Abantu Bameneza kuBawo
Izikhulu zixela ukuba iinkokeli zakwaSirayeli ngokwazo zaba phambili ekuzekeni abafazi ebantwini ababangqongileyo. UEzra ukrazula iingubo zakhe, antshule iinwele zakhe, ahlale emangalisiwe kude kuhlwe, aze athandaze avume izono exela ityala ngokucacileyo, emangaliswa kukuba uBawo wethu wabohlwaya ngaphantsi kwento ababeyifanele.
9 1Kwakuba oku kwenziwe, zeza kum izikhulu, zathi: “Abantu bakwaSirayeli, ababingeleli, nabaLevi abazahlulanga kubantu ababangqongileyo nakumasikizi abo—amaKanan, namaHeti, namaPerizi, namaYebhusi, nama-Amon, namaMowabhi, namaYiputa, nama-Amori. 2Bathabatha iintombi zabo zaba ngabafazi babo noonyana babo, badibanisa imbewu engcwele nabantu ababangqongileyo. Yaye izikhulu neenkokeli zaba phambili ngokumeneza oku.”
3Ndakukuva oku, ndayikrazula ingubo yam nengubo yam yokwaleka, ndancothula iinwele entloko yam nasesilevini, ndahlala phantsi ndimangalisiwe. 4Baza bonke abo babengcangcazela ngamazwi kaThixo wakwaSirayeli, uBawo wethu, bahlanganisana kum ngenxa yokumeneza kwabathinjwa, ndaza ndahlala ndimangalisiwe kwada kwaba ngumnikelo wangokuhlwa. a a v4 Umnikelo wangokuhlwa ibingumbingelelo wemihla ngemihla owawusenziwa malunga nentsimbi yesithathu emva kwemini.
5Ngexesha lomnikelo wangokuhlwa ndasuka ekuzithobeni kwam, ingubo yam nengubo yam yokwaleka zikrazukile, ndawa ngamadolo am, ndazolula izandla zam kuBawo wam, 6ndaza ndathi: “Bawo wam, ndineentloni nehlazo ukuphakamisela ubuso bam kuwe, Bawo wam, kuba izono zethu ziphakame ngaphezu kweentloko zethu, netyala lethu likhulile lada laya emazulwini. 7Kususela kwemihla yoobawo bethu kude kube ngoku besikwityala elikhulu, yaye ngenxa yezono zethu thina—ookumkani bethu nababingeleli bethu—sanikelwa kookumkani bamazwe, ekreleni, ekuthinjweni, ekuphangweni, nasehlazweni elisebusweni bethu, njengoko kunjalo namhlanje. 8Kodwa ngoku, okomzuzwana omfutshane, kufikile ubabalo luvela kuBawo wethu, lusishiyela amasalela lusinika nendawo eqinileyo yokunyathela endaweni yakhe engcwele, ukuze akhanyise amehlo ethu asinike novuselelo oluncinane ebukhobokeni bethu. 9Singamakhoboka; kanti uBawo wethu akasishiyanga ebukhobokeni bethu. Wolula inceba yakhe yomnqophiso kuthi phambi kookumkani basePersi, wasivuselela ukuba sivuse indlu kaBawo wethu, silungise amanxuwa ayo, asinike udonga lokhuselo kwelakwaYuda naseYerusalem.
10Ke ngoku, Bawo wethu, singathini na ukuthetha emva koku? Kuba siyilahlile imithetho yakho,
11owawuwisa ngabakhonzi bakho abaprofeti, usithi: “Ilizwe eningena kulo ukuba nilime liyinqambi ngenxa yobunqambi babantu balo, abalizalise ngamasikizi abo kususela kweli icala ukuya kwelinye ngenxa yobunqambi babo. 12Ngako oko ningaziniki iintombi zenu koonyana babo, ningazizekeli iintombi zabo koonyana benu, nize ningalukhathaleli uxolo lwabo nokuhlala kwabo kakuhle, ukuze nomelele, nidle okulungileyo kwelo lizwe, nilishiye libe lilifa labantwana benu kude kuse ephakadeni.”
13Emva kwako konke oku kusehleleyo ngenxa yezenzo zethu ezibi netyala elikhulu—kwanawe wena, Bawo wethu, uzibambile, wasohlwaya nganeno kokufanele izono zethu, wasinika amasalela anje, 14singabuya siyaphule na imithetho yakho, sendiselane nabantu abenza la masikizi? Ubungayi kusiqumbela na ude usitshabalalise, kungasali namasalela namntu usindileyo? 15Bawo wethu, Thixo wakwaSirayeli, ulilungisa wena, kuba sisele singamasalela asindileyo, njengoko kunjalo namhlanje. Nanku siphambi kwakho setyaleni lethu, nangona kungekho namnye onokuma phambi kwakho ngenxa yalo.”
