To The Word – Day 7

₁*UNdikhoyo wamenzela isisa uSara ngokuthi asizalisekise isithembiso sakhe. ₂USara wakhulelwa, waza wazala umntwana oyinkwenkwe, sele aluphele uAbraham. Wamzala kanye ngelaa xesha wayelixelile uThixo. ₃Wamthiya igama loo mntwana uAbraham, wathi nguIsake. ₄Uthe ke akuba ntsuku zisibhozo ezelwe, wamalusa uAbraham ngokomyalelo kaThixo. ₅UAbraham wayeselenekhulu leminyaka ukuzalwa kukaIsake. ₆Wada wathi uSara: “UThixo undenze ndakwazi ukuhleka, yaye wonke ubani oyivayo le nto wohleka kunye nam.” ₇Uqokele wathi: “Ibingubani kakade obenokuthi kuAbraham ndiza kuba ngumdlezana owanyisayo? Naku ke kodwa ndizele umntwana wakhe, eyinkothovu yexhego enjalo!”

₈Lwakhula usana lwada lwalunyulwa. Wenza elikhulu lona itheko uAbraham ukulunyulwa kwaloo mntwana.

₉Ngaminazana ithile uSara wabona umntakaHagare umJiputakazi, lowa uHagare wamfumana kuAbraham, edlala ngoIsake. ₁₀Waya kuthi kuAbraham: “Wethu, sikhuphele ngaphandle esi sicakazana kunye nomntwana waso. Andiyi kuyivumela yona into yokuba lo mntwana wesi sicakazana sahlulelane ngelifa kunye noIsake umntwana wam!”

₁₁Le nto yamkhathaza gqitha uAbraham, kuba noIshmayeli lowo wayengumntwana wakhe. ₁₂Wavakala esithi uThixo kuye: “Hayi, sukuzikhathaza ngenxa yalo mntwana nesicakazana sakho. Yenza loo nto ithethwa nguSara wena, kuba kaloku abazukulwana bakho boba yinzala kaIsake. ₁₃Ewe, nonyana wesicakazana lo uya kuzala isizwe esikhulu, kuba kaloku naye ngumntwana wakho ncam.”

₁₄Kwakusasa ngengomso uAbraham wavuka wathatha ukutya kunye nentsuba ezele ngamanzi, wazinika uHagare, wamthwalisa, wathi makahambe nomntwana wakhe. Wemka ke uHagare, wahamba ebhadula kuloo ntlango iyiBheshebha. ₁₅Akuphela amanzi awayewaphethe, wamqhusheka etyholweni umntwana, ₁₆wemka wathi qelele, wahlala phantsi. Watsho esithi: “Andinakuyinyamezela into yokubona umntwana wam esifa.” Uthe ehleli apho zehla iinyembezi.

₁₇UThixo wamva ekhala umntwana, kwavakala ilizwi lesithunywa livela ezulwini, lisithi kuHagare: “Ukhathazwa yintoni, Hagare? Sukoyika. UThixo umvile umntwana wakho kulaa ndawo umbeke kuyo. ₁₈Hamb' uye kumthatha umthuthuzele. Úya kuba ngunozala wesizwe esikhulu.” ₁₉UThixo wawavula amehlo kaHagare, nako kubonakala umthombo. Waya kuzalisa loo ntsuba, waseza nomntwana wakhe. _20-21UThixo wamgcina loo mntwana, wakhula ehlala kuloo ntlango yaseParan. Waba yincutshe yomzingeli. Unina wamthathela intombi engumJiputakazi.

₂₂Ngelo xesha kwafika uAbhimeleki ehamba noPikoli umphathi-mkhosi, wathi kuAbraham: “Yonke into oyenzayo inesandla sikaThixo kuyo, Abraham. ₂₃Ngoko ke khawufunge ngoku apha phambi koThixo ukuba akusokuze undixokise mna nabantwana bam kunye nabazukulwana bam. Mna ndinyanisekile kuwe, nawe ke ndithembise ukuba uya kunyaniseka kum nakubemi beli lizwe uhlala kulo.”

₂₄UAbraham wathi ukuphendula: “Ndiyathembisa.”

₂₅UAbraham wavakalisa kwanesikhalazo awayenaso kuAbhimeleki, esiphathelele nomthombo owahluthwa zizicaka zika-Abhimeleki. ₂₆Wathi uAbhimeleki: “Bendingazi ukuba ukho owenze loo nto; nawe ngokwakho akuzange wandixelela nokundixelela. Ndiyaqala namhlanje ukuyiva into enjalo.”

₂₇UAbraham ke wakhupha iinkomo neegusha, wazinika uAbhimeleki, baza benza imvumelwano. ₂₈UAbraham wakhetha amatakane asixhenxe kuloo mhlambi, ₂₉waza uAbhimeleki wathi kuAbraham: “Ngawantoni la matakane asixhenxe uwakhethileyo?”

₃₀Wathi uAbraham: “Wathathe la matakane asixhenxe. Ngokwenjenjalo ungqina ukuba lo mthombo wembiwa ndim.” ₃₁Yaba ke loo ndawo kuthiwa yiBheshebha ukubizwa kwayo, kuba kaloku kulapho loo madoda avumelana khona efunga.

₃₂Emva koko uAbhimeleki noPikoli babuyela kwakwelamaFilistiya. ₃₃UAbraham watyala umthi apho eBheshebha. Apho ke wamnqula *uNdikhoyo uThixo uSonini-nanini. ₃₄Wahlala kwelo lizwe lamaFilistiya ixesha elide.

₁Ekuhambeni kwexesha uThixo wamvavanya uAbraham. Wambiza wathi: “Abraham!”

Wasabela uAbraham wathi: “Ndim lo, Mhlekazi!”

₂Uthe uThixo: “Thatha unyana wakho uIsake, lo kanye usenyongweni kuwe, uye naye eMoriya. Uya kufika apho ke, kuloo nduli ndiza kukubonisa yona, umnikele khona abe lidini elitshiswayo.”

₃Kwakusasa ngengomso uAbraham wavuka, wabopha idonki yakhe, wabiza izicaka zazibini kunye noIsake, bacanda iinkuni zokubasa umlilo wedini, banduluka baya kuloo ndawo bekuthiwe ze baye kuyo nguThixo. ₄Ngosuku lwesithathu wayibona isekude loo ndawo uAbraham. ₅Wathi kuloo madoda wayehamba nawo: “Salani apha nina nale donki, mna nale nkwenkwe siza kuya phaya. Sakuthi sakugqiba ukunqula, sibuye.”

₆UAbraham wamthwalisa emagxeni uIsake ezo nkuni, yena waphatha amalahle nemela. Benjenjeya bobabini.

₇Endleleni uthe uIsake kuyise: “Tata!”

UAbraham wathi: “Thetha, nyana!”

UIsake wathi: “Nanku umlilo, nanzi neenkuni; liphi ke lona ixhwane ledini?”

_8-9Uthe ukuphendula uAbraham: “Iya kubonwa nguThixo loo nto, mfo wam.”

Batsho bahamba besiya kuloo ndawo yayalathwe nguThixo. Bakufika apho, uAbraham wenza iqonga lamadini, wabeka iinkuni ezo phezu kwalo, wambopha uIsake unyana wakhe, wambeka phezu kwezo nkuni. ₁₀Uthathe imela ukuze ambulale unyana wakhe. ₁₁Suka kwavakala isithunywa *sikaNdikhoyo simemeza sisezulwini sisithi: “Abraham! Abraham!”

Yena ke uthe: “Ndim lo!”

Sathi isithunywa kuye: ₁₂“Uze ungayenzakalisi loo nkwenkwe, ungayithi cha nakancinci! Ngoku ndiyazi ukuba uThixo uyamoyika; kaloku akwalanga nonyana wakho oyintandane ekuphela kwakhe.”

₁₃UAbraham wabheka-bheka, wabona inkunzi yegusha ibambeke ngeempondo etyholweni. Waya kuyirhola, wenza ngayo idini endaweni yonyana wakhe. ₁₄UAbraham wathi loo ndawo yiYawe-yire. Unangoku kusathiwa xa kuthethwayo: “UNdikhoyo uyabonelela endulini yakhe.”

₁₅Siphindile savakala sithetha ezulwini isithunywa, sisithi kuAbraham: ₁₆“Uthi uNdikhoyo: ‘Mna ngokwam ndiyafunga; ndithi ngenxa yale nto uyenzileyo, akwala ukuncama intandane ekuphela kwayo, ₁₇ndiza kukuthamsanqelisa kanobom, ndikuphe inzala eninzi, ibe ngangeenkwenkwezi ezisesibhaka-bhakeni nentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle ubuninzi bayo. Abazukulwana bakho boyithimba imihlaba yeentshaba zabo. ₁₈Zonke izizwe emhlabeni zothamsanqeliswa ngenzala yakho. Iyonke loo nto kungenxa yokundithobela kwakho.’ ”

₁₉UAbraham wabuyela kwizicaka zakhe, bonke baphindela eBheshebha apho waba ngummi khona.

₂₀Emva kwexesha uAbraham weva ukuba uMilika uzalele uNahore umninawa wakhe abantwana abasibhozo. ₂₁Yayingu-Uzi izibulo, yaba nguBhuzi, kweza uKamweli uyise ka-Aram. ₂₂Kulandele uRhesedi, noHazo, noPildashe, noJidelafu, kunye noBhetuweli. ₂₃UBhetuweli wazala intombi uRabheka. Aba bantwana basibhozo bazalwa nguMilika umka-Nahore umninawa ka-Abraham. ₂₄Iqadi likaNahore, uRewuma, lazala uTebha, noGaham, noTahashe, kunye noMahaka.

₁USara uhleli wade wanekhulu elinamashumi amabini anesixhenxe ubudala. ₂Ubhubhele eKiriyati-arbha, ekuthiwa yiHebron, kwelaseKanana. Waba buhlungu uAbraham, wamzilela umkakhe.

₃UAbraham wesuka apho wafela khona umkakhe, waya kumaHeti. Ufike wathi kubemi balapho: ₄“Ndingumfiki nomhambi apha; ndinikeni indawo apho ndingamngcwabela khona umkam.”

₅Athe ukuphendula uAbraham amaHeti: ₆“Phulaphula, mhlekazi, kuthi uyinkosi. Siyakukhululela; ungamngcwaba umfikazi kweyona ndawo uyithandayo.”

₇Waphakama uAbraham, wakhahlela kumaHeti, ₈wathi: “Ukuba niyavuma ndimngcwabe apha umfikazi, ndiceleleni kuEfron unyana kaZoware ₉ukuba andithengisele laa mqolomba useMakapela; nankuya emdeni womhlaba wakhe. Ze nithi makandinike ngexabiso lawo, ukuze ndiwuthenge, ndingcwabe kuwo.”

₁₀UEfron wayehleli namanye amaHeti enkundleni yembizo yedolophu kuthe nqwadalala. Wenjenje ukuphendula, eviwa ngumntu wonke owayelapho: ₁₁“Hayi, mhlekazi, mandithi ndiyakunika laa mhlaba ndawonye naloo mqolomba ulapho. Loo nto ndiyithetha apha phambi kwamawethu, la athe thande apha; ndithi ndiyakunika laa mhlaba wakuthi; ungamngcwaba khona umfikazi.”

₁₂UAbraham wakhahlela kubantu balapho. ₁₃Waza wathi kuEfron, eviwa ngumntu wonke: “Ndiyakucela, ndiphe indlebe! Ndiza kukunika ixabiso lemali yalaa mhlaba. Yithathe le mali, ukuze nam ndixole, ndingcwabe khona umfikazi.”

₁₄Uthe uEfron: ₁₅“Mhlekazi, laa mhlaba ziisiliva ezimakhulu mane kuphela; asinto loo nto kuwe nakum. Hamba uye kumngcwaba umkakho.” ₁₆UAbraham wavuma, waza wayibala loo mali yayifunwa nguEfron apho phambi kwabantu. Yaba ngamakhulu amane eesiliva ngokomlinganiselo wabarhwebi.

_17-18Wawufumana ngolo hlobo ke uAbraham umhlaba kaEfron owawuseMakapela ngasempumalanga yeMamre. Yayiyintsimi, umqolomba, kunye nemithi eyayikho. Yangqinwa loo nto ngawo onke amaHeti awayekuloo mbizo. ₁₉UAbraham wamngcwaba ke umkakhe uSara kuloo mqolomba eMakapela ngaseMamre eseHebron kwelaseKanana. ₂₀Loo mhlaba ke owawungowamaHeti kunye naloo mqolomba waba ngoka-Abraham, wangcwabela kuwo.

₁Wayeseleyinkothovu yexhego uAbraham ngeli xesha, waye *uNdikhoyo emthamsanqelisa kuyo yonke into ayenzayo. ₂Ngenye imini wathi kwisicaka sakhe esithembekileyo esasiyinduna emzini wakhe: “Khawufunge! ₃Ndifuna ufunge phambi kukaNdikhoyo uThixo wezulu nomhlaba ukuba akusayi kumfunela umfazi unyana wam apha kwezi ntombi zaseKanana. ₄Kufuneka uye kwilizwe lakowethu, apho ikhoyo inkaba yam. Kulapho uya kumfunela khona umfazi uIsake, phakathi kwezizalwane zam.”

₅Sibuzile sathi isicaka sika-Abraham: “Ukuba loo ntombi ayivumi ukulishiya ikhaya layo ize apha kweli lizwe, ze ndithini? Ze ndimse apho kwelo zwe unyana wakho uIsake?”

₆Uthe uAbraham: “Uze ungakhe umse apho unyana wam. ₇NguNdikhoyo uThixo wezulu nomhlaba ngokwakhe owandisusa kwilizwe lakowethu, naphakathi kwezizalwane zam, wandithembisa efunga ukuba lo mhlaba uya kumiwa ngabazukulwana bam. Nguye oya kuthumela isithunywa sakhe apho, ungekafiki wena. Ke wofika apho uyifumane intombi eyoba ngumfazi wonyana wam. ₈Ukuba ke loo ntombi ayifuni kuza kweli lizwe, woba ke ukhululekile wena kwesi sifungo. Kodwa nokuba sekutheni, uzungakhe ulinge ukumsa kwelo zwe unyana wam.” ₉Sasenza ke isifungo saso isicaka, sithembisa ukwenza loo nto asiyalela yona uAbraham.

₁₀Induna ka-Abraham yahamba neshumi leenkamela, yaphatha neendidi ngeendidi zezipho. Yanduluka ukuya kwisixeko esasiseAram-narayim apho wayemi khona uNahore. ₁₁Yafika ukutshona kwelanga apho, ngexesha kanye iintombi ziya kukha amanzi. Iinkamela yaziphumza ngakumthombo owawusekungeneni kwesixeko eso.

₁₂Wathandaza loo mfo wathi: “Ndikhoyo, Thixo wenkosi yam uAbraham, khawundincede namhlanje usikhumbule isithembiso owasenza kuAbraham. ₁₃Naku ndilapha ngakulo mthombo, apho iintombi zalapha zikha khona amanzi. ₁₄Maze kuthi ke xa ndithi kuzo mazindikhelele amanzi ndisele, ithi leyo ithe yandipha yaza yathi iza kupha neenkamela zam zisele, ndiqonde ngaloo nto ke ukuba yile uyikhethele ukuba yendele kuIsake isicaka sakho. Ndokwazi kananjalo ukuba usigcinile isithembiso owasenza enkosini yam uAbraham.”

₁₅Uthe engekaphezi nokuthandaza kwafika uRabheka emthonjeni, ethwele ingqayi yamanzi. Yena ke yintombi kaBhetuweli unyana kaNahore umninawa ka-Abraham. Unina kaBhetuweli nguMilika. ₁₆Wayeyinzwakazi, eseyintombi nto engayaziyo indoda. Wehla waya emthonjeni, wayizalisa ingqayi, wabuya. ₁₇Loo mfo wakhawuleza ukumhlangabeza, wathi: “Khawundiphe amanzi ndisele kuloo ngqayi yakho.”

₁₈Wathi uRabheka: “Ungasela, mhlekazi.” Watsho eyithoba ingqayi, wambambela lo gama aselayo. ₁₉Akugqiba ukusela loo mfo, uthe uRabheka: “Ndiza kuzikhelela neenkamela zakho, zisele zanele.” ₂₀Wawagalela loo manzi ayesengqayini kwindawo yokuselela iinkamela, waquqa esiya kukha amanye, zada zasela zanela. ₂₁Lo mfo wayebukele ethe cwaka, ecinga ukuba ngaba lwaluphumelele na uhambo lwakhe.

₂₂Zakugqiba ukusela iinkamela loo mfo wakhupha ijikazi legolide, waliqhoboshela empumlweni kaRabheka, wamfaka nezacholo zegolide ezingalweni. ₂₃Wabuza wathi: “Uyintombi kabani? Phofu singayifumana indawo yokulala kowenu, sikhe siphumle ngokuhlwanje?”

₂₄“Ndiyintombi kaBhetuweli, ozalwa nguNahore noMilika,” yatsho ukuphendula. ₂₅“Kukho iindiza nehabile eninzi ekhaya, ikwakho nendawo yokulala.”

₂₆Loo ndoda yaguqa yathandaza yathi: ₂₇“Makabongwe uNdikhoyo, uThixo ka-Abraham inkosi yam, othe wanyaniseka ekugcineni isithembiso sakhe. NguNdikhoyo ondikhokelele ngqo emzini wezizalwana zenkosi yam.”

₂₈Loo ntombi yabaleka ukuya kowayo, yafika yabalisa. ₂₉URabheka wayenomnakwabo ekuthiwa nguLabhan. Yena wasukela ukuya emthonjeni apho kwakukho isicaka sika-Abraham. ₃₀ULabhan wayelibonile ijikazi nezacholo zodade wabo, eyivile nento eyathethwa nguloo mfo kuye. Ufike wathi kweso sicaka sika-Abraham sasimi ngasemthonjeni neenkamela zaso: ₃₁“Mhlekazi, wena uNdikhoyo ukuthamsanqelisile; yiza siye ekhaya; mus' ukum' apha. Kukho indawo ekhaya, nditsho neyokugcina iinkamela zakho.”

₃₂Yahamba naye ke loo ndoda, yaya kowabo, uLabhan wazithula imithwalo iinkamela, wazipha nokutya. Weza namanzi, aza loo madoda ahlamba iinyawo. ₃₃Kweziswa nokutya, sathi isicaka sika-Abraham: “Andikazi kutya ndide ndiluthethe udaba endihambele lona.”

Uthe uLabhan: “Thetha sive.”

₃₄“Mna ndisisicaka sika-Abraham,” utshilo lo mfo. ₃₅“UNdikhoyo wamthamsanqelisa uAbraham, wamenza isityebi. Uneenkomo, neegusha, neebhokhwe, kunye nemali yesiliva negolide. Unazo nezicaka ezingamadoda nezibhinqileyo, ukwanazo neenkamela needonki. ₃₆USara inkosikazi yenkosi yam wazala unyana sele aluphele. Nguloo nyana indlalifa ka-Abraham. ₃₇Inkosi yam uAbraham yathi mandifunge ukuba andiyi kumthathela umfazi unyana wakhe phakathi kweentombi zaseKanana apho akhoyo. ₃₈Wathi kufuneka ndiye kowabo, ndimthathele umfazi unyana wakhe phakathi kwezizalwane zakhe. ₃₉Ndathi ke mna kuye: ‘Ukuba loo ntombi ayifuni kumka kowayo, ze ndithini?’ ₄₀Wathi yena uNdikhoyo amkhonzayo wothumela isithunywa sakhe phambi kwam, khon' ukuze uphumelele umcimbi endiwuhambelayo. Mna kufuneka ndithathe umfazi kowabo, phakathi kwezizalwana zakhe. ₄₁Wathi ukuba ndiyenzile loo nto, zaza izizalwana zakhe azavuma ukundinika intombi yazo, ndoba ke mna ndikhululekile esifungweni sam.

₄₂“Ndithe ke ndakufika kulaa mthombo namhlanje, ndamcela uNdikhoyo uThixo wenkosi yam uAbraham ukuba ze lo mcimbi ndiwuhambeleyo uphumelele. ₄₃Ndathi: ‘Ndim lo, ndimi apha ngakulo mthombo. Ze kuthi ke xa kukho ntombi ifikayo apha, ndithi ndakucela amanzi ₄₄indiphe, ivume ukuseza neenkamela zam, ndiya kuqonda ngaloo nto ke ukuba yile uyikhethele unyana wenkosi yam.’ ₄₅Ndithe ndingekaphezi noko kuthandaza wee gqi uRabheka ethwele ingqayi, wehla waya kukha amanzi emthonjeni. Ndicelile ukuba andiphe amanzi ndisele. ₄₆Kwangoko uyithule ingqayi abeyithwele, wathi mandisele, watsho esithi neenkamela zam uza kuzithuthela amanzi zisele. Ndisele ke, neenkamela zam zasela. ₄₇Ndibuze ukuba uyintombi kabani na. Wathi yena uyintombi kaBhetuweli ozalwa nguNahore noMilika. Ndimfake elaa jikazi ahombe ngalo, ndamnxiba nezacholo ezingalweni. ₄₈Ndiguqile, ndinqula ndibulela uNdikhoyo uThixo ka-Abraham inkosi yam, lo undizise ngqo apha kwintombi engumzukulwana womtakwabo wenkosi yam engendela kunyana wayo. ₄₉Yitshoni ke ngoku ukuba nizimisele ukuyenzela le mbeko inkosi yam, ninyaniseke kuyo; naxa kungenjalo ndixeleleni, khon' ukuze ndibone cebo limbi.”

₅₀Bathe ukuphendula ooLabhan noBhetuweli: “Asingethi: ‘Hayi,’ okanye: ‘Ewe;’ kuba sijongile nje ngathi le nto ayiyodwa, inomnwe kaNdikhoyo kuyo. ₅₁Nanku uRabheka, ukho; mthathe uhambe naye, aye kwendela kunyana wenkosi yakho, njengoko ebonile uNdikhoyo.” ₅₂Yakuyiva loo nto induna ka-Abraham yaguqa yathandaza ibonga uNdikhoyo. ₅₃Ikhuphe izambatho ezihle, nezacholo zegolide nezesiliva, yazinika uRabheka. Iphe nomnakwabo kunye nonina izipho zexabiso.

₅₄Emva koko loo nduna ka-Abraham yaya kutya naloo madoda yayihamba nawo. Balala apho ngobo busuku. Bathe bakuvuka ngengomso, yathi induna ka-Abraham: “Siza kucela indlela sigoduke namhlanje.”

₅₅Umnakwabo-Rabheka nonina bathe: “Ubungeyishiyi na intombi okweentsukwana nokuba zilishumi, ize ibuye ilandele?”

₅₆Ithe induna: “Hayi, sanukundibambezela; uNdikhoyo ewuqabelisile nje umcimbi ebendiwuhambele, yini ngoku? Ndiyekeni ndibuyele ekhaya kwinkosi yam.”

₅₇Bathe ke makhe kubizwe uRabheka, khe kuviwe kuye. ₅₈Ubiziwe ke, wabuzwa ukuba uyahamba na kunye nalo mfo. Uphendule ngelithi: “Ewe, ndiyahamba.”

₅₉Bamkhulula ke uRabheka ukuba ahambe naloo nduna ka-Abraham kunye naloo madoda yayihamba nawo. Waphelekwa sisicakakazi sakowabo awayekhulela phantsi kwaso. ₆₀Bamndulula ngentsikelelo, besithi:

₆₂UIsake wayeselefudukile waya kutsho ngakumthombo kaPhila-endibonile, selemi emazantsi eKanana. ₆₃Ngamhla uthile ngorhatya uIsake wayehamba-hamba endle, wabona kusithi gqi iinkamela, zisiza ngakuye. ₆₄URabheka akubona uIsake wehla enkameleni yakhe, ₆₅wabuza kwinduna ka-Abraham wathi: “Ngubani lowa ucanda emasimini esihlangabeza?”

Ithe ukuphendula: “Yinkosi yam leya.” Kwangoko uRabheka uthathe iqhiya yakhe, wazigquma ubuso.

₆₆Yambalisela konke induna uIsake. ₆₇UIsake umngenise uRabheka kulaa ntente yayiyekanina uSara, wamenza umkakhe. UIsake wayemthanda kakhulu uRabheka, kangangokuba savaleka nesikroba esabangwa kukusweleka kukanina uSara.

₁Ngosuku lwesithandathu phambi *kwePasika uYesu waya eBhetani, apho wayehlala khona uLazaro, lowo uYesu wayemvuse ekufeni. ₂Walungiselelwa isidlo ke uYesu, waza uMarta wabaphakela, uLazaro engomnye wababehleli etafileni kunye noYesu. ₃UMariya wathatha amafutha angangxengwanga esiqholo esiyinadusi, abunzima bungaphezulwana kwamakhulu amathathu eegram, axabiso likhulu, wathambisa ngawo iinyawo zikaYesu, wazisula ngeenwele zakhe. Yatsho indlu yazala livumba elimnandi lesiqholo eso. ₄Ke ngoko omnye wabafundi bakaYesu, uJudas Sikariyoti, lowo wayeza kumngcatsha, wathi: ₅“Kutheni esi siqholo singàthengiswa ngamakhulu amathathu eerandi nje, ize loo mali inikwe amahlwempu?” ₆Esitsho nje, kwakungekuko okokuba ebewakhathalele amahlwempu, koko wayesitsho kuba wayelisela. Ingxowa yabo yemali yayiphathwa nguye, emana ukucuntsula kuyo.

₇Kodwa uYesu wathi: “Myeke; sukumkhathaza. Esi siqholo ebesigcinele ukulungiselela ukungcwatywa kwam. ₈Amahlwempu aya kuhlala ekho, kodwa aniyi kuhlala ninam mna.”

₉Yeva ke indimbane yamaJuda okokuba uYesu useBhetani, yaya khona, ingayi kubona uYesu kuphela, koko isiya kubona noLazaro, lowo uYesu wamvusayo ekufeni. ₁₀Babhunga ke ababingeleli abaziintloko okokuba bambulale noLazaro, ₁₁kuba ngenxa yakhe amaJuda amaninzi ayeguquka akholwe kuYesu.

₁₂Ngengomso indimbane yabantu ababeze kwitheko *lePasika, yeva okokuba uYesu uyeza eJerusalem, ₁₃yaxhuzula amasebe emithi yamasundu, yamhlangabeza, yakhwaza isithi: “Camagu! Makabongwe lowo uzayo egameni leNkosi, uKumkani wakwaSirayeli!”

₁₄UYesu wafumana idonki eselula, wakhwela kuyo, njengoko zitshoyo *iziBhalo ukuthi:

₁₆Abafundi bakhe abazange bayiqonde le nto kuqala, kodwa kwathi akuba uYesu evukile ekufeni, bakhumbula okokuba iziBhalo ziyakuxela oku, bakhumbula nokokuba bamenzele oku kanye.

₁₇Abantu ababekho oko uYesu wambizayo uLazaro ukuba aphume engcwabeni, emvusa ekufeni, babebabalisela abanye ngaloo nto. ₁₈Ke ngoko indimbane yaya kumhlangabeza uYesu, kuba yayivile ngokwenza kwakhe loo mqondiso. ₁₉Baza *abaFarasi bathethana besithi: “Khangelani, yeyele ngomkhono! Nanko elandelwa lilizwe lonke!”

₂₀Kwakukho namaGrike phakathi kwabo bantu babeye kunqula eJerusalem ngexesha lomsitho *wePasika. ₂₁Ke wona aya kuFilipu, lowo waseBhetesayida eGalili, acela esithi: “Nkosi, sifuna ukubona uYesu.”

₂₂UFilipu waya kuxelela uAndreya, baza bahamba bobabini baya kuxelela uYesu. ₂₃Wabaphendula uYesu wathi: “Lifikile ngoku ixesha lokuba ubungangamsha bakhe *uNyana woLuntu bubonakale. ₂₄Inene, ukuba ukhozo lwengqolowa aluthanga lufakwe emhlabeni lufe, lohlala lungabi nto; kodwa ukuba luthe lwafa, luvelisa isiqhamo ngakumbi. ₂₅Lowo ubukokosayo ubomi bakhe, wolahlekelwa bubo; kanti lowo ubuncamayo kweli hlabathi, wohlala enabo kude kube kwelizayo. ₂₆Lowo usisicaka sam makandilandele, abe kunye nam apho ndikhoyo. Osisicaka sam ke uya kunikwa imbeko nguBawo.”

₂₇“Intliziyo yam ikhathazekile ngoku. Ndingathini kodwa? Kuthi mandithi: ‘Bawo, ndisindise, ulidlulise kum eli xesha’? Hayi, mandingatsho, kuba kwakungenxa yoku ukuba ndifikelele kweli xesha. ₂₈Ke ngoko ndithi: ‘Bawo, zibonakalise into oyiyo wena.’ ”

Kwavakala ilizwi, liphuma ezulwini, lisithi: “Ndizibonakalisile, ndibe ndisaya kuphinda ndizibonakalise.”

₂₉Isihlwele sabantu ababemi apho sathi liyaduduma, abanye besithi isithunywa sezulu sithethe naye. ₃₀Kodwa uYesu wathi kubo: “Eli lizwi alivakalanga ngenxa yam, koko livakale ngenxa yenu. ₃₁Lithwasile ngoku ixesha lokugwetywa kweli hlabathi; umphathi weli hlabathi uza kukhiqwa ngoku. ₃₂Mna ke, ndakuba ndithe ndaphakanyiswa ndemka emhlabeni, ndiya kubatsalela kum bonke.” ₃₃Esitsho nje, wayebaqondisa ngendlela aza kufa ngayo.

₃₄Isihlwele ke saphendula sathi: “*IziBhalo zithi *uKrestu uya kuhlala nathi kude kube nîni. Ungathini ke wena ukuthi *uNyana woLuntu umelwe kukuphakanyiswa emke? Kakade ngubani yena lo Nyana woLuntu?”

₃₅Waza uYesu wathi kubo: “Aliselide ixesha ninalo ukhanyiso. Ke ngoko hambani ekukhanyeni, nisenalo nje ukhanyiso, hleze ubumnyama buniqubule, kuba lowo uhamba ebumnyameni akayiqondi indlela ahamba ngayo. ₃₆Hlalani nithembele kulo ukhanyiso ngoku nisenalo, ukuze nibe ngabantu bokukhanya.”

Akuba etshilo uYesu wazimela wemka.

₃₇Nangona uYesu wayenze imiqondiso engako phambi kwabo, abakholwanga kuye. ₃₈Le nto yênzeka izalisekisa oko kwathethwayo *ngumshumayeli uIsaya esithi:

₃₉Abakholwanga ke, njengoko atshoyo nakwenye indawo uIsaya ukuthi:

₄₁UIsaya watsho kuba wabubona ubungangamsha bukaYesu, waza wathetha ngaye.

₄₂Noko ke into eninzi yeenkokheli zamaJuda yakholwa kuYesu, kodwa ngenxa *yabaFarasi aba bantu abazange bathethe ngaloo nto, hleze basikwe *endlwini yesikhungo. ₄₃Babexabise kakhulu ukunconywa ngabantu ngaphezu kokunconywa nguThixo.

₄₄Watsho ngelivakalayo uYesu, wathi: “Lowo ukholwayo kum, akakholwa kum nje kodwa, koko ukholwa nakulowo undithumileyo. ₄₅Lowo undibonayo mna, ubona nalowo undithumileyo. ₄₆Mna ndilukhanyiso; ndize ehlabathini ukuze bonke abakholwayo kum bangahlali ebumnyameni. ₄₇Lowo uwevayo amazwi am, aze angawagcini, akagwetywa ndim. Andizanga kuligweba ihlabathi; ndize kulisindisa. ₄₈Ukho omgwebayo lowo ungandifuniyo, ongawamkeliyo amazwi am. Ilizwi endilithethileyo lilo eliya kumgweba ngomhla wokugqibela. ₄₉Kaloku mna andithethanga nto ivela kum; nguBawo ngokwakhe, yena ondithumileyo, ondiyalele okokuba mandithini, ndithethe ntoni na. ₅₀Ndiyazi ke okokuba lo myalelo wakhe ububomi obungonaphakade. Ke ngoko into endiyithethayo kuphela yileyo uBawo andiyalele ukuba mandiyithethe.”

₁Laliselisondele itheko *lePasika. UYesu ke wayesazi okokuba lifikile ixesha lokuba anduluke kweli hlabathi, aye kuYise. Wayesoloko ebathanda abo bangabakhe kweli hlabathi, wabathanda kwada kwaba sekugqibeleni.

_2-3Ngokuhlwa uYesu nabafundi bakhe babesetafileni besitya. Umtyholi wayeselekufakile entliziyweni kaJudas, unyana kaSimon Sikariyoti, okokuba angcatshe uYesu. UYesu wayesazi ukuba uYise uzinikele ezandleni zakhe zonke izinto; esazi okokuba yena uvela kuThixo, kwaye uya kuThixo. ₄Waza ke uYesu waphakama etafileni, wakhulula isambatho sakhe sangaphezulu, wabhinqa itawuli, ₅wagalela amanzi ekomini, wahlamba iinyawo zabafundi bakhe, ezisula ngetawuli awayeyibhinqile. ₆Akufika kuSimon Petros, yena wathi kuYesu: “Nkosi, uza kuhlamba nezam iinyawo?”

₇Waphendula uYesu wathi kuye: “Okwangoku akukayazi into endiyenzayo, kodwa uza kube uyiqonde.”

₈Wathi kuye uPetros: “Nokuba sekutheni, ngekhe zihlanjwe nguwe iinyawo zam.”

UYesu wamphendula wathi: “Ukuba andithanga ndikuhlambe, awunabudlelane nam.”

₉Waza uSimon Petros wathi kuye: “Nkosi, xa kunjalo, sukundihlamba iinyawo zodwa, selundihlamba izandla nentloko.”

₁₀UYesu wathi kuye: “Oselehlambe umzimba, uswele kuphela okokuba ahlanjwe iinyawo, ukuze ahlambuluke wonke. Nani ke nihlambulukile, kodwa aninjalo nonke.” ₁₁UYesu wayeselemazi lowo uza kumngcatsha, kungoko watshoyo ukuthi abahlambulukanga bonke.

₁₂Akuba uYesu ezihlambile iinyawo zabo, ephinde wasinxiba isambatho sakhe sangaphezulu, waya kuhlala phantsi, wathi kubo: “Ngaba niyayiqonda na into endiyenzileyo? ₁₃Nindibiza ngokuthi: ‘Mfundisi,’ okanye: ‘Nkosi’. Niyakholisa ukutsho, kuba kunjalo. ₁₄Ke ngoko, ukuba mna endiyiNkosi noMfundisi wenu, ndithe ndahlamba iinyawo zenu, nani ke nimelwe kukuhlambana iinyawo. ₁₅Ndinenzele umzekelo, ukuze nani nenze njengoko mna ndinibonisileyo. ₁₆Ndithi kuni, inene, akukho sicaka singaphezu kwenkosi yaso, kungekho nothunyiweyo ongaphezulu kwalowo umthumileyo. ₁₇Nivile ke. Hayi uyolo lwenu xa nithe nawulandela lo mzekelo.

₁₈“Andibhekisi kuni nonke. Ndiyabazi abo ndibanyulileyo, kodwa imelwe kukuzaliseka le ndawo eziBhalweni ithi: ‘Lowo utyayo kunye nam undivukele.’ ₁₉Ndinixelele kungekenzeki, ukuze kuthi, kwakuba kwenzekile, nikholwe okokuba ndinguye endinguye. ₂₀Inene, lowo umamkelayo endimthumileyo, wamkela mna; ke owamkela mna, wamkela lowo undithumileyo.”

₂₁Akuba uYesu etshilo, wakhathazeka kakhulu, waza wabaqononondisa esithi: “Ndithi kuni, inene, omnye kuni apha uza kundingcatsha.”

₂₂Baza bajongana abafundi bakhe, bengazi mpela okokuba ngubani na lowo athetha ngaye. ₂₃Ke omnye umfundi kaYesu, lowo wayethandwa nguye, wayehleli ecaleni kwakhe, ₂₄waza uSimon Petros wanqwala kuye ukuba abuze ukuba ngaba uYesu uthetha bani na. ₂₅Lowo mfundi ke wagobela ngakuYesu, wathi: “Ngaba ngubani lowo, Nkosi?”

₂₆Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Ngulowo ndiya kuthi ndakuba ndisithe nkxu isonka, ndimnike.” Waza wathatha iqhekeza lesonka, walithi nkxu, walinika uJudas, unyana kaSimon Sikariyoti. ₂₇Kwathi kwangoko akulamkela elo qhekeza lesonka uJudas, wangenwa nguSathana. Waza wathi kuye uYesu: “Khawulezisa uyenze into oyenzayo.” ₂₈Kwakungekho namnye kwabo basetafileni owakuqondayo oko uYesu wayekuthetha. ₂₉Ekubeni yayigcinwa nguJudas ingxowa yabo yemali, abanye kubafundi babesithi uYesu umthuma ukuba aye kuthenga ezo zinto ziyimfuneko kwitheko *lePasika, okanye mhlawumbi uthi makaye kupha amahlwempu amalizo.

₃₀Elamkele ke uJudas elo qhekeza lesonka, waphuma kwangoko. Ke kaloku kwakusebusuku.

₃₁Akuba emkile uJudas, uYesu wathi: “Ngoku ke uza kunikwa ubungangamsha *uNyana woLuntu; uThixo uza kubonakalisa amandla akhe ngaye. ₃₂Xa ke uThixo abonakalisa amandla akhe ngaye, wothi amnike ubungangamsha uNyana woLuntu, kwaye oko uza kukwenza kwangoku. ₃₃Bantwana bam, liphelile ixesha lam phakathi kwenu. Niya kundifuna, kodwa oko ndakuthethayo kumaJuda ndikuthetha nakuni ngoku, ndisithi: ‘Apho mna ndiya khona, aninakuya nina.’ ₃₄Ndiniwisela umthetho omtsha, ndithi: Thandanani! Njengoko ndinithandileyo mna, nani thandanani kanye ngolo hlobo. ₃₅Ukuba niyathandana, bonke baya kuqonda okokuba ningabafundi bam.”

₃₆USimon Petros wabuza kuYesu wathi: “Uza kuya phi na, Nkosi?”

Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Apho ndiya khona akukabi nakuya okwangoku, kodwa wobe ulandele.”

₃₇Wathi kuye uPetros: “Nkosi, kungani na ukuba ndingabi nakuya ngoku? Ndilindele nokufa ngenxa yakho!”

₃₈Wamphendula uYesu wathi: “Ngaba ukulindele ngenene ukufa ngenxa yam? Ndithi kuwe, inene, wobe sewundikhanyele kathathu ukukhala kwenkuku.”