1 Kwathi ngomnyaka wesine wenkosi uDariyu izwi likaJehova lafika kuZakariya ngolwesine lwenyanga eyisishiyagalolunye, ekaKhisilevi.
2 IBethele lalithume oSareseri noRegemi Meleki namadoda abo ukunxusa kuJehova
3 nokukhuluma kubapristi abasendlini kaJehova Sebawoti nakubaprofethi ngokuthi: “Ngikhale ngenyanga yesihlanu, ngizile, njengalokho ngenzile le minyaka eminingi, na?”
4 Lase lifika izwi likaJehova Sebawoti kimi, lathi:
5 “Khuluma kubo bonke abantu bezwe nakubo abapristi, uthi: ‘Ekuzileni kwenu nasekulileni ngenyanga yesihlanu nangeyesikhombisa le minyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa nangizilela nokungizilela mina na?
6 Lapho nidlayo nalapho niphuzayo, anizidleli, niziphuzela nina, na?
7 Akusiwo lawa mazwi uJehova awamemezayo ngesandla sabaprofethi bokuqala, lapho iJerusalema lalakhiwe lisabusa, nalapho imizi yalo nxazonke zalo nelaseningizimu nehlanze kwakwakhiwe, na?’ ”
8 Izwi likaJehova lafika kuZakariya, lathi:
9 “Washo kanje uJehova Sebawoti, wathi: ‘Yahlulelani izahlulelo eziqinisileyo, nenze umusa nobubele, kube yilowo nalowo kumfowabo,
10 ningacindezeli abafelokazi, nezintandane, nabafokazi, nabampofu, kungabi ngoceba okubi ngomfowabo enhliziyweni yakhe.’
11 “Kepha bala ukulalela, baphekula ihlombe, benza izindlebe zabo zaba buthuntu ukuba bangezwa.
12 Benza izinhliziyo zabo zaba yidayimani,* funa bezwe umthetho namazwi ayewathume uJehova Sebawoti ngoMoya wakhe ngesandla sabaprofethi bokuqala; ngalokho kwavela intukuthelo enkulu ivela kuJehova Sebawoti.
13 “ ‘Kwathi njengalokho wamemeza, bona bengezwanga, kanjalo,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti, ‘bayakumemeza bona, ngingezwa mina.
14 Ngiyakubahlakazela phakathi kwezizwe zonke abangazazanga. Izwe selichithekile emva kwabo, ukuze kungabikho muntu odlulayo nobuyayo, ngokuba benza izwe elihle laba yincithakalo.’ ”