To The Word – Day 46

₁UMose wayesebiza wonke u-Israyeli, wathi kuye: “Yizwa, Israyeli, izimiso nezahlulelo engizikhuluma ezindlebeni zakho namuhla ukuba uzifunde, uqaphele ukuzenza. ₂UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu wenza isivumelwano nathi eHorebe. ₃UJehova akasenzanga lesi sivumelwano nawobaba, wasenza nathi, yebo, thina esikhona lapha sonke namuhla siphilile. ₄UJehova wakhuluma kinina ubuso nobuso entabeni ephakathi komlilo. ₅Mina ngema phakathi kukaJehova nani ngaleso sikhathi ukunazisa izwi likaJehova, ngokuba nesaba ngenxa yomlilo, anakhuphukela entabeni. Wathi:

₆“ ‘NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho owakukhipha ezweni laseGibithe, indlu yobugqila.

₇“ ‘Ungabi nabanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami.

₈“ ‘Ungazenzeli izithombe ezibaziweyo zomfanekiso wokusezulwini phezulu, nokusemhlabeni phansi, nokusemanzini phansi komhlaba; ₉ungazikhothameli, ungazikhonzi, ngokuba mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu onomhawu, ngihambela ububi bawoyise kubantwana kuso isizukulwane sesithathu nesesine sabangizondayo, ₁₀kepha ngibenzela umusa abayizinkulungwane abangithandayo, bagcine imiyalelo yami.

₁₁“ ‘Ungaliphathi ngeze igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ngokuba uJehova akayikumyeka oliphatha ngeze igama lakhe.

₁₂“ ‘Gcina usuku lwesabatha, ulungcwelise, njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ekuyalile. ₁₃Izinsuku eziyisithupha uyakusebenza, uwenze wonke umsebenzi wakho, ₁₄kepha usuku lwesikhombisa luyisabatha likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho; awuyikusebenza msebenzi ngalo, wena nendodana yakho, nendodakazi yakho, nenceku yakho, nencekukazi yakho, nenkabi yakho, nembongolo yakho, nezinkomo zakho, nomfokazi wakho ophakathi kwamasango akho, ukuba inceku yakho nencekukazi yakho ziphumule njengawe. ₁₅Wokhumbula ukuthi wawuyinceku ezweni laseGibithe nokuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho wakukhipha khona ngesandla esinamandla nangengalo eyeluliweyo; ngalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho wakuyala ukugcina usuku lwesabatha.

₁₆“ ‘Yazisa uyihlo nonyoko, njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho wakuyala, ukuze izinsuku zakho zibe zinde, kube kuhle kuwe ezweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunika lona.

₁₇“ ‘Ungabulali.

₁₈“ ‘Ungaphingi.

₁₉“ ‘Ungebi.

₂₀“ ‘Ungafakazi amanga ngomakhelwane wakho.

₂₁“ ‘Ungafisi umfazi womakhelwane wakho; ungafisi indlu yomakhelwane wakho, nensimu yakhe, nenceku yakhe, nencekukazi yakhe, nenkabi yakhe, nembongolo yakhe, nokunye okomakhelwane wakho.’

₂₂“Lawo mazwi uJehova wawakhuluma kuyo yonke inhlangano yenu entabeni, evela phakathi komlilo, nefu, nesigayegaye, ngezwi elikhulu, akathasiselanga lutho. Wawaloba ezibhebheni ezimbili zamatshe, wanginika zona.

₂₃“Kwathi lapho nilizwa izwi elivela phakathi kobumnyama, intaba ivutha umlilo, nasondela kimi, zonke izinhloko zenu zezizwe zenu namalunga enu, ₂₄nathi: ‘Bheka, uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu usibonisile inkazimulo yakhe nobukhulu bakhe, salizwa izwi lakhe livela phakathi komlilo; sibonile namuhla ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakhuluma nomuntu, adlule aphile. ₂₅Ngalokho siyakufelani na? Ngokuba lo mlilo omkhulu uyakusiqeda; uma silizwa futhi izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, siyakufa. ₂₆Ngokuba ngubani enyameni yonke ozwile njengathi izwi likaNkulunkulu ophilayo livela phakathi komlilo, waphila, na? ₂₇Sondela wena, uzwe konke uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ayakukukhuluma, usitshele konke uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ayakukukhuluma kuwe, sikuzwe, sikwenze.’

₂₈“UJehova wawezwa amazwi enu ekukhulumeni kwenu kimi; uJehova wayesethi kimi: ‘Ngiwezwile amazwi alaba bantu abawakhulume kuwe; basho kahle konke abakukhulumile. ₂₉Sengathi kungaba khona kubo inhliziyo enjalo ukuba bangesabe, bagcine njalo yonke imiyalelo yami, kube kuhle kubo nakubantwana babo kuze kube phakade.

₃₀“ ‘Hamba, usho kubo ukuthi: “Buyelani ematendeni enu.” ₃₁Kepha wena, yima lapha ngakimi, ngikhulume kuwe yonke imiyalo, nezimiso, nezahlulelo oyakubafundisa khona ukuba bakwenze ezweni engibanika lona ukuba balidle.’

₃₂“Niyakuqaphela ukwenza njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu eniyalile, ningaphenduki ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo. ₃₃Niyakuhamba njalo endleleni uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aniyale ngayo, ukuze niphile, kube kuhle kini, nandise izinsuku zenu ezweni eniyakulidla.

₁Khona wabuye wangena esinagogeni.* Kwakukhona lapho umuntu onesandla esishwabeneyo. ₂Bamqaphela ukuba uzakumphilisa yini ngesabatha, ukuze bambeke icala. ₃Wathi kumuntu onesandla esishwabeneyo: “Sukuma, ume phakathi.”

₄Wayesethi kubo: “Kuvunyelwe ngesabatha ukwenza okuhle noma okubi yini, ukusindisa umuntu noma ukumbulala na?” Kepha bathula.

₅Waqalaza ebabuka ngokuthukuthela, edabukile ngobulukhuni benhliziyo yabo; wayesethi kulowo muntu: “Yelula isandla.” Waselula, saphiliswa isandla sakhe. ₆AbaFarisi base bephuma masinyane bacebisana ngaye nabakaHerode ukuthi bangambhubhisa kanjani.

₇UJesu wasuka kanye nabafundi bakhe, waya ngaselwandle; isixuku esikhulu samlandela sivela eGalile, naseJudiya, ₈naseJerusalema, nase-Idumiya, nangaphesheya kweJordani, nangaseTire, naseSidoni; isixuku esikhulu sesizwile konke akwenzayo seza kuye. ₉Wayeseyala abafundi bakhe ukuba isikebhe simlindele ngenxa yesixuku sabantu, ukuze bangamcindezeli, ₁₀ngokuba wayephulukisa abaningi, kwaze kwathi bonke abanezifo bawela phezu kwakhe ukuba bamnamathe. ₁₁Nawomoya abangcolileyo bathi ukuba bambone, bawa phansi phambi kwakhe, bamemeza bathi: “Wena uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” ₁₂Wabayalisisa ukuba bangamzwakalisi.

₁₃Wayesenyukela entabeni, wabizela kuye abebafuna yena; beza kuye. ₁₄Wamisa abayishumi nambili ukuba babe naye nokuba abathume baye kushumayela, ₁₅babe namandla okukhipha amademoni. ₁₆Wayesemisa laba abayishumi nambili: uSimoni owamqamba igama lokuthi uPetru, ₁₇noJakobe kaZebedewu, noJohane umfowabo kaJakobe; laba wabaqamba igama lokuthi oBowanergesi okungukuthi amadodana okuduma; ₁₈no-Andreya, noFiliphu, noBartolomewu, noMathewu, noTomase, noJakobe ka-Alfewu, noThadewu, noSimoni umKhanani, ₁₉noJuda Iskariyothe owamkhaphelayo.

₂₀Wayesefika ekhaya; isixuku sabuthana futhi, ababe besaba nathuba lokudla nasinkwa. ₂₁Abakubo sebekuzwile baphuma ukuyombamba, ngokuba bathi uyahlanya.

₂₂Nababhali abehla bevela eJerusalema bathi: “UnoBelzebule, ukhipha amademoni ngombusi wamademoni.”

₂₃Wayesebabiza, wakhuluma kubo ngemifanekiso, ethi: “USathane angakhipha kanjani uSathane na? ₂₄Uma umbuso wahlukene wodwa, lowo mbuso ungeme. ₂₅Nendlu, uma yahlukene yodwa, leyo ndlu ayizukuma. ₂₆NoSathane, uma ezivukela yena, ahlukane, akanakuma, kepha uyaphela. ₂₇Yebo, akakho ongangena endlini yesiqhwaga, aphange impahla yaso, uma engabophi kuqala isiqhwaga, andukuba aphange indlu yaso. ₂₈Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Abantwana babantu bayakuthethelelwa izono zonke nokuhlambalaza noma kungakanani abangahlambalaza ngakho, ₂₉kepha lowo ohlambalaza uMoya oNgcwele kanakuthethelelwa naphakade, kodwa unecala lesono esingapheliyo.” ₃₀Ngokuba bathi unomoya ongcolileyo.

₃₁Kwase kufika unina nabafowabo, bema ngaphandle, bathumela kuye bembiza. ₃₂Isixuku sabantu sasimphahlile; bathi kuye: “Bheka, unyoko nabafowenu nawodadewenu bangaphandle bekufuna.”

₃₃Wabaphendula wathi: “Ngubani umame nabafowethu na?”

₃₄Waqalaza ebuka ababehlezi bemphahlile, wathi: “Bhekani, nangu umame nabafowethu. ₃₅Ngokuba owenza intando kaNkulunkulu nguye ongumfowethu nodadewethu nomame.”

₁Khona wabuye waqala ukufundisa ngaselwandle. Kwabuthana kuye isixuku esikhulu kakhulu, waze wangena emkhunjini, wahlala elwandle; isixuku sonke sasisemhlabathini ngaselwandle. ₂Wabafundisa okuningi ngemifanekiso; wathi kubo ekufundiseni kwakhe: ₃“Lalelani; bhekani, kwaphuma umhlwanyeli ukuyohlwanyela. ₄Kwathi ekuhlwanyeleni kwakhe enye imbewu yawela ngasendleleni; kwafika izinyoni, zayidla zayiqeda. ₅Enye yawela edwaleni, lapho yayingenamhlabathi omningi khona; yamila masinyane, ngokuba ingenamhlabathi ojulileyo. ₆Kwathi ukuba liphume ilanga, yahamuka; nangokuba ingenampande, yabuna. ₇Enye yawela emeveni; ameva akhula, ayiminyanisa, ayaze yathela isithelo. ₈Enye yawela emhlabathini omuhle; yahluma, yakhula, yathela isithelo, yaveza ngamashumi amathathu, nangamashumi ayisithupha, nangekhulu.”

₉Wayesethi: “Onezindlebe zokuzwa makezwe.”

₁₀Lapho esengasesitha, ababe naye kanye nabayishumi nambili bambuza ngale mifanekiso. ₁₁Wathi kubo: “Nina niphiwe imfihlakalo yombuso kaNkulunkulu, kodwa abangaphandle benzelwa konke ngemifanekiso, ₁₂ukuze ngokubona babone, bangabonisisi, nangokuzwa bezwe, bangaqondi, funa baphenduke, bathethelelwe.”

₁₃Wayesethi kubo: “Aniwazi lo mfanekiso; pho, niyakuyazi kanjani yonke imifanekiso na? ₁₄Umhlwanyeli uhlwanyela izwi. ₁₅Abangasendleleni yilabo abathi lapho kuhlwanyelwa khona izwi, nanxa sebelizwile, kufike masinyane uSathane, alisuse izwi elihlwanyelwe kubo. ₁₆Kanjalo abahlwanyelwe edwaleni yilabo abathi sebelizwile izwi, balamukele masinyane ngokuthokoza; ₁₇kepha kabanampande phakathi kwabo, kodwa bahlala isikhashana nje, kuthi sekuvele ukuhlupheka nokuzingelwa ngenxa yezwi, bakhubeke masinyane. ₁₈Abanye bangabahlwanyelwe emeveni; yibo abalizwile izwi, ₁₉kepha iminako yalesi sikhathi, nokukhohlisa kwengcebo, nokunxanela ezinye izinto kungena kuliminyanise izwi, libe ngelingatheliyo. ₂₀Nabahlwanyelwe emhlabathini omuhle yilabo abalizwa izwi, balamukele, bathele isithelo ngamashumi amathathu, nangamashumi ayisithupha, nangekhulu.”

₂₁Wayesethi kubo: “Imbala isibani siza ukuba sibekwe phansi kwesitsha nokuba phansi kombhede yini, singabekwa othini, na? ₂₂Ngokuba akukho okusithekileyo okungayikuhlalukiswa; akukho okuyisifuba okungayikuba sobala. ₂₃Uma ekhona onezindlebe zokuzwa, makezwe.”

₂₄Wayesethi kubo: “Qaphelani enikuzwayo; ngaleso silinganiso enilinganisa ngaso nani niyakulinganiselwa ngaso, nenezelwe nina. ₂₅Ngokuba onakho uyakuphiwa; kepha ongenakho uyakwamukwa nalokho anakho.”

₂₆Wayesethi: “Unjalo umbuso kaNkulunkulu; unjengokuba umuntu ephonsa imbewu emhlabathini, ₂₇alale, avuke ubusuku nemini, imibewu imile, ikhule, engazi ukuthi kanjani. ₂₈Umhlabathi uthela isithelo ngokwawo, kuqala ikhaba, khona isikhwebu, besekuba yizinhlamvu ezipheleleyo esikhwetshini. ₂₉Nxa sesivuthiwe isithelo, afake masinyane isikela, ngokuba ukuvuna sekufikile.”

₃₀Wathi futhi: “Siyakuwufanisa nani umbuso kaNkulunkulu? Siyakuwuchaza ngamfanekiso muni na? ₃₁Unjengenhlamvu yesinaphi ethi, nxa ihlwanyelwe emhlabathini, incinyane kunazo zonke izimbewu ezisemhlabeni, ₃₂kodwa nxa isihlwanyelwe imila ibe nkulu kunazo zonke izilimo, ixhante amagatsha amakhulu, ukuze izinyoni zezulu zakhele emthunzini wawo.”

₃₃Walikhuluma izwi kubo ngemifanekiso eminingi enjalo njengamandla abo okuzwa; ₃₄kodwa ngaphandle komfanekiso kakhulumanga kubo; kepha sebebodwa wabachasisela abafundi bakhe konke.

₃₅Ngalolo suku sekuhlwile, wathi kubo: “Asiwele siye ngaphesheya.” ₃₆Base bemukisa isixuku, bahamba naye, njengalokho ebesemkhunjini; kwakukhona neminye imikhumbi ihambisana naye. ₃₇Kwase kuvuka isivunguvungu esikhulu somoya, amaza aphonseka phakathi emkhunjini, umkhumbi waze waqala ukugcwala. ₃₈Kepha yena wayengasemuva emkhunjini elele esicamelweni; bamvusa, bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, awunaki, nakuba sibhubha, na?”

₃₉Wayesevuka, wakhuza umoya, wathi kulo ulwandle: “Thula, uthi du.” Kwanqamuka umoya, kwaba khona ukuthula okukhulu.

₄₀Wathi kubo: “Yini ukuba nesabe kangaka na? Yini ukuba ningabi nakukholwa na?”

₄₁Besaba ngokwesaba okukhulu, bathi omunye komunye: “Kanti lo ungubani, lokhu nomoya nolwandle kuyamlalela?”

₁Base befika phesheya kolwandle ezweni lamaGerasa. ₂Esephume emkhunjini, kwahlangana naye masinyane umuntu ovela emathuneni, enomoya ongcolileyo. ₃Wayehlala emathuneni, kungasekho muntu ongambopha nangeketanga; ₄ngokuba wayeseboshwe kaningi ngawozankosi nangamaketanga, kepha amaketanga ayegqashuliwe nguye nawozankosi babephuliwe, kungekho noyedwa owayenamandla okumthambisa. ₅Ngesikhathi sonke ubusuku nemini wayesemathuneni nasezintabeni, ememeza, ezilimaza ngamatshe.

₆Wathi ukuba ambone uJesu esekude, wagijima, wakhuleka kuye; ₇wayesememeza ngezwi elikhulu, ethi: “Nginamsebenzi muni nawe Jesu, Ndodana kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke? Ngikufungisa uNkulunkulu, ungangihluphi.” ₈Ngokuba wathi kuye: “Phuma kulo muntu, moya ongcolileyo.”

₉Wayesembuza ethi: “Ngubani igama lakho?”

Wathi kuye: “NginguLegiyona* igama lami, ngokuba sibaningi.” ₁₀Wamncenga kakhulu ukuba angabamukisi kulelo zwe.

₁₁Kwakukhona lapho ngasentabeni umhlambi omkhulu wezingulube ziklabile. ₁₂Bamncenga bathi: “Sithumele ezingulubeni ukuba singene kuzo.” ₁₃Wabavumela. Omoya abangcolileyo baphuma, bangena ezingulubeni; umhlambi wagulukudela eweni, waphonseka elwandle kungathi izinkulungwane ezimbili, zaminza elwandle.

₁₄Ababezalusa babaleka, baya babika emzini nasemaphandleni; base beza ukuyobona okwenzekileyo. ₁₅Bafika kuJesu, bambona obekhwelwe ngamademoni ehlezi embethe, esangulukile, yena owayenelegiyona;* base besaba. ₁₆Ababekubonile babatshela ukuthi kwenzeke kanjani kowayekhwelwe ngamademoni, nangezingulube. ₁₇Base beqala ukumncenga ukuba amuke ezweni lakubo.

₁₈Wathi ukuba angene emkhunjini, lowo owayekhwelwe ngamademoni wamncenga ukuba abe naye. ₁₉Akamvumelanga, kepha wathi kuye: “Hamba uye ekhaya kwabakini, ubabikele ukuthi kungakanani iNkosi ekwenzele khona, yakuhawukela.” ₂₀Wamuka-ke, waqala ukulanda eDekapholi ngokuthi kungakanani abekwenzile kuye uJesu; bamangala bonke.

₂₁Khona uJesu esebuye ewelele ngaphesheya ngomkhumbi, kwabuthana isixuku esikhulu kuye engaselwandle. ₂₂Kwase kufika omunye wabaphathi besinagoge,* nguJayiru igama lakhe, owathi ukuba ambone, waziphonsa phansi ngasezinyaweni zakhe, ₂₃wamncenga kakhulu, wathi: “Indodakazi yami isiyalela; ake uze, ubeke izandla phezu kwayo ukuba isindiswe, iphile.” ₂₄Wahamba naye. Isixuku esikhulu samlandela, samcindezela.

₂₅Owesifazane owayenomopho iminyaka eyishumi nambili, ₂₆ehluphekile ngokuningi ezinyangeni eziningi, echithile konke ayenakho, engasizakalanga ngalutho, kodwa kwayilokhu kuqhubeka, ₂₇esezwile ngoJesu, weza esixukwini ngasemuva, wathinta ingubo yakhe, ₂₈ngokuba wathi: “Uma ngingathinta nje izingubo zakhe, ngizakusindiswa.” ₂₉Kwanqamuka masinyane umthombo wegazi lakhe, wezwa emzimbeni ukuthi uphulukile enhluphekweni yakhe.

₃₀Wanele ukuzwa uJesu phakathi kwakhe ukuthi amandla aphumile kuye, waphendukela esixukwini, wathi: “Ngubani othinte izingubo zami na?”

₃₁Abafundi bakhe bathi kuye: “Uyabona isixuku sikucindezela, usuthi: ‘Ngubani ongithintileyo na?’ ”

₃₂Waqalaza ukuba ambone owenzile lokho. ₃₃Khona owesifazane esaba ethuthumela, azi okwenzekile kuye, weza waziphonsa phansi phambi kwakhe, wamtshela iqiniso lonke. ₃₄Wayesethi kuye: “Ndodakazi, ukukholwa kwakho kukusindisile; hamba ube nokuthula; usuphulukile enhluphekweni yakho.”

₃₅Esakhuluma, kwafika abomphathi wesinagoge,* bathi: “Indodakazi yakho isifile; usamkhathazelani uMfundisi na?”

₃₆Kwathi ukuba uJesu ezwile izwi elishiwoyo, wathi kumphathi wesinagoge*: “Ungesabi, kholwa kuphela.”

₃₇Akavumelanga muntu amlandele, kuphela oPetru, noJakobe, noJohane umfowabo kaJakobe. ₃₈Bafika-ke endlini yomphathi wesinagoge,* wabona isiyaluyalu nabakhalayo nabalila kakhulu. ₃₉Wangena, wathi kubo: “Niyaluzelani, nikhalelani na? Umntwana akafile, kodwa ulele.” ₄₀Bamhleka usulu.

Kepha yena wabakhipha bonke, wathatha uyise womntwana nonina kanye nababe naye, wangena lapho kulele khona umntwana. ₄₁Wabamba umntwana ngesandla, wathi kuye: “Thalitha, kumi,” okungukuthi ngokuhunyushwa: “Ntombazana, ngithi kuwe, vuka!” ₄₂Yayisivuka masinyane intombazana, yahamba; ngokuba yayineminyaka eyishumi nambili. Khona bamangala ngokumangala okukhulu. ₄₃Wabayalisisa ukuba lokhu kungaziwa muntu; futhi wathi mayiphiwe ukudla.

₁Khona wamuka lapho, waya ezweni lakubo; abafundi bakhe bamlandela. ₂Sekufikile isabatha, waqala ukufundisa esinagogeni.* Abaningi abamuzwayo bamangala bathi: “Lo ukuthathaphi lokhu na? Ukuhlakanipha kuni akunikiwe lona na? Nemisebenzi yamandla enje yenziwe ngezandla zakhe na? ₃Lo akusiye umbazi, indodana kaMariya, nomfowabo kaJakobe, noJose, noJuda, noSimoni, na? Nawodadewabo abakho yini lapha kithi na?” Base bekhubeka ngaye.

₄Wayesethi kubo uJesu: “Umprofethi kadelelwa ngaphandle kwasezweni lakubo, nasezihlotsheni zakhe, nasendlini yakwabo.” ₅Wayengenakwenza lapho nowodwa umsebenzi wamandla ngaphandle kokuthi wabeka izandla phezu kwabagulayo abayingcosana, wabaphulukisa. ₆Wamangala ngokungakholwa kwabo.

Wahamba imizi ngemizi efundisa.

₇Wayesebabiza abayishumi nambili, waqala ukubathuma ngababili, wabanika amandla phezu kwawomoya abangcolileyo. ₈Wabayala ukuba bangaphathi lutho lwendlela, kuphela udondolo lodwa, bangaphathi nasinkwa, nasikhwama, nathusi emixhakeni, ₉kepha bafake izicathulo, bangembathi kodwa amabhantshi amabili. ₁₀Wathi kubo: “Nakuphi lapho ningena khona endlini, hlalani kuyo, nize nimuke khona. ₁₁Nayiphi indawo engayikunamukela, nalapho bengayikunizwa khona, anothi nimuka kuyo, nivuthulule uthuli oluphansi kwezinyawo zenu, kube ngubufakazi kubo.”

₁₂Base behamba beshumayela ukuba abantu baphenduke. ₁₃Bakhipha amademoni amaningi, bagcoba abagulayo abaningi ngamafutha, babaphulukisa.

₁₄Yayisikuzwa inkosi uHerode, ngokuba lalidumile igama lakhe. Kwathiwa uJohane uMbhapathizi uvukile kwabafileyo; kungalokho lawa mandla asebenza kuye.

₁₅Kodwa abanye bathi: “Ngu-Eliya;” abanye bathi: “Ngumprofethi njengomunye wabaprofethi.”

₁₆Kepha uHerode ekuzwile wathi: “UJohane engamnquma ikhanda nguye ovukile.”

₁₇Ngokuba yena uHerode wayethumele wambamba uJohane, wambopha etilongweni ngenxa kaHerodiya umkaFiliphu umfowabo, ngokuba wayeganwe nguye. ₁₈Ngokuba uJohane wayethe kuHerode: “Awuvunyelwe ukuthatha umkamfowenu.” ₁₉Njalo uHerodiya wambambela amagqubu, wafuna ukumbulala; kepha kabanga namandla, ₂₀ngokuba uHerode wayemesaba uJohane emazi ukuthi uyindoda elungileyo engcwele, wamlonda; nalapho emuzwa, wayesambatheka kaningi, nokho kwabamnandi kuye ukumuzwa.

₂₁Kwathi sekufikile usuku oluhle, lapho uHerode ngosuku lokuzalwa kwakhe ezenzela idili izikhulu zakhe, nezinduna zempi, nabanumzane baseGalile, ₂₂kwangena indodakazi kaHerodiya uqobo, yasina, yajabulisa uHerode nababehlezi naye. Inkosi yayisithi entombazaneni: “Cela kimi noma yini okuthandayo, ngizakukunika.” ₂₃Wafunga kuyo, wathi: “Noma yini ongakucela kimi ngizakukunika, nakuba kungaze kube yinxenye yombuso wami.”

₂₄Yayisiphuma, yathi kunina: “Ngizakucelani na?”

Yena wathi: “Ikhanda likaJohane uMbhapathizi.”

₂₅Yakhawuleza yangena masinyane enkosini, yacela yathi: “Ngithanda ukuba ungiphe khona manje ngoqwembe ikhanda likaJohane uMbhapathizi.”

₂₆Inkosi yadabuka kakhulu, kepha ngenxa yezifungo nangenxa yababehlezi nayo ekudleni ayithandanga ukuyilandulela. ₂₇Inkosi yayisithuma masinyane ibutho, waliyala ukuba lilethe ikhanda lakhe. Lahamba, lamnquma ikhanda etilongweni. ₂₈Laletha ikhanda lakhe ngoqwembe, layinika intombazana, intombazana yamnika unina. ₂₉Kwathi ukuba abafundi bakhe bakuzwe lokho, beza bathatha isidumbu sakhe, basibeka ethuneni.

₃₀Abaphostoli babuthana kuJesu, bambikela ababekwenzile nababekufundisile. ₃₁Wayesethi kubo: “Zanini nina nodwa endaweni eyihlane, niphumule ingcosana.” Ngokuba babe baningi abezayo nabahambayo, abaze bathola nasikhathi sokudla.

₃₂Base bemuka ngomkhumbi, baya endaweni eyihlane bebodwa. ₃₃Abaningi sebebabona bemuka, baqonda, baze bagijimela khona ngezinyawo, bephuma kuyo yonke imizi, babandulela. ₃₄Wathi ephuma, wabona isixuku esikhulu, waba nesihe ngabantu, ngokuba babe njengezimvu ezingenamalusi; waqala ukubafundisa okuningi.

₃₅Kwathi isikhathi sesihambile, beza kuye abafundi bakhe, bathi: “Le ndawo iyihlane, isikhathi sesidlulile; ₃₆bamukise ukuba baye emaphandleni nasemizaneni ezungezileyo, bazithengele ukudla.”

₃₇Wayesephendula, ethi kubo: “Bapheni nina ukudla.”

Bathi kuye: “Sihambe yini, siyothenga izinkwa zawodenariyu* abangamakhulu amabili, sibaphe badle na?”

₃₈Wathi kubo: “Ninezinkwa ezingaki na? Hambani nibone.”

Sebazi bathi: “Ziyisihlanu, nezinhlanzi ezimbili.”

₃₉Wabayala ukuba bonke bahlale phansi etshanini obuluhlaza izigaba ngezigaba. ₄₀Base behlala phansi amaviyo ngamaviyo, kwaba ngamakhulu nangamashumi ayisihlanu. ₄₁Wazithabatha izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili, wabheka ngasezulwini, wazibusisa, wazihlephula izinkwa, wazinika abafundi ukuba bazibeke phambi kwabo; nezinhlanzi ezimbili wababela bonke ngazo. ₄₂Badla bonke, basutha. ₄₃Babutha imvuthuluka, iziqabetho eziyishumi nambili ezigcwele, neyezinhlanzi. ₄₄Ababedlile izinkwa babe ngamadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu.

₄₅Wayesecindezela masinyane abafundi bakhe ukuba bangene emkhunjini, bamandulele ukuya phesheya eBetsayida, yena aze amukise isixuku. ₄₆Esebavalelisile wahamba waya entabeni ukuyokhuleka.

₄₇Kwathi sekuhlwile, umkhumbi wawuphakathi nolwandle, yena eyedwa emhlabathini. ₄₈Wababona behlupheka ekugwedleni, ngokuba umoya wawuphambene nabo, weza kubo ngomlindo wesine wobusuku ehamba phezu kolwandle. Kwangathi uyadlula kubo. ₄₉Sebembonile ehamba phezu kolwandle, bacabanga ukuthi yisithunzi; bakhala. ₅₀Ngokuba bonke bambona, bethuka.

Kepha washesha wakhuluma nabo, wathi kubo: “Yimani isibindi; yimina, ningesabi.” ₅₁Wayesekhwela emkhunjini kubo, umoya wanqamuka; bamangala kakhulu impela phakathi kwabo. ₅₂Ngokuba abaqondanga okwezinkwa, lokhu inhliziyo yabo yayilukhuni.

₅₃Sebewelile bafika ezweni laseGenesaretha, babopha ogwini. ₅₄Ukuphuma kwabo emkhunjini yena wayaziwa masinyane. ₅₅Bagijimela kulo lonke lelo zwe, baqala ukuletha abagulayo ngezinhlaka, lapho bemuzwa ukuthi ukhona.

₅₆Kwathi nomaphi lapho engena khona, emizaneni, nasemizini, nasemaphandleni, babeka abagulayo ezigcawini, bamncenga ukuba bathinte noma umphetho wengubo yakhe kuphela; bonke abamthinta basindiswa.

₁Kwabuthana kuye abaFarisi nabanye bababhali bevela eJerusalema. ₂Sebebonile ukuthi abanye babafundi bakhe badla izinkwa ngezandla ezimbi okungukuthi ezingahlanjiwe – ₃ngokuba abaFarisi kanye nabaJuda bonke abadli bengahlambisisanga izandla, bebamba isiko labadala; ₄nanxa bevela endalini, abadli bengakahlambi; kukhona nezinye izinto eziningi abazamukeleyo ukuba bazibambe, njengokuhlanza izinkezo, nezinkamba, nezitsha zethusi – ₅abaFarisi nababhali bambuza bathi: “Abafundi bakho abahambi ngani ngesiko labadala, kepha badla isinkwa ngezandla ezimbi na?”

₆Wayesethi kubo: “U-Isaya waprofetha kahle ngani nina bazenzisi njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi:

₉Wayesethi kubo: “Yebo, nichitha umyalo kaNkulunkulu ukuba nigcine isiko lenu. ₁₀Ngokuba uMose wathi: ‘Yazisa uyihlo nonyoko,’ nokuthi: ‘Othuka uyise noma unina makafe nokufa;’ ₁₁kepha nina nithi: ‘Uma umuntu ethi kuyise noma kunina: YiKorbana, okungukuthi umnikelo, lokho ongabe usizwa yimi ngakho,’ ₁₂anisamvumeli ukuba enzele uyise noma unina utho. ₁₃Izwi likaNkulunkulu nilenza libe yize ngesiko lenu enilivezileyo; nokunye okuningi okunjalo niyakwenza.”

₁₄Khona wabuye wabiza isixuku, wathi kuso: “Ngizweni nonke, niqonde. ₁₅Alukho utho olungaphandle komuntu lungene kuye olungamngcolisa; kepha okuphumayo kuye yilokho okumngcolisayo umuntu. ₁₆Uma ekhona onezindlebe zokuzwa, makezwe.”

₁₇Kuthe esengene endlini, evela esixukwini, abafundi bakhe bambuza ngalowo mfanekiso. ₁₈Wayesethi kubo: “Kanti nani ningabangaqondiyo na? Aniqondi yini ukuthi konke okungaphandle okungena kumuntu kungemngcolise na? ₁₉Ngokuba akungeni enhliziyweni yakhe, kodwa kungena esiswini, kuphumele ngaphandle, kuhlambulula ukudla konke.”

₂₀Wayesethi: “Okuphumayo kumuntu yilokho okumngcolisayo umuntu; ₂₁ngokuba ngaphakathi enhliziyweni yabantu kuphuma imicabango emibi, nobufebe, nokweba, nokubulala, ₂₂nokuphinga, nokufisa, nokushinga, nenkohliso, nokungabi nanhloni, neso elibi, nokuhlambalaza, nokuzidla, nobuwula. ₂₃Zonke lezo zinto ezimbi zivela ngaphakathi, zimngcolise umuntu.”

₂₄Wayesemuka lapho, waya emikhawulweni yaseTire. Wangena endlini, akathanda ukwaziwa muntu, kodwa wayengenakufihlakala. ₂₅Kwathi masinyane owesifazane ondodakazi yakhe encane inomoya ongcolileyo esezwile ngaye, weza waziphonsa phansi ngasezinyaweni zakhe. ₂₆Kepha owesifazane lo wayengumGreki engumSirofenike ngokuzalwa, wamnxusa ukuba akhiphe idemoni endodakazini yakhe.

₂₇UJesu wayesethi kuye: “Ake kusuthe abantwana kuqala, ngokuba akukuhle ukuthatha isinkwa sabantwana, usiphonse ezinjaneni.”

₂₈Kodwa waphendula, wathi kuye: “Yebo, Nkosi; kepha nezinjana zidla imvuthuluka yabantwana phansi kwetafula.”

₂₉Wayesethi kuye: “Ngenxa yalelo zwi, hamba-ke; idemoni seliphumile endodakazini yakho.”

₃₀Wayesemuka, waya endlini yakhe, wafumana umntwana elele embhedeni, idemoni liphumile.

₃₁UJesu waphuma futhi emikhawulweni yaseTire, wadabula iSidoni, weza ngaselwandle lwaseGalile edabula izwe laseDekapholi. ₃₂Baletha kuye isithulu esinamalimi, bamncenga ukuba abeke isandla phezu kwaso. ₃₃Wagudluka naso esixukwini bebodwa, wafaka iminwe yakhe ezindlebeni zaso, wafela amathe, waphatha ulimi lwaso, ₃₄wabheka ngasezulwini, wabubula, wathi kuso: “Efatha!” okungukuthi: “Vuleka!” ₃₅Zase zivuleka izindlebe zaso, wathukuluka masinyane umthambo wolimi lwaso, sakhuluma kahle.

₃₆Wabayala ukuba bangatsheli muntu. Kepha kwathi nakuba ebayala kakhulu, kwayikhona bekwandisa kakhulu impela. ₃₇Bamangala nokumangala, bathi: “Wenze kahle konke; nezithulu uzenza zizwe, nezimungulu zikhulume.”