Ukuwela iJordani
1UJoshuwa wavuka ekuseni kakhulu, basuka eShithimi, bafika eJordani, yena nabo bonke abantwana bakwaIsrayeli, balala khona ebusuku bengakaweli.
2Kwathi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu izinduna zadabula phakathi kwekamu*.
3Zayala abantu, zathi: Nxa nibona umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nabapristi bamaLevi bewuthwala, niyakusuka endaweni yenu, niwulandele.
4Nokho kuyakuba-khona ibanga phakathi kwenu nawo, lingangezingalo eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili ngokulinganisa, ningasondeli kuwo, ukuba nazi indlela eniyakuhamba ngayo, ngokuba anidlulanga ngalendlela phambili.
5UJoshuwa wathi kubantu: Zingcweliseni, ngokuba kusasa uJehova uyakwenza izimangaliso phakathi kwenu.
6UJoshuwa wakhuluma kubapristi, wathi: Phakamisani umphongolo wesivumelwano, niwele phambi kwabantu. Baphakamisa-ke umphongolo wesivumelwano, bahamba phambi kwabantu.
7UJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: Namuhla ngizakuqala ukukukhulisa emehlweni abo bonke abakwaIsrayeli ukuba bazi ukuthi njengalokho nganginoMose, kanjalo ngiyakuba-nawe.
8Wobayala abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano, uthi: Nxa senifikile onqenqemeni lwamanzi aseJordani, niyakuma ngaseJordani.
9UJoshuwa wathi kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli: Sondelani lapha, nizwe amazwi kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.
10Wathi uJoshuwa: Niyakwazi ngalokhu ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu nokuthi uyakuxosha nokuxosha phambi kwenu amaKhanani, namaHeti, namaHivi, namaPherizi, namaGirigashi, nama-Amori, namaJebusi.
11Bhekani, umphongolo wesivumelwano seNkosi yomhlaba wonke uwela iJordani phambi kwenu.
12Ngalokho zithatheleni manje amadoda ayishumi nambili ezizweni zakwaIsrayeli, indoda ibenye ngesizwe.
13Kuyakuthi lapho amathe ezinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo kaJehova, iNkosi yomhlaba wonke, eyakuma emanzini aseJordani, amanzi aseJordani anqamuke, amanzi avela ngenhla, eme-nqwabanye.
14Kwathi lapho abantu besuka ematendeni abo ukuba bawele iJordani, abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano bephambi kwabantu,
15nalapho abathwala umphongolo sebefikile eJordani, izinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo zicwilile onqenqemeni lwamanzi aseJordani eligcwele phezu kwazo zonke izingu zalo izinsuku zonke zokuvuna,
16ayesema amanzi avela ngenhla, afukuka aba-nqwabanye kude kakhulu ngaseAdamu, umuzi oseceleni kweSaretani; lawo ewuka eya ngaseLwandle lwaseAraba, uLwandle lukaSawoti, anqamuka impela; abantu base bewela maqondana neJeriko.
17Abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova bema baqina emhlabathini owomileyo ngaphakathi neJordani, abantu bonke bawela emhlabathini owomileyo, saze sawela iJordani isizwe sonke saphelela.
