1 Ke kaloku akuthandaza uEzra, akukuxela oku, elila, eziwisile phambi kwendlu kaThixo, kwabuthelana kuye kumaSirayeli ibandla elikhulu kakhulu lamadoda, nabafazi, nabantwana, ngokuba abantu batsho ngesililo esikhulu.
2 Waphendula uShekaniya unyana kaYehiyeli, owoonyana bakaElam, wathi kuEzra, Senzé ubumenemene kuThixo wethu, sazeka abafazi bezinye iintlanga ezizweni zelizwe eli; kodwa kusekho ithemba kumaSirayeli ngale nto.
3 Masimenzele ngoku umnqophiso uThixo wethu, wokuba sibakhuphe bonke abafazi nabazelwe ngabo, ngokwecebo lenkosi yam, nelabagubhela imithetho yoThixo wethu; makwenziwe ngokomyalelo.
4 Vuka, ngokuba le nto iphezu kwakho; singakuwe; yomelela, wenze.
5 Wavuka uEzra, wabafungisa abathetheli bababingeleli, nababaLevi, nabamaSirayeli onke, ukuba benze ngokwelo lizwi; bafunga ke.
6 Wesuka uEzra phambi kwendlu kaThixo, wangena egumbini likaYohanan unyana kaEliyashibhi. Wathi akufika khona, akadla sonka, akasela manzi; ngokuba ubesenza isijwili ngenxa yobumenemene babo bafuduswáyo.
7 Bahambisa ilizwi kwaYuda naseYerusalem, kubo bonke oonyana basemfudusweni, lokuba babuthelane eYerusalem;