2 Chronicles 29
1 Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became the king [of Judah]. He ruled from Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of [a man whose name was] Zechariah.
UHezekhiya wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amabili lemihlanu ubudala ethatha ubukhosi, njalo wabusa eJerusalema okweminyaka engamatshumi amabili lasificamunwemunye. Ibizo likanina lalingu-Abhija indodakazi kaZakhariya.
2 Hezekiah did things that Yahweh considered to be right, like his ancestor King David had done.
Wenza okulungileyo phambi kukaThixo, njengalokho okwakwenziwe nguyise uDavida.
3 During March of the first year that Hezekiah was ruling Judah, he unlocked the doors of the temple, and his workers repaired them.
Ngenyanga yakuqala ngomnyaka wakuqala wokubusa kwakhe, wavula iminyango yethempeli likaThixo wayilungisa.
4 Then he gathered the priests and other descendants of Levi in the area on the east side of the temple,
Wamema abaphristi kanye labaLevi, wababuthanisa egumeni eliseceleni langempumalanga
5 and he said to them, “You descendants of Levi, listen to me! Consecrate yourselves. And then consecrate the temple of Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors [worshiped/belonged to]. Remove from the temple all the things that are not pleasing to God.
wathi: “Lalelani kimi, lina baLevi! Zihlambululeni khathesi njalo lihlambulule lethempeli likaThixo, uNkulunkulu waboyihlo. Lisuse amanyala endaweni engcwele.
6 Our ancestors disobeyed God; they did many things that he considered to be evil, things that were not pleasing to him. They abandoned this place where Yahweh lives, and they have turned away from him.
Obaba babengathembekanga; benza okubi emehlweni kaThixo uNkulunkulu wethu bamdela. Indawo kaThixo bayincitsha ubuso bakhangela eceleni njalo bamfulathela uThixo.
7 They locked the doors of the temple and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn any incense, and they did not offer any sacrifices that were to be completely burned [on the altar].
Bavala njalo izivalo zomphempe bacitsha izibane. Abazange batshise impepha njalo kabalethanga iminikelo yokutshiswa endaweni engcwele kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.
8 Therefore, Yahweh has become very angry with us people of Jerusalem and [other places in] Judah, and he has caused other people to become frightened and horrified [when they hear what Yahweh did to punish us]. And they ridicule us. You know this very well.
Ngakho ulaka lukaThixo selwehlele phezu kwabakoJuda laphezu kwabaseJerusalema; uThixo usebenze besabeka, bathuthumelisa baba yinto yokweyiswa, njengoba lizibonela ngawenu amehlo.
9 That is why our fathers have been killed in battles, and our sons and daughters and our wives have been captured and taken [to other countries].
Lokhu sekubangele ukubulawa kwabo ngenkemba njalo lokuthi amadodana lamadodakazi labomkethu babe sekuthunjweni.
10 But now I intend to make an agreement with Yahweh, our God, in order that he will no longer be angry with us.
Khathesi ngifuna ukwenza isivumelwano loThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ukuze ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo lusidedele.
11 [You who are like] my sons, do not waste any time. [Do immediately what Yahweh wants you to do.] Yahweh has chosen you to stand in his presence and offer sacrifices and burn incense.”
Madodana ami, kalingabi ngabangananziyo ngoba uThixo uselikhethile lina ukuma phambi kwakhe limkhonze, limsebenzele lokutshisa impepha.”
12 Then these descendants of Levi started to work [in the temple]: From the descendants of Kohath there were Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah. From the descendants of Merari there were Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel. From the descendants of Gershon there were Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah.
Ngakho laba abaLevi bahle baqalisa umsebenzi: KwabakaKhohathi, uMahathi indodana ka-Amasayi loJoweli indodana ka-Azariya; kwabakaMerari, uKhishi indodana ka-Abhidi lo-Azariya indodana kaJehaleleli; kwabakaGeshoni, uJowa indodana kaZima lo-Edeni indodana kaJowa;
13 From the descendants of Elizaphan there were Shimri and Jeiel. From the descendants of Asaph there were Zechariah and Mattaniah.
kwabosendo luka-Elizafani, kunguShimiri loJeyiyeli; kwabosendo luka-Asafi, kunguZakhariya loMathaniya;
14 From the descendants of Heman there were Jehiel and Shimei. From the descendants of Jeduthun there were Shemaiah and Uzziel.
kwabosendo lukaHemani, kunguJehiyeli loShimeyi; kwabosendo lukaJeduthuni, kunguShemaya lo-Uziyeli.
15 When those men had gathered their fellow descendants of Levi and had consecrated themselves, they entered the temple in order to consecrate it. That was what the king had commanded them to do, and they were also obeying what Yahweh had commanded.
Bathi sebebuthanise abafowabo bazihlambulula bona, bangena ukuyahlambulula ithempeli likaThixo, njengokuqondisa kwenkosi, eyayilandela ilizwi likaThixo.
16 The priests entered the temple to consecrate it. They brought out into the courtyard of the temple everything that they had found in the temple that was not pleasing to Yahweh. Then the descendants of Levi took those things down to the Kidron Valley [and burned them there].
Abaphristi bangena endaweni engcwele kaThixo ukuba bayeyihlambulula. Konke okwakungcolile ethempelini likaThixo bakukhuphela egumeni lethempeli likaThixo. AbaLevi bakuthwala baya lakho eSigodini saseKhidironi.
17 The priests and other descendants of Levi started this work on the first day of March and finished purifying the courtyard [of the temple] on the eighth day of that month, and they finished purifying the temple one week later.
Baqalisa ukwahlukanisela ngosuku lwakuqala lwenyanga yakuqala, kwathi ngosuku lwesificaminwembili lwenyanga bafika emphempeni kaThixo. Ngezinsuku ezilandelayo ezificaminwembili bangcwelisa ithempeli likaThixo uqobo, baze baqeda ngosuku lwetshumi lesithupha lwenyanga yakuqala.
18 Then they went to King Hezekiah and reported, “We have purified all parts of the temple, and the altar where sacrifices are completely burned, and all the items used at the altar, the table on which the priests place the sacred bread, and the things [used at that table].
Basebengena enkosini uHezekhiya ukuba bayembikela bathi: “Sesilihlambulule lonke ithempeli likaThixo, le-alithari lomnikelo wokutshiswa lezitsha zalo zonke, kanye lethala lokwendlalela isinkwa esingcwelisiweyo kanye lazozonke impahla zakhona.
19 While Ahaz was our king, he disobeyed what Yahweh had commanded, and he removed from the temple many things [that should be there], but now we have brought them back and placed them in front of the sacred altar.”
Sesilungise sangcwelisa zonke izitsha ezasuswa yinkosi u-Ahazi ngokungathembeki kwakhe eseseyinkosi. Khathesi seziphambi kwe-alithari likaThixo.”
20 Early the next morning, King Hezekiah gathered together the city officials, and they went to the [courtyard of the] temple.
Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo inkosi uHezekhiya wabuthanisa izikhulu zedolobho ndawonye wasesiya ethempelini likaThixo.
21 They took with them seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs, and seven male goats to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of all the people in the kingdom of Judah, and in order to purify the temple. The king commanded that the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, should offer those animals to be sacrificed to Yahweh on the altar.
Baletha inkunzi eziyisikhombisa, lenqama eziyisikhombisa, lamazinyane ezimvu amaduna ayisikhombisa kanye lempongo eziyisikhombisa kungumnikelo wesono sombuso, lesendlu yokukhonzela kanye lesikaJuda. Inkosi yalaya abaphristi, abenzalo ka-Aroni, ukunikela ngalokho e-alithareni likaThixo.
22 So first the priests slaughtered those bulls, and took their blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar.
Ngakho babulala inkunzi, abaphristi bathatha igazi bachela ngalo e-alithareni; kwalandela inqama abazibulala bachela igazi lazo e-alithareni; basebebulala amazinyane ezimvu bachela igazi lawo e-alithareni.
23 The goats that were slaughtered to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of the people were brought to the king and the others who were there. Then the king and those who were present laid their hands on those goats.
Impongo zomnikelo wesono zalethwa phambi kwenkosi laphambi kwebandla, babeka izandla zabo phezu kwazo.
24 Then the priests slaughtered those goats and splashed their blood on the altar in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins that all the Israeli people had committed. The priests did that because the king had commanded that offerings that would be completely burned [on the altar] and other sacrifices should be made for all the people of Israel.
Abaphristi basebebulala impongo baletha igazi lazo e-alithareni kungumnikelo wesono ukuze kwenzelwe wonke u-Israyeli indlela yokubuyisana, ngoba inkosi yayilaye ukuthi kube lomnikelo wokutshiswa lomnikelo wesono kunikelelwa wonke u-Israyeli.
25 The king then told the descendants of Levi to stand in the temple with their cymbals and harps and lyres, obeying what David and his prophets Gad and Nathan had commanded. Those were things that Yahweh had told his prophets that the descendants of Levi should do.
AbaLevi yababeka phakathi kwethempeli likaThixo belezigubhu, lamachacho lemihubhe njengalokho okwakumiswe nguDavida loGadi umboni wenkosi loNathani umphrofethi; lokhu kwakungumlayo kaThixo oweza ngabaphrofethi bakhe.
26 So the descendants of Levi [went and] stood in the temple, ready to play the musical instruments that King David had given to them. And the priests were ready to blow their trumpets.
Ngakho abaLevi balinda belamachacho kaDavida, abaphristi belamacilongo.
27 Then Hezekiah told some of the priests to burn the animals that would be sacrificed on the altar. When they started to burn the animals, the people started to sing to [praise] Yahweh, while the other descendants of Levi were playing their instruments.
UHezekhiya wakhupha isiqondiso sokuba kwenziwe umnikelo wokutshiswa e-alithareni. Kuthe kuqalisa umnikelo, ukuhlabelela uThixo lakho kwaqalisa, kwahamba kanyekanye lamacilongo kanye lamachacho kaDavida inkosi yako-Israyeli.
28 All the people who were there bowed to worship Yahweh, while the singers sang and the trumpeters blew their trumpets. They continued to do this until they had finished slaughtering all the animals that would be completely burned.
Ibandla lonke lakhothama lakhonza, abahlabeleli behlabela labamacilongo bewavuthela. Konke lokhu kwaqhubeka kwaze kwaphela umnikelo wokutshiswa.
29 When they finished making those offerings, the king and all those who were there knelt down and worshiped Yahweh.
Ngemva kokuphela kweminikelo inkosi labo bonke ababekhona baguqa bakhonza.
30 Then King Hezekiah and his officials commanded the descendants of Levi to praise Yahweh, singing the songs [composed/written] by David and Asaph the prophet. So they sang songs joyfully and bowed their heads to worship.
Inkosi uHezekhiya lezikhulu zayo yatshela abaLevi ukuba badumise uThixo ngamazwi kaDavida kanye laka-Asafi umboni. Ngakho badumisa ngokuhlabelela ngenjabulo bakhothamisa amakhanda abo bakhonza.
31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to Yahweh. So come close to the temple and bring animals to be sacrificed and other offerings to thank [Yahweh for what he has done for you].” And those who wanted to bring animals to be completely burned [on the altar] brought them.
UHezekhiya wasesithi, “Selizinikele kuThixo khathesi. Wozani lilethe imihlatshelo leminikelo yokubonga ethempelini likaThixo.” Ngakho ibandla laletha imihlatshelo leminikelo, yokubonga, njalo ababelenhliziyo ezivumayo baletha iminikelo yokutshiswa.
32 Altogether they brought 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
Inani leminikelo yokutshiswa eyalethwa libandla kwakuzinkunzi ezingamatshumi ayisikhombisa, inqama ezilikhulu lamazinyane amaduna ezimvu angamakhulu amabili, konke kungokomnikelo wokutshiswa kuThixo.
33 The other animals that they brought were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep and goats that were set apart to be sacrifices.
Izifuyo ezahlukaniselwa ukuba ngumhlatshelo kwakuzinkunzi ezingamakhulu ayisithupha lezimvu lembuzi ezizinkulungwane ezintathu.
34 But there were not enough priests to remove the skins from the animals that would be completely burned [on the altar]. So their fellow descendants of Levi helped them until that work was finished, and until other priests had purified/consecrated themselves to do that work. It was necessary for them to do that because many of the priests had not yet performed the rituals to consecrate themselves for that work, like the descendants of Levi had done.
Kodwa, abaphristi babebalutshwana kakhulu ekuhlinzeni ezomnikelo wokutshiswa; ngakho basebencediswa ngabafowabo abaLevi waze waphela umsebenzi njalo abanye abaphristi baze bangcweliswa ngoba abaLevi babekunanzelele kakhulu ukuzingcwelisa kulabaphristi.
35 In addition to the all the offerings that were completely burned [on the altar], the priests also burned the fat of the other animals that were sacrificed to maintain good fellowship with Yahweh, and the usual wine offerings. So the worship at the temple began again.
Umnikelo wokutshiswa wawumnengi, kanye lamafutha omnikelo wobudlelwano kanye lomnikelo wokunathwayo okwakuhambelana lomnikelo wokutshiswa. Ngakho lokhu kwaba yikuvuselelwa kwenkonzo ethempelini likaThixo.
36 And Hezekiah and all the other people of Judah celebrated, because God had enabled them to do all those things very quickly.
UHezekhiya labo bonke abantu bajabula ngababekuphiwe nguNkulunkulu ekwenzela abantu bakhe, ngoba kwakwenzakale ngokuphangisa.
