U-Ezra 10
1 Lapho u-Ezra wayekhuleka njalo evuma izono, ekhala eziwisela phansi phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, ixuku elikhulu labako-Israyeli kubalisa amadoda labafazi labantwana, babuthana kuye. Labo bakhala kabuhlungu.
As Ezra prayed and confessed, he wept and threw himself down before God's house. A very great assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered to him, for the people were weeping very greatly.
2 Yikho uShekhaniya indodana kaJehiyeli, omunye wesizukulwane sika-Elamu, wathi ku-Ezra, “Kasizange sithembeke kuNkulunkulu wethu ngoba sathatha abafazi bezizweni ebantwini esakhelene labo. Kodwa loba kunjalo ithemba lisekhona ngo-Israyeli.
Shekaniah son of Jehiel of the descendants of Elam said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the people of the other lands. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.
3 Manje kasenzeni isivumelwano phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu ukubalahla bonke labobafazi labantwababo njengeseluleko senkosi yami lalabo abayesabayo imilayo kaNkulunkulu wethu. Kakwenziwe ngendlela yoMthetho.
So now let us make a covenant with our God to send out all the women and their children according to the Lord's instructions and the instructions of those who tremble at the commandments of our God, and let it be done according to the law.
4 Sukuma; indaba le isezandleni zakho. Thina sizakusekela, yikho yiba lesibindi ukwenze.”
Arise, for this thing is for you to carry out, and we are with you. Be strong and do this.”
5 Ngakho u-Ezra waphakama wafungisa bonke abakhokheli babaphristi labaLevi lo-Israyeli wonke ukwenza lokho okwakumisiwe. Basenza lesosifungo.
So Ezra rose and made the priestly officials, the Levites, and all of Israel promise to act in this way. So they all took a solemn oath.
6 U-Ezra wasesuka endlini kaNkulunkulu waya endlini kaJehohanani indodana ka-Eliyashibi. Elapho kadlanga lutho njalo kazange anathe manzi, ngoba waqhubeka elilela ukungathembeki kwezithunjwa.
Then Ezra rose from before God's house and went to the rooms of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He did not eat any bread or drink any water, since he was mourning concerning the faithlessness of those who had been in captivity.
7 Kwasekukhutshwa isimemezelo kulolonke elakoJuda kanye leJerusalema ukuthi zonke izithunjwa kaziqoqane eJerusalema.
So they sent word in Judah and Jerusalem to all the people back from exile to assemble in Jerusalem.
8 Ingqe ngubani ongafikanga phakathi kwensuku ezintathu wayezathathelwa yonke impahla alayo, kulandelwa isinqumo sezinduna labadala, kuthi yena ngokwakhe axotshwe emphakathini walabo ababethunjiwe.
Anyone who did not come in three days according to the instructions from the officials and elders forfeited all of his possessions and would be excluded from the great assembly of the people who had come back from exile.
9 Phakathi kwalezonsuku ezintathu wonke amadoda akoJuda lakoBhenjamini ayesebuthene eJerusalema. Kwathi ngelanga lamatshumi amabili lenyanga yesificamunye bonke abantu babehlezi esigcawini phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, bekhathazekile ngombuthano lowo njalo begxanxwa lizulu elalisina.
So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem in three days. It was the ninth month and the twentieth day of the month. All the people stood in the square before God's house and trembled because of the word and the rain.
10 Kwathi u-Ezra umphristi wasukuma wathi kubo, “Kalithembekanga; lisuke lathatha abafazi bezizweni, lengeza icala lika-Israyeli.
Ezra the priest arose and said, “You yourselves have committed treason. You lived with foreign women so as to increase Israel's guilt.
11 Manje-ke vumani izono zenu kuThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho benu, lenze intando yakhe. Zahlukaniseni kulababantu elakhelene labo lasebafazini benu abezizwe.”
But now give praise to Yahweh, your ancestors' God, and do his will. Separate from the people of the land and from the foreign women.”
12 Inkundla yonke yaphendula ngelizwi elikhulu yathi: “Uqondile! Kumele senze njengoba usitsho.
All the assembly answered in a loud voice, “We will do as you have said.
13 Kodwa kulabantu abanengi lapha futhi lesi yisikhathi sezulu; ngakho ngeke sime lapha phandle. Futhi indaba le ingazake iphethwe ngosuku olulodwa kumbe ezimbili, ngoba sonile kakhulu ngento le.
However, there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We have no strength to stand outside, and this is not only one or two days of work, since we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
14 Akuthi izinduna zethu zisimele thina sonke. Akuthi wonkemuntu emizini yethu othethe umfazi wabezizwe eze ngesikhathi esimisiweyo, eze labadala kanye labehluleli balowomuzi, luze ludede kithi ulaka olwesabekayo lukaNkulunkulu wethu.”
So let our officials represent all the assembly. Let all who have allowed foreign women to live in our cities come at the time that will be fixed with the city elders and the city judges until the raging wrath of our God goes away from us.”
15 Kwaba nguJonathani kuphela, indodana ka-Asaheli loJahizeya indodana kaThikhiva, besekelwa nguMeshulami loShabhethayi umLevi abakuphikisayo lokhu.
Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
16 Ngakho izithunjwa zenza njengokwakumisiwe. U-Ezra umphristi wakhetha amadoda ayeyizinhloko zezimuli, oyedwa emulini, bonke baqanjwa ngamabizo. Ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yetshumi bahlala phansi bawahlolisisa lawomacala,
So the people who returned from exile did this. Ezra the priest selected men, the leaders in their ancestors' clans and houses—all of them by name, and they looked into the matter on the first day of the tenth month.
17 kwathi ngelanga lokuqala ngenyanga yokuqala baqeda ukuphatha indaba yamadoda ayethethe abafazi bezizweni.
By the first day of the first month they had finished discovering which men had lived with foreign women.
18 Phakathi kwezizukulwane zabaphristi, laba abalandelayo yibo ababethethe abafazi bezizweni: Abesizukulwane sikaJeshuwa indodana kaJozadaki labafowabo: uMaseya, u-Eliyezari, uJaribhi loGedaliya.
Among the descendants of the priests there were those who had lived with foreign women. Among the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers there were Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 (Bonke baphakamisa izandla zabo bafunga ukubalahla abafazi babo, kwathi ngenxa yecala labo ngulowo wakhupha inqama emhlambini ukuba ngumnikelo wesono.)
So they determined to send their wives away. Since they were guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt.
20 Abesizukulwane sika-Imeri: nguHanani loZebhadiya.
Among the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 Abesizukulwane sikaHarimi: nguMaseya, lo-Elija, loShemaya, loJehiyeli lo-Uziya.
Among the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 Abesizukulwane sikaPhashuri: ngu-Eliyonayi, loMaseya, lo-Ishumayeli, loNethaneli, loJozabhadi lo-Eleyasa.
Among the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 Phakathi kwabaLevi nampa: uJozabhadi, loShimeyi, loKhelaya (kutshiwo uKhelitha), loPhethahiya, loJuda lo-Eliyezari.
Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah—that is, Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 Phakathi kwabahlabeleli nampa: u-Eliyashibi. Phakathi kwabalindimasango: nguShalumi, loThelemu lo-Uri.
Among the singers: Eliashib. Among the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 Phakathi kwabanye abako-Israyeli: Abesizwe sikaPharoshi: nguRamiya, u-Iziya, uMalikhija, uMijamini, u-Eliyezari, uMalikhija loBhenaya.
Among the rest of the Israelites—among the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26 Abesizukulwane sika-Elamu: nguMathaniya, uZakhariya, uJehiyeli, u-Abhidi, uJeremothi lo-Elija.
Among the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 Abesizukulwane sikaZathu: ngu-Eliyonayi, u-Eliyashibi, uMathaniya, uJeremothi, uZabhadi lo-Aziza.
Among the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Abesizukulwane sikaBhebhayi: nguJehohanani, uHananiya, uZabhayi lo-Athilayi.
Among the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 Abesizukulwane sikaBhani: nguMeshulami, uMaluki, u-Adaya, uJashubi, uSheyali loJeremothi.
Among the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal Jeremoth.
30 Abesizukulwane sikaPhahathi-Mowabi: ngu-Adina, uKhelali, uBhenaya, uMaseya, uMathaniya, uBhezaleli, uBhinuwi loManase.
Among the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 Abesizukulwane sikaHarimi: ngu-Eliyezari, u-Ishiya, uMalikhija, uShemaya, uSimiyoni,
Among the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 uBhenjamini, uMaluki, loShemariya.
Benjamin, Malluk, and Shemariah.
33 Abesizukulwane sikaHashumi: nguMathenayi, uMathatha, uZabhadi, u-Elifelethi, uJeremayi, uManase loShimeyi.
Among the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 Abesizukulwane sikaBhani: nguMadayi, u-Amramu, u-Uweli,
Among the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35 uBhenaya, uBhedeya, uKheluhi,
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,
36 uVaniya, uMeremothi, u-Eliyashibi,
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 uMathaniya, uMathenayi loJasu.
Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 Abesizukulwane sikaBhinuwi loBhani: nguShimeyi,
Among the descendants of Binnui: Shimei,
39 uShelemiya, uNathani, u-Adaya,
Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40 uMakhinadebhayi, uShashayi, uSharayi,
Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 u-Azareli, uShelemiya, uShemariya,
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 uShalumi, u-Amariya loJosefa.
Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 Abesizukulwane sikaNebho: nguJeyiyeli, uMathithiya, uZabhadi, uZebhina, uJadayi, uJoweli loBhenaya.
Among the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 Bonke laba bathatha abafazi bezizweni, abanye babo bazala abantwana labafazi labo.
All of these had taken foreign wives and had children with some of them.
