Bible Reading Plan – Day 71

₁Ke kaloku ekuhambeni kwexesha uSamson watyelela umkakhe xa kuvunwa ingqolowa. Wahamba eqhuba ibhokhwe. Wafika wathi kumkhwe wakhe: “Ndifuna khe ndiye egumbini lomkam.”

Kambe ke yena wala, ₂esithi: “Bendiba akusamfuni mpela, ndaza ke ndamnikela kumhlobo wakho ukuba abe ngumkakhe. Phofu udade wabo omncinci yinzwakazi kunaye; ngoko ke kunganjani useluthatha yena?”

₃Ke uSamson wathi: “Okwesi isihlandlo ndimsulwa kuyo nayiphi na into endiyenza kumaFilistiya!” ₄Ke kaloku wahamba wabamba amakhulu amathathu eempungutye. Wazidibanisa ngemisila ngambini ngambini, ebophelela ukhuni olunevithi apho ekudibaneni kwemisila. ₅Ezo zikhuni wazintumeka ngomlilo, wazikhulula iimpungutye, zabalekela emasimini anengqolowa amaFilistiya. Ngale ndlela ke kwatsha izipha zengqolowa eseyivuniwe ngokunjalo neyayingekavunwa. Yatsha nemiyezo yediliya nomnquma.

₆Athe amaFilistiya akubuzisa esithi: “Ngubani owenze le nto?” afumanisa kusithiwa: “NguSamson; ucatshukiswe ngumkhwe wakhe, umfo waseTimna, ngokusuka anikezele umkakhe kumhlobo wakhe.” Ngoko ke amaFilistiya asuka amtshisa loo mfo nentombi leyo.

₇USamson wathi ke kuwo: “Oo! Niqhuba ngolu hlobo? Inene, ndiza kunithi chu ndide ndiziphindezele!” ₈Wawahlasela, wawabetha wawatshayela. Emva koko waya kuhlala emqolombeni e-Etam.

₉AmaFilistiya axhoba ada aya kumisa kwaJuda, ahlasela iLerhi. ₁₀Ke amadoda akwaJuda abuza athi: “Kutheni le nto nize kusihlasela?”

AmaFilistiya aphendula athi: “Size kubamba uSamson; sifuna ukumvisa le nto asivise yona nathi.”

₁₁Kwaphuma amawaka amathathu amadoda apho kwaJuda, aya emqolombeni e-Etam, afika athetha noSamson, athi: “Ungathini ukusenza into enje? Akuyazi into yokuba siphantsi kwamaFilistiya?”

Ke yena wathi: “Hayi, mna ndiwavise le nto ebendivise yona nawo.”

₁₂Ke wona athi: “Size kukukhonkxa, ukuze sikuse kumaFilistiya.”

USamson wathi: “Fungani ukuba anizi kundilimaza ngokwenu.”

₁₃Aphendula ke wona athi: “Hayi, nakanye; nto nje sifuna ukukukhonkxa, sikunikezele kuwo.” Ngenene ke amqamangela ngeentsontelo ezimbini ezintsha, abuya naye apho emqolombeni.

₁₄Uthe ke akufika eLerhi, amaFilistiya eza kuye egxalathelana ekhwaza. Ke kaloku wambeswa amandla nguMoya *kaNdikhoyo, zaza ezo ntsontelo wayebotshwe ngazo iingalo nezandla zaba ngathi ngumsonto ulenywa ngumlilo, zaza zakhululeka nezandla zakhe. ₁₅Wafumana umhlathi wedonki owomeleleyo, wawuthi hlasi, wabulala iwaka lamadoda ngawo.

₁₆Wadanduluka ke wathi:

₁₇Emva koko ke wawulahla umhlathi lowo, le ndawo yayisenzeka kuyo le nto wathi yiRamati-lerhi.

₁₈USamson wasuka wanxanwa gqitha, waza wazibika kuNdikhoyo, wathi: “Mna sicaka sakho olu loyiso ndilufumene ngawe; ngani ke ngoku ukuba ndide ndife lunxano, ndibe sisisulu sezi ntlanga?” ₁₉Ngoko ke uThixo wavula umngxuma emhlabeni khona apho eLerhi, kwaza ke kwaphuma amanzi. Wasela ke uSamson, abuya amandla akhe, waziva ehlaziyekile. Loo ndawo ke kwathiwa yiEn-hakore. Nangoku ke isekho apho eLerhi.

₂₀Yaba yiminyaka emashumi mabini uSamson ewakhokela amaSirayeli ngemihla yamaFilistiya.

₁Ngamhla uthile uSamson waya eGaza, waza wabona ihenyukazi, waya kulalisa kulo. ₂Abantu baseGaza baxelelwa kwathiwa: “USamson ulapha.” Baza bawurhawula loo mzi ubusuku bonke, bamlalela nasemasangweni esixeko. Bahlala ubusuku bonke, besithi: “Kwakusa ngomso sombulala.”

₃Kambe ke yena uSamson wavuka phakathi kobusuku, waya esangweni lesixeko, wafika wayibamba imigubasi kunye neengcango nomvalo, wasiphula konke. Wayixwaya emagxeni, waya nayo kwinduli ekhangelene neHebron.

₄Kwakhona ke uSamson wathandana nentokazi yentili yaseSoreki egama linguDelila. ₅Ke izikhulu zamaFilistiya zaya kuyo, zathi: “Msondeze uSamson de akuxelele imfihlelo yala mandla akhe angaka, ucebise ukuba singenza kanjani na ukuze simbambe, simbophe, simoyise. Umntu ngamnye kuthi uya kukunika iisiliva ezilishumi elinanye lamakhulu.”

₆Ngoko ke uDelila wacengana noSamson, wathi: “Ndihlebele; uwathatha phi la mandla angaka? Ungabotshwa ngantoni ukuze woyisakale?”

₇USamson wamphendula wathi: “Ukuba ndingabotshwa ngesixhenxe seentsontelo ezingekomi, amandla am angatha, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₈Izikhulu zamaFilistiya ke zanika uDelila iintsontelo ezisixhenxe ezingekomi, waza ke wambopha ngazo uSamson. ₉Ke kaloku uDelila wayefihle amadoda endlwini apho, waza ke wakhwaza wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!” Ke yena uSamson ezo ntsontelo wazithi gqashu-gqashu okomtya ulenywa ngumlilo. Ngoko ke imfihlelo yamandla akhe yasala ingaziwa mntu.

₁₀UDelila wathetha noSamson, wathi: “Wena uphoxe ngam, wandixokisa. Khawundixelele ukuba ungabotshwa ngantoni na.”

₁₁USamson waphendula wathi: “Ukuba banokundibopha ngeentsontelo ezintsha ezingekasebenzi, amandla am angetha, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₁₂Ke uDelila wathatha iintsontelo ezintsha, wambopha ngazo uSamson, waza wakhwaza wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!” AmaFilistiya ke ayelalele endlwini apho. Kodwa yena uSamson waziqhawula ezo ntsontelo ezazisezingalweni zakhe zanga yimisonto.

₁₃UDelila wathi kuSamson: “Nangoku uyawaphoxa ngam, wandixokisa. Khawundixelele ukuba ungabotshwa ngantoni na.”

Waphendula ke uSamson wathi: “Ukuba unokwenza amafrerha asixhenxe entloko kum, uze uwaluke kunye nemisonto, uwaqinise ngoluthi lokuluka, ndingetha amandla, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₁₄Ke uDelila wathi akulala uSamson wawaluka ngemisonto amafrerha asixhenxe kaSamson ewaqinisa ngoluthi, wakhwaza wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!” Wasuka wavuka uSamson, waluncothula uluthi, wayixhwitha imisonto.

₁₅UDelila ke wathi kuSamson: “Ungathini ukuthi uyandithanda kodwa akundithembi! Kokwesithathu ngoku uphoxisa ngam, ibe ke nangoku akukandixeleli ukuba uwathatha phi la mandla angaka.” ₁₆Waza ke wammela imihla ngemihla emcenga.

Wada uSamson wakruquka wanga angafa, ₁₇wamchazela konke, wathi: “Iinwele zam zange zichetywe. Ndanikelwa *ndalilolo likaThixo kwasekuzalweni kwam. Xa zinokuchetywa iinwele zam, angaphela amandla am, ndibe buthathaka nam, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₁₈UDelila akuqonda ukuba uxelelwe yonke inyaniso nguSamson, wathumela kwizikhulu zamaFilistiya, wathi: “Yizani kwakhona; undixelele konke.” Ke zeza zimphathele imali leyo. ₁₉UDelila walalisa uSamson emathangeni akhe, waza ke wabiza umntu, wacheba amafrerha osixhenxe akhe. Ngokwenjenje ke uDelila wamenza waphelelwa ngamandla uSamson. ₂₀Wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!”

Ke yena wavuka ebuthongweni esithi: “Ndiya kubuya ndiwavuthulule ndiphuncuke.” Kambe ke wayengaqondi ukuba ushiyiwe *nguNdikhoyo. ₂₁AmaFilistiya ke ambamba, amkhupha amehlo, amtyhaphaza. Amthatha amsa eGaza, amqamangela ngamatyathanga obhedu, amfaka emsebenzini wokusila entolongweni. ₂₂Kambe iinwele zakhe zaphinda zakhula.

₂₃Izikhulu zamaFilistiya zahlanganisana zabhiyoza, zisenzela uthixo wazo uDagoni isiyikayika sedini. Zadanduluka zathi: “Uthixo wethu ulunikele esandleni sethu utshaba lwethu uSamson!”

_24-25Kwathi xa kumnandi apho kwelo theko, zathi: “Yizani noSamson, eze kusonwabisa!” Bathi ke bakumkhupha uSamson entolongweni, bahlekisa ngaye, bammisa phakathi kweentsika. Abantu ke bakumbona uSamson badumisa uthixo wabo, bathi: “Uthixo wethu ulunikele esandleni sethu utshaba lwethu oluzise intshabalalo kwilizwe lethu, lwabulala abantu bethu abaninzi kangaka!”

₂₆USamson wathetha nomfana owayemrhola, wathi: “Khawume khe ndizive iintsika zesi sakhiwo. Ndifuna ukwayama ngazo.” ₂₇Indlu leyo ke yayizele ngamadoda nabafazi. Zonke izikhulu zamaFilistiya zazilapho; bebonke abantu babekwisithuba samawaka amathathu, beseluphahleni, bembukele behlekisa ngoSamson.

₂₈Ke kaloku uSamson wazibika kuNdikhoyo, wathi: “Ndikhoyo, Nkosi yam, ndikhumbule; nceda, Thixo wam, khawubuyise amandla am okwesi sihlandlo nje sodwa, ukuze ndiziphindezele kumaFilistiya ngenxa yesenzo sawo sokundikhupha amehlo.” ₂₉Ke uSamson wafikelela kwiintsika ezisesizikithini sesakhiwo eso. Wabamba yanye ngesokunene, enye wayibamba ngesokhohlo; ₃₀waza wadanduluka wathi: “Mandife kunye namaFilistiya!” Wazisunduza ngamandla akhe onke – folokohlo didli! Sadilika isakhiwo; zafela apho ezo zikhulu ndawonye nabo bonke ababekhona. Ekufeni kwakhe uSamson wabulala abantu abaninzi ngaphezu kwabo wababulala esadl' ubomi.

₃₁Ke kaloku abantakwabo nawo onke amawabo baya kuwuthatha umzimba wakhe, bagoduka nawo. Bamfihla kwingcwaba likayise uManowa phakathi kweZora ne-Eshtawoli. Waba yinkokheli yamaSirayeli iminyaka engamashumi amabini.

₁Kwakukho ndoda ithile igama linguMika. Yayimi kweleentaba kwaEfrayim. ₂Yathetha nonina, yathi: “Ngokuya wawubelwe ishumi elinanye leesiliva ndakuva ushwabula. Kambe ke ikum loo mali; yathathwa ndim.”

Unina wamsikelela, wathi: “*UNdikhoyo makakuthamsanqele, nyana wam.”

₃Waza ke unyana lowo wayibuyisela kunina loo mali. Ke yena unina wathi: “Le mali ngoku yekaNdikhoyo; ndiyinikezela kuye ukuze unyana wam aqingqe umfanekiso, utyatyekwe ngesiliva, kwanomfanekiso otyhidiweyo. Ngoko ke le siliva ndiyibuyisela kwakuwe.”

₄Imali leyo wayibuyisela kunina ke, yena wathatha amakhulu amabini kuloo siliva, wawanika ingcibi, eyakrola umfanekiso otyatyekwe ngesiliva, yenza nomnye otyhidiweyo. Wabekwa endlwini kaMika.

₅Lo mfo unguMika ke wayenesibingelelo sakhe. Wenza imifanekiso eqingqiweyo ndawonye *nesidanga, waza wamisela omnye koonyana bakhe wangumbingeleli. ₆Ke kaloku ngelo thuba kwakungekho kumkani kwaSirayeli; umntu ngamnye wayesenza unothanda.

₇Kwangelo thuba kwakukho umfana womLevi owayehlala eBhetelehem engumngeneleli kwelakwaJuda. ₈Waphuma ke eBhetelehem, efuna indawo anokuxhwarha kuyo. Esabhadula njalo waya kugaleleka kwaMika kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim. ₉UMika wambuza wathi: “Uvela phi?”

Ke yena waphendula wathi: “NdingumLevi waseBhetelehem kwelakwaJuda. Ndifuna indawo endingaxhwarha kuyo.”

₁₀UMika wathetha naye ke, wathi: “Sowuhlala apha kum, ube ngumfundisi nombingeleli wam; ndiya kukuhlawula ngeshumi leesiliva ngonyaka, ndawonye nempahla yokunxiba nokutya.” ₁₁UmLevi lowo ke wavumelana noMika, waza wahlala naye, waba njengonyana wakhe. ₁₂UMika wammisela waba ngumbingeleli wakhe, wahlala apho kwakhe. ₁₃UMika wathi: “Njengokuba umbingeleli wam engumLevi nje, ndiyazi ukuba uNdikhoyo uya kundithi jize ngenkqubela.”