Ezra 4:1-16

Kwathi izitha zakwaJuda noBenjamini zizwa ukuthi abantwana bokuthunjwa bamakhele uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ithempeli; Base befika kuZerubabele nasezinhloko zawoyise, bathi kubo: “Masakhe kanye nani, ngokuba sifuna uNkulunkulu wenu njengani; siyamhlabela kusukela emihleni ka-Esarihadoni, inkosi yase-Asiriya, owasiletha lapha. Kepha oZerubabele noJeshuwa nezinye izinhloko zawoyise bakwa-Israyeli bathi kubo: “Anihlangene nathi ukwakhela uNkulunkulu wethu indlu; kepha thina ngokwethu siyakwakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ndawonye, njengalokho inkosi uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya yasiyala. Abantu bezwe babenza buthakathaka izandla zabantwana bakwaJuda, babaphazamisa ngesakhiwo; Wabaqasha abeluleki ukuba bachithe icebo labo, zonke izinsuku zikaKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, kwaze kwaba sekubuseni kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya. Kwathi ekubuseni kuka-Ahashiveroshi, ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe, bamlobela incwadi yecala kwabakhileyo kwaJuda naseJerusalema. Emihleni ka-Aritahishashita, uBislam, noMitredati, uThabeli nabanye abangane babo balobela u-Aritahishashita inkosi yasePheresiya; ukubhalwa kwencwadi kulotshiwe ngesi-Aramu, kwahunyushwa ngesi-Aramu. URehumi, umbusi, noShimishayi, umbhali, balobela inkosi u-Aritahishashita incwadi ngeJerusalema; Base bebhala uRehume umbusi, noShimishayi, umbhali, nabanye abangane babo; namaDina, nama-Afarzati, namaTarpeli, nama-Afarsite, nama-Arigi, nama-Babele, namaShushani, namaDehavi, nama-Elamu, Nezinye izizwe, u-Asnapari omkhulu nohloniphekayo azithatha, wazihlalisa emizini yaseSamariya, nezinye ezingaphesheya koMfula, nangaleso sikhathi. Nansi ikhophi yencwadi abayithumela kuye inkosi u-Aritahishashita; Izinceku zakho, amadoda nganeno komfula, futhi ngaleso sikhathi. Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi amaJuda akhuphukele kithi evela kuwe efika eJerusalema ukwakha umuzi ohlubukayo nomubi, akha izingange zawo, ahlanganisa izisekelo. Manje makwazeke enkosini ukuthi uma lo muzi wakhiwe futhi izingange zibuye zivuswe, ngeke bakhokhise intela, intela, nentela, futhi kanjalo uyobeka engozini inzuzo yamakhosi. Ngoba manje sinegunya lendlu yenkosi, futhi kwakungafaneleki ngathi ukubona ihlazo lenkosi, ngakho-ke sathumela sayiqinisa inkosi; ukuze liphenywe egwalweni lwemilando yawoyihlo; ngalokho nizakufumana encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla, nazi ukuthi lo muzi ungumuzi ohlubukayo noyingozi emakhosini nasezifundeni, nokuthi babhebhethekisa ukuhlubuka phakathi kwawo. Okufanayo kwasendulo: kungani lo muzi wachithwa. Siyayitshela inkosi ukuthi, uma lo muzi uvuselelwa futhi izingange zawo ziphakanyiswa, ngeke ube nasabelo ngale ndlela ngaphesheya komfula.