To The Word – Day 196

₁Ngosuku lokuqala kwinyanga yesithathu yonyaka weshumi elinanye ndaliva ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi kum: ₂“Mntundini, bhekisa kukumkani waseJiputa nezihlwele zakhe, uthi:

₁₀“Ngako oko itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Wawumde kangangoko, uyivelele lee intshinyela yehlathi, wade wazingca ngobude bawo. ₁₁Ngenxa yoko ndawunikezela umlawuli wezizwe ukuba enze kuwo ngokwenkohlakalo yawo. Ndawushenxisa, ₁₂waza wagawulwa sesona sizwe sikhohlakeleyo kwezasemzini. Amasebe awo awela ezintabeni nasezintlanjeni; aphukela kuzo zonke iingxingwa zelizwe. Zonke izizwe zehlabathi zawushiya umthunzi wawo. ₁₃Zonke iintaka zahlala kuloo mthi uwileyo, nazo zonke izilo zabutha phakathi kwamasebe awo. ₁₄Ngako oko sokube kuphinde kubekho mthi ukhula ngasemanzini owongamela eminye imithi ngobude, uvelele intshinyela yehlathi. Akube kuphinde kubekho mthi ufunxa amanzi emhlabeni uya kuba mde ngolo hlobo. Yonke imelwe kukufa, itshone ngaphantsi komhlaba njengabantu bonke abatshona kwelabafileyo.

₁₅“Itsho iNkosi uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Mhla watshona kwelabafilyo, imithombo ndayithi wambu ngokuwuzilela, ndayinqumamisa imilanjana yayo, aza amanzi ayeka ukunkcenkceza. Ngokunjalo iLebhanon ndayithi gqume ngobumnyama, yaza yonke imithi endle yabuna. ₁₆Izizwe ndazenza zangcangcazela zakuva isandi sokuwa kwawo xa ndandiwufaka engcwabeni kunye nabo bangena kwelabafileyo. Kwakuba njalo yonke imithi yaseIdeni, eyona-yona mithi yaseLebhanon, yonke imithi eyayimi phezu kwamanzi, yaxola ngaphantsi komhlaba. ₁₇Abo babephumla emthunzini wawo, izizwe ezingabancedisi bawo, nabo babengene engcwabeni kunye nawo, baya kuhlangana nâbo babefe ngekrele.

₁₈“Nguwuphi umthi kweyaseIdeni onokufaniswa nawe ngobuqaqawuli nobungangamsha? Kanti nawe, kumkani waseJiputa, uya kutshoniswa phantsi komhlaba kunye nemithi yaseIdeni; uya kulala phakathi kwabangalukanga, abo batyakatywe ngekrele.

“Nditsho wena kumkani waseJiputa nezihlwele zakho zonke; ewe, itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo.”

₁Ngomhla wokuqala wenyanga yeshumi elinambini yonyaka weshumi elinambini ndeva ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₂“Mntundini, yitsho isililo ngokumkani waseJiputa, uthi kuye:

₁₁“Itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi:

₁₆“Esi sililo siya kwenzelwa yona. Siya kwenziwa ziintombi zezizwe, sisenzelwa iJiputa nezihlwele zayo, itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo.”

₁₇Ngomhla weshumi elinesihlanu enyangeni, kunyaka weshumi elinambini, ndeva ilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₁₈“Mntundini, zenzele isijwili izihlwele zaseJiputa, uzithobele phantsi komhlaba kunye nezizwe ezinamandla, behle bangene kwelabafileyo kunye nâbo bangena khona. ₁₉Yithi kubo: ‘Ngaba nina niyalungiselelwa kunabanye? Yihlani niye kulala phakathi kwabangalukanga.’ ₂₀Baya kuwa nâbo babulewe ngekrele. Ikrele lithiwe rhuthu esingxotyeni salo; iJiputa mayirhuqwe imke kunye nezihlwele zayo. ₂₁Kwelabafileyo iingangalala zeenkokheli ziya kuthetha ngeJiputa namahlakani ayo, zithi: ‘Behla baza kulala nabangalukanga, abo babulewe ngekrele.’

₂₂“Ilapho iAsiriya kunye nomkhosi wayo wonke; urhangqwe ngamangcwaba abantu bayo bonke ababuleweyo, bebulawa ngekrele. ₂₃Amangcwaba abo asezantsi kwelabafileyo; arhangqwe zizidumbu zomkhosi wayo. Bonke abahlwayela ivuso elizweni labaphilayo batyakatyiwe babulawa ngekrele.

₂₄“Ilapho iElam; ingcwaba layo lirhangqwe zizihlwele zayo. Bonke batyakatywe ngekrele. Bonke abatyala ivuso elizweni labaphilayo baye kulala ngaphantsi komhlaba kunye nabangalukanga. Bathwele ihlazo kunye nâbo behlayo bengena kwelabafileyo. ₂₅IElam yenzelwe umandlalo phakathi kwezidumbu zababuleweyo, ingcwaba layo lirhangqwe zizihlwele zayo. Bonke bafe ngekrele bengalukanga. Ngenxa yevuso labo kwilizwe labaphilayo balithwele ihlazo kunye nâbo bahlela kwelabafileyo. Balele nababuleweyo.

₂₆“Balapho ooMesheki nooTubhali; amangcwaba abo angqongwe zizihlwele zabo. Bonke abolukanga, batyakatywe ngekrele kuba ilizwe labaphilayo bebeliphethele ngoqhushululu. ₂₇Balele ndawonye namanye amajoni angalukanga angcwatywe kunye nezikhali zawo zokulwa, enze ngazo umqamelo. Isohlwayo sezono zawo naso emathanjeni abo. Kaloku ivuso lawo laligqiba lonke ilizwe labaphilayo.

₂₈“Nawe nkqu, kumkani waseJiputa, uza kunqanyulwa ungcwatywe nabangalukanga, ababulewe ngekrele.

₂₉“Ilapho iEdom, iikumkani neenkosana zayo; nakuba zingamakroti zilele nâbo bafe ngekrele. Bangcwatywe ndawonye nabangalukanga, abo bahlele kwelabafileyo.

₃₀“Zilapho iinkosana zasentla nawo onke amaSidon; awe kunye nabatyakatyelwe ehlazweni, nakuba ubunganga babo bubabanga ivuso. Balele apho bengalukanga, kunye nâbo bafe ngekrele; bathwele ihlazo labo kunye nâbo bahlele kwelabafileyo.

₃₁“Ukumkani waseJiputa uya kubabona, aze axole ngenxa yomkhosi wakhe wonke owatyakatywa ngekrele, itsho iNkosi uNdikhoyo. ₃₂Nakuba ndamenza wadala uloyiko ezweni labaphilayo ukumkani waseJiputa nezihlwele zakhe baya kuhlala engcwabeni kunye nabangalukanga, abo babulewe ngekrele, itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo.”

₁Ndeva ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₂“Mntundini, thetha nabantu bakuni uthi: Ndakuthumela ikrele elizweni, baze abantu balo bakhethe omnye wabo ukuba abe ngumlindi, ₃athi akubona ikrele lisiza kwenzakalisa isizwe asuke avuthele ixilongo ukulumkisa isizwe; ₄ke othe waliva ixilongo kodwa akahoya, laza lafika lona ikrele lamtyakatya wafa, ityala lelakhe. ₅Ulivile ixilongo, kodwa akahoya; ngoko ke ityala lokufa kwakhe lelakhe. Ukuba ebehoyile ngesindile ekufeni. ₆Kodwa ukuba uthe umlindi, elibona ikrele lisiza, akalivuthela ixilongo ukulumkisa abantu, laza ikrele lafika labulala omnye wabo, lowo uya kufa ngenxa yesono sakhe, kodwa ityala lokufa kwakhe liya kuba lelomlindi.

₇“Mntundini, wena ndikwenze umlindi wendlu kaSirayeli; ngoko phulaphula amazwi endiwathetha kuwe, uze ubalumkise. ₈Xa ndisithi kumntu okhohlakeleyo: ‘Inene, uza kufa, sikhohlakalindini,’ uze wena ungathethi naye umnqande kubugwenxa bakhe, ade yena afele esonweni sakhe, ityala lokufa kwakhe ndiya kulibeka kuwe. ₉Kodwa ukuba umntu okhahlakeleyo umnqandile kubugwenxa bakhe, waza akakuva, uya kufa ngenxa yesono sakhe, kodwa wena uya kuba ubuhlangule ekufeni ubomi bakho.

₁₀“Mntundini, xelela indlu kaSirayeli uthi: ‘Nina nithi: Iziphoso zethu nezono zethu zingumthwalo onzima phezu kwethu; siyangcungcutheka ngenxa yazo. Siya kuthini na ke ukuze sisinde?’ ₁₁Yithi kubo: ‘Ndikho nje ndiyafunga, itsho iNkosi uNdikhoyo; akundikholisi ukufa kwabakhohlakeleyo. Ndithanda ukuba baguquke, bahlukane nezenzo zabo zobugwenxa, badle ubomi. Guqukani! Guqukani kwiindlela zenkohlakalo. Ngani ukuba nide nife, ndlundini kaSirayeli?’

₁₂“Ngoko ke, mntundini, yithi kubantu bakuni: ‘Ubulungisa bomntu olilungisa abuyi kumsindisa mhla wakreqa; nenkohlakalo yokhohlakeleyo ayiyi kumeyelisela xa athe wahlukana nayo. Nelungisa xa lithe lakreqa aliyi kuvunyelwa lidle ubomi.’ ₁₃Ukuba ilungisa ndilixelele ukuba liya kudla ubomi, laza lakreqa kuba likholose ngobulungisa balo, bonke ubulungisa balo buya kulityalwa; liya kufa ngenxa yesono salo. ₁₄Ukuba ndithe kumntu okhohlakeleyo: ‘Wena uza kufa,’ waza yena wazohlwaya, wenza okulungileyo – ₁₅waza wayibuyisa loo mpahla bekubanjiswe ngayo ngumboleki, wayibuyisa impahla ayibileyo, wenza ngokwemimiselo yobomi, wahlukana nobubi, ngokwenene akayi kufa, uya kudla ubomi. ₁₆Akukho nasinye isono sakhe esiya kukhunjulwa. Kaloku wenze okufanelekileyo nokulungileyo – inene, uya kudla ubomi.

₁₇“Kanti noko abantu bakuni bathi: ‘Indlela aqhuba ngayo uNdikhoyo ayinabulungisa.’ Ukanti yindlela yabo engalunganga. ₁₈Ukuba umntu olilungisa uyakreqa ebulungiseni, enze ububi, uya kufa ngenxa yezono zakhe. ₁₉Kanti ukuba umntu okhohlakeleyo uthe wazikhwebula enkohlakalweni, wenza okulungileyo, uya kudla ubomi ngenxa yoko. ₂₀Kanti noko, ndlu kaSirayeli, nisathi: ‘Indlela aqhuba ngayo uNdikhoyo ayinabulungisa.’ Kodwa mna ndiya kugweba umntu ngamnye ngokwezenzo zakhe.”

₂₁Ngomhla weshumi kwinyanga yeshumi yonyaka weshumi elinambini wokuthinjwa kwethu, indoda eyayibhunce eJerusalem yeza kum yathi: “Isixeko siwile!” ₂₂Kanti ngobusuku obuphambi kokufika kwaloo mfo, ndasiva isandla *sikaNdikhoyo, waza wavuleka umlomo wam kusasa singekabonani. Ewe, wavuleka umlomo wam, ndayeka ukuthula.

₂₃Ndaliva ilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₂₄“Mntundini, bathi abantu abahlala kuloo mabhodlo akwaSirayeli: ‘UAbraham yayikukuphela kwakhe, kodwa ilizwe lalilelakhe lonke. Kanti thina sibaninzi, makube ilizwe silinikiwe ukuba libe lelethu lonke.’

₂₅“Ke ngoko baxelele uthi: Itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Njengokuba nisitya inyama enegazi nje, nithembele *nakwizithixo zenu eziqingqiweyo, niphalaza negazi, ngaba eli lizwe lingalelenu njani? ₂₆Nithe qhiwu ikrele; izenzo zenu zinezothe; ngamnye kuni ukrexeza nomfazi wommelwane wakhe. Ngaba eli lizwe lingalelenu njani?

₂₇“Baxelele wenjenje: Itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Ndikho nje ndiyafunga, amasalela akulaa mabhodlo aza kutyakatywa ngekrele. Abangaphandle kwesixeko ndiya kubanikezela emarhamncweni abaqwenge, abangene kwinqaba nasemiqolombeni baya kubulawa ngubhubhani. ₂₈Ilizwe ndiya kulenza libe yinkangala yentlango, aphele amandla ebelizingca ngawo, nakwiintaba zakwaSirayeli kuya kuba sebugxwayibeni, kungabikho mntu unqumlayo kuzo. ₂₉Baya kundiqonda ukuba ndinguNdikhoyo xa umhlaba sendiwubharhisile ngenxa yamanyundululu abo.

₃₀“Wena ke, mntundini, abantu bakuni bayathetha ngawe beziziqhu ngasezindongeni nakwiminyango yezindlu, bathi omnye komnye: ‘Yizani nize kuva udaba oluvela kuNdikhoyo.’ ₃₁Abantu bam bayeza kuwe ngokwabantu bakaThixo, bafike bahlale phambi kwakho, baphulaphule loo nto uyithethayo, kodwa abenzi nto ngayo. Banenzondelelo ngomlomo, kodwa iintliziyo zabo ziyila ubuqhophololo. ₃₂Enyanisweni wena kubo unjengomntu ocula iingoma zothando ngelizwi elimyoli, nodlala isikhalisi kamnandi, kuba bayaweva amazwi akho, kodwa abenzi lutho ngawo.

₃₃“Zakuzaliseka zonke ezi zinto (njengokuba kuza kuba njalo) baya kuqonda ukuba bekukho *umshumayeli phakathi kwabo.”

₁Ndaliva ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₂“Mntundini, bakhalimele abelusi bakwaSirayeli; ewe, bakhalimele uthi kubo: Itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Yehaa, abelusi bakwaSirayeli abakhathalele iziqu zabo kuphela! Ngaba abelusi àbafanele kwalusa umhlambi na? ₃Nidla ingqaka, nenze izinxibo ngoboya, nixhele ezona zityebileyo, kodwa aninankathalo ngomhlambi. ₄Anizomelezi ezibuthathaka, okanye nizinyange ezigulayo, kungenjalo nizibophe ezenzakeleyo. Anizinqandi eziphambukayo, okanye nizifune ezilahlekileyo. Ndaweni yaloo nto niziphethe gadalala nangenkohlakalo. ₅Ke ngoko zithe saa, kuba zingenaye umalusi, zaba ke njalo zilixhoba lamarhamncwa. ₆Iigusha zam zaya kutsho ezintabeni, zathi xakalala ezindulini zonke. Zathi saa kulo lonke ilizwe, akwabikho mntu ubuzisayo uzifunayo.

₇“Nina ke, belusi, yivani ilizwi likaNdikhoyo: ₈Ndikho nje ndiyafunga, itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo, ngenxa yokuba umhlambi wam ungenamalusi, suka wahlaselwa waba lixhoba lawo onke amarhamncwa, nasekubeni abelusi bengazifunanga ezilahlekileyo, kodwa basuke bakhathalela iziqu zabo endaweni yomhlambi wam, ₉ngoko ke, liveni ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, nina belusi: ₁₀Itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Ndiyalwa nabelusi, kwaye ndiya kuwubiza kubo owam umhlambi. Ndiza kubagxotha bangabi sawalusa umhlambi wam, ukuze bayeke ukwalusela iziqu zabo. Ndiza kuwuhlangula umhlambi wam, ungabi kukudla kwabo.

₁₁“Utsho uMhlekazi uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Uyabona, iigusha zam ndiya kuzifuna ngokwam, ndize ndizilondoloze. ₁₂Njengomalusi olondoloza umhlambi wakhe othe saa, nam ndiya kuzilondoloza iigusha zam. Ndiya kuzihlangula kuzo zonke iindawo ezathi saa kuzo ngomhla wamafu nobumnyama. ₁₃Ndiya kuzikhupha ezizweni, ndizibuthe emazweni, ndizifake kwelazo ilizwe. Ndiya kuzalusela ezintabeni eziphakamileyo zakwaSirayeli, ezingxingweni, nakuzo zonke izithanga zelizwe. ₁₄Ndiya kuzalusela emadlelweni aluhlaza; ziya kudla ezintabeni zakwaSirayeli. Ziya kubutha emadlelweni amahle, zidle eyona-yona ngca ezintabeni zakwaSirayeli. ₁₅Iigusha zam ndiya kuzalusa mna ngokwam, ndiziyeke zetyise, itsho iNkosi uNdikhoyo. ₁₆Ndiya kuzifuna ezilahlekileyo, ndiziphuthume ezidukileyo. Ndiya kuzibopha ezenzakeleyo, ndizomeleze ezibuthathaka; kodwa ndiya kuzinqamla ezityebileyo nezomeleleyo. Umhlambi ndiya kuwalusa ngobulungisa.

₁₇“Ke kuni, mhlambi wam, itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo: Ndiya kwahlula phakathi kwegusha negusha, ngokunjalo naphakathi kweenkunzi zeegusha nezeebhokhwe. ₁₈Akwanele na kuni ukudla kumadlelo amahle? Kuyimfuneko na ukuba idlelo eliseleyo nilinyhashe ngeenyawo zenu? Ananeli na kukusela emanzini angcwengileyo? Kungani ukuba amanye niwagxobha-gxobhe ngeenyawo zenu? ₁₉Nithi umhlambi wam mawutye loo ngca beniyinyhasha, usele loo manzi beniwagxobha-gxobha ngeenyawo zenu?

₂₀“Ke ngoko itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Jongani, ndim oya kukhetha igusha etyebileyo kwebhityileyo. ₂₁Kaloku benityhala ngamacala nangamagxa nizingquzula iigusha ezibuthathaka ngeempondo zenu zada zakhwelela. ₂₂Ke ngoko ndiya kuwuhlangula umhlambi wam, ukuze ungabuye ube lixhoba. Ndiya kwahlula phakathi kwegusha nenye. ₂₃Ndiya kuzimisela umalusi omnye, isicaka sam uDavide, oya kuzalusa kakuhle. ₂₄Mna Ndikhoyo ndiya kuba nguThixo wazo; sona isicaka sam uDavide soba yinkosi yazo. Nditshilo nje mna Ndikhoyo, nditshilo.

₂₅“Ndiya kwenza umnqophiso woxolo nomhlambi wam, ndiwagxothe amarhamncwa ezweni, khon' ukuze iigusha zam zihlale entlango, zilale nasemahlathini, ngaphandle koloyiko. ₂₆Ndiya kuzithamsanqelisa kunye nako konke okujikeleze induli yam. Ndiya kunisa imvula ngexesha layo; kuya kuna iimvula zentsikelelo. ₂₇Imithi emasimini iya kuba neziqhamo; amasimi aya kuvelisa isivuno; bona abantu bakuziva bengenalo uloyiko elizweni labo. Baya kuqonda ukuba ndinguNdikhoyo, mhlenikwezeni ndayophula idyokhwe abayithweleyo, ndabahlangula kwabo bebengamakhoboka abo. ₂₈Abayi kuphinda babe lixhoba lezizwe nesisulu sokuqwengwa ngamarhamncwa. Baya kuhlala bekhuselekile, bengoyikiswa mntu. ₂₉Ndiya kubanika umhlaba odume ngokuchuma, bayeke ukuba lixhoba lendlala kwelakowabo nokudelwa zezinye izizwe. ₃₀Baya kutsho baqonde ukuba mna Ndikhoyo Thixo wabo, ndingakubo, baqonde ukuba nabo ndlu kaSirayeli bangabantu bam, itsho iNkosi uNdikhoyo. ₃₁Nina zigusha zam, zigusha zedlelo lam, ningabantu; nam ndinguThixo wenu; itsho iNgangalala uNdikhoyo.”

₁Ndeva ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₂“Mntundini, bhekisa kwintaba iSeyire, uyikhalimele, ₃uthi: Itsho iNkosi uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Ndiyalwa nawe, ntaba yaseSeyire, ndaye ndiza kukufika ngesandla, ndikutsho ube yinkangala yentlango. ₄Ndiya kuzidiliza izixeko zakho, kutsho kube senxuweni. Uya kuqonda ke ukuba ndinguNdikhoyo.

₅“Ngenxa yokuba ubambe ubutshaba obudala, amaSirayeli wawayekela atyakatywa ngekrele ngexesha lawo lentlekele, apho isohlwayo sawo sasifikelele encotsheni, ₆ndikho nje ndiyafunga, itsho iNkosi uNdikhoyo, ndiza kukunikezela kwabakusukelayo bazingise ukuliphalaza igazi lakho. Kaloku wena awukuthiyanga ukuphalazwa kwegazi, ke ngoko impalalo-gazi iya kuhlala ikusukela. ₇Ndiya kuyenza intaba yaseSeyire ibe yinkangala, ndibathintele abo bafuna ukuma kuyo. ₈Iintaba zakho ndiya kuzenza zizale zizidumbu zabagwintiweyo; izidumbu zabatyakatywe ngekrele ziya kuzalisa iinduli zakho, neentlambo zakho, neengxingwa zakho. ₉Ndiya kukwenza ube yinkangala ngonaphakade; izixeko zakho zilil' ibhungane. Uya kuqonda ke ukuba mna ndinguNdikhoyo.

₁₀“Kaloku uthe: ‘Zozibini ezi zizwe, nawo omabini la mazwe, siza kuwathatha abe ngawethu.’ Loo nto uyithethe nakuba mna Ndikhoyo ndandikho. ₁₁Ngako oko, ndikho nje ndiyafunga, mna Nkosi Ndikhoyo, ndiza kukohlwaya ngokomsindo nobukhwele bakho, kuba wakhuphela intiyo yakho kumaSirayeli. Xa kunjalo aya kuqonda ukuba ndingakuwo. ₁₂Uya kuqonda ke ukuba mna Ndikhoyo ndizivile zonke izinyeliso zakho kwiintaba zakwaSirayeli. Uthe wena: ‘Zibhujisiwe zaza zanikelwa kuthi ukuba siziqwenge.’ ₁₃Wandiqhayisela wathetha wadlulisa, mna ke ndakuva. ₁₄Itsho ke iNgangalala uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Xa umhlaba wonke uchulumanca, wena ndiya kukutshabalalisa. ₁₅Ngenxa yokuba wena wazala luvuyo mhla litshabalala ilifa lendlu kaSirayeli, nawe ndiza kukuvisa loo nto. Uza kutshabalala, ntaba yaseSeyire, wena ne-Edom iphela. Niya kutsho niqonde ukuba ndinguNdikhoyo.”