U-Ezra 1:1-11

Ngonyaka wokuqala kaKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, ukuze kugcwaliseke izwi likaSimakade alikhuluma ngoJeremiya, uSimakade wavusa umoya kaKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, yase ishaya umthetho kuwo wonke umbuso wayo, yakhipha isimemezelo esibhaliweyo, esasithi: “Nakhu okushiwo nguKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, uthi: “ ‘USimakade uNkulunkulu wasezulwini unginike yonke imibuso yomhlaba, wangiqoka ukuba ngimakhele indlu eJerusalema, kwaJuda. Noma ngubani phakathi kwabo bonke abangabantu bakhe, sengathi uNkulunkulu wakhe angaba naye, makakhuphukele eJerusalema, kwaJuda, ayokwakha kabusha indlu kaSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, unguNkulunkulu oseJerusulema. Yonke insali esezindaweni zonke lapho igogobele khona, noma ngabe ihleli kuphi, kufanele ilekelelwe ngabendawo yakubo, bayinike isiliva, igolide, izimpahla, imfuyo neminikelo yesihle yendlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema.’ ” Kwase kuthi izinhloko zemindeni yakwaJuda nezakwaBhenjamini, abaphristi nabaLevi, nabo bonke izinhliziyo zabo uNkulunkulu azithinta, balungiselela ukuhamba beyokwakha indlu kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Omakhelwane babo babasiza ngezinto zesiliva nezegolide nangezinye izinto, nemfuyo nezinto eziyigugu, ngale nje komnikelo wesihle ababewunikelela ithempeli. Inkosi uKhoresi yazikhipha yona mathupha izitsha zasendlini kaSimakade ezazithathwe nguNebukhadinezari eJerusalema, wazibeka ethempelini lonkulunkulu bakhe. Inkosi uKhoresi yasePheresiya lezo zinto wazinika uMithiredathi, umphathisikhwama, ukuba azibale, azinike uSheshibhazari, umbusi wakwaJuda. Nantu uhla lwazo: imicengezi yegolide yeminikelo engama-30, imicengezi yesiliva yeminikelo eyinkulungwane nemimese engama-29, imicengezi emincane yegolide engama-30, imicengezi emincane yesiliva engama-410 nezinye izitsha eziyinkulungwane. Sezizonke izitsha uSheshibhazari nabanye abathunjwa ababephuma eBhabhele beya eJerusalema abazithatha, zaziyi-5 400 zegolide, nesiliva, nezinye izinto.