To The Word – Day 86

₁Tiyofilo ohloniphekileyo: Ekubeni abaninzi bezame ukulibhala ibali lezo zinto zithe zenzeka phakathi kwethu, ₂bebalisa oko sikuxelelweyo ngâbo bathe kwasekuqalekeni bazibona ngawabo amehlo ezo zinto, baza baba ngabaququzeleli bezi ndaba, ₃nam, mhlekazi, ndibone kulungile ukuba ndibhale ndikucwangcisele ngokuthe ngqo, ekubeni sekulithuba elide nje ndiziphanda kakuhle ezi zinto. ₄Ndenjenje ukuze uyazi ngokuphelelyo inyaniso yezinto ozifundisiweyo.

₅Ngemihla kaHerode, ukumkani wakwaJuda, kwakukho umbingeleli othile, ogama linguZakariya, engoweqela lika-Abhiya. Umkakhe uElizabhete naye wayeyintombi yombingeleli. ₆Bobabini babengamalungisa, beyithobela imiyalelo nemimiselo yeNkosi, bengenakusoleka. ₇Babengenabantwana, kuba uElizabhete wayengazali; kananjalo bobabini babesebaluphele.

₈Ke kaloku uZakariya wayesemsebenzini wakhe wobubingeleli phambi koThixo, kulithuba leqela lakhe. ₉Kwênziwa *amaqashiso ngokwesiqhelo sababingeleli, laza iqashiso laphuma naye ukuba aqhumise ubulawu. Wangena ke endaweni engcwele yeNkosi, ₁₀kukho inkitha yabantu ithandaza ngaphandle ngexesha lesiqhumiso.

₁₁Kwabonakala isithunywa seNkosi kuye, simi ngasekunene kweqonga lesiqhumiso. ₁₂Wothuka uZakariya akusibona, wangenwa luloyiko. ₁₃Isithunywa eso sathi kuye: “Musa ukoyika, Zakariya. UThixo uwuvile umthandazo wakho. Umfazi wakho uElizabhete uya kuzala unyana. Uze umthiye igama elinguYohane. ₁₄Ukuzalwa kwakhe kuya kukuphathela uvuyo nolonwabo, ize loo nto ibe luvuyo nakubantu abaninzi. ₁₅Yena uya kubaluleka eNkosini, angaseli wayini nasiselo sinxilisayo, alawulwe nguMoya oyiNgcwele kwasekuzalweni kwakhe. ₁₆Uya kubuyisela amaSirayeli amaninzi eNkosini uThixo wawo. ₁₇Uya kuyibhulela umbethe iNkosi, enamandla njengoEliya, axolelanise uyise nomntwana, ababuyisele ebulungiseni abangevayo, alungiselele iNkosi abantu bayo.”

₁₈UZakariya wathi kwisithunywa eso: “Ndiya kuyiqonda ngani le nto? Kaloku mna sendimdala, nomfazi wam selaluphele.”

₁₉Saphendula ke isithunywa sathi kuye: “Mna ndinguGabriyeli oma phambi koThixo. Ndithunyiwe ukuba ndithethe nawe, ndikuxelele ezi ndaba zimnandi. ₂₀Ngenxa yokuba ungakholwa ngamazwi am, uyabona, uya kuvaleka, ungabi nako ukuthetha, kude kube yiloo mini zenzeka ngayo ezi zinto. Kanti ke la mazwi aya kuzalisekiswa ngexesha lawo.”

₂₁Abantu babemlindile uZakariya, bemangalisiwe kukulibala kwakhe endaweni engcwele. ₂₂Uthe ke akuphuma engasenako ukuthetha, baqonda ukuba ubone umbono apho endaweni engcwele. Wathi, ekhohliwe kukuthetha, wamana enqwala.

₂₃Lakuphela ixesha lokukhonza kweqela lakhe, uZakariya wagoduka. ₂₄Emva koko uElizabhete umfazi wakhe wamitha, wazifihla iinyanga zade zantlanu, ₂₅wavakala esithi: “Kwenziwe yiNkosi oku. Ide yandenzela inceba, yaphelisa ukudeleka kwam phakathi kwabantu.”

₂₆Ngenyanga yesithandathu isithunywa esinguGabriyeli sathunywa nguThixo kwelaseGalili, kwidolophu eyiNazarete, ₂₇kwintombi eyayisendela kumfana wendlu kaDavide, ogama linguJosefu. Igama lentombi leyo lalinguMariya. ₂₈Safika ke isithunywa kuye, sathi: “Bhota, wena ubabalweyo! INkosi inawe.”

₂₉UMariya woyika akuweva la mazwi, waza wafuna engqondweni ukuba ngaba ngumbuliso mni na lo. ₃₀Isithunywa ke sathi kuye: “Musa ukoyika, Mariya, kuba uThixo ukwenzela isisa. ₃₁Uyabona, uza kumitha, uzale unyana, umthiye igama *elinguYesu. ₃₂Yena uya kuba mkhulu, abizwe ngokuba nguNyana kaPhezukonke. INkosi uThixo iya kummisela abe ngukumkani kwaDavide uyise, ₃₃ayilawule indlu kaYakobi kude kube ngunaphakade, nolawulo lwakhe lungaze luphele.”

₃₄UMariya ke wathi kuso isithunywa: “Iya kwenzeka njani na loo nto, ndingazani nandoda nje?”

₃₅Saphendula isithunywa sathi kuye: “UMoya oyiNgcwele uya kuhlela kuwe, athi amandla kaThixo uPhezukonke akufukamele. Kungoko loo mntwana ungcwele uya kuzalwa nguwe kuya kuthiwa nguNyana kaThixo. ₃₆Uyabona, naye uElizabhete ozalana nawe, ukhawule unyana ebudaleni bakhe. Le yinyanga yesithandathu kuye, yena lowo bekusithiwa uludlolo. ₃₇Kaloku akukho nanye into enokumnqabela uThixo.”

₃₈Wathi ke uMariya: “Ndim lo mna mkhonzazana weNkosi. Makwenzeke kum ngokwamazwi akho.” Saza semka isithunywa kuye.

₃₉Ngaloo mihla wesuka uMariya, wasinga kweleentaba ngokukhawuleza, esiya edolophini yakwaJuda; ₄₀waya kungena endlwini kaZakariya, wafika wambulisa uElizabhete. ₄₁Kwathi akuwuva uElizabhete umbuliso kaMariya, lwasuka lwaxhuma usana esizalweni sakhe. Wafikelwa ke nguMoya oyiNgcwele uElizabhete, ₄₂wadanduluka ekhwaza esithi: “Ungoyena usikelelweyo wena phakathi kwabafazi! Nomntwana oya kuzalwa nguwe usikelelwe! ₄₃Bendiyintoni na kakade, ukuba ndide ndihanjelwe ngunina weNkosi yam? ₄₄Yaz' ukuba, kuthe ndakuwuva umbuliso wakho, lwasuka usana lwaxhuma luvuyo esiswini sam. ₄₅Unoyolo lowo ukholiweyo, kuba ilizwi elithunyelwe kuye yiNkosi liya kuzaliseka.”

₄₆Wavakala uMariya esithi:

₅₆UMariya ke wahlala noElizabhete iinyanga ngathi zaba ntathu, waza wagoduka.

₅₇Lafika ke ixesha lokuba uElizabhete abeleke, waza wazala unyana. ₅₈Bakuva abamelwane bakhe nezizalwana zakhe ngale nceba ingaka ayenzelwe yiNkosi, bavuyisana naye.

₅₉Kwathi ke ngomhla wesibhozo baya kumàlusa umntwana, befuna ukumthiya ngoyise uZakariya. ₆₀Kodwa unina wala, esithi: “Hayi, igama lakhe nguYohane!”

₆₁Bona ke bathi kuye: “Lingekho nje eli gama kowabo!” ₆₂Baza babhekisa kuyise ukuba yena unga angathiywa gama lini na.

₆₃Wabiza icwecwana, wabhala wathi: “Igama lakhe nguYohane.” Baza bamangaliswa bonke. ₆₄Kwangoko lwacombuluka ulwimi lukaZakariya, wathetha ebonga uThixo.

₆₅Bangenwa luloyiko ke bonke abamelwane, yaza le nto yonke yaba ngundabamlonyeni kulo lonke eleentaba lakwaJuda. ₆₆Bathi bonke abayivayo bayimilisela ezingqondweni, besithi: “Yaz'ba, uya kuba yintoni na lo mntwana?” Kuba kaloku amandla eNkosi ayenaye.

₆₇UZakariya uyise wazala nguMoya oyiNgcwele, watyibela wathi:

₈₀Wakhula umntwana, waya esomelela ngokomelela. Wayehlala entlango kwada kwayimini yokubonakala kwakhe kumaSirayeli.

₁Kwathi ngaloo mihla kwaphuma ummiselo *kuKhesare Agasto othi lonke elimiweyo malibhalise. ₂Olu bhaliso lokuqala lwabakho uKireniyo eyirhuluneli yaseSiriya. ₃Babesithi ke bonke baye kubhalisa, elowo kweyakowabo idolophu.

₄UJosefu ke waphuma kwelaseGalili, kwidolophu iNazarete, waya kwelakwaJuda, kwidolophu kaDavide eyiBhetelehem, kuba wayengowomlibo kaDavide. ₅Wayesiya kubhalisa, enoMariya owayesendela kuye. Yena wayeselekhulelwe, ₆kwaza kwathi belapho lafika ixesha lokubeleka kwakhe. ₇Wamzala ke unyana wakhe wamazibulo, wamsongela eziqhiyeni, wamlalisa emkhumbini wesitali, kuba kwakungekho ndawo endlwini yabahambi.

₈Kwakukho abelusi kwakweso sithili, behlala ezindle, belinda imihlambi yabo ebusuku. ₉Babona isithunywa seNkosi simi ngakubo, bathi nobuqaqawuli beNkosi bababengezelela ngeenxa zonke. Baza boyika kakhulu. ₁₀Isithunywa ke sathi kubo: “Musani ukoyika; kaloku ndinizisele iindaba ezimnandi zovuyo olukhulu oluya kuba kubo bonke abantu. ₁₁Namhlanje, edolophini kaDavide, nizalelwe uMsindisi *onguKrestu iNkosi. ₁₂Nantsi into eyoba ngumqondiso kuni: nofumana usana lusongelwe eziqhiyeni, lulele emkhumbini wesitali.”

₁₃Ngequbuliso kwabakho inkitha yezithunywa zezulu, ikunye nesithunywa eso, idumisa uThixo, isithi:

₁₅Zakuba zimkile izithunywa, zisiya ezulwini, abelusi abo bathi omnye komnye: “Masihambe siye eBhetelehem, siyibone le nto ihlileyo, le siyazisiweyo yiNkosi.”

₁₆Bakhawuleza ke baya, bafika kuMariya noJosefu, kwanalo usana lulele emkhumbini wesitali. ₁₇Bathi bakuba bebonile, bawabhengeza amazwi awayethethwe kubo ngaye lo mntwana; ₁₈baza bonke abawevileyo bamangaliswa zezo zinto zazithethwa kubo ngabelusi. ₁₉Yena uMariya wazigcina zonke ezo zinto entliziyweni yakhe, wamana ezetyisa. ₂₀Abelusi ke babuyela emihlambini yabo, becula bedumisa uThixo ngenxa yazo zonke izinto ababezivile bazifumana zinjengoko zazixeliwe.

₂₁Akuba ntsuku zisibhozo umntwana ezelwe, kungumhla wokwaluswa kwakhe, uthiywe igama *elinguYesu, elo wayelithiyiwe sisithunywa sezulu engekakhawulwa nokukhawulwa.

₂₂Zakuba ke zifezekile iintsuku zokuhlanjululwa kwabo *ngokomthetho kaMosis, uJosefu noMariya benyuka naye uYesu, baya eJerusalem, ukuze bamnikele eNkosini, ₂₃njengoko kubhaliwe emthethweni weNkosi kwathiwa: “Yonke into eliduna eyeyamazibulo mayinikelwe eNkosini.” ₂₄Babesiya kwenza nomnikelo, njengoko kusitshiwo emthethweni weNkosi ukuthi: “Makunikelwe ngesibini samahobe, nokuba ngamathole amabini evukuthu.”

₂₅EJerusalem apho kwakukho umntu ogama linguSimon. Wayelilungisa, emhlonela uThixo, elindele ukuthuthuzelwa kwamaSirayeli, enefuthe likaMoya oyiNgcwele. ₂₆Wayetyhilelwe nguMoya oyiNgcwele ukuba akayi kufa engekamboni uKrestu weNkosi. ₂₇Waya endlwini kaThixo, ethunywa nguMoya. Kwathi ke, akungeniswa uYesu ngabazali bakhe, befezekisa umthetho, ₂₈uSimon wamfunqula, wabonga uThixo, wathi:

₃₃Abazali bakhe bamangaliswa zezo zinto zithethwayo ngoYesu. ₃₄USimon wabasikelela, wathi kuMariya unina: “Uyabona, lo Mntwana umiselwe ukuwa nokuvuka kwabaninzi kwaSirayeli, nokuba abe ngumqondiso ochasiweyo, ₃₅ze ngale nkcaso kutyhileke iingcamango zabaninzi. Kanti ke nowakho umphefumlo uya kubindeka.”

₃₆Kwalapho kwakukho nentokazi *eyayingumshumayeli, uAna, intombi kaFanuweli wendlu ka-Ashere. Wayeselaluphele kakhulu. Akuba endile, uhleli iminyaka esixhenxe kuphela kunye nendoda yakhe, ₃₇waza waphila de waba minyaka imashumi asibhozo anane engumhlolokazi. Wayengapheli endlwini kaThixo, ekhonza uThixo ngokuzila ukutya nangokuthandaza ebusuku nasemini. ₃₈Wasondela ke ngelo lixa uAna, wathelela ekudumiseni uThixo. Wayethetha ngoMntwana lowo kubo bonke ababelindele ukukhululwa kweJerusalem.

₃₉Bakuba ke bezifezekisile zonke izinto ngokomthetho weNkosi, babuyela eNazarete, idolophu yakowabo kwelaseGalili.

₄₀Ke kaloku uYesu wakhula, waya esomelela, enobulumko obukhulu, ubabalo lukaThixo lunaye.

₄₁Abazali bakhe babehambela eJerusalem minyaka le, besiya kwitheko *lePasika. ₄₂Kuthe ke xa uYesu wayeminyaka ilishumi elinambini ezelwe, baya ePasikeni eJerusalem ngokwesiqhelo. ₄₃Zakuba zigqithile iintsuku zelo theko, bagoduka, kanti uYesu usele eJerusalem. Phofu babengaqondi abazali bakhe. ₄₄Babeba usemxukuxeleni wabahambi, baza bahamba uhambo lwamini-nye. Bamana bemfuna ke phakathi kwezizalwane nabazana nabo. ₄₅Bathe bakungamfumani babuyela eJerusalem bemfuna. ₄₆Kwathi ke emva kweentsuku ezintathu bamfumana *endlwini kaThixo, ehleli nabafundisi, ebaphulaphula, ebabuza nokubabuza. ₄₇Bonke abamváyo babemangalisiwe yingqondo yakhe naziimpendulo zakhe. ₄₈Abazali bakhe bakumbona bathi manga, unina wathi kuye: “Mntanam, yini na ukuba usenjenje? Uyabona, uyihlo nam besikufuna sixhalabile.”

₄₉Wathi kubo uYesu: “Benindifunela ntoni na? Beningazi na ukuba ndimelwe kukuba sendlwini kaBawo?” ₅₀Ke bona abayiqondanga into awayeyithetha kubo.

₅₁Wahamba nabo, waya kufika eNazarete. Wayebalulamela abazali bakhe. Wazigcina unina ezo zinto entliziyweni yakhe. ₅₂UYesu ke wakhula ngesithomo nangobulumko, ebabalwa nguThixo, ethandwa ngabantu.

₁Ke kaloku ngomnyaka weshumi elinantlanu elawula uTibheriyo *Khesare, inguPontiyo Pilato irhuluneli kwelakwaJuda, inguHerode olawula kwelaseGalili, umntakwabo uFilipu elawula kwelaseJitureya nelaseTrakoniti, inguLisaniyo olawula kwelaseAbhilene, ₂ngemihla yababingeleli abakhulu ooAnas noKayafa, lafika ilizwi likaThixo kuYohane, unyana kaZakariya, entlango. ₃Yena ke wayewujikeleza wonke ummandla weJordan, eshumayela esithi abantu mabaguquke, babhaptizwe, aze uThixo abaxolele izono zabo; ₄njengoko kubhaliweyo kwincwadi *yomshumayeli uIsaya kusithiwa:

“Kuvakala ilizwi lodandulukayo entlango, lisithi:

₇Ke kaloku izihlwele zaziphuma ziye kubhaptizwa nguYohane. Wayesithi kuzo: “Nzalandini yamarhamba, ngubani lo unilumkisileyo ukuba niyibaleke ingqumbo ezayo? ₈Ke ngoko yenzani izinto ezibonakalisa inguquko. Ze ningafane nithi: ‘Siyinzala ka-Abraham.’ Ndiyanixelela mna, uThixo unako ngawo la matye ukumvelisela abantwana uAbraham. ₉Kanti ke lona izembe selikulungele ukuyinqumla ezingcanjini imithi. Ngoko ke wonke umthi ongavelisi siqhamo sihle uyagawulwa utshiswe.”

₁₀Izihlwele zazimbuza zisithi: “Masithini ke ngoko?”

₁₁Waphendula wathi kuzo: “Lowo uneengubo ezimbini makanike ongenáyo. Nalowo unokutya makenjenjalo.”

₁₂Abaqokeleli-rhafu beza kubhaptizwa, bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, masithini na?”

₁₃Wathi kubo: “Ningabizi ngaphezu kwenikumiselweyo.”

₁₄Namajoni ayebuza kuye esithi: “Masithini thina?”

Wathi kuwo: “Ningaphangi mntu ngogonyamelo okanye ngobuxoki. Yanelani yimivuzo yenu.”

₁₅Ke kaloku lavuseleleka ithemba ebantwini, becamanga bonke ezintliziyweni zabo ngaye uYohane, ukuba akangebi nguye na uKrestu. ₁₆UYohane ke wabaphendula esithi: “Mna okunene ndinibhaptiza ngamanzi, kodwa uyeza onamandla kunam. Andikufanelanga ukukhulula nemitya le yezihlangu zakhe. Yena uya kunibhaptiza ngoMoya oyiNgcwele nangomlilo. ₁₇Ingobozi isesandleni sakhe. Uya kukwela kuthi tu okusesandêni, ayigalele kuvimba ingqolowa. Ke wona umququ uya kuwutshisa ngomlilo ongacimiyo.”

₁₈UYohane wayeyala ekhuthaza nangezinye izinto ezininzi, eshumayela iindaba ezimnandi ebantwini. ₁₉UHerode, umlawuli waseGalili, wakhalinyelwa nguYohane ngenxa yokungena uHerodiya, umka-mninawe wakhe, nangazo zonke ezinye izinto ezimbi awayezenzile. ₂₀Suka ke yena uHerode wavalela uYohane lowo entolongweni.

₂₁Ke ekubhaptizweni kwento eninzi yabantu, noYesu ebhaptiziwe, kwathi ethandaza, lavuleka izulu, ₂₂wehlela phezu kwakhe uMoya oyiNgcwele enembonakalo yehobe. Kwavakala nezwi livela ezulwini, lisithi: “UnguNyana wam endimthandayo wena; ndikholisiwe nguwe!”

₂₃Ukuqala kwakhe ukufundisa uYesu wayemalunga neminyaka emashumi mathathu ezelwe. Kwakusithiwa ungunyana kaJosefu, kaEli, ₂₄kaMatati, kaLevi, kaMeleki, kaJana, kaJosefu, ₂₅kaMatatiya, ka-Amos, kaNahum, kaHesli, kaNagayi, ₂₆kaMathi, kaMatatiya, kaShimeyi, kaYoseki, kaJoda, ₂₇kaYohanan, kaResha, kaZerubhabheli, kaShalatiyeli, kaNeri, ₂₈kaMeleki, ka-Adi, kaKosam, kaElmadam, kaEre, ₂₉kaYoshuwa, kaEliyezere, kaYorim, kaMatati, kaLevi, ₃₀kaSimon, kaJuda, kaJosefu, kaJonam, kaEliyakim, ₃₁kaMaleya, kaMina, kaMatata, kaNatan, kaDavide, ₃₂kaJese, kaObhedi, kaBhowazi, kaSalman, kaNashon, ₃₃ka-Aminadabhi, ka-Admin, ka-Arni, kaHezeron, kaPerezi, kaJuda, ₃₄kaYakobi, kaIsake, ka-Abraham, kaTera, kaNahore, ₃₅kaSeruki, kaRewu, kaPelege, kaHebhere, kaShela, ₃₆kaKenan, ka-Arpakishadi, kaShem, kaNowa, kaLameki, ₃₇kaMethusela, kaInoki, kaJerede, kaMahalaleli, kaKenan, ₃₈kaEnoshe, kaSete, ka-Adam, kaThixo.

₁UYesu wabuya eJordan ezele nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wajikeleza entlango ekhokelwa nguMoya ₂iintsuku ezimashumi mane, elingwa ngumtyholi. Akatyanga nto ngezo ntsuku, waza walamba ekupheleni kwazo.

₃Ke umtyholi wathi kuye: “Ukuba unguye uNyana kaThixo, yitsho eli litye libe sisonka.”

₄UYesu wamphendula esithi: “*IziBhalo zithi: ‘Umntu akaphili ngasonka sodwa.’”

₅Ke umtyholi wamnyusela endaweni ephakamileyo uYesu, wathi ngexeshana elingephi wambonisa onke amazwe ezikumkani zehlabathi; ₆wathi kuye: “Ndokunika igunya kuwo onke, ndikuphe nobutyebi bawo, kuba konke oko kokwam, kwaye ndikunika lowo sukuba ndithanda ukumnika. ₇Ke ngoko, ukuba uthe wandinqula, zonke ezo zinto zoba zezakho.”

₈UYesu wamphendula wathi: “IziBhalo zithi: ‘Uze unqule iNkosi uThixo wakho, ukhonze yona yodwa.’”

₉Umtyholi ke waya noYesu eJerusalem, wammisa phezu *kwendlu kaThixo, wathi kuye: “Ukuba unguye uNyana kaThixo, ziphose ezantsi phaya; ₁₀kuba iziBhalo zithi: ‘UThixo uya kuziwisela umthetho ngawe izithunywa zakhe, ukuze zikugcine.’ ₁₁Kananjalo kuthiwa: ‘Ziya kukufunqula, hleze ukhubeke elityeni.’”

₁₂Waphendula uYesu wathi kuye: “IziBhalo zithi: ‘Uze ungayilingi iNkosi uThixo wakho.’”

₁₃Akupheza umtyholi ukulinga uYesu, wemka okwexeshana.

₁₄UYesu ke, esemandleni kaMoya oyiNgcwele, wabuyela kwelaseGalili, lwaza udumo lwakhe lwavakala kuwo wonke loo mmandla. ₁₅Wayefundisa *ezindlwini zesikhungo, enconywa ngabo bonke.

₁₆UYesu ke waya kufika eNazarete, apho wayekhulele khona, wathi ngokwesiqhelo sakhe wangena *endlwini yesikhungo *ngoMhla wokuPhumla. Waphakama ke ukuba afunde; ₁₇waza wanikwa incwadi *yomshumayeli uIsaya, watyhila le ndawo ithi:

₂₀Eyisongile incwadi uYesu, wayibuyisela kwisicaka, wahlala phantsi. Amehlo abo bonke ababesendlwini yesikhungo ayondele kuye; ₂₁waza wathi kubo: “Namhlanje esi *siBhalo sizalisekisiwe phambi kwenu.”

₂₂Babemncoma, bonke bemangalisiwe ngamazwi amnandi awathethayo, besithi: “He bethu, lo mntu asinguye na unyana kaJosefu?”

₂₃UYesu ke wathi kubo: “Eneneni niya kulibhekisa kum eli qhalo lithi: ‘Gqirha, ziphilise;’ nize nithi: ‘Nakowenu apha yenza okungangoko sive ukuba ukwenzile eKapernahum.’ ” Wathi ke: ₂₄“Ndithi kuni, inene, akukho mshumayeli wamkelekileyo kowabo. ₂₅Enyanisweni babebaninzi abahlolokazi kwaSirayeli ngemihla kaEliya, oko lalibalele iminyaka emithathu eneenyanga ezintandathu, kukho indlala enkulu kulo lonke ilizwe. ₂₆Kanti ke uEliya zange athunywe nakumnye kubo; kuphela wathunywa kumhlolokazi waseSarfati kwelaseSidon. ₂₇Kananjalo babebaninzi abaneqhenqa kwaSirayeli ngemihla yomshumayeli uElisha; kanti ke akuhlanjululwanga namnye kubo ngaphandle koNahaman umSiriya.”

₂₈Bakuziva ezi zinto bacaphuka bonke ababesendlwini yesikhungo, ₂₉besuka bamkhupha edolophini uYesu, bamsa phezu kweliwa eyayakhelwe phezu kwalo idolophu yabo, ukuze bamphose ezantsi. ₃₀Kodwa yena wacanda phakathi kwabo, wemka.

₃₁Wehla ke uYesu waya eKapernahum, idolophu yelaseGalili, wathi khona apho *ngoMhla woPhumlo wafundisa abantu. ₃₂Bamangaliswa kukufundisa kwakhe, kuba wayefundisa ngegunya. ₃₃Ke *endlwini yesikhungo apho kwakukho umntu ophethwe yindimoni. ₃₄Yena ke wabhomboloza, ekhala esithi: “Kwowu! Ufuna ntoni kuthi, Yesu waseNazarete? Ngaba uze kusitshabalalisa? Ndiyakwazi ukuba ungubani na; ungoyiNgcwele kaThixo!”

₃₅UYesu wayikhalimela loo ndimoni, esithi: “Yithi tu, uphume kuye!” Yasuka indimoni yamkhahlela phantsi phambi kwabo, yaza yaphuma ingamenzakalisanga.

₃₆Bamangaliswa bonke abantu, babuzana besithi: “He bethu, mhlola mni lo? Lo mntu ukhalima nje ngelizwi, zitsho ziphume iindimoni!” ₃₇Zatsho zaduma ke iindaba ngoYesu kuwo wonke loo mmandla.

₃₈Waphuma ke uYesu *endlwini yesikhungo, waya kungena endlwini kaSimon. Ke umkhwekazi kaSimon wayephethwe yifiva ngamandla, baza ke baxelela uYesu ngaye. ₃₉Yena waya kuma ngakuye, wayikhalimela ifiva, waza wachacha. Wavuka kwangoko ke, wabalungiselela ukutya.

₄₀Kwathi ukutshona kwelanga, bonke abo babenabagula zizifo ngezifo babazisa kuYesu. Yena wababeka izandla bonke ngabanye, wabaphilisa. ₄₁Neendimoni zaziphuma kwabaninzi, zikhala zisithi: “Wena unguye uNyana kaThixo.”

Wayezikhalimela iindimoni ezo, engazivumeli ukuba zithethe, kuba zazisazi ukuba yena unguye *uKrestu.

₄₂Wasuka uYesu wemka waya endaweni engenabantu. Izihlwele zazimfuna, zathi zakumfumana, zazama ukuba angemki kuzo. ₄₃Wathi kuzo: “Ndimelwe kukuba ndishumayele iindaba ezimnandi zolawulo lukaThixo nakwezinye iidolophu, kuba yinto endithunywe yona leyo.”

₄₄Wayeshumayela ke *ezindlwini zesikhungo zelakwaJuda.

₁Ke kaloku uYesu xa wayemi ngakuLwandle lwaseGenesarete, izihlwele zimxinile, zisiza kuva ilizwi likaThixo, ₂wabona izikhitshana ezibini ziselunxwemeni. Abalobi babephumile kuzo, behlamba iminatha. ₃Wathi ke, engene kwesinye isikhitshana esasisesikaSimon, wamcela ukuba akhe ashenxe kancinane elunxwemeni. UYesu ke wazifundisa izihlwele ehleli esikhitshaneni.

₄Akugqiba ukuthetha, wathi kuSimon: “Yiyani phakathi enzulwini, nihlise iminatha yenu, nibambise.”

₅Waphendula uSimon wathi kuye: “Mhlekazi, sibulaleke ubusuku bonke, asabamba nento le; kodwa ngokutsho kwakho ndiya kuwuhlisa umnatha.” ₆Bathi bakwenjenjalo, babambisa inkitha yeentlanzi, kangangokuba waphants' ukuqhaqheka umnatha wabo. ₇Baza bakhweba abalingane babo ababekwesinye isikhitshana, ukuba beze kubancedisa. Beza ke, bazizalisa zozibini izikhitshana, zada zaphants' ukutshona. ₈Ekubonile okwenzekileyo, uPetros waguqa phambi koYesu, wathi: “Mka kum, Nkosi, kuba ndiyindoda engumoni.”

₉Yena nabo bonke ababenaye babemangalisiwe lolo banjiso lungako lweentlanzi. ₁₀Babemangalisiwe noYakobi noYohane, oonyana bakaZebhedi, ababengabalingane bakaSimon. UYesu ke wathi kuSimon: “Ungoyiki. Ukususela namhlanje uya kuba ngumlobi wabantu.”

₁₁Bakuba ke bezitsalele elunxwemeni izikhitshana, bashiya into yonke, balandela uYesu.

₁₂Kwathi uYesu ekwidolophu ethile kwafika indoda ithe gqume liqhenqa. Le ndoda ke, yakumbona uYesu, yawa ngobuso phambi kwakhe, yambongoza isithi: “Nkosi, ndiyazi ukuba unako ukundihlambulula, ukuba uyathanda.”

₁₃Wasolula uYesu isandla, wayichukumisa, esithi: “Ndiyathanda; hlambuluka.” Kwangoko laphela kuyo iqhenqa. ₁₄UYesu ke wayiyala esithi mayingaxeleli bani, waza wathi: “Hamba uye kuzibonisa kumbingeleli, wenze umnikelo ngezo zinto wazimiselayo uMosis, ube bubungqina bokuhlanjululwa kwakho.”

₁₅Kwaba kukhona ke uYesu angundabamlonyeni; kwaza kwabuthelana isihlwele esikhulu, sisiza kumphulaphula nokuphiliswa nguye kwizifo ngezifo. ₁₆Ke yena uYesu wayemana ukuya esiguqweni ngasese, athandaze.

₁₇Kwathi ngamini ithile uYesu efundisa, kwafika *abaFarasi nabachazi-mthetho, bephuma kuzo zonke iindolophu zelaseGalili nelakwaJuda, naseJerusalem. Amandla eNkosi ayekho kuye, ephilisa. ₁₈Nako ke kufika amadoda ethwele ngokhuko umntu ofe umzimba, efuna ukumngenisa endlwini, ambeke phambi koYesu. ₁₉Exakiwe kukumngenisa ngenxa yokuxinana kwesihlwele, akhwela phezu kwendlu, aqhaqha uphahla, amhlisa ngokhuko, ambeka phakathi, phambi koYesu. ₂₀Akulubona uYesu ukholo lwawo, wathi kofe umzimba: “Mfondini, izono zakho zixolelwe.”

₂₁Baza abachazi-mthetho nabaFarasi bathetha bodwa besithi: “Yini na ukuba lo mntu anyelise ngolu hlobo? Ngubani kakade onako ukuxolela izono ngaphandle koThixo?”

₂₂UYesu ke, ezazi iingcamango zabo, wabaphendula wathi kubo: “Yini na ukuba nibe nezi ngcamango ezintliziyweni zenu? ₂₃Okukona kulula kukuphi? Kukho ukuthi: ‘Izono zakho zixololwe,’ kukho nokuthi: ‘Vuka uhambe’? ₂₄Ke ukuze nazi ukuba yena *uNyana woLuntu unalo igunya lokuxolela izono emhlabeni apha – úthi kofe umzimba – ndithi kuwe: ‘Vuka, uthathe ukhuko lwakho, uhambe ugoduke!’ ”

₂₅Waphakama kwangoko bemjongile, waluthatha ukhuko abelele kulo, wagoduka ebulela uThixo. ₂₆Bamangaliswa ke bonke, bamdumisa uThixo, besoyika kakhulu, besithi: “Sibone umhlola namhlanje.”

₂₇Emva koko uYesu waphuma, waza wabona umqokeleli-rhafu, ogama linguLevi, ehleli eofisini yerhafu; wathi kuye: “Ndilandele.” ₂₈Washiya konke ke, wamlandela.

₂₉ULevi ke wamenzela isidlo esikhulu uYesu endlwini yakhe. Kweso sidlo kwakukho iqela elikhulu labaqokeleli-rhafu nabanye abantu. ₃₀Ke *abaFarasi nabachazi-mthetho babebakrokrela abafundi bakaYesu, besithi: “Yini na ukuba nitye nisele kunye nabaqokeleli-rhafu *naboni?”

₃₁Wabaphendula uYesu esithi: “Ugqirha akafuneki nganto kwabaphilileyo, ufuneka kwabagulayo. ₃₂Andizanga kubiza malungisa, ndize kubiza aboni, ukuba baguquke.”

₃₃Ke kaloku abantu abathile bathi kuYesu: “Kutheni na ukuba abafundi bakaYohane *nababaFarasi basoloko bezila ukutya, bethandaza, kanti bona abakho bayatya basele?”

₃₄UYesu ke wathi kubo: “Ngaba abakhaphi bomyeni ninokubazilisa na ukutya umyeni esenabo? ₃₅Hayi, kodwa yofika yona imini yokuba umyeni asuswe kubo. Ngaloo mini ke baya kukuzila ukutya.”

₃₆Ke kaloku uYesu wathetha umzekeliso kubo, esithi: “Akukho mntu uthatha isiziba kwisambatho esitsha asithungele kwesidala, hleze asonakalise isambatho esitsha, sibe isiziba eso singasilungeli nesidala. ₃₇Kananjalo akukho mntu uyitha kwiimvaba ezindala iwayini entsha engekabili; kuba, ukuba uthe wenjenjalo, iwayini leyo yobila, izigqabhuze iimvaba, ichitheke, zonakale nezo mvaba. ₃₈Iwayini engekabili mayithiwe kwiimvaba ezintsha. ₃₉Kananjalo akukho mntu uthi, esele iwayini endala, athande nengekatsali, kuba uthi: ‘Endala inencasa!’ ”

₁Kwathi uYesu ecanda emasimini *ngoMhla woPhumlo, abafundi bakhe bakha izikhwebu zengqolowa, bazichuba, batya. ₂Ke abathile *bakubaFarasi bathi kubo: “Kungani na ukuba nenze okungavumelekanga ngoMhla wokuPhumla?”

₃Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Anizange nikufunde na oko wakwenzayo uDavide mhla walamba yena neqela lakhe? ₄Kaloku wangena *endlwini kaThixo, wazithatha wazitya izonka ezazinikelwe kuThixo, wanika neqela lakhe. Kanti ke ngokomthetho ezo zonka azimelwe kutyiwa ngabangengobabingeleli.” ₅Waza ke wathi kubo: “UNyana woLuntu uyiNkosi yawo noMhla woPhumlo.”

₆Ngomnye *uMhla woPhumlo uYesu wangena endlwini yesikhungo wafundisa. Apho kwakukho umntu owome isandla sokunene. ₇Babemlalele abachazi-mthetho *nabaFarasi, befuna ukubona ukuba wophilisa na ngoMhla woPhumlo, khon' ukuze bafumane isizathu sokummangalela. ₈UYesu ke wayezazi iingcamango zabo, waza wathi kuloo mntu wayome isandla: “Phakama, uze ngaphambili.” Waphakama ke, wema apho. ₉Waza wathi uYesu: “Ndixeleleni: okuvumelekileyo ngoMhla wokuPhumla kukwenza okulungileyo, okanye kukwenza okubi; kukuphilisa umntu, okanye kukubulala, kusini na?” ₁₀Akuba ebasingasingile bonke, wathi kuloo mntu: “Solule isandla sakho.” Wenjenjalo ke, saza saphila isandla sakhe.

₁₁Basuka ke bona bajwaqeka ngumsindo, bebuzana bodwa ukuba bangamthini na uYesu.

₁₂Kwathi ngaloo mihla uYesu waphuma, wasinga entabeni, esiya kuthandaza. Wachitha ubusuku bonke ezibika kuThixo. ₁₃Kwakusa wababizela kuye abafundi bakhe, wanyula kubo balishumi elinambini, awababiza ngelokuba ngabathunywa. ₁₄Yayingâba: USimon, awamthiya ngelokuba nguPetros, noAndreya umntakwabo; uYakobi noYohane; uFilipu noBhartolomeyu; ₁₅uMatewu noTomas; uYakobi, lo ka-Alifeyu, noSimon ekuthiwa liTsha-ntliziyo; ₁₆uJudas kaYakobi, noJudas Sikariyoti, owaba ngumngcatshi.

₁₇UYesu wehla nabo entabeni, wema endaweni ethe tyaba, eneqela elikhulu labafundi bakhe, nenkitha enkulu yabantu, bevela kulo lonke elakwaJuda, naseJerusalem, nakuwo ummandla ongaselwandle ojikeleze iTire neSidon, ₁₈beze kumphulaphula nokuba abaphilise kwizifo zabo. ₁₉Yonke loo nkitha yabantu yayifuna ukumchukumisa, kuba wayenamandla okuphilisa, bephila bonke.

₂₀UYesu ebakhangele abafundi bakhe, wathi:

₂₂“Hayi uyolo lwenu xa abantu bathe banithiya ngenxa yakhe *uNyana woLuntu, benigxotha, beningcikiva, benihlamba okwabancanyiweyo. ₂₃Ze nivuye ngaloo mini, nisuke imitsi; kuba ngenene umvuzo wenu mkhulu ezulwini. Kaloku babesenjenjalo ooyise kubo *abashumayeli bamandulo.

₂₆“Kunyembelekile xa bathe bathetha kakuhle ngani bonke abantu! Kaloku babesenjenjalo ooyise kubashumayeli abaxokayo.”

₂₇“Ke mna ndithi kuni, nina nindivayo: Zithandeni iintshaba zenu, nibenzele okulungileyo abo banithiyileyo. ₂₈Basikeleleni abo baniqalekisayo, nibathandazele abo banigxekayo. ₂₉Lowo ukubetha esidleleni, mnike nesinye. Okohlutha isivatho sakho sangaphezulu, ungamaleli nesangaphantsi. ₃₀Bonke abacela kuwe, baphe. Kothatha izinto zakho uzungabuye uzibize. ₃₁Benzeleni okulungileyo abanye abantu ngolo hlobo ninga banganenzela ngalo okulungileyo.

₃₂“Ukuba nithanda abo banithandayo bodwa, ninanzuzoni? Kaloku naboni bayabathanda abo babathandayo! ₃₃Xa nithi nenze okulungileyo kwabanenzela okulungileyo bodwa, ninanzuzoni? Kaloku naboni benza kwaloo nto! ₃₄Xa nithi niboleke abo nithembe ukubuyiselwa ngabo bodwa, ninanzuzoni? Kaloku naboni bayabolekana, ukuze babuyiselane. ₃₅Ke nina, zithandeni iintshaba zenu, nenze okulungileyo; niboleke ningathembanga mbuyiselo. Woba mkhulu ke umvuzo wenu, nibe ngoonyana bakaThixo uPhezukonke, kuba yena unobubele kwabangabuleliyo nabakhohlakeleyo. ₃₆Ngoko ke yibani nenceba, njengokuba naye uYihlo enenceba.”

₃₇“Musani ukugweba; nani ke aniyi kugwetywa nguThixo. Musani ukugxeka; nani ke aniyi kugxekwa nguThixo. Xolelani; nani ke niya kuxolelwa nguThixo. ₃₈Yiphani; nani ke niya kuphiwa nguThixo. Ewe, nophiwa isabelo esihle, esipheleleyo, esigalelwa engubeni yenu. Indlela enabela abanye ngayo, nani niya kwabelwa kwangayo nguThixo.”

₃₉UYesu ke wabenzela umzekeliso, wathi: “Ngaba imfama inokuyikhokela na enye imfama? Aziyi kuthi zombini zeyele emhadini yini na? ₄₀Akukho mfundi mkhulu kunomfundisi wakhe; xa afundiswe ngokupheleleyo, uya kwandula abe njengomfundisi wakhe.

₄₁“Yini na ukuba usibone isibi esiselisweni lowenu, kanti wona umqadi okwelakho iliso akuwuboni? ₄₂Ungáthini na ukuba nako ukuthi kuwenu: ‘Wethu, khawume ndisikhuphe isibi esiselisweni lakho,’ ukanti wena akuwuboni umqadi okwelakho iliso? Mhanahanisindini, qala ukhuphe umqadi lowo ukwelakho iliso! Wobona kakuhle ke, ube nako ukusikhupha isibi esiselisweni lowenu.”

₄₃“Akukho mthi mhle uvelisa iziqhamo ezibi; kananjalo akukho mthi mbi uvelisa iziqhamo ezihle. ₄₄Kaloku umthi wonke waziwa ngeziqhamo zawo. Amakhiwane akakhiwa emngeni; kananjalo iidiliya azivunwa elubobeni. ₄₅Umntu olungileyo uvelisa ukulunga okuphuma entliziyweni yakhe. Ke okhohlakeleyo uvelisa inkohlakalo ephuma entliziyweni yakhe. Kaloku loo nto intliziyo iphuphuma yiyo iphuma ngomlomo.”

₄₆“Yini na ukuba nithi kum: ‘Nkosi, Nkosi!’ kanti noko anikwenzi endikuthethayo? ₄₇Ke wonke umntu ozayo kum, aweve amazwi am awenze, ₄₈ufana nomntu owayesakha indlu, waza wemba ngokunzulu, wenza isiseko samatye. Kwathi ke, kwakubakho isikhukula iimpuphuma zagaleleka kuloo ndlu, zaza azaba nako ukuyishukumisa, kuba yayakhiwe ngokufanelekileyo. ₄₉Kodwa owavileyo amazwi am waza akawenza, yena ufana nomntu owakhe indlu phezu komhlaba, kungekho siseko. Kwathi ke, zakugaleleka kuyo iimpuphuma, yawa kwangoko, yadilika didli!”