7. Kwakhuphuka nabanye abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, nabapristi, namaLevi, nabahlabeleli, nabalindisango, namaNethini,* baya eJerusalema ngomnyaka wesikhombisa ka-Aritahishashita inkosi.
8. Wafika eJerusalema ngenyanga yesihlanu ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wenkosi.
9. Ngokuba ngolokuqala lwenyanga yokuqala waqala ukukhuphuka eBabele; ngolokuqala lwenyanga yesihlanu wafika eJerusalema ngokwesandla esihle sikaNkulunkulu wakhe esasiphezu kwakhe,
10. ngokuba u-Ezra wayebhekise inhliziyo yakhe ukufuna umthetho kaJehova, nokwenza nokufundisa izimiso nezahlulelo kwa-Israyeli.
11. Lokhu kuyimpinda yencwadi inkosi u-Aritahishashita eyamnika yona u-Ezra umpristi nombhali, umbhali wamazwi emiyalo kaJehova nawezimiso zakhe ku-Israyeli, yokuthi:
12. “U-Aritahishashita, inkosi yamakhosi ku-Ezra, umpristi nombhali womthetho kaNkulunkulu wezulu; ukuthula, nokuthi nokuthi.
13. “Ngikhipha isimemezelo sokuthi bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli, nabapristi babo, namaLevi embusweni wami, abafuna ukuya eJerusalema, bangahamba nawe,
14. njengokuba uthunyiwe yinkosi nabeluleki bayo abayisikhombisa ukubuza ngelakwaJuda neJerusalema njengokomthetho kaNkulunkulu wakho osesandleni sakho,
15. nokuyisa isiliva negolide inkosi nabeluleki bayo abalinikele ngesihle kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ondlu yakhe iseJerusalema,
16. kanye nalo lonke isiliva negolide oyakukufumana ezweni lonke laseBabele, neminikelo yesihle yabantu neyabapristi, benikelela ngesihle indlu kaNkulunkulu wabo eseJerusalema.
17. Ngalokho uyakuthenga ngesineke sonke ngale mali izinkunzi, nezinqama, namawundlu kanye neminikelo yakho yempuphu neminikelo yakho yokuphuzwa, unikele ngakho e-altare lendlu kaNkulunkulu wenu eseJerusalema.
18. “Okuhle kuwe nakubafowenu ukuba nikwenze ngesiliva negolide eliseleyo, kwenzeni ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu wenu.
19. Izitsha onikwe zona ukuba zibe ngezenkonzo yendlu kaNkulunkulu wakho, zibuyisele phambi kukaNkulunkulu waseJerusalema.
20. Okunye okudingekayo endlini kaNkulunkulu wakho, ofanele ukukunika, kukhiphe endlini yengcebo yenkosi.
21. “Kimina, yebo, mina Aritahishashita inkosi, kukhishwa isimemezelo kubo bonke abaphathizikhwama abangaphesheya koMfula* ukuthi konke u-Ezra umpristi nombhali womthetho kaNkulunkulu wezulu ayakukubiza kini, makwenziwe ngesineke sonke,