Ukuzalwa kukaSamsoni
1Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuye benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova; uJehova wabanikela esandleni samaFilisti iminyaka engamashumi amane.
2Kwakukhona umuntu othile waseSora womndeni wakwaDani ogama lakhe lalinguManowa; umkakhe wayeyinyumba engazali. 3Ingelosi kaJehova yabonakala kowesifazane, yathi kuye: “Bheka-ke, uyinyumba, awuzali, kepha uyakukhulelwa, uzale indodana. 4Ngalokho ake uxwaye ungaphuzi wayini naluphuzo olunamandla, ungadli lutho olungcolileyo, 5ngokuba bheka, uyakukhulelwa, uzale indodana, impuco ayiyikuthinta ekhanda layo, ngokuba umntwana uyakuba ngumNaziri* kaNkulunkulu kwasesizalweni; uyakuqala ukusindisa u-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti.”
6Owesifazane wayeseya ukubika endodeni yakhe, ethi: “Kufikile kimi umuntu kaNkulunkulu, isimo sakhe sasinjengesimo sengelosi kaNkulunkulu, sesabeka kakhulu; angimbuzanga ukuthi uvelaphi, naye akangitshelanga igama lakhe. 7Kepha wathi kimi: ‘Bheka, uyakukhulelwa, uzale indodana; ngakho ungaphuzi wayini naluphuzo olunamandla, ungadli lutho olungcolileyo, ngokuba umntwana uyakuba ngumNaziri* kaNkulunkulu kwasesizalweni kuze kube sosukwini lokufa kwakhe.’ ”
8UManowa wayesemncenga uJehova, wathi: “O Nkosi, umuntu kaNkulunkulu owamthumayo ake abuyele kithi, asifundise ukuthi siyakwenzani kumntwana ozakuzalwa.”
9UNkulunkulu walalela izwi likaManowa; ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yabuyela kowesifazane ehlezi endle; kepha uManowa indoda yakhe wayengenaye. 10Owesifazane washesha, wagijima, wayitshela indoda yakhe, wathi kuyo: “Bheka, ubonakele kimi lowo muntu owafika kimi ngolunye usuku.”
11UManowa wasukuma wamlandela umkakhe, wafika kulowo muntu, wathi kuye: “Wena ungumuntu lowo owakhuluma kowesifazane na?”
Wathi: “Nginguye.”
12Wayesethi uManowa: “Nxa esenzekile amazwi akho, iyakuba yini indlela yomntwana, kuyakwenziwani na?”
13Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuManowa: “Konke engakushoyo kowesifazane makakuxwaye. 14Kangadli lutho oluvela ezithelweni zomvini, kangaphuzi wayini naluphuzo olunamandla, kangadli lutho olungcolileyo; konke engamyaleza ngakho kakugcine.”
15UManowa wayesethi engelosini kaJehova: “Ake sikulibazise, sikulungisele izinyane lembuzi.”
16Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuManowa: “Noma ungilibazisa, angiyikudla ukudla kwakho; uma ulungisa umnikelo wokushiswa, uyakunikela ngawo kuJehova.” Ngokuba uManowa wayengazi ukuthi uyingelosi kaJehova.
17UManowa wathi engelosini kaJehova: “Ngubani igama lakho ukuba, lapho esenzekile amazwi akho, sikudumise?”
18Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuye: “Ubuzelani igama lami, lokhu liyimfihlakalo, na?” 19UManowa walithatha izinyane lembuzi kanye nomnikelo wempuphu, wanikela ngakho kuJehova edwaleni. Yase yenza okumangalisayo, uManowa nomkakhe bebukela. 20Kwathi ilangabi lisaphuma e-altare lenyukela ngasezulwini, ingelosi kaJehova yenyuka elangabini le-altare; uManowa nomkakhe babukela; bawa ngobuso emhlabathini. 21Kepha ingelosi kaJehova ayiphindanga ukubonakala kuManowa nomkakhe. Khona uManowa waqonda ukuthi yingelosi kaJehova.
22UManowa wathi kumkakhe: “Siyakufa nokufa, ngokuba simbonile uNkulunkulu.”
23Kepha umkakhe wathi kuye: “Uma uNkulunkulu ebethanda ukusibulala, nga engamukelanga esandleni sethu umnikelo wokushiswa nomnikelo wempuphu, futhi nga engasibonisanga konke lokho, nga engasitshelanga izinto njengalezi.”
24Owesifazane wazala indodana, waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uSamsoni; umntwana wakhula, uJehova wambusisa. 25UMoya kaJehova waqala ukumqhuba eMahane Dani phakathi kweSora ne-Eshitawoli.
