To The Word – Day 5

₁*UNdikhoyo wathi kuAbram: “Lishiye ilizwe lakowenu, izizalwana kunye nekhaya lakho, umke uye kwilizwe endiza kukwalathisa lona.

₄Wanduluka ke uAbram eHaran ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo. Wayemashumi asixhenxe anantlanu ubudala. ULothe naye wahamba kunye noAbram. ₅UAbram wemka nomkakhe uSarayi, kunye noLothe unyana womninawa wakhe. Wathatha bonke ubutyebi bakhe, kunye nezicaka zakhe azifumene eHaran, wenjenjeya ukubheka eKanana.

Bakufika eKanana, ₆uAbram wenjenjeya wada waya kugaleleka eShekem kwindawo enomthi kaMore. Ayesemi kwelo zwe ngelo xesha amaKanana. ₇UNdikhoyo wabonakala kuAbram, wathi: “Nali ke ilizwe eliya kumiwa yinzala yakho.” UAbram ke wenza iqonga apho, wanqula uNdikhoyo owabonakala kuye. ₈Ukusuka apho wabheka ngasemazantsi kweleentaba kwicala langasempuma yesixeko saseBhetele. Wazigxumeka apho iintente, ephahlwe yiBhetele ngasentshona neAyi ngasempumalanga. Nalapho wenza iqonga, wanqula uNdikhoyo. ₉Wanduluka nalapho, egqitha kwiindawo ngeendawo, ejonge emazantsi eKanana.

₁₀Kwakukho indlala eKanana. Yayinkulu kangangokuba uAbram wehla waya eJiputa, wakha wahlala apho ixeshana. ₁₁Akufika emideni, wathi kumkakhe uSarayi: “Ndiyazi ukuba umhle gqitha, ₁₂yaye akukubona amaJiputa, aza kuthi ungumkam, aze andibulale mna, akushiye wena. ₁₃Uze uthi ke ungudade wethu. Aya kundiphatha kakuhle ke ngenxa yakho, angandibulali.” ₁₄Akugqitha emideni engena eJiputa, amaJiputa akhangwa bubuhle bomka-Abram. ₁₅Amaphakathi kakumkani athi nawo akumbona abuncoma ubuhle bakhe kukumkani. Wathathwa ke, waya kuhlala ebhotwe kwakumkani. ₁₆Ukumkani wamphatha kakuhle uAbram ngenxa yomkakhe, wamphawulela imihlambi yeegusha neebhokhwe, iinkomo needonki, izicaka neenkamela.

₁₇Kodwa ngenxa yokuthathwa kukaSarayi ngukumkani, uNdikhoyo wathumela izibetho zezifo kukumkani nakubantu bonke bakomkhulu. ₁₈Waza ke ukumkani wabiza uAbram, wathi: “Yintoni le nto undenze yona? Kutheni ungandixelelanga nje ukuba ngumkakho lo? ₁₉Kutheni usithi ngudade wenu nje, undiyeke ndimenze umkam? Nanko ke umkakho; mthathe umke naye.” ₂₀Ukumkani wayalela amadoda ukuba uAbram makakhutshelwe ngaphandle kwemida yelo zwe, emke nomkakhe, nayo yonke impahla yakhe.

₁Ukuphuma kwakhe eJiputa uAbram wabheka ngasentla emazantsi aseKanana, ehamba nomkakhe, nemfuyo yakhe yonke, uAbram, eneegusha neebhokhwe kwakunye noLothe. ₂Wayefumile neenkomo, enayo nesiliva negolide. ₃Nalapho wemka, edlula kwiindawo ngeendawo, esingise eBhetele. ₄Wafika kulaa ndawo wakha wagxumeka kuyo iintente kuqala, leya iphahlwe yiBhetele neAyi, apho wayenzele khona uThixo iqonga, wanqula khona *uNdikhoyo.

₅ULothe naye wayeneegusha neebhokhwe neenkomo, nentsapho nezicaka zakhe. ₆Ngoko ke amadlelo akazange ayanele impahla yabo eninzi, nomhlaba wokuhlala awabanela. ₇Kwabakho ingxwaba-ngxwaba phakathi kwamadoda alusa impahla ka-Abram namadoda alusa ekaLothe. AmaKanana namaPerezi ayesahlala kwelo zwe.

₈UAbram wathi kuLothe: “Siyazalana, mfondini; masingabhidani, namadoda ethu makangalwi. ₉Kungcono sahlukane; umhlaba uphangalele. Zikhethele nayiphi na indawo, uye kwelo cala, mna ndiye kwelinye.”

₁₀Wakhangela uLothe, waphawula ukuba yonke loo ntili yeJordan ukuya kuma ngeZoware, yayingumhlaba onamanzi. Wawufana nomyezo kaNdikhoyo, ufana nqwa nelaseJiputa. Ngeli xesha kwakungaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweSodom neGomora. ₁₁ULothe wayithatha yonke loo ntili yeJordan, wenjenjeya ukubheka ngasempumalanga. Aba ayahlukana njalo loo madoda mabini. ₁₂Wasala kwilizwe laseKanana uAbram, uLothe yena wagxumeka iintente kuloo ntili iphakathi kwezo zixeko zingaseSodom. ₁₃Abantu baseSodom babegwenxa, bemona gqitha uNdikhoyo.

₁₄Akuba emkile uLothe, *uNdikhoyo wathi kuAbram: “Bheka-bheka ukhangele kakuhle macal' onke ukuloo ndawo umi kuyo. ₁₅Wonke loo mhlaba uwubonayo ndiza kuwunika wena kunye nenzala yakho. Niya kuwuma ngalo lonke ixesha. ₁₆Ndiza kukunika inzala eninzi, ibe yinyambalala engaphezu kwentlabathi, engenakubalwa mntu. ₁₇Hamba ke, uye kuwuhlola macal' onke loo mhlaba, kuba ndikunika wona.” ₁₈UAbram ke wazikhulula iintente, wemka waya kuma ngakwimithi yaseMamre eHebron, apho wamenzela khona uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini.

₁Kwaqubisana emfazweni iikumkani ezine: uAmrafele waseBhabheli, uAriyoki wase-Elazare, uKedor-lahomere wase-Elam, kunye noTidali waseGoyi. ₂Yayilidabi neekumkani ezintlanu: uBhera waseSodom, uBhisha waseGomora, uShinabhi waseAdama, uShenebhere waseZebhoyim, nekumkani yaseBhela ekwakusithiwa yiZoware. ₃Zontlanu ezi kumkani zaqukanisa imikhosi yazo entilini yeSidim, ngoku eluLwandle oluFileyo. ₄Zaziphantsi koKedor-lahomere ishumi elinambini leminyaka. Zamvukela kodwa kulo weshumi elinantathu. ₅Kunyaka weshumi linane uKedor-lahomere namakholwane akhe badibanisa imikhosi yabo, bawachitha amaRafa eAshtaroti-karnayim, amaZuzi eHam, namaEma ethafeni laseKiriyatayim. ₆AmaHori bawadudula kwezo nduli zaseSeyire, bawasukela aya kutsho e-Elparan ngasentlango. ₇Babuyela eKadeshe, ekwakusithiwa yiEn-mishpati ngoko. Balihlutha lonke ilizwe lama-Amaleki nama-Amori awayemi eHazezon-tamare.

₈Zaphuma iikumkani zaseSodom, eGomora, eAdama, eZebhoyim, naseBhela, le kuthiwa yiZoware, zayikhupha imikhosi yazo ukusinga edabini kuloo ntili yaseSidim. ₉Zaqubisana apho ezi kumkani zintlanu neekumkani ezine: ooKedor-lahomere wase-Elam, noTidali waseGoyi, noAmrafele waseBhabheli, noAriyoki wase-Elasare. ₁₀Kuloo ntili kwakukho imihadi enetha. Zithe xa zibalekayo edabini iikumkani zaseSodom naseGomora, amanye amajoni eyela kuloo mihadi. Asindileyo abalekela ezintabeni.

₁₁Iikumkani ezine zathimba yonke into eSodom naseGomora, zemka kunye nokutya. ₁₂ULothe unyana womninawa ka-Abram wayehlala eSodom, zamthimba kunye nempahla yakhe.

₁₃Kwabakho ndoda ithile yasindayo, eyabaleka yaya kuxelela uAbram umHebhere owayehlala ngakwimithi kaMamre umAmori. UMamre nabantakwabo uEshkoli noAnere babengamakholwane ka-Abram. ₁₄Akuva uAbram ukuba isizalwane sakhe sithinjiwe, wabiza onke amadoda akhe. Ayengamakhulu amathathu aneshumi elinesibhozo ewonke. Wazisukela zone ezo kumkani, wada waya kutsho kwaDan. ₁₅Wawahlula angamaqela ngamaqela amadoda akhe, wawuhlasela loo mkhosi kwakuhlwa. Wawoyisa, wawusukela waya kufika eHobha entla kweDamasko. ₁₆Wabuya nawo amaxhoba ababewahluthile. Wabuya naye noLothe nempahla yakhe, kunye nabafazi nezicaka.

₁₇Ukubuya kwakhe uAbram ekulweni noKedor-lahomere namakholwane akhe, wahlangatyezwa ngukumkani waseSodom entilini yaseShawe, ekuthiwa yiNtili kaKumkani. ₁₈UMelkizedeki owayengukumkani waseSalem ekwangumbingeleli woThixo uPhezukonke, weza nesonka newayini.

₁₉Wathamsanqelisa uAbram esithi:

₂₁Wathi ukumkani waseSodom kuAbram: “Wathathe onke amaxhoba, undinike nje abantu bam.”

₂₂Wathi uAbram: “Ndiyafunga, uThixo uyazi, *uNdikhoyo uPhezukonke, umenzi wezulu nelizwe! ₂₃Andiyi kuthatha nto yakho konke, nditsho nokuba ngumsonto lo okanye umtya wembadada. Ndifuna ungaze utsho ukuthi: ‘UAbram watyetyiswa ndim.’ ₂₄Mna andiyi kuthatha nto konke, ngaphandle nje kokutya okutyiwe ngabantu bam. Kodwa wona amakholwane am, uAnere noEshkoli noMamre, mabayifumane bona eyabo inxaxheba.”

₁Emva koku uAbram waba nombono apho weva *uNdikhoyo esithi:

₂Uphendule wathi uAbram: “Mhlekazi Ndikhoyo, iya kundinceda ntoni loo nto? Yintoni ongandibonelela kuyo ndingenabantwana nje? Nàlo uza kuba yindlalifa yam nguElizere waseDamasko.” ₃Kwakhona uAbram uthe: “Akukho nzala undinike yona; ke sisicaka sam esiza kuba yindlalifa yam.”

₄Uthe ke uNdikhoyo ebhekisa kuAbram: “UElizere akayi kuba yindlalifa yakho. Ngunyana wakho nqo oya kuba yindlalifa yakho.” ₅UNdikhoyo wamkhuphela ngaphandle kwendlu uAbram, wathi: “Khangela esibhakabhakeni, uzibale iinkwenkwezi ezilapho, ukuba ungaba nako. Boba baninzi kangako abazukulwana bakho.”

₆UAbram walibeka kuNdikhoyo ithemba lakhe, waza ngenxa yoko wenziwa ilungisa.

₇Waqokela wathi kuye uNdikhoyo: “NdinguNdikhoyo owakukhupha kwilizwe lakowenu eUre yelamaKaledi, ukuze uze kuma kulo mhlaba, ube ngowakho.”

₈Ke yena uAbram wabuza wathi: “Mhlekazi Ndikhoyo, ndingaqonda njani ukuba lo mhlaba woba ngowam?”

₉Uthe uNdikhoyo: “Ndizisele ithokazi lenkomo, nemazi yebhokhwe, nenkunzi yegusha, zonke zibe minyaka mithathu, kunye nehobe nevukuthu.” ₁₀Weza nazo uAbram ezo zinto, wazahlula kubini, waza wazidwelisa, icala ngalinye lamelana nelinye. Iintaka zona akazange azahlule kubini. ₁₁Kwandanda amaxhalanga phezu kwaloo nyama yezo zinto, kodwa uAbram wawagxotha.

₁₂Ukutshona kwelanga wehliwa bobunzulu ubuthongo uAbram. Wangenwa luvalo naluloyiko. ₁₃UNdikhoyo wathi kuye: “Inzala yakho iya kuba ngabangeneleli kumhlaba wasemzini, uze uyazi loo nto. Apho baya kuba ngamakhoboka, baphathwe gadalala amakhulu amane eminyaka. ₁₄Kodwa ndosohlwaya eso sizwe sibaphethe kakubi; baya kuthi xa bemkayo apho bahambe namaxhoba. ₁₅Wena ke kambe uza kuhlala udle ubomi ude ukhokhobe, amathambo akho afihlwe ngakookhokho bakho. ₁₆Inzala yakho yobuyela apha emva kwezizukulwana ezine. Kaloku andiyi kuwakhupha kwangoku ama-Amori, bude buzaliseke ubugwenxa bawo.”

₁₇Kuthe kwakurhatyela, kwathi gqi imbiza iqhuma, nesikhuni esivuthayo, zadlula phakathi kwaloo mkrozo wenyama. ₁₈Waza ke uNdikhoyo wathi kuAbram esenza umnqophiso: “Ndiyathembisa ukuba wonke lo mhlaba, ukususela kwimida yeJiputa kuye kuthi xhaxhe ngomlambo iEfrati, ndiza kuwunika inzala yakho, ₁₉ndawonye nomhlaba wamaKeni, amaKinazi, amaKadimon, ₂₀amaHeti, amaPerezi, namaRafa; ₂₁ama-Amori, amaKanana, amaGirgashi, kunye namaJebhusi.”

₁Umka-Abram uSarayi wayengazali. Wayenesicakazana somJiputakazi esigama linguHagare. ₂Wathi ke uSarayi kuAbram: “Ndiyabona ukuba *uNdikhoyo akandiphanga inzala. Ungangeni uHagare nje, isicakakazi sam? Mhlawumbi angandizalela unyana yena.” UAbram wavuma. ₃USarayi ke wamnikezela uHagare abe ngumfazi omncinci ka-Abram. Le nto yehla selehleli ishumi leminyaka uAbram eKanana. ₄UAbram wadibana noHagare, waza uHagare wakhulelwa. Uthe ke akuziqonda ukuba ukhulelwe, waqhosha wamdela uSarayi.

₅USarayi ke uthe kuAbram: “Endidela nje uHagare lo, kungenxa yakho. Kanti ke wawumnikwe ndim lo, seleqhosha nje akuzibona ekhulelwe. Ngamana uNdikhoyo angahlula oyena unyanisileyo phakathi kwam nawe.”

₆Uphendule wathi uAbram: “Kulungile kaloku, sisicakazana sakho; uphantsi kwakho uHagare. Yenza into oyibonayo kaloku.” USarayi ke wamphatha gadalala uHagare, wada wabaleka wemka.

₇Isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo sadibana noHagare ngasemthonjeni osentlango ngasendleleni ebheka eShure. ₈Sathi kuye: “Hagare, sicakazana sikaSarayi, uvela phi, usiya phi?”

Waphendula wathi: “Ndibaleka uSarayi inkosikazi endikhonza yona.”

₉Sithe ke kuye isithunywa: “Buyela kwakuye ke, umthobele.” ₁₀Siphinde sathi: “Ndokunika abantwana abangenakubalwa mntu ngenxa yobuninzi babo.” ₁₁Isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo saqokela sathi:

₁₃UHagare wathi khumnqa, wathi ke ukumbiza loo Ndikhoyo ambonileyo nguThixo obonayo, kuba esithi: “Ngoku ndimbonile ondibonayo.” ₁₄Yiyo ke loo nto abantu bathi loo mthombo uphakathi kweKadeshe neBherede ngumthombo kaPhila-endibonile.

_15-16UHagare wazala inkwenkwe, wathi ke uAbram igama layo nguIshmayeli. Wayemashumi asibhozo anesithandathu ubudala uAbram ukuzala kwakhe unyana.

[ ₁UYesu yena waya eNtabeni yemiNquma. ₂Lakuphuma ilanga ngosuku olulandelayo, wabuyela *endlwini kaThixo. Isihlwele samngqonga, waza wahlala phantsi, wabafundisa abantu. ₃Abachazi-mthetho *nabaFarasi beza nomfazi owayebanjwe ekrexeza, bammisa phambi kwabantu; ₄baza bathi kuYesu: “Mfundisi, lo mfazi ubanjwe ekrexeza. ₅Emthethweni wethu uMosis uthi umfazi onjalo makagityiselwe ngamatye abulawe. Ke wena ngaba uthi makathiweni?” ₆Besitsho nje, babemthiyisela, befuna athethe into abanokummangalela ngayo. Kodwa uYesu wathoba, wabhala ngomnwe emhlabeni.

₇Besamile njalo bembuza, waphakama, wathi kubo: “Ongenasono kuni makube nguye ogibisela ilitye lokuqala.” ₈Waphinda wathoba uYesu, wabhala emhlabeni. ₉Bekuvile oko, bemka bonke ngabanye ngabanye, baqalela kwabadala. Kwasala uYesu nomfazi lowo, esemi apho. ₁₀Waphakama uYesu, wathi kuye: “Baphi na abamangaleli bakho? Akukho namnye na oshiyekileyo?”

₁₁Waphendula wathi: “Namnye, Nkosi.”

Wathi uYesu: “Nam ke andikugwebi. Hamba, ungàbuye wone.”]

₁₂UYesu waphinda wabhekisa ebantwini wathi: “Ndim ukhanyiso lwehlabathi. Lowo undilandelayo soze ahambe ebumnyameni; woba nokhanyiselo olunika ubomi.”

₁₃Baza *abaFarasi bathi kuye: “Wena uzingqinela ngokwakho. Ngenxa yoko ubungqina bakho abamkeleki.”

₁₄Waphendula uYesu wathi kubo: “Nangona indim ozingqinelayo, buyinyaniso ubungqina bam, kuba ndiyazi apho ndivela khona nalapho ndiya khona; nina aniyazi imvelaphi yam; nalapho ndiya khona anazi. ₁₅Nina nigweba ngokwabantu. Mna akukho namnye endimgwebayo. ₁₆Kodwa ke, ukuba ndithe ndagweba, isigwebo sam sithembekile; kuba andindedwa, ndikunye noBawo ondithumileyo. ₁₇Nasemthethweni wenu kubhalwe kwathiwa ubungqina bamagqina amabini banele. ₁₈Mna ndizingqinela ngokwam, abe kwanoBawo owandithumayo endingqinela.”

₁₉Baza bathi kuye: “Uphi loo Yihlo?”

Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Kwankqu mna lo anindazi, noBawo ningamazi. Ukuba ke benindazi mna, noBawo ngenimazi.”

₂₀Konke oku kwathethwa nguYesu efundisa *endlwini kaThixo, ekwigumbi leminikelo; kodwa akubangakho namnye umbambayo, kuba lalingekafiki ixesha.

₂₁Waphinda uYesu wathi kubo: “Ndiyemka mna; ke nina niya kundifuna; yaye niya kufela ezonweni zenu. Apho ndiya khona mna, aninakuya nina.”

₂₂Ke ngoko athi amaJuda: “Ngaba bethu úza kuzibulala, esithi nje apho aya khona thina asinakuya?”

₂₃Waza wathi kuwo: “Nina ningabalapha phantsi; mna ndivela phezulu. Nina ningabeli hlabathi; mna andinguye oweli hlabathi. ₂₄Kungoko nditshoyo ukuthi niya kufela ezonweni zenu. Ukuba anithanga nakholwa okokuba ndinguye endinguye, niya kufela ezonweni zenu.”

₂₅Ambuza ke esithi: “Ungubani wena?”

Wathi kuwo uYesu: “Ndingulowo ndandithe ndinguye kwasekuqalekeni. ₂₆Ndinezinto ezininzi endingázithethayo ngani, ndinigwebe nokunigweba ngenxa yazo. Kaloku lowo undithumileyo uyinyaniso; ke mna ihlabathi ndilixelele kuphela oko ndikuvileyo ngaye.”

₂₇AmaJuda akazange aqonde okokuba uYesu uthetha nawo ngoYise, ₂₈waza wathi kuwo uYesu: “Xa nithe namphakamisa *uNyana woLuntu, noqonda ke ukuba ndinguye endinguye. Noqonda ke okokuba mna andenzi nto ngagunya lam, koko ndithetha kuphela oko ndikufundiswe nguBawo. ₂₉Lowo undithumileyo unam; akandishiyanga ndodwa, kuba ndisoloko ndisenza oko kukholekileyo kuye.”

₃₀Bakumva ethetha ezi zinto, abantu abaninzi ithemba labo balibeka kuYesu.

₃₁Ke ngoko uYesu wathi kumaJuda abeke ithemba kuye: “Ukuba nithe nazingisa ukuhlala nisenza oko ndinifundisileyo, niya kuba ngabafundi bam benene. ₃₂Niya kuyiqonda ke inyaniso; yaye inyaniso iya kunenza nikhululeke.”

₃₃Aphendula amaJuda athi kuye: “Thina siyinzala ka-Abraham; zange sibe ngamakhoboka nanini na. Uthetha ukuthini ke xa uthi siya kukhululeka?”

₃₄Wawaphendula uYesu wathi: “Ndithi kuni, inene, bonke abenza isono bangamakhoboka esono. ₃₅Ikhoboka alinalungelo lisisigxina emzini; onelungelo elinjalo emzini ngunyana. ₃₆Ukuba ke uNyana uthe wanenza nakhululeka, noba ngabakhululekileyo mpela. ₃₇Ndiyazi ukuba niyinzala ka-Abraham. Nakuba kunjalo nizimisele ukundibulala, kuba alingeni kuni ilizwi lam. ₃₈Mna ndithetha endikubonileyo kowam uBawo; ke nina nenza enikuvileyo kowenu uyihlo.”

₃₉Amphendula athi: “Ubawo nguAbraham.”

Wathi kuwo uYesu: “Ukuba beningabo abantwana baka-Abraham, ngenimfuza ngezenzo. ₄₀Kanti naku nina nifuna ukundibulala, mna mntu unixelela inyaniso endiyive kuThixo. UAbraham akazange enze nto injalo. ₄₁Nina nenza okwenziwa nguyihlo.”

Aza athi kuye: “Thina asiyomigqakhwe. Owethu uBawo mnye; nguThixo.”

₄₂Wathi kuwo uYesu: “Ukuba uThixo ebenguyihlo ngenene, ngenindithanda; kuba ndilapha nje, ndivela kuThixo. Kaloku andizizelanga ngagunya lam; ndithunywe nguye. ₄₃Kutheni ningayiqondi nje intetho yam? Kungenxa yokuba ningakwazi ukulibamba ilizwi lam. ₄₄Nina ningaboyihlo umtyholi, kwaye nithanda ukwenza intando yakhe. Yena wayesisibulala-mntu kwasekuqalekeni. Nenyaniso akayihoyanga, kuba akananyani. Usekhaya xa athetha ubuxoki, kuba yena ulixoki, usobuxoki kanye. ₄₅Kodwa mna ndinixelela inyaniso; kungoko ningakholwayo kum. ₄₆Akukho namnye kuni ungandibeka tyala, athi ndonile. Ndithetha inyaniso nje, ngani ukuba ningakholwa? ₄₇OngokaThixo uyaweva amazwi kaThixo. Ke ngoko nina aniweva amazwi kaThixo, kuba aningabo abakaThixo.”

₄₈AmaJuda amphendula uYesu, athi kuye: “Asinyanisanga na ke xa sithi ungumSamariya, yaye unendimoni?”

₄₉Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Andinandimoni mna. Ndihlonela uBawo, kodwa nina anindihloneli. ₅₀Mna andizifuneli wonga; ukho ondifunelayo; yena uyandilamlela. ₅₁Ndithi kuni, inene, ukuba umntu uthe wawagcina amazwi am, soze afe naphakade.”

₅₂Aza athi kuye amaJuda: “Hayi ke, kucacile ngoku ukuba unendimoni. UAbraham wafa, *nabashumayeli bafa, ube usithi wena, ukuba umntu uthe wagcina amazwi akho, soze afe naphakade. ₅₃Ngaba wena umkhulu na kunobawo uAbraham, yena wafayo? Kwangokunjalo nabo abashumayeli àbasekho. Uzenza bani kakade wena?”

₅₄Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Ukuba bendiziwonga ngokwam, elo wonga ngelingento yanto; kodwa ke nguBawo ondiwongayo, lowo kanye nina nithi nguThixo wenu. ₅₅Nangona nitshoyo, anizange namazi; kodwa mna ndiyamazi. Ukuba mna bendinokuthi andimazi, bendiya kuba ndilixoki njengani. Kodwa ndiyamazi, ndaye ndiyawagcina amazwi akhe. ₅₆Uyihlo uAbraham wagcoba, kuba wayeza kubona le mihla yobukho bam; wayibona ke, wavuya.”

₅₇Aza amaJuda athi kuye: “Ungekabi naminyaka imashumi mahlanu nje, ungathini ukuba sewumbonile uAbraham?”

₅₈Wathi kubo uYesu: “Ndithi kuni, inene, engekabikho uAbraham, besendikho kade mna.”

₅₉Achola amatye ke amaJuda, ukuze amgibisele ngawo uYesu; kodwa yena uYesu wasuka wee shwaka, wemka *endlwini kaThixo.

₁UYesu wathi ehamba ngendlela wabona umntu owayezelwe eyimfama. ₂Bambuza ke abafundi bakhe besithi: “Mfundisi, uphi undonakele ukuze azalwe eyimfama nje? Ngaba nguye, okanye ngabazali bakhe?”

₃Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Eyimfama nje, akonanga yena, kungonanga nabazali bakhe. Uzelwe eyimfama ukuze amandla okusebenza kukaThixo abonakaliswe ngaye. ₄Simelwe kukuyenza kusesemini imisebenzi esiyinikwe ngulowo undithumileyo. Ubusuku buyeza, apho kungayi kubakho bani unako ukusebenza. ₅Okweli thuba ndisesehlabathini ndilukhanyiso lwehlabathi.”

₆Akuba etshilo, uYesu watshicela emhlabeni, wenza udaka, wawaqaba ngalo amehlo emfama leyo; ₇waza wathi kuyo: “Hamba uye kuhlamba kwichityana laseSilowa.” (Oko kukuthi “thunyiwe”.) Yahamba ke imfama, yaya kuhlamba, yabuya ibona.

₈Abamelwane nabanye abantu ababeqhele ukumbona loo mntu engqiba, bathi: “Lo mfo asinguye na lowa ebehlala engqiba?”

₉Abanye babesithi nguye, abanye besithi asinguye kodwa ufana naye. Waza umfo lowo wathi: “Ndinguye.”

₁₀Bambuza ke, bathi: “Avulwe yintoni amehlo akho?”

₁₁Wathi yena: “Laa mntu kuthiwa nguYesu, wenza udaka, waqaba ngalo amehlo am, wathi mandiye eSilowa, ndihlambe. Ndiyile ke, ndahlamba, aza avuleka amehlo am.”

₁₂Baza bathi: “Uphi loo mntu ngoku?”

Ke yena wathi: “Andazi.”

₁₃Bamthatha ke loo mfo owayeyimfama, bamsa *kubaFarasi; ₁₄kuba *kwakunguMhla wokuPhumla loo mini uYesu wenza udaka ngayo, wavula amehlo akhe. ₁₅Ke ngoko abaFarasi bambuza lo mfo okokuba uphiliswe njani ebumfameni bakhe, waza wathi kubo: “Undiqabe amehlo ngodaka, ndahlamba, aza avuleka amehlo am.”

₁₆Baza abaFarasi abathile bathi: “Loo mntu akanakuba ngowakwaThixo, kuba akawuhloneli uMhla woPhumlo.”

Kodwa abanye babesithi: “Ukuba ebengumoni ebenokuthini ukwenza imiqondiso elolu hlobo?” Kwabakho impikiswano ke phakathi kwabo.

₁₇Ke ngoko abaFarasi baphinda bathi kuloo mntu wayeyimfama: “Wena uthini ngaye, inguwe nje ovulwe amehlo?”

Waza wathi: “*Ungumshumayeli.”

₁₈AmaJuda wona ayengakholwa ukuba wayeyimfama waza wabuya wabona, aza abiza abazali bakhe, ₁₉abuza esithi: “Ngunyana wenu lo? Ngaba wazalwa eyimfama? Ebona nje ngoku kutheni?”

₂₀Abazali bakhe baphendula bathi: “Ewe, ngunyana wethu lo. Wavela eyimfama; ₂₁kodwa asazi ukuba kwenzeke ntoni ebona nje ngoku; nalowo uwavulileyo amehlo akhe asimazi. Buzani kuye; selemdala, unako ukuziphendulela.” ₂₂Abazali bakhe batsho kuba besoyika amaJuda, kuba wona ayeselevumelene ngokuthi ovumayo ukuba uYesu unguye *uKrestu, uya kusikwa *endlwini yesikhungo. ₂₃Kungoko ke abazali bakhe batshoyo ukuthi: “Buzani kuye; selemdala.”

₂₄Ke ngoko amaJuda aphinda ambuza loo mntu wayezelwe eyimfama, athi kuye: “Sikufungisa uThixo ukuba uthethe inyaniso. Thina siyazi okokuba lo mntu ngumoni.”

₂₅Waphendula wathi: “Ukuba ungumoni, nokuba akanguye, andazi. Ndazi nto-nye kuphela; bendiyimfama, ngoku ke ndiyabona.”

₂₆Aza athi kuye: “Ukwenze ntoni kanye ukukuvula amehlo?”

₂₇Wawaphendula wathi: “Sendinixelele nje, naza anaphulaphula; kutheni ukuba nifune ukuva kwakhona? Ngaba nani nifuna ukuba ngabafundi bakhe?”

₂₈Aza amaJuda amthuka, atsho nokuthi: “Nguwe ongumfundi walaa mfo; thina singabafundi bakaMosis. ₂₉Siyazi okokuba uMosis wathetha egunyaziswa nguThixo; kodwa yena lo mfo asimazi, singazi nalapho avela khona.”

₃₀Waphendula wathi: “Simanga! Nina nithi animazi apho avela khona, kanti nguye owavulileyo amehlo am. ₃₁Kuyaqondakala okokuba uThixo akabeva aboni; kuphela uva abo bamhloneleyo ngokwenza oko akuthandayo. ₃₂Okoko ladalwayo ihlabathi akuzange kuviwe ngomntu owakha wavula amehlo omntu ozelwe eyimfama. ₃₃Ukuba lo mntu ebengaveli kuThixo nge-engenako mpela ukwenza into enje.”

₃₄Amphendula athi: “Singathini ukufundiswa nguwe, ntondini eyazalelwa esonweni!” Waza ke wasikwa *endlwini yesikhungo.

₃₅UYesu weva okokuba umntu lowo usikiwe. Akumfumana wathi kuye: “Uyakholwa na kuye *uNyana woLuntu?”

₃₆Waphendula yena wathi: “Ndixelele ukuba ngongubani lowo, Nkosi, ukuze nam ndikholwe kuye.”

₃₇Wathi kuye uYesu: “Sewumbonile; ngulo uthethayo nawe ngoku.”

₃₈Waza wathi: “Ndiyakholwa, Nkosi.” Watsho waguqa phambi koYesu.

₃₉Waza wathi uYesu: “Mna ndize kweli hlabathi ukuze abantu bacaluleke: ukuze iimfama zibone, bathi ababonayo babe ziimfama.”

₄₀*AbaFarasi abathile ababelapho kunye naye, bamva eyithetha le nto, baza bambuza besithi: “Nathi uthi siziimfama?”

₄₁Wathi kubo uYesu: “Ukuba benizizo iimfama ngeningenatyala, kodwa ngenxa yokuba nisithi niyabona, nihlala ninalo ityala.”