UZakhariya
1 Ngenyanga yesi-8 ngomnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu,+ ilizwi likaJehova lafika kumphrofethi uZakhariya*+ indodana kaBherekhiya indodana ka-Ido, lathi: 2 “UJehova wabathukuthelela kakhulu oyihlo.+
3 “Khuluma labantu uthi kubo, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova wamabutho: “‘Phendukani kimi,’ kutsho uJehova wamabutho, ‘lami ngizaphenduka kini,’+ utsho njalo uJehova wamabutho.”’
4 “‘Lingabi njengaboyihlo, labo abaphrofethi bakudala abathi kubo: “Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova wamabutho, ‘Ngicela litshiye izindlela zenu ezimbi kanye lezenzo zenu ezimbi.’”’+
“‘Kodwa bona abalalelanga njalo abazange babe lendaba lami,’+ kutsho uJehova.
5 “‘Bangaphi oyihlo khathesi? Bona abaphrofethi abafanga yini? 6 Oyihlo ngabatshela imilayo yami njalo ngathuma izinceku zami ezingabaphrofethi ukuthi zibaxwayise ngokwakuzakwenzakala nxa bengalaleli. Konke lokho akuzange kugcwaliseke yini?’+ Yikho baphenduka kimi bathi: ‘UJehova wamabutho usiphathe ngokufanele izindlela zethu lezenzo zethu njengoba wayetshilo.’”+
7 Ngosuku lwesi-24 lwenyanga yetshumi lanye, inyanga kaShebhathi,* ngomnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu,+ ilizwi likaJehova lafika kumphrofethi uZakhariya indodana kaBherekhiya indodana ka-Ido, 8 wasesithi: “Ngibone umbono ebusuku. Bekulendoda ebigade ibhiza elibomvu imi phakathi kwezihlahla zommethile esihotsheni. Ngemva kwayo bekulamabhiza abomvu layibubende kanye lamhlophe.”
9 Ngakho ngithe: “Ngobani laba nkosi yami?”
Ingilosi ebikhuluma lami yaphendula yathi: “Ngizakutshela ukuthi laba ngobani.”
10 Indoda ebimi phakathi kwezihlahla zommethile yasisithi: “Laba yibo uJehova abathume ukuthi babhodabhode emhlabeni.” 11 Basebekhuluma lengilosi kaJehova ebimi phakathi kwezihlahla zommethile bathi: “Sesiwubhodile umhlaba futhi kulokuthula lokuhlaliseka emhlabeni wonke.”+
12 Ingilosi kaJehova yasisithi: “Awu Jehova wamabutho, kuzaze kube nini ulokhu ungayizweli isihawu iJerusalema njalo ungabi lomusa emadolobheni akoJuda+ obulokhu uwathukuthelele iminyaka yonke le engu-70?”+
13 UJehova uyiphendule ngamazwi alomusa laduduzayo ingilosi ebikhuluma lami. 14 Ingilosi le yasisithi kimi: “Memeza uthi, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova wamabutho: “Ngiyayitshisekela iJerusalema leZiyoni ngentshiseko enkulu.+ 15 Ngizithukuthelele kakhulu izizwe ezihlezi ngokuthula+ ngoba ngangifuna ukubajezisa kancane+ abantu bami kodwa zona zedlulisa amalawulo.”’+
16 “Ngakho nanku okutshiwo nguJehova: ‘“Ngizaphinda ngiyizwele isihawu iJerusalema+ futhi indlu yami izakwakhiwa kuyo,”+ kutsho uJehova wamabutho, “lentambo yokulinganisa izakwelulwa eJerusalema.”’+
17 “Memeza futhi uthi, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova wamabutho: “Emadolobheni ami kuzaphinda kugcwale konke okuhle. UJehova uzaphinda ayiduduze iZiyoni+ futhi ayikhethe kutsha iJerusalema.”’”+
18 Ngasengikhangela phezulu ngabona impondo ezine.+ 19 Yikho ngibuze ingilosi ebikhuluma lami ngathi: “Kuyini lokhu?” Yona yasingiphendula yathi: “Lezi yizo impondo ezachitha uJuda+ lo-Israyeli+ kanye leJerusalema.”+
20 UJehova wasengitshengisa amadoda amane azingcitshi zomsebenzi. 21 Ngabuza ngathi: “Laba bona bazokwenzani?”
Ingilosi yathi: “Laba yibo abazabuya bezokwethusa impondo zezizwe. Bazaphosela phansi impondo zezizwe, lezo izizwe ezaziziphakamisa zifuna ukuchitha uJuda. Impondo lezi yizo ezachitha uJuda kwaze kwasala kungela ngitsho loyedwa ongavusa ikhanda.”