To The Word – Day 38

₁UKora kaJisihari kaKohati kaLevi, kanye noDathani no-Abiramu, amadodana ka-Eliyabe, no-Oni indodana kaPheleti, amadodana kaRubeni, bathatha amadoda, ₂bamvukela uMose benabathile babantwana bakwa-Israyeli, abangamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisihlanu, izikhulu zenhlangano, amanxusa ebandla, amadoda adumileyo; ₃babahlanganyela oMose no-Aroni, bathi kubo: “Sekwanele okwenu, lokhu inhlangano yonke ingcwele, bonke bayo, noJehova ekubo; niziphakamiselani, pho, phezu kwebandla likaJehova na?”

₄UMose esekuzwile wawa ngobuso bakhe; ₅wakhuluma kuKora nakulo iviyo lakhe, wathi: “Kusasa uJehova uyakwazisa ukuthi ngubani ongowakhe nokuthi ngubani ongcwele, amsondeze kuye; lowo ayakumkhetha uyakumsondeza kuye. ₆Yenzani lokhu: zithabatheleni imicengezi yomlilo, wena Kora neviyo lakho lonke, ₇nifake kuyo umlilo, nibeke impepho kuyo phambi kukaJehova kusasa; kuyakuthi umuntu amkhethayo uJehova, abengcwele; sekwanele okwenu, madodana kaLevi.”

₈UMose wathi kuKora: “Ake nizwe, madodana kaLevi: ₉kuyinto encane yini kini ukuthi uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli unahlukanisile nenhlangano ka-Israyeli, wanisondeza kuye ukwenza inkonzo yetabernakele* likaJehova nokuma phambi kwenhlangano ukuyikhonza, ₁₀nokuthi ukusondezile wena, nabafowenu bonke, amadodana kaLevi, kanye nawe na? Senifisa nobupristi futhi na? ₁₁Ngalokho wena nalo lonke iviyo lakho nimhlanganyele uJehova; no-Aroni uyini yena ukuba nikhonone ngaye na?”

₁₂UMose wathuma wabiza oDathani no-Abiramu, amadodana ka-Eliyabe; bathi: “Asiyikukhuphuka; ₁₃kuyinto encane yini ukuthi wasikhuphula ezweni elivame ubisi nezinyosi ukuba usibulale ehlane; usuyazenza nesikhulu phezu kwethu na? ₁₄Futhi awusingenisanga ezweni elivame ubisi nezinyosi, awusinikanga ifa lamasimu nelezivini; uyakubhoboza amehlo alaba bantu na? Asiyikukhuphuka.”

₁₅UMose wathukuthela kakhulu, wathi kuJehova: “Unganaki umnikelo wabo; angithathanga nayinye imbongolo kubo, futhi angilimazanga namunye kubo.”

₁₆UMose wayesethi kuKora: “Wena yiba nayo yonke inhlangano yakho phambi kukaJehova kusasa, wena, nabo, no-Aroni; ₁₇thabathani, kube yilowo nalowo umcengezi wakhe womlilo, nibeke impepho kuyo, nilethe phambi kukaJehova kube yilowo nalowo umcengezi wakhe, imicengezi yomlilo engamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisihlanu, nawe futhi no-Aroni, kube yilowo nalowo umcengezi wakhe.” ₁₈Base bethatha, kwaba yilowo nalowo umcengezi wakhe womlilo, bafaka kuyo umlilo, babeka impepho ngaphezulu, bema ngasemnyango wetende lokuhlangana kanye noMose no-Aroni. ₁₉UKora wahlanganisela kubo yonke inhlangano ngasemnyango wetende lokuhlangana; inkazimulo kaJehova yabonakala kuyo yonke inhlangano. ₂₀UJehova wayesekhuluma kuMose naku-Aroni, wathi: ₂₁“Zahlukaniseni nale nhlangano ukuba ngibaqede ngokuphazima kweso.”

₂₂Bawa ngobuso babo, bathi: “Nkulunkulu, Nkulunkulu wemimoya yenyama yonke, kona umuntu munye, uthukuthelele inhlangano yonke, na?”

₂₃UJehova wakhuluma kuMose, wathi: ₂₄“Yisho kuyo inhlangano, uthi: ‘Khuphukani ngasekamu* likaKora nelikaDathani nelika-Abiramu.’ ”

₂₅UMose wavuka waya kuDathani naku-Abiramu; amalunga akwa-Israyeli amlandela. ₂₆Wayesekhuluma kuyo inhlangano, wathi: “Ake nisuke ematendeni alaba bantu ababi, ningathinti lutho olwabo, funa niqedwe ngezono zabo zonke.” ₂₇Base bekhuphuka ekamu* likaKora nelikaDathani nelika Abiramu nxazonke; oDathani no-Abiramu baphuma, bema ngasemnyango wamatende abo kanye nawomkabo, namadodana abo, nezingane zabo.

₂₈UMose wathi: “Niyakwazi ngalokhu ukuthi uJehova ungithumile ukwenza yonke le misebenzi, ngokuba angiyenzanga ngowami umqondo. ₂₉Uma laba bantu befa ngokufa kwabantu bonke, noma behlelwa ngokwehlela abantu bonke, uJehova uyakube kangithumanga. ₃₀Kepha uma uJehova edala into entsha, umhlaba uvule umlomo wawo, ubagwinye kanye nakho konke okwabo, bashone besezwa endaweni yabafileyo, niyakuqonda ukuthi laba bantu bamdelele uJehova.”

₃₁Kwathi eseqedile onke lawo mazwi, umhlaba ophansi kwabo waqhekezeka; ₃₂umhlaba wavula umlomo wawo, wabagwinya nezindlu zabo, nabantu bonke bakaKora, nempahla yabo yonke. ₃₃Bona bashona besezwa nakho konke okwabo endaweni yabafileyo; umhlaba wabagqiba, baqothulwa ebandleni. ₃₄Bonke abakwa-Israyeli ababebazungeza babaleka ngokukhala kwabo, ngokuba bathi: “Funa umhlaba usigwinye nathi.”

₃₅Umlilo waphuma kuJehova, waqeda abantu abangamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisihlanu, ababenikele ngempepho.

₃₆UJehova wakhuluma kuMose, wathi: ₃₇“Yisho ku-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni umpristi ukuba akhiphe imicengezi yomlilo ekusheni, wena uwuhlakaze umlilo laphaya, ngokuba ingcwele, ₃₈imicengezi yalaba boni abone imiphefumulo yabo ibe ngongcwecwe abakhandiweyo abayakulimboza i-altare, ngokuba banikela ngayo phambi kukaJehova; ngalokho ingcwele; iyakuba luphawu kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli.”

₃₉U-Eleyazare umpristi wayithatha imicengezi yethusi abanikele ngayo abashileyo; babakhanda baba yisimbozo se-altare, ₄₀ibe yisikhumbuzo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ukuze umfokazi ongesiye owenzalo ka-Aroni angasondeli ukushisa impepho phambi kukaJehova, angabi njengoKora neviyo lakhe, njengalokho uJehova wakhuluma kuye ngesandla sikaMose.

₄₁Kepha ngolwangakusasa yonke inhlangano yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli yakhonona ngoMose nango-Aroni, yathi: “Nibabulele abantu bakaJehova.”

₄₂Kwathi inhlangano isibahlanganyele oMose no-Aroni, babheka ngasetendeni lokuhlangana; bheka, ifu lalisibekela, inkazimulo kaJehova yabonakala. ₄₃OMose no-Aroni bafika ngaphambi kwetende lokuhlangana. ₄₄UJehova wakhuluma kuMose, wathi: ₄₅“Khuphuka kule nhlangano ukuba ngibaqede ngokuphazima kweso.” Bawa ngobuso babo.

₄₆UMose wathi ku-Aroni: “Thatha umcengezi wakho womlilo, ubeke kuwo umlilo wase-altare, ufake impepho ngaphezulu, ukuyise masinyane kuyo inhlangano, uyenzele ukubuyisana, ngokuba kuphume intukuthelo kuJehova; isifo sesiqalile.” ₄₇U-Aroni wayesekuthatha njengalokho ekhulumile uMose, wagijima phakathi kwebandla; bheka, isifo sase siqalile phakathi kwabantu; wabeka impepho, wabenzela abantu ukubuyisana. ₄₈Wema phakathi kwabafileyo nabaphilayo; isifo sanqamuka. ₄₉Abafile ngesifo babe yizinkulungwane eziyishumi nane namakhulu ayisikhombisa ngaphandle kwalabo abafa ngendaba kaKora. ₅₀U-Aroni wabuyela kuMose ngasemnyango wetende lokuhlangana; isifo sanqamuka.

₁UJehova wakhuluma kuMose, wathi: ₂“Khuluma kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, uthabathe kubo izintonga, ibe nye kuleyo naleyo ndlu kayise, kuzo zonke izikhulu njengezindlu zawoyise, izintonga eziyishumi nambili; loba wena igama lalowo nalowo muntu entongeni yakhe. ₃Uyakuloba igama lika-Aroni entongeni kaLevi, ngokuba kuyakuba yintonga inye kuleyo naleyo nhloko yezindlu zawoyise. ₄Uyakuzibekela etendeni lokuhlangana ngaphambi kobufakazi, lapho ngihlangana khona nawe. ₅Kuyakuthi umuntu engiyakumkhetha, intonga yakhe ihlume, ngenze ukuba kuphele ngakimi ukukhonona kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli abakhonona ngakho ngani.”

₆UMose wakhuluma kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, zonke izikhulu zamnika izintonga ngayinye kuleso naleso sikhulu njengezindlu zawoyise, izintonga eziyishumi nambili. ₇UMose wazibeka izintonga phambi kukaJehova etendeni lobufakazi.

₈Kwathi ngolwangakusasa uMose wangena etendeni lobufakazi; bheka, intonga ka-Aroni yendlu kaLevi ibisihlumile, ivezile imiqumbe, iqhakazile izimbali, ithele ama-alimondi* avuthiweyo. ₉UMose wakhiphela bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli zonke izintonga ngaphambi kukaJehova, babheka, yilowo nalowo wathatha intonga yakhe.

₁₀UJehova wathi kuMose: “Buyisa intonga ka-Aroni ngaphambi kobufakazi, igcinwe ibe luphawu kubahlubuki, ukuze uqede ukukhonona kwabo ngami ukuba bangafi.” ₁₁UMose wenze njalo; njengalokho uJehova emyalile, wenze njalo-ke.

₁₂Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhuluma kuMose, bathi: “Bheka, siyaphela, siyashabalala, sishabalala sonke. ₁₃Bonke abasondelayo abasondela etabernakele* likaJehova bayakufa; siyakuphela sonke na?”

₁UJehova wathi ku-Aroni: “Wena namadodana akho nendlu kayihlo kanye nawe niyakuthwala ububi bendlu engcwele; wena namadodana akho kanye nawe niyakuthwala ububi bobupristi benu. ₂Nabafowenu, isizwe sakwaLevi, isizwe sikayihlo, sondela nabo ukuba bahlanganiswe nawe, bakukhonze; kepha wena namadodana akho kanye nawe niyakuba ngaphambi kwetende lobufakazi. ₃Bayakugcina imfanelo yakho nenkonzo yetende lonke; kodwa abayikusondela empahleni yendlu engcwele nase-altare, ukuze bangafi, nabo nani. ₄Bayakuhlanganiswa nawe, bagcine inkonzo yetende lokuhlangana kuwo wonke umsebenzi wetende; umfokazi akayikusondela kuwe.

₅“Niyakugcina inkonzo yendlu engcwele nenkonzo yase-altare, ukuze ulaka lungabe lusaba khona phezu kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₆Bhekani, mina ngithabathe abafowenu amaLevi phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; bayisipho kini, benikelwe kuJehova ukwenza umsebenzi wetende lokuhlangana. ₇Wena namadodana akho kanye nawe niyakugcina ubupristi kukho konke okwe-altare, nakukho konke okuphakathi kwesihenqo; niyakukhonza; ngiyaninika ubupristi njengenkonzo yesipho; umfokazi osondelayo wobulawa.”

₈UJehova wakhuluma ku-Aroni, wathi: “Bheka, mina ngikunike ukugcina iminikelo yami yokuphakanyiswa; zonke izinto ezingcwelisiwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ngikunikile zona wena namadodana akho ngenxa yokugcotshwa, kube yisimiso esiphakade. ₉Lokhu kuyakuba ngokwakho ezintweni ezingcwelengcwele ezisale emlilweni: yonke iminikelo yabo, yonke iminikelo yabo yempuphu, nayo yonke iminikelo yabo yesono, nayo yonke iminikelo yabo yecala abanikela ngayo kimi iyakuba ngcwelengcwele kuwe nakumadodana akho. ₁₀Niyakudlela lokhu endaweni engcwelengcwele; bonke abesilisa bayakukudla; kuyakuba ngcwele kuwe.

₁₁“Lokhu kungokwakho: umnikelo wokuphakanyiswa wesipho sabo, nayo yonke iminikelo yokuzuliswa yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; ngiyinikile wena namadodana akho namadodakazi akho kanye nawe ibe yimfanelo ephakade; yilowo nalowo ohlambulukileyo endlini yakho uyakukudla.

₁₂“Konke okuhle kwamanoni nakho konke okuhle kwewayini nokwamabele, ulibo lwalokho abanikela ngakho kuJehova ngikunikile khona. ₁₃Ulibo oluvuthwa kuqala lwakho konke okusezweni lakubo abaluletha kuJehova luyakuba ngolwakho; yilowo nalowo ohlambulukileyo endlini yakho uyakukudla.

₁₄“Konke okwahlukanisiwe kwa-Israyeli kuyakuba ngokwakho. ₁₅Konke okuvula isizalo senyama yonke abanikela ngakho kuJehova, okomuntu nokwesilwane, kuyakuba ngokwakho; nokho izibulo lomuntu wolihlenga ngempela, nezibulo lezilwane ezingcolileyo wolihlenga. ₁₆Okuhlengwayo kuyakuhlengwa kusukela kokunenyanga ngokulinganisa kwakho ngemali yamashekeli* ayisihlanu ngokweshekeli lendlu engcwele elingamagera* angamashumi amabili.

₁₇“Kepha izibulo lenkomo, noma izibulo lemvu, noma izibulo lembuzi, awuyikulihlenga, lingcwele; uyakufafaza i-altare ngegazi lazo, ushise amanoni azo abe ngumnikelo womlilo wephunga elimnandi kuJehova. ₁₈Inyama yazo iyakuba ngeyakho; njengesifuba sokuzuliswa nomlenze wokunene iyakuba ngeyakho. ₁₉Yonke iminikelo yezinto ezingcwele abantwana bakwa-Israyeli abanikela ngayo ngiyinikile wena namadodana akho namadodakazi akho kanye nawe ibe yimfanelo ephakade; kuyisivumelwano sikasawoti kuze kube phakade ngaphambi kukaJehova kuwena nakuyo inzalo yakho kanye nawe.”

₂₀UJehova wathi ku-Aroni: “Awuyikuba nafa ezweni lakubo, futhi ungabi nasabelo phakathi kwabo; mina ngiyisabelo sakho nefa lakho phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.

₂₁“Bhekani, ngibanikile abantwana bakwaLevi konke okweshumi kwa-Israyeli, kube yifa labo, ngomsebenzi abawusebenzayo, inkonzo yetende lokuhlangana. ₂₂Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli mabangabe besasondela etendeni lokuhlangana, funa bathwale isono, bafe. ₂₃Kepha amaLevi ayakugcina inkonzo yetende lokuhlangana, athwale ububi bawo; kuyakuba yisimiso esiphakade ezizukulwaneni zenu; naphakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli abayikuba nafa. ₂₄Ngokuba okweshumi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli abanikela ngakho, kube ngumnikelo wokuphakanyiswa kuJehova, ngikunikile amaLevi kube yifa lawo; ngalokho ngishilo kuwo, ngathi: ‘Phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli aniyikuba nafa.’ ”

₂₅UJehova wakhuluma kuMose, wathi: ₂₆“Futhi uyakukhuluma kumaLevi, uthi kuwo: ‘Nxa nithabatha kwabakwa-Israyeli okweshumi engininike khona kuvela kubo, kube yifa lenu, niyakunikela ngomnikelo wokuphakanyiswa kuJehova, okweshumi kokweshumi. ₂₇Umnikelo wenu wokuphakanyiswa uyakubalelwa nina, njengalokho bekungamabele esibuya nanjengokugcwala kwesikhamo sewayini. ₂₈Kanjalo nani niyakunikela ngomnikelo wokuphakanyiswa kuJehova ngakho konke okweshumi kwenu enikwamukelayo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli; niyakunikela ku-Aroni umpristi ngomnikelo wokuphakanyiswa kaJehova. ₂₉Kuzo zonke izipho zenu niyakunikela ngayo yonke iminikelo yokuphakanyiswa kuJehova, konke okuhle kwayo, inxenye yayo engcwelisiweyo.’

₃₀“Ngalokho uyakusho kubo ukuthi: ‘Nxa niphakamisa okuhle kwayo, kuyakubalelwa amaLevi njengokwanda kwesibuya nokwanda kwesikhamo sewayini. ₃₁Niyakukudlela ezindaweni zonke, nina nabezindlu zenu, ngokuba kungumvuzo wenu ngomsebenzi wenu etendeni lokuhlangana. ₃₂Aniyikuthwala sono ngenxa yakho, lapho seniphakamisile okuhle kwakho, ningahlambalazi izinto ezingcwele zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ukuba ningafi.’ ”

₁UJehova wakhuluma kuMose naku-Aroni, wathi: ₂“Lokhu kuyisimiso somthetho uJehova ayalile ngaso ukuthi: ‘Yisho kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli ukuba balethe kuwe isithole esibomvu esingenasici, singenansolo, okungazange kubekwe ijoka phezu kwaso, ₃nisinike u-Eleyazare umpristi, yena asikhiphele ngaphandle kwekamu,* sihlatshwe phambi kwakhe; ₄u-Eleyazare umpristi uyakuthabatha igazi laso ngomunwe wakhe, afafaze kasikhombisa ngaphambi kwetende lokuhlangana ngegazi laso, ₅isithole sishiswe phambi kwakhe, isikhumba saso, nenyama yaso, negazi laso, kanye nomswani waso kushiswe; ₆umpristi uyakuthabatha umsedari,* nehisopi,* nendwangu ebomvu, akuphonse phakathi kokushayo kwesithole. ₇Umpristi useyakuhlanza izingubo zakhe, ageze umzimba wakhe ngamanzi, andukuba angene ekamu,* umpristi abe ngongcolile kuze kuhlwe. ₈Osishisayo uyakuhlanza izingubo zakhe ngamanzi, ageze umzimba wakhe ngamanzi, abe ngongcolile kuze kuhlwe.

₉“ ‘Umuntu ohlambulukileyo uyakubutha umlotha wesithole, awubekele ngaphandle kwekamu* endaweni ehlambulukileyo, ugcinelwe inhlangano yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli kube ngamanzi okuphothula; kungumnikelo wesono. ₁₀Obutha umlotha wesithole uyakuhlanza izingubo zakhe, abe ngongcolile kuze kuhlwe; kuyakuba yisimiso esiphakade kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli nakumfokazi ogogobeleyo phakathi kwabo.

₁₁“ ‘Othinta isidumbu somuntu uyakuba ngongcolile izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. ₁₂Uyakuziphothula ngawo ngosuku lwesithathu, nangosuku lwesikhombisa uyakuhlambuluka; kepha uma engaziphothuli ngosuku lwesithathu, akayikuhlambuluka ngosuku lwesikhombisa. ₁₃Yilowo nalowo othinta isidumbu somuntu ofileyo, angaziphothuli, uyangcolisa itabernakele* likaJehova; lowo muntu uyakunqunywa ku-Israyeli, ngokuba amanzi okuphothula akafafazwanga ngawo; uyakuba ngongcolile; ukungcola kwakhe kuse kuye.

₁₄“ ‘Nanku umthetho, uma umuntu efela etendeni: yilowo nalowo ongena etendeni nalowo osetendeni uyakuba ngongcolile izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. ₁₅Nazo zonke izitsha ezivulekileyo ezingenaso isisibekelo esiboshwe kuzo zingcolile.

₁₆“ ‘Yilowo nalowo othinta endle obulewe ngenkemba, noma isidumbu, noma ithambo lomuntu, noma ithuna, uyakuba ngongcolile izinsuku eziyisikhombisa.

₁₇“ ‘Abangcolileyo bayakuthatha umlotha wokushayo komnikelo wesono, namanzi agobhozayo ayakuthelwa kanye nawo esitsheni, ₁₈umuntu ohlambulukileyo athabathe ihisopi,* aligcobhoze emanzini, afafaze ngawo itende, nezitsha zonke, nabantu ababelapho, nowathinta ithambo, noma ababuleweyo, noma abafileyo, noma ithuna, ₁₉umuntu ohlambulukileyo amfafaze ongcolileyo ngosuku lwesithathu nangosuku lwesikhombisa, amphothule ngosuku lwesikhombisa, ahlanze izingubo zakhe, ageze ngamanzi, ahlambuluke ngakusihlwa. ₂₀Kepha umuntu ongcolayo engaziphothuli, lowo muntu uyakunqunywa phakathi kwebandla, ngokuba ungcolisile indlu engcwele kaJehova; amanzi okuphothula akafafazwanga ngawo; ungcolile. ₂₁Kuyakuba yisimiso esiphakade kubo; ofafaza amanzi okuphothula uyakuhlanza izingubo zakhe, nothinta amanzi okuphothula uyakuba ngongcolile kuze kuhlwe. ₂₂Lokhu umuntu ongcolileyo akuthintayo kuyakuba ngokungcolile; umuntu okuthintayo uyakuba ngongcolile kuze kuhlwe.’ ”

₁Nami-ke, bazalwane, bengingenakukhuluma kini njengakwabomoya kepha njengakwabenyama, njengakwabayizingane kuKristu. ₂Nganiphuzisa ubisi, anganipha ukudla okuqinileyo, ngokuba beningakaqini. Yebo, nakalokhu anikaqini, ₃ngokuba niseyibo abenyama. Ngokuba uma kusekhona phakathi kwenu umhawu nokuphikisana, anisibo abenyama, anihambisi okwabantu na? ₄Ngokuba nxa omunye ethi: “Mina ngingokaPawulu,” omunye: “Mina ngingoka-Apholo,” anisibo abenyama na?

₅Pho, uyini u-Apholo? Uyini uPawulu na? Bayizikhonzi enakholwa ngazo, kwaba yilowo nalowo njengokupha kweNkosi. ₆Mina ngatshala, u-Apholo wanisela, kepha uNkulunkulu wakhulisa. ₇Njalo-ke notshalayo kalutho, noniselayo kalutho, kodwa uNkulunkulu okhulisayo. ₈Otshalayo noniselayo bakunye, kepha yilowo nalowo uyakwamukeliswa owakhe umvuzo ngokomsebenzi wakhe. ₉Ngokuba thina siyizisebenzi kanye noNkulunkulu, nina niyinsimu kaNkulunkulu, niyisakhiwo sikaNkulunkulu.

₁₀Ngokomusa kaNkulunkulu engiwuphiweyo, njengenyanga yokwakha ehlakaniphileyo ngabeka isisekelo, omunye wakha phezu kwaso. Kepha akube yilowo nalowo aqaphele ukuthi wakha kanjani phezu kwaso. ₁₁Ngokuba akakho ongabeka esinye isisekelo, kuphela leso esibekiweyo, esinguJesu Kristu. ₁₂Kepha uma umuntu akha phezu kwaleso sisekelo ngegolide, nesiliva, namatshe anenani, nemithi, notshani, nenhlanga, ₁₃umsebenzi walowo nalowo uyakuvela obala; ngokuba usuku luyakuwudalula, lokhu kwambulwa ngomlilo, nokuthi umsebenzi walowo nalowo unjani, umlilo uqobo uyakukuvivinya lokho. ₁₄Uma umsebenzi womuntu awakhileyo kuso umi, uyakwamukela umvuzo; ₁₅uma umsebenzi womuntu usha, uyakulahlekelwa yiwo; kepha yena uqobo uyakusindiswa, nokho kube kungathi uphuma emlilweni.

₁₆Anazi yini ukuthi niyithempeli likaNkulunkulu nokuthi uMoya kaNkulunkulu uhlala kini na? ₁₇Uma umuntu echitha ithempeli likaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu uyakumchitha yena, ngokuba ithempeli likaNkulunkulu lingcwele; niyilo-ke nina.

₁₈Makungabikho ozikhohlisayo; uma umuntu phakathi kwenu ethi uhlakaniphile kulesi sikhathi, akabe yisiwula, ukuze ahlakaniphe. ₁₉Ngokuba ukuhlakanipha kwaleli zwe kungubuwula kuNkulunkulu. Ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ubamba abahlakaniphileyo ebuqilini babo,” ₂₀nokuthi: “INkosi iyazazi izizindlo zabahlakaniphileyo ukuthi ziyize.” ₂₁Ngakho-ke akungabikho ozibongayo ngabantu, ngokuba konke kungokwenu, ₂₂noma uPawulu, noma u-Apholo, noma uKhefase, noma izwe, noma ukuphila, noma ukufa, noma okukhona, noma okuzakuba khona; konke kungokwenu; ₂₃nina-ke ningabakaKristu, uKristu ungokaNkulunkulu.

₁Umuntu makasazi ukuthi siyizikhonzi zikaKristu nabaphathi bezimfihlakalo zikaNkulunkulu. ₂Futhi-ke kufuneka kubaphathi ukuba umuntu afunyanwe ekholekile. ₃Kepha kimina kuyinto encane impela ukuba ngahlulelwe yinina noma ngokwahlulela kwabantu; yebo, nami angizahluleli. ₄Ngokuba angizinyezi ngalutho ngokwami, nokho angilungisisiwe ngalokho; kepha ongahlulelayo yiNkosi. ₅Ngakho-ke ningahluleli lutho singakafiki isikhathi, ingakafiki iNkosi eyakukuveza ekukhanyeni okufihlakeleyo kobumnyama, iveze obala izizindlo zezinhliziyo; lapho-ke yilowo nalowo uyakuthola ukubongwa kuNkulunkulu.

₆Lokhu-ke, bazalwane, ngikuguqulele kimina naku-Apholo ngokulinganisa ngenxa yenu, ukuze nifunde kithi ukungeqisi kokulotshiweyo ukuba ningakhukhunyezwa, kungabi yilowo akhethe omunye kunomunye. ₇Ngokuba ngubani okhetha wena na? Unantoni ongayamukeliswanga na? Kepha uma uyamukelisiwe, uzibongelani kungathi awuyamukeliswanga na?

₈Senize nasutha, senize naceba, senabusa ngaphandle kwethu; yebo-ke sengathi ngabe niyabusa, ukuze nathi sibuse kanye nani. ₉Ngokuba ngithi kungathi uNkulunkulu usimisile thina baphostoli sibe ngabokugcina, sibe njengabanqunyelwe ukufa; ngokuba senziwe umbukwane wezwe nowezingelosi nowabantu. ₁₀Thina siyiziwula ngenxa kaKristu, kepha nina nihlakaniphile kuKristu; thina sibuthakathaka, kepha nina ninamandla; nina niyadunyiswa, kepha thina siyadunyazwa. ₁₁Kuze kube yisona lesi sikhathi silambile, somile, sihamba ze, siyamuhluzwa, siyimihambima, ₁₂siyakhandleka, sisebenza ngezandla zethu; sithi sithukwa, sibe sibusisa; sithi sizingelwa, sibe sibekezela; ₁₃sithi sihletshwa, sibe siphendula kahle; senziwe kungathi siyinsila yezwe, umphucuzo wezinto zonke kuze kube manje.

₁₄Angikulobi lokho ukuba nginithele amahloni, kodwa ukuba nginiluleke njengabantwana bami abathandekayo. ₁₅Ngokuba noma ninabafundisi abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi kuKristu, nokho oyihlo kababaningi, ngokuba mina nganizala kuKristu Jesu ngevangeli. ₁₆Ngakho-ke ngiyanincenga ukuthi: Yibani abalingisi bami. ₁₇Ngalokho-ke ngithumele kini uThimothewu ongumntanami othandekayo nothembekayo eNkosini, oyakunikhumbuza ngokuhamba kwami okukuKristu, njengokuba ngifundisa ezindaweni zonke emabandleni onke.

₁₈Kepha abanye bakhukhumele ngokungathi angiyikuza kini; ₁₉kodwa ngizakuza kini masinyane, uma iNkosi ivuma, ukuze ngazi, angisho amazwi alaba abakhukhumeleyo kepha amandla abo. ₂₀Ngokuba umbuso kaNkulunkulu awuyi ngezwi kepha ngamandla. ₂₁Pho, nifunani? Ngize kini ngiphethe induku, noma ngize nginothando nomoya omnene na?