UZakhariya

7 Ngomnyaka wesine wokubusa kweNkosi uDariyu, ilizwi likaJehova lafika kuZakhariya+ ngelanga lesine, ngenyanga yesi-9 okuthiwa nguKhisilevu.* 2 Abantu baseBhetheli bathuma uSharezeri loRegemi-meleki labantu bakhe ukuthi bahambe bayencenga uJehova ukuthi abe lomusa kubo, 3 besithi kubaphristi bendlu kaJehova* wamabutho lakubaphrofethi: “Silile* yini ngenyanga yesihlanu+ futhi sizile ukudla njengoba besisenza okweminyaka yonke le?”

4 Ilizwi likaJehova wamabutho laphinda lafika kimi lathi: 5 “Khuluma labantu bonke abaselizweni kanye labaphristi uthi, ‘Ngesikhathi lizila ukudla futhi lilila ngenyanga yesihlanu leyesikhombisa+ okweminyaka engu-70,+ lalikwenzela mina yini? 6 Lalapho lisidla njalo linatha lalingakwenzeli ukuzithokozisa yini? 7 Akumelanga liwalalele yini amazwi kaJehova awakhuluma esebenzisa abaphrofethi bakhe bakudala,+ ngesikhathi kuseselokuthula njalo kusahlala abantu eJerusalema lasemadolobheni aseduze kwayo, langesikhathi kuseselabantu eNegebhi leShefela?’”

8 Ilizwi likaJehova laphinda lafika kuZakhariya lathi: 9 “Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova wamabutho, ‘Yahlulelani ngokulunga,+ lithandane*+ futhi liphathane ngesihawu. 10 Lingaqilibezeli umfelokazi lentandane*+ lomuntu wesinye isizwe+ kanye lomyanga,+ njalo lingabumbelani amacebo amabi ezinhliziyweni zenu.’+ 11 Kodwa abazange balalele,+ baba yiziqholo*+ bavala izindlebe zabo ukuze bangezwa.+ 12 Benza inhliziyo zabo zaba lukhuni njengedayimana.+ Abazange bawulandele umthetho kaJehova kanye lamazwi akhe awatshela abaphrofethi bakhe bakudala+ esebenzisa umoya wakhe. Ngakho uJehova wamabutho wabathukuthelela kakhulu.”+

13 “UJehova wamabutho uthi, ‘Abazange balalele ngesikhathi ngikhuluma labo.+ Yikho lami ngingazange ngibalalele sebecela usizo.+ 14 Ngabahlasela ngomoya wesiphepho basabalala phakathi kwezizwe ababengazazi,+ ilizwe lasala lilunxiwa, kungela odabula phakathi kwalo+ ngoba benza ilizwe elihle laba yinto eyesabekayo.’”