UJona Ubalekela USimakade
1Izwi likaSimakade lafika kuJona, indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi: 2“Phuthuma uye emzini omkhulukazi, iNineve, umemezele kuwo ukuthi ububi bawo sebenyuke baze bafika phambi kwami.”
3Kodwa uJona wasuka, wabaleka phambi kukaSimakade, walibhekisa eTharishishi. Wehlela eJopha, wathola umkhumbi owawuya eTharishishi. Eseyikhokhile imali, wagibela kuwo elibhekise eTharishishi, ukuba suke phambi kukaSimakade.
4Kepha uSimakade wathumela isishingishane olwandle, kwaba nesiphepho esikhulu kwaze kwangathi umkhumbi uyahlephuka. 5Amatilosi esaba, kwayilelo nalelo lakhala kunkulunkulu walo. Ayesephonsa olwandle impahla eyayisemkhunjini, ukuze umkhumbi ube lula. UJona wayesehlele egumbini lomkhumbi elingaphansi maphakathi nendawo, elele zwi.
6Umkhuzi wamatilosi weza kuJona, wathi: “Ungalala kanjani uhuqe ubuthongo kunje? Vuka ubize owakho uNkulunkulu, mhlawumbe angasizwa, singashabalali.”
7Amatilosi ahlanganisa amakhanda, athi: “Wozani senze unkatho, sibone ukuthi ngubani oyimbangela yalobu bubi obusehlelayo na? Alwenza-ke unkatho, lwadla uJona.”
8Ayesethi kuye: “Sitshele ukuthi ngubani owenze sehlelwa yile nhlekelele? Wenza msebenzi muni wena? Uvela kuliphi izwe, futhi ungowasiphi isizwe na?”
9Wathi kuwo: “NgingumHebheru, ngikhonza uSimakade, uNkulunkulu wamazulu, owenze ulwandle nomhlabathi owomileyo.”
10Athi angezwa lokhu amatilosi esaba kakhulu, ayesethi kuye: “Wenzeni na?” (Ambuza kanjalo ngoba ayazi ukuthi ubalekela uSimakade ngoba wayeke wawaxoxela ngaphambilini.)
11Ulwandle lwaya ngokuya ludlanga. Amatilosi ambuza athi: “Senzenjani ngawe ukuze ulwandle luthule na?”
12Waphendula wathi: “Ngiqukuleni, ningiphonse olwandle, khona luzothula, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi yimi oyimbangela yalesi siphepho esinihlaseleyo.”
13Amatilosi azama ukugwedlela ogwini lolwandle kepha awaphumelelanga; isiphepho samelana nawo, ulwandle lwadlanga kakhulu. 14Amatilosi akhuleka kuSimakade, athi: “Ungasibhubhisi Simakade, ngenxa yale ndoda. Ungasisoli ngokuthi sibulele umuntu ongenacala; siyazi ukuthi Wena unguSimakade, wenza njengokuthanda kwakho.”
15Ayesemqukula uJona, amphonsa olwandle; lwase luthula cwaka ulwandle.
16Amatilosi amesaba kakhulu uSimakade, anikela kuye umhlatshelo, enza nezifungo.
17USimakade wathumela inhlanzi enkulu ukuba igwinye uJona. UJona wayesesiswini senhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu, nobusuku obuthathu.
