U-Ezra

8 Nanka amabizo abakhokheli bezimuli loluhlu losendo lwabantu engasuka labo eBhabhiloni ngesikhathi sokubusa kweNkosi u-Athakisekisi:+ 2 Umkhokheli wamadodana kaFiniyasi+ kwakunguGeshomu, owamadodana ka-Ithamari+ kwakunguDanyeli, owamadodana kaDavida kwakunguHathushi, 3 owamadodana kaShekhaniya lamadodana kaPharoshi kwakunguZakhariya njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-150 ababebhalisile, 4 owamadodana kaPhahathi-mowabi+ kwakungu-Eliyeho-nayi indodana kaZerahiya njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-200, 5 owamadodana kaZathu+ kwakunguShekhaniya indodana kaJahaziyeli njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-300, 6 owamadodana ka-Adini+ kwakungu-Ebhedi indodana kaJonathani njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-50, 7 owamadodana ka-Elami+ kwakunguJeshaya indodana ka-Athaliya njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-70, 8 owamadodana kaShefathiya+ kwakunguZebhadiya indodana kaMikhayeli njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-80, 9 owamadodana kaJowabi kwakungu-Obhadiya indodana kaJehiyela njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-218, 10 owamadodana kaBhani kwakunguShelomithi indodana kaJosifiya njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-160, 11 owamadodana kaBhebhayi+ kwakunguZakhariya indodana kaBhebhayi njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-28, 12 owamadodana ka-Azigadi+ kwakunguJohanani indodana kaHakhathani njalo wayelabesilisa abangu-110, 13 owamadodana ka-Adonikhami+ ayengawokucina, kwakungu-Elifelethi loJeyiyeli loShemaya njalo babelabesilisa abangu-60, 14 owamadodana kaBhigivayi+ kwakungu-Uthayi loZabhudi njalo babelabesilisa abangu-70.

15 Ngababuthanisa emfuleni oya e-Ahava+ njalo sakhempa khonapho okwensuku ezintathu. Kodwa ngathi ngikhangela abantu labaphristi ngathola ukuthi amaLevi ayengekho. 16 Ngasengibiza u-Eliyezeri, lo-Ariyeli, loShemaya, lo-Elinathani, loJaribi, lo-Elinathani, loNathani, loZakhariya, loMeshulami, ababengamadoda akhokhelayo kanye loJoyaribhi lo-Elinathani ababesenza umsebenzi wokufundisa. 17 Ngabathuma ku-Ido umkhokheli wendawo okuthiwa yiKhasifiya. Ngathi batshele u-Ido labafowabo, izisebenzi zethempelini ezaziseKhasifiya,* ukuthi basilethele izinceku zendlu kaNkulunkulu wethu. 18 Njengoba isandla* sikaNkulunkulu wethu sasiphezu kwethu, baletha indoda ehlakaniphileyo eyayivela emadodaneni kaMahili+ umzukulu kaLevi indodana ka-Israyeli. Indoda le kwakuthiwa nguSherebhiya+ njalo yabuya labafowabo lamadodana ayo, amadoda angu-18; 19 kanye loHashabhiya eloJeshaya owosendo lwamaMerari,+ labafowabo lamadodana abo, amadoda angu-20. 20 Kwakulezisebenzi zethempelini ezingu-220,* njalo amabizo azo zonke ayebhaliwe ebhukwini. UDavida lezikhulu zakhe yibo ababenike izisebenzi zethempelini umsebenzi wokuncedisa amaLevi.

21 Ngasengimemezela ukuthi kuzilwe ukudla khonapho emfuleni u-Ahava ukuze sizithobe phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu njalo simcele ukuthi asikhokhele phakathi kohambo lwethu, asivikele thina labantwabethu layo yonke impahla yethu. 22 Ngaba lenhloni zokucela ukuthi inkosi isiphe amasotsha labagadi bamabhiza ukuze basivikele nxa singahlaselwa yizitha endleleni. Phela sasitshele inkosi sathi: “Isandla* sikaNkulunkulu siphezu kwabo bonke abamthembayo,+ kodwa amandla akhe lolaka lwakhe kumelana labo bonke abamlahlayo.”+ 23 Yikho sazila ukudla sacela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu asincedise endabeni le, wasesizwa isikhalazo sethu.+

24 Ngemva kwalokho ngakhetha abaphristi abakhokhelayo abangu-12, uSherebhiya loHashabhiya+ kanye labafowabo abalitshumi. 25 Ngasengibalinganisela isiliva legolide kanye lezitsha. Lokhu kwakungumnikelo wendlu kaNkulunkulu+ owawulethwe yinkosi labacebisi bayo, lezikhulu zayo labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababekhona. 26 Ngabalinganisela amathalenta* esiliva angu-650, lezitsha zesiliva ezingu-100 ezazilingana lamathalenta amabili, lamathalenta egolide angu-100, 27 lemiganu yegolide emincane engu-20 eyayilingana lamadarikhi* angu-1 000, lezitsha ezimbili zekhopha elohlonzi ecazimulayo ezaziligugu njengegolide.

28 Ngasengisithi kubo: “Lina lingcwele kuJehova,+ lezitsha lezi zingcwele njalo isiliva legolide ngumnikelo wokuzithandela ophiwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wabokhokho benu. 29 Gcinani izinto lezi ngonanzelelo lize liyezilinganisa phambi kwabaphristi abakhokhelayo lamaLevi lezikhulu zezimuli zako-Israyeli eJerusalema,+ ezindlini ezingaphakathi kwendlu kaJehova.” 30 Ngakho abaphristi lamaLevi bathatha konke ababekulinganiselwe, isiliva legolide lezitsha ukuze bakuhambise endlini kaNkulunkulu eJerusalema.

31 Sasuka emfuleni u-Ahava+ mhlaka 12 ngenyanga yokuqala+ saqonda eJerusalema njalo isandla sikaNkulunkulu wethu sasiphezu kwethu. Wasivikela ukuze singahlaselwa yizitha labantu ababengasicathamela endleleni. 32 Safika eJerusalema+ sahlala khona okwamalanga amathathu. 33 Kwathi ngelanga lesine salinganisa igolide, lesiliva lezitsha endlini kaNkulunkulu+ wethu. Izinto lezi sazinika uMeremothi+ indodana ka-Urija umphristi owayelo-Eliyazari indodana kaFiniyasi lamaLevi, uJozabhadi+ indodana kaJeshuwa loNowadiya indodana kaBhinuwi.+ 34 Izinto zonke zabalwa, zalinganiswa futhi sonke isisindo sazo sabhalwa phansi. 35 Ababevela ekuthunjweni banikela imihlatshelo yokutshiswa kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Banikela ngenkunzi ezingu-12+ zika-Israyeli wonke, lenqama ezingu-96,+ lemvana ezinduna ezingu-77, lempongo ezingu-12+ ezaba ngumnikelo wesono. Konke lokhu kwakungumnikelo otshiselwa uJehova.+

36 Ngemva kwalokho sathatha imilayo yenkosi+ sayinika ondunankulu* benkosi lababusi* besabelo esingaphetsheya komfula*+ njalo babasekela abantu babapha konke okwakufuneka endlini kaNkulunkulu weqiniso.+