To The Word – Day 4

₁UNkulunkulu wayesemkhumbula uNowa, nezilwane zonke, nezinkomo zonke ezinaye emkhunjini. UNkulunkulu wadlulisa umoya phezu komhlaba, amanzi abohla. ₂Imithombo yotwa namafasitele asezulwini kwavinjwa, imvula yasezulwini yaphela. ₃Amanzi ayesemuka njalo emhlabeni; emva kwezinsuku eziyikhulu namashumi ayisihlanu amanzi ancipha. ₄Ngenyanga yesikhombisa ngosuku lweshumi nesikhombisa enyangeni umkhumbi wema ezintabeni zase-Ararati. ₅Amanzi ancipha njalonjalo, kwaze kwaba senyangeni yeshumi. Ngeyeshumi ngolokuqala lwenyanga iziqongo zezintaba zabonakala.

₆Kwathi emva kwezinsuku ezingamashumi amane uNowa wavula ifasitele lomkhumbi abelenzile. ₇Wathuma igwababa, lazulazula njalo, aze asha amanzi emhlabeni. ₈Wayesethuma ijuba ukubona ukuba amanzi asenciphile yini ebusweni bomhlaba. ₉Kepha ijuba lalingafumani ukuphumula kwamathe onyawo lwalo, labuyela kuye emkhunjini, ngokuba amanzi ayesesebusweni bomhlaba wonke; waselula isandla sakhe, walithatha, walingenisa kuye emkhunjini. ₁₀Wabuye wahlala izinsuku eziyisikhombisa; waphinda walithuma ujuba emkhunjini. ₁₁Ijuba lafika kuye ngakusihlwa; bheka, kusemlonyeni walo iqabunga lomnqumo elikhiweyo. Wase azi uNowa ukuthi amanzi anciphile emhlabeni. ₁₂Wabuye wahlala izinsuku eziyisikhombisa; walithuma ijuba; alabe lisabuyela kuye.

₁₃Kwathi ngomnyaka wamakhulu ayisithupha nanye ngenyanga yokuqala ngolokuqala lwenyanga amanzi abeseshile emhlabeni; uNowa wasusa uphahla lomkhumbi, wabona, bheka, ubuso bomhlaba base bomile. ₁₄Ngenyanga yesibili ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nesikhombisa lwenyanga umhlaba wawusomile.

₁₅UNkulunkulu wakhuluma kuNowa, wathi: ₁₆“Phuma emkhunjini, wena nomkakho, namadodana akho, nabafazi bamadodana akho bekanye nawe. ₁₇Phuma kanye nezilwane zonke eziphilayo zenyama yonke, izinyoni, nezinkomo, nezilwanyana zonke ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni, zichume emhlabeni, zizale, zande emhlabeni.”

₁₈Wayesephuma uNowa namadodana akhe, nomkakhe, nabafazi bamadodana akhe bekanye naye. ₁₉Zonke izilwane, nazo zonke izilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo, nazo zonke izinyoni, konke okuhamba emhlabeni ngezinhlobo zakho kwaphuma emkhunjini.

₂₀UNowa wamakhela uJehova i-altare, wathatha kuzo zonke izilwane ezihlambulukileyo nakuzo zonke izinyoni ezihlambulukileyo, wanikela umnikelo wokushiswa e-altare. ₂₁UJehova wezwa iphunga elimnandi; uJehova wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Angisayikuphinda ngiqalekise umhlaba ngenxa yabantu, ngokuba imicabango yomuntu mibi kwasebusheni bakhe; angisayikuphinda ngibhubhise konke okuphilayo, njengalokho ngenzile. ₂₂Umhlaba usekhona, ukutshala nokuvuna, amakhaza nokufudumala, ihlobo nobusika, imini nobusuku akuyikunqamuka.”

₁UNkulunkulu wabusisa uNowa namadodana akhe, wathi kubo: “Zalani nande, nigcwalise umhlaba. ₂Uvalo nokwesabeka kwenu akube phezu kwezilwane zonke zomhlaba, naphezu kwazo zonke izinyoni zezulu, naphezu kwakho konke okunwabuzelayo emhlabeni, naphezu kwazo zonke izinhlanzi, kunikezelwe ezandleni zenu. ₃Zonke izilwane eziphilayo ziyakuba ngukudla kwenu; ngiyaninika konke kube njengemifino eluhlaza.

₄“Kepha inyama okukuyo umphefumulo wayo, okungukuthi igazi layo, aniyikuyidla. ₅Kodwa elenu igazi okukulo umphefumulo wenu ngiyakulibiza; kuzo zonke izilwane ngiyakulibiza; nakubo bonke abantu ngiyakubiza umphefumulo wabo, owomunye esandleni somunye. ₆Ochitha igazi lomuntu, igazi lakhe liyakuchithwa ngabantu, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wamenza umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe. ₇Kepha zalani nina, nande, nichume emhlabeni, nivame kuwo.”

₈UNkulunkulu wakhuluma kuNowa nakumadodana akhe enaye, wathi: ₉“Bhekani, mina ngiyamisa isivumelwano sami nani nenzalo yenu emva kwenu, ₁₀nezilwane zonke eziphilayo ezinani, izinyoni, nezinkomo, nezilo zomhlaba ezinani, zonke eziphume emkhunjini, yebo, zonke izilwane zasemhlabeni. ₁₁Ngizakumisa isivumelwano sami nawe; akusayikubhujiswa nyama ngamanzi kazamcolo; akasayikuza uzamcolo ukuba achithe umhlaba.”

₁₂UNkulunkulu wathi: “Lokhu kuluphawu lwesivumelwano engisenza phakathi kwami nani nazo zonke izilwane eziphilayo ezinani kuze kube sezizukulwaneni zaphakade: ₁₃ngizakumisa uthingo lwami emafwini, lube luphawu lwesivumelwano phakathi kwami nomhlaba. ₁₄Kuyakuthi lapho ngiqoqa amafu phezu komhlaba, uthingo lubonakale emafwini. ₁₅Khona ngiyakukhumbula isivumelwano esiphakathi kwami nani nazo zonke izilwane eziphilayo zenyama yonke; amanzi awasayikuba nguzamcolo wokuchitha inyama yonke. ₁₆Uthingo luyakuba semafwini; ngizakulubheka, ngikhumbule isivumelwano esiphakade phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nazo zonke izilwane eziphilayo zenyama yonke emhlabeni.”

₁₇UNkulunkulu wathi kuNowa: “Lokhu kuluphawu lwesivumelwano engisenzile phakathi kwami nayo yonke inyama esemhlabeni.”

₁₈Amadodana kaNowa aphuma emkhunjini ayengoShemi, noHamu, noJafete; uHamu wayenguyise kaKhanani. ₁₉Yilawo amadodana amathathu kaNowa; umhlaba wonke wagcwaliswa ngabavela kuwo.

₂₀UNowa waqala waba ngumlimi, watshala isivini. ₂₁Waphuza iwayini, wadakwa, walala nqunu etendeni lakhe. ₂₂UHamu uyise kaKhanani wabona ubunqunu bukayise, watshela abafowabo bobabili bengaphandle. ₂₃OShemi noJafete bathatha ingubo, bayifaka emahlombe abo bobabili, bahamba nyovane, basibekela ubunqunu bukayise; ubuso babo babubheka emuva, abaze babona ubunqunu bukayise.

₂₄UNowa waphaphama ekudakweni, wezwa lokho ebikwenzile kuye indodana yakhe encane. ₂₅Wathi:

₂₈Emva kukazamcolo uNowa wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisihlanu. ₂₉Izinsuku zonke zikaNowa zaziyiminyaka engamakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye namashumi ayisihlanu.

₁Lezi ziyizizukulwane zamadodana kaNowa: ngoShemi, noHamu, noJafete; bazalelwa amadodana emva kukazamcolo. ₂Amadodana kaJafete: ngoGomere, noMagoge, noMadayi, noJavani, noThubali, noMesheke, noTirase. ₃Amadodana kaGomere: ngo-Ashikenaze, noRifate, noThogarma. ₄Amadodana kaJavani: ngo-Elisha, noTharishishi, noKitimi, noDodanimi. ₅Kuvela kulabo iziqhingi zabezizwe zahlukaniselwa amazwe abo, kwaba yilelo nalelo ngolimi lwalo, nangemindeni yalo, nangezizwe zalo. ₆Amadodana kaHamu: ngoKushe, noMisirayimi, noPhuthi, noKhanani. ₇Amadodana kaKushe: ngoSeba, noHavila, noSabita, noRama, noSabitheka. Amadodana kaRama: ngoSheba noDedani.

₈UKushe wazala uNimrode; yena waqala ukuba ngonamandla emhlabeni. ₉Wayeyiphisi elinamandla ebusweni bukaJehova; ngalokho kuthiwa: “Iphisi elinamandla njengoNimrode ebusweni bukaJehova.” ₁₀Ukubusa kwakhe kwaqala eBabele, nase-Ereke, nase-Akade, naseKaline, ezweni laseShineyari. ₁₁Waphuma kulelo zwe, waya e-Asiriya, wakha iNineve, neRehoboti-Ire, neKhala, ₁₂neResene phakathi kweNineve neKhala; lo ungumuzi omkhulu.

₁₃UMisirayimi wazala amaLudi, nama-Anami, namaLehabi, namaNafetuhi, ₁₄namaPatrusi, namaKasuluhi, lapho kwavela khona amaFilisti namaKafitori.

₁₅UKhanani wazala uSidoni, izibulo lakhe, noHeti, ₁₆namaJebusi, nama-Amori, namaGirigashi, ₁₇namaHivi, nama-Arki, namaSini, ₁₈nama-Arvadi, namaSemari, namaHamati; ngasemuva imindeni yamaKhanani yahlakazeka.

₁₉Umkhawulo wamaKhanani wawususukela eSidoni, waya ngaseGerari waze wafika eGaza; waya ngaseSodoma naseGomora nase-Adima naseSeboyimi waze wafika eLasha.

₂₀Labo babe ngamadodana kaHamu ngemindeni yawo nangezilimi zawo emazweni awo nasezizweni zawo.

₂₁NoShemi uyise wabantwana bonke baka-Ebere, umnewabo omkhulu kaJafete, wazala abantwana. ₂₂Amadodana kaShemi: ngo-Elamu, no-Ashuri, no-Arapakishade, noLude, no-Aramu. ₂₃Amadodana ka-Aramu: ngo-Use, noHule, noGeteri, noMashe. ₂₄U-Arpakishade wazala uShela; uShela wazala u-Ebere. ₂₅U-Ebere wazala amadodana amabili; igama lomunye lalinguPhelege,* ngokuba emihleni yakhe izwe ladatshulwa. Igama lomfowabo lalinguJokothane. ₂₆UJokothane wazala o-Alimodade, noShelefe, noHasaramavete, noJere, ₂₇noHadoramu, no-Uzali, noDikila, ₂₈no-Obale, no-Abimayele, noSheba, ₂₉no-Ofiri, noHavila, noJababi; bonke laba babengamadodana kaJokothane. ₃₀Ukwakha kwabo kwasukela eMesha kwaze kwafika ngaseSefare, intaba yasempumalanga.

₃₁Laba babe ngamadodana kaShemi ngemindeni yawo nangezilimi zawo, emazweni awo nasezizweni zawo.

₃₂Lezi ziyimindeni yamadodana kaNowa ngezizukulwane zawo ezizweni zawo; ngalawo izizwe zahlakazeka emhlabeni emva kukazamcolo.

₁Umhlaba wonke wawunolimi lunye nokukhuluma kunye. ₂Kwathi ekusukeni kwabo empumalanga bafumana ithafa ezweni laseShineyari; bakha khona.

₃Base bethi omunye komunye: “Wozani, ake senze izitini, sizishisise.” Izitini zaba ngamatshe abo, nebitume* laba ludaka lwabo. ₄Bathi: “Wozani, asakhe umuzi nombhoshongo osiqongo sawo sisezulwini, sizenzele igama, funa sihlakazeke ebusweni bomhlaba wonke.”

₅UJehova wehla ukuba abone umuzi nombhoshongo okwakhiwa ngabantwana babantu. ₆UJehova wathi: “Bheka, bonke basizwe sinye nolimi lunye; yikho abaqala ngakho; manje abayikunqanyulelwa lutho abahlosa ukulwenza. ₇Wozani sehle, siye ukusanganisa ulimi lwabo ukuba bangezwani, kube yilowo nalowo ulimi lomunye.”

₈Kanjalo uJehova wabahlakazela emhlabeni wonke, bephuma lapho; bayeka ukwakha umuzi. ₉Ngalokho igama lawo lathiwa iBabele,* ngokuba uJehova wasanganisa khona ulimi lomhlaba wonke; wabahlakazela emhlabeni wonke.

₁₀Lezi ziyizizukulwane zikaShemi; uShemi wayeneminyaka eyikhulu, wazala u-Arpakishade iminyaka emibili emva kukazamcolo. ₁₁Emva kokuzalwa kuka-Arpakishade uShemi wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu ayisihlanu, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₁₂U-Arpakishade wahamba iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nanhlanu, wazala uShela. ₁₃Emva kokuzalwa kukaShela u-Arpakishade wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu amane nantathu, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₁₄UShela wahamba iminyaka engamashumi amathathu, wazala u-Ebere. ₁₅Emva kokuzalwa kuka-Ebere uShela wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu amane nantathu, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₁₆U-Ebere wahamba iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nane, wazala uPhelege. ₁₇Emva kokuzalwa kukaPhelege u-Ebere wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₁₈UPhelege wahamba iminyaka engamashumi amathathu, wazala uRehu. ₁₉Emva kokuzalwa kukaRehu uPhelege wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu amabili nesishiyagalolunye, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₂₀URehu wahamba iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nambili, wazala uSerugi. ₂₁Emva kokuzalwa kukaSerugi uRehu wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu amabili nesikhombisa, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₂₂USerugi wahamba iminyaka engamashumi amathathu, wazala uNahori. ₂₃Emva kokuzalwa kukaNahori uSerugi wahamba iminyaka engamakhulu amabili, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₂₄UNahori wahamba iminyaka engamashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye, wazala uThera. ₂₅Emva kokuzalwa kukaThera uNahori wahamba iminyaka eyikhulu neshumi nesishiyagalolunye, wazala amadodana namadodakazi.

₂₆UThera wahamba iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa, wazala o-Abrama, noNahori, noHarana.

₂₇Lezi ziyizizukulwane zikaThera.

UThera wazala o-Abrama, noNahori, noHarana; uHarana wazala uLoti. ₂₈UHarana wafa phambi kukayise uThera ezweni lokuzalwa kwakhe, i-Uri lamaKaledi. ₂₉O-Abrama noNahori bazithathela abafazi; igama lomka-Abrama lalinguSarayi; igama lomkaNahori lalinguMilka, indodakazi kaHarana, uyise kaMilka noyise kaJiska. ₃₀USarayi wayeyinyumba, engenamntwana.

₃₁UThera wathatha u-Abrama indodana yakhe, noLoti indodana kaHarana, indodana yendodana yakhe, noSarayi umalokazana wakhe, umka-Abrama indodana yakhe, waphuma nabo e-Uri lamaKaledi ukuya ezweni laseKhanani; bafika eHarana, bakha khona.

₃₂Izinsuku zikaThera zaziyiminyaka engamakhulu amabili nanhlanu; uThera wafela eHarana.

₁Emva kwalokho uJesu wamuka waya phesheya kolwandle lwaseGalile olungolwaseTiberiya. ₂Samlandela isixuku esikhulu, ngokuba babebona izibonakaliso azenzayo kwabagulayo. ₃UJesu wenyukela entabeni, wahlala phansi khona nabafundi bakhe. ₄Laliseduze iPhasika, umkhosi wabaJuda.

₅Kuthe uJesu ephakamisa amehlo, wabona ukuthi isixuku esikhulu siza kuye, wathi kuFiliphu: “Sizakuzithengaphi izinkwa ukuba badle laba na?” ₆Washo njalo emvivinya, ngokuba yena wayekwazi azakukwenza.

₇UFiliphu wamphendula wathi: “Izinkwa zawodenariyu* abangamakhulu amabili zingebanele, kube yilowo nalowo athole ingcosana.”

₈Omunye wabafundi bakhe, u-Andreya umfowabo kaSimoni Petru, wathi kuye: ₉“Kukhona umfana lapha onezinkwa zebhali* eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzana ezimbili; kepha kuyini lokho kwabaningi kangaka na?”

₁₀UJesu wathi: “Bahlaliseni abantu.” Kwakukhona utshani obuningi kuleyo ndawo. Ahlala phansi-ke amadoda, umumo wawo kungathi izinkulungwame eziyisihlanu. ₁₁UJesu wazithabatha izinkwa, wabonga, wayesezabela ababehlezi phansi, kanjalo futhi nezinhlanzana, njengokuthanda kwabo.

₁₂Kuthe sebesuthi, wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Buthani imvuthuluka eseleyo, kungachitheki lutho.” ₁₃Base bebutha, bagcwalisa iziqabetho eziyishumi nambili ngemvuthuluka yezinkwa eziyisihlanu zebhali* eyasala kwabadlileyo.

₁₄Kwathi-ke abantu bebona isibonakaliso uJesu asenzayo, bathi: “Impela lo ungumProfethi ozayo ezweni.” ₁₅Ngakho-ke uJesu azi ukuthi bazakuza, bambambe, bambeke inkosi, wamonyukela futhi entabeni yena yedwa.

₁₆Sekuhlwa abafundi bakhe bewukela elwandle, ₁₇bangena emkhunjini, bawela ulwandle beya eKapernawume. Kwase kuhlwile, uJesu wayengakafiki kubo. ₁₈Kwavunguza umoya omkhulu, lwavuka ulwandle. ₁₉Khona sebegwedlile kungathi amastadiyu* angamashumi amabili nanhlanu noma amashumi amathathu, babona uJesu ehamba phezu kolwandle, esondela emkhunjini; bethuka. ₂₀Kepha wathi kubo: “Yimina, ningesabi.” ₂₁Khona bafuna ukumngenisa emkhunjini, umkhumbi wawusufika masinyane ezweni ababeya kulo.

₂₂Ngangomuso isixuku esasingaphesheya kolwandle sabona kungekho omunye umkhunjana khona, sazi ukuthi ubumunye nje nokuthi uJesu wayengangenanga emkhunjini kanye nabafundi bakhe, kepha ukuthi abafundi bakhe babewele bodwa, ₂₃kodwa eminye imikhunjana evela eTiberiya yafika eduze nendawo lapho badla khona isinkwa, iNkosi ibongile; ₂₄isixuku sathi ukubona ukuthi uJesu akakho lapho nabafundi bakhe, sangena emikhunjaneni, naso saya eKapernawume sifuna uJesu.

₂₅Kwathi ukuba bamfumane phesheya kolwandle, bathi: “Rabi, ufike nini lapha na?”

₂₆UJesu wabaphendula wathi: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Aningifuni ngokuba nabona izibonakaliso, kepha ningifuna ngokuba nadla izinkwa, nasutha. ₂₇Ningasebenzeli ukudla okuphelayo kepha ukudla okuhlala kuze kube ngukuphila okuphakade, eyakunipha khona iNdodana yomuntu, ngokuba uYise uNkulunkulu ubekile uphawu kuyona.”

₂₈Bathi-ke kuye: “Singenzani ukuba sisebenze imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu na?”

₂₉Waphendula uJesu, wathi kubo: “Umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu yilowo ukuba nikholwe nguye amthumileyo.”

₃₀Ngakho bathi kuye: “Pho, wenza sibonakaliso sini ukuba sibone, sikholwe nguwe, na? Usebenzani na? ₃₁Okhokho bethu badla imana* ehlane njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: ‘Wabapha isinkwa esivela ezulwini ukuba badle.’ ”

₃₂UJesu wayesethi kubo: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Kwakungesiye uMose owanipha isinkwa esivela ezulwini, kodwa uBaba unipha isinkwa soqobo esivela ezulwini. ₃₃Ngokuba isinkwa sikaNkulunkulu singuye owehla ezulwini, olipha izwe ukuphila.”

₃₄Khona bathi kuye: “Nkosi, siphe njalonjalo leso sinkwa.”

₃₅UJesu wathi kubo: “Mina ngiyisinkwa sokuphila; ozayo kimi kasoze alamba, nokholwa yimi kasoze oma. ₃₆Kepha ngithe kini: Ningibonile, nokho anikholwa. ₃₇Konke angipha khona uBaba kuyakuza kimi; ozayo kimi angisoze ngamlahlela ngaphandle. ₃₈Ngokuba ngehle ezulwini kungengukuba ngenze intando yami, kodwa ukuba ngenze intando yongithumileyo. ₃₉Lokhu kuyintando yongithumileyo ukuba konke angiphe khona ngingalahlekelwa lutho kukho, kodwa ngikuvuse ngomuhla wokuphela. ₄₀Ngokuba lokhu kuyintando kaBaba ukuba yilowo nalowo obona iNdodana, akholwe yiyo, abe nokuphila okuphakade; ngiyakumvusa mina ngomuhla wokuphela.”

₄₁Khona abaJuda bakhonona ngaye, ngokuba ethe: “Ngiyisinkwa esehle ezulwini.” ₄₂Bathi-ke: “Lona akusiye uJesu indodana kaJosefa, uyise nonina sibazi na? Usesho kanjani, pho, ukuthi: ‘Ngehle ezulwini,’ na?”

₄₃UJesu waphendula, wathi kubo: “Ningakhononi phakathi kwenu. ₄₄Akakho ongeza kimi, uma uBaba ongithumileyo engamdonsi; mina-ke ngiyakumvusa ngomuhla wokuphela. ₄₅Kulotshiwe kubaprofethi ukuthi: ‘Bonke bayakuba ngabafundiswe nguNkulunkulu.’ Yilowo nalowo ozwile kuBaba, wafunda, uyeza kimi. ₄₆Akusikho ukuthi ukhona oke wambona uBaba, kuphela ovela kuNkulunkulu; nguyena ombonile uBaba. ₄₇Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Okholwayo unokuphila okuphakade. ₄₈Mina ngiyisinkwa sokuphila. ₄₉Okhokho benu badla imana* ehlane, bafa. ₅₀Lesi siyisinkwa esehla ezulwini ukuba umuntu adle kuso, angafi. ₅₁Mina ngiyisinkwa esiphilayo esehla ezulwini. Uma umuntu edla lesi sinkwa, uyakuphila phakade; futhi-ke isinkwa engizakusinikela ngenxa yokuphila kwezwe siyinyama yami.”

₅₂Base bephikisana bodwa abaJuda, bethi: “Lo angasinika kanjani inyama yakhe, siyidle, na?”

₅₃Khona uJesu wathi kubo: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Uma ningayidli inyama yeNdodana yomuntu, niphuze igazi layo, aninakuphila phakathi kwenu. ₅₄Odla inyama yami, aphuze igazi lami, unokuphila okuphakade; mina ngiyakumvusa ngomuhla wokuphela. ₅₅Ngokuba inyama yami ingukudla isibili, negazi lami lingukuphuza isibili. ₅₆Odla inyama yami, aphuze igazi lami, uhlala kimi, nami kuye. ₅₇Njengalokho uBaba ophilayo ungithumile, nami ngiphila ngoBaba, lowo ongidlayo naye uyakuphila ngami. ₅₈Lesi siyisinkwa esehle ezulwini, kungenjengalokho okhokho benu badla imana,* bafa; osidlayo lesi sinkwa uyakuphila phakade.” ₅₉Lokho wakukhuluma esinagogeni* efundisa eKapernawume.

₆₀Ngakho-ke abaningi kubafundi bakhe bekuzwa lokho bathi: “Lilukhuni leli zwi; ngubani ongalizwa na?”

₆₁Kepha uJesu azi phakathi kwakhe ukuthi abafundi bakhe bayakhonona ngalokho, wathi: “Lokhu kuyanicunula na? ₆₂Pho, uma nibona iNdodana yomuntu yenyukela lapho yayikhona kuqala, niyakuthini na? ₆₃NguMoya ophilisayo, inyama ayisizi lutho; amazwi engiwakhulume kini angumoya, angukuphila. ₆₄Kepha bakhona abanye phakathi kwenu abangakholwa. Ngokuba uJesu wazi kwasekuqaleni ukuba ngobani abangakholwa nokuba ngubani ozakumkhaphela.” ₆₅Wayesethi: “Kungenxa yalokho ngithe kini: Akakho ongeza kimi uma engakuphiwe nguBaba.”

₆₆Emva kwalokho abaningi babafundi bakhe babuyela emuva, ababe besahamba naye.

₆₇Ngakho uJesu wathi kwabayishumi nambili: “Nani nithanda ukumuka na?”

₆₈USimoni Petru wamphendula wathi: “Nkosi, siyakuya kubani na? Amazwi okuphila okuphakade akuwe. ₆₉Siyakholwa, siyazi ukuthi wena ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu.”

₇₀UJesu wabaphendula wathi: “Mina anginikhethanga nina abayishumi nambili na? Kepha omunye kini ungusathane.” ₇₁Wayekhuluma ngoJuda Iskariyothe kaSimoni, ngokuba nguye obezakumkhaphela engomunye wabayishumi nambili.

₁Emva kwalokho uJesu wahamba eGalile, ngokuba wayengathandi ukuhamba eJudiya, lokhu abaJuda bebefuna ukumbulala. ₂Kwase kusondele umkhosi wabaJuda, owamadokodo. ₃Base bethi kuye abafowabo: “Muka lapha, uye eJudiya, ukuze nabafundi bakho babone imisebenzi yakho oyenzayo. ₄Ngokuba akukho muntu owenza utho ekusithekeni, efuna yena uqobo lwakhe abe sobala. Uma wenza lezi zinto, zibonakalise wena kulo izwe.” ₅Ngokuba nabafowabo babengakholwa nguye.

₆Ngakho-ke uJesu wathi kubo: “Isikhathi sami asikafiki, isikhathi senu silungile njalo. ₇Izwe lingenizonde nina, kepha mina liyangizonda, ngokuba ngifakaza ngalo ukuthi imisebenzi yalo mibi. ₈Yenyukani nina, niye emkhosini; mina angenyukeli manje kulo mkhosi; ngokuba esami isikhathi asikapheleli.” ₉Eseshilo lokho kubo wahlala eGalile.

₁₀Sebenyukele emkhosini abafowabo, naye-ke wenyuka, kungesobala kepha kungathi kungasese. ₁₁Khona abaJuda bamfuna emkhosini, bathi: “Uphi yena na?”

₁₂Kwaba khona ukukhonona okukhulu ngaye phakathi kwezixuku. Abanye bathi: “Muhle;” abanye bathi: “Qha, ngokuba udukisa abantu.” ₁₃Nokho kwakungekho muntu owakhuluma obala ngaye ngokwesaba abaJuda.

₁₄Kuthe sekuphakathi komkhosi, uJesu wenyukela ethempelini, wafundisa. ₁₅Ngakho abaJuda bamangala bathi: “Lona uyazi kanjani imibhalo engafundanga na?”

₁₆Khona uJesu wabaphendula wathi: “Imfundiso yami akusiyo eyami kodwa ngeyongithumileyo. ₁₇Uma umuntu ethanda ukwenza intando yakhe, uzakwazi ngemfundiso noma ivela kuNkulunkulu noma ngizikhulumela okwami. ₁₈Okhuluma ngokwakhe ufuna udumo lwakhe; kepha ofuna udumo lomthumileyo lowo uqinisile; akukho ukungalungi kuye. ₁₉UMose kaninikanga yini umthetho na? Nokho akakho kini ogcina umthetho. Nifunelani ukungibulala na?”

₂₀Isixuku saphendula sathi: “Unedemoni wena; ngubani ofuna ukukubulala na?”

₂₁UJesu waphendula, wathi kubo: “Munye umsebenzi engiwenzile, niyamangala nonke. ₂₂Ngokuba uMose uninikile ukusoka – kungesikho ukuthi kuvela kuMose kodwa kokhokho – niyamsoka umuntu nangesabatha. ₂₃Uma umuntu amukela ukusoka ngesabatha ukuze kungeqiwa umthetho kaMose, pho, ningithukuthelela ngokuba ngaphulukisa umuntu ngokuphelele ngesabatha na? ₂₄Ningahluleli ngokwamehlo, kepha yahlulelani ukwahlulela okulungileyo.”

₂₅Base bethi abanye kwabaseJerusalema: “Lo akusiye yini abafuna ukumbulala na? ₂₆Bheka, ukhuluma obala, kabasho lutho kuye. Kungaba ngukuthi ababusi sebazi isibili ukuthi lo unguKristu na? ₂₇Kodwa lo siyamazi lapho evela khona; kepha uKristu, nxa efika, akakho owazi lapho evela khona.”

₂₈Ngakho uJesu wamemeza efundisa ethempelini, wathi: “Niyangazi, niyazi futhi ukuthi ngivelaphi; mina-ke angizizelanga, kodwa ongithumileyo uqinisile, eningamaziyo nina. ₂₉Ngiyamazi mina, ngokuba ngivela kuye, futhi nguye ongithumileyo.”

₃₀Ngakho bafuna ukumbamba, kepha akubangakho owambeka isandla, ngokuba isikhathi sakhe sasingakafiki. ₃₁Kepha esixukwini abaningi bakholwa nguye, bathi: “UKristu, nxa esefikile, uyakwenza izibonakaliso eziningi kunalezo azenzileyo lona na?”

₃₂AbaFarisi bezwa isixuku sikhonona ngalezo zinto ngaye; abapristi abakhulu nabaFarisi base bethuma izikhonzi ukuba zimbambe.

₃₃Ngakho-ke uJesu wathi: “Kuseyisikhashana ngikhona kini, besengimuka, ngiye kongithumileyo. ₃₄Niyakungifuna, ningangifumani, nalapho ngikhona, ningeze nina.”

₃₅Ngakho abaJuda bakhuluma bodwa, bathi: “Uzakuya ngaphi lo lapho singayikumthola na? Uyakuya kwabahlakazekileyo kumaGreki, afundise amaGreki, na? ₃₆Lizwi lini leli alishoyo lokuthi: ‘Niyakungifuna, ningangifumani,’ nokuthi: ‘Lapho ngikhona, ningeze nina,’ na?”

₃₇Kepha ngosuku lokugcina olukhulu lomkhosi uJesu wema wamemeza wathi: “Uma ekhona owomileyo, akeze kimi, aphuze. ₃₈Okholwa yimi, njengokusho kombhalo, esiswini sakhe kuyakugobhoza imifula yamanzi aphilayo.” ₃₉Washo lokho ngoMoya abazakumamukela abakholwa nguye, ngokuba uMoya wayengakafiki, lokhu uJesu wayengakakhazimuliswa.

₄₀Abanye besixuku sebezwa lawa mazwi bathi: “Lo ungumprofethi isibili.”

₄₁Abanye bathi: “Lo unguKristu.” Kepha abanye bathi: “Kanti uKristu uvela eGalile na? ₄₂Awushongo yini umbhalo ukuthi uKristu uvela enzalweni kaDavide naseBetlehema, emzaneni lapho wayekhona uDavide na?” ₄₃Ngakho kwaba khona ukwahlukana ngaye esixukwini. ₄₄Abanye-ke kubo babethanda ukumbamba; kepha akubangakho owambeka izandla.

₄₅Zafika-ke izikhonzi kubapristi abakhulu nakubaFarisi. Bathi kuzo: “Animlethanga ngani na?”

₄₆Izikhonzi zaphendula zathi: “Akuzange kukhulume muntu njengokuba kukhuluma lowo muntu.”

₄₇Ngakho abaFarisi baziphendula bathi: “Kanti nani nidukisiwe na? ₄₈Ukhona yini ezikhulwini nakubaFarisi oke wakholwa nguye na? ₄₉Kodwa lesi sixuku esingawazi umthetho siqalekisiwe.”

₅₀Wayesethi kubo uNikodemu owake weza kuye engomunye wabo: ₅₁“Konje umthetho wakithi uyamlahla yini umuntu ungakamuzwa kuqala, uze wazi akwenzayo, na?”

₅₂Baphendula, bathi kuye: “Kanti nawe ungowaseGalile na? Phenyisisa, ubone ukuthi akuveli mprofethi eGalile.” ₅₃Base behamba, kwaba yilowo nalowo waya ekhaya.