To The Word – Day 183

₁Kwathi ngawona lowo mnyaka ekuqaleni kokubusa kukaSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda ngomnyaka wesine, ngenyanga yesihlanu, uHananiya indodana ka-Azuri, umprofethi waseGibeyoni, wakhuluma kimi endlini kaJehova phambi kwabapristi nabantu bonke, wathi: ₂“Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Ngilaphulile ijoka lenkosi yaseBabele. ₃Ingakapheli iminyaka emibili ngiyakubuyisela kule ndawo zonke izitsha zendlu kaJehova azithatha kule ndawo uNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, waziyisa eBabele, ₄ngibuyisele kule ndawo futhi uJekoniya indodana kaJehoyakimi, inkosi yakwaJuda, nabo bonke abathunjwa bakwaJuda abaya eBabele,’ usho uJehova, ‘ngokuba ngiyakulaphula ijoka lenkosi yaseBabele.’ ”

₅Kepha umprofethi uJeremiya wathi kumprofethi uHananiya phambi kwabapristi, nabantu bonke ababemi endaweni kaJehova, ₆yebo, umprofethi uJeremiya wathi: “Amen, makenze njalo uJehova, awaqinise amazwi akho owaprofethayo, kubuyiswe izitsha zendlu kaJehova nabo bonke abathunjwa eBabele, kulethwe kule ndawo. ₇Kepha mawuzwe leli zwi engilikhuluma ezindlebeni zakho nasezindlebeni zabantu bonke ngokuthi: ₈Abaprofethi ababengaphambi kwami nangaphambi kwakho kusukela endulo baprofetha ngamazwe amaningi nangemibuso eminingi, ngezimpi, nangokubi, nangesifo. ₉Umprofethi oprofetha ngokuthula uyakwaziwa, lapho seligcwalisiwe izwi lomprofethi, uma engumprofethi uJehova amthumileyo impela.”

₁₀Umprofethi uHananiya wayeselisusa ijoka entanyeni yomprofethi uJeremiya, walaphula. ₁₁UHananiya wayesesho phambi kwabo bonke abantu, wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Kanjalo ngiyakulaphula ijoka likaNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele ingakapheli iminyaka emibili entanyeni yezizwe zonke.’ ” Kepha umprofethi uJeremiya wahamba indlela yakhe.

₁₂Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya, uHananiya umprofethi eselaphulile ijoka entanyeni yomprofethi uJeremiya, lithi: ₁₃“Hamba usho kuHananiya, uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Uwaphulile amajoka omuthi, kepha uyakwenza amajoka ensimbi esikhundleni sawo. ₁₄Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Ngibeke ijoka lensimbi entanyeni yazo zonke lezi zizwe ukuba zimkhonze uNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele; yebo, ziyakumkhonza; futhi ngimnike nezilwane zasendle.’ ”

₁₅Wayesethi umprofethi uJeremiya kuHananiya umprofethi: “Mawuzwe, Hananiya; uJehova kakuthumanga, kepha wena wenza laba bantu ukuba bethembe amanga. ₁₆Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Bheka, ngiyakukuxosha ebusweni bomhlaba, ufe nonyaka, ngokuba ukhulume ukuhlubuka kuJehova.’ ”

₁₇Wafa-ke uHananiya umprofethi ngawona lowo mnyaka ngenyanga yesikhombisa.

₁Nanka amazwi encwadi uJeremiya, umprofethi, ayithumayo eseJerusalema kuyo insali yamalunga athunjiweyo, nakubapristi, nakubaprofethi, nakubo bonke abantu ayebathumbile uNebukadinesari eJerusalema, wabayisa eBabele, ₂sebesukile uJekoniya inkosi, nendlovukazi, nabathenwa, nezikhulu zakwaJuda nezaseJerusalema, nezinyanga zomsebenzi, nabakhandi eJerusalema, ₃ngesandla sika-Eleyasa indodana kaShafani noGemariya indodana kaHilikiya abathunywa nguSedekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, eBabele kuNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele, athi:

₄Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kubo bonke abathunjwa engibenzile ukuba bathunjwe eJerusalema, bayiswe eBabele, uthi: ₅“Yakhani izindlu, nihlale kuzo; tshalani amasimu, nidle izithelo zawo; ₆thathani abafazi, nizale amadodana namadodakazi; thathelani amadodana enu abafazi, nendise amadodakazi enu emadodeni ukuba azale amadodana namadodakazi, nande khona, ninganciphi. ₇Funani ukuthula komuzi lapho nginithumbele khona, niwukhulekele kuJehova, ngokuba ekuthuleni kwawo niyakuba nokuthula.” ₈Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: “Maningakhohliswa ngabaprofethi abaphakathi kwenu nababhuli benu, ningawalaleli amaphupho enu eniwaphuphayo. ₉Ngokuba baprofetha amanga egameni lami; angibathumanga,” usho uJehova.

₁₀Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova, uthi: “Lapho iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa isiphelile eBabele, ngiyakunihambela, ngiqinise phezu kwenu izwi lami elihle ngokunibuyisela kule ndawo. ₁₁Ngokuba ngiyazi mina imicabango engiyicabanga ngani,” usho uJehova, “imicabango yokuthula kungengeyobubi ukuba ngininike isikhathi esizayo nethemba. ₁₂Niyakungibiza, niye ukukhuleka kimi, ngiyakunizwa. ₁₃Niyakungifuna, ningifumane, lapho ningifunisisa ngenhliziyo yenu yonke. ₁₄Ngiyakufunyanwa yinina,” usho uJehova, “ngibuyise ukuthunjwa kwenu, nginibuthe ezizweni zonke nasezindaweni zonke lapho nginixoshele khona,” usho uJehova, “nginibuyisele endaweni enganenza ukuba nithunjwe kuyo.”

₁₅Ngokuba nishilo ukuthi: “UJehova usivusele abaprofethi eBabele.” ₁₆Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova ngenkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaDavide nangabo bonke abantu abahlala kulo muzi, abafowenu abangayanga nani ekuthunjweni, ₁₇yebo, usho uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: “Bhekani, ngiyakuthuma kubo inkemba, nendlala, nesifo, ngibenze babe njengamakhiwane amabi angenakudliwa ngobubi bawo. ₁₈Ngiyakubalandela ngenkemba, nangendlala, nangesifo, ngibenze babe yingebhe emibusweni yonke yomhlaba, babe yisiqalekiso, nesimangaliso, nento encimfelwayo, nehlazo ezizweni zonke engibaxoshele kuzo, ₁₉ngokuba abawalalelanga amazwi ami,” usho uJehova, “engawathuma kubo ngezinceku zami abaprofethi, ngibathuma njalonjalo; yebo, kanilalelanga,” usho uJehova.

₂₀Kepha yizwani manje izwi likaJehova nina nonke bathunjwa, enginithumile eBabele niphuma eJerusalema. ₂₁Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngo-Ahabi indodana kaKholaya nangoSedekiya indodana kaMahaseya abaprofetha amanga kini egameni lami, uthi: “Bheka, ngiyakubanikela esandleni sikaNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele; uyakubabulala phambi kwamehlo enu. ₂₂Kubona kuyakuthathwa isiqalekiso yibo bonke abathunjwa bakwaJuda abaseBabele ngokuthi: ‘UJehova makakwenze ukuba ube njengoSedekiya no-Ahabi abosiwa ngomlilo yinkosi yaseBabele,’ ₂₃ngokuba benzile ubuwula kwa-Israyeli, baphinga nabafazi babakhelwane babo, bakhuluma amazwi amanga egameni lami engingabayalanga ngawo; yimi engikwaziyo, ngingufakazi,” usho uJehova.

₂₄KuShemaya waseNehelamu uyakusho ukuthi: ₂₅“Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Ngenxa yokuba uthumile egameni lakho izincwadi kubo bonke abantu baseJerusalema, nakuZefaniya indodana kaMahaseya, umpristi, nakubo bonke abapristi, ngokuthi: ₂₆‘UJehova ukubeke umpristi esikhundleni sikaJehoyada umpristi ukuba nibe yizinduna zabo bonke abantu abahlanyayo nabaprofethayo endlini kaJehova ukuze ubafake esitokisini* nasemaketangeni; ₂₇manje awumsolanga ngani uJeremiya wase-Anathoti, oprofetha kini na? ₂₈Ngokuba ngalokho uthumile kithi eBabele, wathi: Kuse kude; yakhani izindlu, nihlale kuzo; tshalani amasimu, nidle izithelo zawo.’ ”

₂₉UZefaniya umpristi wayifunda le ncwadi ezindlebeni zikaJeremiya umprofethi. ₃₀Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya, lithi: ₃₁“Thuma kubo bonke abathunjwa, uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova ngoShemaya waseNehelamu, uthi: Ngenxa yokuba uShemaya eprofethile kini, mina ngingamthumile, wanenza ukuba nethembe emangeni, ₃₂ngalokho usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bhekani, ngiyakumhambela uShemaya waseNehelamu nenzalo yakhe; akayikuba namuntu oyakuhlala phakathi kwalaba bantu, angaboni okuhle engiyakwenzela khona abantu bami, usho uJehova, ngokuba ukhulume ukuhlubuka kuJehova.’ ”

₁Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova, lathi: ₂“Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Loba encwadini onke amazwi engiwakhulume kuwe. ₃Ngokuba bheka, izinsuku ziyeza,’ usho uJehova, ‘lapho ngiyakubuyisa ukuthunjwa kwabantu bami o-Israyeli noJuda,’ usho uJehova, ‘ngibabuyisele ezweni engalinika oyise ukuba balidle.’ ”

₄Nanka amazwi uJehova awakhulumayo ngo-Israyeli nangoJuda. ₅“Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova, uthi:

₁“Ngaleso sikhathi,” usho uJehova, “ngiyakuba nguNkulunkulu wemindeni yonke yakwa-Israyeli, yona ibe ngabantu bami.”

₇Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova, uthi:

₁₅Usho kanje uJehova, uthi:

₁₆Usho kanje uJehova, uthi:

₂₃Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: “Bayakubuye basho leli zwi ezweni lakwaJuda nasemizini yalo, lapho ngibuyisa ukuthunjwa kwabo, lokuthi: ‘UJehova makakubuyise wena khaya lokulunga, ntaba yobungcwele.’ ₂₄UJuda nayo yonke imizi yakhe bayakuhlala kulo ndawonye, abalimi nabahamba nemihlambi. ₂₅Ngokuba nganelisile imiphefumulo eyethileyo, ngigcwalisile yonke imiphefumulo enosizi.”

₂₆Kulokhu ngase ngivuka, ngabheka; ubuthongo bami babumnandi kimi.

₂₇“Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza,” usho uJehova, “lapho ngiyakuhlwanyela indlu ka-Israyeli nendlu kaJuda ngembewu yabantu nangembewu yezinkomo. ₂₈Kuyakuthi njengalokhu ngibalindile ukuba ngibasiphule, ngibadilize, ngibabhidlize, ngibachithe, ngibahluphe, kanjalo ngiyakubalinda ukuba ngibakhe, ngibatshale,” usho uJehova. ₂₉“Ngalezo zinsuku abasayikusho ukuthi:

₃₁“Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza,” usho uJehova, “lapho ngiyakwenza isivumelwano esisha nendlu ka-Israyeli nendlu kaJuda, ₃₂kungenjengesivumelwano engasenzayo nawoyise mhla ngibabamba ngesandla ukubakhipha ezweni laseGibithe, isivumelwano sami abasaphula noma ngangiyinkosi yabo,” usho uJehova. ₃₃“Kepha yilesi esiyisivumelwano engizakusenza nendlu ka-Israyeli emva kwalezo zinsuku,” usho uJehova: “ngiyakufaka umthetho wami ezibilinini zabo, ngiwulobe ezinhliziyweni zabo, ngibe nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona babe ngabantu bami; ₃₄abasayikufundisana, kube yilowo nalowo umakhelwane wakhe, kube yilowo nalowo umfowabo, ngokuthi: ‘Yazi uJehova,’ ngokuba bonke bayakungazi, kusukela kwabancane kuya kwabakhulu babo,” usho uJehova, “ngokuba ngiyakuthethelela ububi babo, nesono sabo angisayikusikhumbula.”

₃₇Usho kanje uJehova, uthi:

₃₈“Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza,” usho uJehova, “lapho uJehova eyakwakhelwa umuzi, kusukela embhoshongweni kaHananeli kuze kube seSangweni Lasegumbini. ₃₉Umucu wokulinganisa usezakuphuma, ufinyeleliswe uze uqondane negquma laseGarebi, ujike uze ufike eGowa. ₄₀Sonke isigodi sezidumbu, nesomlotha, nawo onke amasimu kuze kube semfudlaneni iKidroni, kuze kufike egumbini leSango Lehhashi ngasempumalanga kuyakuba ngcwele kuJehova, kungabe kusasishulwa, kubhidlizwe kuze kube phakade.”

₁Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova ngomnyaka weshumi kaSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda, owawungumnyaka weshumi nesishiyagalombili kaNebukadinesari. ₂Ngaleso sikhathi impi yenkosi yaseBabele yalivimbezela iJerusalema; uJeremiya umprofethi wayevalelwe egcekeni letilongo elalisendlini yenkosi yakwaJuda, ₃lapho uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda ebemvalele khona ngokuthi: “Uprofethelani uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakuwunikela lo muzi esandleni senkosi yaseBabele, iwuthathe, ₄uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda angaphunyuki esandleni samaKaledi, kepha anikelwe nokunikelwa esandleni senkosi yaseBabele, akhulume nayo umlomo nomlomo, amehlo akhe awabone amehlo ayo, ₅yona imyise uSedekiya eBabele, abe khona lapho ngize ngimhambele, usho uJehova; noma nilwa namaKaledi, aniyikuphumelela na?’ ”

₆UJeremiya wathi: “Izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: ₇Bheka, uHanameli indodana kaShalumi uyihlokazi uyakufika kuwe, athi: ‘Zithengele insimu yami ese-Anathoti, ngokuba ilungelo lokuyihlenga lingelakho ukuba uyithenge.’

₈“Wayesefika kimi uHanameli indodana kababekazi egcekeni letilongo njengezwi likaJehova, wathi kimi: ‘Ake uyithenge insimu yami ese-Anathoti elisezweni lakwaBenjamini, ngokuba ilungelo lefa lingelakho, nokuhlenga kungokwakho; zithengele lona.’

“Ngase ngazi ukuthi leli zwi lavela kuJehova. ₉Ngayithenga insimu ese-Anathoti kuHanameli indodana kababekazi, ngamlinganisela imali, amashekeli* ayishumi nesikhombisa esiliva. ₁₀Ngaloba incwadi, ngayinamathelisa, ngazifakazisela, ngamlinganisela imali ngesilinganiso. ₁₁Ngayithatha incwadi yokuthenga, enamathelisiweyo enemithetho nezimiso, nevulekileyo, ₁₂nganikela incwadi yokuthenga kuBaruki indodana kaNeriya kaMahaseya ngaphambi kukaHanameli indodana kababekazi naphambi kofakazi ababelobe incwadi yokuthenga naphambi kwabo bonke abaJuda ababehlala egcekeni letilongo.

₁₃“Ngamyala uBaruki phambi kwabo, ngathi: ₁₄‘Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Thatha lezi zincwadi, le ncwadi yokuthenga enamathelisiweyo nale ncwadi evulekileyo, uzifake ezitsheni zebumba ukuba zihlale izinsuku eziningi. ₁₅Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Kuyakubuye kuthengwe izindlu namasimu nezivini kuleli zwe.’

₁₆“Sengiyinike uBaruki indodana kaNeriya incwadi yokuthenga ngakhuleka kuJehova, ngathi:

₁₇“E, Nkosi Jehova, bheka, wena wenzile izulu nomhlaba ngamandla akho amakhulu nangengalo yakho eyeluliweyo; akukho lutho olukwahlulayo ₁₈wena owenza umusa kubo abayizinkulungwane, ophindisela ububi bawoyise esifubeni sabantwana babo emva kwabo, ogama lakho linguNkulunkulu omkhulu oyiqhawe, uJehova Sebawoti, ₁₉omkhulu emaswini, onamandla ezenzweni, omehlo akho avulekele zonke izindlela zabantu ukuba unike, kube yilowo nalowo njengezindlela zakhe nanjengezithelo zemisebenzi yakhe; ₂₀owamisa izibonakaliso nezimangaliso ezweni laseGibithe kuze kube namuhla nakwa-Israyeli naphakathi kwabanye abantu, wazenzela igama njenganamuhla, ₂₁wabakhipha abantu bakho u-Israyeli ezweni laseGibithe ngezibonakaliso nangezimangaliso, nangesandla esinamandla, nangengalo eyeluliweyo, nangengebhe enkulu, ₂₂wabanika leli zwe, njengalokho afunga koyise ukubanika lona, izwe elichichima ubisi nezinyosi; ₂₃bangena balidla, kepha kabalilalelanga izwi lakho, abahambanga emthethweni wakho, abenzanga lutho lwakho konke owabayala ngakho ukuba bakwenze; ngalokho ubehlisele konke lokhu okubi.

₂₄“Bheka, amaduli asefike emzini ukuba umuzi uthathwe; ngenxa yenkemba nendlala nesifo umuzi unikelwe esandleni samaKaledi alwa nawo; kwenzekile owakukhulumayo; bheka, usuyakubona. ₂₅Wena Nkosi Jehova, noma umuzi unikelwe esandleni samaKaledi, washo kimi, wathi: ‘Zithengele insimu ngemali, uzifakazisele.’ ”

₂₆Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya, lithi: ₂₇“Bheka, nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenyama yonke, kukhona okungahlulayo na? ₂₈Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakuwunikela lo muzi esandleni samaKaledi nasesandleni sikaNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, awuthathe. ₂₉AmaKaledi alwa nalo muzi ayakufika, awuthungele lo muzi ngomlilo, awushise kanye nalezo zindlu abashisele uBali impepho phezu kwezimpahla zazo, bathululela abanye onkulunkulu iminikelo yokuphuzwa ukuba bangicunule.

₃₀“Ngokuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli nabantwana bakwaJuda benzile okubi kuphela emehlweni ami kwasebuntwaneni babo, ngokuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bangicunulile kuphela ngemisebenzi yezandla zabo, usho uJehova. ₃₁Ngokuba lo muzi uvuse intukuthelo yami nokufutheka kwami, kusukela osukwini abawakha ngalo kuze kube namuhla, ukuba ngiwususe ebusweni bami, ₃₂ngenxa yakho konke okubi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli nabantwana bakwaJuda abakwenzileyo ukuba bangicunule, bona namakhosi abo, nezikhulu zabo, nabapristi babo, nabaprofethi babo, namadoda akwaJuda, nabakhileyo eJerusalema. ₃₃Bangifulathele, abangibhekanga; noma ngabafundisa ngibaxwayisa njalonjalo, abalalelanga ukuba bamukele ukulaywa. ₃₄Kepha bazibeka izinengiso zabo endlini ebizwa ngegama lami ukuba bayingcolise. ₃₅Bazakha izindawo eziphakemeyo zikaBali ezisesigodini sendodana kaHinomu ukuba badabulise amadodana abo namadodakazi abo emlilweni kuMoloki, engingabayalanga ngakho, nokungangenanga enhliziyweni ukuthi bayakusenza lesi sinengiso ukuze bamonise uJuda.

₃₆“Ngalokho manje usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ngalo muzi enithi ngawo: ‘Unikelwe esandleni senkosi yaseBabele ngenkemba, nangendlala, nangesifo,’ uthi: ₃₇Bheka, ngiyakubabutha emazweni onke lapho ngibaxoshele khona ngentukuthelo yami, nangokufutheka kwami, nangolaka olukhulu, ngibabuyisele kule ndawo, ngibenze ukuba bahlale belondekile, ₃₈babe ngabantu bami, mina ngibe nguNkulunkulu wabo, ₃₉ngibanike inhliziyonye nendlelanye ukuba bangesabe zonke izinsuku, kube kuhle kubo nakubantwana babo emva kwabo. ₄₀Ngiyakwenza nabo isivumelwano esiphakade, ukuze ngingabuyi ekubalandeleni, ngibenzele okuhle, ngibeke ezinhliziyweni zabo ukungesaba, ukuze bangasuki kimi. ₄₁Ngiyakuthokoza ngabo, ngibenzele okuhle, ngibatshale ngeqiniso kuleli zwe ngayo yonke inhliziyo yami nangawo wonke umphefumulo wami.

₄₂“Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Njengalokhu ngehlisele phezu kwalaba bantu konke lokhu okubi, kanjalo ngiyakubehlisela konke okuhle engikukhulume kubo. ₄₃Amasimu ayakuthengwa kuleli zwe enisho ngalo ukuthi liyincithakalo, lapho kungekho muntu nazilwane khona, nokuthi linikelwe esandleni samaKaledi. ₄₄Amasimu ayakuthengwa ngemali, kulotshwe encwadini, kunamatheliswe, kufakazelwe ngofakazi ezweni lakwaBenjamini, nasemaphethelweni aseJerusalema, nasemizini yakwaJuda, nasemizini yasezintabeni, nasemizini yasehlanzeni, nasemizini yaseningizimu, ngokuba ngiyakukubuyisa ukuthunjwa kwabo, usho uJehova.”