To The Word – Day 38

_1-2UKora unyana kaIzare, umKohati wendlu kaLevi, wagaya amadoda athile, baza bamvukela uMosis. Wayekunye namaRubhen, uDatan noAbhiram, oonyana bakaEliyabhi, no-On unyana kaPelete. Babexhaswa naziinkokheli ezaziwayo zamaSirayeli ezazalathwe ngumzi ukuba zibe liqoqo, zingamakhulu amabini anamashumi amahlanu. ₃Beza belihlokondiba elichase uMosis noAron, baza bathi kubo: “Kungokunje nigabadele! Ubonanje ibandla liphela lamaSirayeli libango *likaNdikhoyo; kwaye futhi uNdikhoyo ukho phakathi kwalo. Ngani ke ukuba nizenze bhetele kangaka kunebandla lamaSirayeli?”

₄UMosis ke uthe akuweva la mazwi, wawa ngamadolo. ₅Waza ke wabhekisa kuKora nabalandeli bakhe, wathi: “Ngomso kusasa uNdikhoyo uza kukhe asibonise ukuba ngubani na kanye umnyulwa wakhe. Lowo ke ungowakhe ncam, lowo amkhethileyo, uya kumsondeza. _6-7Ngomso kusasa kufuneka wena Kora nabalandeli bakho nithathe imicephe yomlilo, niyifake amalahle avuthayo, nigalele isiqhumiso, niye nayo eqongeni phambi koNdikhoyo. Uya kucaca ke oyena unyuliweyo nguNdikhoyo. Nini kanye baLevi aba bagabadeleyo!”

₈UMosis waqhuba wathi kuKora: “Khanitsho, baLevi, ₉ngaba niyidelile into yokuba uThixo kaSirayeli anibekele bucala kumaSirayeli ephela, ukuze nisondele kuye, nisebenze *esibingelelweni sakhe, nibuse ngenxa yamaSirayeli? ₁₀Nakuba nina baLevi niphela eninike eli wonga nje, ngoku senitsazele nasebubingelelini? ₁₁Eneneni nguNdikhoyo lo nimvukeleyo, wena nehlokondiba lakho, engubani yena uAron nide nimkhalazele nje.”

₁₂Ke kaloku uMosis wathumela wabiza uDatan noAbhiram, kodwa bona baphendula bathi: “Asizi! ₁₃Akwanelanga yile nto uyenzileyo yokusikhupha eJiputa, ilizwe lamasi nobusi, uze kusibulala kule ntlango? Ngoku sowuzenza itshawe phezu kwethu, ₁₄ngoku ungekasifikisi kwelaa lizwe lamasi nobusi, ungekasiniki nelifa lamasimi nezidiliya! Ucinga ukuba siziimfama? Asizi!”

₁₅Wabhabhama ngumsindo uMosis, wathi kuNdikhoyo: “Uze ungawamkeli amadini ala madoda. Mna ndimsulwa kuwo; zange ndithathe nedonki le yawo.”

_16-17UMosis wathi kuKora: “Ngomso wena naba bantu bakho bangamakhulu amabini anamashumi amahlanu ze niye esibingelelweni; noAron uya kubakho. Umntu ngamnye ke kuni aze athathe umcephe womlilo, awufake isiqhumiso, awuzise kwiqonga phambi koNdikhoyo.”

₁₈Ngenene ke indoda nganye kubo yathatha umcephe womlilo, yawufaka amalahle nesiqhumiso, yema esangweni lesibingelelo kunye noMosis noAron. ₁₉Ke kaloku uKora wabaqokelela bonke abangakuye, bema bajonga kuMosis noAron esangweni lesibingelelo. Kuthe kusenjalo suka kwavela ubuqaqawuli bukaNdikhoyo kumaSirayeli ephela, ₂₀waza ke uNdikhoyo wabhekisa kuMosis noAron, wathi: ₂₁“Khwelelani kwaba bantu. Ndiza kubatshabalalisa ngephanyazo!”

₂₂Kambe ke uMosis noAron bakhahlela, bawa ngamadolo, badanduluka bathi: “Awu, Thixo, wena mthombo wobomi, kaloku kone umntu wamnye qha, ungathini ke ukusuka ulwe namaSirayeli ephela?”

₂₃UNdikhoyo wayalela uMosis ukuba ₂₄athi kumaSirayeli: “Khwelelani kwimizi yooKora noDatan noAbhiram.” ₂₅Ke kaloku uMosis wahamba waya kuDatan noAbhiram elandelwa ziinkokheli zamaSirayeli. ₂₆Wabhekisa kumaSirayeli, wathi: “Khwelelani kwimizi yala madoda akhohlakeleyo, ningakhe nichukumise nento le yawo, hleze nani nitshayelwe kunye nawo ngenxa yezono zawo.” ₂₇Ngoko ke amaSirayeli azikhwebula kwimizi yooKora noDatan noAbhiram.

Ke kaloku uDatan noAbhiram babephumile, bema kwiminyango yezindlu zabo, ndawonye nabafazi nabantwana kwaneentsana. ₂₈Ke uMosis wabhekisa kumaSirayeli, wathi: “Ngoku kuza kucaca kuni, kuba ngenene ezi zinto andizenzeli ngokuthanda kwam, koko nguNdikhoyo ondithuma ukuba ndizenze. ₂₉Ukuba la madoda abulewe zizifo nje eziqhelekileyo, ze nazi ukuba akandithumanga uNdikhoyo. ₃₀Kambe ke ukuba uNdikhoyo wenze into engazange ihle nanini na, kwavuleka umhlaba, waginya la madoda nako konke okwawo, ngohlobo lokuba ehle aye kwelabafileyo ehleli, ze niqonde kakuhle ke ukuba aba bantu bamdelile uNdikhoyo.”

₃₁Wathi ke egqiba nje ukuthetha, suka waqhekeka umhlaba! ₃₂Bimbilili wabaginya ooDatan noAbhiram ndawonye nemizi yabo, ngokunjalo nabalandeli bakaKora nako konke ababenako. ₃₃Ngoko ke bangcwatywa behleli, baya kwelabafileyo ndawonye nako konke okwabo. Wabuya wavaleka ke umhlaba, banyamalala ke bona. ₃₄Onke ke amaSirayeli awayelapho acela kooxhongo akusiva isikhalo sabo. Akhwaza athi: “Kunyembelekile! Sabani, hleze nathi usiginye umhlaba!”

₃₅Kwaza ke kwaphuma umlilo uvela kuNdikhoyo, wawalenya atsha loo makhulu mabini anamashumi amahlanu amadoda awayesondeza isiqhumiso.

₃₆*UNdikhoyo ke wayalela uMosis, wathi: ₃₇“Yithi kuElazare unyana wombingeleli uAron asuse imicephe yomlilo yobhedu kuthuthu lwalaa madoda atshileyo, aze wona amalahle akuyo awasarhaze, kuba imicephe leyo ingcwele. ₃₈Kaloku yaba ngcwele ukusondezwa kwayo kuNdikhoyo. Makayithathe imicephe leyo yaloo madoda afe ngenxa yesono sawo, aze ayikhande ibe ngamacwecwe amcaba, agqume ngayo iqonga lamadini. Loo nto yoba sisikhumbuzo kumaSirayeli.”

₃₉Ngenene ke uElazare umbingeleli wayithatha imicephe leyo, yaza yakhandwa yangamacwecwe okugquma iqonga lamadini. ₄₀Esi ke yaba sisikhumbuzo kumaSirayeli, khon' ukuze angalibali ukuba akukho mntu uvumelekileyo ukuba aye kwiqonga lamadini, enze isiqhumiso phambi koNdikhoyo, engenguye owomlibo ka-Aron. Ngapha koko ke owenze into enjalo uya kutshatyalaliswa, axel' uKora nabantu bakhe. Yonke ke le nto yenziwa ngokomyalelo owathunyelwa nguNdikhoyo kuElazare ngoMosis.

₄₁Ngomhla olandelayo ke ibandla lakwaSirayeli liphela lakhalazela uMosis noAron lisithi: “Nina nibulele abantu *bakaNdikhoyo.” ₄₂Emva kokuba beqokelelene bagwayimbela uMosis noAron, bajika basingisa *ngasesibingelelweni, baza balibona ilifu lisigqumile ngequbuliso, ngokunjalo kwabonakala nobungangamsha bukaNdikhoyo. ₄₃UMosis noAron baya kuma phambi kwesibingelelo. ₄₄Ke uNdikhoyo wathetha noMosis, wathi: ₄₅“Buy' umva, nikhwebuke kwaba bantu; ndiza kubatshabalalisa ngephanyazo!”

Kwesi sithuba ke bobabini bawa ngamadolo; ₄₆waza ke uMosis wabhekisa kuAron wathi: “Thatha umcephe wakho womlilo, ugalele amalahle owathatha kwiqonga lamadini, uthi saa isiqhumiso. Wakugqiba ke, khawuleza uye phaya ebantwini ubacamagushele. Khawulezisa, kuba uNdikhoyo uyavutha ngumsindo, ibe ke sezibonakala iimpawu zikabhubhani.”

₄₇Ngoko nangoko ke uAron wawuthobela umyalelo kaMosis, wawuthatha umcephe wakhe, wakhawuleza waya kungena phakathi kwebandla lamaSirayeli. Wathi akubona ukuba ubhubhani seleqalisile, wafaka isiqhumiso apho emalahleni, wawacamagushela amaSirayeli. ₄₈Wema phakathi kwabahleliyo nabafi, wanqamka ubhubhani lowo. ₄₉Ke kaloku abantu abafa ngeso sihlandlo sodwa yaba lishumi elinesine lamawaka anamakhulu asixhenxe, ngaphandle kwabo bafa mhla ngogwayimbo lukaKora. ₅₀Akuba enqamkile ke ubhubhani lowo, uAron wabuyela kuMosis esangweni lesibingelelo.

₁*UNdikhoyo wathi kuMosis: ₂“Thetha namaSirayeli, uthathe iintonga zibe lishumi elinambini kwiinkokheli zakwaSirayeli; ibe nye intonga kwindlu nganye. Kwintonga yenkokheli nganye bhala igama layo, ₃uze ubhale igama lika-Aron kwintonga yendlu kaLevi. Ngoko ke inkokheli yendlu nganye yoba nentonga yayo. ₄Zithathe ezo ntonga, uye nazo *esibingelelweni, uzibeke phambi kwetyesi enobungqina bomnqophiso apho ndidibana khona nani. ₅Intonga yendoda endiyinyulileyo iya kuntshula amagqabi. Ngaloo ndlela ke ndiya kuluphelisa uzenge-zenge lwezikhalazo zamaSirayeli ngakuwe.”

₆Ngenene ke uMosis wayalela amaSirayeli ukuba inkokheli nganye imnike intonga; zaza ke zenjenjalo. Inkokheli yendlu nganye yakhupha intonga; zaza ke zaba lishumi elinambini zizonke, neka-Aron ikwalapho. ₇Xa zizonke ezo ntonga ke uMosis wangena nazo esibingelelweni, wazibeka phambi kukaNdikhoyo.

₈Ngengomso ke uMosis akungena esibingelelweni wafumanisa ukuba intonga ka-Aron, emele indlu kaLevi, intshule amagqabi. Ewe, yantshula yanamathupha, yaza yavelisa neentyatyambo ngokunjalo neziqhamo zealmondi! ₉UMosis ke wazithatha zonke ezo ntonga, waphuma nazo, wazibonisa amaSirayeli. Ke wona ayibona into eyenzekileyo, yaza ke yayileyo inkokheli yathatha eyayo. ₁₀UNdikhoyo wayalela uMosis ukuba athathe intonga ka-Aron, ayibeke kwaphambi kwetyesi yomnqophiso. Watsho esithi mayigcinwe apho, khon' ukuze ibe sisikhumbuzo kumaSirayeli agwayimbayo, khon' ukuze ayeke ukukhalaza, hleze afe. ₁₁UMosis ke wenza ngokwaloo myalelo kaNdikhoyo.

₁₂AmaSirayeli ke athi kuMosis: “Xa kuyiloo nto ke sifile; kuphelile kuthi! ₁₃Nomntu othe cakatha nje ukusondela esibingelelweni uza kufa. Ngaba ke siza kufa sonke?”

₁*UNdikhoyo wathi kuAron: “Wena noonyana bakho ndawonye nabaLevi nithwala uxanduva ngaso nasiphi na isigqitho esinxulumene nokubusa esibingelelweni; kodwa nguwe kuphela noonyana bakho abaya kuthwala uxanduva ngesigqitho esinxulumene nobubingeleli. ₂Phuthuma abo uzalana nabo bendlu kaLevi, usebenze nabo bakuncedise xeshikweni wena noonyana bakho nibusayo esibingelelweni. ₃AbaLevi baya kujongwa nguwe ngokwemisebenzi yabo esibingelelweni, kodwa mabangasondeli nokusondela kwimpahla yegumbi eliyingcwele okanye eqongeni lamadini, kungenjalo baya kufa kunye nani. ₄Umsebenzi wabo baya kuwufezekisa ngokuncedisana nani esibingelelweni, ke yena umntu ongomnye ongenalungelo angaze asebenze nanini esibingelelweni.

₅“Nini emanithwale uxanduva lokulungiselela egumbini eliyingcwele nakwiqonga lamadini, khon' ukuze uNdikhoyo angaphindi awavelele ngomsindo amaSirayeli. ₆Ndim ngokwam ozinyulele abanakwenu abaLevi kumaSirayeli. Basisipho kuni babingeleli, khon' ukuze benze imisebenzi esibingelelweni. ₇Nguwe noonyana bakho kuphela abanoxanduva lokulungiselela mayela neqonga lamadini ndawonye negumbi eliyingcwele kangcwele. Lo msebenzi wenu wobubingeleli sisipho enisinikwa ndim. Nabani na othe wasondela kwizinto ezingcwele engenalungelo wobulawa.”

₈*UNdikhoyo wathi kuAron: “Iminikelo eyenzelwa mna yolawulwa nguwe; yonke iminikelo eyenziwe ngamaSirayeli kum ndiyinika wena noonyana bakho ibe yinxaxheba nesabelo senu esisisigxina. ₉Inxaxheba yeminikelo engayi kutshiswa eqongeni yeyenu – nditsho yonke iminikelo eyodwa, nokuba yeyokutya, okanye yeyentlambululo, okanye yeyembuyekezo. Loo nxaxheba yeyakho noonyana bakho. ₁₀Ezi zinto ze niqonde ukuba zingcwele, nizityele endaweni engcwele, zityiwe ngamadoda kuphela.

₁₁“Nayiphi na eminye iminikelo enikelwa kum ngamaSirayeli yeyenu. Ndiyipha wena noonyana neentombi zakho, isisabelo senu esisisigxina. Yona ke yotyiwa nguye nabani na *ongenamlaza kwintsapho yakho.

_12-13“Ndikunika lonke ulibo lwezilimo oluziswa ngamaSirayeli kuNdikhoyo: amafutha omnquma, iwayini, nengqolowa. Zonke ke zoba zezakho, zityiwe ngabo bonke abangenamlaza kwintsapho yakho.

₁₄“Yonke into kwaSirayeli enikelwe kuNdikhoyo qwaba yeyakho. ₁₅Lonke izibulo, elomntu nelemfuyo, elinikelwa ngamaSirayeli kum, lelakho. Kodwa ke makahlawulelwe umntwana wamazibulo, nezibulo lesilwanyana esingàtyiwayo ngokunjalo. ₁₆Amazibulo makahlawulelwe xa anenyanga enye ezelwe, kukhutshwe ixabiso eliziingqekembe zesiliva ezintlanu ngokomlinganiselo ovunyiweyo. ₁₇Kambe ke amazibulo eenkomo, iigusha, neebhokhwe, wona akayi kuhlawulelwa. Wona ngakaNdikhoyo poqo; makenziwe idini. Igazi lazo makufefwe ngalo iqonga lamadini, amanqatha azo atshiswe abe lidini ngomlilo – dini elo livumba liyolileyo kuNdikhoyo. ₁₈Ke yona inyama yazo yoba yeyakho, njengencum nomlenze wasekunene kwidini eliwanga-wangiswayo.

₁₉“Yonke iminikelo eyodwa evela kumaSirayeli ndiyipha wena noonyana neentombi zakho zisisabelo senu esisisigxina. Lo ke ngumnqophiso ongasoze uthini endiwenza nawe nesizukulwana sakho.”

₂₀UNdikhoyo wathetha noAron, wathi: “Ke wena apha kwaSirayeli akuyi kuzuza sabelo sililifa lakho, ungayi kuzuza namhlaba. Kaloku esakho isabelo, ndawonye nelifa, ndim mna Ndikhoyo.”

₂₁*UNdikhoyo wathi: “Sonke isishumi esivela kumaSirayeli soba yinxaxheba yabaLevi ngenxa yoxanduva lokujonga *isibingelelo. ₂₂Ke wona amaSirayeli angawambi akufuneki nganto ukuba abe nento ayenzayo esibingelelweni, khon' ukuze angasifumani isohlwayo sokufa. ₂₃Ngoko ke ukusukela ngoku ngabaLevi kuphela amabajongane nesibingelelo, sibe luxanduva lwabo ngokupheleleyo. Lo mthetho ke uya kuhlala umi nakwizizukulwana ezizayo. AbaLevi abasayi kuze babe nalifa lilelinye kwaSirayeli, ₂₄kuba kaloku bona ndibanike isabelo esizizishumi endizinikwa ngamaSirayeli. Kungenxa yaloo nto ke ndisithi nje bona abasoze babe nalifa lilelinye kwaSirayeli.”

₂₅*UNdikhoyo wayalela uMosis ₂₆ukuba athi kubaLevi: “Xa nisamkela isishumi esinikelwa ngamaSirayeli kuNdikhoyo njengesabelo senu, kwalapho kuso khuphani isishumi enisinikela kuNdikhyo. ₂₇Lo mnikelo ke uya kuba njengomnikelo okhutshwa ngumlimi kwingqolowa newayini yakhe. ₂₈Ngale ndlela ke nani noba nako ukunikela kuNdikhoyo nicaphula kuzo zonke izishumi enizamkelayo kumaSirayeli. Kwezi zishumi inxaxheba kaNdikhoyo maze niyinike uAron umbingeleli. ₂₉Ewe, nikelani ngezona-zona kwenizifumanayo, nditsho ezo zimfaneleyo uNdikhoyo. ₃₀Xa ninikela ngezona-zona kuya kuba njengaxa umlimi akhupha izishumi zengqolowa newayini. ₃₁Ke into eseleyo yeyenu neentsapho zenu; ningayityela naphi na, kuba niyinikwa ingumvuzo womsebenzi wenu *esibingelelweni. ₃₂Xa ninikela ngezona-zona anisayi kuba natyala. Ngokwenjenjalo aniyi *kuyigqwalisa iminikelo engcwele yamaSirayeli, ningayi kufa nokufa.”

₁*UNdikhoyo wathetha noMosis noAron, ₂wabanika le miyalelo, wathi: “Ngokommiselo kaNdikhoyo amaSirayeli makeze nethokazi lenkomo elibomvu, elingenasiphako, elingazange libotshwe, ₃alinikezele kuElazare umbingeleli. Lothathwa ke likhutshelwe ngaphandle komzi wamaSirayeli, apho loxhelelwa khona ekho. ₄UElazare ke uya kuthi nkxu umnwe egazini apho, aze atshize kasixhenxe ejongise kwisango lesibingelelo. ₅Xa iyonke ke loo nkomo, ufele nenyama, igazi namathumbu, mazitshiswe apho phambi kombingeleli ejongile njalo. ₆Ke yena uya kuthatha ukhuni lomsedare, ihlamvu lehisopu, nomtya obomvu, aziphose phezu kwelo thokazi litshiswayo. ₇Kamva ke makahlambe iimpahla zakhe, ngokunjalo nomzimba, aze ke abe nokubuyela emzini. Kambe ke uya kuhlala engekahlambuluki kude kuhlwe. ₈Naloo mntu ubetshisa le nkomo kufuneka ahlambe iimpahla nomzimba, kodwa naye akayi kuhlambuluka de kube ngorhatya. ₉Uthuthu lweli thokazi ke maluwolwe yindoda ehlambulukileyo, ilubeke endaweni ehlambulukileyo, kwalapho ngaphandle komzi wamaSirayeli, apho luya kugcinwa khona libandla, ukuze amaSirayeli alusebenzise xa esenza amanzi entlambululo okususa isono. ₁₀Loo mntu ubebutha uthuthu makazihlambe iimpahla zakhe, kodwa ke akayi kuhlambuluka kude kuhlwe. Lo mmiselo ke soze uthini nanini nanini; ngoko ke mawuthotyelwe ngamaSirayeli ngokunjalo nabangeneleli.”

₁₁“Nabani na ochukumise isidumbu woba *ugqwalisekile iintsuku ezisixhenxe. ₁₂Ngoko ke kofuneka azihlambulule ngamanzi entlambululo kusuku lwesithathu, ngokunjalo nangolwesixhenxe, ukuze abe uhlambulukile. Kambe ke ukuba akazihlambululanga kuzo zombini ezi ntsuku, olwesithathu nolwesixhenxe, akayi kuhlambuluka. ₁₃Ke yena ochukumise isidumbu waza akazihlambulula, ugqwalisa *isibingelelo *sikaNdikhoyo. Umntu onjalo makasikwe kwaSirayeli; kaloku akatshizwanga ngamanzi entlambululo. Wohlala egqwalisekile.

₁₄“Nanku ummiselo ophathelele malunga nomntu ofele endlwini: nabani na olapho ngelo xesha, okanye ongenayo, uya kuba ugqwalisekile iintsuku zide zibe sixhenxe. ₁₅Ngokunjalo nayiphi na ingqayi okanye imbiza engacikwanga yogqwaliseka nayo. ₁₆Nomntu othe engaphandle phaya wachukumisa umntu ogetyengiweyo okanye ozifele nje, okanye ochukumise ithambo lomntu okanye ingcwaba, uya kugqwaliseka iintsuku ezisixhenxe.

₁₇“Xa kuhlanjululwa umntu onjalo ke, kofuneka kucatshulwe kuthuthu lwethokazi elibomvu, lona luhlambululayo, lufakwe embizeni, luxutywe namanzi angcwengileyo. ₁₈Wosuka ke umntu ohlambulukileyo athathe ihlamvu lehisopu, alithi nkxu apho emanzini, atshize indlu nako konke okukuyo, ngokunjalo nabantu ababelapho kuyo. Okanye umntu ohlambulukileyo uya kuthatha loo manzi atshize lowo uchukumise ogetyengiweyo, okanye ofileyo, mhlawumbi ochukumise ithambo noba lingcwaba. ₁₉Kusuku lwesithathu, ngokunjalo nakolwesixhenxe, loo mntu uhlambulukileyo uya kutshiza lowo ugqwalisekileyo. Ngosuku lwesixhenxe ke uya kuhlambuluka loo mntu, akuba ezihlambile iimpahla zakhe, naye ngokwakhe ehlambe umzimba. Matshona kwelanga ke woba uhlambulukile.

₂₀“Umntu ogqwalisekileyo, waza akazihlambulula, umelwe kukusikwa ebantwini, kuba unyelise isibingelelo sikaNdikhoyo. Kaloku akatshizwanga ngamanzi okuhlambulula; ngako oko uhlala egqwalisekile. ₂₁Lo mmiselo mawuthotyelwe nini nanini. Umntu otshiza ngamanzi okuhlambulula makazihlambe iimpahla zakhe. Kanti ke nabani na ochukumisa amanzi okuhlambulula, uhlala engahlambulukanga kude kuhlwe. ₂₂Nantoni na echukunyiswe ngumntu ogqwalisekileyo nayo iba njalo; futhi nabani na oyichukumisayo naye uhlala enjalo kude kuhlwe.”

₁Nam ke, mawethu, bendingenako ukuthetha nani ngendlela endithetha ngayo nabo banaye uMoya, kodwa kwakufuneka ndithethe nani ngendlela endithetha ngayo nabo baselula, baseziintsana kwihambo yobuKrestu. ₂Ndaniseza ubisi, andanipha kutya kuqinileyo, kuba naningekakufaneli. Kanti ke unangoku anikakufaneli, ₃kuba nisaziphethe ngokwesimo esidala. Kaloku xa ninomona, neenkani, nixabana, niziphatha ngokwesimo esidala, nilinganisa abantu. ₄Kakade anilinganisi bantu xa omnye athi: “Mna ndingokaPawulos,” wumbi athi: “Mna ndingoka-Apolo”? ₅Xa ndingubani mna Pawulos, engubani yena uApolo? Sizizicaka nje zikaThixo kuphela, ezinincedayo ukuba nikholwe. Umntu ngamnye kuthi wenza umsebenzi awunikwe yiNkosi. ₆Mna ndatyala, uApolo yena wankcenkceshela, kodwa ke nguThixo okhulisayo. ₇Ngoko ke lowo utyalayo akabalwa, nalowo unkcenkceshelayo akabalwa; obalulekileyo nguThixo, yena ukhulisayo. ₈Lowo utyalayo ke uyafana nalowo unkcenkceshelayo, kodwa elowo kubo uya kwamkela umvuzo ngangokubulaleka kwakhe. ₉Thina singabancedisanayo emsebenzini kaThixo; intsimi kaThixo ke nini.

Ngenye indlela nisisakhiwo sikaThixo. ₁₀Ngesisa endisenzelwe nguThixo ndasibeka isiseko ngokwegcisa lomakhi. Omnye ke wakha phezu kwaso. Elowo ke makayigqale indlela akha ngayo phezu kwesi siseko. ₁₁Kaloku akukho bani unokubeka siseko simbi ngaphandle kweso sabekwa nguThixo, eso ke singuYesu onguKrestu. ₁₂Kunokwakhiwa ngezinto ezahluka-hlukeneyo phezu kwesi siseko. Kunokwakhiwa ngegolide, ngesiliva, nangamatye anqabileyo; kunokwakhiwa ngamaplanga, ngengca, nangeendiza. ₁₃Umsebenzi womntu ngamnye uya kucaca ngemini yomgwebo, kuba ngaloo mini umlilo uya kuwubonakalisa umsebenzi womntu ngamnye, uphicothe ubunjani bawo. ₁₄Ukuba into akhe ngayo umntu phezu kwesi siseko ayitshanga, uya kwamkela umvuzo. ₁₅Ke ukuba ithe yatsha, umntu lowo wolahlekelwa ngumvuzo; ke yena ngokwakhe wosindiswa, kodwa ke ange ucande emlilweni.

₁₆Anazi na ukuba nina niyindlu kaThixo? Anazi na ukuba uMoya kaThixo uhlala ngaphakathi kwenu? ₁₇Ukuba umntu uyayonakalisa indlu kaThixo, uThixo uya kumohlwaya, kuba indlu kaThixo ingcwele – nina ke niyiloo ndlu.

₁₈Makungabikho namnye uzikhohlisayo. Ukuba ubani kuni uba usisilumko kweli hlabathi, makabe “sisidenge” ukuze abe sisilumko ngenene. ₁₉Kaloku ubulumko beli hlabathi bubudenge kuThixo. Kaloku *iziBhalo zitsho ukuthi: “UThixo uyazibambisa izilumko kubuqhetseba bazo;” ₂₀ziphinde zithi: “INkosi iyazazi ukuba zingamampunge iingcamango zezilumko.” ₂₁Ngoko ke makungabikho namnye uqhayisa ngezinto ezenziwa ngabantu. Kaloku izinto zonke zezenu: ₂₂nokuba nguPawulos, nokuba nguApolo, nokuba nguPetros, nokuba lihlabathi, nokuba bubomi, nokuba kukufa, nokuba zizinto ezikhoyo, nokuba zeziza kubakho; zonke ezo zinto zezenu. ₂₃Kodwa ke nina ningabakaKrestu, uKrestu yena ngokaThixo.

₁Makenjenje ke umntu ukucinga ngathi, athi sizizicaka zikaKrestu, singamagosa eendaba zikaThixo ebezingaziwa. ₂Into elindelekileyo ke kumagosa kukuba ahlale ethembekile. ₃Ke mna andikunanze nganto ukuziphendulela kuni okanye enkundleni eyeyabantu. Ewe, nam andiziphicothi ngokwam. ₄Akukho nto ndinasazela ngayo, kodwa loo nto ayithethi kuthi ndimsulwa. Kaloku umgwebi wam yiNkosi. ₅Ngoko ke musani ukugweba mntu ngaphambi kwexesha lokufika kweNkosi. Yona iya kuzityhila izinto zobumnyama ezifihliweyo, ekufikeni kwayo, iziveze ekuhleni iingcinga zabantu. Wothi ke elowo nalowo awongwe nguThixo ngokumfaneleyo.

₆Ezi zinto, mawethu, ndizilinganisela ngam noApolo ngenxa yenu, ukuze nifunde kuthi apha, nize ke, njengoko zitshoyo *iziBhalo, ningabi nakratshi. Ke musani ukuqhayisa ngothile nize nimdele omnye. ₇Kambe ngubani othe wena ubalulekile kunabanye; iyintoni yona onayo ongayiphiwanga nguThixo? Phofu ke, ukuba uphiwe, uqhayiselani ngokungathi akuphiwanga?

₈Ngathi senide nadikwa njê; ngathi senizizityebi njê; ngathi senide naziinkosi njê, ndingekabi yiyo nam! Akwaba beniziinkosi nyhani-nyhani, ukuze nam ndibuxhamle ubukhosi obo benu! ₉Kuba kum ngathi uThixo thina *bathunywa bakhe usinika eyona ndawo iphantsi, ngathi singabamiselwe ukufa, senziwe umboniso oyintlekisa ehlabathini, kwizithunywa zezulu nasebantwini. ₁₀Andithi thina siziziyatha kaloku ngenxa kaKrestu, nibe ke nina niziingqondi ngokumanywa noKrestu, ngabula nina! Andithi thina siswele amandla; ke nina nomelele! Kaloku nibekekile nina, sibe ke thina sidelekile! ₁₁Kude kube ngôkunje siyalamba, siyanxanwa, siyadlakazela, siyadlakathiswa, siyabhadula, ₁₂siyabulaleka sisebenza nzima sizixhasa. Sakuthukwa, siyasikelela; sakutshutshiswa, siyanyamezela; ₁₃sakunyeliswa, siyacenga. Kude kube ngoku siphethwe okwenkunkuma yehlabathi, umququ wezinto zonke.

₁₄Ezi zinto andizibhaleli kuba nenyele; hayi, ndizibhalela ukuniluleka. Kaloku ningabantwana bam endibathandayo. ₁₅Nokuba ningade nibe namawaka-waka abafundisi abanifundisa ngoKrestu, mnye yena uyihlo kodwa. Ndim ke lowo, kuba namanywa noKrestu ngokuziva ngam iindaba ezimnandi; ndafana nonizeleyo ke. ₁₆Ndiyanibongoza ke, xelisani mna. ₁₇Ngenxa yoko ndinithumela uTimoti ongunyana wam endimthandayo, othembekileyo ekuyikhonzeni iNkosi. Yena uya kunikhumbuza ngeemfundiso zam ngoKrestu, ezi ndizifundisayo ezindaweni zonke kuwo onke amabandla.

₁₈Abanye benu basuke bakhukhumala ngokungathi andisayi kuze ndize apho. ₁₉Ndiya kunihambela kamsinya, emandleni eNkosi, ukuze ndinganeli nje kuva kucikoza kwâbo bazidlayo, kodwa ndiwubone nomsebenzi wabo. ₂₀Kaloku ulawulo lukaThixo alungabuciko, lungamandla kaMoya. ₂₁Nikhetha ntoni ke? Ngaba nifuna ndize kuni ndiphethe uswazi, okanye nifuna ndize ndinothando nobubele?