To The Word – Day 203

₁Ke kaloku kwakholeka kuDariyo ukumisela iirhuluneli ezilikhulu elinamashumi amabini, ukuze zongamele kwiindawo ngeendawo zombuso lowo. ₂Phezu kwazo ke watyumba abongameli abathathu, waza ke uDaniyeli wangomnye wabo. Abongameli aba ke babesenzelwa ingxelo zezi rhuluneli, khon' ukuze ukumkani angalahlekelwa. ₃UDaniyeli ke wazibalula koogxa bakhe ababini kunye neerhuluneli ngesimo sakhe esihle, kangangokuba ukumkani wazimisela ukumnyusela ukuba ongamele bonke ubukumkani. ₄Oogxa bakhe abongameli kunye neerhuluneli bazama ukufumana isizathu sokumbeka ibala uDaniyeli mayela nomsebenzi wakhe wokulawula. Kambe ke zange baphumelele, kuba wayenyanisekile, engumfo okhutheleyo ongenabuqhetseba. ₅Athethana ke ngoku la madoda athi: “Hayi, bafondini, soze sizuze mhlaba wakummangalela lo Daniyeli ngaphandle kokuba kube malunga nokumthobela kwakhe uThixo wakhe.”

₆Ngoko ke aba bongameli bekunye neerhuluneli bahlangana, baya kukumkani uDariyo, bafika bathi: “Bayethe, mhlekazi! Phil' ud' ukhokhobe! ₇Xa sisonke thina bongameli, nezikhulu, neerhuluneli, namaphakathi, nabaphathiswa, sivumelene ukuba sikucele, mhlekazi, ukuba uwise umthetho onyanzelisayo ukuba kwithuba leentsuku ezingamashumi amathathu kungabikho mntu uthandaza nawuphi na uthixo okanye umntu ngaphandle kokuba athandaze kuwe, mhlekazi. Lowo waphule lo mthetho makaphoswe emngxunyeni weengonyama. ₈Ngoko ke, mhlekazi, wisa lo mthetho, uwubhale ube ngumthetho ongenakujikwa wamaMedi namaPeshiya.”

₉Ngoko ke ukumkani uDariyo wawubhala loo mthetho. ₁₀Nakuba ke uDaniyeli wayeve ukuba lo mthetho ubhaliwe wapapashwa, usuke wagoduka, wafika wangena kwigumbi lendlu yakhe eliphezulu elalineefestile ezikhangele eJerusalem, waza ke waguqa ngamadolo wathandaza ebulela kuThixo wakhe kathathu ngemini njengoko wayeqhele ukwenjenjalo.

₁₁Ke kaloku laa madoda ahlangana ambhaqa uDaniyeli ethandaza etarhuzisa kuThixo wakhe. ₁₂Ngoko ke aya kukumkani, afika athetha naye malunga nomthetho awenzileyo, athi: “Kanene, mhlekazi, ubungapapashanga umthetho na othi kwiintsuku ezimashumi mathathu makungabikho mntu uthandaza nawuphi na uthixo okanye umntu ngaphandle kwakho, usithi othe wayenza loo nto uya kuphoswa emngxunyeni weengonyama?”

Ukumkani ke waphendula wathi: “Ewe, kunjalo, ndikwenzile oko, yaye lowo ngumthetho ongenakutshitshiswa wamaMedi namaPeshiya.”

₁₃Aza athi ke la madoda kukumkani: “UDaniyeli ongomnye wabathinjwa bakwaJuda akakuhoyanga, mhlekazi, akawuthobeli nalo mthetho uwuwisileyo. Usaphikele ukuthandaza kathathu ngemini.”

₁₄Akukuva oku ukumkani watsho wadideka mpela, waza wenza unako-nako wokucinga icebo lokuhlangula uDaniyeli. Ewe, kwaba yiloo nto lada latshona ilanga. ₁₅Aphinda ke la madoda eza egxalathelana kukumkani, athi: “Khumbula kaloku, mhlekazi, ukuba ngokwemithetho yamaMedi namaPeshiya umthetho nommiselo owenziwa ngukumkani awunakuguqulwa.”

₁₆Ngoko ke ukumkani wayalela ukuba alandwe uDaniyeli; waza ke waphoswa apho kuloo mngxuma weengonyama. Wathetha naye ke wathi: “Akwaba angakuhlangula uThixo wakho omnqula ngentembeko maxa onke.”

₁₇Ke kaloku umngxuma lowo wavalwa ngelitye, waza ukumkani walitywina ngomsesane wakhe nangaleyo yezikhulu zakhe, khon' ukuze imeko kaDaniyeli ingabi nakuguqulwa. ₁₈Emva koko ke ukumkani wagoduka waya ebhotwe, wachitha ubusuku engadli, engenalo nethuba lokuzonwabisa, koko wasuka waphuthelwa ubusuku bonke.

₁₉Ke kaloku ukumkani wavuka xa kuthi chapha ukusa, wakhawuleza waya kulaa mngxuma weengonyama. ₂₀Akusondela kuwo ke wakhwaza engxunguphele, wathi: “Daniyeli! Daniyeli! Sicaka soThixo ophilayo! Ube nako na ukukuhlangula kwezo ngonyama uThixo wakho omnqula ngentembeko maxa onke?”

₂₁Waphendula ke uDaniyeli wathi: “Phil' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani! ₂₂UThixo wam uthumele isithunywa sakhe, sayivala imilomo yeengonyama, azandenzakalisa. Ewe, azindenzakalisanga kuba ndifumaniseke ndimsulwa phambi kwakhe, kwanjengokuba ndingazange ndakona nganto nawe, mhlekazi!”

₂₃Wavuya gqitha ke ukumkani, waza wayalela ukuba uDaniyeli akhutshwe apho emngxunyeni. Akukhutshwa ke wafumaniseka engenawo nomkrwelo lo, kuba kaloku yena wayekholose ngoThixo wakhe. ₂₄Ukumkani ke wayalela ukuba abanjwe loo madoda ayemangalele uDaniyeli. Wathi makathathwe neentsapho zawo, abafazi nabantwana, baza ke bebonke baphoswa apho emngxunyeni weengonyama. Bathi ke, bengekafiki nasezantsi, zabaganga iingonyama, zawanqwamza amathambo abo.

₂₅Ngoko ke ukumkani uDariyo wabhalela zonke izizwe, iintlanga, nabantu beelwimi ngeelwimi ehlabathini jikelele, wathi: “Ngamana kunganda ngokugqithisileyo ukonwaba kuni nonke! ₂₆Ndigunyazisa kulo lonke kulo mbuso wam ukuba wonke umntu makamoyike amhlonele amthobele uThixo kaDaniyeli.

₂₈Ke kaloku uDaniyeli lo waba nempumelelo ngemihla yolawulo lukaDariyo, ngokunjalo nakwimihla yokulawula kukaKoreshi umPeshiya.

₁Ngonyaka wokuqala engukumkani eBhabheli uBhelshazare uDaniyeli waphupha iphupha wafikelwa ngumbono engqondweni yakhe elele emandlalweni. Walibhala iphupha, esalatha ingcombolo yalo, ₂wathi: “Embonweni wam ebusuku ndabona kubhudla imimoya, ivela macala omane, yaza ke yaluduba nolwandlekazi. ₃Suka ke kwathi gqi qhaphu amarhamncwa amane amakhulu, ephuma elwandle, elo nelo lahlukile kwelinye.

₄“Elokuqala lalifana nengonyama, koko linamaphiko njengokhozi. Ndithe ndisabukele suka amaphiko lawo ancothuka. Laza ke elo rhamncwa laphakanyiswa emhlabeni, lamiswa ngeenyawo ngokomntu. Kananjalo lasuka lanengqondo yomntu.

₅“Kwakhona kwathi gqi irhamncwa lesibini linjengebhere, limi liziphakamisile ngelinye icala. Emlonyeni laliphethe iimbambo ezintathu ngamazinyo alo. Kwathiwa kulo: ‘Phakama, utye inyama kangangoko!’

₆“Emva koko, ndisabukele njalo, kwathi gqi elinye elalifana nengwe. Kambe ke lalinamaphiko amane angathi ngawentaka, kananjalo lineentloko ezine. Lanikwa amagunya okulawula.

₇“Kwakhona ke kumbono wam wasebusuku ndakhangela, kwee gqi elesine irhamncwa. Lalisoyikeka, lirhwaqelisa, liyingwanyalala. Lalitsho ngeengxavula zamazinyo entsimbi. Amaxhoba alo laliwakroboza liwathi nqwam-nqwam ngaloo mazinyo, amasalela liwanyhashe ngeenyawo. Lalingafani namanye la, yaye lalineempondo ezilishumi. ₈Ndisazijongile ezi mpondo kwathi thaphu olunye uphondo oluncinci apho phakathi kwezinye, zatsho zancothuka ezintathu kwezo mpondo zazikho kakade. Olu phondwana ke lwalunamehlo njengomntu, kananjalo lunomlomo luthetha izinto ezinkulu kakhulu.”

₁₁“Ndasoloko ndibukele, kuba kaloku olo phondwana lwaluthetha izinto ezinkulu kakhulu. Ndisabukele njalo ke elo rhamncwa labulawa, isidumbu salo satshiswa ngomlilo. ₁₂Ke wona amanye amarhamncwa ahluthwa amagunya, noko ke olulelwa ukuphila okwethutyana elimisiweyo. ₁₃Ndisabukele njalo kuwo loo mbono wasebusuku ndabona kusiza ofana nonyana womntu, esiza ephahlwe ngamafu. Ke kaloku waya kufika kwelo Nyange elimihla ingapheliyo, wasondezwa phambi kwalo. ₁₄Waza ke wathiwa jize ngamagunya, amawonga, nobukumkani, zaza zonke izizwe, iintlanga, nabantu beelwimi ngeelwimi, zamkhonza. Ubukhosi bakhe ke babungunaphakade bungenasiphelo, nombuso wakhe ungenakudaka.”

₁₅“Mna Daniyeli ndakhathazeka emoyeni, waza lo mbono ofikele engqondweni yam wanditsho ndanxunguphala. ₁₆Ndasuka ke ndaya komnye wababemi apho, ndamcela ukuba andichazele inyaniso yayo yonke le ngcombolo. Ke yena wandityhilela intsingiselo yazo zonke ezi zinto, wathi: ₁₇‘La marhamncwa axela imibuso emine eya kuvela emhlabeni. ₁₈Abantu abangcwele bakaPhezukonke ke bona baya kuzuza ulawulo, lube lolwabo kude kube ngunaphakade kanaphakade.’

₁₉“Kananjalo ke ndafuna ukuqonda ngeli rhamncwa lesine, elo lalingafani namanye – laa ngwanyalala yoyikekayo, le yayitsho ngamazinyo entsimbi neenzipho zobhedu, eyayiwakroboza iwathi nqwam-nqwam amaxhoba, isuke iwanyhashe ngeenyawo amasalela. ₂₀Ndafuna nokuqonda mayela nezo mpondo zilishumi zazisentlokweni yalo, ngokunjalo nangolo phondo lwaphuma kamva, kwaza kwancothuka iimpondo ezintathu. Nditsho uphondo olwabonakala lulukhulu kunamanye, lunamehlo nomlomo, luthetha izinto ezinkulu kakhulu. ₂₁Ke kaloku, ndisabukele njalo, olo phondo lwabahlasela abantu abangcwele bakaThixo laboyisa, ₂₂kwada kwafika iNyange elimihla ingapheliyo, laza labagwebela abo bangabantu abangcwele bakaPhezukonke. Kananjalo ke lasuka lathwasa ixesha lokuba ulawulo lube lolwabantu bakaThixo.

₂₃“Waqhuba ke endichazela esithi: ‘Eli rhamncwa lesine ngumbuso wesine oya kubakho apha emhlabeni. Wona awuyi kufana neminye. Wona uya kulinqwamza ihlabathi liphela, ulinyhashe, ulikroboze. ₂₄Ezo mpondo zilishumi ke zithetha ookumkani abalishumi abaya kuvela kuloo mbuso. Kananjalo emva kwabo kuya kuvela omnye ukumkani owahlukileyo kwabo bamanduleleyo. Ke yena uya kuboyisa ookumkani abathathu. ₂₅Uya kuthetha amazwi achasene noPhezukonke, abatshutshise abantu abangcwele bakaPhezukonke. Uya kuzimisela ukuyijika imithetho yabo, ngokunjalo namaxesha amatheko abo. Abantu abangcwele bakaPhezukonke ke baya kunikelwa esandleni sakhe ithuba elimisiweyo elingamaxesha amathathu anesiqingatha.

₂₆“ ‘Kambe ke inkundla yaphezulu iya kuhlangana, imhluthe ulawulo lwakhe, lutshitshiswe, luphele ngonaphakade. ₂₇Ke kaloku ubukhosi namagunya nobuhandiba bazo zonke izikumkani zehlabathi buya kunikezelwa kubantu abangcwele abalusapho lukaPhezukonke. Ke kaloku ulawulo lwaloo mbuso aluyi kuba nasiphelo, zaye ke zonke izikumkani zehlabathi ziya kuwuthobela ziwululamele.’

₂₈“Iphela apha ke le ngcombolo. Mna Daniyeli ndothuke gqitha ndakucinga ngezi zinto, bada nobuso bam bathi rhubaxa. Kambe ke yonke le nyewe ndayigcina entliziyweni yam, ndayetyisa.”

₁Ke kaloku xa ukumkani eBhelshazare wayekunyaka wesithathu elawula, ndaphinda mna Daniyeli ndanomnye umbono emva kwalaa mbono wokuqala. ₂Kulo mbono ke ndazifumana ndikwisixeko esinqatyisiweyo iShushan, esithilini sase-Elam. Ndabona ndimi phezu komlambo iUlayi. ₃Apho ke phezu kwaloo mlambo ndabona nantso inkunzi yegusha eneempondo ezimbini ezinde kunene. Olunye lwazo ke lwalulude kunolunye, kodwa lona lwaluphume mva. ₄Le nkunzi ke ndayibona ilekuza ngezo mpondo, ibhekisa ngasentshona, ngasentla, nangasezantsi. Ewe, kwakungekho silwanyana sinako ukumelana nayo, kungekho ndlela yakusinda kuyo. Yayisenza unothanda, isiba nkulu ngokuba nkulu.

₅Ke kaloku ndathi ndisacamanga ngalo mbono, suka kwathi gqi inkunzi yebhokhwe entshonalanga, icanda lonke elimiweyo, iqakatha ngokungathi amanqina akafiki emhlabeni. Yayinogqajolo lophondo, lulapha phakathi kwamehlo. ₆Yasinga kulaa nkunzi yegusha ineempondo ezimbini ndandiyibone imi phezu komlambo, yangqala kuyo ngamandla inoburhalarhume. ₇Hayi ke, yayihlasela inomsindo, iyingquba kangangokuba yazaphula ezo mpondo zenkunzi yegusha zombini. Inkunzi yegusha yayingenawo amandla okumelana nayo. Yakhahlelwa phantsi inkunzi yegusha leyo, yanyhashwa ngamanqina, kungekho bani unokuyihlangula emandleni enkunzi yebhokhwe.

₈Le nkunzi yebhokhwe yakhula yaba nkulu ngokugqithisileyo. Ke, xa yayisencotsheni yamandla ayo, suka lwantlekeka lwaphuka shwaqa olo gqajolo lophondo lwayo. Endaweni yalo ke kwaphuma ezinye iimpondo ezingayiwayo zane, zikhangele kwiimbombo zone zehlabathi. ₉Kolunye lwezi mpondo kwantshula olunye uphondo olwaqala luluncinane, lwaza lwakhula lwabhekisa ngasezantsi nangasempuma nangakwilizwe eliliqhayiya. ₁₀Lwakhula ke lwafikelela nakumkhosi wezulu, lwayikhahlela phantsi emhlabeni inxalenye yeenkwenkwezi layinyhasha. ₁₁Ewe, lwada lwafunza kuyo neNjengele yomkhosi wezulu, latsho lawaphelisa namadini atshiswayo enzelwa yona imihla ngemihla. Ewe kaloku, lada laxabhela nendawo eyingcwele yayo. ₁₂Ngenxa yovukelo yolu phondo umkhosi wezulu wanikezelwa kulo, xeshikweni amadini atshiswayo emihla ngemihla lwawaphelisayo, luluphosa phantsi unqulo lokwenene. Ewe, lwaba nempumelelo kuyo yonke into oluyenzayo.

₁₃Ke kaloku ndeva izithunywa zezulu zithetha, esinye sibuza sisithi: “Yoba lixesha elingakanani na ukuze ezi zinto zikulo mbono zizaliseke? Nditsho lo mbono malunga nokupheliswa kwamadini atshiswayo emihla ngemihla, novukelo oluphanzisayo, nokuxovulwa ngeenyawo komkhosi wezulu nendawo eyingcwele.”

₁₄Sathi kum: “Koba kukuhlwa nokusa okungamawaka amabini anamashumi amathathu ukuze indawo eyingcwele ihlanjululwe ibuyele kundalashe.”

₁₅Ke kaloku mna Daniyeli ndathi ndisacamanga ngalo mbono, ndifuna ukuqonda intsingiselo yawo, suka ndabona into embonakalo ngathi yindoda imi apho phambi kwam. ₁₆Kananjalo ndeva ilizwi lomntu likhwaza apho emlanjeni iUlayi lisithi: “Gabriyeli, mxelele lo mntu intsingiselo yaloo mbono.” ₁₇Ngenene ke uGabriyeli weza kweli cala ndimi kulo, kwathi esiza njalo mna ndasuka ndawa ndacambalala emhlabeni ndisoyika.

Ke yena wabhekisa kum wathi: “Mntundini, yazi ukuba lo mbono ubhekiselele kwixesha lesiphelo.” ₁₈Ngelo xesha athethayo ke mna ndandilele tywaa zisemkile! Ngoko ke yena wandibamba wandichukumisa ndema ngeenyawo, ₁₉wathi: “Ndikubonisa izinto eziya kwenzeka ngomhla wokugqibela wengqumbo kaThixo. Kaloku lo mbono ubhekiselele kwixesha elimisiweyo lesiphelo.

₂₀“Laa nkunzi yegusha uyibonileyo impondo-mbini imele ookumkani bamaMedi nabamaPeshiya. ₂₁Yona inkunzi yebhokhwe exhonti imele ookumkani bamaGrike. Olwaa gqajolo lophondo luphakathi kwamehlo ngukumkani wokuqala wawo. ₂₂Eziya mpondo zine ziphumileyo lwakuba lwaphukile oluya lokuqala, zimele imibuso emine eya kuphuma kulawulo lokumkani wokuqala. Yona ke iya kuba nganeno kwalo wokuqala ngokomelela.

₂₃“Uyabona ke, kuya kuthi xa ulawulo lwaloo mbuso lusiya esiphelweni, xa uvukelo selufikele encotsheni, kuvele ukumkani obuso bungwanyalala, oyincutshe yamaqhinga. ₂₄Uya kukhula omelele, kodwa engakwenzi oko ngawakhe amandla. Uya kwenza intshabalalo engathethekiyo; konke akwenzayo kophumelela. Kwanâbo bomeleleyo uya kubatshabalalisa, nditsho kwanabantu abangcwele abalusapho lukaThixo. ₂₅Uya kuphumelela ngamaqhinga, amandla akhe abe bubuqhetseba. Uya kuba ngumfo ozingcayo, abatshabalalise abantu abaninzi bengakulindelanga oko. Uya kuvukela nditsho neTshawe lamatshawe; kambe ke uya kutshatyalaliswa, phofu kungengasandla samntu. ₂₆Ke kaloku lo mbono malunga nokuhlwa nokusa, lo uwutyhilelweyo, uyinyani. Kambe ke wena uze ungawudizi; uthetha ngemihla esekude ezayo.”

₂₇Ke mna Daniyeli ndatsho ndaphelelwa ngamandla, ndaba neentsukwana ndigula. Phofu ke ndabuya ndaphakama ndaya kumsebenzi wam endandiwuphathiswe ngukumkani. Kambe ke ndahlala ndikhwankqisiwe ngulo mbono kungekho bani unokuwuqonda.

₁Ke kaloku kwakungunyaka wokuqala wokulawula kukaDariyo unyana ka-Asuwerosi. WayengumMedi ngokomnombo, kodwa waba ngukumkani wamaKaledi. ₂Ke ngalo nyaka wakhe wokuqala elawula mna Daniyeli ndandicamngca ngale ndawo kwizibhalo ezingcwele ngokomlomo *kaNdikhoyo *kumshumayeli uJeremiya ethetha ngeminyaka emashumi asixhenxe ekufuneka iJerusalem ihlale iphanzisiwe. ₃Ndabhekisa kwiNkosi uThixo, ndazibika kuyo ngomthandazo, ndizila ukutya, ndinxiba ezirhwexayo, ndizigalela ngothuthu entloko.

₄Ndathandaza kuNdikhoyo uThixo wam, ndisenza isivumo, ndathi: “Aa, Mhlekazi! Thixo omkhulu owoyikekayo, mgcini womnqophiso wakho, wena menzi wezibele kwabo bakuthandayo, abo bayithobelayo imiyalelo yakho, ₅sonile senza ubugwenxa nobubi! Sikuvukele sayityeshela imiyalelo nemithetho owasinika yona. ₆Asiziphulaphulanga izicaka zakho abashumayeli ababethetha egameni lakho belumkisa izikumkani zethu, iziphathamandla, oobawo, nabantu bonke bakowethu.

₇“Ke wena, Mhlekazi, ulilungisa, ukanti ke thina sigutyungelwe lihlazo njengoko kunjalo nanamhla. Xa sisonke thina sinjalo, thina bemi belakwaJuda, naseJerusalem, namaSirayeli onke owawasarhaza ezizweni, kwezikude nakwezikufuphi, ngenxa yokungathembeki kwawo. ₈Ewe, Ndikhoyo, sihlelwe lihlazo; ookumkani bethu neziphathamandla, ndawonye noobawo-mkhulu, xa sisonke sonile kuwe. ₉Kambe ke, wena Mhlekazi, Thixo wethu, nangona sakuvukelayo, uhlala unemfesane uxolela. ₁₀Wena Ndikhoyo, Thixo wethu, asikuphulaphulanga, asihambanga ngokwemiyalelo yakho owasinika yona ngezicaka zakho abashumayeli. ₁₁USirayeli ephela uyigqithile imithetho yakho, waphambuka akavuma ukulithobela izwi lakho.

“Ngenxa yokona kwethu ke uNdikhoyo uzithulule phezu kwethu zonke iziqalekiso ngokwesifungo sakhe esibhaliweyo emthethweni kaMosis isicaka sakhe. ₁₂Ngale ntlekele ingaka uwafezekisile amazwi awasilumkisa ngawo thina neenkokheli zethu. Ehlabathini jikelele iJerusalem uyohlwaye ngqongqo ngendlela engazange yabakho. ₁₃Ewe, ubuthululele phezu kwethu bonke ububi obukhankanyiweyo emthethweni kaMosis. Kambe nangoku asikayelelisi ekumkholiseni uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu ngokujika kubugwenxa bethu; asikayinyamekeli inyaniso yakhe. ₁₄Ke uNdikhoyo wayehleli ethe qwa, waza wasihlisela le ntlekele, kuba yena Ndikhoyo uThixo wethu ulilungisa kuko konke akwenzayo, sabe ke thina singaliphulaphulanga ilizwi lakhe.

₁₅“Mhlekazi, Thixo wethu, wena othe ngesandla sakho esinamandla wabakhulula abantu bakho kwelaseJiputa, latsho laduma igama lakho njengoko kunjalo unanamhlanje, ewe, sonile senza okugwenxa. ₁₆Mhlekazi, ngokwemisebenzi yakho yonke yobulungisa, mawukhe uthothe umsindo wakho nengqumbo yakho kwisicaka sakho iJerusalem, nditsho kwintaba yakho eyodwa. Ngenxa yezono zethu nobugwenxa boobawo iJerusalem nabantu bakho balihlazo kubo bonke abasingqongileyo. ₁₇Ngoko ke, Thixo wethu, kuve ukuzibika nokutarhuzisa komkhonzi wakho. Yikhangele ngobubele indlu yakho elibhodlo, kuba kaloku nguwe oyiNkosi. ₁₈Khawubek' iindlebe uphulaphule, Thixo wam! Khawuvule amehlo ukubone ukuphanza kwesixeko esibizwa ngegama lakho. Akungenxa yemisebenzi yethu yobulungisa le nto sikubongozayo, kodwa kungenxa yenceba yakho enkulu. ₁₉Ndimamele, Mhlekazi, usixolele, usive, wenze! Ewe, Mhlekazi, ngenxa yegama lakho uze ungalibazisi, kuba kaloku esi sixeko sakho naba bantu bakho babizwa ngegama lakho.”

₂₀Ndathi ndisathetha, ndithandaza, ndivuma isono sam nesono sabantu bakowethu amaSirayeli, ndizibika *kuNdikhoyo uThixo wam ngenxa yentaba yakhe eyodwa, ₂₁ewe, ndisathandaza njalo, gqi uGabriyeli, indoda ebendikhe ndayibona kumbono wam wangaphambili, endanda esondela kum ngexesha lokwenziwa kwamadini atshiswayo angokuhlwa. ₂₂Wathetha nam ke endikhanyisela, wathi: “Daniyeli, ndilapha nje ndize kukuvula ingqiqo ukuze ube nokuqonda. ₂₃Uthe usaqala nje ukuzibika kuThixo waba yena selenesigqibo. Ngoko ke ndize kukuchazela isigqibo eso. Kaloku ukuxabisile. Mandikuchazele esi sigqibo ke, uwuqonde lo mbono.

₂₄“UThixo umisele abantu bakowenu ndawonye nesixeko sakowenu esingcwele ‘iiveki’ ezingamashumi asixhenxe zokuba lufikele esiphelweni uvukelo, ngokunjalo nesono sicinywe, bucanyagushelwe ubugwenxa, kuphuhliswe ubulungisa obungasoze bube nesiphelo, kuzalisekiswe umbono nodaba lomshumayeli, nengcwele kangcwele ithanjiswe.

₂₅“Qwalasela uqaphele ke: ukusuka kwixesha lokubhengezwa kwesigqibo sokuvuswa nokwakhiwa ngokutsha kweJerusalem ukuya kwixesha lokufika koMthanjiswa oyiNkosi yoba ‘ziiveki’ ezisixhenxe ekongezwe kuzo ‘iiveki’ ezingamashumi amathandathu anesibini. IJerusalem iya kwakhiwa ngelo xesha igqibelele, ibe nezitalato, ikhuselwe ngentendelezo yomhadi, ime njalo ‘iiveki’ ezingamashumi amathandathu anesibini. ₂₆Ekupheleni kwelo xesha ke uMthanjiswa uya kunqanyulwa, kungabikho bani ungakuye. Isixeko ndawonye nendlu kaThixo ziya kutshatyalaliswa ngumkhosi wenjengele efikayo. Isiphelo ke siya kugaleleka ngathi sisikhukula, imfazwe iqhubele phambili iphelekwa ziinkxwaleko ezimiselweyo. ₂₇Loo njengele iya kwenza umnqophiso ongenakwaphulwa, iwenze nabaninzi, kuhlale kunjalo ke ‘iveki’ ibe nye. Ekupheleni kwesiqingatha saloo ‘veki’ ke iya kuwaphelisa amadini atshiswayo neminikelo. Ke isikizi eliphanzisayo liya kubekwa encochoyini yendlu kaThixo, ade ke umphanzisi lowo afikelwe seso siphelo asimiselweyo.”

₁Kunyaka wesithathu uSirasi engukumkani wasePeshiya uDaniyeli okwabizwa ngokuba nguBhelteshazare watyhilelwa udaba oluthile. Olo daba luyinyani, kodwa kunzima ukululandela. Kambe ke waluchazelwa ngombono.

₂Ngelo thuba ke mna Daniyeli ndazila iiveki zada zantathu. ₃Ndandingatyi kutya kodidi, nditsho nenyama nawayini zange ndizifake emlonyeni wam, yaye zange ndithambise nokuthambisa kwada kwadlula ezo veki zintathu.

₄Ke kaloku ngosuku lwamashumi amabini anesine kwinyanga yokuqala yonyaka ndandimi phezu komlambo omkhulu iHidekele. ₅Ndathi ndakukhangela ndabona indoda enxibe iimpahla zelinen, ibhinqe ngebhanti yegolide ecwengileyo. ₆Umzimba wayo wawubengezela okwelitye elinqabileyo, ubuso bayo bunjengombane, ke amehlo wona enjengezibane ezivuthayo. Iingalo zayo nemilenze zazimenyezela ngathi lubhedu olukhazimlisiweyo, ilizwi lona livakala ngathi yingxokolo yabantu abaninzi.

₇Lo mbono ke wabonwa ndim ndodwa mna Daniyeli. Amadoda endandikunye nawo wona zange awubone, koko asuka arhwaqela, aphakuzela, aya kuzimela. ₈Ke mna ndasala ndodwa ndiwubukele loo mbonokazi. Ndasuka ndavikiveka, nobuso bam bambatsha, ndaphelelwa tu ngamandla. ₉Ndayiva ke ithetha, ndathi ndisaphulaphule njalo ndalala obunzulu ubuthongo, ubuso bam bujongise emhlabeni. ₁₀Ndeva ndichukunyiswa sisandla, sandimisa ngamadolo kunye neentende zezandla zam ndigevezela.

₁₁Loo ndoda ke yathi kum: “Daniyeli, ungumfo oxabiseke kunene. Kambe ke phakama, ume kuloo ndawo ukuyo, uwagqale la mazwi ndiza kukuxelela wona, kuba ndithunywe kuwe.” Yakutsho ke ndaphakama, kodwa ndisangcangcazela.

₁₂Yaqhuba ke yathi: “Sukoyika, Daniyeli. Kaloku uThixo wawuva kwamhla-mnene umthandazo wakho ngalaa mhla waqala ukuzithoba, ufuna ingcaciso. Ndilapha nje kungenxa yaloo mazwi akho. ₁₃Kambe ke isithunywa sombuso wasePeshiya sachasana nam iintsuku ezimashumi mabini ananye. Ndide ndancedwa yingqwayi-ngqwayi yezithunywa zikaThixo uMikayeli, weza kundikhulula apho ndandithintelwe khona ePeshiya. ₁₄Ngoko ke ngoku ndize kukuchazela izinto eziya kuhlela amawenu kwimihla ezayo, kuba kaloku lo mbono unxulumene naloo mihla.” ₁₅Ithe ke yakutsho mna ndajonga phantsi, ndisikwe umlomo.

₁₆Ke kaloku umfo omfano ingathi yeyomntu wolula isandla, wachukumisa imilebe yam, ndaza ndawuvula umlomo wam ndathi kuye emi phambi kwam: “Mnumzana, lo mbono unditsho ndonganyelwa kukoyika; ndiphelelwe ngamandla. ₁₇Kuxa bendingubani ke mna sicaka sakho, ukuba ndide ndithethe nenkosi yam? Sendiphelelwe nangamandla la; kunzima nokuphefumla oku.”

₁₈Waphinda ke loo mfo ufana nomntu wandichukumisa, ndaza ndatsho ndomelezeka. ₁₉Waqhuba wathi: “Mfondini, uxabisekile! Musa ukoyika; yomelela; ewe, yomelela ube noxolo.”

Akuba etshilo ke, ndatsho ndomelela; ndaza ke ndathi kuye: “Undomelezile; thetha, nkosi yam, ndiphulaphule.”

₂₀Waza wathi: “Uyayazi ngoku into endizise apha kuwe. Kodwa kusafuneka ndijike ndiye kulwa nesithunywa sombuso wasePeshiya. Ndakuba ndimkile kuya kuvela isithunywa sombuso wamaGrike. ₂₁Kambe ke mandikutyhilele loo nto ibhaliweyo eNcwadini yeNyaniso. Akukho bani undixhasayo ekulweni nâbo bachasene nam ngaphandle koMikayeli isithunywa senu.