2 Abantu baseBhetele bathumela uSherezere noRegem-meleki namanye amadoda ukuba baye endlwini kaNdikhoyo, bathandazele intsikelelo kaNdikhoyo,
3 babuze kubabingeleli bendlu kaNdikhoyo onamandla onke *nakubashumayeli, bathi: “Ngaba kusafuneka siqhubele phambili silile, sizile nokutya na, nangale yesihlanu inyanga, njengoko siqhele ukwenza iminyaka ngeminyaka?”
4 Ilizwi likaNdikhoyo onamandla onke lafika kum lisithi:
5 “Baxelele bonke abantu beli lizwe, ngokunjalo nababingeleli, uthi: ‘Ngokuya benizila ukutya nilila kwinyanga yesihlanu neyesixhenxe, kule minyaka imashumi asixhenxe idlulileyo, ngaba benizila ukutya nizilela mna ngqo?
6 Xa benisitya nisela beningenzeli ezenu iziqu isidlo?
7 Asingawo la amazwi kaNdikhoyo awabhengezwa ngabashumayeli bamandulo, xenikweni iJerusalem needolophu eziyingqongileyo bezimiwe ngabantu zinenkqubela, nditsho zona kunye nelasezantsi namathambeka asentshonalanga?’ ”
8 Ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo liphinde lafika kuZakariya lisithi: