U-Ezra 8:10-30 Ibhayibheli Elingcwele (ZUL59)

10. Kumadodana kaShelomiti: yindodana kaJosifiya; kanye nayo ngabesilisa abayikhulu namashumi ayisithupha.

11. Kumadodana kaBebayi: nguZakariya indodana kaBebayi; kanye naye ngabesilisa abangamashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili.

12. Kumadodana ka-Azigadi: nguJohanani indodana kaHakathani; kanye naye ngabesilisa abayikhulu neshumi.

13. Kumadodana ka-Adonikamu, awokugcina: nanka amagama awo: ngo-Elifeleti, noJehiyeli, noShemaya, nabesilisa abangamashumi ayisithupha kanye nabo.

14. Kumadodana kaBigivayi: ngo-Uthayi noZabudi; kanye nabo ngabesilisa abanamashumi ayisikhombisa.

15. Ngababutha emfuleni oya e-Ahava; samisa khona izinsuku ezintathu; ngabheka abantu nabapristi, angifumananga khona noyedwa wamadodana kaLevi.

16. Ngase ngithuma ngibiza o-Eliyezeri, no-Ariyeli, noShemaya, no-Elinathani, noJaribi, no-Elinathani, noNathani, noZakariya, noMeshulamu abayizinhloko, kanye noJoyaribi no-Elinathani abafundisayo.

17. Ngabathuma ku-Ido, inhloko yasendaweni yaseKhasifiya, ngabeka emlonyeni wabo amazwi abayakuwakhuluma ku-Ido nakubafowabo amaNethini* endaweni yaseKhasifiya ukuba basilethele izinceku zendlu kaNkulunkulu wethu.

18. Ngesandla esihle sikaNkulunkulu wethu esasiphezu kwethu basilethela umuntu onengqondo wamadodana kaMaheli indodana kaLevi ka-Israyeli, kanye noSherebiya namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nesishiyagalombili,

19. noHashabiya enoJeshaya wamadodana kaMerari, nabafowabo namadodana abo, bengamashumi amabili,

20. nakuwo amaNethini* uDavide nezikhulu ababewanikele enkonzweni yamaLevi amaNethini angamakhulu amabili namashumi amabili, abizwa onke ngamagama.

21. Ngase ngimemezela khona ukuzila ukudla ngasemfuleni i-Ahava ukuba sizithobe phambi kukaNkulunkulu, sizifunele kuye indlela emhlophe, thina nabantwana bethu, nemfuyo yethu yonke.

22. Ngokuba nganginamahloni ukucela enkosini impi nabamahhashi ukuba basisize ezitheni zasendleleni, ngokuba sasikhulumile enkosini, sathi: “Isandla sikaNkulunkulu wethu siphezu kwabo bonke abamfunayo ukuba kube kuhle, kepha amandla akhe nentukuthelo yakhe kuphezu kwabo bonke abamshiyayo.”

23. Sase sizila-ke, sanxusa uNkulunkulu wethu ngalokho, wasizwa.

24. Ngase ngahlukanisa ezikhulwini zabapristi abayishumi nambili: oSherebiya, noHashabiya, nabafowabo abayishumi kanye nabo,

25. ngabalinganisela isiliva negolide nezitsha, umnikelo wendlu kaNkulunkulu wethu, okwakunikelwe ngawo yinkosi nabeluleki bayo, nezikhulu zayo, naye wonke u-Israyeli owayelapho;

26. ngalinganisela ezandleni zabo amatalenta* angamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi ayisihlanu esiliva, namatalenta ayikhulu ayizitsha zesiliva, namatalenta ayikhulu egolide,

27. nezindebe ezingamashumi amabili zegolide ezingamadarike* ayinkulungwane, nezitsha ezimbili zethusi elikhazimulayo nelihle, eliyigugu njengegolide.

28. Ngathi kubo: “Ningcwele kuJehova, nezitsha zingcwele; isiliva negolide kungumnikelo wesihle kuJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo.

29. Lindani, nikugcine, nize nikulinganise ngaphambi kwezikhulu zabapristi nezamaLevi nezikhulu zawoyise bakwa-Israyeli eJerusalema emakamelweni endlu kaJehova.”

30. Base bamukela abapristi namaLevi okulinganisiweyo, isiliva negolide nezitsha, ukuba bakuyise eJerusalema endlini kaNkulunkulu wethu.

U-Ezra 8