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Abantu Bavuma Isono
1 Lapho u-Ezra wayekhuleka njalo evuma izono, ekhala eziwisela phansi phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, ixuku elikhulu labako-Israyeli kubalisa amadoda labafazi labantwana, babuthana kuye. Labo bakhala kabuhlungu. 2 Yikho uShekhaniya indodana kaJehiyeli, omunye wesizukulwane sika-Elamu, wathi ku-Ezra, “Kasizange sithembeke kuNkulunkulu wethu ngoba sathatha abafazi bezizweni ebantwini esakhelene labo. Kodwa loba kunjalo ithemba lisekhona ngo-Israyeli. 3 Manje kasenzeni isivumelwano phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu ukubalahla bonke labobafazi labantwababo njengeseluleko senkosi yami lalabo abayesabayo imilayo kaNkulunkulu wethu. Kakwenziwe ngendlela yoMthetho. 4 Sukuma; indaba le isezandleni zakho. Thina sizakusekela, yikho yiba lesibindi ukwenze.”
5 Ngakho u-Ezra waphakama wafungisa bonke abakhokheli babaphristi labaLevi lo-Israyeli wonke ukwenza lokho okwakumisiwe. Basenza lesosifungo. 6 U-Ezra wasesuka endlini kaNkulunkulu waya endlini kaJehohanani indodana ka-Eliyashibi. Elapho kadlanga lutho njalo kazange anathe manzi, ngoba waqhubeka elilela ukungathembeki kwezithunjwa.
7 Kwasekukhutshwa isimemezelo kulolonke elakoJuda kanye leJerusalema ukuthi zonke izithunjwa kaziqoqane eJerusalema. 8 Ingqe ngubani ongafikanga phakathi kwensuku ezintathu wayezathathelwa yonke impahla alayo, kulandelwa isinqumo sezinduna labadala, kuthi yena ngokwakhe axotshwe emphakathini walabo ababethunjiwe.
9 Phakathi kwalezonsuku ezintathu wonke amadoda akoJuda lakoBhenjamini ayesebuthene eJerusalema. Kwathi ngelanga lamatshumi amabili lenyanga yesificamunye bonke abantu babehlezi esigcawini phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, bekhathazekile ngombuthano lowo njalo begxanxwa lizulu elalisina. 10 Kwathi u-Ezra umphristi wasukuma wathi kubo, “Kalithembekanga; lisuke lathatha abafazi bezizweni, lengeza icala lika-Israyeli. 11 Manje-ke vumani izono zenu kuThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho benu, lenze intando yakhe. Zahlukaniseni kulababantu elakhelene labo lasebafazini benu abezizwe.”
12 Inkundla yonke yaphendula ngelizwi elikhulu yathi: “Uqondile! Kumele senze njengoba usitsho. 13 Kodwa kulabantu abanengi lapha futhi lesi yisikhathi sezulu; ngakho ngeke sime lapha phandle. Futhi indaba le ingazake iphethwe ngosuku olulodwa kumbe ezimbili, ngoba sonile kakhulu ngento le. 14 Akuthi izinduna zethu zisimele thina sonke. Akuthi wonkemuntu emizini yethu othethe umfazi wabezizwe eze ngesikhathi esimisiweyo, eze labadala kanye labehluleli balowomuzi, luze ludede kithi ulaka olwesabekayo lukaNkulunkulu wethu.” 15 Kwaba nguJonathani kuphela, indodana ka-Asaheli loJahizeya indodana kaThikhiva, besekelwa nguMeshulami loShabhethayi umLevi abakuphikisayo lokhu.
16 Ngakho izithunjwa zenza njengokwakumisiwe. U-Ezra umphristi wakhetha amadoda ayeyizinhloko zezimuli, oyedwa emulini, bonke baqanjwa ngamabizo. Ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yetshumi bahlala phansi bawahlolisisa lawomacala, 17 kwathi ngelanga lokuqala ngenyanga yokuqala baqeda ukuphatha indaba yamadoda ayethethe abafazi bezizweni.
Ababelecala Lokuthatha Abafazi Bezizweni
18 Phakathi kwezizukulwane zabaphristi, laba abalandelayo yibo ababethethe abafazi bezizweni:
Abesizukulwane sikaJeshuwa indodana kaJozadaki labafowabo:
uMaseya, u-Eliyezari, uJaribhi loGedaliya. 19 (Bonke baphakamisa izandla zabo bafunga ukubalahla abafazi babo, kwathi ngenxa yecala labo ngulowo wakhupha inqama emhlambini ukuba ngumnikelo wesono.)
20 Abesizukulwane sika-Imeri:
nguHanani loZebhadiya.
21 Abesizukulwane sikaHarimi:
nguMaseya, lo-Elija, loShemaya, loJehiyeli lo-Uziya.
22 Abesizukulwane sikaPhashuri:
ngu-Eliyonayi, loMaseya, lo-Ishumayeli, loNethaneli, loJozabhadi lo-Eleyasa.
23 Phakathi kwabaLevi nampa:
uJozabhadi, loShimeyi, loKhelaya (kutshiwo uKhelitha), loPhethahiya, loJuda lo-Eliyezari.
24 Phakathi kwabahlabeleli nampa:
u-Eliyashibi.
Phakathi kwabalindimasango:
nguShalumi, loThelemu lo-Uri.
25 Phakathi kwabanye abako-Israyeli:
Abesizwe sikaPharoshi:
nguRamiya, u-Iziya, uMalikhija, uMijamini, u-Eliyezari, uMalikhija loBhenaya.
26 Abesizukulwane sika-Elamu:
nguMathaniya, uZakhariya, uJehiyeli, u-Abhidi, uJeremothi lo-Elija.
27 Abesizukulwane sikaZathu:
ngu-Eliyonayi, u-Eliyashibi, uMathaniya, uJeremothi, uZabhadi lo-Aziza.
28 Abesizukulwane sikaBhebhayi:
nguJehohanani, uHananiya, uZabhayi lo-Athilayi.
29 Abesizukulwane sikaBhani:
nguMeshulami, uMaluki, u-Adaya, uJashubi, uSheyali loJeremothi.
30 Abesizukulwane sikaPhahathi-Mowabi:
ngu-Adina, uKhelali, uBhenaya, uMaseya, uMathaniya, uBhezaleli, uBhinuwi loManase.
31 Abesizukulwane sikaHarimi:
ngu-Eliyezari, u-Ishiya, uMalikhija, uShemaya, uSimiyoni, 32 uBhenjamini, uMaluki, loShemariya.
33 Abesizukulwane sikaHashumi:
nguMathenayi, uMathatha, uZabhadi, u-Elifelethi, uJeremayi, uManase loShimeyi.
34 Abesizukulwane sikaBhani:
nguMadayi, u-Amramu, u-Uweli, 35 uBhenaya, uBhedeya, uKheluhi, 36 uVaniya, uMeremothi, u-Eliyashibi, 37 uMathaniya, uMathenayi loJasu.
38 Abesizukulwane sikaBhinuwi loBhani:
nguShimeyi, 39 uShelemiya, uNathani, u-Adaya, 40 uMakhinadebhayi, uShashayi, uSharayi, 41 u-Azareli, uShelemiya, uShemariya, 42 uShalumi, u-Amariya loJosefa.
43 Abesizukulwane sikaNebho:
nguJeyiyeli, uMathithiya, uZabhadi, uZebhina, uJadayi, uJoweli loBhenaya.
44 Bonke laba bathatha abafazi bezizweni, abanye babo bazala abantwana labafazi labo.