UNehemiya 4:14-23

Lapho sengibhekile, ngasuka ngathi kwabakhulu nakubabusi nakwabanye abantu: “Ningabesabi; khumbulani iNkosi enkulu neyesabekayo, nilwele abafowenu, namadodana enu, namadodakazi enu, nawomkenu, nezindlu zenu.” Kwathi izitha zethu sezizwile ukuthi kwazeke kithi nokuthi uNkulunkulu wayeshafisile icebo labo, sabuyela sonke ogangeni, kwaba yilowo nalowo emsebenzini wakhe. Kusukela kulolo suku inxenye yezinceku zami yasebenza emisebenzini, nenxenye yazo yaphatha imikhonto, nezihlangu, neminsalo, namabhantshi ensimbi; ababusi babe semva kwendlu yonke yakwaJuda. Abavusayo ugange nabathwalayo imithwalo bazithwesa benza umsebenzi ngesinye isandla, nangesinye baphatha izikhali zabo; nabakhi bonke babe nenkemba ibhincwe ezinkalweni zabo, bakha kanjalo. Owabetha icilongo wayengaseceleni kwami. Ngokuba ngangithe kwabakhulu nakubabusi nakwabanye abantu: “Umsebenzi mkhulu, ubanzi, sahlukene ogangeni, omunye ukude nomunye. Noma kuyiphi indawo lapho nizwa khona ukubethwa kwecilongo, buthanani khona, nize kithi; uNkulunkulu wethu uyakusilwela.” Sase senza nathi umsebenzi wethu, inxenye iphethe imikhonto, kusukela ekuqaleni kokusa kuze kuphume izinkanyezi. Kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi ngathi kubantu: “Yilowo nalowo kahlale nenceku yakhe phakathi kweJerusalema ukuba zibe ngabalindi bethu ebusuku, zisebenze emini.” Mina nabafowethu, nezinceku zami, nabalindi abangilandelayo, kwakungekho kithi owakhumula izingubo zakhe; yilowo nalowo wayenesikhali esandleni sakhe.