Bible Reading Plan – Day 242

₁UNebukadinesari, inkosi, wenza isithombe segolide, ubude baso buyizingalo ezingamashumi ayisithupha, ububanzi baso buyizingalo eziyisithupha, wasibeka ethafeni laseDura esifundeni saseBabele. ₂UNebukadinesari inkosi wayesethumela ukubutha izikhulu, nababusi, nezinduna, nabahluleli, nabaphathizikhwama, nabomkhandlu, nabameli, nabo bonke abaphathizifunda ukuba beze ekwahlukaniselweni kwesithombe uNebukadinesari inkosi asimisileyo. ₃Khona izikhulu, nababusi, nezinduna, nabahluleli, nabaphathizikhwama, nabomkhandlu, nabameli, nabo bonke abaphathizifunda babuthelwa ukwahlukaniselwa kwesithombe uNebukadinesari inkosi abesimisile, bema phambi kwesithombe uNebukadinesari asimisileyo.

₄Kwase kumemeza ummemezeli ngamandla, wathi: “We nina bantu nezizwe, nezilimi, niyayalwa ₅ukuba ngesikhathi enizwa ngaso ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, niwe phansi, nikhuleke esithombeni segolide uNebukadinesari inkosi asimisileyo. ₆Ongawi phansi, akhuleke, uyakuphonswa ngasona leso sikhathi phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo.”

₇Ngalokho lapho abantu bezwa ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi bawa phansi, bakhuleka esithombeni segolide asimisileyo uNebukadinesari inkosi.

₈Ngalokho kwasondela ngaleso sikhathi amadoda amaKaledi, ahleba abaJuda. ₉Athatha athi kuNebukadinesari inkosi: “Mana njalo, nkosi. ₁₀Wena nkosi ukhiphe isimemezelo sokuba bonke abantu abezwa ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa bawe phansi, bakhuleke esithombeni segolide, ₁₁nokuba ongawi phansi, akhuleke, aphonswe phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo. ₁₂Kukhona amadoda abaJuda owabeke phezu kwezindaba zesifunda saseBabele, oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego; lawa madoda, nkosi, awakunakanga; awakhonzi onkulunkulu bakho, awakhuleki esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.”

₁₃Khona uNebukadinesari wayaleza ngolaka nangokufutheka ukuba kulethwe oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego. Base beletha lawo madoda phambi kwenkosi. ₁₄UNebukadinesari wathatha wathi kuwo: “Kungamabomu yini, Shadiraki, Meshaki, no-Abedi Nego ningakhonzi unkulunkulu wami, ningakhuleki esithombeni segolide engisimisileyo, na? ₁₅Manje uma nilungele ukuba ngesikhathi enizwa ngaso ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, niwe phansi, nikhuleke esithombeni engisenzileyo, kuhle; kepha uma ningakhuleki, niyakuphonswa ngasona leso sikhathi phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo; ngumuphi lowo nkulunkulu oyakunikhulula ezandleni zami na?”

₁₆OShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego baphendula, bathi enkosini: “Nebukadinesari, thina asidingi ukukuphendula kule ndaba. ₁₇Uma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo unamandla okusikhulula esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo; yebo, uyakusikhulula esandleni sakho, nkosi. ₁₈Kepha noma kungenjalo, makwazeke kuwe nkosi ukuthi asiyikukhonza onkulunkulu bakho, ngeke sakhuleka esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.”

₁₉Khona uNebukadinesari wagcwala ukufutheka, nesimo sobuso bakhe saguquka ngenxa yoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego; wakhuluma wayaleza ukuba isithando somlilo sishiswe kasikhombisa ngaphezu kwalokho okuke kwabonwa sishiswa ngakho. ₂₀Wayeseyaleza amadoda anamandla asempini yakhe ukuba abophe oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego, abaphonse esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo. ₂₁Aboshwa-ke lawa madoda egqoke amayembe, namabhulukwe, nezigqoko, nezinye izingubo, aphonswa phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo. ₂₂Ngalokho ngokuba isiyalezelo senkosi sasicindezele, nesithando somlilo sasishisa kakhulu, ilangabi lomlilo lawabulala lawo madoda abakhuphula oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego. ₂₃Kepha lawa madoda amathathu, oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego, awela phansi eboshiwe phakathi nesithando somlilo ovuthayo.

₂₄Khona uNebukadinesari inkosi wethuka, wasuka wakhuluma, wathi kwabomkhandlu wakhe: “Angithi siphonse amadoda amathathu eboshiwe phakathi komlilo na?”

Baphendula, bathi enkosini: “Uqinisile, nkosi.”

₂₅Yaphendula yathi: “Bhekani, ngibona amadoda amane akhululekileyo ehamba phakathi komlilo, awachithwanga; ukubonakala kweyesine kunjengendodana yawonkulunkulu.”

₂₆Wayesesondela uNebukadinesari emnyango wesithando somlilo ovuthayo; wakhuluma wathi: “Shadiraki, Meshaki, no-Abedi Nego, nina zinceku zikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, phumani nize lapha.” Base bephuma oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego phakathi komlilo. ₂₇Izikhulu, nababusi, nezinduna, nabomkhandlu wenkosi babuthana, babona lawo madoda ukuthi umlilo awubanga namandla emizimbeni yawo, kungahamukanga lunwele olulodwa emakhanda awo, engaguqukanga amayembe awo, lingasondelanga kuwo nephunga lomlilo.

₂₈UNebukadinesari wakhuluma wathi: “Makabongwe uNkulunkulu wawoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego, othumile ingelosi yakhe, wakhulula izinceku zakhe ebezimethemba, zaze zaguqula izwi lenkosi, zanikela imizimba yazo ukuba zingakhonzi, zingakhuleki kunkulunkulu noyedwa, uNkulunkulu wabo kuphela. ₂₉Ngalokho ngikhipha isimemezelo sokuba bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi ezikhuluma okungafanele ngoNkulunkulu wawoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego ziyakuhlahlelwa, izindlu zazo zenziwe iquba, ngokuba akakho omunye unkulunkulu ongophula ngale ndlela.”

₃₀Inkosi yabaphakamisa oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego esifundeni saseBabele.

₁UNebukadinesari inkosi kubo bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi ezakhe emhlabeni wonke: ukuthula makuvame kinina.

₂Bekukuhle kimi ukwazisa izibonakaliso nezimangaliso uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke azenzile kimi.

₄Mina Nebukadinesari ngangihlezi ngokuthula, ngatamasa endlini yami yobukhosi. ₅Ngase ngibona iphupho, langethusa; imicabango embhedeni wami nemibono yekhanda lami yangesabisa. ₆Ngalokho ngakhipha isimemezelo sokuba kulethwe bonke abahlakaniphileyo baseBabele phambi kwami, ukuze bangazise incazelo yephupho. ₇Zase zifika izanusi, nabathwebulayo, namaKaledi, nabahlola imihlola, ngabatshela iphupho, kepha abangazisanga incazelo yalo. ₈Kodwa ngasekugcineni kwangena uDaniyeli phambi kwami ogama lakhe linguBeliteshasari njengegama likankulunkulu wami, okuye umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele; ngamtshela iphupho, ngathi:

₉“Beliteshasari, wena nduna yezanusi, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe nokuthi awukhathazwa mfihlakalo, ngitshele imibono yephupho lami engilibonileyo nencazo yalo. ₁₀Yayinje imibono yekhanda lami ngisembhedeni wami: ngabona, bheka, nanko umuthi phakathi nomhlaba, nokuphakama kwawo kwakukukhulu. ₁₁Umuthi wakhula, waqina, ubude bawo bafinyelela ezulwini nokubonakala kwawo kwaze kwaba sekugcineni komhlaba. ₁₂Amaqabunga awo ayemahle, nezithelo zawo zaziziningi, kukhona kuwo ukudla kubo bonke; izilwane zasendle zazinomthunzi phansi kwawo, izinyoni zezulu zazihlala emagatsheni awo, nenyama yonke yondliwa kuwo.

₁₃“Ngabona emibonweni yekhanda lami ngisembhedeni wami, bheka, nango umlindi ongcwele ehla ezulwini. ₁₄Wamemeza ngamandla, washo kanje, wathi: ‘Gawula umuthi, unqume amagatsha awo, uvuthulule amaqabunga awo, uhlakaze izithelo zawo; izilwane mazisuke phansi kwawo, nezinyoni emagatsheni awo. ₁₅Nokho shiya isiqu sezimpande zawo emhlabathini, sinesibopho sensimbi nesethusi, ohlazeni lwasendle, simanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, isabelo saso sibe nezilwane zasetshanini bomhlaba; ₁₆inhliziyo yakhe iyakuguqulwa ingabi ngeyomuntu, aphiwe inhliziyo yesilwane, kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakhe.

₁₇“ ‘Kunqunyiwe ngesimemezelo sabalindi nangesiyalezo sezwi labangcwele ukuba abaphilayo bazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo, amise phezu kwayo ophansi phakathi kwabantu.’

₁₈“Leli phupho ngalibona mina Nebukadinesari; wena Beliteshasari, yisho incazelo, njengokuba bonke abahlakaniphileyo bombuso wami bengazi ukungazisa incazelo; kepha wena ungakwenza, ngokuba umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe.”

₁₉Khona uDaniyeli ogama lakhe lalinguBeliteshasari wamangala isikhashana, imicabango yakhe yamesabisa. Inkosi yathatha yathi: “Beliteshasari, iphupho nencazo makungakwesabisi.”

UBeliteshasari waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, iphupho malibe kwabakuzondayo, nencazo yalo kuzo izitha zakho. ₂₀Umuthi owawubonayo, owakhula, waqina, obude bawo bafinyelela ezulwini nokubonakala kwawo kwaze kwaba sekugcineni komhlaba; ₂₁omaqabunga awo ayemahle, nezithelo zawo zaziziningi, kukhona ukudla kuwo kubo bonke; ozilwane zasendle zahlala phansi kwawo, nezinyoni zezulu zakha emagatsheni awo: ₂₂nguwe nkosi okhulile waqina, ngokuba ubukhulu bakho bukhulile bufinyelele ezulwini nokubusa kwakho kuze kube sekugcineni komhlaba.

₂₃“Njengalokho inkosi yabona umlindi ongcwele ehla ezulwini, ethi: ‘Gawula umuthi, uwuchithe, kepha shiya isiqu sezimpande zawo emhlabathini, sinesibopho sensimbi nesethusi, ohlazeni lwasendle, simanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, isabelo saso sibe nezilwane zasendle, kuze kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwaso,’ ₂₄nansi incazelo, nkosi: kuyisimemezelo soPhezukonke esiyehlele inkosi yami, inkosi, ₂₅sokuthi uyakuxoshwa kubantu, inhlalo yakho ibe nezilwane zasendle, udliswe utshani njengezinkabi, umanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakho, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo. ₂₆Njengalokho bayaleza ukuba kushiywe isiqu sezimpande zomuthi, umbuso wakho uyakuqina kuwe, lapho usufundile ukuthi izulu liyabusa. ₂₇Ngalokho, nkosi, masamukeleke kuwe isiluleko sami, unqamule izono zakho ngokulunga, nobubi bakho ngokuba nomusa kwabampofu; mhlawumbe kungelulwa ukuthula kwakho.”

₂₈Konke lokho kwamehlela uNebukadinesari. ₂₉Ngasekugcineni kwezinyanga eziyishumi nambili wayehamba endlini yamakhosi eBabele. ₃₀Inkosi yathatha yathi: “Angithi yileli Babele elikhulu engilakhile libe yindlu yobukhosi ngezikhwepha zamandla ami, libe ludumo lobukhosi bami, na?”

₃₁Izwi lisesemlonyeni wenkosi, kwehla ezulwini izwi, lithi: “We nkosi Nebukadinesari, kukhulunyiwe kuwe ukuthi: Umbuso usukile kuwe; ₃₂uyakuxoshwa kubantu, inhlalo yakho ibe nezilwane zasendle, udliswe utshani njengezinkabi, kudlule phezu kwakho izikhathi eziyisikhombisa, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo.”

₃₃Ngasona leso sikhathi le nto yagcwaliseka phezu kukaNebukadinesari: waxoshwa kubantu, wadliswa utshani njengezinkabi, umzimba wakhe wamanziswa ngamazolo ezulu, zaze zakhula izinwele zakhe njengezimpaphe zezinkozi nezinzipho zakhe njengamazipho ezinyoni.

₃₄Ngasekugcineni kwezinsuku mina Nebukadinesari ngaphakamisa amehlo ami ezulwini, nomqondo wami wabuyela kimi, ngambonga oPhezukonke, ngamdumisa, ngamtusa yena ohlezi phakade.

₃₆Ngasona leso sikhathi wabuyela kimi umqondo wami, nobukhosi bami nokucwebezela kwami kwabuyela kimi, kwaba ludumo lombuso wami; abomkhandlu bami nezinduna zami bangifuna; ngase ngibekwa embusweni wami, ngenezelwa ubukhulu obudluleleyo. ₃₇Kalokhu-ke mina Nebukadinesari ngiyatusa, ngiyaphakamisa, ngiyidumisa iNkosi yezulu, ngokuba yonke imisebenzi yayo iyiqiniso, nezindlela zayo zingukwahlulela; abahamba ngokuzidla inamandla okubathobisa.