To The Word – Day 2

₁Ekuqaleni uThixo wadala izulu nomhlaba. ₂Kwakuselubala nje emhlabeni, kungekho nto ikhoyo. Inzonzobila yamanzi eyayigubungele konke yayithiwe gqume sisithokothoko sobumnyama. UMoya kaThixo wafukama phezu kwaloo manzi. ₃Wathi uThixo makubekho ukukhanya. Kwabakho ukukhanya. ₄Wakholwa ke uThixo koko kukhanya, waza wakwahlula ukukhanya nobumnyama. ₅Wathi ukukhanya yimini; wathi ubumnyama bona bubusuku. Kwahlwa, kwasa; yangumhla wokuqala ke lowo.

₆Wabuya uThixo wathi makubekho amajukujuku, awahlule kubini amanzi. ₇Abakho ke amajukujuku. Wawenza ke uThixo amajukujuku, wawahlula amanzi angaphantsi kwawo kumanzi angaphezu kwawo. ₈Wathi uThixo amajukujuku lawo sisibhakabhaka. Kwahlwa, kwabuya kwasa; yaba ngumhla wesibini ke lowo.

₉Wandula uThixo ukuthi amanzi angaphantsi kwesibhakabhaka makaqokeleleke ndawonye, kuze kuvele indawo engenamanzi. Kwaba njalo ke. ₁₀Wathi uThixo loo ndawo ingenamanzi ngumhlaba, waza wathi loo manzi andawonye wona lulwandle. Wakholwa ke yiloo nto uThixo. ₁₁Ubuye wathi umhlaba mawuvelise zonke iintlobo zezityalo, ezo zithwala iinkozo kwanezithwala iziqhamo, zonke ngokweendidi zazo. Kwaba njalo ke. ₁₂Umhlaba ke wavelisa zonke iindidi zezityalo, ezo zithwala iinkozo kwanezo zithwala iziqhamo ngokweendidi zazo. UThixo ke wakholwa yiloo nto. ₁₃Kwahlwa ke, kwaza kwasa. Lowo ke yaba ngumhla wesithathu.

₁₄Kwakhona uThixo wathi: “Makuvele izikhanyiso esibhakabhakeni, zahlukanise imini nobusuku, zibe yimiqondiso yamathuba, imihla, neminyaka.” ₁₅Wathi: “Mazivele esibhakabhakeni, zikhanyise elizweni.” Kwaba njalo ke. ₁₆UThixo wênza izikhanyiso ezibini ezikhulu: esikhulu sibe sesasemini, esincinane sibe sesasebusuku. Wênza neenkwenkwezi. ₁₇UThixo wazibeka esibhakabhakeni ezo zikhanyiso, ukuze zikhanyise elizweni, ₁₈zongamele imini kunye nobusuku, nokuze zahlule ukukhanya nobumnyama. Wakholwa uThixo nazizo. ₁₉Kwahlwa, kwasa, yaba ngumhla wesine.

₂₀UThixo wathi: “Makubekho inyambalala yeendidi zezinto ezinobomi emanzini, kubekho neentaka eziphaphazelayo esibhakabhakeni.” ₂₁Wabadala ke uThixo oominenga nezinye iintlobo-ntlobo zezilo zamanzi, neentlobo zonke zeentaka. Wakholwa ke uThixo zizo. ₂₂Wazithamsanqelisa zonke, wathi: “Mazande izilo zamanzi, zinyakazele elwandle. Neentaka nazo mazande emhlabeni.” ₂₃Kwahlwa, kwasa, yaba ngumhla wesihlanu lowo.

₂₄Kwakhona uThixo uthe umhlaba mawuvelise iintlobo zonke zezinto ezinobomi: oozinkomo, izinto ezirhubuluzayo nezinambuzane, nazo zonke iindidi zamarhamncwa. Kwaba njalo ke. ₂₅Wazenza zonke ke uThixo izilo ngokweendidi zazo, noozinkomo ngokweendidi zazo, nezilwanyane ezirhubuluzayo nezinambuzane ngokweendidi zazo. Waza ke uThixo wakholwa zezo zinto.

₂₆Waza ke uThixo wathi: “Masenze umntu abe ngumfuziselo wethu, afane nathi. Makabe negunya, alawule iintlanzi elwandle, iintaka ezibhabha esibhakabhakeni, iinkomo, nazo zonke izilo nezinambuzane elizweni.” ₂₇Wamdala ke uThixo umntu. Wamenza wangumfuziselo wakhe. Wadala umntu oyindoda kwakunye nomntu obhinqileyo. ₂₈Wabathamsanqelisa uThixo wathi: “Yandani, inzala yenu ilizalise ilizwe, nilongamele. Ndininika igunya phezu kweentlanzi, iintaka, nazo zonke izilo elizweni. ₂₉Ndininika zonke izityalo ezithwala iinkozo elizweni, kunye nemithi ethwala iziqhamo. Zoba kukutya kwenu ezo zinto. ₃₀Ke zona iintaka nezilo zonke ziya kutya uhlaza.” Kwaba njalo ke. ₃₁UThixo wakholwa kakhulu yiyo yonke indalo yakhe. Kwahlwa, kwasa; yaba ngumhla wesithandathu ke lowo.

₁Aba ke ngoko agqityiwe ukudalwa amazulu nehlabathi liphela. ₂Ngomhla wesixhenxe uThixo wayeselekugqibile konke awayekwenza, waza ke waphumla. ₃Wawuthamsanqelisa umhla wesixhenxe, wawumisa wangumhla okhethekileyo, kuba ngaloo mhla wayeselegqibile ukudala.

₄Nanga amagqabantshintshi ngokudalwa kwezulu nehlabathi: Ekudalweni kwezulu nehlabathi nguThixo *uNdikhoyo ₅kwakungekho zityalo emhlabeni. Kwakungekho nambewu intshulayo, kuba kaloku wayengekayinisi emhlabeni imvula uNdikhoyo; kwakungekho namntu wakuwulima umhlaba lowo. ₆Kwagqabhuka amanzi emhlabeni, awunyakamisa umhlaba.

₇UNdikhoyo uThixo wacaphula umhlaba emhlabeni, wabumba umntu ngawo. Waphefumlela umoya obubomi emathatheni akhe, yaba ngumntu ophilayo lowo.

₈Emva koko uNdikhoyo uThixo wenza umyezo eIdeni empumalanga, wambeka apho loo mntu wayemenzile. ₉Wahlumisa iindidi zemithi emihle eneziqhamo ezinomtsalane apho eIdeni. Phakathi esidikidikini somyezo kwakukho umthi onika ubomi, nomthi wokucalula okubi nokuhle.

₁₀Kwakukho umlambo owawuphuma apho eIdeni, unyakamisa umyezo lowo. Wawusahlukana ube yimilambo emine wakuyishiya i-Ideni. ₁₁Owokuqala umlambo, okuthiwa yiPishoni, ngulo ujikeleze ilizwe lakwaHavila. ₁₂Kulapho kufunyanwa khona igolide, kunye namakha avumba limnandi, kwakunye namatye exabiso. ₁₃Owesibini umlambo yiGihoni; wona ujikeleze ilizwe lakwaKushe. ₁₄Owesithathu umlambo yiTigre; wona ucanda ngasempumalanga yeAsiriya. Owesine yiEfrati.

₁₅Umntu wabekwa nguNdikhoyo uThixo emyezweni waseIdeni ukuze awulime, awulondoloze. ₁₆UThixo wathi kuye: “Ungatya nakuwuphi na umthi osemyezweni; ₁₇kodwa uze ungatyi kumthi wokucalula okubi nokuhle. Mhla watya kuwo ngenene uya kufa.”

₁₈Uthe ke uNdikhoyo uThixo emva koko: “Akukuhle ukuba le ndoda ihlale ililolo. Kuhle ndiyenzele umlingane onokuncedisana nayo.”

₁₉UNdikhoyo uThixo wayethathe umhlaba wabumba zonke iinyamakazi neentaka, wazisa kuloo ndoda ukuba izithiye amagama. Zawafumana njalo ke amagama azo ezo zinto. ₂₀Yazithiya amagama zonke iintaka neenyamakazi loo ndoda, kodwa akubangakho nanye kuzo eyafanela ukuba ngumlingane wayo.

₂₁Usuke uNdikhoyo uThixo wayihlisela obunzulu bona ubuthongo obu indoda leyo. Ithe isalele njalo wakhupha ubambo kuyo, wabuya wayivala loo ndawo. ₂₂UNdikhoyo uThixo udale umfazi ngolo bambo waluthathayo endodeni, wamsa kuyo. ₂₃Ithe ke indoda:

₂₄Yiyo ke loo nto indoda imshiya uyise nonina, inamathele kumkayo, baze babe mntu mnye.

₂₅Loo ndoda nomkayo babehamba ze, bengenazintloni.

₁Inyoka yayisesona sidalwa sinobuqhetseba kunazo zonke izidalwa *zikaNdikhoyo uThixo. Yambuza umfazi inyoka yathi: “Ngaba kuyinyani na ukuba uThixo uniyalele ukuba ningatyi kuyo yonke imithi ekulo myezo?”

₂“Hayi, singatya nakuwuphi na umthi osemyezweni,” utshilo umfazi ukuphendula. ₃“Ngumthi ophaya esidikidikini somyezo qha esingenakutya kuwo. UThixo uthe maze singazityi iziqhamo zawo, singaziphathi nokuziphatha oku, ukuba asifuni kufa.”

₄Ithe ukuphendula inyoka: “Hayi, anisoze nife. ₅Nto nje uyazi uThixo ukuba xa nizityileyo iziqhamo zawo novuleka amehlo, nibe njengaye, nikwazi ukucalula okuhle kokubi.”

₆Watsho waqonda umfazi ukuba singamnandi eso siqhamo: siyanqweneleka, yaye sifanele ukunika ulwazi. Wakha, watya; wanika nomyeni wakhe owayekho, naye watya. ₇Bathi bakugqiba ukutya kwatsho kwee dlwe, avuleka amehlo, baziqonda ukuba bahamba ze. Bathunga amagqabi omkhiwane, bazambhathisa.

₈Emva koko beva isandi sokuhamba kukaThixo uNdikhoyo emyezweni ukujika kwelanga. Bazimela ematyholweni emyezweni apho. ₉UNdikhoyo uThixo wayibiza indoda, wathi: “Ùphi?”

₁₀Yaphendula yathi: “Ndive isandi sokuza kwakho, ndaza ndoyika ndazimela, kuba ndihamba ze.”

₁₁Uthe uThixo: “Ùve ngabani ukuba uhamba ze? Utyile kulaa mthi bendithe uze ungatyi kuwo?”

₁₂Ithe indoda ukuphendula: “Ngulo mfazi ùndinike yena lo úndiphileyo, nam ke ndatya.”

₁₃UNdikhoyo uThixo wambuza umfazi esithi: “Ùyenzele ntoni into enje?”

Uphendule umfazi wathi: “Ndikhohliswe yinyoka, nam ke ndatya.”

₁₄*UNdikhoyo uThixo uthe kuyo inyoka:

₁₆Waza wathi kuloo mfazi:

₁₇Uthe endodeni uThixo:

₂₀UAdam wamthiya igama umkakhe, wathi nguEfa, kuba kaloku luzalwa nguye lonke uluntu. ₂₁UNdikhoyo uThixo wabenzela izambatho zesikhumba senyamakazi, wabambesa zona ooAdam noEfa.

₂₂Wathi ke *uNdikhoyo uThixo: “Umntu ngoku unjengathi, uyakwazi ukucalula okuhle kokubi. Kuya kuthini ke xa athe wakha, watya kumthi wobomi, aze aphile angaze afe?” ₂₃UNdikhoyo uThixo wamgxothela ngaphandle komyezo umntu, wamenza umlimi womhlaba avele kuwo. ₂₄Kwicala elingasempumalanga lomyezo uThixo wabeka *izithunywa ezimaphiko nekrele elidangazelayo, elijika-jika lijonge kwiimbombo zonke. Zazilinde ukuba kungabikho bani usondelayo kumthi wobomi.

₁Ekuqaleni, kungekadalwa, wayeselekho uLizwi. ULizwi lo wayekunye noThixo, naye ngokwakhe enguThixo. ₂Yena wayekunye noThixo kwasekuqalekeni. ₃Izinto zonke zadalwa ngaye; ngaphandle kwakhe akubangakho nto idaliweyo. Indalo yonke ₄yaba nobomi ngaye, baza obo bomi baba lukhanyiso eluntwini. ₅Olu khanyiso lukhanya ebumnyameni; kwaye ubumnyama abuzange bukoyise ukukhanya kwalo.

₆UThixo wathuma mntu uthile, ogama linguYohane. ₇Yena weza kungqina, engqinela ukukhanya, ukuze bonke bakholwe ngenxa yobungqina bakhe. ₈Yena uYohane ngokwakhe wayengelulo ukhanyiso, koko weza kungqina ngalo. ₉Lowo ulukhanyiso lwenene olukhanyisela wonke umntu, wayesiza ehlabathini.

₁₀Wafika ke yena ehlabathini; kanti, nangona ihlabathi labakho ngaye nje, alimqondanga. ₁₁Weza kwelakowabo, aza amawabo akamamkela. ₁₂Kodwa bonke abâmamkeláyo, bezinikele kuye ngokupheleleyo, wabanika igunya lokuba ngabantwana bakaThixo. ₁₃Ababanga ngabantwana bakaThixo ngokuzalwa bengabomlibo othile, okanye ngokuzalwa ngendlela yemvelo; nguThixo ngokwakhe obazeleyo.

₁₄ULizwi ke waba ngumntu, waza wahlala phakathi kwethu. Sabubukela ubungangamsha bakhe awabunikwa nguYise, njengoko ekukuphela koNyana wakhe; ubungangamsha ke obuphuphuma ububele nenyaniso.

₁₅UYohane wangqina ngoLizwi; wavakalisa esithi: “Lo ngulowo bendithetha ngaye xa bendisithi: ‘Lowo uza emva kwam mkhulu kunam, kuba wayeselekho ndingekabikho mna.’ ”

₁₆Ngokuphuphuma kobubele bukaLizwi, thina sonke saphiwa iintsikelelo ezingenasiphelo. ₁₇Nakuba uThixo wasinika umthetho ngoMosis, ubabalo nenyaniso wasinika ngoYesu Krestu. ₁₈Akukho namnye umntu owakha wambona uThixo. Abantu bamazi uThixo ngokumaziswa nguNyana okukuphela kwakhe, yena okwanguThixo, ohlala ehleli esenyongweni kuYise.

₁₉Nabu ke ubungqina bukaYohane, oko amaJuda aseJerusalem athumela ababingeleli *nabaLevi kuye, okokuba ambuze athi: “Ungubani na?”

₂₀Watsho ngokuphandle, engafihlisi, wathi: “Mna andinguye *uKrestu.”

₂₁Bambuza besithi: “Ungubani ke? Ngaba unguEliya?”

Yena wathi: “Hayi andinguye.”

Bona bathi: “Ngaba unguye laa Mshumayeli?”

Waphendula wathi: “Hayi, andinguye.”

₂₂Ke ngoko bathi kuye: “Sixelele okokuba ungubani na, ukuze sibe nokubaphendula abo basithumileyo. Ngaba uthini na wena ngawe ngokwakho?”

₂₃Waphendula uYohane, ecaphula kumazwi *omshumayeli uIsaya, esithi:

₂₄Kwakukho nababethunywe *ngabaFarasi. ₂₅Bona bambuza uYohane besithi: “Ungáthini ke ukubhaptiza, ungenguye uKrestu, okanye uEliya, okanye laa Mshumayeli?”

₂₆Wabaphendula uYohane wathi: “Mna ndinibhaptiza ngamanzi. Kambe ke phakathi kwenu kumi eningamaziyo. ₂₇Yena uza emva kwam, kodwa mna andifanele kukhulula nomtya lo wezihlangu zakhe.”

₂₈Oku kwênzeka eBhetani, ngaphesheya kweJordan, apho uYohane wayebhaptiza khona.

₂₉Ngengomso uYohane wabona uYesu esiza kuye, wathi: “Nâlo ixhwane likaThixo lokungxengxezela isono sehlabathi. ₃₀Nguye lo bendixela yena xa bendisithi: ‘Emva kwam kuza umntu omkhulu kunam, kuba wayekho ndingekabikho mna.’ ₃₁Nam ngokwam bendingamazi; koko ndize kubhaptiza ngamanzi ngenjongo yokuba ndimazise kubantu bakwaSirayeli.”

₃₂UYohane wangqina esithi: “Ndibone uMoya oyiNgcwele esihla enjengehobe, evela ezulwini, waza wahlala phezu kwakhe. ₃₃Ke nam bendingamazi, kodwa lowo wandithumayo ukuba ndibhaptize ngamanzi, nguye owathi kum: ‘Lowo ùbone uMoya esihla phezu kwakhe, ahlale kuye, nguye obhaptiza ngoMoya oyiNgcwele.’ ₃₄Ke mna, ndikubonile nje oku, ndiyangqina okokuba lo nguye uNyana kaThixo.”

₃₅Ngengomso uYohane wayelapho kwakhona, enababini kubafundi bakhe. ₃₆Waza wabona uYesu edlula apho, wathi: “Nâlo ixhwane likaThixo lokungxengxezelela isono.”

₃₇Abafundi abo bamva esitsho, baza bamlandela uYesu. ₃₈Akubheka uYesu, wabona ukuba bayamlandela, waza wathi kubo “Ngaba nifuna ntoni na?”

Baza bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, uhlala phi na?”

₃₉Wathi kubo: “Yizani, nibone.” Bahamba kunye naye ke, bayibona indawo awayehlala kuyo, baza bahlala naye loo mini. Ixesha lalimalunga nentsimbi yesine emva kwemini.

₄₀YayinguAndreya, umntakwabo-Simon Petros, omnye wâbo bafundi babini beva ngoYohane, baza bamlandela uYesu. ₄₁Kwangoko uAndreya wabona umntakwabo uSimon, wathi kuye: “Simfumene uMesiya.” (Oko kukuthi “*uKrestu.”)

₄₂Wamsa kuYesu ke; waza uYesu wamjonga, wathi: “Wena unguSimon, unyana kaYohane. Igama lakho loba *nguKefas.” (Oko kukuthi “Lwalwa.”)

₄₃Ngengomso uYesu wabona ukuba makaye eGalili; waza wadibana noFilipu, wathi kuye: “Ndilandele.” ₄₄Ke uFilipu wayengowaseBhetesayida, idolophu yakuloAndreya noPetros. ₄₅UFilipu wadibana noNataniyeli, wathi kuye: “Simbonile lowo uMosis wabhala ngaye *emthethweni, ekwâbhalwa ngaye *nangabashumayeli. NguYesu, unyana kaJosefu waseNazarete.”

₄₆UNataniyeli wathi kuye: “Uthini! Kungákho nto ilungileyo inokuphuma eNazarete?”

UFilipu wathi kuye: “Yiza, uzibonele.”

₄₇UYesu akumbona uNataniyeli esiza kuye, wathi ngaye: “Ngenene nanko umSirayeli ekungekho nkohliso kuye.”

₄₈UNataniyeli wathi kuye: “Ùndazela phi na?”

UYesu wamphendula wathi: “Wena ndakubona usephantsi komkhiwane, engekakubizi uFilipu.”

₄₉UNataniyeli wamphendula wathi: “Mfundisi, inene unguNyana kaThixo; unguKumkani wakwaSirayeli.”

₅₀UYesu wathi kuye: “Ùkholwa ngokuba ndithe kuwe ndikuboné uphantsi komkhiwane? Uya kubona izinto ezingaphezulu lee kunezi.” ₅₁Wahambisa wathi kuye: “Ndithi kuni, inene, niya kulibona izulu livulekile, nezithunywa zikaThixo zinyuka zisihla phezu kwakhe *uNyana woLuntu.”

₁Kwathi ngomhla wesithathu kwabakho umtshato eKana kwelaseGalili, ekho nonina kaYesu. ₂UYesu nabafundi bakhe babemenyiwe nabo kuloo mtshato. ₃Yakuphela iwayini, unina kaYesu wathi kuye: “Baphelelwe yiwayini.”

₄Wathi kuye uYesu: “Mama, khawuyeke. Ixesha lam alikafiki.”

₅Waza unina wathi kwizicaka: “Kwenzeni konke anixelelayo.”

₆Apho ke kwakukho imiphanda yelitye emithandathu eyayisetyenziswa ngamaJuda kwisiko lawo lokuhlambulula. Umphanda ngamnye wawumkhulu kangangokuba wawungena iilitha ezimalunga namashumi alithoba ukuya kwikhulu. ₇UYesu ke wathi kwizicaka: “Zalisani le miphanda ngamanzi.” Izicaka zayizalisa, ₈wathi kuzo: “Yikhani ngoku, nise kwinjoli.” Zenjenjalo ke, ₉yaza injoli yawangcamla amanzi ajikwe aba yiwayini, koko ingazi apho ivela khona le wayini. Yayizizicaka kuphela ezazisazi, kuba ayekhiwe zizo amanzi. Injoli ke yambiza umyeni, ₁₀yathi kuye: “Idla ngokukhutshwa kuqala iwayini elungileyo, kuthi zakuba zisele zanela iindwendwe, kukhutshwe enganeno. Kodwa wena uyigcine kwada kwangoku eyona wayini ilungileyo.”

₁₁Lo mqondiso wakhe wokuqala uYesu wawenza eKana kwelaseGalili, ebonakalisa ubungangamsha bakhe; baza abafundi bakhe bakholwa kuye.

₁₂Emva koko uYesu, nonina, nabantakwabo, nabafundi bakhe, baya eKapernahum, bahlala khona iintsukwana.

₁₃Yayiselisondele *iPasika yamaJuda, waza uYesu waya kuyo eJerusalem. ₁₄*Endlwini kaThixo wafika kukho abathengisi beenkomo, neegusha, namahobe; kukho nabatshintshi-mali behleli ezitafileni zabo. ₁₅Wenza isabhokhwe ngentambo, wabakhupha bonke endlwini kaThixo, ezikhupha nezo gusha nezo nkomo. Wayichitha imali yabatshintshi, wabhukuqa nezo tafile zabo. ₁₆Waza wathi kwabathengisa amahobe: “Zikhupheni apha ezi zinto. Indlu kaBawo sanukuyenza indawo yokuthengisela.” ₁₇Bakhumbula ke abafundi bakhe okokuba *iziBhalo zithi: “Ukuzondelela indlu yakho, Thixo, kundongamele.”

₁₈Zambuza ke iinkokheli zamaJuda zisithi: “Ùngenza mqondiso mni na wokusibonisa ukuba unalo igunya lokwenza ezi zinto?”

₁₉Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Yidilizeni le ndlu. Mna ndoyakha kwakhona ngeentsuku ezintathu.”

₂₀Aza athi amaJuda: “Ukwakhiwa kwale ndlu kwaba yiminyaka emashumi mane anesithandathu. Ngaba wena ungayivusa na ngeentsuku ezintathu?”

₂₁Yona indlu uYesu awayethetha ngayo yayingumzimba wakhe. ₂₂Kwathi akuvuka kwabafileyo, bakhumbula abafundi bakhe okokuba wayekuthethile oku, baza bakholwa ziziBhalo nangamazwi awawathethayo uYesu.

₂₃Kwathi, xa uYesu wayeseJerusalem kwitheko *lePasika, abantu abaninzi bakholwa kuye bakubona imimangaliso ayenzayo. ₂₄Kodwa uYesu yena ebengathembelanga kubo, kuba ebazi bonke abantu. ₂₅Kwakungekho mfuneko yakuba kubekho bani umxelelayo ngomntu, kuba yena ezazi iintliziyo zabantu.

₁Kwakukho inkokheli yamaJuda, egama linguNikodimo. Yona yayiyeyehlelo *labaFarasi. ₂Ngabusuku buthile lo Nikodimo weza kuYesu, wathi: “Mfundisi, siyazi ukuba ungumfundisi ovela kuThixo, kuba akukho bani unako ukuyenza le miqondiso uyenzayo wena, ukuba uThixo akanaye.”

₃UYesu waphendula wathi kuye: “Ndithi kuwe, inene, akukho namnye unokuxhamla ukulawulwa nguThixo, engathanga azalwe ngokutsha.”

₄UNikodimo wathi kuye: “Angáthini na ukuzalwa umntu oselemdala? Kaloku akangekhe aphindele esizalweni sikanina, aze azalwe kwakhona.”

₅Waphendula uYesu, wathi: “Ndithi kuwe, inene, ukuba umntu akathanga azalwe ngamanzi nanguMoya kaThixo, akanakulawulwa nguThixo. ₆Okuzalwa yinyama negazi kuyinyama negazi; okuzalwa nguMoya kunguMoya. ₇Sukumangaliswa kukuba ndithe kuwe: ‘Nimelwe kukuzalwa ngokutsha.’ ₈Umoya uphephezela apho uthanda khona, ùsive isandi sawo, kodwa ùbe ungawazi apho úvela khona nalapho úya khona. Bakwanjalo ke bonke abazelwe nguMoya kaThixo.”

₉Waphendula uNikodimo esithi: “Ingenzeka njani le nto?”

₁₀Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Ungumfundisi omkhulu nje wakwaSirayeli, ungathini ukungazazi ezi zinto? ₁₁Ndithi kuwe, inene, sithetha esikwaziyo, singqine esikubonileyo, kanti noko nisuka ningabamkeli ubungqina bethu. ₁₂Ukuba ndinixelele izinto zasehlabathini naza anakholwa, nothini ke ukukholwa ndakunixelela izinto zasezulwini? ₁₃Akukho namnye wakha wenyuka waya ezulwini, ngaphandle kwalowo wehlayo evela ezulwini, *uNyana woLuntu.

₁₄“Njengokuba uMosis wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, umelwe kukuphakanyiswa kwangokunjalo naye uNyana woLuntu, ₁₅ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye babe nobomi obungonaphakade. ₁₆Kaloku uThixo ihlabathi ulithande kangangokuba ude wancama uNyana okuphela kwakhe, ukuze wonke umntu ozinikele kuye ngokupheleleyo angatshabalali, koko abe nobona bomi bungenasiphelo. ₁₇Kuba kaloku uThixo akamthumanga uNyana wakhe ehlabathini ukuze aligwebe, koko wamthuma ukuze abe nguMsindisi walo.

₁₈“Lowo uzinikelayo kuNyana kaThixo akagwetywa; kodwa lowo ungazinikeliyo selegwetyiwe, kuba engakholwa kuNyana kaThixo okuphela kwakhe. ₁₉Imbangi yesi sigwebo nantsi: Ukukhanya kufikile ehlabathini, baza abantu bathanda ubumnyama ngaphezu kokukhanya, kuba izenzo zabo zikhohlakele. ₂₀Kakade wonke umenzi wenkohlakalo ukuthiyile ukukhanya. Akasondeli nokusondela ekukhanyeni, hleze izenzo zakhe zivele. ₂₁Ke lowo ungowenyaniso uyeza ekukhanyeni, ukuze abonakale ngezenzo zakhe ukuba umthobele uThixo.”

₂₂Emva koko uYesu nabafundi bakhe baya kummandla wakwaJuda; waza uYesu waba nexesha ekunye nabo apho, ebhaptiza. ₂₃UYohane naye wayebhaptiza e-Enon, kufuphi neSalem, kuba amanzi ebemaninzi apho. Abantu babesiya kuye, ababhaptize. ₂₄Ngelo xesha wayengekafakwa entolongweni.

₂₅Abafundi bakaYohane bâphikisana nomJuda othile malunga nokuhlanjululwa. ₂₆Baya kuYohane ke, bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, laa mntu wayekunye nawe phesheya kweJordan, lowa umngqineleyo, úyabhaptiza, kwaye baya kuye bonke abantu.”

₂₇Waphendula uYohane wathi: “Lonke ilungelo analo umntu ulinikwa nguThixo. ₂₈Nani ngokwenu ningandingqinela okokuba ndathi: ‘Andinguye mna *uKrestu, koko ndingothunywe ngaphambi kwakhe.’ ₂₉Kaloku umtshakazi ngowomyeni. Ke yena umkhaphi womyeni ulindela ukufika komyeni, aze avuye kunene akuliva izwi lakhe. Ngokukwanjalo luphelele ngoku uvuyo lwam. ₃₀Makabaluleke yena, ndinciphe mna.”

₃₁“Lowo uvela phezulu unewonga kunabantu bonke. Lowo uvela ehlabathini ungowasehlabathini, kwaye uthetha okwehlabathi. Lowo uvela ezulwini unewonga kunabantu bonke. ₃₂Yena ungqina ngako oko akubonileyo nakuvileyo, kanti noko akukho bani ubamkelayo ubungqina bakhe. ₃₃Othe wabamkela ubungqina bakhe uqinisekisa okokuba uThixo uyinyaniso. ₃₄Kaloku ethunyiwe nje nguThixo, uthetha amazwi kaThixo, kuba uThixo umnika uMoya wakhe ngokungenamlinganiselo. ₃₅UYise uyamthanda uNyana; zonke izinto uzinikele esandleni sakhe. ₃₆Othe wakholwa kuNyana, unobomi obungonaphakade. Othe akamthobela uNyana, akayi kubona bomi; ingqumbo kaThixo ihlala ihleli phezu kwakhe.”