To The Word – Day 47

₁“Nanku ke umyalelo, imigaqo, nemimiselo endithunywe *nguNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ukuba ndinifundise yona. Ngoko ke ze niyithobele nakufika kwelo lizwe niya kulo. ₂Ngalo lonke ithuba lobomi bakho, wena nezizukulwana zakho, kufuneka nimhlonele uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, uyithobele imithetho nemiyalelo yakhe endikunike yona, khon' ukuze ube nokuxhamla ubomi obude. ₃Hoyina, maSirayeli! Yiphulaphuleni niyithobele le miyalelo! Xa niyenzile ke loo nto nolungelwa nande kakhulu kwelo lizwe lendyebo eliphuphuma ubisi nobusi, elo nilinikwa ngokwesithembiso sikaNdikhoyo uThixo wooyihlo.

₄“Hoyina, Sirayeli! UNdikhoyo nguThixo wethu, uNdikhoyo yedwa qwaba! ₅Ngoko ke mthande uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho ngomxhelo wakho wonke, nangomoya wakho wonke, ngokunjalo nangamandla akho onke. ₆Le miyalelo ndikunika yona namhlanje mayilawule bonke ubomi bakho. ₇Uze uyibethelele ekufundiseni abantwana bakho, uthethe ngayo xa usekhaya, kanti noba useluhambeni, naxa ulalayo, ngokunjalo naxa uvukayo. ₈Uze uyiqhinele ibe ngumqondiso esandleni sakho, ngokunjalo nasebunzi, khon' ukuze ihlale isisikhumbuzo. ₉Uze uyikrole emigubasini, ngokunjalo nasemasangweni akho.”

₁₀“Ngokwesifungo sakhe kookhokho benu, uAbraham, uIsake, noYakobi, *uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uya kuninika ilizwe elizixeko zihle zikhulu, nangona phofu ungazakhanga ngokwakho. ₁₁Izindlu zakhona ziphuphuma ubuyoko-yoko ongabulalekanga ngabo. Uya kufumana amaqula aselembiwe, ngokunjalo nezidiliya nezinquma esezityaliwe. Xa sowusitya uhlutha ₁₂uze ulumke hleze umlibale uNdikhoyo owakukhulula ulikhoboka kwelaseJiputa.

₁₃“Uze umhlonele uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, ukhonze yena yedwa, izifungo zakho uzenze ngegama lakhe. ₁₄Ungaze ulandele *thixo wumbi, nditsho nowezo zizwe zikuphahlileyo, ₁₅hleze umsindo kaNdikhoyo uvuthe, anitshabalalise ningabikho kulo mhlaba. Kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho ohlala phakathi kwenu nguThixo onekhwele.

₁₆“UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ze ningamlingi njengoko nênzayo eMasa. ₁₇Iziyalo nezicwangciso ngokunjalo nemimiselo eniyinikwe nguNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ze niyithobele ngenyameko. ₁₈Kuphela ze nenze ezo zinto athi uNdikhoyo zintle zilungile, khon' ukuze nilungelwe. Xa nisenjenjalo ke noba nako ukulizuza elo lizwe lihle kunene lathenjiswa nguNdikhoyo kookhokho benu ngesifungo. ₁₉Noba nako ukuzigxotha iintshaba zenu ngokwelizwi lakhe.

₂₀“Kaloku kumaxesha ezayo unyana wakho uya kukubuza athi: ‘Kwakutheni ukuze uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu akunike ezi zicwangciso nale mimiselo, nale migaqo nje?’ Ke wena uze umxelele uthi: ₂₁‘Kaloku sasingamakhoboka ekumkani yaseJiputa, waza ke uNdikhoyo wasikhulula ngamandla akhe amakhulu. ₂₂Ewe, sayibona ngamehlo imiqondiso nemimangaliso erhwaqelisayo awayenzayo uNdikhoyo kumaJiputa, ngokunjalo nakukumkani nendlu yakhe. ₂₃Wasikhulula kwelaseJiputa, ukuze asibeke apha kweli lizwe awayebathembise ngalo oobawo-mkhulu ngesifungo. ₂₄Ngokwenjenjalo ke uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu wasiyalela ukuba siyithobele le mimiselo simhlonele, size ke silungelwe bonke ubomi bethu, siphile njengokuba kunjalo namhlanje. ₂₅Xa sithe sayithobela yonke imiyalelo, siya kumkholisa uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu.’ ”

₁“*UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uza kuningenisa kwelo lizwe niya kuma kulo. Uza kugxotha izizwe ezininzi kulo; ewe, yoba sisixhenxe sonke sezizwe ezikhulu nezinamandla kunani. Nazi ke: amaHeti, amaGirgashi, ama-Amori, amaKanana, amaPerezi, amaHivi, namaJebhusi. ₂Ke akuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ezinikele kuni ezi zizwe nazoyisa, kufuneka nizitshabalalise ziphele nya. Ningaze nenze mvumelwano kunye nazo, futhi ze ningabi nanceba tu kuzo. ₃Ningaze nendiselane nazo, ₄kuba ningáthi niyenzile loo nto zibawexule bamlahle uNdikhoyo abantwana benu, banqule thixo bambi. Ingáthi ikhe yenzeka loo nto uNdikhoyo acaphuke anitshabalalise ngoko nangoko. ₅Ngoko ke ze nenjenje kuzo: wadilizeni amaqonga azo, iintsika zazo zamatye niziqhekeze zibe ziingceba, ke yona imifanekiso yesithixokazi sazo uAshera ze niyinqunqe, ukanti imifanekiso yazo eqingqiweyo noyitshisa ngomlilo. ₆Le nto ke noyenza kuba kaloku nina niyimilowo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu. Kaloku kuzo zonke izizwe zehlabathi uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uninyulele ukuze nibe ngabantu abalibango lakhe elilodwa.

₇“Ke kaloku uNdikhoyo akathanga nca nani waninyula kuba nibaninzi kunezinye izizwe; hayi, kaloku nanisesona sizwe sincinci ehlabathini liphela. ₈UNdikhoyo uninyule kuba enithanda, efuna ukusigcina isifungo awasenzela ooyihlo-mkhulu. Kwakungenxa yeso sizathu ukuze anihlangule ngamandla akhe amakhulu, anikhulule ebukhobokeni phantsi kokumkani waseJiputa. ₉Khumbulani kaloku ukuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu lo nguThixo ekukuphela kwakhe, kungekho wumbi ngaphaya; futhi ke uthembekile. Uyawugcina umnqophiso wakhe, futhi izibele zakhe ziphuphumela kwâbo bamthandayo beyigcina imiyalelo yakhe kuse kumawaka ezizukulwana. ₁₀Kambe uya kuziphindezela ngqo kwabo bamthiyileyo, abatshabalalise; ewe, akayi kulibazisa ukuziphindezela. ₁₁Ngoko ke wuthobeleni ngenyameko lo myalelo nale mimiselo ngokunjalo nale migaqo ndininike yona namhlanje ukuba niyenze.”

₁₂“Ukuba nithe nayiphulaphula nayithobela le migaqo, *uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uya kuthi rhoqo ukuwugcina umnqophiso wakhe nani, zithi ke nezibele zakhe ziphuphumele kuni ngokwesifungo sakhe kooyihlo. ₁₃Uthando lwakhe uya kulubonakalisa kuni, anithamsanqele kangangokuba niqhame nande. Intsikelelo yakhe yofikelela kuni, nizale abantwana, nasemasimini enu nivune ukudla okwaneleyo: okuziinkozo, iwayini, neoyile. Kanti ke neenkomo zenu uya kuzandisa, nditsho nempahla yenu emfutshane ngokunjalo. Yonke ke le nto uya kunenzele kwelo lizwe wanithembisa ngalo kooyihlo-mkhulu ngesifungo. ₁₄Ehlabathini liphela akuyi kubakho sizwe sithamsanqeleke njengani. Phakathi kwenu soze abekho umntu ngokunjalo nemfuyo engazaliyo. ₁₅UNdikhoyo uya kunikhusela kuzo zonke izifo; soze aniyekele ngezifo ezifana nezo zoyikekayo zaseJiputa, kambe ke zona iintshaba zenu uya kuzibetha ngezi zifo. ₁₆Ze nizitshabalalise zonke izizwe azinikele kuni uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, ningazenzeli nceba konke-konke. Ze ningazikhonzi izithixo zazo, kuba ngokwenjenjalo noba nizenzela umgibe.

₁₇“Nisenokuthi ekucingeni kwenu: ‘Ezi zizwe zikhulu kunathi; soze sizoyise.’ ₁₈Kambe ze ningaxhalabi, koko khumbulani into awayenzayo uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu kukumkani waseJiputa nakwiJiputa iphela, ₁₉nditsho ezo zibetho zirhwaqelisayo nazibonayo ngawenu amehlo: loo miqondiso, naloo mimangaliso, ngokunjalo nobungangamsha namandla awanikhulula ngawo uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu. Uya kwenjenjalo ke nakwezi zizwe nizoyikayo. ₂₀Ewe, abo baseleyo kuzo uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uya kubathumela ngoonomeva, abagubhulule apho bazimeleyo khona, batshabalale. ₂₁Ngoko ke sanukunkwantya ngenxa yaba bantu, kuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu unani, abe ke yena unguThixo omkhulu orhwaqelisayo. ₂₂Ekungeneni kwenu uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uya kuzigxotha ngokuzigxotha ezi zizwe. Aniyi kusuka nizitshabalalise ngaxesha-nye, kuba ngaloo ndlela angasuka ande amarhamncwa, ke nina nibe semngciphekweni. ₂₃UNdikhoyo uya kuzinikela ezandleni zenu iintshaba zenu, azenze zibe namanwele, zidideke, zitshabalale ziphele. ₂₄Izikumkani zazo uya kuzinikela ezandleni zenu; ke nina niya kuzitshabalalisa zingabi sakhunjulwa. Akukho mntu uya kuba nako ukumelana nani, naye ke niya kutshabalalisa nivuthulule konke nje. ₂₅Imifanekiso eqingqiweyo *yezithixo zabo ze niyitshise. Igolide nesiliva eyenziwe ngayo loo mifanekiso ze ningayibaweli niyithathe, hleze nizenzele umgibe ngayo; kaloku yona ilisikizi kuNdikhoyo uThixo wenu. ₂₆Le mifanekiso ze ningayingenisi emizini yenu, hleze nithi ngokwenjenjalo nizithathele ishwangusha kwanjengokuba nayo iqalekisiwe. Kufuneka niyithiye niyenyanye imifanekiso, kuba kaloku imelwe kukutshatyalaliswa.”

₁“Niyabona ke, le miyalelo ndininike yona namhlanje ze niyithobele kangangoko, khon' ukuze niphile nande, ningene kwelo lizwe wabathembisa ngalo ngesifungo uNdikhoyo ooyihlo. ₂Ngamana aningeyilibali indlela anikhokele ngayo uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu kolu hambo lude kangaka ukucanda intlango, kula mashumi mane eminyaka, enifundisa intobeko, enilinga khon' ukuze aqonde ukuba niza kuyithobela kusini na imiyalelo yakhe! ₃Wanithoba eniyekela ngendlela, waza kananjalo wanipha *imana, kutya oko naningakwazi, nina ngokunjalo nooyihlo-mkhulu. Le nto ke wayenza kuba efuna niqonde nazi ukuba ubomi bomntu abuxhomekanga kutyeni kuphela, koko buxhomekeke kuwo onke amazwi kaNdikhoyo. ₄Kula mashumi mane eminyaka impahla yakho yokunxiba zange iguge, kananjalo neenyawo zakho zange zidumbe.

₅“Qondani kaloku nizikise ukuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uyaniqeqesha njengomzali eqeqesha abantwana bakhe. ₆Ngoko ke yithobeleni imiyalelo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nihambe ngeendlela zakhe, nimhlonele. ₇Kaloku ngoku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uningenisa kwilizwe elihle kunene, ilizwe lemifula ebaleka amanzi, ilizwe elinemithombo, ilizwe eligqabhuka imisinga yamanzi ezintlanjeni nasezindulini. ₈Lilizwe lengqolowa, irhasi, iidiliya, amakhiwane, iirharnati, amafutha omnquma, nobusi. ₉Elo ke lilizwe lentlutha; soze niswele nto khona. Ilitye lakhona liyintsimbi, ukanti kwiinduli zalo ningavula imigodi yekopolo. ₁₀Kwelo lizwe niya kutya nihluthe, nibulele nidomboze kuNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ngenxa yelo lizwe lihle kunene aniphe lona.”

₁₁“Niyabona ke ze ningamlibali *uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ngokuthi ningayithobeli le miyalelo, nale migaqo, ngokunjalo nale mimiselo ndininika yona namhlanje. ₁₂Xa senixhamla intlala-kahle, ninayo yonke into eniyifunayo, senizakhele izindlu ezintle, ₁₃nemfuyo yenu isanda ngokunjalo nesiliva negolide nako konke eninako kuvumile, ₁₄ze ningakhukhumali, nimlibale uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu owanihlangula ebukhobokeni kwelaseJiputa. ₁₅Kaloku yena wanikhokela kweso sithabazi sentlango eyoyikekayo, apho kwakukho iinyoka ezinobuhlungu ndawonye noonomadudwane. Apho kanye kuloo nkangala ingenamanzi wanivelisela amanzi eliweni lenyengane. ₁₆Kaloku apho entlango wanondla *ngemana, ukutya okwakungaziwa, kungazange kutyiwe nangooyihlo-mkhulu. Wanithoba ngokunilinga ngezo meko zinjalo, khon' ukuze ekugqibeleni anithamsanqele ngezinto ezintle! ₁₇Nisenokuthetha nithi: ‘Obu butyebi sibufumene ngamandla nangobuchule bethu.’ ₁₈Ngokutsho noba nilibele ukuba nguNdikhoyo uThixo wenu onithe jize ngobutyebi. Le nto ke uyenza kuba ezinzisa umnqophiso awawenzayo nooyihlo-mkhulu ngesifungo.

₁₉“Mhlenikwezeni namlibala uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nalandela thixo bambi, nabahlonela nabakhonza, inene namhlanje mna ndiyalingqinela elithi niya kutshabalala niphele tu! ₂₀Ke kaloku, ukuba animthobelanga uNdikhoyo, uya kunitshabalalisa, kwanjengokuba eza kuzitshabalalisa ezo zizwe ukungena kwenu kwelo lizwe.”

₁“Niyabona ke, maSirayeli, seniza kuwela iJordan, ningene kwilizwe elimiwe zezinye izizwe ezikhulu nezomeleleyo kunani. Izixeko zazo zikhulu, futhi zibiyelwe ngeendonga ezirhec' izulu. ₂Nabantu bakhona bade, bomelele, bayinzala ka-Anaki, ibe ke niyazi ukuba kuthiwa akukho mntu unokumelana nama-Anaki. ₃Kambe ke nina niza kuzibonela ngokwenu, kuba *uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uza kunandulela engumlilo odangazelayo. Ezo zizwe úya kuzoyisa azithobe, nize nina nizigxothe nizitshabalalise ngokukhawuleza ngokwesithembiso sakhe.

₄“Xa uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu selenigxothele ezi zizwe, ze ningacingi ukuba nifanelekile. Hayi, akunjalo, nto nje uNdikhoyo ezigxotha nje ezi zizwe kungenxa yenkohlakalo yazo. ₅Isizathu asikuba nina nilungile, nigqibelele, le nto uNdikhoyo anivumeleyo nawuthatha umhlaba yazo, nangenxa yokuba ezimisele ukusigcina isithembiso awayesenze nooyihlo-mkhulu ooAbraham, uIsake, noYakobi, ngokufunga. ₆Ngenene mayicace mhlophe into yokuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu eninika eli lizwe lihle kangaka nje akukho ngenxa yobulungisa benu, kuba kambe nina nisisizwe esineenkani.

₇“Nokhumbula kaloku ukuba nina namcaphukisa uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu entlango. Ukusukela kwimini enemka ngayo eJiputa nada naza kufika apha, namvukela okokoko. ₈Nakwintaba iHorebhe namcaphukisa, wada waphantse wanitshabalalisa uNdikhoyo. ₉Ndenyuka entabeni, ndisiya kuphuthuma amacwecwe amatye apho wawubhalwe khona umnqophiso awenze nani uNdikhoyo. Ndahlala apho ke amashumi amane eentsuku nobusuku bazo, ndingatyi ndingaseli. ₁₀UNdikhoyo ke wandinika amacwecwe amabini amatye apho wayeyibhale khona ngesakhe isandla yonke into awayithethayo apho entabeni ngokuya wayeselangatyeni lomlilo, mhla ngembizo. ₁₁Ewe, emveni kwezo ntsuku zimashumi mane nobusuku bazo, uNdikhoyo wandinika amacwecwe amabini amatye apho wayewubhale khona umnqophiso.

₁₂“Ke kaloku uNdikhoyo wathi: ‘Khawuleza uhle, kuba abantu bakho owabakhokela uphuma nabo eJiputa bonile. Ngokukhawuleza nje sebephumile endleleni endabayalela yona; ngoku bazenzele umfanekiso otyhidiweyo.’

₁₃“UNdikhoyo wathi: ‘Ndiyabazi aba bantu ukuba neenkani kwabo. ₁₄Ngoko ke ndiyeke ndibatshabalalise nya, ndilicime igama labo ehlabathini. Ke wena ndiya kukwenza ube sisizwe esikhulu nesomeleleyo kunabo.’

₁₅“Ngoko ke ndehla apho entabeni, ndiphethe loo macwecwe mabini amatye apho wawubhalwe khona umnqophiso. Ke kaloku intaba leyo yayidangazela umlilo. ₁₆Ndathi ndakukhangela ndabona ukuba nimvukele uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu; nonile nazityhidela umfanekiso wenkunzi yenkomo; ewe, ngokukhawuleza nje seniphumile endleleni enaniyalelwe yona nguNdikhoyo. ₁₇Ngoko ke ndawathatha loo macwecwe, ndawaphosa phantsi apho phambi kwenu, ophuka aba ziingceba.

₁₈“Kwakhona ke ndazikhahlela phantsi phambi koNdikhoyo amashumi amane eentsuku nobusuku bazo, ndingatyi ndingaseli. Le nto ke ndayenza kuba nina nanimonile kakhulu namcaphukisa ngobubi enabenzayo uNdikhoyo. ₁₉Ndandisoyika gqitha, kuba uNdikhoyo wayekhathazekile, ecaphuka kangangokuba waphantse wanitshabalalisa. Kambe ke nangeso isihlandlo uNdikhoyo wandiphulaphula. ₂₀UNdikhoyo wayecatshukiswe kakhulu nanguAron, yaye ke naye wayeseza kumtshabalalisa, koko ke naye ndamthandazela kwangelo thuba. ₂₁Lona ke elo sikizi nanizenzele lona – nditsho loo nkunzi yenkomo nanizityhidele yona – ndayithatha ndayiphosa emlilweni. Ndaza ke kamva ndayikroboza ndayicola yangumgubo, ndaza ndawugalela kumlanjana owawuphuma apho entabeni.

₂₂“Kaloku naseTabhera, eMasa, naseKibroti-hatava namcaphukisa uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu. ₂₃NaseKadeshe-bhaneya wathi akuniyalela ukuba ningene niwuthathe loo mhlaba wayenipha wona namvukela, anakholosa ngaye nimthobele. ₂₄Okoko ndanaziyo mna nasoloko nivukelana naye uNdikhoyo. ₂₅Ewe, kuloo mashumi mane eentsuku ndahlala ndizikhahlele phantsi phambi koNdikhoyo, kuba ndandisazi ukuba seletshilo ukuthi uza kunitshabalalisa. ₂₆Ndadanduluka ndathi: ‘Awu, Ndikhoyo, Nkosi yam! Ndiyakubongoza, musa ukubatshabalalisa abantu abalibango lakho, owabahlangula wabakhulula ngamandla obungangamsha bakho kwelaseJiputa. ₂₇Khawukhumbule izicaka zakho, ooAbraham, uIsake, noYakobi, ungabasi so aba bantu baneenkani, bazizikhohlakali ezigwenxa, ₂₈okanye amaJiputa osuka athi: “UNdikhoyo wayengenako ukubathatha abantu bakhe abase kwelo lizwe wayebathembise ngalo. Kungenxa yokuba ebathiyile ukuze emke nabo aye kubaphosa entlango, khon' ukuze ababulale khona.” ₂₉Andithi na kaloku, Nikhoyo, aba ngabantu abalibango lakho, abantu bakho ncakasana, owabakhulula ngamandla obungangamsha bakho kwelaseJiputa?’ ”

₁“Ngelo thuba ke *uNdikhoyo wandiyalela wathi: ‘Qingqa amanye amacwecwe amabini amatye, afane nalawa okuqala, uwenzele ityesi ngomthi. Nyuka intaba, uze kum, ₂ukuze apho kuloo macwecwe ndibhale laa nto ndandiyibhale kulawa wawaphulayo, uze ke uwafake apho etyesini.’

₃“Ke kaloku ndayenza ityesi leyo ngomngampunzi, ndaza ndaqingqa namanye amacwecwe amabini amatye afana nalawa okuqala, ndenyuka nawo apho entabeni. ₄UNdikhoyo wabhala ke apho kuloo macwecwe kwalaa mazwi wayewabhale kulawa okuqala, imithetho elishumi leya wayenixelele yona ngokuya wayeselangatyeni lomlilo, mhla ngembizo entabeni. UNdikhoyo ke wawabuyisela kum amacwecwe lawo, ₅ndaza ke ndehla nawo apho entabeni. Ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo ke ndawafaka kulaa tyesi ndandiyenzile. Aselapho ke unanamhla.

₆“AmaSirayeli ke anduluka apho kuloo maqula amaYakana, ajonga eMosera. UAron wafela apho ke, waza wangcwatywa, yona indawo yakhe yobubingeleli yathathwa ngunyana wakhe uElazare. ₇Ukuphuma kwawo ke apho aya kugaleleka eGudegoda, aza agqithela eYotebhata, umhlaba owawunemisinga yamanzi. ₈Ngelo xesha ke uNdikhoyo wabahlulela abaLevi umsebenzi wokulondoloza ityesi yomnqophiso, baququzelele *esibingelelweni sikaNdikhoyo, bathamsanqele egameni lakhe. Yimisebenzi leyo basayenzayo unangoku. ₉Kungenxa yeso sizathu ke indlu kaLevi ingazange inikwe mhlaba ulilifa nje, njengezinye izindlu; ilifa layo yinkonzo kaNdikhoyo ngokwesithembiso sikaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu.

₁₀“Nangesi ke isihlandlo, kwanjengesiya sokuqala, ndahlala apho entabeni amashumi amane eentsuku nobusuku bazo. Kwakhona ke uNdikhoyo wandiva kuba kwakungeyontando yakhe ukunitshabalalisa. ₁₁Wathi ke kum uNdikhoyo: ‘Phakama uye kubakhokela abantu, khon' ukuze bangene balithathe elo lizwe ndibathembise ngalo ooyihlo ngesifungo.’ ”

₁₂“Phulaphulani ke, maSirayeli, ingaba yintoni afuna niyenze *uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu? Ufuna nimhlonele, ningaphambuki endleleni yakhe. Ufuna nimthande, nimkhonze ngengqondo yenu yonke nangomoya wenu wonke, ₁₃nithobele imiyalelo nemimiselo yakhe, le ndininika yona namhlanje ukuze kulunge kuni. ₁₄Kaloku amazulu, nditsho amazulu awo amazulu, ngakaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nehlabathi lelakhe, ngokunjalo nako konke okukulo. ₁₅Kambe ke uNdikhoyo ooyihlo wabathanda, wathi nca kubo, wanyula nina sizukulwana sabo kuzo zonke iintlanga, njengoko kusenjalo unanamhla. ₁₆Ngoko ke mthobeleni ngomxhelo uNdikhoyo, nahlukane neenkani. ₁₇Kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu nguThixo woothixo, iNkosi yeenkosi; nguThixo oyingangamsha; uyingangalala ehloniphekileyo engakhethi cala, ibe ke akanyobeki. ₁₈Yena uyazikhusela iinkedama ndawonye nabahlolokazi. Nabangeneleli uyabathanda, ababonelele ngokutya nangempahla yokunxiba. ₁₉Ngoko ke nani bathandeni abangeneleli, kuba nani nanikhe nangabasemzini kwelaseJiputa. ₂₀Mhloneleni uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nimkhonze, nibambelele kuye, nifunge ngegama lakhe. ₂₁Uyimbangi yokudumisa kwenu, unguThixo wenu; ibe ke nizibonele ngawenu amehlo izinto ezinkulu nezimangalisayo anenzela zona. ₂₂Ukuya kwabo eJiputa ooyihlo-mkhulu babengamashumi asixhenxe kuphela. Kodwa ke ngoku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu unandisile natsho nayinyambalala enjengeenkwenkwezi esibhakabhakeni.”

₁Ngaloo mihla, xa kwakuhlanganisene isihlwele kwakhona, singenanto sinokuyitya, uYesu wababizela kuye abafundi bakhe, wathi kubo: ₂“Ndiyavelana nesi sihlwele, kuba sekuziintsuku ezintathu aba bantu bekunye nam. Ke abasenanto ityiwayo. ₃Ukuba ndiyabandulula bagoduke bengatyanga, bophelelwa endleleni, kuba inxenye yabo ivela kude.”

₄Bamphendula abafundi bakhe besithi: “Kungafumaneka phi apha entlango ukutya okunokubanela aba bantu?”

₅Wababuza ke esithi: “Zingaphi izonka eninazo?”

Bathi ke bona: “Zisixhenxe.”

₆UYesu ke wasiyalela ukuba sihlale phantsi isihlwele; wazithatha ezo zonka zisixhenxe, wabulela, waziqhekeza, wazinika abafundi bakhe ukuba bazabele isihlwele. Benjenjalo ke. ₇Babenazo neentlanzana ezimbalwa. Akuba uYesu ebulele kuThixo, wathi mazabelwe isihlwele nazo. ₈Batya ke, bahlutha, kwaza kwaqokelelwa iibhaskiti ezisixhenxe zizele yintsalela. ₉UYesu wasindulula ke eso sihlwele esasikumawaka amane abantu; ₁₀waza kwangoko wakhwela esikhitshaneni kunye nabafundi bakhe, waya kummandla waseDalmanuta.

₁₁Bafika ke *abaFarasi, baza bamgocagoca ngemibuzo uYesu, befuna umqondiso ovela ezulwini, bemlinga. ₁₂Watsho ngesingqala esibuhlungu, wathi kubo: “Yini na ukuba esi sizukulwana singxamele umqondiso? Ndithi kuni, inene, soze siwunikwe umqondiso onjalo esi sizukulwana!”

₁₃Wabashiya, waphinda wakhwela esikhitshaneni, wemka waya ngaphesheya koLwandle lwaseGalili.

₁₄Abafundi babelibele ukuphatha izonka, benesonka esinye kuphela esikhitshaneni. ₁₅Wabayala uYesu esithi: “Ligqaleni nililumkele igwele labaFarasi negwele likaHerode.”

₁₆Bona ke babesithi omnye komnye: “Útsho ngokuba singenazonka.”

₁₇UYesu, ekwazi oko bakuthethayo, wathi kubo: “Yini na ukuba nithethe ngokungabi nazonka? Anikaqiqi na; aniqondi na? Ngaba iqaqadekile na intliziyo yenu? ₁₈Ninamehlo nje, aniboni na? Nineendlebe nje, aniva na? Anikhumbuli na ₁₉ukuba zazingaphi iingobozi ezizele ngamasalela okuyá ndandiqhekezela amawaka amahlanu izonka ezihlanu?”

Bathi kuye: “Zazilishumi elinambini.”

₂₀Kwakhona wathi: “Okuyá ke izonka ezisixhenxe ndandiziqhekezela amawaka amane, zazingaphi na iibhaskiti ezazizele yintsalela?”

Bathi ke: “Zazisixhenxe.”

₂₁Wathi ke kubo: “Phofu yini na ke ukuba ningaqondi?”

₂₂Bafika ke eBhetesayida, kweziswa imfama kuYesu, wabongozwa ukuba ayichukumise. ₂₃UYesu wayibamba ngesandla imfama leyo, waphuma nayo edolophini; waza wayiqaba ngamathe emehlweni, wayibeka izandla, wayibuza ukuba inanto iyibonayo na.

₂₄Yaphakamisa intloko, yathi: “Ndibona abantu, bengathi yimithi. Nâbo behamba.”

₂₅Kwakhona ke uYesu wazibeka izandla emehlweni ayo, yaza yakhangela yondela, yaphila, yabona konke ngokucacileyo. ₂₆UYesu ke wayiyalela ukuba igoduke, esithi: “Sukubuyela edolophini.”

₂₇Wemka uYesu nabafundi bakhe, waya ezidolophini zaseKhesariya-Filipi. Endleleni wababuza abafundi bakhe esithi: “Ngaba abantu bathi ndingubani na?”

₂₈Bamphendula besithi: “Kuthiwa ùnguYohane umbhaptizi. Abanye bathi ùnguEliya. Kanti abanye bathi ùngomye *wabashumayeli.”

₂₉Wathi ke yena kubo: “Ke nina nithi ndingubani?”

Waphendula uPetros esithi kuye: “Wena unguye *uKrestu.”

₃₀UYesu ke wabayala ukuba bangaxeleli bani ngaye.

₃₁Waqala ke uYesu ukubafundisa abafundi bakhe, esithi: “*UNyana woLuntu umelwe kukuba eve ubunzima obukhulu; achaswe ngamadoda amakhulu, nangababingeleli abaziintloko, nangabachazi-mthetho; aze abulawe, athi emva kweentsuku ezintathu abuye avuke.” ₃₂Wakuthetha oku kubo ngokucacileyo. UPetros ke, emse ngasese uYesu, wamkhalimela. ₃₃Uthe ke uYesu, ejikile wajonga kubafundi bakhe, wakhalimela uPetros, esithi: “Suka umke kum, Sathana. Akuzinyamekeli izinto zikaThixo; unyamekela ezabantu.”

₃₄UYesu wasibizela kuye isihlwele kwanabafundi bakhe, wathi kubo: “Othanda ukundilandela makazincame, awuthwale umnqamlezo wakhe, andilandele. ₃₅Kuba othe wathanda ukusindisa ubomi bakhe, wolahlekelwa bubo; kodwa othe wabuncama ubomi bakhe ngenxa yam, nangenxa yeendaba ezimnandi ezi, wobusindisa. ₃₆Kuba kaloku komnceda ntoni umntu, ukuba uthe walizuza ihlabathi liphela, kodwa walahlekelwa bubomi bakhe? ₃₇Okanye umntu wobeka ntoni elingana nexabiso lobomi bakhe? ₃₈Othe ke waneentloni ndim nangamazwi am kwesi sizukulwana sonayo, sikrexezayo ngokunganyaniseki kuThixo, naye uNyana woLuntu woba neentloni nguye, xa athe weza esebuqaqawulini boYise, enezithunywa ezingcwele.”