe, mumwedzi weKisirevhi.
When Darius had been the emperor for almost four years, on December 7, Yahweh gave me [another] message.
2 Vanhu veBhetieri vakanga vatuma Sharezeri naRegemi-Mereki, pamwe chete navanhu vavo, kuti vaende kuna Jehovha
The people of Bethel [city] sent two men, Sharezer and Regem-Melech, along with some other men, [to the temple of Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels, ] to request that Yahweh bless them.
3 kundokumbira kuvaprista veimba yaJehovha Wamasimba Ose nokuvaprofita vachiti, “Ndochema nokutsanya nomwedzi wechishanu here, sezvandakaita kwamakore mazhinji aya?”
They also asked the priests at Yahweh’s temple and the prophets [this question]: “For many years, during the fifth month [and during the seventh month of each year], we have mourned and (fasted/abstained from eating food). Should we [continue to do that]?”
4 Ipapo shoko raJehovha Wamasimba Ose rakasvika kwandiri richiti,
Then the Commander of the armies of angels gave me a message.
5 “Bvunza vanhu vose venyika uye navaprista kuti, ‘Pamakatsanya uye mukachema mumwedzi wechishanu nowechinomwe kwamakore makumi manomwe akapfuura, makatsanyira ini zvechokwadi here?
[He said], “Tell [RHQ] the priests and all the [other] people of Judah that during the past 70 years, when they mourned and fasted during the fifth and seventh months [of each year], it was not really [RHQ] me, [Yahweh], whom they were [honoring].
6 Uye pamaidya nokunwa, makanga musingangozvifadzi here?
And when they ate and drank, it was really [RHQ] to [benefit] themselves.
7 Aya haasiwo here mashoko aJehovha akaparidzwa kubudikidza navaprofita vekare, Jerusarema namaguta aro akaripoteredza parakanga riri parugare uye richibudirira, uye nyika yeNegevhi nomujinga mezvikomo zvokumavirira muchakagarwa navanhu?’”
That is certainly [RHQ] what I continually told the former prophets to proclaim [to the people], when Jerusalem and the nearby towns were prosperous and filled with people, and people [also] lived in the desert area to the south and in the foothills [to the west].”
8 Uye shoko raJehovha rakasvikazve kuna Zekaria richiti,
Yahweh gave another message to me, saying
9 “Zvanzi naJehovha Wamasimba Ose, ‘Tongai nokururamisira kwezvokwadi; muitirane tsitsi nenyasha.
“[Tell the people that] this is what the Commander of the armies of angels says: ‘Do what is just/right, and act kindly and mercifully toward each other.
10 Musamanikidza chirikadzi kana nherera, mutorwa kana murombo. Musafungirana zvakaipa mumwoyo menyu.’
Do not (oppress/treat cruelly) widows or orphans or foreigners or poor people. Do not even think about doing evil to anyone else.’”
11 “Asi vakaramba kuteerera; mukuzvikudza vakafuratira uye vakadzivira nzeve dzavo.
But the people refused to pay attention [to what Yahweh said]. They turned their backs [to him], and put their hands over their ears in order to not hear [what he said].
12 Vakaomesa mwoyo yavo sedombo romusarasara uye vakasateerera kumurayiro kana kumashoko aJehovha Wamasimba Ose aakanga atuma noMweya wake kubudikidza navaprofita vekare. Saka Jehovha Wamasimba Ose akatsamwa zvikuru.
They were very stubborn [IDM], and they would not listen to the laws [that God gave to Moses] or the messages that the Commander of the armies of angels told his Spirit to give to the prophets who were now dead. So the Commander of the armies of angels was very angry.
13 “‘Pandakadana, havana kuteerera; saka pavakadana, handina kuvateerera,’ ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha Wamasimba Ose.
The Commander of the armies of angels says, “When I called/spoke [to the people], they would not listen. So when they called/prayed [to me], I did not listen.
14 ‘Ndakavaparadzira nechamupupuri pakati pendudzi dzose, uko kwavakava vatorwa. Nyika yakava dongo shure kwavo zvokuti hapana aizogona kupinda kana kubudamo. Izvi ndizvo zvavakaita kunyika yaifadza, ikava dongo.’”
And I caused them to be scattered among many nations, where they were strangers. [It was as though] [MET] a whirlwind [picked them up and carried them away from their country]. The country/land that they [were forced to] leave was ruined, with the result that no one could [live there or even] travel through it. [It was previously] a delightful land, but they caused it to become (desolate/like a desert).”
