9 Bonke abantu bakwaJuda nabakwaBenjamini babuthana eJerusalema ngezinsuku ezintathu; kwakuyinyanga yesishiyagalolunye, ngolwamashumi amabili lwenyanga; bonke abantu bahlala esigcawini ngaphambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu bethuthumela ngale ndaba nangemvula enkulu.
10 U-Ezra, umpristi, wasukuma, wathi kubo: “Niphambukile nithathe abesifazane babezizwe ukwandisa icala lakwa-Israyeli.
11 Ngalokho vumani izono kuJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo, nenze intando yakhe, nizahlukanise nabantu bezwe nabesifazane babezizwe.”
12 Lase liphendula lonke ibandla, lathi ngezwi elikhulu: “Njengokusho kwakho kithina nga sikwenza.
13 Kepha abantu baningi, futhi kuyisikhathi semvula enkulu, asinakuma phandle, futhi lo msebenzi awusiwo walusuku lunye nowezimbili, ngokuba siphambukile kakhulu ngale ndaba.
14 Izinduna zethu mazime phambi kwebandla lonke; bonke abasemizini yethu abathathe abesifazane babezizwe mabeze ngesikhathi esinqunyiweyo, benamalunga emizi ngemizi nabahluleli bayo, ize ibuye kithi intukuthelo evuthayo kaNkulunkulu wethu kule ndaba.”
15 UJonathani, indodana ka-Asaheli, noJahazeya indodana kaThikiva kuphela bamelana nalokho; oMeshulamu noShabethayi umLevi babasiza.