To The Word – Day 45

₁Le yintetho uMosis awayibhekisayo kumaSirayeli xa ayesentlango phesheya kweJordan kwicala lasempumalanga. Babekwintili yeJordan ngaseSufi, phakathi kweParan nezi dolophu: iTofele, iLabhan, iHazeroti, neDizahabhi. ₂Luhambo lweshumi elinanye lweentsuku ukusuka kwintaba iHorebhe ukuya eKadeshe-bhaneya xa udlula kweleentaba lase-Edom. ₃Ngomhla wokuqala kwinyanga yeshumi elinanye yonyaka wamashumi amane amaSirayeli aphumayo eJiputa, uMosis wawaxelela zonke izinto awayeziyalelwe *nguNdikhoyo malunga nawo. ₄Ngeli xesha ke kwakusemveni kokoyiswa kokumkani uSihon wama-Amori owayehlala eHeshbhon; ngokunjalo nokumkani uOgi waseBhashan owayekwiidolophu iAshtaroti ne-Edreyi.

₅Apho phesheya kweJordan kumhlaba waseMowabhi uMosis wasuka wayichaza imithetho kaThixo, wenjenje: ₆“Xa sasikwintaba iHorebhe uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu wathetha nathi, wathi: ‘Seninethuba elide nikule ntaba. ₇Ngoko ke ndulukani, nisinge ngakumhlaba weentaba wama-Amori, niye kwizizwe eziwungqongileyo kwintili yeJordan, nommandla weentaba ngokunjalo, namathafa kumazantsi aloo ngingqi, ukuya kuthi xhaxhe kunxweme lolwandle. Ewe, jongani kwelaseKanana, niphumele kwiintaba zeLebhanon, niyokuthi gaa ngomlambo omkhulu iEfrati. ₈Niyabona, lo mhlaba ndiwunika nina. Ngoko ke hambani niwuthathe, nime kuwo. Kaloku ndênza isibhambathiso sokuwunika ookhokho benu, uAbraham, uIsake, noYakobi, ngokunjalo nezizukulwana zabo.’ ”

₉“Kaloku ngelo thuba sasikwintaba iHorebhe ndathetha nani, ndathi: ‘Mna andinakunithwala ndindodwa. ₁₀Kaloku *uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu unandise nayinyambalala enjengeenkwenkwezi ezisesibhaka-bhakeni. ₁₁Kambe ke uNdikhoyo uThixo wookhokho benu wanga anganandisa kaliwaka, anithamsanqelise ngokwesithembiso sakhe! ₁₂Kodwa ke, uxanduva olungaka lokusombulula amaqhina anixakayo ndingaluthwala njani ndedwa? Nditsho imithwalo yenu neembambano zenu.’ ₁₃Kungoko ke ndathi: ‘Kwindlu nganye khethani amadoda azizilumko ezaziwayo, amadoda anamava, ukuze ndiwamisele ajongane nezidla umzi.’ ₁₄Ke nina naphendula nathi: ‘Kuhle oku uceba ukukwenza.’ ₁₅Ngoko ke ndawathatha loo madoda azizilumko anamava naniwakhethe ngokwezindlu zenu, ndawamisela ukuba ajongane neengxaki zenu. Ndawamisa ke ajongana namaqela angabantu abangamawaka, amakhulu, namashumi ngamahlanu, namashumi ngamanye. Ngokwenjenjalo ndaba ndinimisela amagosa ngokwezindlu zenu zonke.

₁₆“Ngelo xesha ke ndabayalela abaphicotha iimbambano ezivelayo phakathi kwenu, ndathi: ‘Umcimbi ngamnye ze niwuphicothe ningenaxanasi, noba ngowamaSirayeli odwa okanye ngowomSirayeli nomngeneleli. ₁₇Ze ningakhethi buso xa nigwebayo, koko ze nigwebe ulowo nalowo, noba ungubani na, ngokufanayo. Ze ningabi nadyudyu, ningoyiki mntu, kuba nigweba ngegunya likaThixo. Ke yona imicimbi enoyisayo ze niyizise kum, ndiyigwebe ngokwam.’ ₁₈Kwangelo thuba ke ndaniyalela yonke into enimelwe kukuyenza.”

₁₉“Ke kaloku senza ngokomlomo *kaNdikhoyo, sanduluka entabeni iHorebhe, sacanda kweso sidikidiki sentlango eyoyikekayo, sajonga kweleentaba kuma-Amori. Sathi ke sakufika eKadeshe-bhaneya ₂₀ndathi ke mna: ‘Ngoku nifikile kumhlaba weentaba kwelama-Amori, mhlaba lowo asinika wona uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu. ₂₁Niyabona, uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, uninike lo mhlaba. Ngoko ke hambani niwuthathe, nime kuwo, njengoko uNdikhoyo uThixo wookhokho aniyalelayo. Sanukuba nexhala okanye noyike.’

₂₂“Kambe ke nina nonke neza kum, nathi: ‘Masithumele iintlola, ziye kuwujonga umhlaba, zisicebise ngeyona ndlela singayithathayo, futhi zisicebise nangokuma kweedolophu zakhona.’ ₂₃Ke kaloku sevana ngaloo ndawo, ndaza ke mna ndanyula ishumi elinambini lamadoda, yanye kwindlu nganye. ₂₄Wona ke ahamba aya kutsho kweleentaba, aya kuma kwintili ye-Eshkoli, aza ke ayihlola. ₂₅Ekubuyeni kwawo asiphathela iziqhamo zakhona, enza nengxelo ethi elo lizwe asinika lona uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu lihle liyintombazana.

₂₆“Kambe ke nina navukelana nawo umyalelo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, anavuma ukungena kulo elo lizwe. ₂₇Nahlala phantsi nakhalaza, nisithi: ‘UNdikhoyo usithiyile; ebengekhe asikhuphe kwelaseJiputa, aze azokusibeka esichengeni sokubulawa ngala ma-Amori! ₂₈Siya kuya phi na ke ngoku? Andithi kaloku nala madoda besiwathumile asityhafisile esithi abantu belo lizwe bomelele, futhi bade kunathi, ngokunjalo bahlala kwiidolophu ezinkulu ezibiyelwe ngeendonga ezirhec' izulu; kananjalo babone neengxilimbela ezingoonyana baka-Anaki!’

₂₉“Ke mna ndaniyala ndisithi: ‘Musani ukuba nedyudyu nixhalabe ngenxa yabo! ₃₀UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu nguye onikhokelayo. Yena wonilwela njengoko nambonayo esenjenjalo eJiputa ₃₁nasentlango. Andithi kaloku yena wanibeleka njengoko uyise enjenjalo kunyana wakhe, yonke loo ndlela kude kube ngoku?’ ₃₂Kodwa ke, nakuba kunjalo, animthembanga uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, ₃₃kanti nguye owayesoloko enikhokela ade anifunele nendawo eningamisa kuyo. Ewe, kaloku wayenikhokela ngelangatye lomlilo ebusuku, ukuze niyibone indlela emanihambe ngayo, aze anikhokele ngomqulu welifu emini.”

₃₄“Ke kaloku *uNdikhoyo akuziva izikrokro zenu wakhathazeka, wada wafunga wathi: ₃₅‘Inene, akukho namnye kuni, sizukulwanandini esigwenxa, uya kungena kwelo lizwe lihle kunene ndabathembisa ngalo ngesifungo ooyihlo-mkhulu. ₃₆Kuphela longenwa nguKalebhi unyana kaJefune. Kaloku yena wahlala enyanisekile kum, ndaye ke elo lizwe walihlolayo ndiza kulinikela kuye nesizukulwana sakhe.’

₃₇“Kwakukwangenxa yenu ukuze uNdikhoyo akhathazeke, athi kum: ‘Nawe ngokwakho soze uthi cakatha kwelo lizwe. ₃₈Kambe ke ihlakani lakho, uYoshuwa unyana kaNune, nguye oya kulingena elo lizwe; mkhuthaze, kuba nguye oya kungenisa uSirayeli kwelo lizwe elililifa lakhe.’

₃₉“Ngaphezu koko ke uNdikhoyo wathi: ‘Ngabantwana benu kuphela abaya kungena kwelo lizwe; nditsho abo bangekakwazi ukwahlula okubi kokuhle, abo kanye nanisithi nina boba ngamaxhoba otshaba. Elo lizwe ndiya kulinikela kubo, limiwe ngabo. ₄₀Ke nina jikani, nisinge entlango ngendlela eya kuLwandle oluBomvu.’

₄₁“Ke nina naphendula nathi kum: ‘Simonile uNdikhoyo. Ngoko ke siza kujika silihlasele elo lizwe ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wethu.’ Ngenene ke nonke naqulela imfazwe, nicinga ukuba yoba yindlwana iyanetha ukuhlasela eleentaba. ₄₂Ke yena uNdikhoyo wathi kum: ‘Balumkise uthi: “Ningayi kulwa; andiyi kuhamba nani ndinilwele; niya koyiswa ziintshaba zenu.” ’ ₄₃Ndanixelela ke loo mazwi kaNdikhoyo, kodwa zange niwakhathalele. Ewe, nasuka namgwilikela, naza nathi ngelo kratshi lenu nalihlasela eleentaba. ₄₄Asuka ke wona ama-Amori awayehlala kwezo ntaba, athi quba phezu kwenu oku kwebubu leenyosi. Aningena ke, aniswantsulisa, nada naya kufika eHoma, anoyisela kwezo ntaba zaseSeyire. ₄₅Kweso sithuba ke naba ngazibika kuNdikhoyo nilila, suka wavingc' iindlebe, akaniphulaphula.

₄₆“Ke kaloku nahlala eKadeshe ixesha elide.”

₁“Emva koko sanduluka sangena entlango ngendlela eya kuLwandle oluBomvu, ngokwelizwi *likaNdikhoyo. Apho ke sathatha ithuba elide ukujikeleza ezo ntaba zaseSeyire.

₂“UNdikhoyo ke wathetha nam, wathi: ₃‘Selilide ithuba nizama ukujikela le ntaba, ngoko ke jikani niye kwelasentla. ₄Ke ngoko uzubayale abantu, uthi: “Ngoku seniza kungena kweleentaba laseSeyire, umhlaba wamawenu inzala kaEsawu. Ke wona aza kunoyika, ₅kambe ke ze nizilumkele ningawaqali, kuba kaloku andiyi kuninika nomhlathana lo kumhlaba wawo. Intaba yeSeyire ndayinika uEsawu nenzala yakhe. ₆Ukutya namanzi wathengeni kubo xa nidlulayo.” ’

₇“Khumbulani kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu unithamsanqele kuko konke enikwenzileyo. Unilondolozile ngalo lonke uhambo lwenu kwesi sithabazi sentlango. Kula mashumi mane eminyaka uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ebenani, anaswela nto.

₈“Ngoko ke sanduluka, sagqitha eSeyire, nditsho kumhlaba wamawethu inzala kaEsawu, sayishiya indlela yasentlango ephuma e-Elati nase-Eziyon-gebhere eya kuLwandle oluFileyo, sajika sasinga kwintlango yaseMowabhi. ₉UNdikhoyo wandiyala wathi: ‘Uze ungawabandezeli uwaqale amaMowabhi, inzala kaLothe, kuba ndiwaphe idolophu yaseAra. Ke andiyi kukunika nendawana le kumhlaba wawo.’

₁₀“Apho ke eAra kwakumi uhlanga olomeleleyo, kusithiwa ngamaEma. Nawo ayeziingxilimbela njengama-Anaki. ₁₁Kwanjengama-Anaki nawo kwakusithiwa ngamaRafa, kambe ke wona amaMowabhi ayesithi ngamaEma. ₁₂Wona amaHori ayekade emi eSeyire, aza agxothwa yinzala kaEsawu, yawaphanzisa kwema yona kuloo mhlaba wawo, kwanjengokuba noSirayeli ezigxothile iintshaba zakhe kumhlaba awuphiwe nguNdikhoyo.

₁₃“UNdikhoyo wathi: ‘Sukani niwele umfula iZeredi.’ Senjenjalo ke.

₁₄“Ngoku ke kwakusekuyiminyaka emashumi mathathu anesibhozo saphumayo eKadeshe-bhaneya. Onke amajoni eso sizukulwana ayeselafa ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo. ₁₅UNdikhoyo wachasana nawo wada wawatshabalalisa kwathi nya.

₁₆“Akuba loo majoni efe onke ke, ₁₇uNdikhoyo wathi kum: ₁₈‘Namhlanje ke niza kucanda kumhlaba waseMowabhi ngaseAra. ₁₉Xa nilapho ke noba kufuphi kumhlaba wama-Amon, inzala kaLothe. Ze ningawabandezi okanye niwaqale; kaloku andiyi kuninika nento le kumhlaba endawunika wona.’

₂₀“Lo mmandla ke ukwaziwa ngokuba ngumhlaba wamaRafa, gama elo lilelabantu ababemi khona ngaphambili, ke wona ama-Amon ayesithi ngamaZamzum. ₂₁Nabo babeziingxilimbela njengama-Anaki. Babeluhlanga olomeleleyo, bebaninzi ngamanani. Phofu ke uNdikhoyo wabatshabalalisa, khon' ukuze umhlaba wabo umiwe ngama-Amon. ₂₂UNdikhoyo wenza kwaloo nto kumaEdom, inzala kaEsawu leyo imi kweleentaba eSeyire. Wawatshabalalisa amaHori, khon' ukuze amaEdom eme kuloo mhlaba wawo. Asekuwo ke unanamhla. ₂₃Ke amaKrete, awayevela kwisiqithi saseKrete, awatshabalalisa ama-Avi, awayemi ntlandlolo kwiidolophu zonke ukuya kuthi xhaxhe eGaza, aza ema khona.

₂₄“Sakuba ke sigqithile eMowabhi, uNdikhoyo wathi: ‘Ke ngoku sukani niwele umlambo iAnoni. USihon ukumkani wama-Amori oseHeshbhon sendimnikele esandleni senu, ngokunjalo nomhlaba wakhe. Mhlaseleni, niye niwuhluthe umhlaba wakhe. ₂₅Ukusukela namhlanje bonke abantu belimiweyo ndiza kubenza banoyike, barhwaqeliswe yingxelo yoko nikwenzileyo.’ ”

₂₆“Ngoko ke ndathumela kukumkani uSihon waseHeshbhon xa thina sasikwintlango yeKedemoti, ndizama uxolo, ndisithi: ₂₇‘Siyakubongoza, sivumele sinqumle emhlabeni wakho. Siya kuhamba ngqo, singaphumi endleleni. ₂₈Ukutya namanzi esiwasebenzisileyo siya kuwahlawula. Kuphela into esiyifunayo kukugqitha nje emhlabeni wakho, ₂₉side siye kuwela umlambo iJordan, singene kwilizwe esiliphiwe *nguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu. Ke yona inzala kaEsawu eseSeyire ndawonye namaMowabhi aseAra asivumele ukuba sicande emhlabeni wawo.’

₃₀“Kambe ke ukumkani uSihon wala ukuba sicande emhlabeni wakhe. Kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu wayemenze wanenkani waqaqadeka, khon' ukuze simoyise siwuthathe lo mhlaba wakhe simi kuwo unangoku.

₃₁“UNdikhoyo ke wathetha nam, wathi: ‘Uyabona ke, ukumkani uSihon sendimgqibile; akusekho yakhe. Ngoko ke ngenani niwuthathe umhlaba wakhe, nime kuwo.’ ₃₂Ke kaloku ukumkani uSihon waphuma nawo wonke umkhosi wakhe, weza kulwa nathi ngaseJaza. ₃₃Kambe ke yena uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu wamnikela kuthi, samoyisa noonyana bakhe nawo wonke umkhosi wakhe. _34-35Ngokunjalo ke sahlasela satshabalalisa kuzo zonke iidolophu, amadoda, abafazi, ndawonye nabantwana, asashiya nempunde le. Iidolophu sazitshabalalisa; ke sathimba kuphela iinkomo namanye amaxhoba. ₃₆Sazitshabalalisa zonke iidolophu ukusukela eArure ekungeneni kwintili yeAnoni, nesixeko esisembindini waloo ntili, ukuya kuthi gaa ngeGiliyadi. Ukomelela kweendonga zezo dolophu kwaba yintwan' encinci kuthi. NguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu owakunikela kuthi konke oku. ₃₇Kambe ke asisondelanga kummandla wama-Amon, okanye kunxweme lomlambo iJabhoko, nakwiidolophu zomhlaba weentaba, nakuyo nayiphi na indawo esasingayalelwanga ngayo nguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu.”

₁“Ke kaloku senyuka saya eBhashan. Ke yena ukumkani uOgi waphuma nawo wonke umkhosi wakhe, wasihlasela ngase-Edreyi. ₂*UNdikhoyo ke wathi kum: ‘Musani ukumoyika; ndimnikele ezandleni zenu, ndawonye nomkhosi wakhe, nawo wonke umhlaba wakhe. Nakuye yenzani kwangaloo ndlela nenza ngayo kuSihon ukumkani wama-Amori eHeshbhon.’

₃“Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo wamnikezela kuthi nokumkani uOgi waseBhashan, saza samxabela ndawonye nabantu bakhe, akwasala namnye. ₄Ngokunjalo ke sazihlasela sazithatha zonke iidolophu zakhe, asashiya noba ibe nye. Xa zizonke yaba ziidolophu ezimashumi mathandathu yonke loo ngingqi yaseAgobhi, eyayiphantsi ko-Ogi ukumkani waseBhashan. ₅Zonke ke ezo dolophu zazinqatyisiwe zibiyelwe ngeendonga, zinamasango omelezwe ngemivalo yentsimbi; phofu zazikho needolophu ezazingabiyelwanga. ₆Zonke ke sazitshabalalisa, sabulala ndoda, mfazi, namntwana wembala, kanye kwangalaa ndlela senza ngayo kwiidolophu zikakumkani uSihon waseHeshbhon. ₇Sazithimbela iinkomo namanye amaxhoba apho ezidolophini.

₈“Ngelo thuba ke sawuthatha wonke umhlaba wezo kumkani zimbini zama-Amori, ngasempuma yomlambo iJordan, ukusuka kumlambo iAnoni ukuya kwintaba iHermon. ₉Ke intaba iHermon yayibizwa ngokuba yiSiriyon ngamaSidon, ama-Amori wona esithi yiSenire. ₁₀Sawuthatha wonke ummandla kakumkani uOgi waseBhashan: ezo dolophu zikuloo mathafa, ummandla waseGiliyadi naseBhashan, sada saya kutsho empuma kwiidolophu zaseSaleka nase-Edreyi.

₁₁“Ukumkani uOgi waba ngowokugqibela kumaRafa. Wayelala ebhedini yentsimbi. Yayiziimitha ezine ubude, zikwisithuba sesibini ububanzi. Nangoku ke isekhona kwidolophu yama-Amon iRabha.”

₁₂“Ukuwuthatha kwethu umhlaba osempumalanga yeJordan, amaRubhen namaGadi ndawanika ummandla ongasentla kweArure ngakumlambo iAnoni, nenxalenye yeleentaba zaseGiliyadi, ngokunjalo needolophu zakhona. ₁₃Ke sona isiqingatha samaManase ndasinika loo mhlaba useleyo waseGiliyadi, ngokunjalo neBhashan iphela apho kwakulawula uOgi. Yonke loo ngingqi yaseAgobhi kwelaseBhashan yayisaziwa ngokuba ngumhlaba wamaRafa. ₁₄UJayire wendlu kaManase wawuthatha wonke loo mmandla waseAgobhi, iBhashan, ukuya kutsho kwimimandla yaseGeshuri naseMahaka. Ezo dolophu ke wazithiya ngaye; nangoku ke kusathiwa zezikaJayire. ₁₅Ke yona iGiliyadi ndayinika imizi kaMakire wendlu kaManase. ₁₆AmaRubhen namaGadi ndawabela ummandla waseGiliyadi ukuya kumlambo iAnoni. Umbindi waloo ntili yangumda ongezantsi; umda ongasentla wona yangumlambo iJabhoko onxalenye yawo yayingumda wama-Amon. ₁₇Ngasentshonalanga umda wabo wawuye kuthi xhaxhe ngomlambo iJordan; ngasentla usuka kuLwandle lwaseGalili uye kuthi gaa ngoLwandle oluFileyo ngezantsi, uze uye kuthi rhece kumalengalenga entaba iPisga empumalanga.

₁₈“Kananjalo ngelo thuba ndaniyalela, ndathi: ‘UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uninikile loo mhlaba usempumalanga yomlambo iJordan ukuba nime kuwo. Ke wona umkhosi wenu wuxhobiseni, niwuthumele uwele iJordan, wandulele amawawo. ₁₉Abafazi nabantwana, ngokunjalo nomhlambikazi weenkomo zenu, mabasale apha kwezi dolophu ndinabele zona. ₂₀Wancedeni amawenu nawo ade azinze kuloo mhlaba awuphiwe nguNdikhoyo kwintshonalanga yomlambo iJordan, njengoko selenzile nakuni. Emva koko ke noba nako ukubuyela apha kulo mhlaba usisabelo senu.’

₂₁“Ndaza ke ndathetha noYoshuwa, ndathi: ‘Sowuyibonile ke into eyênziwa nguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu kookumkani ababini, uSihon no-Ogi. Úsaza kwenza kwaloo nto ke nakubo bonke ookumkani obahlaselayo kwelo lizwe ùya kulo. ₂₂Ningaboyiki, kuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu nguye oza kunilwela.’ ”

₂₃“Kwangelo thuba ndambongoza *uNdikhoyo, ndathi: ₂₄‘Mhlekazi Ndikhoyo, nakalokunje wena sowundikrobisile kumsebenzi wakho omkhulu omangalisayo oseluwuqalile. Akukho *thixo wumbi ezulwini nasemhlabeni onako ukwenza imisebenzi enjengale uyenzileyo ukuba mikhulu! ₂₅Ndiyakubongoza kaloku, Ndikhoyo, ndivumele ndiyiwele iJordan, ndiwubone loo mhlaba mhle kunene, ngaphesheya phaya, ezaa nduli zibukekayo ngokunjalo naloo ntaba yeLebhanon.’

₂₆“Kambe ke ngenxa yenu, bantundini, uNdikhoyo wacaphuka, akandiphulaphula, suka wathi: ‘Kwanele; sukuba sathetha nokuthetha! Andisafuni kuva nto ngalo mcimbi. ₂₇Nto nje hamba uqabele kwincochoyi yentaba iPisga, ulibuke ujonge ngasentla, ezantsi, empuma, nasentshonalanga. Uya kulibona kuphela ngamehlo, kuba awusoze uwuwele umlambo iJordan. ₂₈UYoshuwa myale, umkhuthaze, umomeleze, kuba nguye oza kukhokela amaSirayeli awele aye kuma kwelo lizwe ulibonayo.’ ₂₉Ngoko ke sahlala apho kuloo ntili ijongene neBhete-pehore.”

₁UMosis wawayala amaSirayeli, wathi: “Le mimiselo ndinifundisa yona yithobeleni, khon' ukuze niphile, nibe nako ukungena kwelo lizwe niliphiwa *nguNdikhoyo uThixo wookhokho benu. ₂Le miyalelo kaNdikhoyo ndininika yona ze niyigcine, ningaze niyandise okanye niyinciphise. ₃Nazibonela ngokwenu into awayenzayo uNdikhoyo eBhali-pehore. Wabatshabalalisa bonke ababenqula uBhali wasePehore, ₄kambe ke nina enanibambelele kuNdikhoyo uThixo wenu nisekho unanamhla.

₅“Niyabona ke, ndinifundise yonke imimiselo nemigaqo ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wam, khon' ukuze niyithobele nakulizuza elo lizwe niza kungena kulo. ₆Yithobeleni niyigcine, zize ezinye izizwe ziniqonde ukuba ninobulumko nengqiqo. Zakuva ngale mimiselo ziya kutsho ukuthi: ‘Hayi, ukulumka nokuba nengqiqo kolu hlanga olukhulu!’ ₇Sisiphi na esinye isizwe esikhulu kangangokuba *uthixo waso abe kufutshane kuso njengoko uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu esondele kuthi xa simthandaza? ₈Sisiphi na esinye isizwe esikhulu kangangokuba sibe nemimiselo nemigaqo enjengalo mthetho endiwaneka phambi kwenu namhlanje? ₉Lumkani ke, nizigcine ubomi benu bonke, hleze nikulibale konke enakubonayo ngamehlo enu, kulibaleke nakwiinkumbulo zenu. Ze nibalisele abantwana benu, ngokunjalo nabazukulwana ₁₀ngalaa mini nanimi phambi koNdikhoyo uThixo wenu kwintaba iHorebhe, apho wathetha nam wathi: ‘Bahlanganise ndawonye aba bantu, ukuze baweve amazwi am, bafunde ukundihlonela nanini na besadla amazimba kweli gada lomhlaba, nokuze bafundise nabantwana babo.’

₁₁“Kaloku nakha nasondela nafika nema emazantsi entaba eyayigqunywe yintshinyela yomsi, inamalangatye omlilo awayedangazela esibhakabhakeni. ₁₂UNdikhoyo wathetha nani ekuloo mlilo, naza nakuva ukuthetha kwakhe, kodwa anabi nako mpela ukubona ubuqu bakhe – ibililizwi kuphela. ₁₃Wawubhengeza kuni umnqophiso wakhe emaniwuthobele, nditsho imithetho elishumi ayibhale kumacwecwe amabini amatye. ₁₄UNdikhoyo wandiyala ukuba ze ndinifundise imimiselo nemigaqo eniya kuyithobela kwelo niwelela kulo ukuba nilimé.”

₁₅“Xa *uNdikhoyo wayethetha nani eselangatyeni lomlilo kwintaba iHorebhe, zange nisibone isiqu sakhe. Ncedani ke nizigcine, ₁₆ningaze none ngokuziqingqela umfanekiso, noba uluhlobo luni na, noba yindoda okanye umfazi, ₁₇isilwanyana okanye intaka, ₁₈into erhubuluzayo noba yintlanzi. ₁₉Ningaze nilingeke nizinqule nizibuse izinto enizibona esibhakabhakeni: ilanga, inyanga, neenkwenkwezi. UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ezi zinto uziyekele ezinye izizwe ukuba zizinqule. ₂₀Ke nina ningabantu uNdikhoyo abahlangule eJiputa kwiziko lomlilo. Wanikhupha apho, khon' ukuze anenze abantu bakhe ncakasana njengokuba kunjalo namhlanje.

₂₁“Ngenxa yenu uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu waxabana nam, wafunga ukuba andiyi kuwuwela umlambo iJordan ndilibone ilizwe lendyebo aninika lona. ₂₂Ngoko ke mna andizukuwuwela umlambo, koko ndiza kufela apha, kodwa ke nina seniza kuwela niye kuma kwelo lizwe lendyebo. ₂₃Zigcineni kunene, ningaze niwulibale umnqophiso ophakathi kwenu noNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nisuke niwugqithe umyalelo wakhe, niziqingqele umfanekiso noba ngowantoni na. ₂₄Kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ngumlilo olenyayo; unguThixo onekhwele.

₂₅“Naxa senaluphele kwelo lizwe, senide nanabantwana nabazukulwana, ukuba nithe nona ngokuziqingqela umfanekiso, noba ngoluhlobo luni na, nenza okubi phambi koNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, niyamcaphukisa. ₂₆Ke ngoko namhlanje izulu nomhlaba ngamangqina am: ukuba nithe nenjenjalo niya kukhawuleza ningabikho kwelo lizwe. Aniyi kuhlala thuba lide phaya phesheya kweJordan, kweli lizwe niya kulo ngoku. Niya kutshatyalaliswa niphele tu. ₂₇UNdikhoyo uya kunisarhaza phakathi kwezizwe apho kuya kusinda iqaqobana nje kuni. ₂₈Apho ke niya kunqula *oothixo abenziwe ngabantu, abenziwe ngomthi, nangamatye: oothixo abangaboniyo, abangevayo, abangatyiyo, bengajoji nokujoja. ₂₉Niya kuthi ke nakumfuna uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu nikuloo meko nimfumane; ewe, ukuba nimfuna nimlangazelela ngomxhelo wenu wonke niya kumfumana. ₃₀Niya kuthi kamva nakuba sengxakini zibe zinihlele zonke ezi zinto, nitsho nibuyele kuNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nimthobele. ₃₁Yena unguThixo onemfesane. Akayi kunilahla kuphele, okanye anitshabalalise; ewe, akayi kuwulibala umnqophiso awawenza ngokwakhe nookhokho benu.”

₃₂“Ze nifunisise nibuzise ngamaxesha amandulo ningekazalwa, de kuye kwixesha apho uThixo wadala umntu emhlabeni. Ze nibuzise ehlabathini liphela. Ngaba into enjengale yakha yehla na ngaphambili? Ngaba ukhona na umntu owakha weva ngento enjengale? ₃₃Ngaba sikho na isizwe esakha seva uThixo ethetha naso eselangatyeni lomlilo, saza saphila, njengani? ₃₄Ukhona na omnye *uthixo owakha waphuthuma abantu kwesinye isizwe, waza wabenza abakhe ncakasana? Kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu amandla obungangamsha bakhe wawabonakalisa phambi kwenu; wezisa izibetho neemfazwe, wenza imiqondiso nemimangaliso, watsho kwehla izinto ezirhwaqelisayo, nto leyo wayenzayo ngenxa yenu eJiputa.

₃₅“UNdikhoyo unibonisile zonke ezi zinto, khon' ukuze niqonde ukuba akukho wumbi, nguye yedwa uThixo. ₃₆Wahlokomisa ilizwi lakhe emazulwini kuba eniqeqesha. Nathi nilapha emhlabeni wanibonisa umlilokazi wakhe, waza wathetha nani elapho kuwo. ₃₇Wathi ngenxa yokubathanda ookhokho benu waninyula wanikhupha kwelaseJiputa ngamandla akhe angummangaliso nangobukho bakhe, ₃₈waza wagxotha izizwe ezikhulu nezinamandla kunani, khon' ukuze aningenise kwimihlaba yazo, mihlaba leyo iseyeyenu unanamhla.

₃₉“Kuvumeni nikwamkele ukuba uNdikhoyo unguThixo wamazulu nehlabathi. Akukho Thixo wumbi ngaphandle kwakhe. ₄₀Yonke imimiselo nemiyalelo yakhe endininike yona namhlanje yithobeleni, khon' ukuze liqaqambe ikamva lenu nezizukulwana zenu. Ngaloo ndlela ke niya kuma ngonaphakade kweli lizwe aniphe lona uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu.”

₄₁UMosis ke wakhetha iidolophu zantathu ngaphesheya empuma yeJordan, ₄₂apho umntu wayengaphephela khona, ukuze asinde xa ebulele umntu ongelotshaba lwakhe ngengozi. Xa ebalekele kwezi dolophu wayengenakubulawa. ₄₃Indlu kaRhubhen wayinika idolophu yaseBhezere kweso sithabazi sentlango; indlu kaGadi yona wayinika iRamoti kwelaseGiliyadi; waza ke yona indlu kaManase wayinika iGolani eBhashan.

_44-46Ke kaloku uMosis wawandlala phambi kwamaSirayeli umthetho kaThixo, ewakhumbuza ngazo zonke izicwangciso nemimiselo nemigaqo yakhe. Kwakusemva kokuphuma kwawo eJiputa, xa ayekuloo ntili iphesheya kweJordan, malunga neBhete-pehore. Apha ke kwakukummandla owawukade ungokaSihon ukumkani wama-Amori owayehlala eHeshbhon. Kaloku uMosis namaSirayeli amoyisa ukuphuma kwabo eJiputa. ₄₇Bema emhlabeni wakhe, ngokunjalo nakokaOgi ukumkani waseBhashan phesheya kweJordan, owayengomnye wookumkani ababini aba bama-Amori. ₄₈Lo mhlaba ke wawusuka eArure ekungeneni komlambo iAnoni, ugongothe unyuke uyokutsho kwintaba iSiriyon (okanye intaba iHermon). ₄₉Kwangokunjalo wawuthatha nengingqi ephesheya kweJordan uhle uyokutsho kuLwandle oluFileyo, empuma uyokurheca amazantsi entaba iPisga.

₁Naku ukusungulwa kweendaba ezimnandi ezingoYesu Krestu, uNyana kaThixo. ₂Kunjengoko umshumayeli uIsaya walithethayo ilizwi likaThixo esithi:

₄Entlango ke kwabonakala uYohane ebhaptiza, eshumayela ukuba abantu mabaguquke babhaptizwe, aze uThixo abaxolele izono zabo. ₅Babephuma besiya kuye bonke abakwaJuda nabaseJerusalem, bezixela izono zabo, aze ababhaptize emlanjeni iJordan.

₆UYohane wayesambatha ingubo yoboya benkamela, abhinqe ngethwathwa. Wayesitya iinkumbi nobusi. ₇Wayeshumayela esithi: “Lowo uza emva kwam unamandla kunam. Bendingubani mna kakade ukuba ndingade ndikhulule imitya yezihlangu zakhe? ₈Mna okunene ndinibhaptiza ngamanzi, kodwa yena uya kunibhaptiza ngoMoya oyiNgcwele.”

₉Ngaloo mihla ke weza uYesu, evela eNazarete kwelaseGalili, wabhaptizwa nguYohane eJordan apho. ₁₀Kuthe kwangoko, akuphuma uYesu emanzini, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya oyiNgcwele esihla phezu kwakhe njengehobe. ₁₁Kwavakala nelizwi elivela ezulwini, lisithi: “UnguNyana wam endimthandayo wena; ndikholisiwe nguwe.”

₁₂Kwangoko uMoya oyiNgcwele wamqhubela entlango uYesu. ₁₃Waba lapho entlango iintsuku ezimashumi mane, elingwa nguSathana, ephakathi kwezilo zasendle. Izithunywa zezulu ke zazimlungiselela kwiintswelo zakhe.

₁₄Emva kokubanjwa kukaYohane, uYesu waya eGalili, evakalisa iindaba ezimnandi ezivela kuThixo, ₁₅esithi: “Lifikile ngoku ixesha. Luthwasile ulawulo lukaThixo. Guqukani, nikholwe kuzo ezi ndaba zimnandi.”

₁₆Ke kaloku kwathi ehamba ngakuLwandle lwaseGalili, wabona uSimon noAndreya umninawe wakhe bephosa umnatha elwandle. Kaloku bona babengabalobi beentlanzi. ₁₇UYesu wathi kubo: “Yizani apha nindilandele; ndonenza nibe ngabalobi babantu.” ₁₈Bayishiya kwangoko ke iminatha yabo, bamlandela.

₁₉Uthe ke, ehambele phambili kancinane, wabona uYakobi noYohane umninawe wakhe, oonyana bakaZebhedi, besesikhitshaneni sabo, belungisa iminatha yabo. ₂₀Wababiza, baza ke bamshiya uyise uZebhedi esikhitshaneni apho enabaqeshwa, balandela uYesu.

₂₁Bangena ke kwidolophu yaseKapernahum, waza ke uYesu *ngoMhla wokuqala wokuPhumla wafundisa *endlwini yesikhungo. ₂₂Bamangaliswa abantu kukufundisa kwakhe, kuba wayefundisa ngegunya, engafundisi njengabachazi-mthetho.

₂₃Kwakukho umntu onendimoni endlwini yesikhungo apho, owayekhala esithi: ₂₄“Ufuna ntoni kuthi, Yesu waseNazarete? Ngaba uze kusitshabalalisa na? Ndiyakwazi ukuba ungubani na: ungoyiNgcwele kaThixo!”

₂₅UYesu wayikhalimela loo ndimoni, esithi: “Yithi tu, uphume kulo mntu!”

₂₆Ke indimoni leyo yamxhuzula loo mntu, yaphuma kuye ibhomboloza. ₂₇Bamangaliswa bonke abantu, babuzana besithi: “Yaz'ba yintoni na le nto! Ngaba yimfundiso entsha? Ngathi lo mfo ufundisa ngegunya! Ewe, neendimoni ezi uyazikhalimela zimthobele!”

₂₈Lwathi ke udumo lukaYesu lwavakala kulo lonke elaseGalili.

₂₉Baphuma ke *endlwini yesikhungo, kwangoko baya kwindlu kaSimon noAndreya, benoYakobi noYohane. ₃₀Ke umkhwekazi kaSimon wayelele, egula yifiva, baza bamxelela uYesu ukuba akaphilanga. ₃₁Waya kuye uYesu, wamphakamisa embambe ngesandla; yaphela kwangoko loo fiva, waza wabalungiselela ukutya.

₃₂Kwathi ke ngokuhlwa, selitshonile ilanga, abantu bazisa kuye bonke abagulayo nabaneendimoni. ₃₃Bonke abantu baloo dolophu babehlanganisene ngasemnyango apho. ₃₄UYesu ke waphilisa abaninzi abagula zizifo ngezifo, ekhupha neendimoni. Iindimoni ezi wayengazivumeli ukuba zithethe, kuba zazimazi.

₃₅Kwathi kusesekuseni kakhulu, kusemnyama, wavuka uYesu, waya kuthandaza ngasese. ₃₆USimon nâbo babenaye baya kumfuna. ₃₇Bakuba bemfumene, bathi kuye: “Uyafunwa ngumntu wonke.”

₃₈Kambe ke yena wathi kubo: “Masihambe siye kwezinye iidolophu zalapha, ukuze nakhona ndizivakalise iindaba ezimnandi. Kaloku ndizele kanye loo nto.”

₃₉Walityhutyha lonke elaseGalili, eshumayela *ezindlwini zesikhungo, ekhupha iindimoni.

₄₀Kwasuka mntu uthile uneqhenqa weza kuYesu, wambongoza eguqe phambi kwakhe, wathi: “Unako ukundihlambulula ukuba uyathanda.”

₄₁UYesu wavelana naye, wasolula isandla, wamchukumisa, wathi kuye: “Ndiyathanda; hlambuluka.” ₄₂Kwangoko laphela iqhenqa, wahlambuluka. ₄₃Akuba emyale kabukhali, wamndulula kwangoko, ₄₄esithi kuye: “Lumka ungaxeleli bani nento le. Hamba uye kuzibonisa kumbingeleli, wenze umnikelo ngezo zinto wazimiselayo uMosis, ube bubungqina ngokuhlanjululwa kwakho.”

₄₅Kodwa yena akuphuma, wasuka wayibhengeza kakhulu le nto. Ngenxa yoko uYesu akabanga saba nako ukungena edolophini ebonwa ngabantu, koko wahlala emaphandleni. Abantu ke babesiza kuye, bevela macala onke.

₁Kwakuba ntsuku, uYesu wabuyela eKapernahum; kwavakala ukuba usekhayeni lakhe. ₂Ke kwahlanganisana into eninzi yabantu, kwada akwabikho ndawo nangasemnyango.

Kwathi ke xa uYesu wayesashumayela, ₃kwafika abantu, bezise kuye umntu ofe umzimba, ethwelwe ngabané. ₄Bakuba bengenakusondela kuYesu ngenxa yokuxinana kwendimbane, baqhaqhe uphahla ngakuloo ndawo wayekuyo. Begqobhozile ke, bamhlisa ngokhuko lowo ufe umzimba. ₅UYesu akulubona ukholo lwabo, wathi kofe umzimba: “Nyana, izono zakho zixolelwe.”

₆Abachazi-mthetho abathile, ababekhona, bathi ezintliziyweni zabo: ₇“Yini na ukuba lo athethe ngolu hlobo? Uyanyelisa! Ngubani onako ukuxolela izono ingenguye uThixo kuphela?”

₈Kwangoko uYesu wazazi iingcamango zabo, wathi kubo: “Yini na ukuba nibe nezi ngcamango ezintliziyweni zenu? ₉Okukona kulula kukuphi na? Kukho ukuthi kofe umzimba: ‘Izono zakho zixolelwe,’ kukho nokuthi: ‘Vuka, uthathe ukhuko lwakho uhambe’? ₁₀Ke ukuze nazi ukuba *uNyana woLuntu unalo igunya lokuxolela izono emhlabeni apha – úthi kofe umzimba – ₁₁ndithi kuwe: ‘Vuka, uthathe ukhuko lwakho, uhambe ugoduke.’ ”

₁₂Wavuka kwangoko ke, wathatha ukhuko, wemka. Bamangaliswa bonke, bemdumisa uThixo, besithi: “Asizange siyibone into enje!”

₁₃UYesu wabuya waphuma waya ngaselwandle. Kwaza ke kwahlanganisana isihlwele ngakuye, wasifundisa. ₁₄Wathi edlula wabona uLevi, unyana ka-Alifeyu, ehleli eofisini yerhafu; wathi kuye: “Ndilandele.” Waphakama ke, wamlandela.

₁₅Kwathi, xa wayesitya kwaLevi, kwakho nento eninzi yabaqokeleli-rhafu *naboni, isitya ndawonye noYesu nabafundi bakhe, kuba babebaninzi, bemlandela. ₁₆Ke abachazi-mthetho beqela *labaFarasi, bakumbona esitya kunye nabaqokeleli-rhafu naboni, bathi kubafundi bakhe: “Yini na ukuba atye kunye nabaqokeleli-rhafu naboni?”

₁₇Ekuvile oko uYesu, wathi kubo: “Ugqirha akafuneki nganto kwabaphilileyo, ufuneka kwabagulayo. Andizanga kubiza malungisa, ndizé kubiza aboni.”

₁₈Abafundi bakaYohane *nabaFarasi babezila ukutya. Ke abantu beza kuYesu, bathi kuye: “Kutheni abafundi bakaYohane nababaFarasi besoloko bezila ukutya nje, kanti bona abakho abazili?”

₁₉UYesu ke wathi kubo: “Ngaba abakhaphi bomyeni bangakuzila na ukutya lo gama umyeni asekunye nabo? Nakanye! Ngalo lonke ixesha asephakathi kwabo umyeni, abangekhe bakuzile! ₂₀Kodwa lofika ixesha lokuba umyeni asuswe kubo, bandule ke ukuzila.

₂₁“Kaloku akukho mntu uthungela isiziba esitsha kwisambatho esidala, kuba ukuba uthe wenjenjalo, sofinyela, sisikrazule ngakumbi isambatho eso. ₂₂Kananjalo akukho mntu uyitha kwiimvaba ezindala iwayini entsha engekabili, kuba ukuba uthe wenjenjalo, zogqabhuka ziphele iimvaba, ichitheke iwayini. Kaloku iwayini engekabili ithiwa kwiimvaba ezintsha.”

₂₃Kwathi uYesu ecanda emasimini *ngoMhla wokuPhumla, abafundi bakhe basuka bakha izikhwebu zengqolowa. ₂₄Bathi ke kuye *abaFarasi: “Khawutsho, kungani na ukuba abafundi bakho benze okungavumelekanga ngoMhla woPhumlo?”

₂₅Uthe ke yena kubo: “Anizange nikufunde na awakwenzayo uDavide, mhla walamba engenanto ityiwayo, yena neqela lakhe? ₂₆Kaloku wangena endlwini kaThixo ngemihla ka-Abhiyatare umbingeleli omkhulu, wazitya izonka ezazinikelwe kuThixo, wanika neqela lakhe. Kanti ngokomthetho ezi zonka azimelwe kutyiwa ngabangengobabingeleli.”

₂₇Waza wathi ke kubo: “UMhla woPhumlo lo wabakho ngenxa yomntu, asinguye umntu owabakho ngenxa yawo. ₂₈Ngoko ke uNyana woLuntu uyiNkosi yawo noMhla woPhumlo.”