Zechariah 1
1 Ngenyanga yesishiyagalombili, ngonyaka wesibili, wokubusa kukaDariyu, izwi likaSimakade lafika kuZakhariya indodana kaBherekhiya ka-Ido, umphrofethi, lathi:
2 “Impela uSimakade wayebathukuthelele kakhulu okhokho bakho.
3 Kepha wena batshele, uthi: Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uthi: ‘Buyelani kimi,’ kusho uSimakade Wamabandla, ‘nami ngizobuyela kini,’ kusho uSimakade Wamabandla.
4 “Ningafani nokhokho benu okwathi lapho abaphrofethi bakuqala bememezela kubo, bethi: Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uthi: ‘Ake niphenduke ezindleleni zenu ezimbi nasezenzweni zenu zobubi,’ kodwa abalalelanga, futhi abazange banginake, kusho uSimakade.
5 “Baphi okhokho benu na? Ngabe abaphrofethi basaphila yini kuze kube phakade na?
6 Kanti amazwi ami nezimiso zami engayaleza ngakho izinceku zami abaphrofethi akufinyelelanga yini kokhokho benu na? Angithi baphenduka, bathi: ‘Njengoba uSimakade Wamabandla ebehlelile ukwenza lokhu kithi ngokwezindlela zethu nangemisebenzi yethu, wenze kanjalo-ke kithi.’ ”
7 Ngosuku lwama-24 ngenyanga ye-11 kaShebhati, ngonyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu, izwi likaSimakade lafika kuZakhariya indodana kaBherekhiya ka-Ido, umphrofethi, lathi:
8 Ngabona umuntu ebusuku egibele ihhashi elibomvu, wama phakathi kwezihlahla zombomvana ezazisemhosheni, emva kwakhe kwakukhona amahhashi abomvu, amahwaqahwaqa, namhlophe.
9 Ngase ngithi: “Bangobani laba na?” Ingelosi eyayikhuluma nami yathi kimi: “Ngiyakukuchazela ukuthi bangobani laba.”
10 Umuntu owayemi phakathi kwezihlahla zombomvana wathi: “Laba ngabathunywe nguSimakade ukuba bahambe emhlabeni.”
11 Base beyibikela ingelosi kaSimakade eyayimi phakathi kwezihlahla zombomvana, bathi: “Sihambile emhlabeni; uyabona-ke, wonke umhlaba uhleli ngokuthula.”
12 Yayisiphendula ingelosi kaSimakade, yathi: “Simakade Wamabandla, kuyoze kube nini ungalihawukeli iJerusalema nemizi yakwaJuda oyithukuthelele le minyaka engama-70 na?”
13 USimakade wayiphendula ingelosi eyayikhuluma nami ngamazwi amahle, aduduzayo.
14 Ingelosi eyayikhuluma nami yayisithi kimi: “Memezezela lokhu uthi: Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uthi: ‘Nginesikhwele ngokwedlulele ngeJerusalema neZiyoni.
15 Ngizithukuthelele kakhulu izizwe ezinethezekileyo, ngokuba uma ngithukuthele kancane nje, zona ziyadlanga ngobubi.’
16 “Ngalokho usho kanje uSimakade, uthi: ‘Ngiyakubuyela eJerusalema ngesihawu, indlu yami iyakwakhiwa kulo, kudonswe intambo yokulinganisa phezu kweJerusalema,’ kusho uSimakade Wamabandla.
17 “Memezela lokhu futhi, uthi: Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uthi: ‘Imizi yami iyakugcwala ichichime okuhle, uSimakade abuye aliduduze iZiyoni, aphinde alikhethe neJerusalema.’ ”
18 Ngase ngiphakamisa amehlo ami, ngabona kukhona izimpondo ezine.
19 Ngayibuza ingelosi eyayikhuluma nami, ngathi: “Ziyini lezi?” Yathi kimi: “Lezi yizimpondo ezihlakaze uJuda, u-Israyeli, neJerusalema.”
20 USimakade wayesengikhombisa abakhandinsimbi abane bensimbi abane.
21 Ngabuza ngathi: “Laba bazokwenzani na?” Waphendula wathi: “Lezi yizimpondo ezahlakaza uJuda kangangoba akukho muntu ophakamisa ikhanda lakhe. Kepha laba bakhandinsimbi bensimbi bazobathuthumelisa, balahle phansi izimpondo zabezizwe ezaphakamisa uphondo zamelana nezwe lakwaJuda ukuba lihlakazwe.”