1. Abaprofethi, uHagayi umprofethi noZakariya indodana ka-Ido, baprofetha kubaJuda ababekwaJuda naseJerusalema ngegama likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owayephezu kwabo.
2. Kwase kusuka uZerubabele indodana kaSheyalitiyeli noJeshuwa, indodana kaJosadaki, baqala ukwakha indlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema; abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu babenabo bebasiza.
3. Ngasona leso sikhathi kwafika kubo uThathenayi, umbusi phesheya koMfula,* noShethati Bozenayi, nabangane babo, basho kanje kubo, bathi: “Ngubani owaniyaleza ukwakha le ndlu nokuqeda lolu gange na?”
4. Khona sabatshela ukuthi angobani amagama abantu abakha le ndlu.
5. Kepha iso likaNkulunkulu wabo laliphezu kwamalunga abaJuda, ababathiyanga, ize iye leyo ndaba kuDariyu, kubuyiselwe impendulo ngayo ngencwadi.
6. Nansi impinda yencwadi uThathenayi, umbusi waphesheya koMfula,* noShethari Bozenayi, nabangane bakhe ama-Afarisaki ayengaphesheya koMfula* abayithuma kuDariyu inkosi;
7. bathuma incwadi kuye okulotshwe kuyo ukuthi:“KuDariyu inkosi; makube ngukuthula konke.
8. “Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi saya ezweni lakwaJuda endlini kaNkulunkulu omkhulu eyakhiwe ngamatshe amakhulu, imithi ifakwe ezindongeni; lo msebenzi uqhubeka ngesineke, unempumelelo ezandleni zabo.
9. “Sase sibuza kulawo malunga, sasho kuwo kanje, sathi: ‘Ngubani owaniyaleza ukwakha le ndlu nokuqeda lolu gange na?’
10. Sabuza namagama abo ukuba sikwazise, sibhale amagama abantu ababe yizinhloko zabo.
11. “Babuyisela impendulo kithi, bathi: ‘Thina siyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu wezulu nomhlaba, sakha indlu ekade yakhiwa sekudlule iminyaka eminingi, eyakhiwa yinkosi enkulu yakwa-Israyeli, yaqedwa.