4 Ngaphambi kwalokho u-Eliyashibi, umpristi, owayemiselwe amakamelo endlu kaNkulunkulu wethu, isihlobo sikaThobiya,
5 wayemlungisele ikamelo elikhulu, lapho kade bebeka khona iminikelo yempuphu, nenhlaka, nezitsha, nokweshumi kwamabele, newayini, namafutha, okwakunqunyelwe ngomthetho amaLevi, nabahlabeleli, nabalindisango, kanye neminikelo yabapristi.
6 Kepha kukho konke lokho ngangingekho eJerusalema, ngokuba ngomnyaka wamashumi amathathu nambili ka-Aritahishashita inkosi yaseBabele ngaya enkosini; nangasekugcineni kwezinsuku ngacela enkosini,
7 ngaya eJerusalema, ngaqonda okubi u-Eliyashibi akwenzele uThobiya ngokumlungisela ikamelo emagcekeni endlu kaNkulunkulu.
8 Kwaba kubi kakhulu kimi; ngalahla phandle zonke izinto zendlu kaThobiya zikhishwe ekamelweni.
9 Ngase ngithi mabahlambulule amakamelo; ngabuyisela khona izitsha zendlu kaNkulunkulu kanye neminikelo yempuphu nenhlaka.
10 Ngase ngazi ukuthi amaLevi awanikwanga izabelo zawo; amaLevi nabahlabeleli abenza umsebenzi babebalekele, kwaba yilowo nalowo ensimini yakhe.