To The Word – Day 7

₁UJehova wamhambela uSara njengokusho kwakhe; UJehova wenza kuSara njengalokho ekhulumile. ₂USara wakhulelwa, wamzalela u-Abrahama indodana esemdala kuleyo nkathi uNkulunkulu abeyishilo kuye. ₃U-Abrahama waqamba igama lendodana yakhe azalelwe yona, ayizalelwe nguSara, ngokuthi u-Isaka. ₄U-Abrahama wayisoka indodana yakhe u-Isaka isinezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili, njengalokho uNkulunkulu emyalile. ₅U-Abrahama wayeneminyaka eyikhulu, lapho ezalelwa u-Isaka indodana yakhe.

₆USara wathi: “UNkulunkulu ungenzile ukuba ngihlekeke; bonke abakuzwayo bayakungihleka.” ₇Wathi futhi: “Ngubani obengasho ku-Abrahama ukuthi uSara ubeyakuncelisa abantwana na? Ngokuba sengimzalele indodana esemdala.”

₈Umntwana wakhula, walunyulwa; u-Abrahama wenza idili elikhulu mhla u-Isaka elunyulwa. ₉USara wabona indodana kaHagari owaseGibithe ayizalele u-Abrahama idlalisa. ₁₀Wathi ku-Abrahama: “Sixoshe lesi sigqilakazi nendodana yaso, ngokuba indodana yalesi sigqilakazi ayiyikudla ifa kanye nendodana yami u-Isaka.”

₁₁Leli zwi lalilibi kakhulu emehlweni ka-Abrahama ngenxa yendodana yakhe. ₁₂UNkulunkulu wathi ku-Abrahama: “Akungabi lukhuni emehlweni akho ngenxa yomfana nangenxa yesigqilakazi sakho; kukho konke uSara akusho kuwe, lalela izwi lakhe, ngokuba inzalo yakho iyakubizwa ngo-Isaka. ₁₃Nayo indodana yesigqilakazi ngiyakuyenza isizwe, ngokuba iyinzalo yakho.”

₁₄U-Abrahama wavuka ekuseni, wathatha isinkwa nemvaba yamanzi, wakunika uHagari ekubeka ehlombe lakhe kanye nomntwana, wammukisa; wahamba, wazulazula ehlane laseBeri Sheba.

₁₅Amanzi esephelile emvabeni, waphonsa umntwana phansi kwesihlahla. ₁₆Waya wahlala phansi kukhashana phambi kwakhe, kungathi ibanga lokuphonsa umcibisholo, ngokuba wathi: “Ngingebone ukufa komntwana.” Wahlala phambi kwakhe, waphakamisa izwi lakhe, wakhala.

₁₇UNkulunkulu wezwa izwi lomfana. Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yamemeza kuHagari isezulwini, yathi kuye: “Kuyini, Hagari? Ungesabi, ngokuba uNkulunkulu ulizwile izwi lomntwana, lapho ekhona. ₁₈Vuka uphakamise umfana, umbambe ngesandla sakho, ngokuba ngiyakumenza isizwe esikhulu.”

₁₉UNkulunkulu wavula amehlo akhe, wabona umthombo wamanzi, waya, wagcwalisa imvaba ngamanzi, wamphuzisa umfana.

₂₀UNkulunkulu wayenaye umfana; wakhula, wahlala ehlane, waba ngophethe umnsalo. ₂₁Wahlala ehlane lasePharanu; unina wamthathela umfazi ezweni laseGibithe.

₂₂Kwathi ngaleso sikhathi u-Abimeleki noPikoli, induna yempi yakhe, bakhuluma ku-Abrahama, bathi: “UNkulunkulu unawe kukho konke okwenzayo. ₂₃Ngalokho ngithembise lapha ngokufunga uNkulunkulu ukuthi awuyikungikhohlisa mina nendodana yami nomzukulwana wami; kepha ngokomusa engiwenzile kuwe, mawuwenze nakimi nakulo izwe osugogobele kulo.”

₂₄U-Abrahama wathi: “Ngizakufunga.”

₂₅Kepha u-Abrahama wamsola u-Abimeleki ngomthombo wamanzi ebeziwuqhwagile izinceku zika-Abimeleki. ₂₆Kepha u-Abimeleki wathi: “Angazi ukuthi kwenziwe ngubani lokhu; nawe awungitshelanga, nami angikuzwanga kuze kube namuhla.”

₂₇U-Abrahama wayesethatha izimvu nezinkabi, wazipha u-Abimeleki; labo bobabili benza isivumelwano. ₂₈U-Abrahama wabeka izimvukazana eziyisikhombisa zomhlambi ngokwazo. ₂₉U-Abimeleki wathi ku-Abrahama: “Lezi zimvukazana eziyisikhombisa ozibeke zodwa ziyini na?”

₃₀Wathi: “Lezi zimvukazana eziyisikhombisa uyakuzithatha esandleni sami, zibe ngubufakazi bokuthi ngiwumbile lomthombo.”

₃₁Ngalokho waqamba leyo ndawo ngokuthi iBeri Sheba,* ngokuba bafunga khona bobabili.

₃₂Base benza isivumelwano eBeri Sheba; u-Abimeleki wasukuma noPikoli induna yempi yakhe, babuyela ezweni lamaFilisti. ₃₃U-Abrahama watshala umtamariske* ngaseBeri Sheba, wakhuleka khona egameni likaJehova uNkulunkulu Ongunaphakade. ₃₄U-Abrahama wagogobala ezweni lamaFilisti izinsuku eziningi.

₁Kwathi emva kwalezo zinto uNkulunkulu wamvinvinya u-Abrahama, wathi kuye: “Abrahama!” Yena wathi: “Ngilapha.” ₂Wayesethi: “Thatha manje indodana yakho eyodwa oyithandayo, u-Isaka, uye ezweni laseMoriya, unikele khona ngaye abe ngumnikelo wokushiswa entabeni ethile engizakukutshela yona.”

₃U-Abrahama wavuka ekuseni, wabophela imbongolo yakhe, wathatha ezimbili ezincekwini zakhe, no-Isaka indodana yakhe; wacanda izinkuni zomnikelo obuzakushiswa, wasuka waya endaweni uNkulunkulu abemtshele yona. ₄Ngosuku lwesithathu u-Abrahama waphakamisa amehlo akhe, wayibona indawo isekude. ₅U-Abrahama wathi ezincekwini zakhe: “Hlalani lapha nembongolo; mina nomfana sisaya laphaya, sikhuleke, sibuye size kini.”

₆U-Abrahama wathatha izinkuni zomnikelo obuzakushiswa, wazibeka phezu kuka-Isaka indodana yakhe, waphatha esandleni sakhe umlilo nomese; bahamba bobabili kanyekanye. ₇U-Isaka wathi ku-Abrahama uyise: “Baba.”

Wathi yena: “Ngilapha, ndodana yami.”

Wayesethi: “Bheka, nanku umlilo nezinkuni, kepha iphi imvu yomnikelo ezakushiswa na?”

₈U-Abrahama wathi: “UNkulunkulu uzakuzibonela imvu yomnikelo ezakushiswa, ndodana yami,” bahamba bobabili kanyekanye.

₉Bafika endaweni uNkulunkulu abemtshele yona; u-Abrahama wakha khona i-altare, walungisa izinkuni, wambopha u-Isaka indodana yakhe, wambeka e-altare phezu kwezinkuni. ₁₀U-Abrahama waselula isandla sakhe, wathatha umese ukuba ahlabe indodana yakhe. ₁₁Kwase kumemeza kuye ingelosi kaJehova isezulwini, ithi: “Abrahama, Abrahama!”

Yena wathi: “Ngilapha.”

₁₂Yayisithi: “Ungabeki isandla sakho kumfana, ungenzi lutho kuye, ngokuba ngiyazi manje ukuthi uyamesaba uNkulunkulu, lokhu ungagodlanga kimi nandodana eyodwa yakho.”

₁₃U-Abrahama waphakamisa amehlo akhe, wabona; bheka, ngemuva yinqama, ibhajiwe esihlahleni ngezimpondo zayo; u-Abrahama waya wayithatha inqama, wanikela ngayo umnikelo wokushiswa esikhundleni sendodana yakhe. ₁₄U-Abrahama waqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi uJehova uyabonelela, njengalokhu kuthiwa nanamuhla: Entabeni kaJehova kuyakubonelelwa.

₁₅Ingelosi kaJehova yayisimemeza ku-Abrahama ngokwesibili isezulwini, ₁₆ithi: “Ngizifungile, usho uJehova, ukuthi njengokuba ukwenzile lokhu, ungagodlanga indodana yakho eyodwa, ₁₇ngiyakukubusisa nokukubusisa, ngandise nokwandisa inzalo yakho, ibe ngangezinkanyezi zezulu nangangesihlabathi sasogwini lolwandle, inzalo yakho inqobe isango lezitha zayo, ₁₈nangenzalo yakho ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zomhlaba, ngokuba ulalele izwi lami.”

₁₉U-Abrahama wayesebuyela ezincekwini zakhe; basuka, baya eBeri Sheba; u-Abrahama wakha eBeri Sheba.

₂₀Kwathi emva kwalokho kwabikwa ku-Abrahama ukuthi: “Bheka, naye uMilka umzalele uNahori umfowenu abantwana: ₂₁Ngu-Use izibulo lakhe, noBusi umfowabo, noKemuweli uyise ka-Aramu, ₂₂noKesede, noHazo, noPilidashe, noJidilafe, noBetuweli,” ₂₃uBetuweli wazala uRebeka; laba abayisishiyagalombili uMilka wabazalela uNahori umfowabo ka-Abrahama. ₂₄Nesancinza sakhe esigama laso lalinguRewuma sazala oTheba, noGahamu, noTahashi, noMahakha.

₁Ukuhamba kukaSara kwaba yiminyaka eyikhulu namashumi amabili nesikhombisa; yileyo iminyaka yokuhamba kukaSara. ₂USara wafela eKiriyati Araba okuyiHebroni ezweni laseKhanani; u-Abrahama wafika ukumlilela uSara nokumkhalela.

₃U-Abrahama wasuka kofileyo wakhe, wakhuluma nabantwana bakwaHeti, wathi: ₄“Ngingumfokazi nozulane phakathi kwenu; ngipheni indawo yethuna phakathi kwenu ukuba ngimmbele ofileyo wami, angabikho ebusweni bami.”

₅Abantwana bakwaHeti baphendula u-Abrahama, bathi kuye: ₆“Sizwe, nkosi; wena uyisikhulu sikaNkulunkulu phakathi kwethu; mmbele ofileyo wakho kwelihle kuwo onke amathuna ethu; akakho phakathi kwethu ozakugodlela wena ithuna lakhe ukuba ummbele ofileyo wakho.”

₇U-Abrahama wayesesukuma, wakhothamela abantu balelo zwe, abantwana bakwaHeti, ₈wakhuluma nabo, wathi: “Uma kuyintando yenu ukuba ngimmbele ofileyo wami, angabikho ebusweni bami, ngizweni, ninginxusele ku-Efroni indodana kaSowari ₉ukuba angiphe umhume waseMakaphela anawo emkhawulweni wensimu yakhe, awunike kimi ngemali efanele wona, ube yindawo yokumbela phakathi kwenu.”

₁₀U-Efroni wayehlezi phakathi kwabantwana bakwaHeti: u-Efroni umHeti wamphendula u-Abrahama ezindlebeni zabantwana bakwaHeti phambi kwabo bonke abangena esangweni lomuzi wakhe, wathi: ₁₁“Cha, nkosi; ngilalele: ngiyakunika le nsimu, nomhume okuyo ngikunika wona; ebusweni bamadodana abantu bami ngikunika wona; mmbele lapho ofileyo wakho.”

₁₂U-Abrahama wakhothamela ebusweni babantu balelo zwe. ₁₃Wakhuluma ku-Efroni ezindlebeni zabantu balelo zwe, wathi: “Ake ungilalele: ngizakukunika imali yensimu; yamukele kimi, ngimmbele khona ofileyo wami.”

₁₄U-Efroni wamphendula u-Abrahama, wathi kuye: ₁₅“Nkosi yami, ngilalele: izwe elilingene namashekeli* angamakhulu amane esiliva liyini phakathi kwami nawe na? Mmbele ofileyo wakho.”

₁₆U-Abrahama wamuzwa u-Efroni; u-Abrahama wamlinganisela u-Efroni isiliva abelishilo ezindlebeni zabantwana bakwaHeti, amashekeli angamakhulu amane esiliva, avunywa ngabathengisi.

₁₇Kanjalo insimu ka-Efroni yaseMakaphela elingaphambi kweMamre, insimu nomhume okuyo, nemithi yonke esensimini nxazonke kuze kube semikhawulweni yonke ₁₈kwaba yinzuzo ka-Abrahama emehlweni abantwana bakwaHeti phambi kwabo bonke abangena esangweni lomuzi wakhe. ₁₉Emva kwalokho u-Abrahama wammbela uSara umkakhe emhumeni wasensimini yaseMakaphela phambi kweMamre okuyiHebroni ezweni laseKhanani. ₂₀Insimu nomhume okuyo kwase kunqunyelwa u-Abrahama ngabantwana bakwaHeti, kube yindawo yethuna.

₁U-Abrahama wayesemdala, eseneminyaka eminingi; uJehova wayembusisile u-Abrahama kukho konke. ₂Wayesethi u-Abrahama encekwini enkulu yendlu yakhe eyayibusa konke anakho: “Beka isandla sakho phansi kwethanga lami. ₃Ngizakukufungisa uJehova, uNkulunkulu wezulu noNkulunkulu womhlaba, ukuthi awuyikuthathela indodana yami umfazi emadodakazini amaKhanani engihlezi phakathi kwawo, ₄kepha uye ezweni lakithi nasezihlotsheni zami, uyithathele khona indodana yami u-Isaka umfazi.”

₅Inceku yathi kuyo: “Mhlawumbe owesifazane akayikuvuma ukungilandela, eze kuleli zwe; imbala ngiyakuyibuyisela indodana yakho ezweni, lapho wavela khona na?”

₆U-Abrahama wathi kuye: “Qaphela ukuba ungayibuyiseli khona indodana yami. ₇UJehova uNkulunkulu wezulu owangikhipha endlini kababa nasezweni lokuzalwa kwami wakhuluma kimi, wafunga kimi, wathi: ‘Ngiyakulinika inzalo yakho leli zwe;’ uzakuthuma ingelosi yakhe phambi kwakho, ukuze ungitholele khona indodana yami umfazi. ₈Kepha uma owesifazane engathandi ukukulandela, uyobe ukhululekile kulesi sifungo sami; kodwa ungabuyiseli khona indodana yami.” ₉Inceku yayisibeka isandla sayo phansi kwethanga lika-Abrahama inkosi yayo, yafunga kuye ngale ndaba.

₁₀Inceku yayisithatha amakamela ayishumi emakameleni enkosi yayo, yahamba, izinto zonke ezinhle zenkosi yayo zisesandleni sayo; yasuka, yaya eMesopotamiya emzini kaNahori. ₁₁Yaguqisa amakamela ayo ngaphandle komuzi ngasemthonjeni wamanzi kusihlwa, ngesikhathi abaphuma ngaso abesifazane ukuyokukha amanzi.

₁₂Yathi: “Jehova, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama, ngiphumelelise kahle namuhla, uyenzele inkosi yami u-Abrahama umusa. ₁₃Bheka, sengimi ngasemthonjeni wamanzi, amadodakazi abantu bomuzi eza ukukha amanzi. ₁₄Makuthi intombazana engizakusho kuyo ukuthi: ‘Mawubeke phansi imbiza yakho, ngiphuze,’ ithi: ‘Phuza, ngizakuphuzisa namakamela akho,’ ibe yileyo-ke oyimisele inceku yakho u-Isaka; ngalokho ngizakwazi ukuthi wenzele inkosi yami umusa.”

₁₅Kwathi ingakaqedi ukukhuluma, bheka, kweza uRebeka owazalelwa uBetuweli indodana kaMilka, umkaNahori, umfowabo ka-Abrahama, enembiza yakhe ehlombe. ₁₆Intombazana yayibukeka kahle, iyintombi, engaziwa yindoda; yehlela ngasemthonjeni, yagcwalisa imbiza yayo, ibisenyuka.

₁₇Inceku yayisigijima ukuyihlangabeza, yathi: “Ake ungiphuzise ingcosana yamanzi embizeni yakho.”

₁₈Yathi: “Phuza, nkosi,” yashesha yehlisa imbiza yayo esandleni sayo, yayiphuzisa.

₁₉Kwathi isiqedile ukuyiphuzisa, yathi: “Ngiyakukhelela namakamela akho, aze aphuze onke.” ₂₀Yashesha yathululela imbiza yayo emqengqeni, yabuye yaphuthuma emthonjeni ukuyokukha, yakhelela onke amakamela ayo. ₂₁Indoda yayibhekisisa ithule ukuba yazi, uma uJehova ebephumelelisile indlela yayo noma qha.

₂₂Kwathi amakamela eseqedile ukuphuza, indoda yathatha icici legolide, isisindo salo siyinxenye yeshekeli,* namasongo amabili ezandla zayo, isisindo sawo singamashekeli ayishumi egolide, yathi: ₂₃“Wena uyindodakazi kabani na? Ake ungitshele. Kukhona indawo endlini kayihlo ukuba silale na?”

₂₄Yathi kuyo: “Indodakazi kaBetuweli indodana kaMilka, amzalela yona uNahori.” ₂₅Yaqhubeka yathi kuyo: “Sinotshani nefoliji eliningi, nendawo yokulala.”

₂₆Indoda yayisikhothama, yakhuleka kuJehova, ₂₇yathi: “Makabongwe uJehova, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama, ongayekile ukwenzela inkosi yami umusa neqiniso; uJehova ungiholile mina endleleni kuze kube sendlini yabafowabo benkosi yami.”

₂₈Kepha intombazana yagijima, yatshela abendlu kanina lezo zinto. ₂₉URebeka wayenomnewabo ogama lakhe linguLabani; uLabani wagijimela endle kulowo muntu ngasemthonjeni. ₃₀Kwathi esebone icici namasongo ezandleni zikadadewabo, wezwa amazwi kaRebeka udadewabo, ethi: “Washo njalo lo muntu kimi,” waya kulowo muntu; bheka, wayemi ngakuwo amakamela ngasemthonjeni. ₃₁Wathi: “Ngena wena obusisekileyo kaJehova; umelani ngaphandle na? Mina sengilungisile indlu nendawo yamakamela.”

₃₂Wayesengena endlini lowo muntu, wakhumula amakamela, wapha amakamela utshani nefoliji, waletha namanzi okugeza izinyawo zakhe nezinyawo zamadoda anaye. ₃₃Kwabekwa phambi kwakhe ukudla ukuba adle, kepha wathi: “Angiyikudla ngingakakhulumi indaba yami.”

Wathi: “Khuluma.”

₃₄Wayesethi: “Ngiyinceku ka-Abrahama. ₃₅UJehova ubusisile kakhulu inkosi yami, yaze yaba nkulu; uyinike izimvu, nezinkomo, nesiliva, negolide, nezinceku, nezincekukazi, namakamela, nezimbongolo. ₃₆USara umkankosi yami wayizalela inkosi yami indodana esemdala; kuyona inikele konke enakho. ₃₇Inkosi yami yangifungisa yathi: ‘Ungathatheli indodana yami umfazi emadodakazini amaKhanani engihlezi ezweni lawo, ₃₈kepha uye endlini kababa nasezihlotsheni zami, uyithathele khona indodana yami umfazi.’

₃₉“Ngase ngithi enkosini yami: ‘Mhlawumbe owesifazane akayikungilandela.’

₄₀“Wathi kimi: ‘UJehova, engihambe ebusweni bakhe, uzakuthuma ingelosi yakhe nawe, aphumelelise indlela yakho; uyakuyithathela indodana yami umfazi ezihlotsheni zami nasendlini kababa. ₄₁Lapho uyobe ukhululekile esifungweni sami, nxa ufika ezihlotsheni zami; noma bengamniki kuwe, uyobe usukhululekile esifungweni sami.’

₄₂“Ngase ngifika emthonjeni namuhla, ngithi: ‘Jehova Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama, uma uphumelelisa indlela yami engiyihambayo, ₄₃bheka, sengimi ngasemthonjeni wamanzi; kuyakuthi intombazana eza ukuyokukha, engisho kuyo ukuthi: “Ake ungiphuzise ingcosana yamanzi embizeni yakho,” ₄₄ithi kimi: “Phuza wena, futhi ngizakuwakhelela namakamela akho,” kube yiyo engumfazi uJehova ammiseleyo indodana yenkosi yami.’

₄₅“Ngingakaqedi ukukhuluma enhliziyweni yami, bheka, kweza uRebeka enembiza yakhe ehlombe; wehlela emthonjeni, wakha; ngathi kuye: ‘Ake ungiphuzise.’

₄₆“Washesha wehlisa imbiza yakhe ehlombe, wathi: ‘Phuza; ngizakuwaphuzisa namakamela akho;’ ngaphuza-ke; namakamela wawaphuzisa.

₄₇“Ngambuza ngathi: ‘Wena uyindodakazi kabani na?’

“Wathi: ‘Indodakazi kaBetuweli indodana kaNahori, amzalela yona uMilka;’ ngase ngifaka icici emakhaleni akhe namasongo ezandleni zakhe. ₄₈Ngakhothama, ngakhuleka kuJehova, ngabonga uJehova, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama, obengihole endleleni elungileyo ukuba ngithathele indodana yayo indodakazi yomfowabo wenkosi yami. ₄₉Manje-ke uma nithanda ukuyenzela inkosi yami umusa neqiniso, ngitsheleni; uma kungenjalo, ngitsheleni, ukuze ngiphendukele ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo.”

₅₀Base bephendula oLabani noBetuweli, bethi: “Le ndaba ivela kuJehova; asinakusho lutho kuwe, noma okubi noma okuhle. ₅₁Bheka, uRebeka usebusweni bakho; mthathe, uhambe, abe ngumkandodana yenkosi yakho, njengalokho wakhuluma uJehova.”

₅₂Yathi ukuzwa amazwi abo, inceku ka-Abrahama yakhothama emhlabathini phambi kukaJehova. ₅₃Inceku yakhipha izinto zesiliva nezinto zegolide kanye nezingubo, yazipha uRebeka; yabanika nomnewabo nonina amagugu. ₅₄Base bedla bephuza, yona nabantu eyayinabo, balala; sebevuke ekuseni, yathi: “Ngithumeni enkosini yami.”

₅₅Umnewabo nonina bathi: “Ake ihlale kithina intombazana izinsukwana, mhlawumbe eziyishumi, andukuba ihambe.”

₅₆Yathi kubo: “Ningangilibazisi, njengokuba uJehova eyiphumelelisile indlela yami; ngimukiseni ukuba ngiye enkosini yami.”

₅₇Base bethi: “Sizakuyibiza intombazana, sizwe emlonyeni wayo.” ₅₈Bambiza uRebeka, bathi kuye: “Uzakuhamba nale ndoda na?”

Wathi: “Ngizakuhamba.”

₅₉Base bemukisa udadewabo uRebeka, nomzanyana wakhe, nenceku ka-Abrahama, namadoda ayo. ₆₀Bambusisa uRebeka, bathi kuye:

₆₁URebeka wasuka namantombazana akhe; bagibela amakamela, balandela indoda; inceku yamthatha uRebeka, yamuka.

₆₂Kepha u-Isaka wabuya ngaseBeri Lahayi Royi, ngokuba wayehlala ezweni laseningizimu. ₆₃U-Isaka waphuma ntambama ukuyozindla endle; waphakamisa amehlo akhe, wabona; bheka, kweza amakamela. ₆₄NoRebeka waphakamisa amehlo akhe; esembonile u-Isaka wehla ekameleni. ₆₅Wathi encekwini: “Ngubani le ndoda ehamba endle ukuzosihlangabeza na?”

Yathi inceku: “Yinkosi yami,” wayesethatha imvakazi yakhe, wagubuzela.

₆₆Inceku yayisimtshela u-Isaka konke ebikwenzile. ₆₇U-Isaka wamngenisa etendeni likanina uSara, wamthatha uRebeka, wabangumkakhe; wamthanda; u-Isaka wayeseduduzeka emva kokufa kukanina.

₁Ngakho kuseyizinsuku eziyisithupha ngaphambi kwePhasika, uJesu wafika eBethaniya, lapho wayekhona uLazaru uJesu amvusa kwabafileyo. ₂Base bemenzela ukudla khona; uMarta wayephaka, kepha uLazaru wayengomunye wababehlezi ekudleni naye. ₃UMariya wayesethatha ilitra* lamafutha enadi* lodwa elinenani elikhulu, wagcoba izinyawo zikaJesu, wesula izinyawo zakhe ngezinwele zakhe; indlu yagcwala iphunga lamafutha.

₄Kepha uJuda Iskariyothe, omunye wabafundi bakhe obezakumkhaphela, wathi: ₅“Yini ukuba lawa mafutha engathengiswanga ngawodenariyu* abangamakhulu amathathu, kwaphiwa abampofu, na?” ₆Washo lokho kungengokuba ekhathalele abampofu, kepha ngokuba eyisela, ephethe isikhwama, eba okufakwa kuso.

₇Ngakho uJesu wathi: “Myeke ukuba awalondolozele usuku lokumbelwa kwami. ₈Ngokuba abampofu ninabo njalo, kepha mina aninami njalo.”

₉Ngakho isixuku esikhulu sabaJuda sezwa ukuthi ulapho. Beza-ke kungengenxa kaJesu kuphela, kepha nokuba babone uLazaru abemvusile kwabafileyo. ₁₀Kepha abapristi abakhulu benza icebo lokuba babulale noLazaru, ₁₁ngokuba ngenxa yakhe abaningi babaJuda bamuka bakholwa nguJesu.

₁₂Ngangomuso abantu abaningi abafike emkhosini sebezwile ukuthi uJesu uyeza eJerusalema, ₁₃bathatha amahlamvu esundu, baphuma ukumhlangabeza. Bamemeza bathi:

₁₆Lokho abafundi bakhe abakuqondanga ekuqaleni; kodwa esekhazimulisiwe uJesu, base bekhumbula ukuthi kulotshiwe lokho ngaye nokuthi babekwenzile lokho kuye.

₁₇Ngakho safakaza isixuku esasinaye, lapho ebiza uLazaru aphume ethuneni, emvusa kwabafileyo. ₁₈Ngenxa yalokho isixuku saya samhlangabeza, ngokuba sase sizwile ukuthi wayesenzile leso sibonakaliso. ₁₉Ngakho abaFarisi bakhuluma bodwa, bathi: “Niyabona ukuthi anisizi lutho; bheka, izwe lonke liyamlandela.”

₂₀Kwakukhona amaGreki athile phakathi kwababenyuka ukuba bakhuleke emkhosini. ₂₁Lawo-ke aya kuFiliphu waseBetsayida laseGalile, acela kuye, athi: “Nkosi, sithanda ukubona uJesu.” ₂₂UFiliphu weza wamtshela u-Andreya. Weza u-Andreya noFiliphu, basho kuJesu.

₂₃UJesu waphendula, wathi kubo: “Sesifikile isikhathi sokuba ikhazimuliswe iNdodana yomuntu. ₂₄Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Uma inhlamvu kakolweni iwela emhlabathini ingafi, ihlala yodwa; kepha uma ifa, ithela izithelo eziningi. ₂₅Lowo othanda ukuphila kwakhe ulahlekelwa yikho, nozonda ukuphila kwakhe kuleli zwe uyakukulondela ukuphila okuphakade. ₂₆Uma umuntu engikhonza, akangilandele; nalapha ngikhona mina, soba khona nesikhonzi sami. Uma umuntu engikhonza, uBaba uyakumazisa lowo.

₂₇“Kalokhu umphefumulo wami ulusizi, ngizakuthini na? Baba, ngisindise kulo mzuzu. Kodwa ngenxa yalokhu ngize kulo mzuzu. ₂₈Baba, khazimulisa igama lakho.”

Kwase kufika izwi livela ezulwini, lithi: “Ngilikhazimulisile, ngobuye ngilikhazimulise.” ₂₉Ngakho abantu ababemi bezwa bathi: “Beliduma;” abanye bathi: “Ingelosi ikhulume kuye.”

₃₀UJesu waphendula wathi: “Leli zwi alizanga ngenxa yami kepha ngenxa yenu. ₃₁Kalokhu kungukwahlulelwa kwaleli zwe; kalokhu umbusi waleli zwe uzakuxoshwa. ₃₂Mina, nxa ngiphakanyiswa emhlabeni, ngiyakubadonsela kimi bonke.” ₃₃Lokho-ke wakusho efanekisa ukufa okumfanele afe ngakho.

₃₄Ngakho isixuku samphendula sathi: “Sizwile emthethweni ukuthi uKristu uyakuma phakade; usho kanjani wena ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu imelwe ukuphakanyiswa na? Ingubani le Ndodana yomuntu na?”

₃₅Wayesethi kubo uJesu: “Kuseyisikhashana ukukhanya kukhona kini. Hambani nise nokukhanya, ukuze ubumnyama bunganehleli. Ohamba ebumnyameni akazi ukuthi uya ngaphi. ₃₆Nise nokukhanya kholwani ngukukhanya, ukuze nibe ngabantwana bokukhanya.” Washo lokho uJesu, wamuka, wasithela kubo.

₃₇Kepha noma ebezenzile izibonakaliso ezingaka phambi kwabo, abakholwanga nguye ₃₈ukuba izwi lika-Isaya umprofethi ligcwaliseke, alikhuluma lokuthi:

₃₉Ngalokho babengekholwe, ngokuba u-Isaya washo futhi ukuthi:

₄₂Nokho abaningi nasezikhulwini bakholwa nguye, kodwa ngenxa yabaFarisi abakuvumanga, funa bakhishwe esinagogeni;* ₄₃ngokuba babethanda udumo lwabantu kunodumo lukaNkulunkulu.

₄₄Khona uJesu wamemeza wathi: “Okholwa yimi kakholwa yimi kepha ngongithumileyo. ₄₅Obona mina ubona ongithumileyo. ₄₆Ngize ezweni ngingukukhanya ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yimi angahlali ebumnyameni.

₄₇“Uma umuntu ezwa amazwi ami engawalondi, lowo angimahluleli mina, ngokuba angizanga ukuba ngahlulele izwe, kepha ukuba ngisindise izwe. ₄₈Ongalayo engawamukeli amazwi ami unomahlulelayo; izwi engalikhulumayo yilona eliyakumahlulela ngosuku lokugcina. ₄₉Ngokuba mina angikhulumanga ngokwami, kodwa uBaba ongithumileyo nguye onginike umyalo wokuba ngizakuthini, ngikhulumeni. ₅₀Ngiyazi ukuthi umyalo wakhe ungukuphila okuphakade. Ngakho-ke lokho engikukhulumayo ngikukhuluma njengalokho uBaba angitshela khona.”

₁Kwathi ngaphambi komkhosi wePhasika uJesu azi ukuthi isikhathi sakhe sesifikile ukuba amuke kuleli zwe, aye kuYise, ebathandile abakhe abasezweni wabathanda kwaze kwaba sekupheleni.

₂Sekudliwa, uSathane esekufake enhliziyweni kaJuda Iskariyothe kaSimoni ukuba amkhaphele, ₃uJesu ekwazi ukuthi uYise unikele konke ezandleni zakhe nokuthi wavela kuNkulunkulu, futhi ubuyela kuNkulunkulu, ₄wasuka ekudleni, wabeka izingubo zakhe, wathabatha indwangu, wakhwica. ₅Emva kwalokho wathela amanzi emcengezini, waqala ukugeza izinyawo zabafundi, wazesula ngendwangu abekhwice ngayo.

₆Wafika-ke kuSimoni Petru. Wathi kuye: “Nkosi, wena ugeza izinyawo zami na?”

₇UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Lokhu engikwenzayo awukwazi manje, kodwa uzakukuqonda emva kwalokhu.”

₈UPetru wathi kuye: “Awusoze wageza izinyawo zami naphakade.”

UJesu waphendula wathi: “Uma ngingakugezi, awunasabelo nami.”

₉USimoni Petru wathi kuye: “Nkosi, akungabi yizinyawo zodwa kepha nezandla nekhanda.”

₁₀UJesu wathi kuye: “Ogeziweyo kadingi lutho, kuphela ukugezwa izinyawo, kepha ugezekile wonke. Nina-ke nigezekile, kodwa angisho nonke.” ₁₁Ngokuba emazi obezakumkhaphela kungalokho athi: “Anigezekile nonke.”

₁₂Esegeze izinyawo zabo wathabatha izingubo zakhe, wabuye wahlala, wathi kubo: “Niyakwazi yini engikwenzile kini na? ₁₃Ningibiza nithi: ‘Mfundisi, Nkosi;’ nisho kahle, ngokuba ngiyikho. ₁₄Uma-ke mina, iNkosi noMfundisi, ngigeze izinyawo zenu, nani-ke nifanele ukugezana izinyawo. ₁₅Ngokuba ngininikile isibonelo ukuba nenze nani njengokuba ngenzile kini. ₁₆Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo, nothunyiweyo kamkhulu kunomthumileyo. ₁₇Uma nazi lokho, nibusisiwe uma nikwenza.

₁₈“Angikhulumi ngani nonke; ngiyabazi engibakhethileyo; kodwa nga kugcwaliseka umbhalo othi:

₁₉“Kusukela manje ngiyanitshela kungakenzeki ukuba, nxa sekwenzeka, nikholwe ukuthi nginguye. ₂₀Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Owamukela engimthumayo wamukela mina; ongamukelayo mina wamukela ongithumileyo.”

₂₁UJesu eseshilo lokho wakhathazeka emoyeni, wafakaza wathi: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Omunye wenu uyakungikhaphela.”

₂₂Abafundi babhekana bengabaza ukuthi ukhuluma ngobani. ₂₃Kwakuhlezi ekudleni omunye wabafundi bakhe uJesu amthandayo, encike esifubeni sikaJesu. ₂₄USimoni Petru wayesemqhweba ethi: “Yisho ukuthi ubekhuluma ngobani na?”

₂₅Yena encike esifubeni sikaJesu wathi kuye: “Nkosi, ngubani na?”

₂₆Ngakho waphendula uJesu, wathi: “Yilowo engiyakumcwilisela ucezu, ngimnike lona.” Eselucwilisile-ke ucezu, walunika uJuda Iskariyothe. ₂₇Emva kocezu uSathane wayesengena kuye. Wayesethi kuye uJesu: “Okwenzayo kwenze masinyane.” ₂₈Kepha akabakho kwababehlezi ekudleni owayekwazi lokho ukuthi ukusho ngani kuye. ₂₉Kepha abanye bacabanga ukuthi, ngokuba uJuda ephethe isikhwama, uJesu uthi kuye: “Thenga esikuswele emkhosini,” noma ukuthi kabele abampofu okuthile. ₃₀Kuthe eseluthathile ucezu waphuma masinyane; kwakuse busuku.

₃₁Ngakho esephumile, uJesu wathi: “Kalokhu iNdodana yomuntu ikhazimulisiwe, noNkulunkulu ukhazimulisiwe kuyo. ₃₂Uma uNkulunkulu ekhazimulisiwe kuyo, noNkulunkulu uyakuyikhazimulisa kuye, uyakuyikhazimulisa masinyane.

₃₃“Bantwanyana, ngise khona nani isikhashana. Niyakungifuna, nanjengalokho ngasho kubaJuda ukuthi lapho ngiya khona ningeze nina, ngisho nakinina manje.

₃₄“Ngininika umyalo omusha wokuba nithandane; njengalokhu nginithandile, nani nithandane. ₃₅Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.”

₃₆USimoni Petru wathi kuye: “Nkosi, uya ngaphi na?”

UJesu waphendula wathi: “Lapho ngiya khona, ungengilandele kalokhu; kepha uyakungilandela kamuva.”

₃₇Wathi kuye uPetru: “Nkosi, ngingekulandele kalokhu ngani na? Ngizakudela ukuphila kwami ngenxa yakho.”

₃₈UJesu waphendula wathi: “Uzakudela ukuphila kwakho ngenxa yami na? Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Iqhude alizukukhala, ungakangiphiki kathathu.”