To The Word – Day 51

₁“Kuyakuthi lapho usufikile ezweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunika lona libe yifa lakho ukuba ulidle, wakhe kulo, ₂uthathe ulibo lwezithelo zonke zomhlaba olubuthayo ezweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunika lona, ulufake eqomeni, uye endaweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ayakuyikhetha ukuba igama lakhe lihlale kuyo. ₃Uyakuya kumpristi oyakuba khona ngalezo zinsuku, uthi kuye: ‘Ngiyabika namuhla kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ukuthi sengifikile ezweni uJehova alifungela obaba ukusinika lona.’ ₄Umpristi uyakuthatha iqoma esandleni sakho, alibeke phansi phambi kwe-altare likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho. ₅Wena uyakuphendula, uthi phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho: ‘Ubaba wayengumAramu ozulayo, wehlela eGibithe, wagogobala khona nabantu abayingcosana; waba yisizwe khona, esikhulu, nesinamandla, nesiningi; ₆abaseGibithe basiphatha kabi, basihlupha, basithwesa ubugqili obulukhuni; ₇sase sikhala kuJehova uNkulunkulu wawobaba, uJehova walizwa izwi lethu, wabona ukuhlupheka kwethu, nomshikashika wethu, nokucindezelwa kwethu; ₈uJehova wasikhipha eGibithe ngesandla esinamandla nangengalo eyeluliweyo, nangezenzo ezesabekayo nezinkulu, nangezibonakaliso, nangezimangaliso, ₉wasiletha kule ndawo, wasinika leli zwe, izwe elivame ubisi nezinyosi. ₁₀Manje-ke, bheka, sengilethile ulibo lwezithelo zomhlaba onginike wona wena Jehova;’ bese wukubeka phansi phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ukhuleke phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ₁₁wename ngakho konke okuhle uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunikile khona wena nendlu yakho, wena nomLevi, nomfokazi ophakathi kwakho.

₁₂“Lapho uqedile ukuthatha okweshumi kwezithelo zakho ngomnyaka wesithathu ongumnyaka wokweshumi, usumnike uLevi khona, nomfokazi, nentandane, nomfelokazi ukuba badle phakathi kwamasango akho, basuthe, ₁₃uyakuthi phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho: ‘Ngikhiphile izinto ezingcwele endlini yami, ngamnika zona uLevi, nomfokazi, nentandane, nomfelokazi njengayo yonke imiyalo ongiyale ngayo; angiweqanga nowodwa wemiyalo yakho, futhi angiyikhohlwanga. ₁₄Angikudlanga ekulileni kwami, angisusanga lutho ngingcolile, anginikelanga ngakho kofileyo; ngilalele izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wami, ngenzile njengakho konke ongiyale ngakho. ₁₅Bheka phansi usezindlini zakho ezingcwele ezulwini, ubusise abantu bakho u-Israyeli nomhlaba osinike wona njengokufunga kwakho kobaba, izwe elivame ubisi nezinyosi.’

₁₆“Namuhla uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uyakuyala ukwenza lezi zimiso nezahlulelo; ngalokho wozigcina, uzenze ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho. ₁₇Umqinisele namuhla uJehova ukuthi uyakuba nguNkulunkulu wakho, uhambe ezindleleni zakhe, ugcine izimiso zakhe, nemiyalo yakhe, nezahlulelo zakhe, nililalele izwi lakhe; ₁₈uJehova ukuqinisele namuhla ukuthi uyakuba yisizwe senzuzo yakhe njengokukwethembisa kwakhe, ugcine yonke imiyalo yakhe, ₁₉ukuze akuphakamise phezu kwazo zonke izizwe azenzileyo ngokubongwa, nangegama, nangodumo, ube yisizwe esingcwele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho njengokusho kwakhe.”

₁UMose namalunga akwa-Israyeli bayala abantu, bathi: “Gcinani yonke imiyalo esiniyala ngayo namuhla. ₂Kuyakuthi mhla niwela iJordani ukuya ezweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunika lona, uzimisele amatshe amakhulu, uwanameke ngodaka, ₃ulobe kuwo amazwi onke alo mthetho, nxa usuwelile ukuba ungene ezweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunika lona, izwe elivame ubisi nezinyosi njengokukwethembisa kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo. ₄Kuyakuthi lapho seniliwelile iJordani, nimise lawa matshe enginiyala ngawo namuhla entabeni yase-Ebali, uwanameke ngodaka. ₅Uyakumakhela khona uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho i-altare, i-altare lamatshe, ungawaphakamiseli into yensimbi. ₆Uyakwakha i-altare likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngamatshe apheleleyo, unikele kulo ngeminikelo yokushiswa kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ₇uhlabe iminikelo yokuthula, udle khona, wename phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho. ₈Uyakuloba ematsheni onke amazwi alo mthetho, uwaqophisise kahle.”

₉UMose nabapristi bamaLevi bakhuluma kuwo wonke u-Israyeli, bathi: “Thula, ulalele, Israyeli: namuhla sewuyisizwe sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho. ₁₀Ngalokho wolilalela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, wenze imiyalo yakhe nezimiso zakhe engikuyala ngakho namuhla.”

₁₁UMose wayala abantu ngalona lolo suku, wathi:

₁₂“Laba bayakuma entabeni yaseGerizimu ukubusisa abantu, lapho seniwelile iJordani: oSimeyoni, noLevi, noJuda, no-Isakare, noJosefa, noBenjamini; ₁₃laba bayakuma entabeni yase-Ebali babe ngabokuqalekisa: oRubeni, noGadi, no-Asheri, noZebuloni, noDani, noNafetali.

₁₄“AmaLevi ayakuphendula, athi kuwo onke amadoda akwa-Israyeli ngezwi elikhulu:

₁₅“ ‘Makaqalekiswe umuntu owenza isithombe ezibaziweyo nesibunjiweyo, isinengiso kuJehova, umsebenzi wezandla zengcweti, asimise ngasese.’

“Bonke abantu bayakuphendula bathi: ‘Amen.’

₁₆“ ‘Makaqalekiswe odelela uyise noma unina.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₁₇“ ‘Makaqalekiswe osusa isikhonkwane somakhelwane wakhe.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₁₈“ ‘Makaqalekiswe ophundula impumputhe endleleni.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₁₉“ ‘Makaqalekiswe ophendukezela isahlulelo somfokazi, nesentandane, nesomfelokazi.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₂₀“ ‘Makaqalekiswe olala nomkayise, ngokuba wambulile umphetho wengubo kayise.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₂₁“ ‘Makaqalekiswe olala nesilwane.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₂₂“ ‘Makaqalekiswe olala nodadewabo, indodakazi kayise noma indodakazi kanina.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₂₃“ ‘Makaqalekiswe olala nomkhwekazi.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₂₄“ ‘Makaqalekiswe obulala umakhelwane wakhe ngasese.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₂₅“ ‘Makaqalekiswe owamukela umvuzo ukuba abulale ongenacala, achithe igazi lakhe.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₂₆“ ‘Makaqalekiswe ongawaqinisi amazwi alo mthetho ukuba awenze.’

“Bonke abantu bayakusho ukuthi: ‘Amen.’

₁“Kuyakuthi uma ulalela nokulalela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, uqaphele ukuyenza yonke imiyalo yakhe engikuyala ngayo namuhla, uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akuphakamise phezu kwazo zonke izizwe zomhlaba. ₂Zonke lezi zibusiso ziyakufika phezu kwakho, zikufice, uma ulilalela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.

₃“Uyakubusiswa emzini, ubusiswe nasensimini.

₄“Iyakubusiswa inzalo yesisu sakho, nezithelo zomhlaba wakho, nenzalo yezilwane zakho, nesanda sezinkomo zakho, namazinyane ezimvu zakho.

₅“Kuyakubusiswa iqoma lakho, nomkhombe wakho wokuxova isinkwa.

₆“Uyakubusiswa ekungeneni kwakho, ubusiswe nasekuphumeni kwakho.

₇“UJehova uyakwenza ukuba izitha zakho ezikuvukelayo zibulawe phambi kwakho; ziyakukuhlasela ngandlelanye, zikubalekele ngezindlela eziyisikhombisa.

₈“UJehova uyakuyala isibusiso sibe phezu kwakho ezinqolobaneni zakho nakukho konke obeka kukho isandla sakho, akubusise ezweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunika lona.

₉“UJehova uyakukumisa ube yisizwe esingcwele kuye njengokufunga kwakhe kuwe, uma uyigcina imiyalo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, uhambe ezindleleni zakhe. ₁₀Bonke abantu bomhlaba bayakubona ukuthi ubiziwe ngegama likaJehova, bakwesabe. ₁₁UJehova uyakukwandisela okuhle: inzalo yesisu sakho, nenzalo yezinkomo zakho, nezithelo zomhlabathi wakho ezweni uJehova alifungela oyihlo ukukunika lona.

₁₂“UJehova uyakukuvulela indlu yakhe yengcebo, izulu, anise imvula yezwe lakho ngesikhathi sayo, abusise wonke umsebenzi wesandla sakho; uyakutsheleka izizwe eziningi, kepha ungatsheleki lutho kuzo. ₁₃UJehova uyakukwenza ube yinhloko, ungabi ngumsila; woba phezulu kuphela, ungabi ngaphansi, uma uyilalela imiyalo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho engikuyala ngayo namuhla ukuba uyigcine, uyenze, ₁₄nalapho ungaphambuki nakulo elilodwa lamazwi engikuyala ngawo namuhla ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo ukulandela abanye onkulunkulu ukuba ubakhonze.

₁₅“Kuyakuthi uma ungalilaleli izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ukuba uqaphele ukwenza yonke imiyalo yakhe nezimiso zakhe engikuyala ngakho namuhla, zonke lezi ziqalekiso zikwehlele, zikufice.

₁₆“Uyakuqalekiswa emzini, uqalekiswe nasensimini.

₁₇“Iqoma lakho liyakuqalekiswa, kuqalekiswe nomkhombe wakho wokuxova isinkwa.

₁₈“Inzalo yesisu sakho iyakuqalekiswa, nezithelo zomhlabathi wakho, nesanda sezinkomo zakho, namazinyane ezimvu zakho.

₁₉“Uyakuqalekiswa ekungeneni kwakho, uqalekiswe nasekuphumeni kwakho.

₂₀“UJehova uyakukwehlisela isiqalekiso, nokuphaphatheka, nokusolwa, kukho konke obeka isandla sakho kukho ukuba ukwenze, uze uchithwe, ubhubhe ngokushesha ngenxa yobubi bezenzo zakho ongidelele ngazo. ₂₁UJehova uyakunamathelisa kuwe isifo, aze akuqede ezweni ongena kulo ukulidla. ₂₂UJehova uyakukushaya ngesifuba, nangomkhuhlane, nangesivuvushisa somzimba, nangokushisa okukhulu, nangenkemba, nangokuhamuka, nangesikhutha; kuyakukuxosha uze uphele. ₂₃Izulu lakho eliphezu kwakho liyakuba yithusi, umhlaba ophansi kwakho ube yinsimbi. ₂₄UJehova uyakwenza imvula yezwe lakho ibe ngumsizi nothuli; kuyakwehla ezulwini, kufike phezu kwakho, uze ubhujiswe.

₂₅“UJehova uyakwenza ukuba ubulawe phambi kwezitha zakho, uzihlasele ngandlelanye, uzibalekele ngezindlela eziyisikhombisa phambi kwazo, ube yingebhe emibusweni yonke yomhlaba. ₂₆Isidumbu sakho siyakuba ngukudla kwezinyoni zonke zezulu nokwezilwane zomhlaba; akuyikubakho ozihebezayo. ₂₇UJehova uyakukushaya ngamathumba aseGibithe, nangamaqhubu, nangomuna, nangokhwekhwe ongenakuphulukiswa kukho. ₂₈UJehova uyakukushaya ngobuhlanya, nangobumpumputhe, nangokugcwaneka, ₂₉uphumputhe emini njengempumputhe iphumputha ebumnyameni; awuyikuphumelela ezindleleni zakho, uyakucindezelwa kuphela, uphangwe; akuyikubakho muntu wokukusindisa.

₃₀“Uyakuganwa ngumfazi, omunye umuntu alale naye; uyakwakha indlu, ungahlali kuyo; uyakutshala isivini, ungazikhi izithelo zaso. ₃₁Inkabi yakho iyakuhlatshwa emehlweni akho, ungayidli; imbongolo yakho iyakuhlwithwa ebusweni bakho, ingabuyiselwa kuwe; izimvu zakho ziyakunikwa izitha zakho, kungabikho okusindisayo. ₃₂Amadodana akho namadodakazi akho ayakunikwa ezinye izizwe, amehlo akho abheke, aphele ngokuwalangazelela lonke usuku, kungabikho lutho emandleni esandla sakho. ₃₃Izithelo zomhlabathi wakho nayo yonke imisebenzi yakho kuyakudliwa yisizwe ongasaziyo, wena ucindezelwe kuphela, uchotshozwe ₃₄ukuba ugcwaneke ngokubonwa ngamehlo akho oyakukubona. ₃₅UJehova uyakukushaya emadolweni akho nasemilenzeni ngamathumba amabi ongenakuphulukiswa kuwo, kusukela ematheni onyawo lwakho kuze kufike okhakhayini lwakho.

₃₆“UJehova uyakuyisa wena nenkosi oyibeke phezu kwakho kuso isizwe ongasazi, wena nawoyihlo, ukhonze lapho abanye onkulunkulu, imithi namatshe. ₃₇Uyakuba yisimangaliso, nesaga, nesifenqo phakathi kwezizwe zonke lapho uJehova eyakukuyisa khona.

₃₈“Uyakuphuma nembewu eningi, uye ensimini, ubuthe okuyingcosana, ngokuba kuyakudliwa yisikhonyane. ₃₉Uyakutshala izivini, uzisebenze, kepha awuyikuliphuza iwayini, ungabuthi izithelo zomvini, ngokuba umswenya uyakuzidla. ₄₀Uyakuba neminqumo phakathi kwemikhawulo yakho yonke, ungazigcobi nokho ngamafutha, ngokuba izithelo zeminqumo yakho ziyakuvuthuluka. ₄₁Uyakuzala amadodana namadodakazi, kepha awayikuba ngawakho, ngokuba ayakuthunjwa. ₄₂Yonke imithi yakho nezithelo zomhlabathi wakho kuyakudliwa yisikhonyane.

₄₃“Umfokazi ophakathi kwakho uyakuphakama phezu kwakho njalonjalo, wena wehle njalonjalo. ₄₄Uyakukutsheleka wena, awuyikumtsheleka yena; yena uyakuba yinhloko, wena ube ngumsila.

₄₅“Zonke lezi ziqalekiso ziyakukwehlela, zikuxoshe, zikufice, uze ubhujiswe, ngokuba awulilalelanga izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ukuba ugcine imiyalo yakhe nezimiso zakhe abekuyala ngakho, ₄₆zibe phezu kwakho isibonakaliso nesimangaliso, naphezu kwenzalo yakho kuze kube phakade. ₄₇Lokhu ungamkhonzanga uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngokujabula nangokwenama kwenhliziyo ngenxa yobuningi bezinto, ₄₈uyakuzikhonza izitha zakho uJehova ayakuzithuma kuwe ngokulamba, nangokoma, nangobunqunu, nangokuswela izinto zonke, abeke ijoka lensimbi entanyeni yakho, aze akubhubhise.

₄₉“UJehova uyakukuthumela isizwe esivela kude ekugcineni komhlaba njengokundiza kokhozi, isizwe ongayikuqonda ulimi lwaso, ₅₀isizwe esinobuso obujamayo, esingayikunakekela ubuso bomdala, singabi namusa komusha. ₅₁Siyakuyidla inzalo yezinkomo zakho, nezithelo zomhlabathi wakho, uze ubhujiswe, singakushiyeli amabele, noma iwayini, noma amafutha, noma isanda sezinkomo zakho, noma amazinyane ezimvu zakho, aze akuqede. ₅₂Siyakukuvimbezela kuwo onke amasango akho, zize ziwe izingange zakho owazethembayo ezweni lakho lonke, sikuvimbezele kuwo onke amasango akho ezweni lakho lonke uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunike lona.

₅₃“Uyakudla inzalo yesakho isisu, inyama yamadodana akho neyamadodakazi akho uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunike wona ekuvinjezelweni nasekuxinekeni izitha zakho eziyakukuxina ngakho. ₅₄Umuntu othambileyo notetemayo phakathi kwenu, iso lakhe liyakuba libi kumfowabo, nakumkakhe osesifubeni sakhe, nakuyo insali yabantwana bakhe abaseleyo, ₅₅ukuba angabaniki inyama yabantwana bakhe abadlayo ngokuba engasalelwanga lutho olunye ekuvinjezelweni nasekuxinekeni eziyakukuxina ngakho izitha zakho kuwo onke amasango akho. ₅₆Owesifazane othambileyo notetemayo phakathi kwenu obengenasibindi sokubeka amathe onyawo lwakhe emhlabathini ngenxa yokutetema nokuthambeka, iso lakhe liyakuba libi endodeni esesifubeni sakhe, nasendodaneni yakhe, nasendodakazini yakhe, ₅₇nakumzanyama wakhe ophuma phakathi kwezinyawo zakhe, nakubantwana bakhe ayakubazala, ngokuba uyakubadla ngasese ekusweleni kwakhe ekuvinjezelweni nasekuxinekeni eziyakukuxina ngakho izitha zakho kuwo onke amasango akho.

₅₈“Uma ungaqapheli ukuwenza onke amazwi alo mthetho alotshiwe kule ncwadi ukuba ulesabe igama lakhe elidumisekayo nelesabekayo elithi UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU WAKHO, ₅₉uJehova uyakwenza izifo zakho ukuba zimangalise, kanye nezifo zenzalo yakho, izifo ezinkulu ezihlala isikhathi eside nokugula okubi okuhlala isikhathi eside. ₆₀Uyakubuyisela phezu kwakho zonke izifo zaseGibithe owazesabayo, zinamathele kuwe. ₆₁Konke ukugula nazo zonke izifo okungalotshiwe encwadini yalo mthetho, lokho uJehova uyakukukhweza phezu kwakho, uze ubhujiswe. ₆₂Niyakushiywa nibe yingcosana, ingani naningangezinkanyezi zezulu ngobuningi, ngokuba awulilalelanga izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho. ₆₃Kuyakuthi njengalokho uJehova wayejabula ngani ukunenzela okuhle nokunandisa, kanjalo uJehova ajabule ngani ukwenza ukuba nibhubhe, niqothulwe, nisishulwe ezweni eningena kulo ukulidla.

₆₄“UJehova uyakukuhlakazela phakathi kwabantu bonke, kusukela kolunye uhlangothi lomhlaba kuze kufike kolunye uhlangothi lomhlaba, ukhonze lapho abanye onkulunkulu ongabaziyo, wena nawoyihlo, imithi namatshe. ₆₅Phakathi kwalezo zizwe awuyikuthola ukuthula, kungabikho kuphumula ematheni onyawo lwakho, kepha uJehova uyakukunika khona inhliziyo eqhaqhazelayo, nokuphela kwamehlo, nokudangala komphefumulo, ₆₆ukuphila kwakho kujikiswa phambi kwakho, wesabe ubusuku nemini, ungabe usaba nethemba ngokuphila kwakho; ₆₇ekuseni uyakuthi: ‘Sengathi ngabe kukusihlwa,’ nakusihlwa uyakuthi: ‘Sengathi ngabe kusekuseni,’ ngenxa yengebhe yenhliziyo yakho oyakuba nayo nagenxa yokubonwa ngamehlo akho oyakukubona. ₆₈UJehova uyakukubuyisela eGibithe ngemikhumbi ngendlela engasho ngayo kuwe ukuthi: ‘Awusayikuyibona futhi.’ Lapho niyakuzithengisa ezitheni zenu nibe yizigqila nezigqilakazi, ningathengwa muntu kodwa.”

₁Wayeseqala ukukhuluma kubo ngemifanekiso, ethi: “Umuntu watshala isivini, wasibiyela ngothango, wemba isikhamo, wakha isiqongo sokulinda, wasiqashisa kubalimi, waya kwelinye izwe. ₂Ngenkathi efaneleyo wayesethuma inceku kubalimi ukuba ithathe kubalimi ezithelweni zesivini. ₃Bayibamba, bayishaya, bayimukisa ze. ₄Waphinda wathuma kubo enye inceku; yona bayilimaza ekhanda, bayithuka. ₅Wathuma enye futhi; yona bayibulala, nezinye eziningi: ezinye bazishaya, ezinye bazibulala.

₆“Kwase kusele umuntu munye, indodana ethandekayo; yona wayithuma kubo ekugcineni, ethi: ‘Bayakuyazisa indodana yami.’

₇“Kepha labo balimi bakhuluma bodwa, bathi: ‘Lo uyindlalifa; wozani siyibulale, ifa libe ngelethu.’ ₈Base beyibamba bayibulala, bayiphonsa ngaphandle kwesivini.

₉“Uzakwenzani umninisivini na? Uzakuza, ababhubhise labo balimi, isivini asinike abanye. ₁₀Aniwufundanga yini lo mbhalo othi:

₁₂Base befuna ukumbamba, kepha besaba isixuku; ngokuba bazi ukuthi ukhulume lo mfanekiso ngabo. Base bemshiya bamuka.

₁₃Khona abanye babaFarisi nabakaHerode bathunyelwa kuye ukuba bamhile ngezwi. ₁₄Beza bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, siyazi ukuthi uqinisile nokuthi awukhathali ngamuntu, ngokuba awubheki ubuso babantu, kodwa indlela kaNkulunkulu uyifundisa ngeqiniso. Kuvunyelwe ukuthela kuKesari noma qha? Sithele nokuba singatheli na?”

₁₅Kepha yena ekwazi ukuzenzisa kwabo wathi kubo: “Ningilingelani na? Lethani kimi udenariyu,* ngimbone.” ₁₆Bamletha. Wayesethi kubo: “Ngokabani lo mfanekiso nalo mbhalo na?”

Bathi kuye: “NgokaKesari.”

₁₇UJesu wathi kubo: “Nikani uKesari okukaKesari, noNkulunkulu okukaNkulunkulu.”

Bamangala ngaye.

₁₈Khona kwafika kuye abaSadusi abathi akukho ukuvuka kwabafileyo, bambuza bathi: ₁₉“Mfundisi, uMose wasilobela ukuthi, uma kufa umfowabo womuntu, eshiya umkakhe engashiyi mntwana, umfowabo makamthathe umkakhe, amvusele umfowabo inzalo. ₂₀Kwakukhona izelamani eziyisikhombisa, owokuqala wathatha umfazi; wafa engashiyanga nzalo. ₂₁Nowesibili wamthatha; naye wafa engashiyanga nzalo; kanjalo nowesithathu. ₂₂Abayisikhombisa kabashiyanga nzalo. Ekugcineni kwabo bonke kwafa nomfazi. ₂₃Ekuvukeni mhla bevukayo uyakuba ngumkabani kubo, lokhu abayisikhombisa babe naye engumkabo, na?”

₂₄UJesu wathi kubo: “Angithi nidukile ngenxa yokuba ningayazi imibhalo namandla kaNkulunkulu na? ₂₅Ngokuba mhla bevuka kwabafileyo abaganwa, abendiswa, kodwa banjengezingelosi ezulwini. ₂₆Kepha maqondana nabafileyo ukuthi bayavuswa anifundanga yini encwadini kaMose ngesihlahla ukuthi uNkulunkulu wakhuluma kuye, wathi: ‘NginguNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, noNkulunkulu ka-Isaka, noNkulunkulu kaJakobe,’ na? ₂₇Akasiye uNkulunkulu wabafileyo kodwa owabaphilayo. Nidukile kakhulu.”

₂₈Kwase kusondela omunye wababhali owayebezwile bebuzana, eqonda ukuthi wayebaphendule kahle, wambuza wathi: “Ngumuphi umyalo wokuqala kuyo yonke na?”

₂₉UJesu waphendula wathi: “Owokuqala ngowokuthi: ‘Yizwa, iNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, iNkosi, yinye. ₃₀Woyithanda iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho, nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho, nangawo onke amandla akho.’ ₃₁Owesibili yilo: ‘Womthanda umakhelwame wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena.’ Awukho omunye umyalo omkhulu kunale.”

₃₂Umbhali wayesethi kuye: “Yebo, Mfundisi, ushilo ngeqiniso ukuthi yinye, ayikho enye ngaphandle kwayo; ₃₃futhi ukuyithanda yona ngenhliziyo yonke, nangengqondo yonke, nangamandla onke, nokuthanda umakhelwane njengalokhu umuntu ezithanda yena kudlula yonke iminikelo yokushiswa nemihlatshelo.”

₃₄UJesu embona ukuthi uphendule ngokuqonda, wathi kuye: “Awukude nombuso kaNkulunkulu.” Akwabe kusabakho onesibindi sokumbuza.

₃₅Khona uJesu efundisa ethempelini wabuza wathi: “Basho kanjani ababhali ukuthi uKristu uyindodana kaDavide na? ₃₆UDavide uqobo lwakhe washo ngoMoya oNgcwele ukuthi:

Isixuku esikhulu sasimuzwa ngokujabula.

₃₈Ekufundiseni kwakhe wathi: “Xwayani ababhali abathanda ukuhamba bembethe izingubo ezinde, nokubingelelwa ezigcawini, ₃₉nezihlalo eziphambili emasinagogeni,* nezindawo ezingenhla ekudleni, ₄₀abadla izindlu zabafelokazi, bekhuleka isikhathi eside ngokuzenzisa; laba bayakwamukeliswa ukulahlwa okukhulu.”

₄₁Wayesehlala phansi maqondana nomphongolo womnikelo, wabuka isixuku sibeka umnikelo emphongolweni. Abaningi abacebileyo babeka kakhulu. ₄₂Kwase kufika umfelokazi ompofu wabeka amafadingi* amabili okuyisitebela.*

₄₃Wayesebabiza abafundi bakhe, wathi kubo: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lo mfelokazi ompofu ubekile kakhulu kunabo bonke ababeke emphongolweni, ₄₄ngokuba bonke babeka kokuchichimileyo kwabo, kepha yena ebumpofini bakhe ubeke konke anakho, konke abephila ngakho.”

₁Kuthe ephuma ethempelini, omunye wabafundi bakhe wathi kuye: “Mfundisi, bheka amatshe anjani nezakhiwo ezinjani!”

₂UJesu wathi kuye: “Uyabona lezi zakhiwo ezinkulu na? Akuyikushiywa itshe phezu kwetshe elingayikudilizelwa phansi.”

₃Esahlezi eNtabeni Yeminqumo maqondana nethempeli, oPetru noJakobe noJohane no-Andreya bambuza bebodwa, ₄bathi: “Sitshele ukuthi lokhu kuyakuba nini, nesibonakaliso siyakuba yini, lapho sekuyakufezeka konke lokhu, na?”

₅Khona uJesu waqala ukukhuluma kubo, ethi: “Qaphelani ningadukiswa muntu. ₆Kuyakuza abaningi ngegama lami, bathi: ‘Nginguye,’ badukise abaningi. ₇Nxa nizwa izimpi namahemuhemu ezimpi, ningethuki; kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke, kepha ukuphela koba kungakafiki. ₈Ngokuba isizwe siyakuvukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso; kuyakuba khona ukuzamazama komhlaba izindawo ngezindawo, kube khona indlala; lokhu kungukuqala kwemihelo.

₉“Kepha ziqapheleni nina. Bayakunikhaphela emiphakathini; niyakushaywa emasinagogeni;* niyakumiswa phambi kwababusi namakhosi ngenxa yami, kube ngubufakazi kubo. ₁₀Kepha ivangeli limelwe ukushunyayelwa kuqala ezizweni zonke. ₁₁Uma beniqhuba, benikhaphela, ningakhathaleli ngaphambili eniyakukukhuluma, kodwa lokho eniyakukunikwa ngaleso sikhathi, kukhulumeni; ngokuba kakunina enikhulumayo kodwa nguMoya oNgcwele.

₁₂“Khona umuntu uyakukhaphela umfowabo ekufeni noyise umntanakhe, yebo, abantwana bayakuvukela abazali babo, bababulale. ₁₃Niyakuzondwa yibo bonke ngenxa yegama lami, kodwa okhuthazelayo kuze kube sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa.

₁₄“Kepha nxa nibona amanyala encithakalo emi lapho kungafanele khona – ofundayo makaqaphele – khona abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, ₁₅ophezu kwendlu angehli, angangeni ukuyothatha utho endlini yakhe, ₁₆osensimini angabuyeli emuva ukuyothatha ingubo yakhe. ₁₇Kepha maye kwabakhulelweyo nabancelisayo ngalezo zinsuku! ₁₈Khulekani ukuba kungabi sebusika. ₁₉Ngokuba lezo zinsuku ziyakuba nosizi olungazange lube khona olunjalo kwasekuqaleni kokudalwa akudalayo uNkulunkulu kuze kube manje, nolungasayikuba khona. ₂₀Uma iNkosi ibingazifinyezi lezo zinsuku, bekungesindiswe muntu, kepha ngenxa yabakhethiweyo eyabakhetha yazifinyeza lezo zinsuku. ₂₁Khona-ke uma umuntu ethi kini: ‘Bhekani, nangu uKristu,’ noma: ‘Bhekani, nanguya,’ ningakholwa. ₂₂Ngokuba kuyakuvela okristu bamanga nabaprofethi bamanga, benze izibonakaliso nezimangaliso, ukuze badukise abakhethiweyo, uma kungenzeka. ₂₃Kepha qaphelani nina; senginitshele konke ngaphambili.

₂₄“Kodwa ngalezo zinsuku emva kwalolo sizi ilanga liyakufiphazwa, nenyanga ayiyikukhanya, ₂₅nezinkanyezi ziyakuwa ezulwini, namandla asezulwini ayakuzanyazanyiswa. ₂₆Khona-ke bayakubona iNdodana yomuntu iza emafwini, inamandla amakhulu nenkazimulo. ₂₇Lapho iyakuthuma izingelosi, iqoqe abakhethiweyo bayo emimoyeni yomine, kusukela emkhawulweni womhlaba kuze kube semkhawulweni wezulu.

₂₈“Fundani umfanekiso emkhiwaneni; nxa igatsha lawo selithamba, lihlume amaqabunga, niyazi ukuthi ihlobo seliseduze. ₂₉Kanjalo nani, nxa nibona lokhu kwenzeka, yazini ukuthi iseduze ngasemnyango. ₃₀Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lesi sizukulwane asiyikudlula, kungakenzeki konke lokhu. ₃₁Kuyakudlula izulu nomhlaba, kepha amazwi ami awayikudlula.

₃₂“Kepha lolo suku nalelo hora akakho owazi lutho ngalo, nazingelosi ezulwini, naNdodana, nguBaba kuphela. ₃₃Qaphelani, nilinde, ngokuba anisazi isikhathi ukuthi siyakuba nini. ₃₄Kunjengomuntu owahambela kwelinye izwe; washiya indlu yakhe, wanika izinceku zakhe amandla, yileyo naleyo wayinika umsebenzi wayo, wayala umlindisango ukuba alinde.

₃₅“Ngakho lindani, ngokuba anazi ukuthi inkosi yendlu iyakufika nini, noma ngokuhlwa, noma phakathi kobusuku, noma ngokukhala kwezinkuku, noma ekuseni, ₃₆funa ifike ngokuzuma, inifumane nilele. ₃₇Kepha lokhu engikusho kini ngikusho kubo bonke, ngithi: ‘Lindani.’ ”

₁Emva kwezinsuku ezimbili kwaba khona iPhasika nomkhosi wesinkwa esingenamvubelo; abapristi abakhulu nababhali bafuna isu lokumbamba ngobuqili, bambulale. ₂Ngakho bathi: “Makungabi ngomkhosi, kungaze kube khona isiyaluyalu esizweni.”

₃Kwathi eseBethaniya endlini kaSimoni owayenochoko, ehlezi ekudleni, kwafika owesifazane ephethe umfuma we-alabaste* wamafutha enadi* lodwa elibiza kakhulu; wachoboza umfuma wathela amafutha ekhanda lakhe.

₄Kepha kwakukhona abanye abakhuluma bodwa ngokuthukuthela, bethi: “Kwenzelweni lokho kuchithwa kwamafutha na? ₅Ngokuba lawa mafutha nga ethengisiwe ngawodenariyu* abangaphezu kwamakhulu amathathu, kwaphiwa abampofu.” Bamthukuthelela kakhulu.

₆Kepha uJesu wathi: “Myekeni; nimhluphelani na? Usebenzile umsebenzi omuhle kimi. ₇Ngokuba abampofu ninabo njalo; nanini, uma nithanda, ningabenzela okuhle: kepha mina aninami njalo. ₈Wenzile abengakwenza; wandulele ukuwugcobela umzimba wami ukumbelwa. ₉Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Nomaphi lapho liyakushunyayelwa khona ivangeli ezweni lonke, kuyakukhulunywa nangalokho akwenzileyo, kube yisikhumbuzo ngaye.”

₁₀UJuda Iskariyothe, omunye wabayishumi nambili, wayeseya kubapristi abakhulu ukuba amkhaphele kubo. ₁₁Sebezwile bathokoza, bathembisa ukumnika imali. Wayesefuna ithuba lokumkhaphela.

₁₂Ngosuku lokuqala lwesinkwa esingenamvubelo okwakuhlatshwa ngalo iphasika abafundi bakhe bathi kuye: “Uthanda ukuba siye silungiselephi ukuba udle iphasika na?”

₁₃Wayesethuma ababili kubafundi bakhe, wathi kubo: “Hambani niye emzini; khona nizakuhlangana nomuntu othwele imbiza yamanzi; mlandeleni. ₁₄Lapho engena khona, anothi kumninindlu: ‘Uthi uMfundisi: Iphi indlu yami, lapho ngingadlela khona iphasika nabafundi bami, na?’ ₁₅Yena uzakunikhombisa ikamelo elikhulu eliphezulu, elendlelweyo, lilungisiwe; silungiseleni khona.”

₁₆Bahamba abafundi bafika emzini, bafumana kunjengokusho kwakhe kubo; base belungisa iphasika.

₁₇Kusihlwa wafika nabayishumi nambili. ₁₈Sebehlezi ekudleni, uJesu wathi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Omunye kini, odla nami, uzakungikhaphela.”

₁₉Baqala ukudabuka, bathi kuye ngamunye: “Kungaba yimi na?”

₂₀Wathi kubo: “Ngomunye wabayishumi nambili, okha kanye nami esitsheni. ₂₁INdodana yomuntu iyamuka kambe njengokulotshiwe ngayo, kepha maye kulowo muntu iNdodana yomuntu ekhashelwa ngaye! Nga kukuhle kulowo muntu ukuba kazalwanga.”

₂₂Kwathi besadla, uJesu wathabatha isinkwa, wasibusisa, wasihlephula, wabanika, wathi: “Thabathani nidle; lokhu kungumzimba wami.”

₂₃Wayesethabatha isitsha, wabonga, wabanika; baphuza kuso bonke.

₂₄Wathi kubo: “Lokhu kuyigazi lami lesivumelwano elithululwa ngenxa yabaningi. ₂₅Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Angisayikuphuza okwesithelo somvini, kuze kufike lolo suku engiyakusiphuza ngalo sisisha embusweni kaNkulunkulu.”

₂₆Kwathi sebehlabelele igama lokubonga, baphuma baya eNtabeni Yeminqumo.

₂₇UJesu wathi kubo: “Nonke nizakukhubeka, ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Ngiyakushaya umalusi, izimvu zihlakazeke.’ ₂₈Kepha emva kokuvuswa kwami ngiyakunandulela ukuya eGalile.”

₂₉UPetru wathi kuye: “Noma beyakukhubeka bonke, hhayi mina.”

₃₀UJesu wathi kuye: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Namhlanje ngalobu busuku, lingakakhali kabili iqhude, uzakungiphika kathathu.”

₃₁Kepha waqinisa ngamandla, wathi: “Noma ngingaze ngife nawe, angisoze ngakuphika.” Basho njalo bonke.

₃₂Bafika endaweni ethiwa iGetsemane; wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Hlalani lapha, ngisaya kukhuleka.” ₃₃Wathatha oPetru noJakobe noJohane, waqala ukuba novalo nosizi. ₃₄Wathi kubo: “Umphefumulo wami ulusizi kakhulu kuze kube sekufeni; hlalani lapha, nilinde.”

₃₅Waqhubeka ingcosana, wawa phansi, wakhuleka ukuba, uma kungenzeka, kudlule kuye lo mzuzu. ₃₆Wathi: “Aba, Baba, konke kungenzeka kuwe; ake ususe kimi lesi sitsha, kepha kungabi njengokuba ngithanda mina, kodwa njengokuba uthanda wena.”

₃₇Wayeseza, wabafumana belele; wathi kuPetru: “Simoni, ulele na? Ubungelinde ihora libe linye na? ₃₈Lindani, nikhuleke ukuba ningangeni ekulingweni; umoya uyavuma, kepha inyama ibuthakathaka.”

₃₉Wabuye wasuka waya kukhuleka, esho lona lelo zwi. ₄₀Esebuya futhi wabafumana belele, ngokuba amehlo abo ayenzima; babengazi ukuthi bazakumphendula ngokuthini.

₄₁Weza ngokwesithathu, wathi kubo: “Nisalele namanje niphumula. Kwanele, ihora lifikile; bhekani, iNdodana yomuntu isiyakhashelwa ezandleni zezoni. ₄₂Sukumani sihambe. Bhekani, ongikhaphelayo usesondele.”

₄₃Khona masinyane esakhuluma, kwafika uJuda, omunye wabayishumi nambili, enesixuku esinezinkemba nezinduku, sivela kubapristi abakhulu nababhali namalunga. ₄₄Kepha omkhaphelayo wayebanike isiboniso sokuthi: “Lowo engiyakumanga, nguye; mbambeni, nihambe naye, nimqinise.”

₄₅Esefikile wasondela kuye masinyane, wathi: “Rabi!” Wamanga. ₄₆Base bembeka izandla, bambamba. ₄₇Omunye kwababemi khona wahosha inkemba, wayigenca inceku yompristi omkhulu, wayinquma indlebe.

₄₈UJesu wathatha wathi kubo: “Niphumile kungathi nize kumphangi, niphethe izinkemba nezinduku ukungibamba. ₄₉Benginani imihla ngemihla ethempelini ngifundisa, anangibamba; kepha nga kugcwaliseka imibhalo.” ₅₀Bamshiya bonke, babaleka.

₅₁Insizwa ethile yamlandela yembethe indwangu nje emzimbeni; bayibamba. ₅₂Yayisiyishiya indwangu, yabaleka ze.

₅₃Base bemusa uJesu kumpristi omkhulu; kwabuthana bonke abapristi abakhulu namalunga nababhali. ₅₄UPetru wamlandela ekude, waze wangena egcekeni lompristi omkhulu; wayehlezi kanye nezikhonzi otha umlilo.

₅₅Abapristi abakhulu nomphakathi wonke bafuna ubufakazi ngoJesu ukuba bambulale, kepha ababufumananga. ₅₆Ngokuba abaningi bafakaza amanga ngaye, kepha ubufakazi babo abuhlangananga.

₅₇Kwasukuma abathile, bafakaza amanga ngaye, bathi: ₅₈“Thina simzwile ethi: ‘Ngiyakulidiliza leli thempeli elenziwe ngezandla, ngakhe ngezinsuku ezintathu elinye elingenziwe ngezandla.’ ” ₅₉Nakuba kunjalo ubufakazi babo abuhlangananga.

₆₀Kwase kusukuma umpristi omkhulu phakathi kwabo, wambuza uJesu, wathi: “Awuphenduli lutho na? Kuyini abakufakaza ngawe laba na?” ₆₁Kepha wathula, akaphendula lutho. Umpristi omkhulu wabuye wambuza, wathi kuye: “UnguKristu, iNdodana yoBongekayo na?”

₆₂Wathi uJesu: “Nginguye. Niyakubona iNdodana yomuntu ihlezi ngakwesokunene saMandla, iza ngamafu ezulu.”

₆₃Khona umpristi omkhulu waklebhula izingubo zakhe, wathi: “Sisaswelelani ofakazi na? ₆₄Senikuzwile ukuhlambalaza; nithini na?”

Bamlahla bonke ngokuthi ufanele ukufa. ₆₅Abanye base beqala ukumkhafulela ngamathe nokumgubuzela ubuso nokumdushuza, bathi kuye: “Profetha.” Nezikhonzi zamthatha zammukula.

₆₆UPetru esesegcekeni ngaphansi, kwafika enye yamantombazana ompristi omkhulu, ₆₇yambona uPetru otha, yambheka, yathi: “Nawe ubunoJesu waseNazaretha.”

₆₈Kepha waphika wathi: “Angikwazi, yebo, angikuzwisisi okushoyo;” waphumela enkundleni; lakhala iqhude.

₆₉Intombazana imbona yabuye yaqala ukusho kwababemi khona ukuthi: “Lona ungomunye wabo.” ₇₀Kepha waphinda waphika.

Emva kwesikhashana futhi ababemi khona bathi kuPetru: “Nempela ungomunye wabo, ngokuba ungowaseGalile.”

₇₁Wayeseqala ukuthuka nokufunga, ethi: “Angimazi lowo muntu enikhuluma ngaye.”

₇₂Lase likhala masinyane iqhude ngokwesibili. UPetru wayesekhumbula izwi abelishilo kuye uJesu lokuthi: “Iqhude lingakakhali kabili, uzakungiphika kathathu;” wakhala nokukhala izinyembezi.