To The Word – Day 196

₁Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nanye ngenyanga yesithathu ngolokuqala lwenyanga lafika kimi izwi likaJehova, lathi: ₂“Ndodana yomuntu, thana kuFaro inkosi yaseGibithe nasesixukwini sakhe:

₁₀“ ‘Ngalokho isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Ngenxa yokuba uphakeme ngobude, wabeka isihloko sawo phakathi kwamafu, nenhliziyo yakhukhumala ngokuphakama kwawo, ₁₁ngiyakuwunikela esandleni sonamandla wezizwe uyakwenza nokwenza kuye njengobubi bawo ngiwuxoshe. ₁₂Abafokazi, abesabekayo bezizwe, bawunqumile, bawushiya. Amagatsha awo awele ezintabeni nasezigodini, nezingatsha zawo zaphukile kuyo yonke imifudlana yezwe, nabo bonke abantu behlile emthunzini wawo, bawushiya. ₁₃Encithakalweni yawo kuyakuhlala zonke izinyoni zezulu, zonke izilwane zasendle zibe semagatsheni awo ₁₄ukuba kungabikho muthi ngasemanzini okhukhumala ngokuphakama kwawo, ungabeki isihloko sawo emafwini, yebo, nenamandla ingemi ngokuziphakamisa, yonke ephuze amanzi; ngokuba yonke inikelwe ekufeni kokuphansi komhlaba phakathi kwabantwana babantu, kwabehlelayo egodini.

₁₅“ ‘Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Ngosuku owehlela ngalo endaweni yabafileyo ngalwenza utwa ukuba lulile, ngalusibekela, ngavimba imifula yalo, namanzi amaningi avalelwa; ngalenza iLebanoni libe mnyama ngenxa yawo; imithi yonke yasendle yadangala ngenxa yawo. ₁₆Ngomdumo wokuwa kwawo ngathuthumelisa izizwe, lapho ngiwehlisela endaweni yabafileyo kanye nabehlela egodini; yonke imithi yase-Edene ekhethekileyo nemihle yaseLebanoni, yonke ephuze amanzi, yaduduzwa kokuphansi komhlaba. ₁₇Nayo yehlela kanye nawo endaweni yabafileyo kwabagwaziweyo ngenkemba, ababe yingalo yawo, ababehlela emthunzini wawo phakathi kwezizwe.

₁₈“ ‘Pho, ufana nobani ngodumo nangobukhulu phakathi kwemithi yase-Edene na? Nokho uyakwehliselwa kokuphansi komhlaba kanye nemithi yase-Edene, ulale phakathi kwabangasokile nabagwazwe ngenkemba. Lo unguFaro nesixuku sakhe sonke, isho iNkosi uJehova.’ ”

₁Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nambili, ngenyanga yeshumi nambili, ngolokuqala lwenyanga lafika kimi izwi likaJehova, lathi: ₂“Ndodana yomuntu, yenza isililiselo ngoFaro inkosi yaseGibithe, uthi kuye:

₃“ ‘Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi:

₁₁“ ‘Ngokuba isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi:

₁₆“Lokhu kuyisililo abayakulila ngaso; amadodakazi ezizwe ayakulilisela ngaso, alilele iGibithe nesixuku salo ngaso, isho iNkosi uJehova.”

₁₇Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nambili, ngolweshumi nanhlanu lwenyanga, izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: ₁₈“Ndodana yomuntu, khalela isixuku saseGibithe, usehlisele ezindaweni eziphansi komhlaba, sona namadodakazi ezizwe ezidumileyo, kanye nabehlela egodini. ₁₉Udlula bani ngobuhle na? Yehla, ulaliswe phakathi kwabangasokile. ₂₀Bayakuwa phakathi kwabagwazwe ngenkemba; linikelwe enkembeni; lihuduleni nazo zonke izixuku zalo. ₂₁Abanamandla bamaqhawe bayakukhuluma ngalo nangabasizi balo, bephakathi kwendawo yabafileyo, bathi: ‘Sebehlile, sebelele abangasokile, bebulewe ngenkemba.’

₂₂“Lapho kukhona i-Asiriya neviyo lalo lonke, amathuna alo engakulo nxazonke, bonke bebulewe bewe ngenkemba, ₂₃amathuna alo engaphakathi kwegodi, iviyo lalo lizungeza ithuna nxazonke, bonke balo bebulewe bewe ngenkemba, labo ababebanga ukuba besatshwe ezweni labaphilayo.

₂₄“Lapho kukhona i-Elamu nesixuku sonke salo nxazonke zethuna, bebulewe bonke bewe ngenkemba, abehlele ezindaweni eziphansi komhlaba bengasokile, ababebanga ukuba besatshwe ezweni labaphilayo; sebethwala amahloni abo kanye nabehlela egodini. ₂₅Phakathi kwabagwaziweyo balibekele umbhede kanye naso sonke isixuku salo, amathuna aso engakulo nxazonke, bonke balo bengabangasokile, bebulewe ngenkemba, ngokuba kwabangwa ukuba besatshwe ezweni labaphilayo; sebethwala amahloni abo kanye nabehlela egodini; yebo, libekiwe phakathi kwababuleweyo.

₂₆“Lapho kukhona oMesheke noThubali naso sonke isixuku sabo, amathuna abo engakubo nxazonke, bonke babo bengabangasokile, bebulewe ngenkemba, ngokuba babebanga ukuba besatshwe ezweni labaphilayo. ₂₇Laba babangasokile abawileyo abayikulala namaqhawe ehlela endaweni yabafileyo enezikhali zawo zokulwa, abekwa izinkemba zawo phansi kwamakhanda, nezihlangu zawo ziphezu kwamathambo awo, ngokuba besabisa amaqhawe ezweni labaphilayo.

₂₈“Nawe uyakwaphulwa phakathi kwabangasokile, ulale nababulewe ngenkemba.

₂₉“Lapho kukhona u-Edomi, amakhosi akhe nazo zonke izikhulu zakhe, abathe nakuba bebe nobuqhawe babekwa nababulewe ngenkemba; bayakulala nabangasokile nabehlela egodini.

₃₀“Lapho kukhona izikhulu zasenyakatho, zonke zazo, nabo bonke abaseSidoni, abehlile nabagwaziweyo; nakuba bebesatshwa ngenxa yobuqhawe babo, sebejabhile, balele bengasokile nababulewe ngenkemba, bethwala amahloni kanye nabehlela egodini.

₃₁“UFaro uyakubabona, aduduzeke ngaso sonke isixuku sakhe; ubulewe ngenkemba uFaro nayo yonke impi yakhe, isho iNkosi uJehova. ₃₂Ngenza ukuba esatshwe ezweni labaphilayo, kepha useyakulaliswa uFaro naso sonke isixuku sakhe phakathi kwabangasokile nababulewe ngenkemba, isho iNkosi uJehova.”

₁Izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: ₂“Ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kubantwana babantu bakho, uthi kubo: ‘Lapho ngehlisela phezu kwezwe inkemba, abantu bezwe bese bethatha umuntu phakathi kwabo, bambeke umlindi wabo, ₃nalapho yena esebona inkemba yehla phezu kwezwe, abethe icilongo, axwayise abantu, ₄okuzwayo ukukhala kwecilongo angaxwayi kodwa, bese yehla inkemba, imsuse, igazi lakhe liyakuba sekhanda lakhe. ₅Ukukhala kwecilongo wakuzwa, kepha akaxwayanga; igazi lakhe liyakuba kuye; uma exwayile, nga ezophulile. ₆Kepha uma umlindi ebona inkemba yehla, angabethi icilongo, abantu bangaxwayi, bese yehla inkemba, isuse umuntu kubo, uyasuswa ngenxa yobubi bakhe kepha igazi lakhe ngiyakulibiza esandleni somlindi.’

₇“Wena-ke, ndodana yomuntu, ngikubeke umlindi kuyo indlu yakwa-Israyeli; yizwa izwi lomlomo wami, ubaxwayise, kuvela kimi. ₈Lapho ngithi komubi: ‘Muntu omubi, uyakufa nokufa,’ bese wungakhulumi ukuba uxwayise omubi ashiye indlela yakhe, lowo muntu omubi uyakufa ngenxa yobubi bakhe, kepha igazi lakhe ngiyakulibiza esandleni sakho. ₉Kepha uma umxwayisa omubi ukuba ashiye indlela yakhe, abuye kuyo, angabuyi kodwa endleleni yakhe, uyakufa ngenxa yobubi bakhe, kepha wena uzikhululile.

₁₀“Wena ndodana yomuntu, yisho kuyo indlu yakwa-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Nisho kanje, nithi: “Impela iziphambeko zethu nezono zethu ziphezu kwethu, siyonda ngenxa yazo; pho, siyakuphila kanjani na?” ’ ₁₁Yisho kubo, uthi: ‘Kuphila kwami, isho iNkosi uJehova, angithokozi ngokufa komubi, kuphela ngokubuya komubi endleleni yakhe aze aphile. Buyani, buyani ezindleleni zenu ezimbi; niyakufelani nina ndlu yakwa-Israyeli na?’

₁₂“Kepha wena ndodana yomuntu, yisho kubantwana babantu bakho, uthi: ‘Ukulunga kolungileyo akuyikumophula ngosuku lwesiphambeko sakhe, nobubi-ke bomubi akayikuwa ngabo ngosuku lokubuya kwakhe ebubini bakhe, nolungileyo akanakuphila ngakho ngosuku lokona kwakhe.’ ₁₃Lapho ngisho kolungileyo ukuthi uyakuphila nokuphila, yena abesethemba ekulungeni kwakhe kodwa, enze okubi, akuyikukhunjulwa nesisodwa sezenzo zakhe ezilungileyo, kepha uyakufela kokubi akwenzileyo. ₁₄Lapho ngithi komubi: ‘Uyakufa nokufa,’ yena abesephenduka kodwa esonweni sakhe, enze okufaneleyo nokulungileyo, ₁₅yena lo mubi abuyise isibambiso, akhokhe ayekuthathile, ahambe ngezimiso zokuphila, angenzi okubi, uyakuphila nokuphila, angafi. ₁₆Akayikukhunjulelwa nesisodwa sezono zakhe azenzileyo; wenzile okufaneleyo nokulungileyo; uyakuphila nokuphila.

₁₇“Kodwa abantwana babantu bakho bathi: ‘Indlela yeNkosi ayilingani.’ Kepha ngeyabo indlela engalingani. ₁₈Lapho olungileyo ebuya ekulungeni kwakhe, enze okubi, uyakufa ngakho. ₁₉Nalapho omubi ebuya ebubini bakhe, enze okufaneleyo nokulungileyo, uyakuphila ngakho. ₂₀Nokho nisho nithi: ‘Indlela yeNkosi ayilingani.’ Ngiyakunahlulela nina ndlu yakwa-Israyeli, kube yilowo nalowo ngendlela yakhe.”

₂₁Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nambili wokuthunjwa kwethu, ngenyanga yeshumi, ngolwesihlanu lwenyanga, kwafika kimi ophunyukileyo eJerusalema, wathi: “Umuzi unqotshiwe.” ₂₂Isandla sikaJehova sasiphezu kwami kusihlwa, engakafiki ophunyukileyo, kepha wavula umlomo wami engakafiki kimi ekuseni; wavulwa umlomo wami, angabe ngisaba yisimungulu.

₂₃Izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: ₂₄“Ndodana yomuntu, abakhe ezincithakalweni ezweni lakwa-Israyeli basho bathi: ‘U-Abrahama wayemunye, wadla ifa lezwe; kepha thina sibaningi, siphiwe lona libe yifa lethu.’ ₂₅Ngalokho thana kubo: ‘Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Nidla okunegazi, niphakamisa amehlo enu ezithombeni zenu, nichitha igazi. Pho, niyakudla ifa lezwe na? ₂₆Niyethemba enkembeni yenu, nenza izinengiso, ningcolisa, kube yilowo nalowo umkamakhelwane wakhe. Pho, niyakudla ifa lezwe na?’

₂₇“Uyakusho kanje kubo, uthi: ‘Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Kuphila kwami, abasezincithakalweni, ngempela, bayakuwa ngenkemba, nosendle ngiyakumnika izilwane ukuba adliwe, nabasezinqabeni nasemihumeni bayakufa ngesifo. ₂₈Ngiyakwenza izwe libe yincithakalo nokuyize, kuphele ukuzidla kwamandla alo; izintaba zakwa-Israyeli ziyakuchithwa ukuze kungabikho odlulayo. ₂₉Bayakwazi ukuthi nginguJehova, lapho ngenzile izwe libe yincithakalo nokuyize ngenxa yazo zonke izinengiso zabo abazenzileyo.’

₃₀“Wena-ke, ndodana yomuntu, abantwana babantu bakho bakhuluma ngawe ngasezindongeni naseminyango yezindlu, basho omunye komunye, omunye kumfowabo, bathi: ‘Woza uzwe ukuthi yizwi lini eliphuma kuJehova.’ ₃₁Bafika kuwe njengokufika kwabantu, bahlala phambi kwakho njengabantu bami, bezwa amazwi akho, abawenzi kodwa, ngokuba ngomlomo wabo babonakalisa uthando olukhulu, kepha inhliziyo yabo ilandela inzuzo yabo. ₃₂Bheka, uyisihlabelelo esithandekayo sonephimbo elimnandi kubo, obetha kahle ngogubhu, ngokuba bezwa amazwi akho, abawenzi kodwa.

₃₃“Lapho lokhu kufika – bheka, kuyeza! – bayakwazi ukuthi kwakukhona umprofethi phakathi kwabo.”

₁Izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: ₂“Ndodana yomuntu, profetha ngabelusi bakwa-Israyeli; profetha uthi kubo, kubelusi: ‘Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Wo kubelusi bakwa-Israyeli abazibonelela bona! Abelusi bebengayikuzalusa izimvu na? ₃Niyadla amanoni, nembatha uboya, nihlaba ezikhulupheleyo, kepha izimvu anizalusi. ₄Ezibuthakathaka aniziqinisanga, negulayo aniyiphilisanga, neyaphukileyo aniyibophanga, nexoshiweyo aniyibuyisanga, nelahlekileyo aniyifunanga, kepha nizibusile ngamandla alukhuni. ₅Zazihlakazekile, ngokuba umalusi wayengekho; zaba ngukudla kwazo zonke izilwane zasendle, zahlakazeka. ₆Izimvu zami zazulazula kuzo zonke izintaba nakuwo onke amagquma aphakemeyo, yebo, izimvu zami zazihlakazekele ebusweni bonke bomhlaba, akwabakho ozifunayo nozicingayo.

₇“ ‘Ngalokho, belusi, zwanini izwi likaJehova lokuthi: ₈Kuphila kwami, isho iNkosi uJehova, impela ngenxa yokuba izimvu zami zaba yimpango, nangokuba izimvu zami zaba ngukudla kwazo zonke izilwane zasendle, lokhu umalusi engekho, nangokuba abelusi bami bengafunanga izimvu zami, abelusi bezibonelela bona, bengazalusi izimvu zami, ₉ngalokho, belusi, zwanini izwi likaJehova lokuthi: ₁₀Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Bhekani, ngimelene nabelusi, ngiyakuzibiza izimvu zami esandleni sabo, ngenze ukuba bangabe besazalusa izimvu, abelusi bangabe besazibonelela bona, ngophule izimvu zami emlonyeni wabo, zingabi ngukudla kwabo.

₁₁“ ‘Ngokuba isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Bhekani, mina ngiyakuzifuna izimvu zami, ngizicinge. ₁₂Njengomalusi efuna umhlambi wakhe mhla ephakathi kwezimvu zakhe ezilahlekileyo, kanjalo ngiyakufuna izimvu zami, ngizophule kuzo zonke izindawo ezihlakazekele kuzo ngosuku lwamafu nolobumnyama. ₁₃Ngiyakuzikhipha kubantu, ngiziqoqe emazweni, ngiziyise ezweni lazo, ngizaluse ezintabeni zakwa-Israyeli, ngasemifuleni, nasezindaweni zonke ezakhiweyo zezwe. ₁₄Ngiyakuzalusela emadlelweni amahle, isibaya sazo sibe sezintabeni zempakama yakwa-Israyeli; ziyakubuthisa khona esibayeni esihle, ziklabe emadlelweni aluhlaza ezintabeni zakwa-Israyeli. ₁₅Mina ngiyakuzalusa izimvu zami, ngenze ukuba zibuthise, isho iNkosi uJehova. ₁₆Ngiyakufuna ezilahlekileyo, ngibuyise ezixoshiweyo, ngibophe ezaphukileyo, ngiqinise ezigulayo; kepha ezikhulupheleyo nezinamandla ngiyakuzichitha, ngizaluse ngokwahlulela.

₁₇“ ‘Nina-ke, zimvu zami, isho iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Bheka, ngiyakwahlulela phakathi kwemvu nemvu naphakathi kwezimpongo. ₁₈Kuncane kini yini ukuklaba edlelweni elihle nize ninyathele ngezinyawo zenu okuseleyo kwedlelo lenu, nokuphuza amanzi acwebileyo nize nidunge aseleyo ngezinyawo zenu na? ₁₉Izimvu zami ziyadla okunyathelwe ngezinyawo zenu, ziphuza okudungiwe ngezinyawo zenu.

₂₀“ ‘Ngalokho isho kanje iNkosi uJehova kuzo, ithi: Bhekani, mina ngiyakwahlulela phakathi kwezimvu ezikhulupheleyo nezimvu ezondileyo. ₂₁Ngokuba nisunduza ngohlangothi nangehlombe, niqhubukusha zonke ezigulayo ngezimpondo zenu, nize nizihlakazele ngaphandle, ₂₂ngiyakusindisa izimvu zami, azisayikuba yimpango, ngahlulele phakathi kwezimvu nezimvu. ₂₃Ngiyakumisa umalusi phezu kwazo, azaluse: inceku yami uDavide; uyakuzalusa, abe ngumalusi wazo. ₂₄Mina Jehova ngiyakuba nguNkulunkulu wazo, inceku yami uDavide ibe yisikhulu phakathi kwazo; mina Jehova ngikhulumile.

₂₅“ ‘Ngiyakwenza nazo isivumelwano sokuthula, ngiqede izilwane ezimbi ezweni, zihlale zilondekile ehlane, zilale emahlathini. ₂₆Ngiyakuzenza zona nezindawo ezizungeza intaba yami zibe yisibusiso, ngehlise imvula ngesikhathi sayo, ibe yizihlambi zesibusiso. ₂₇Umuthi osendle uyakuthela izithelo zawo, umhlabathi uthele ukudla kwawo, zihlale zilondekile ezweni lazo, zazi ukuthi nginguJehova, lapho sengaphulile izikeyi* zejoka lazo, ngazophula esandleni salabo ezenziwa izikhonzi yibo. ₂₈Azisayikuba yimpango yabezizwe, nesilwane somhlaba asiyikuzidla, kepha ziyakuhlala zilondekile, zingesatshiswa muntu. ₂₉Ngiyakuzivusela insimu edumileyo; azisayikususwa yindlala ezweni, zingasalithwali ihlazo labezizwe. ₃₀Ziyakwazi ukuthi mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wazo nginazo nokuthi zona, indlu yakwa-Israyeli, zingabantu bami, isho iNkosi uJehova. ₃₁Nina niyizimvu zami, niyizimvu zedlelo lami; ningabantu, mina nginguNkulunkulu wenu, isho iNkosi uJehova.’ ”

₁Izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: ₂“Ndodana yomuntu, bhekisa ubuso bakho ngasentabeni yaseSeyiri, uprofethe ngayo, ₃uthi kuyo: ‘Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Bheka, ngimelene nawe ntaba yaseSeyiri; ngiyakwelulela kuwe isandla sami, ngikwenze incithakalo nokuyize. ₄Ngiyakwenza imizi yakho ibe yihlane, wena ube yincithakalo, wazi ukuthi nginguJehova.

₅“ ‘Ngokuba unobutha obuphakade, futhi unikele abantwana bakwa-Israyeli osikweni lwenkemba ngesikhathi sesigemegeme sabo, ngesikhathi sokuphela kokubi, ₆ngalokho, kuphila kwami, isho iNkosi uJehova, ngiyakwenza ube yigazi, igazi likuxoshe; ngokuba ungazondanga igazi, igazi liyakukulandela. ₇Ngiyakwenza intaba yaseSeyiri ibe yincithakalo nokuyize, nginqume kuyo odlulayo nobuyayo. ₈Ngiyakugcwalisa izintaba zayo ngababuleweyo bayo, abagwazwe ngenkemba bawa emagqumeni akho, nasezigodini zakho, nakuyo yonke imifula yakho. ₉Ngiyakukwenza incithakalo ephakade, imizi yakho ingabe isahlalwa, nazi ukuthi nginguJehova.

₁₀“ ‘Ngokuba wathi: “Lezi zizwe ezimbili nalawa mazwe amabili kuyakuba ngokwami, sidle ifa lakho,” noma uJehova ebelapho, ₁₁ngalokho, kuphila kwami, isho iNkosi uJehova, ngiyakwenza njengolaka lwakho nanjengomhawu wakho obafele wona ngokubazonda kwakho, ngizazise kubo, lapho ngikwahlulela. ₁₂Uyakwazi ukuthi nginguJehova; ngizwile zonke izithuko zakho ozikhulume ngezintaba zakwa-Israyeli ngokuthi: “Yincithakalo; siphiwe zona ukuba sizidle.” ₁₃Nizikhulisile kimi ngomlomo wenu, nandisile amazwi enu kimi; mina ngiwezwile. ₁₄Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Lapho uthokoza umhlaba wonke, ngiyakukwenza incithakalo. ₁₅Njengokuthokoza kwakho ngefa lendlu yakwa-Israyeli, ngokuba ibiyincithakalo, kanjalo ngiyakwenza kuwe: uyakuba yincithakalo, ntaba yaseSeyiri, naye wonke u-Edomi, yebo, wonke wakhe, bazi ukuthi nginguJehova.’ ”