To The Word – Day 124

₁Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi: ₂“Suka uye eNineve, umuzi omkhulu, umemeze phezu kwalo, ngokuba ububi balo benyukele ebusweni bami.”

₃Kepha uJona wasuka ebusweni bukaJehova ukuba abalekele eTharishishi, wehlela eJopha, wafumana umkhumbi obuyakuya eTharishishi; wakhokha imali yawo, wakhwela kuwo, ukuba ahambe nawo, aye eTharishishi, asuke ebusweni bukaJehova.

₄Kodwa uJehova waphonsa umoya omkhulu elwandle, kwaba yisiphepho esikhulu elwandle; kwacatshangwa ukuthi umkhumbi uyakwaphulwa. ₅Khona amatilosi* esaba, akhala, kwaba yilelo nalelo kunkulunkulu walo, aphonsa elwandle impahla ebisemkhunjini ukuba ube lula kubo. Kepha uJona wayehlele phakathi komkhumbi, wayeselele ubuthongo. ₆Kwase kusondela kuye induna yomkhumbi, yathi: “Unani wena olele ubuthongo na? Vuka, ubize uNkulunkulu wakho; mhlawumbe lo Nkulunkulu uyakusikhumbula ukuba singabhubhi.”

₇Bathi, kwaba yilowo nalowo kumngane wakhe: “Wozani senze inkatho, sazi ukuthi kungenxa kabani lobu bubi buphezu kwethu.” Base benza inkatho; inkatho yamudla uJona.

₈Base bethi kuye: “Ake usitshele ukuthi kungenxa kabani lobu bubi buphezu kwethu. Umsebenzi wakho uyini? Uvelaphi? Liphi izwe lakini, ungowasiphi isizwe na?”

₉Wathi kubo: “NgingumHeberu; ngiyamesaba uJehova, uNkulunkulu wasezulwini, owenzile ulwandle nomhlabathi owomileyo.”

₁₀Base besaba abantu ngokwesaba okukhulu, bathi kuye: “Kuyini lokhu okwenzileyo na?” Ngokuba base bazi ukuthi ubalekile ebusweni bukaJehova, lokhu ebatshelile.

₁₁Base bethi kuye: “Siyakwenze njani kuwe, ukuze ulwandle luthule kithina,” ngokuba ulwandle luyaqhubeka lube nesivunguvungu.

₁₂Wathi kubo: “Ngiphakamiseni, ningiphonse elwandle, bese luthula kini ulwandle, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi lesi siphepho esikhulu siphezu kwenu ngenxa yami.”

₁₃Kepha amadoda agwedla ukuba abuyele emhlabathini, kepha ahluleka, ngokuba ulwandle lwaqhubeka lwaba nesiphepho kuwo. ₁₄Ayesekhala kuJehova, athi: “Siyakuncenga: masingabhubhi ngenxa yalo muntu, ungabeki phezu kwethu igazi elingenacala, ngokuba wena Jehova wenzile njengokuhlosa kwakho.” ₁₅Amphakamisa uJona, amphonsa elwandle; ulwandle lwase lupheza ukufutha. ₁₆Amadoda ayesesaba uJehova ngokwesaba okukhulu; ahlabela uJehova umhlatshelo, enza izithembiso.

₁₇UJehova wamisela inhlanzi enkulu ukuba imgwinye uJona; uJona wayesezibilinini zenhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu.

₁UJona wakhuleka kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe esezibilinini zenhlanzi, ₂wathi:

₁₀UJehova wakhuluma kuyo inhlanzi, yamhlanzela uJona emhlabathini owomileyo.

₁Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJona ngokwesibili, lathi: ₂“Suka uye eNineve, umuzi omkhulu, umemezele kulo isimemezelo esikhulu engasikhuluma kuwe.”

₃Wayesesuka uJona, waya eNineve njengezwi likaJehova. INineve lalingumuzi omkhulu kakhulu, uhambo lwezinsuku ezintathu. ₄UJona waqala ukungena emzini, uhambo losuku lwaba lunye, wamemeza wathi: “Kusezakuba yizinsuku ezingamashumi amane, bese lichithwa iNineve.” ₅Abantu baseNineve bakholwa nguNkulunkulu; bamemezela ukuzila ukudla, bembatha izindwangu zamasaka, kusukela kwabakhulu babo kwaze kwaba kwabancane.

₆Kepha izwi lafinyelela enkosini yaseNineve; yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yakhumula ingubo yayo, yazimboza ngendwangu yamasaka, yahlala phansi emlotheni. ₇Yamemezela, yasho eNineve ngomthetho wenkosi nabakhulu bayo, yathi: “Makungabikho muntu onambitha utho, nasilwane, nankomo, namvu, bangadli, bangaphuzi manzi, ₈kepha bambozwe ngendwangu yamasaka, umuntu nesilwane, kukhalwe kuNkulunkulu ngamandla, yebo, kubuyiswe yilowo nalowo endleleni yakhe embi nasebudloveni obusezandleni zakhe. ₉Ngubani owaziyo uma uNkulunkulu engayikubuya, azisole, abuye ekufutheni kwentukuthelo yakhe, size singabhubhi, na?”

₁₀Lapho uNkulunkulu esebona izenzo zabo ukuthi babuya endleleni yabo embi, uNkulunkulu wazisola ngokubi owayeshilo ukuthi uyakukwenza kubo, akakwenzanga.

₁Kepha lokho kwaba kubi kakhulu kuJona, wathukuthela. ₂Wakhuleka kuJehova, wathi: “Ngiyakuncenga, Jehova; lokho kwakungesilo izwi lami ngisekhona ezweni lakithi na? Ngalokho ngakwandulela ngokubalekela eTharishishi, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi unguNkulunkulu onomusa nobumnene, wephuza ukuthukuthela, unesihe esikhulu, uzisola ngokubi; ₃ngalokho, Jehova, ake ususe kimi ukuphila kwami, ngokuba kungcono kimi ukufa kunokuphila.”

₄Wayesethi uJehova: “Wenza kahle ngokuthukuthela na?”

₅UJona wayesephuma emzini, wahlala ngasempumalanga komuzi, wazenzela idokodo khona, wahlala phansi kwalo emthunzini, ukuze abone ukuthi kuyakwenziwa njani kuwo umuzi. ₆UJehova uNkulunkulu walungisela umhlakuva, wawukhulisa phezu kukaJona ukuba ube ngumthunzi phezu kwekhanda lakhe ukumophula kokubi kwakhe. UJona wathokoza ngomhlakuva ngokuthokoza okukhulu.

₇Kepha sekuzakuvela ukusa ngangomuso uNkulunkulu walungisela impehlwa; yawuphehla umhlakuva, wabuna. ₈Kwathi ekuphumeni kwelanga uNkulunkulu walungisela umoya oshisayo wasempumalanga; ilanga lashaya ekhanda likaJona, waba nesiyezi, wazicelela ukuba afe, wathi: “Kungcono kimi ukufa kunokuphila.”

₉Wayesethi uNkulunkulu kuJona: “Wenza kahle ngokuthukuthela ngenxa yomhlakuva na?”

Wathi: “Ngenza kahle ngokuthukuthela kuze kube sekufeni.”

₁₀Wayesethi uJehova: “Wena wawuhawukela umhlakuva ongawukhandlekelanga nongawukhulisanga, owamila ebusuku bunye, wabhubha ebusuku bunye; ₁₁mina-ke bengingayikulihawukela iNineve, umuzi omkhulu, okukuwo abantu abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili abangakwazi ukwahlukanisa isandla sokunene nesokhohlo, kanye nezinkomo eziningi, na?”

₁Ngomnyaka wesibili kaDariyu inkosi ngenyanga yesithupha ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga lafika izwi likaJehova ngesandla sikaHagayi umprofethi kuZerubabele indodana kaSheyalitiyeli, umbusi wakwaJuda, nakuJoshuwa indodana kaJehosadaki, umpristi omkhulu, ngokuthi:

₂Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: “Laba bantu bathi: ‘Akukabi yisikhathi sokuza, isikhathi sokwakha indlu kaJehova.’ ”

₃Kwase kufika izwi likaJehova ngoHagayi umprofethi, lathi: ₄“Kuyisikhathi sokuba nihlale ezindlini zenu ezembesiweyo, le ndlu iseyize, na?”

₅Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: “Bekani ezinhliziyweni zenu izindlela zenu. ₆Nihlwanyela okuningi, ningenisa okuyingcosana; niyadla, kepha anisuthi; niyaphuza, kepha ananeliswa; niyembatha, kepha akakho ofudumalayo; ozuza imali uyizuzela isikhwama esibhobokileyo.”

₇Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: “Bekani ezinhliziyweni zenu izindlela zenu. ₈Khuphukelani entabeni, nilethe imithi, nakhe indlu; ngiyakuyenamela, ngikhazimuliswe,” usho uJehova. ₉“Nabheka okuningi; bhekani, kwaphenduka okuncane; lapho nakuletha ekhaya, ngakuphephetha. Ngani na?” usho uJehova Sebawoti. “Ngenxa yendlu yami eyize, nina nisagijimela, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe. ₁₀Ngalokho izulu livinjelwe kungabe kusabakho mazolo, nomhlaba uvinjelwe ungabe usaba nazithelo. ₁₁Ngase ngibiza ukoma phezu kwezwe, naphezu kwezintaba, naphezu kwamabele, naphezu kwewayini elisha, naphezu kwamafutha, naphezu kokuvezwa ngumhlaba, naphezu kwabantu, naphezu kwezinkomo, naphezu kwayo yonke imisebenzi yezandla.”

₁₂UZerubabele indodana kaSheyalitiyeli noJoshuwa indodana kaJehosadaki, umpristi omkhulu, nayo yonke insali yabantu balalela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wabo namazwi kaHagayi umprofethi, njengokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo emthumile; abantu besaba phambi kukaJehova.

₁₃Wayesekhuluma uHagayi, isithunywa sikaJehova, ngesimemezelo sikaJehova kubantu, wathi: “Nginani,” usho uJehova. ₁₄UJehova wavuselela umoya kaZerubabele indodana kaSheyalitiyeli, umbusi wakwaJuda, nomoya kaJoshuwa indodana kaJehosadaki, umpristi omkhulu, nomoya wensali yonke yabantu, bafika, benza umsebenzi endlini kaJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu wabo, ₁₅ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nane ngenyanga yesithupha ngomnyaka wesibili kaDariyu inkosi.

₁Ngenyanga yesikhombisa ngolwamashumi amabili nanye lwenyanga izwi likaJehova lafika ngesandla sikaHagayi umprofethi, lathi: ₂“Ake ukhulume kuZerubabele indodana kaSheyalitiyeli, umbusi wakwaJuda, nakuJoshuwa indodana kaJehosadaki, umpristi omkhulu, nakuyo insali yabantu, uthi: ₃‘Ngubani oseleyo phakathi kwenu owayibona le ndlu ekukhazimuleni kwayo kokuqala? Niyayibona injani manje na? Ayinjengento yalutho emehlweni enu na? ₄Kepha qina manje, Zerubabele,’ usho uJehova, ‘ube namandla, Joshuwa, ndodana kaJehosadaki, mpristi omkhulu, niqine nonke nina bantu bezwe,’ usho uJehova, ‘nisebenze ngokuba nginani,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti. ₅‘Isithembiso enganinika sona ekuphumeni kwenu eGibithe noMoya wami kuyakuhlala phakathi kwenu; ningesabi.’

₆“Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: ‘Kusezakuba yisikhashana nje ngizamazamisa amazulu nomhlaba, nolwandle, nomhlabathi owomileyo, ₇ngizamazamise nabo bonke abezizwe, kufike okunxanelekayo kwabo bonke abezizwe, ngiyigcwalise le ndlu ngenkazimulo,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti. ₈‘Ngelami isiliva, ngelami igolide,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti. ₉‘Inkazimulo yokugcina yale ndlu iyakuba nkulu kuneyokuqala,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti, ‘nginike ukuthula kule ndawo,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti.”

₁₀Ngolwamashumi amabili nane lwenyanga yesishiyagalolunye ngomnyaka wesibili kaDariyu izwi likaJehova lafika kuHagayi umprofethi, lathi: ₁₁“Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: ‘Ake ubabuze abapristi ngomthetho, uthi: ₁₂Uma umuntu ephethe inyama engcwele emphethweni wengubo yakhe, ethinta ngomphetho wakhe isinkwa, noma ukudla, noma iwayini, noma amafutha, noma yikuphi ukudla, kuyakuba ngcwele na?’ ”

Abapristi baphendula bathi: “Qha.”

₁₃Wayesethi uHagayi: “Uma ongcolile ngesidumbu ethinta noma yikuphi kulokhu, kuyakungcola na?”

Abapristi baphendula bathi: “Kuyakungcola.”

₁₄Wayesethatha uHagayi, wathi: “ ‘Banjalo laba bantu, sinjalo lesi sizwe ngaphambi kwami,’ usho uJehova; ‘injalo futhi yonke imisebenzi yezandla zabo; nalokhu abakusondeza khona kungcolile.

₁₅“ ‘Ake nibeke ezinhliziyweni zenu manje, kusukela kulolu suku nangaphambili, ukuthi kungakabekwa itshe phezu kwetshe ethempelini likaJehova, ₁₆kusukela kulezo, lapho kwayiwa enqwabeni yezilinganiso ezingamashumi amabili, kwakuyishumi nje, nalapho kwayiwa ezikhamweni zewayini ukukha izitsha ezingamashumi ayisihlanu, kwakungamashumi amabili nje. ₁₇Nganishaya ngokuhamuka, nangesikhutha, nangesichotho kuyo yonke imisebenzi yezandla zenu, kepha nokho anibuyelanga kimi,’ usho uJehova. ₁₈‘Ake nikubeke ezinhliziyweni zenu, kusukela kulolu suku nangaphambili, kwasosukwini lwamashumi amabili nane lwenyanga yesishiyagalolunye, kwasosukwini okwabekwa ngalo isisekelo sethempeli likaJehova, yebo, nikubeke ezinhliziyweni zenu. ₁₉Imbewu isesibuyeni na? Qha, imivini, nemikhiwane, namapomegranati,* neminqumo akuthelanga; kepha kusukela kulolu suku ngiyakukubusisa.’ ”

₂₀Izwi likaJehova lafika ngokwesibili kuHagayi ngolwamashumi amabili nane lwenyanga, lathi: ₂₁“Yisho kuZerubabele umbusi wakwaJuda, uthi: ‘Ngiyakuzamazamisa amazulu nomhlaba, ₂₂ngigumbuqele isihlalo sobukhosi semibuso, ngichithe amandla emibuso yabezizwe, ngigumbuqele izinqola nabakhwela kuzo; namahhashi ayakuwa nezinkweli zawo, kube yileyo naleyo ngenkemba yomfowabo.

₂₃“ ‘Ngalolo suku,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti, ‘ngiyakukuthatha, Zerubabele, nceku yami, ndodana kaSheyalitiyeli,’ usho uJehova, ‘ngikwenze indandatho, ngokuba ngikukhethile,’ usho uJehova Sebawoti.”