To The Word – Day 5

₁UJehova wathi ku-Abrama: “Phuma ezweni lakini, nasezihlotsheni zakho, nasendlini kayihlo, uye ezweni engiyakukukhombisa lona. ₂Ngiyakukwenza isizwe esikhulu, ngikubusise, ngenze igama lakho libe likhulu, wena ube yisibusiso. ₃Ngiyakubabusisa abakubusisayo, nokuqalekisayo ngiyakumqalekisa; imindeni yonke yomhlaba iyakubusiswa kuwe.”

₄Wayesesuka u-Abrama, njengalokho uJehova emtshelile; uLoti wahamba naye; u-Abrama wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa nanhlanu mhla ephuma eHarana. ₅U-Abrama wathatha uSarayi umkakhe, noLoti indodana yomfowabo, nempahla yonke ababeyibuthile, nezinceku ababezitholile eHarana; basuka ukuya ezweni laseKhanani; bafika-ke ezweni laseKhanani.

₆U-Abrama wadabula izwe, waze wafika endaweni yaseShekemi nase-okini* laseMore; amaKhanani ayesekhona ezweni. ₇UJehova wabonakala ku-Abrama, wathi: “Leli zwe ngiyakulinika inzalo yakho.” Wamakhela khona i-altare uJehova owayebonakele kuye.

₈Wayesesuka lapho, waya entabeni ngasempumalanga kwaseBethele, wamisa itende lakhe, iBethele lingasentshonalanga ne-Ayi lingasempumalanga; wamakhela khona uJehova i-altare, wakhuleka egameni likaJehova. ₉Ngasemuva u-Abrama wahamba waqonda njalo ngaseningizimu.

₁₀Kwakukhona indlala ezweni; u-Abrama wehlela eGibithe ukuba agogobale khona, ngokuba indlala yayinzima ezweni. ₁₁Kwathi esasondela ukungena eGibithe, wathi kuSarayi umkakhe: “Bheka-ke, ngiyazi ukuthi ungowesifazane omuhle, obukekayo. ₁₂Kuyakuthi ukuba abaseGibithe bakubone, bathi: ‘Ngumkakhe lowo,’ bazakungibulala mina, bakulonde wena. ₁₃Mawuthi ungudadewethu, ukuze kube kuhle kimi ngenxa yakho, umphefumulo wami uphile ngenxa yakho.”

₁₄Kwathi u-Abrama efika eGibithe, abaseGibithe babona owesifazane ukuthi muhle kakhulu. ₁₅Izinduna zikaFaro zambona, zambabaza phambi kukaFaro; owesifazane wangeniswa endlini kaFaro. ₁₆U-Abrama waphathwa kahle ngenxa yakhe; waba nezimvu, nezinkabi, nezimbongolo, nezinceku, nezincekukazi, nezimbongolokazi, namakamela.

₁₇Kepha uJehova wamshaya uFaro nendlu yakhe ngezinhlupho ezinkulu ngenxa kaSarayi umka-Abrama. ₁₈UFaro wayesembiza u-Abrama, wathi: “Kuyini lokho okwenze kimi na? Awungitshelanga ngani ukuthi ungumkakho na? ₁₉Usholoni ukuthi: ‘Ungudadewethu,’ ngize ngimthathe abe ngumkami, na? Bheka manje, nangu umkakho; mthathe, uhambe.” ₂₀UFaro wayala amadoda ngaye; ammukisa kanye nomkakhe nakho konke anakho.

₁U-Abrama wakhuphuka eGibithe kanye nomkakhe nakho konke anakho, uLoti enaye, waya ngaseningizimu. ₂U-Abrama wayefuyile kakhulu izinkomo, nesiliva, negolide.

₃Kuzo izinkambo zakhe wasuka eningizimu, wafika eBethele, leyo ndawo lapho lalikhona itende lakhe kuqala, phakathi kweBethele ne-Ayi, ₄indawo ye-altare abelenzile khona kuqala; u-Abrama wakhuleka lapho egameni likaJehova.

₅Naye uLoti owahamba no-Abrama wayenezimvu, nezinkomo, namatende. ₆Izwe lalingenakubanela ukuba bahlale ndawonye, ngokuba impahla yabo yayiningi kunokuba bahlale ndawonye. ₇Kwavela ukuxabana phakathi kwabelusi bezinkomo zika-Abrama nabelusi bezinkomo zikaLoti; amaKhanani namaPherizi ayehlala khona ezweni.

₈U-Abrama wathi kuLoti: “Akungabikho ukuxabana phakathi kwami nawe naphakathi kwabelusi bami nabelusi bakho, ngokuba singabazalwane. ₉Izwe lonke alisobala ebusweni bakho na? Mawuhlukane nami; uma uya ngakwesokhohlo, ngiyakuya ngakwesokunene; uma uya ngakwesokunene, ngiyakuya ngakwesokhohlo.”

₁₀ULoti waphakamisa amehlo akhe, wabona ukuthi ithafa lonke laseJordani lalinamanzi lonke; uJehova engakachithi iSodoma neGomora, lalinjengensimu kaJehova nanjengezwe laseGibithe kwaze kwaba seSowari. ₁₁ULoti wakhetha ithafa lonke laseJordani; uLoti wasuka waya ngasempumalanga; bahlukana omunye nomunye. ₁₂U-Abrama wahlala ezweni laseKhanani; uLoti wahlala emizini yasethafeni, wamisa itende lakhe ngaseSodoma. ₁₃Kepha abantu baseSodoma babebabi, bengabonayo kakhulu phambi kukaJehova.

₁₄UJehova wathi ku-Abrama, uLoti esehlukene naye: “Phakamisa manje amehlo akho ubuke, usendaweni lapho umi khona, ngasenyakatho, naseningizimu, nasempumalanga, nasentshonalanga, ₁₅ngokuba izwe lonke olibonayo ngiyakulinika wena nenzalo yakho kuze kube phakade. ₁₆Ngiyakwenza inzalo yakho ibe njengothuli lomhlaba, kuze kuthi, uma umuntu engabala uthuli lomhlaba, iyakubalwa nenzalo yakho. ₁₇Suka udabule izwe, ubude balo nobubanzi balo, ngokuba ngiyakukunika lona.”

₁₈Wayesesuka u-Abrama, weza wakha ngasema-okini* aseMamre laseHebroni, wamakhela khona uJehova i-altare.

₁Kwathi emihleni ka-Amrafeli inkosi yaseShineyari, no-Ariyoki inkosi yase-Elasare, noKedorlawomere inkosi yase-Elamu, noTidali inkosi yezizwe, ₂baphaka impi noBera inkosi yaseSodoma, noBirisha inkosi yaseGomora, noShinabe inkosi yase-Adima, noShemebere inkosi yaseSeboyimi, nenkosi yaseBela eliyiSowari. ₃Bonke laba bahlangana esiGodini saseSidimi esiluLwandle Lukasawoti. ₄Iminyaka eyishumi nambili bamkhonza uKedorlawomere, kepha ngomnyaka weshumi nantathu bahlubuka.

₅Ngomnyaka weshumi nane kweza uKedorlawomere kanye namakhosi anaye, banqoba amaRefa e-Ashiteroti Karinayimi, namaZuzi eHamu, nama-Emi eShave Kiriyatayimi, ₆namaHori entabeni yawo iSeyiri, kwaze kwaba se-Eli Pharanu ngasehlane. ₇Base bebuyela emuva, beza e-Eni Mishipati eliyiKadeshi, bachitha izwe lonke lama-Amaleki nelama-Amori ayehlala eHasasoni Tamari.

₈Yaphuma inkosi yaseSodoma, nenkosi yaseGomora, nenkosi yase-Adima, nenkosi yaseSeboyimi, nenkosi yaseBela eliyiSowari; bahloma, balwa nabo esiGodini saseSidimi. ₉Balwa noKedorlawomere inkosi yase-Elamu, noTidali inkosi yezizwe, no-Amrafeli inkosi yaseShineyari, no-Ariyoki inkosi yase-Elasare; amakhosi amane alwa nayisihlanu. ₁₀IsiGodi saseSidimi sasigcwele imigodi yebitume;* inkosi yaseSodoma neyaseGomora abaleka, awela kuyo; abaseleyo babalekela entabeni. ₁₁Bathatha yonke impahla yaseSodoma neyaseGomora kanye nakho konke ukudla, bamuka. ₁₂Bamthatha uLoti indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrama owayehlala eSodoma kanye nempahla yakhe, bamuka.

₁₃Kepha kweza ophunyukileyo, wamtshela u-Abrama umHeberu, ngokuba wayehlala ngasema-okini* kaMamre umAmori, umfowabo ka-Eshikoli nomfowabo ka-Anere; labo babehlangene no-Abrama. ₁₄Nxa u-Abrama esezwile ukuthi umzalwane wakhe uLoti uthunjiwe, wabutha izinceku zakhe ezifundisiweyo ebezizelwe endlini yakhe, ezingamakhulu amathathu neshumi nesishiyagalombili, wabaxosha kwaze kwaba kwaDani. ₁₅Wazahlukanisa ebusuku izinceku zakhe, wabahlasela, wabanqoba, wabaxosha, waze wafika eHoba elingasenyakatho kwaseDamaseku. ₁₆Wabuyisa yonke impahla, wambuyisa noLoti umzalwane wakhe, nempahla yakhe, nabesifazane, nabantu.

₁₇Emva kokubuya kwakhe ekunqobeni uKedorlawomere namakhosi anaye yaphuma inkosi yaseSodoma, yaya ukumhlangabeza esiGodini saseShave esiyisiGodi seNkosi.

₁₈UMelkisedeki inkosi yaseSalema waletha isinkwa newayini; wayengumpristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke. ₁₉Wambusisa wathi: “U-Abrama makabusiswe nguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, umdali wezulu nomhlaba. ₂₀Makabongwe uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke onike izitha zakho esandleni sakho.” U-Abrama wamnika okweshumi kwakho konke.

₂₁Inkosi yaseSodoma yathi ku-Abrama: “Ngiphe abantu, uzithathele impahla.”

₂₂Kepha u-Abrama wathi enkosini yaseSodoma: “Ngiyaphakamisela isandla sami kuJehova, uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, umdali wezulu nomhlaba, ₂₃ngithi angiyikuthatha umucwana nomchilo wezicathulo nokunye okwakho ukuba ungasho ukuthi: ‘Ngimcebisile u-Abrama.’ ₂₄Kuphela lokho ezikudlile izinceku, nesabelo samadoda ayehamba nami; o-Anere, no-Eshikoli, noMamre mabathathe isabelo sabo.”

₁Emva kwalokho kwafika izwi likaJehova ku-Abrama ngombono, lithi: “Ungesabi, Abrama, ngiyisihlangu sakho; umvuzo wakho uyakuba mkhulu kakhulu.”

₂Kepha u-Abrama wathi: “Nkosi Jehova, uyakungiphani na? Ngihamba ngingenamntwana; indlalifa yendlu yami ingu-Eliyezeri waseDamaseku.” ₃U-Abrama wathi futhi: “Bheka, awunginikanga nzalo; bheka, inceku yendlu yami iyakuba yindlalifa yami.”

₄Bheka, izwi likaJehova leza kuye, lathi: “Lona akayikudla ifa lakho, kepha oyakuphuma ezibilinini zakho uyakudla ifa lakho.” ₅Wamphumisela ngaphandle, wathi: “Bheka ngasezulwini, ubale izinkanyezi, uma ungazibala.” Wathi kuye: “Kuyakuba njalo inzalo yakho.”

₆Wakholwa nguJehova; wambalela lokho kwaba ngukulunga.

₇Wayesethi kuye: “NginguJehova owakuphumisa e-Uri lamaKaledi ukuba ngikunike leli zwe libe yifa lakho.”

₈Wathi: “Nkosi Jehova, ngiyokwazi ngani ukuthi ngiyakulidla na?”

₉Wathi kuye: “Ngithabathele isithokazi esineminyaka emithathu, nembuzi eyinsikazi eneminyaka emithathu, nenqama eneminyaka emithathu, nehobhe, nephuphu lejuba.”

₁₀Wamthathela zonke lezo, wazinquma phakathi, wabeka kwaba yileyo naleyo nxenye ukuba ibhekane nenye; kepha izinyoni akazinqumanga. ₁₁Amanqe ehlela phezu kwezidumbu; u-Abrama wawaxosha.

₁₂Kwathi ngokushona kwelanga ubuthongo obunzima bamehlela u-Abrama; bheka, washaywa luvalo lobumnyama obukhulu. ₁₃Wathi ku-Abrama: “Yazisisa ukuthi inzalo yakho izakuba ngumfokazi ezweni elingesilo elayo, ibe yizigqila, icindezelwe iminyaka engamakhulu amane. ₁₄Kepha leso sizwe eyakuba yizigqila zaso ngiyakusahlulela mina; ngasemuva iyakuphuma inempahla eningi. ₁₅Kepha wena uyakuya koyihlo ngokuthula, umbelwe usumdala. ₁₆Esizukulwaneni sesine iyakubuyela lapha, ngokuba ububi bama-Amori abukapheleli.”

₁₇Kwathi ngokushona kwelanga kwaba mnyama, bheka, nanto iziko elithunqayo, nelangabi lomlilo ladabula phakathi kwalezo zinxenye. ₁₈Ngalolo suku uJehova wasenza isivumelwano no-Abrama, wathi: “Ngiyakunika inzalo yakho leli zwe, kusukela emfuleni waseGibithe kuze kube semfuleni omkhulu, umfula u-Ewufrathe: ₁₉amaKheni, namaKhenizi, namaKadimoni, ₂₀namaHeti, namaPherizi, namaRefa, ₂₁nama-Amori, namaKhanani, namaGirigashi, namaJebusi.”

₁USarayi umka-Abrama wayengamzaleli mntwana; kepha wayenencekukazi yaseGibithe, igama layo linguHagari. ₂USarayi wathi ku-Abrama: “Bheka-ke, uJehova ungivalile ekuzaleni; mawungene kuyo incekukazi yami; mhlawumbe ngizakwakhelwa ngayo.” U-Abrama walalela izwi likaSarayi. ₃USarayi, umka-Abrama, wathatha uHagari waseGibithe, incekukazi yakhe, wamnika u-Abrama indoda yakhe abe ngumkakhe, u-Abrama esehlalile iminyaka eyishumi ezweni laseKhanani.

₄Wangena kuHagari; wakhulelwa. Esebonile ukuthi ukhulelwe, inkosikazi yakhe yadeleleka emehlweni akhe. ₅USarayi wathi ku-Abrama: “Okubi okwenziwe kimi akube phezu kwakho. Mina nganikela incekukazi yami esifubeni sakho; kepha nxa isibonile ukuthi ikhulelwe, ngase ngideleleka emehlweni ayo; uJehova makahlulele icala phakathi kwami nawe.”

₆U-Abrama wathi kuSarayi: “Bheka, incekukazi yakho isesandleni sakho; yenza kuyo okufanele emehlweni akho.” USarayi wayilaya, yabaleka ebusweni bakhe.

₇Ingelosi kaJehova yamfumana ngasemthonjeni wamanzi ehlane, umthombo osendleleni eya eShuri. ₈Yathi: “Hagari, ncekukazi kaSarayi, uvelaphi na? Uyangaphi na?”

Wathi: “Ngibaleka ebusweni bukaSarayi inkosikazi yami.”

₉Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuye: “Buyela kuyo inkosikazi yakho, uzithobise phansi kwesandla sayo.” ₁₀Ingelosi kaJehova yathi futhi kuye: “Ngiyakwandisa kakhulu inzalo yakho, ingabe isabalwa ngobuningi bayo.”

₁₁Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuye: “Bheka, usukhulelwe; uyakuzala indodana, uyiqambe igama lokuthi u-Ishmayeli,* ngokuba uJehova uzwile ukuhlupheka kwakho. ₁₂Uyakuba ngumuntu onjengembongolo engathanjisiwe, isandla sakhe simelane nabo bonke, nesandla sabo bonke simelane naye, ahlale ngasempumalanga kwabafowabo bonke.”

₁₃Wamqamba uJehova owayekhulume kuye igama lokuthi: “Wena unguNkulunkulu Obonayo,” ngokuba wathi: “Imbala ngimbonile ongibonayo na?” ₁₄Ngalokho umthombo wabizwa ngokuthi iBeri Lahayi Royi;* bheka, uphakathi kweKadeshi neBeredi.

₁₅UHagari wamzalela u-Abrama indodana; u-Abrama waqamba igama lendodana yakhe ayizalayo uHagari ngokuthi u-Ishmayeli. ₁₆U-Abrama wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalombili nesithupha mhla uHagari emzalela u-Abrama u-Ishmayeli.

₁Khona uJesu waya eNtabeni Yeminqumo. ₂Ekuseni kakhulu wabuye weza ethempelini; abantu bonke beza kuye; wayesehlala phansi, wabafundisa. ₃Kepha ababhali nabaFarisi baletha kuye owesifazane ebanjwe ephinga; sebemmise phakathi kwabo, ₄bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, lo wesifazane ubanjwe esoqotsheni lokuphinga. ₅Emthethweni uMose wasiyala ngabanje ukuba bakhandwe ngamatshe. Pho, wena uthini na?” ₆Bakusho lokho bemlinga, ukuze babe nokummangalela.

Kepha uJesu wakhothama, waloba ngomunwe emhlabathini. ₇Wathi besambuza njalo, walulama, wathi kubo: “Ongenasono phakathi kwenu kaqale amphonse ngetshe.” ₈Waphinda wakhothama, waloba emhlabathini.

₉Bathi ukuzwa lokho, belahlwa yizinhliziyo zabo baphuma ngabanye, beqalela kwabadala kwaze kwaba ngabokugcina, uJesu wasala yedwa; nowesifazane wayemi khona. ₁₀UJesu wayeselulama; engaboni muntu ngaphandle kowesifazane wathi kuye: “Sifazane, baphi labo bamangaleli bakho na? Akakho okulahlayo na?”

₁₁Wayesethi: “Akakho, Nkosi.”

Wathi-ke uJesu kuye: “Nami angikulahli; hamba, ungabe usona.”

₁₂Ngakho uJesu waphinda wakhuluma kubo, wathi: “Mina ngingukukhanya kwezwe; ongilandelayo kasoze ahamba ebumnyameni, kodwa woba nokukhanya kokuphila.”

₁₃Khona bathi kuye abaFarisi: “Uyazifakazela wena; ubufakazi bakho ubuqinisile.”

₁₄UJesu waphendula, wathi kubo: “Noma ngizifakazela mina, ubufakazi bami buqinisile, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi ngavelaphi nokuthi ngiyaphi; kepha nina anazi ukuthi ngivelaphi nokuthi ngiyaphi. ₁₅Nina nahlulela ngokwenyama, kepha mina angahluleli muntu. ₁₆Nakuba ngahlulela, ukwahlulela kwami kungokuqinisileyo, ngokuba ngingengedwa, kodwa yimina nongithumileyo. ₁₇Yebo, kulotshiwe nasemthethweni wakini ukuthi ubufakazi babantu ababili bungobuqinisileyo. ₁₈Mina ngingozifakazelayo; noBaba ongithumileyo ufakaza ngami.”

₁₉Base bethi kuye: “Uphi uyihlo na?”

UJesu waphendula ngokuthi: “Anazi nami naBaba; uma beningazi mina, nga nimazi noBaba.” ₂₀Lawo mazwi wawakhuluma ngasemphongolweni weminikelo efundisa ethempelini; akubangakho ombambayo, ngokuba isikhathi sakhe sasingakafiki.

₂₁Khona waphinda wathi kubo: “Ngiyamuka mina, niyakungifuna, nifele ezonweni zenu; lapho ngiya khona mina, ningeze nina.”

₂₂Base bethi abaJuda: “Imbala uzakuzibulala yini, lokhu ethi: ‘Lapho ngiya khona mina, ningeze nina,’ na?”

₂₃Wathi kubo: “Nina ningabaphansi, mina ngingowaphezulu; nina ningabaleli zwe, mina angingowaleli zwe. ₂₄Ngakho-ke ngathi kini nizakufela ezonweni zenu; ngokuba uma ningakholwa ukuthi nginguye, nizakufela ezonweni zenu.”

₂₅Base bethi kuye: “Wena ungubani na?”

Wathi kubo uJesu: “Lokho enganitshela khona kwasekuqaleni. ₂₆Nginezinto eziningi enginokuzikhuluma nokwahlulela ngani, kepha ongithumileyo uqinisile, nami engakuzwa kuye ngikukhuluma ezweni.”

₂₇Kabazanga ukuthi ukhuluma kubo ngoYise. ₂₈Wayesethi uJesu: “Nxa seniyiphakamisile iNdodana yomuntu, khona-ke nizakwazi ukuthi nginguye nokuthi angenzi lutho ngokwami, kodwa ngikhuluma lokhu njengokuba uBaba engifundisile. ₂₉Ongithumileyo unami, kangishiyanga ngedwa, ngokuba ngenza njalo okuthandeka kuye.”

₃₀Esakhuluma lokho, abaningi bakholwa nguye. ₃₁Khona uJesu wathi kubaJuda abase bekholiwe nguye: “Uma nimi ezwini lami, ningabafundi bami isibili; ₃₂niyakulazi iqiniso, neqiniso liyakunikhulula.”

₃₃Bamphendula bathi: “Siyinzalo ka-Abrahama thina, asibonange sibe yizigqila zamuntu; wena usho kanjani ukuthi: ‘Nizakuba ngabakhululekileyo’ na?”

₃₄UJesu wabaphendula wathi: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Yilowo nalowo owenza isono uyisigqila sesono. ₃₅Isigqila kambe asihlali phakade endlini; kepha indodana ihlala phakade. ₃₆Ngakho-ke uma iNdodana inikhulula, niyakuba ngabakhululekileyo impela. ₃₇Ngiyazi ukuthi niyinzalo ka-Abrahama; kepha nifuna ukungibulala, ngokuba izwi lami lingenandawo kini. ₃₈Ngikhuluma lokho engikubonile mina kuBaba; nani-ke nenza lokho enikuzwile kuyihlo.”

₃₉Baphendula, bathi kuye: “Ubaba ngu-Abrahama.”

UJesu wathi kubo: “Uma beningabantwana baka-Abrahama; beniyakwenza imisebenzi ka-Abrahama. ₄₀Kodwa kalokhu nifuna ukungibulala mina muntu onitshele iqiniso, engilizwe kuNkulunkulu; u-Abrahama kakwenzanga lokho. ₄₁Nina nenza imisebenzi kayihlo.”

Bathi kuye: “Thina asizalwanga ngokuphinga; sinobaba munye, uNkulunkulu.”

₄₂Wathi kubo uJesu: “Uma uNkulunkulu ebenguyihlo, beniyakungithanda mina, ngokuba ngafika ngivela kuNkulunkulu; ngokuba angizizelanga ngokwami, kepha yena ungithumile. ₄₃Yini ukuba ningayizwisisi inkulumo yami na? Kungokuba aninakuzwa izwi lami. ₄₄Nina ningabakayihlo uSathane, nithanda ukwenza izinkanuko zikayihlo. Yena wayengumbulali wabantu kwasekuqaleni, akemi eqinisweni, ngokuba iqiniso lingekho kuye. Nxa ekhuluma amanga, ukhuluma okungokwakhe, lokhu engumqambimanga noyise wawo. ₄₅Kepha mina, ngokuba ngikhuluma iqiniso, anikholwa yimi. ₄₆Ngumuphi kini ongangilahla ngesono na? Uma ngikhuluma iqiniso, anikholwa yimi ngani na? ₄₇OngokaNkulunkulu uzwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu; kungakho ningezwe nina, ngokuba anisibo abakaNkulunkulu.”

₄₈Baphendula abaJuda, bathi kuye: “Asisho kahle yini ukuthi ungumSamariya nokuthi unedemoni na?”

₄₉UJesu waphendula wathi: “Anginademoni, kepha ngidumisa uBaba; nina-ke niyangidumaza. ₅₀Mina-ke angifuni olwami udumo; ukhona ofunayo nowahlulelayo. ₅₁Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Uma umuntu egcina izwi lami, akasoze akubona ukufa naphakade.”

₅₂Bathi kuye abaJuda: “Manje sesiyazi ukuthi unedemoni; u-Abrahama wafa, nabaprofethi; wena-ke uthi: ‘Uma umuntu egcina izwi lami, kasoze akuzwa ukufa naphakade.’ ₅₃Wena umkhulu yini kunobaba u-Abrahama osewafa na? Nabaprofethi sebafa. Uzenza bani na?”

₅₄UJesu waphendula wathi: “Uma ngizidumisa mina, udumo lwami luyize; nguBaba ongidumisayo, enisho ngaye ukuthi unguNkulunkulu wenu. ₅₅Kanti animazanga, kepha mina ngiyamazi. Uma ngithi angimazi, ngingaba ngumqambimanga njengani. Kepha ngiyamazi, ngigcina izwi lakhe. ₅₆U-Abrahama uyihlo wathokozela ukubona usuku lwami, walubona, wajabula.”

₅₇Base bethi kuye abaJuda: “Awukabi naminyaka engamashumi ayisihlanu, kanti u-Abrahama usuke wambona na?”

₅₈UJesu wathi kubo: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Engakabikho u-Abrahama, ngangikhona mina.” ₅₉Base bethatha amatshe ukuba bamkhande. Kepha uJesu wasithela, waphuma ethempelini.

₁Wathi edlula, wabona umuntu owayeyimpumputhe kwasekuzalweni kwakhe. ₂Abafundi bakhe bambuza bathi: “Rabi, ngubani owonayo, lona noma abazali bakhe, aze azalwe eyimpumputhe na?”

₃UJesu waphendula wathi: “Akonanga noma yena noma abazali bakhe, kodwa ukuze kubonakaliswe kuye imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu. ₄Ngimelwe ukusebenza imisebenzi yongithumileyo, kusesemini; buyeza ubusuku, lapho kungesebenze muntu. ₅Ngisekhona ezweni ngingukukhanya kwezwe.”

₆Eseshilo lokho wafela amathe emhlabathini, wenza udaka ngamathe, waninda amehlo ayo ngodaka. ₇Wathi kuyo: “Hamba uyogeza echibini laseSilowama,” okuhunyushwa ngokuthi oThunyiweyo; yamuka-ke, yageza, yeza ibona.

₈Ngakho abakhelene nayo nababeyibonile phambili iyisinxibi bathi: “Akusiye lo owayehlezi enxiba na?” ₉Abanye bathi: “Nguyena,” abanye bathi: “Qha, kepha ufana naye;” yena wathi: “Nginguye.”

₁₀Base bethi kuye: “Pho, amehlo akho avulwe kanjani na?”

₁₁Waphendula yena, wathi: “Umuntu othiwa uJesu wenza udaka, wagcoba amehlo ami, wathi kimi: ‘Yana eSilowama, ugeze.’ Ngaya, ngageza, ngabona.”

₁₂Bathi kuye: “Uphi yena na?”

Wathi: “Angazi.”

₁₃Bamyisa kubaFarisi lowo okade eyimpumputhe. ₁₄Kwakuyisabatha mhla uJesu enza udaka, evula amehlo akhe. ₁₅Khona nabaFarisi futhi bambuza ukuthi ukuthole kanjani ukubona. Wathi kubo: “Waninda amehlo ami ngodaka, ngageza, sengiyabona.”

₁₆Ngakho abanye kubaFarisi bathi: “Lona kaveli kuNkulunkulu, lokhu engagcini isabatha.”

Abanye bathi: “Umuntu oyisoni angazenza kanjani izibonakaliso ezinje na?” Kwaba khona ukwahlukana phakathi kwabo.

₁₇Khona baphinda bathi kuyo impumputhe: “Wena uthini ngaye, lokhu evule amehlo akho, na?”

Yathi: “Ungumprofethi.”

₁₈Kepha abaJuda abakholwanga ngaye ukuthi wabeyimpumputhe nokuthi usethole ukubona, baze babiza abazali bakhe lowo osethole ukubona. ₁₉Bababuza bathi: “Lo uyindodana yenu enithi ngayo yazalwa iyimpumputhe na? Pho, isibona kanjani manje na?”

₂₀Abazali bakhe base bephendula bethi: “Siyazi ukuthi lo uyindodana yethu nokuthi wazalwa eyimpumputhe; ₂₁kepha ukuthi usebona kanjani kalokhu asazi, nokuthi ngubani ovule amehlo akhe asazi; mbuzeni yena, usekhulile, uzozikhulumela yena.” ₂₂Abazali bakhe basho lokho, ngokuba besaba abaJuda. Ngokuba abaJuda base bevumelene ngokuthi, uma ekhona ovuma ukuba unguKristu, kakhishwe esinagogeni.* ₂₃Ngakho-ke abazali bakhe bathi: “Usekhulile, mbuzeni yena.”

₂₄Bambiza-ke ngokwesibili lowo muntu owabeyimpumputhe, bathi kuye: “Mnike uNkulunkulu udumo; thina siyazi ukuthi lowo muntu uyisoni.”

₂₅Yena wayesephendula ethi: “Nokuba uyisoni angazi; kunye engikwaziyo, ukuthi bengiyimpumputhe, manje sengiyabona.”

₂₆Bathi-ke kuye: “Wenzeni kuwe na? Uwavule kanjani amehlo akho na?”

₂₇Wabaphendula wathi: “Kade nginitshela, kepha anizwanga; nifunelani ukuzwa futhi na? Niyafuna yini nani ukuba ngabafundi bakhe na?”

₂₈Bamthuka bathi: “Nguwe ongumfundi wakhe, kepha thina singabafundi bakaMose. ₂₉Siyazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wakhuluma kuMose, kodwa lo asimazi lapha evela khona.”

₃₀Waphendula lowo muntu, wathi kubo: “Lokhu kuyisimangaliso ukuthi nina anazi lapho evela khona, ingani uvule amehlo ami. ₃₁Siyazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu akazizwa izoni, kodwa uma umuntu emesaba uNkulunkulu, ayenze intando yakhe, uyamuzwa lowo. ₃₂Selokhu kwathini akuzange kuzwakale ukuthi ukhona owavula amehlo ozelwe eyimpumputhe. ₃₃Uma lo ebengaveli kuNkulunkulu, ubengenakwenza lutho.”

₃₄Baphendula, bathi kuye: “Wena wazalwa ezonweni ngokwempela, wena ufundisa thina na?” Base bemkhiphela phandle.

₃₅UJesu wezwa ukuthi bamkhiphele phandle; kwathi emfumana, wathi: “Uyakholwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu na?”

₃₆Waphendula yena, wathi: “Ingubani, Nkosi, ngize ngikholwe yiyo, na?”

₃₇UJesu wathi kuye: “Usuyibonile; okhuluma nawe yiyona.”

₃₈Wayesethi: “Ngiyakholwa, Nkosi.” Wakhuleka kuye.

₃₉Wathi uJesu: “Mina ngizele ukwahlulela kuleli zwe ukuba abangaboniyo babone, nababonayo babe yizimpumputhe.”

₄₀Labo kubaFarisi ababenaye bezwa lokho, bathi kuye: “Pho, nathi siyizimpumputhe na?”

₄₁Wathi kubo uJesu: “Ukuba beniyizimpumputhe, ngabe aninasono. Kepha manje nithi: ‘Siyabona;’ isono senu sihlezi.