To The Word – Day 100

₁Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nane wenkosi uHezekiya, uSaneheribi, inkosi yase-Asiriya, wenyuka wahlasela yonke imizi ebiyelweyo yakwaJuda, wayithatha. ₂Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathuma uRabi Shake, asuke eLakishi, aye eJerusalema enkosini uHezekiya, enempi enkulu, wema ngasemseleni wechibi lasenhla, elingasendleleni yeNsimu Yomhlanzi. ₃Kwase kuphumela kuye u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, noJowa indodana ka-Asafa, umabhalana.

₄Wathi kubo uRabi Shake: “Ake nisho kuHezekiya, nithi: ‘Isho kanje inkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ithi: Yithemba lini leli olethembayo na? ₅Wena uyakhuluma, kepha kungamazwi angawomlomo nje lana ngesu nangamandla okulwa. Pho, wethemba bani, lokhu ungihlubukile na? ₆Bheka, wethemba udondolo lwalo mhlanga ofecekileyo oyiGibithe; kepha uma umuntu ezimelela ngalo, luyangena esandleni sakhe, lusihlabe; unjalo uFaro inkosi yaseGibithe kubo bonke abamethembayo. ₇Kepha uma nithi kimi: “Siyamethemba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,” akusiye yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakemeyo nama-altare akhe akususile uHezekiya, wathi kuJuda nakulo iJerusalema: “Niyakukhuleka phambi kwaleli altare,” na?

₈“ ‘Ngalokho ake uvumelane nenkosi yami, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ngiyakukunika amahhashi ayizinkulungwane ezimbili, uma ungabeka izinkweli kuzo. ₉Pho, ungaphindisela emuva kanjani nenduna eyodwa ezincekwini ezincane zenkosi yami na? Nokho wethemba iGibithe ukuthola khona izinqola nabamahhashi. ₁₀Manje ngenyukele yini ngaphandle kukaJehova kuleli zwe ukuba ngilichithe, na? UJehova wathi kimi: “Yenyukela kulelo zwe, ulichithe.” ’ ”

₁₁Base bethi o-Eliyakimi noShebina noJowa kuRabi Shake: “Ake ukhulume ezincekwini zakho ngesi-Aramu, ngokuba siyaluzwa, ungakhulumi kithi ngolimi lwabaJuda ezindlebeni zabantu abasogangeni.”

₁₂Kepha uRabi Shake wathi: “Inkosi yami ingithumile yini enkosini yakho nakuwena ukukhuluma lawamazwi na? Hhayi kulaba bantu yini abahlezi ogangeni ukuba badle amasimba abo, baphuze umshobingo wabo kanye nani, na?”

₁₃Wayesema uRabi Shake, wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu ngolimi lwabaJuda, wathi: “Zwanini amazwi enkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya. ₁₄Isho kanje inkosi, ithi: Maningakhohliswa nguHezekiya, ngokuba akayikuba namandla okunophula; ₁₅futhi uHezekiya makanganenzi nethembe uJehova ngokuthi: ‘UJehova uyakusophula nokusophula, nalo muzi awuyikunikelwa esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya.’

₁₆“Ningamlaleli uHezekiya, ngokuba inkosi yase-Asiriya isho kanje, ithi: Yenzani ukuthula nami, niphumele kimi, nidle, kube yilowo nalowo emvinini wakhe, kube yilowo nalowo emkhiwaneni wakhe, niphuze, kube yilowo nalowo amanzi omthombo wakhe, ₁₇ngize ngifike, nginiyise ezweni elinjengezwe lakini, izwe lamabele nelewayini, izwe lesinkwa nelezivini.

₁₈“Xwayani ukuba uHezekiya anganiyengi ngokuthi: ‘UJehova uyakusophula.’ Abanye onkulunkulu bezizwe bake bophula nokophula yini izwe lakubo esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya na? ₁₉Baphi onkulunkulu baseHamati nase-Aripadi; baphi onkulunkulu baseSefarivayimi na? Balophulile iSamariya esandleni sami na? ₂₀Ngobani phakathi kwabo bonke onkulunkulu balawa mazwe abophule izwe lakubo esandleni sami ukuba uJehova alophule iJerusalema esandleni sami na?”

₂₁Kepha bathula, abamphendulanga ngazwi, ngokuba umyalo wenkosi wathi: “Ningamphenduli.”

₂₂Base befika u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, noJowa indodana ka-Asafa, umabhalana, kuHezekiya, izingubo zabo ziklebhukile, bamlandisa amazwi kaRabi Shake.

₁Kwathi inkosi uHezekiya ikuzwile lokho, yaklebhula izingubo zayo, yazembesa indwangu yamasaka, yangena endlini kaJehova. ₂Yathuma u-Eliyakimi owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, namalunga abapristi, bembeswe izindwangu zamasaka, ku-Isaya umprofethi, indodana ka-Amose. ₃Bathi kuye: “Usho kanje uHezekiya, uthi: Lolu suku lungusuku losizi nolokusolwa nolokudelelwa, ngokuba abantwana sebefikile ekuzalweni, kepha amandla okubeletha awakho. ₄Mhlawumbe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uyakuzwa amazwi kaRabi Shake othunywe yinkosi yase-Asiriya, inkosi yakhe, ukweyisa uNkulunkulu ophilayo, asole amazwi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho awezwileyo; ngalokho phakamisela insali esafunyanwayo umkhuleko wakho.”

₅Izinceku zenkosi uHezekiya sezifikile ku-Isaya, ₆u-Isaya wathi kuzo: “Niyakusho kanje enkosini yenu, nithi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Ungesabi lawo mazwi owezwileyo, izinceku zenkosi yase-Asiriya ezingithuke ngawo. ₇Bhekani, ngiyakubeka umoya kuyo, izwe amahemuhemu, ibuyele ezweni lakubo, ngiyiwise ngenkemba ezweni lakubo.’ ”

₈Wayesebuya uRabi Shake, wafumana inkosi yase-Asiriya ilwa neLibina, ngokuba wayezwile ukuthi isukile eLakishi.

₉Kepha isizwile ngoTirahaka, inkosi yaseKushe, ukuthi: “Uphumile ukulwa nawe,” lapho ikuzwa lokho, yathuma izithunywa kuHezekiya, yathi: ₁₀“Niyakukhuluma kanje kuHezekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, nithi: UNkulunkulu wakho omethembayo makangakukhohlisi ngokuthi iJerusalema aliyikunikelwa esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya. ₁₁Bheka, wena uzwile okwenziwa ngamakhosi ase-Asiriya kuwo onke amazwe ngokuwachitha; pho, wena uyakophulwa na? ₁₂Onkulunkulu balezo zizwe ezachithwa ngobaba, iGozani, neHarana, neResefi, nabantwana base-Edene ababeseThelasari bazophula na? ₁₃Iphi inkosi yaseHamati, nenkosi yase-Aripadi, nenkosi yomuzi waseSefarivayimi, naseHena, nase-Iva na?”

₁₄UHezekiya wayamukela incwadi esandleni sezithunywa, wayifunda; uHezekiya wayesenyukela endlini kaJehova, wayeneka phambi kukaJehova. ₁₅UHezekiya wakhuleka phambi kukaJehova, wathi: ₁₆“Jehova Sebawoti, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ohlezi phezu kwamakherubi,* wena unguNkulunkulu, wena wedwa, wemibuso yonke yomhlaba, wena wenzile izulu nomhlaba. ₁₇Beka indlebe yakho, Jehova, uzwe; vula amehlo akho, Jehova, ubone, uzwe onke amazwi kaSaneheribi athume ukweyisa ngawo uNkulunkulu ophilayo.

₁₈“Yiqiniso, Jehova; amakhosi ase-Asiriya achithile izizwe zonke namazwe azo, ₁₉alahlile onkulunkulu bawo emlilweni, ngokuba babengesibo onkulunkulu, babe ngumsebenzi wezandla zomuntu kuphela, umuthi namatshe; ngalokho abachithile. ₂₀Manje, Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe ukuba yonke imibuso yomhlaba yazi ukuthi wena unguJehova, wena wedwa.”

₂₁U-Isaya indodana ka-Amose wathumela kuHezekiya, wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Njengalokhu ukhuleke kimi ngoSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya, ₂₂nanti izwi uJehova alikhulume ngaye ukuthi:

₃₀“Lokhu kuyakuba yisibonakaliso kuwe:

₃₃“Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova ngenkosi yase-Asiriya, uthi:

₃₆Kwaphuma ingelosi kaJehova, yabulala ekamu* labase-Asiriya abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisishiyagalombili nanhlanu; sekuvukwa ngakusasa, bheka, kwakuyizidumbu ezifileyo zodwa. ₃₇Wayesesuka uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya, wahamba, wabuya, wahlala eNineve.

₃₈Kwathi ekhuleka endlini kaNisiroki unkulunkulu wakhe, o-Adirameleki noSareseri amadodana akhe bambulala ngenkemba, babalekela ezweni lase-Ararati. U-Esari Hadoni indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁Ngalezo zinsuku uHezekiya wagula, wayephansi kokufa. Kwafika kuye u-Isaya umprofethi, indodana ka-Amose, wathi kuye: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Yalela indlu yakho, ngokuba uyakufa, awuyikusinda.”

₂UHezekiya wayesephendulela ubuso bakhe odongeni, wakhuleka kuJehova, ₃wathi: “Ngiyacela, Jehova: ake ukhumbule ukuthi ngihambile phambi kwakho ngeqiniso nangenhliziyo epheleleyo, ngenzile okuhle emehlweni akho.” Wayesekhala uHezekiya ngokukhala okukhulu.

₄Lafika ku-Isaya izwi likaJehova, lathi: ₅“Hamba, uthi kuHezekiya: ‘Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu kaDavide uyihlo, uthi: Ngizwile umkhuleko wakho, ngibonile izinyembezi zakho; ngiyakwenezela ezinsukwini zakho iminyaka eyishumi nanhlanu. ₆Ngiyakophula wena nalo muzi esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya, ngiwuvikele lo muzi.

₇“ ‘Lesi siyakuba yisibonakaliso kuwe esivela kuJehova sokuthi uJehova uyakukwenza lokho akukhulumileyo: ₈bheka, isithunzi sezinyathelo ilanga elizehlile ezinyathelweni zelanga zika-Ahazi ngiyakusibuyisa izinyathelo eziyishumi.’ ” Ilanga labuya-ke izinyathelo eziyishumi ezinyathelweni elizehlileyo.

₉Ihubo likaHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda lapho wayekade egula, wasinda ekuguleni kwakhe:

₂₁U-Isaya wathi: “Mabathathe isigaxa samakhiwane, basibeke ethumbeni, uyakusinda.”

₂₂Kepha uHezekiya wathi: “Yisibonakaliso sini sokuba ngiyakwenyukela endlini kaJehova na?”

₁Ngaleso sikhathi uMerodaki Baladani indodana kaBaladani inkosi yaseBabele wathuma abanezincwadi nesipho kuHezekiya, lapho ezwile ukuthi kade egula, kepha usesimamile. ₂UHezekiya wathokoza ngabo, wababonisa indlu yengcebo yakhe, isiliva, negolide, namakha, namafutha amahle, nayo yonke indlu yezikhali zakhe, nakho konke okwafunyanwa engcebeni yakhe; akubangakho nto endlini yakhe nasembusweni wakhe wonke uHezekiya angababonisanga yona.

₃Wayesefika u-Isaya, umprofethi, enkosini uHezekiya, wathi kuye: “Batheni labo bantu; beze kuwe bevelaphi na?”

Wathi uHezekiya: “Bavela ezweni elikude, iBabele, beze kimi.”

₄Wayesethi: “Baboneni endlini yakho na?”

UHezekiya wathi: “Babone konke okusendlini yami; akukho nto phakathi kwengcebo yami engingababonisanga yona.”

₅U-Isaya wathi kuHezekiya: “Yizwa izwi likaJehova Sebawoti. ₆Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza, lapho konke okusendlini yakho nalokho oyihlo abakubekelele khona kuze kube namuhla kuyakuyiswa eBabele; akuyikusala lutho, usho uJehova. ₇Nasemadodaneni akho ayakuphuma kuwe, oyakuwazala, bayakuwathatha abe yizinceku endlini yobukhosi yenkosi yaseBabele.”

₈Wayesethi uHezekiya ku-Isaya: “Lihle izwi likaJehova olikhulumileyo.” Wathi futhi: “Ngokuba kuyakuba khona ukuthula nokulondeka emihleni yami.”

₁Kwathi esehlile entabeni, zamlandela izixuku eziningi. ₂Bheka, kwafika onochoko, wakhuleka kuye, wathi: “Nkosi, uma uthanda, ungangihlambulula.”

₃Wayeselula isandla, wamphatha, wathi: “Ngiyathanda; hlambuluka.” Wayesehlambuluka masinyane ochokweni lwakhe. ₄UJesu wayesethi kuye: “Bheka, ungatsheli muntu, kepha hamba uzibonakalise kumpristi, uyise umnikelo owayalelwa nguMose, kube ngubufakazi kubo.”

₅Kwathi esangena eKapernawume, kweza kuye induna yekhulu, yamncenga yathi: ₆“Nkosi, umfana wami ulele endlini, ufe uhlangothi, ukhwelwe kakhulu ngubuhlungu.”

₇Wathi kuyo: “Mina ngizakuza ngimphulukise.”

₈Induna yekhulu yaphendula yathi: “Nkosi, angifanele ukuba ungene phansi kophahla lwami, kepha yisho izwi nje, khona umfana wami uyakusinda. ₉Ngokuba nami ngingumuntu ophansi kwamakhosi, nginamabutho phansi kwami; ngithi kwelinye: ‘Hamba,’ lihambe; ngithi kwelinye: ‘Woza,’ lize; nasencekwini yami: ‘Yenza lokhu,’ ikwenze.”

₁₀UJesu ekuzwa lokho wamangala, wathi kwabamlandelayo: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Angizange ngifumane kwa-Israyeli ukukholwa okungaka kumuntu. ₁₁Kepha ngithi kini: Abaningi bayakuza bevela empumalanga nasentshonalanga, bahlale ekudleni no-Abrahama no-Isaka noJakobe embusweni wezulu, ₁₂kodwa abantwana bombuso bayakukhishelwa ebumnyameni obungaphandle; lapho kuyakuba khona ukukhala nokugedla amazinyo.”

₁₃UJesu wayesethi enduneni yekhulu: “Hamba, makube kuwe njengokukholwa kwakho.” Umfana wasinda ngaso leso sikhathi.

₁₄UJesu wayesengena endlini kaPetru, wabona umkhwekazi wakhe elele phansi enomkhuhlane. ₁₅Waphatha isandla sakhe, umkhuhlane wamyeka; wavuka, wamkhonza.

₁₆Kwathi sekuhlwile, baletha kuye abaningi abakhwelwe ngamademoni, wakhipha omoya ngezwi, waphulukisa bonke abagulayo, ₁₇ukuze kugcwaliseke okwakhulunywa ngo-Isaya umprofethi ukuthi:

₁₈Kwathi uJesu ebona isixuku simhaqile, wayala ukuba kuwelelwe ngaphesheya. ₁₉Kwase kufika umbhali, wathi kuye: “Mfundisi, ngizakukulandela, noma uya ngaphi.”

₂₀UJesu wayesethi kuye: “Izimpungushe zinemigodi, nezinyoni zezulu zinezidleke, kepha iNdodana yomuntu kayinandawo, lapho ingacamelisa khona ikhanda.”

₂₁Kodwa omunye wabafundi bakhe wathi kuye: “Nkosi, ngivumele ngiye kuqala ukuyakummbela ubaba.”

₂₂Kepha uJesu wathi kuye: “Ngilandele; yeka abafileyo bembele abafileyo babo.”

₂₃Wayesengena emkhunjini; abafundi bakhe bamlandela. ₂₄Bheka, kwavuka isiphepho esikhulu elwandle, umkhumbi waze wagujuzelwa ngamaza; kepha yena wayelele. ₂₅Basondela, bamvusa, bathi: “Nkosi, sisindise, safa.”

₂₆Wayesethi kubo: “Nesabelani nina bokukholwa okuncane na?” Khona wavuka wakhuza umoya nolwandle, kwaba khona ukuthula okukhulu.

₂₇Kepha abantu bamangala, bathi: “Unjani lo ukuba nomoya nolwandle kumlalele na?”

₂₈Kwathi esefikile ngaphesheya ezweni lamaGadara, kwahlangana naye ababili abakhwelwe ngamademoni, bephuma emathuneni, beyizidlova ezinkulu ngangokuba kwakungedlule muntu ngaleyo ndlela. ₂₉Bheka, bamemeza bathi: “Sinamsebenzi muni nawe Ndodana kaNkulunkulu? Uze lapha ukusizwisa ubuhlungu, kungakabi yiso isikhathi, na?”

₃₀Manje kwakukhona kude nabo umhlambi wezingulube eziningi ziklabile. ₃₁Amademoni amncenga athi: “Uma usikhipha, sithume ukuba singene emhlambini wezingulube.”

₃₂Wathi kuwo: “Hambani.” Ayesephuma, angena ezingulubeni; bheka, umhlambi wonke wagulukudela eweni, waphonseka elwandle, wafela emanzini. ₃₃Kodwa ababezalusa babaleka, baya emzini, babika konke, nalokho okwehlele abakhwelwe ngamademoni. ₃₄Bheka, umuzi wonke waphuma ukuyomhlangabeza uJesu; bathe bembona, bamncenga ukuba amuke emikhawulweni yelakubo.

₁Wayesengena emkhunjini, wawela, weza emzini wakubo. ₂Bheka, baletha kuye umuntu ofe uhlangothi elele ohlakeni. UJesu ebona ukukholwa kwabo wathi kofe uhlangothi: “Yima isibindi, ndodana; uthethelelwe izono zakho.”

₃Bheka, abathile kubabhali bathi phakathi kwabo: “Lo uyahlambalaza.”

₄UJesu ezazi izizindlo zabo wathi: “Nizindlelani okubi ezinhliziyweni zenu na? ₅Ngokuba yikuphi okulula ukuthi: ‘Uthethelelwe izono zakho,’ noma ukuthi: ‘Vuka uhambe,’ na? ₆Kepha ukuze nazi ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu inamandla emhlabeni okuthethelela izono –” khona wathi kofe uhlangothi: “Vuka, uthabathe uhlaka lwakho, uye endlini yakho.” ₇Wavuka, waya endlini yakhe. ₈Kepha izixuku zikubona zethuka, zamdumisa uNkulunkulu onikile abantu amandla anjalo.

₉Esadlula lapho uJesu wabona umuntu othiwa uMathewu ehlezi endaweni yokuthela, wathi kuye: “Ngilandele.” Wasuka-ke, wamlandela.

₁₀Kwathi ehlezi ekudleni endlini, bheka, kwafika abaningi abathelisi nezoni, bahlala badla noJesu nabafundi bakhe. ₁₁AbaFarisi bekubona lokho bathi kubafundi bakhe: “Yini ukuba umfundisi wenu adle nabathelisi nezoni na?”

₁₂Ekuzwa lokhu wathi: “Abaphilileyo abadingi inyanga, ngabagulayo bodwa. ₁₃Kepha hambani nifunde ukuba kuthini ukuthi: ‘Ngifuna isihawu, hhayi umhlatshelo.’ Ngokuba angizanga ukubiza abalungileyo kepha izoni ukuba ziphenduke.”

₁₄Khona kwase kufika kuye abafundi bakaJohane, bathi: “Yini ukuba thina nabaFarisi sizila ukudla; kepha abafundi bakho abazili ngani na?”

₁₅UJesu wathi kubo: “Abayeni bangalila yini, umyeni enabo na? Kodwa kuzakufika izinsuku, lapho umyeni ezakususwa kubo; yikhona-ke bezakuzila. ₁₆Akakho obekela isiziba sendwangu engakashukeki engutsheni endala, ngokuba lokhu okubekelwa kuyo kuyaklebhula engutsheni, kwande ukuklebhuka. ₁₇Akuthelwa futhi iwayini elisha ezimvabeni ezindala, funa izimvaba ziqhume, newayini lichitheke, nezimvaba zonakale. Kodwa iwayini elisha balithela ezimvabeni ezintsha, kulondeke kokubili.”

₁₈Esakhuluma lokhu kubo, bheka, kwafika umphathi othile, wakhuleka kuye, wathi: “Indodakazi yami ifa khona manje; kepha woza, ubeke isandla sakho phezu kwayo, izakuphila.” ₁₉Wasuka-ke uJesu, wamlandela kanye nabafundi bakhe.

₂₀Bheka, owesifazane owayenomopho iminyaka eyishumi nambili weza emva kwakhe, wathinta umphetho wengubo yakhe. ₂₁Ngokuba wayethi phakathi kwakhe: “Uma ngingathinta nje ingubo yakhe, ngizakusindiswa.”

₂₂UJesu ephenduka wambona, wathi: “Yima isibindi, ndodakazi; ukukholwa kwakho kukusindisile.” Wasinda owesifazane, kusukela kuleso sikhathi.

₂₃UJesu esefikile endlini yomphathi, ebona khona ababethi bemitshingo nesixuku esixokozelayo, ₂₄wathi kubo: “Dedani, ngokuba intombazana ayifile, kodwa ilele.” Bamhleka usulu. ₂₅Isixuku sesikhishiwe, wangena, wayibamba ngesandla; yavuka intombazana. ₂₆Udumo lwalokho lwezwakala ezweni lonke langakhona.

₂₇Esadlula lapho uJesu, izimpumputhe ezimbili zamlandela, zamemeza zathi: “Sihawukele, ndodana kaDavide!”

₂₈Esengenile endlini, izimpumputhe zeza kuye. UJesu wathi kuzo: “Niyakholwa yini ukuthi ngingakwenza lokhu na?” Zathi kuye: “Yebo, Nkosi.”

₂₉Khona wathinta amehlo azo, wathi: “Makwenzeke kini njengokukholwa kwenu.” ₃₀Ayesevuleka amehlo azo. UJesu waziyalisisa, wathi: “Qaphelani ukuba kungaziwa muntu.” ₃₁Kepha zaphuma, zamdumisa kulo lonke lelo zwe.

₃₂Ekuphumeni kwazo, bheka, kwalethwa kuye isimungulu esinedemoni. ₃₃Idemoni selikhishiwe, isimungulu sakhuluma. Izixuku zamangala, zathi: “Akuzange kubonwe okunje kwa-Israyeli.”

₃₄Kepha abaFarisi bathi: “Ukhipha amademoni ngenkosi yamademoni.”

₃₅UJesu wayihamba imizi yonke nemizana efundisa emasinagogeni* abo, eshumayela ivangeli lombuso, ephulukisa izifo zonke nokugula konke. ₃₆Kepha ebona izixuku wabanesihe ngazo, ngokuba zazikhathazekile, zihlakazekile njengezimvu ezingenamalusi. ₃₇Wayesethi kubafundi bakhe: “Ukuvuna kukhulu, kodwa izisebenzi ziyingcosana. ₃₈Ngakho-ke nxusani eNkosini yokuvuna ukuba ithume izisebenzi, ziye ekuvuneni kwayo.”