Bible Reading Plan – Day 4

₁Kwathi emihleni ka-Amrafeli inkosi yaseShineyari, no-Ariyoki inkosi yase-Elasare, noKedorlawomere inkosi yase-Elamu, noTidali inkosi yezizwe, ₂baphaka impi noBera inkosi yaseSodoma, noBirisha inkosi yaseGomora, noShinabe inkosi yase-Adima, noShemebere inkosi yaseSeboyimi, nenkosi yaseBela eliyiSowari. ₃Bonke laba bahlangana esiGodini saseSidimi esiluLwandle Lukasawoti. ₄Iminyaka eyishumi nambili bamkhonza uKedorlawomere, kepha ngomnyaka weshumi nantathu bahlubuka.

₅Ngomnyaka weshumi nane kweza uKedorlawomere kanye namakhosi anaye, banqoba amaRefa e-Ashiteroti Karinayimi, namaZuzi eHamu, nama-Emi eShave Kiriyatayimi, ₆namaHori entabeni yawo iSeyiri, kwaze kwaba se-Eli Pharanu ngasehlane. ₇Base bebuyela emuva, beza e-Eni Mishipati eliyiKadeshi, bachitha izwe lonke lama-Amaleki nelama-Amori ayehlala eHasasoni Tamari.

₈Yaphuma inkosi yaseSodoma, nenkosi yaseGomora, nenkosi yase-Adima, nenkosi yaseSeboyimi, nenkosi yaseBela eliyiSowari; bahloma, balwa nabo esiGodini saseSidimi. ₉Balwa noKedorlawomere inkosi yase-Elamu, noTidali inkosi yezizwe, no-Amrafeli inkosi yaseShineyari, no-Ariyoki inkosi yase-Elasare; amakhosi amane alwa nayisihlanu. ₁₀IsiGodi saseSidimi sasigcwele imigodi yebitume;* inkosi yaseSodoma neyaseGomora abaleka, awela kuyo; abaseleyo babalekela entabeni. ₁₁Bathatha yonke impahla yaseSodoma neyaseGomora kanye nakho konke ukudla, bamuka. ₁₂Bamthatha uLoti indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrama owayehlala eSodoma kanye nempahla yakhe, bamuka.

₁₃Kepha kweza ophunyukileyo, wamtshela u-Abrama umHeberu, ngokuba wayehlala ngasema-okini* kaMamre umAmori, umfowabo ka-Eshikoli nomfowabo ka-Anere; labo babehlangene no-Abrama. ₁₄Nxa u-Abrama esezwile ukuthi umzalwane wakhe uLoti uthunjiwe, wabutha izinceku zakhe ezifundisiweyo ebezizelwe endlini yakhe, ezingamakhulu amathathu neshumi nesishiyagalombili, wabaxosha kwaze kwaba kwaDani. ₁₅Wazahlukanisa ebusuku izinceku zakhe, wabahlasela, wabanqoba, wabaxosha, waze wafika eHoba elingasenyakatho kwaseDamaseku. ₁₆Wabuyisa yonke impahla, wambuyisa noLoti umzalwane wakhe, nempahla yakhe, nabesifazane, nabantu.

₁₇Emva kokubuya kwakhe ekunqobeni uKedorlawomere namakhosi anaye yaphuma inkosi yaseSodoma, yaya ukumhlangabeza esiGodini saseShave esiyisiGodi seNkosi.

₁₈UMelkisedeki inkosi yaseSalema waletha isinkwa newayini; wayengumpristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke. ₁₉Wambusisa wathi: “U-Abrama makabusiswe nguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, umdali wezulu nomhlaba. ₂₀Makabongwe uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke onike izitha zakho esandleni sakho.” U-Abrama wamnika okweshumi kwakho konke.

₂₁Inkosi yaseSodoma yathi ku-Abrama: “Ngiphe abantu, uzithathele impahla.”

₂₂Kepha u-Abrama wathi enkosini yaseSodoma: “Ngiyaphakamisela isandla sami kuJehova, uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, umdali wezulu nomhlaba, ₂₃ngithi angiyikuthatha umucwana nomchilo wezicathulo nokunye okwakho ukuba ungasho ukuthi: ‘Ngimcebisile u-Abrama.’ ₂₄Kuphela lokho ezikudlile izinceku, nesabelo samadoda ayehamba nami; o-Anere, no-Eshikoli, noMamre mabathathe isabelo sabo.”

₁Emva kwalokho kwafika izwi likaJehova ku-Abrama ngombono, lithi: “Ungesabi, Abrama, ngiyisihlangu sakho; umvuzo wakho uyakuba mkhulu kakhulu.”

₂Kepha u-Abrama wathi: “Nkosi Jehova, uyakungiphani na? Ngihamba ngingenamntwana; indlalifa yendlu yami ingu-Eliyezeri waseDamaseku.” ₃U-Abrama wathi futhi: “Bheka, awunginikanga nzalo; bheka, inceku yendlu yami iyakuba yindlalifa yami.”

₄Bheka, izwi likaJehova leza kuye, lathi: “Lona akayikudla ifa lakho, kepha oyakuphuma ezibilinini zakho uyakudla ifa lakho.” ₅Wamphumisela ngaphandle, wathi: “Bheka ngasezulwini, ubale izinkanyezi, uma ungazibala.” Wathi kuye: “Kuyakuba njalo inzalo yakho.”

₆Wakholwa nguJehova; wambalela lokho kwaba ngukulunga.

₇Wayesethi kuye: “NginguJehova owakuphumisa e-Uri lamaKaledi ukuba ngikunike leli zwe libe yifa lakho.”

₈Wathi: “Nkosi Jehova, ngiyokwazi ngani ukuthi ngiyakulidla na?”

₉Wathi kuye: “Ngithabathele isithokazi esineminyaka emithathu, nembuzi eyinsikazi eneminyaka emithathu, nenqama eneminyaka emithathu, nehobhe, nephuphu lejuba.”

₁₀Wamthathela zonke lezo, wazinquma phakathi, wabeka kwaba yileyo naleyo nxenye ukuba ibhekane nenye; kepha izinyoni akazinqumanga. ₁₁Amanqe ehlela phezu kwezidumbu; u-Abrama wawaxosha.

₁₂Kwathi ngokushona kwelanga ubuthongo obunzima bamehlela u-Abrama; bheka, washaywa luvalo lobumnyama obukhulu. ₁₃Wathi ku-Abrama: “Yazisisa ukuthi inzalo yakho izakuba ngumfokazi ezweni elingesilo elayo, ibe yizigqila, icindezelwe iminyaka engamakhulu amane. ₁₄Kepha leso sizwe eyakuba yizigqila zaso ngiyakusahlulela mina; ngasemuva iyakuphuma inempahla eningi. ₁₅Kepha wena uyakuya koyihlo ngokuthula, umbelwe usumdala. ₁₆Esizukulwaneni sesine iyakubuyela lapha, ngokuba ububi bama-Amori abukapheleli.”

₁₇Kwathi ngokushona kwelanga kwaba mnyama, bheka, nanto iziko elithunqayo, nelangabi lomlilo ladabula phakathi kwalezo zinxenye. ₁₈Ngalolo suku uJehova wasenza isivumelwano no-Abrama, wathi: “Ngiyakunika inzalo yakho leli zwe, kusukela emfuleni waseGibithe kuze kube semfuleni omkhulu, umfula u-Ewufrathe: ₁₉amaKheni, namaKhenizi, namaKadimoni, ₂₀namaHeti, namaPherizi, namaRefa, ₂₁nama-Amori, namaKhanani, namaGirigashi, namaJebusi.”

₁USarayi umka-Abrama wayengamzaleli mntwana; kepha wayenencekukazi yaseGibithe, igama layo linguHagari. ₂USarayi wathi ku-Abrama: “Bheka-ke, uJehova ungivalile ekuzaleni; mawungene kuyo incekukazi yami; mhlawumbe ngizakwakhelwa ngayo.” U-Abrama walalela izwi likaSarayi. ₃USarayi, umka-Abrama, wathatha uHagari waseGibithe, incekukazi yakhe, wamnika u-Abrama indoda yakhe abe ngumkakhe, u-Abrama esehlalile iminyaka eyishumi ezweni laseKhanani.

₄Wangena kuHagari; wakhulelwa. Esebonile ukuthi ukhulelwe, inkosikazi yakhe yadeleleka emehlweni akhe. ₅USarayi wathi ku-Abrama: “Okubi okwenziwe kimi akube phezu kwakho. Mina nganikela incekukazi yami esifubeni sakho; kepha nxa isibonile ukuthi ikhulelwe, ngase ngideleleka emehlweni ayo; uJehova makahlulele icala phakathi kwami nawe.”

₆U-Abrama wathi kuSarayi: “Bheka, incekukazi yakho isesandleni sakho; yenza kuyo okufanele emehlweni akho.” USarayi wayilaya, yabaleka ebusweni bakhe.

₇Ingelosi kaJehova yamfumana ngasemthonjeni wamanzi ehlane, umthombo osendleleni eya eShuri. ₈Yathi: “Hagari, ncekukazi kaSarayi, uvelaphi na? Uyangaphi na?”

Wathi: “Ngibaleka ebusweni bukaSarayi inkosikazi yami.”

₉Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuye: “Buyela kuyo inkosikazi yakho, uzithobise phansi kwesandla sayo.” ₁₀Ingelosi kaJehova yathi futhi kuye: “Ngiyakwandisa kakhulu inzalo yakho, ingabe isabalwa ngobuningi bayo.”

₁₁Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuye: “Bheka, usukhulelwe; uyakuzala indodana, uyiqambe igama lokuthi u-Ishmayeli,* ngokuba uJehova uzwile ukuhlupheka kwakho. ₁₂Uyakuba ngumuntu onjengembongolo engathanjisiwe, isandla sakhe simelane nabo bonke, nesandla sabo bonke simelane naye, ahlale ngasempumalanga kwabafowabo bonke.”

₁₃Wamqamba uJehova owayekhulume kuye igama lokuthi: “Wena unguNkulunkulu Obonayo,” ngokuba wathi: “Imbala ngimbonile ongibonayo na?” ₁₄Ngalokho umthombo wabizwa ngokuthi iBeri Lahayi Royi;* bheka, uphakathi kweKadeshi neBeredi.

₁₅UHagari wamzalela u-Abrama indodana; u-Abrama waqamba igama lendodana yakhe ayizalayo uHagari ngokuthi u-Ishmayeli. ₁₆U-Abrama wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalombili nesithupha mhla uHagari emzalela u-Abrama u-Ishmayeli.

₁U-Abrama eneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye uJehova wabonakala ku-Abrama, wathi kuye: “NginguNkulunkulu uSomandla; hamba phambi kwami ungenacala. ₂Ngiyakwenza isivumelwano sami phakathi kwami nawe, ngikwandise kakhulu.”

₃U-Abrama wayesewa ngobuso bakhe; uNkulunkulu wakhuluma naye, wathi: ₄“Bheka, ngokwami isivumelwano sami sikuwe; uyakuba nguyise wezizwe eziningi. ₅Igama lakho alisayikuthiwa u-Abrama, kepha igama lakho lizakuba ngu-Abrahama, ngokuba ngikwenzile uyise wezizwe eziningi. ₆Ngiyakwandisa kakhulu inzalo yakho, ngikwenze isizwe, kuvele namakhosi kuwe. ₇Ngiyakumisa isivumelwano sami phakathi kwami nawe, nenzalo yakho emva kwakho ezizukulwaneni zayo, sibe yisivumelwano esiphakade, ngibe nguNkulunkulu wakho nowenzalo yakho emva kwakho. ₈Ngiyakunika wena nenzalo yakho emva kwakho izwe ohlala kulo ungumfokazi, izwe lonke laseKhanani, libe yifa laphakade, ngibe nguNkulunkulu wabo.”

₉Wayesethi uNkulunkulu ku-Abrahama: “Wena-ke usuyakusigcina isivumelwano sami kanye nenzalo yakho emva kwakho ezizukulwaneni zayo. ₁₀Yilesi isivumelwano sami phakathi kwami nawe nenzalo yakho emva kwakho eniyakusigcina ukuthi bayakusokwa bonke abesilisa bakini. ₁₁Niyakusoka inyama yejwabu lenu, kube luphawu lwesivumelwano phakathi kwami nani. ₁₂Onezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili phakathi kwenu uyakusokwa, bonke abesilisa ezizukulwaneni zenu, lowo ozelwe endlini nalowo othengwe ngemali kowezizwe, ongesiye owenzalo yakho. ₁₃Makasokwe ozelwe endlini yakho nothengwe ngemali yakho; isivumelwano sami siyakuba senyameni yenu, sibe yisivumelwano esiphakade. ₁₄Owesilisa ongasokiwe, engasokwanga enyameni yejwabu lakhe, lowo muntu uyakunqunywa kubantu bakubo, ngokuba waphulile isivumelwano sami.”

₁₅UNkulunkulu wathi ku-Abrahama: “USarayi umkakho awusayikumbiza ngegama lokuthi uSarayi, kepha igama lakhe alibe nguSara. ₁₆Ngiyakumbusisa, ngikunike indodana ngaye; yebo, ngiyakumbusisa abe yizizwe, kuvele kuye amakhosi abantu.”

₁₇U-Abrahama wayesewa ngobuso bakhe, wahleka, wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Oneminyaka eyikhulu uyakuzalelwa na? USara oneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye uyakuzala na?” ₁₈Wathi u-Abrahama kuNkulunkulu: “Sengathi u-Ishmayeli angaphila phambi kwakho.”

₁₉UNkulunkulu wathi: “Qha, uSara umkakho uyakukuzalela indodana; uyakubiza igama layo ngokuthi u-Isaka; ngiyakusimisa isivumelwano sami naye, sibe yisivumelwano esiphakade nenzalo yakhe emva kwakhe. ₂₀Ngo-Ishmayeli lo ngikuzwile; bheka, ngiyakumbusisa, ngimuphe inzalo, ngimandise kakhulu impela, azale izikhulu eziyishumi nambili, ngimenze isizwe esikhulu. ₂₁Kepha ngiyakumisa isivumelwano sami no-Isaka azakukuzalela yena uSara ngalesi sikhathi ngomnyaka ozayo.” ₂₂UNkulunkulu wayeseqeda ukukhuluma naye, wenyuka emshiya u-Abrahama.

₂₃U-Abrahama wathatha u-Ishmayeli indodana yakhe, nabo bonke ababezelwe endlini yakhe, nabo bonke ababethengwe ngemali yakhe, bonke abesilisa phakathi kwabantu bendlu ka-Abrahama, wasoka inyama yejwabu labo ngalona lolo suku, njengalokho uNkulunkulu emtshelile. ₂₄U-Abrahama wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye mhla esokwa enyameni yejwabu lakhe. ₂₅U-Ishmayeli indodana yakhe wayeneminyaka eyishumi nantathu mhla esokwa enyameni yejwabu lakhe. ₂₆U-Abrahama nendodana yakhe u-Ishmayeli basokwa ngalusuku lunye. ₂₇Onke amadoda emzini wakhe ayezelwe endlini nayethengwe ngemali kowezizwe asokwa kanye naye.