Zekariya 7:1-14
7 Ngonyaka wesine kaKumkani uDariyo, kwafika ilizwi likaYehova kuZekariya,+ ngomhla wesine kwinyanga yesithoba, oko kukuthi, uKislevu.*
2 Abantu baseBheteli bathuma uSharezere noRegem-meleki namadoda akhe ukuba bayokucenga uYehova,
3 bathi kubabingeleli bendlu* kaYehova wemikhosi nakubaprofeti: “Ndilile na ngenyanga yesihlanu+ ndize ndingatyi, njengokuba bendisenza kule minyaka mininzi kangaka?”
4 Laphinda lafika ilizwi likaYehova wemikhosi kum, lisithi:
5 “Yithi kubo bonke abantu belizwe nakubabingeleli, ‘Xa beningatyi, nilila ngenyanga yesihlanu nangenyanga yesixhenxe+ iminyaka eyi-70,+ beningatyi ngenxa yam na?
6 Xa benisitya, nisela, beningatyeli nina na, niziselela?
7 Anifanele na nithobele amazwi uYehova awawathetha ngabaprofeti+ bangaphambili, ngoxa iYerusalem nezixeko eziyijikelezileyo zazisenabantu, zihleli zikhululekile, nangoxa iNegebhi neShefela zazisenabantu?’”
8 Laphinda lafika ilizwi likaYehova kuZekariya, lisithi:
9 “Uthi uYehova wemikhosi, ‘Gwebani ngobulungisa,+ nize niphathane ngothando+ nangenceba.
10 Ningamqhathi umhlolokazi okanye umntwana ongenatata,*+ umntu wasemzini+ okanye ihlwempu;+ ningenzelani mayelenqe ezintliziyweni zenu.’+
11 Kodwa babengavumi ukumamela,+ bafulathela ngenkani,+ neendlebe zabo bazivala ngci ukuze bangeva.+
12 Intliziyo yabo bayenza yanjengedayimani,*+ yaye babengawuthobeli umthetho* namazwi uYehova wemikhosi awawathumela ngomoya wakhe esebenzisa abaprofeti bangaphambili.+ Ngoko wacaphuka kakhulu uYehova wemikhosi.”+
13 “‘Kanye njengoko babengamameli xa ndibabiza,*+ nam ndandingamameli xa bendibiza,’+ utsho uYehova wemikhosi.
14 ‘Ndabathi saa ngesaqhwithi phakathi kwazo zonke iintlanga ababengazazi,+ nelizwe lashiyeka lingahlali bantu, kungekho mntu udlulayo okanye ubuyela kulo;+ kuba babejike ilizwe elithandekayo balenza into eyoyikekayo.’”
Umbhalo osemazantsi
^ Funda Isihlomelo B15.
^ Okanye “betempile.”
^ Okanye “inkedama.”
^ Okanye kusenokwenzeka, “yanjengelitye eliqinileyo.”
^ Okanye “umyalelo.”
^ Ngokoqobo, “ebabiza.”
