To The Word – Day 88

₁Ngaleso sikhathi kwakukhona abathile abamtshela ngabaseGalile igazi labo uPilatu ayelixubanisile nemihlatshelo yabo. ₂Waphendula, wathi kubo: “Nithi labo baseGalile babe yizoni kunabo bonke abaseGalile, ngokuba behlelwa yilokho, na? ₃Ngithi kini: Qha, kepha uma ningaphenduki, niyakubhubha kanjalo nonke. ₄Nalabo abayishumi nesishiyagalombili owawela phezu kwabo umbhoshongo waseSilowama, wababulala, nithi bona babe namacala kunabantu bonke abakhileyo eJerusalema na? ₅Ngithi kini: Qha, kepha uma ningaphenduki, niyakubhubha ngokunjalo nonke.”

₆Wayesebalandisa lo mfanekiso wokuthi: “Umuntu othile wayenomkhiwane utshalwe esivinini sakhe; weza efuna isithelo kuwo, akasifumananga. ₇Wayesethi kuso isisebenzi sesivini: ‘Bheka, sekuyiminyaka emithathu ngiza ngifuna isithelo kulo mkhiwane, ngingasifumani; wunqume; yini ukuba uyone futhi inhlabathi?’

₈“Sona saphendula, sathi kuye: ‘Nkosi, wuyeke nangalo mnyaka, ngize ngivukuze inhlabathi emaceleni awo, ngiwuthelele umquba; ₉mhlawumbe ungaze uthele ngozayo; kepha uma kungenjalo, wowunquma.’ ”

₁₀Wayefundisa kwelinye lamasinagoge* ngesabatha. ₁₁Bheka, kwaba khona owesifazane onomoya wobuthakathaka iminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili, eseqhothile engenakululama nempela. ₁₂Kwathi uJesu embona, wambiza, wathi kuye: “Mame, ukhululiwe ebuthakathakeni bakho.” ₁₃Wabeka izandla phezu kwakhe; weluleka khona lapho, wamdumisa uNkulunkulu.

₁₄Umphathi wesinagoge,* ecunukile ngokuba uJesu ephulukisile ngesabatha, waphendula, wathi kuso isixuku: “Kukhona izinsuku eziyisithupha okufanele ukusetshenzwa ngazo; ngakho-ke anoza ngazo, niphulukiswe, kungabi ngosuku lwesabatha.”

₁₅Kepha iNkosi yamphendula yathi: “Bazenzisi, kanti yilowo nalowo kini kayithukululi yini ngesabatha inkabi yakhe noma imbongolo yakhe emkhombeni, ayise ukuyoyiphuzisa, na? ₁₆Kepha lona, eyindodakazi ka-Abrahama, uSathane abembophile, bhekani, iminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili, bekungafanele yini ukuba akhululwe kuleso sibopho ngosuku lwesabatha na?”

₁₇Wathi ukuba asho lokho, bajabha bonke ababemelene naye; isixuku sonke sathokoza ngemisebenzi yonke yenkazimulo eyenziwe nguye.

₁₈Wayesethi: “Umbuso kaNkulunkulu ufana nani na? Ngiyakuwufanisa nani na? ₁₉Ufana nenhlamvu yesinaphi ayithatha umuntu, wayihlwanyela ensimini yakhe; yamila, yaba ngumuthi, izinyoni zezulu zaze zakhela emagatsheni awo.”

₂₀Wabuye wathi: “Umbuso kaNkulunkulu ngiyakuwufanisa nani na? ₂₁Ufana nemvubelo ayithatha owesifazane, wayifaka emaqomeni amathathu empuphu, kwaze kwabila konke.”

₂₂Wayesedlula, wahamba imizi ngemizi nemizana ngemizana, efundisa, eqonde eJerusalema. ₂₃Umuntu othile wayesethi kuye: “Nkosi, bayingcosana abasindiswayo na?”

Wathi kubo: ₂₄“Phikelelani ukungena ngomnyango omncinyane; ngokuba ngithi kini: Abaningi bayakufuna ukungena, bahluleke. ₂₅Nxa umninindlu esukumile wavala emnyango, niqale ukuma ngaphandle, ningqongqothe emnyango, nithi: ‘Nkosi, sivulele,’ uyakuphendula, athi: ‘Anginazi lapho nivela khona.’

₂₆“Lapho-ke niyakuqala ukuthi: ‘Sasidla, siphuza phambi kwakho, wawufundisa emigwaqweni yakithi.’

₂₇“Athi-ke: ‘Ngithi kini: Anginazi lapho nivela khona; sukani kimi nina nonke, basebenzi bokungalungi.’

₂₈“Lapho kuyakuba khona ukukhala nokugedla amazinyo, nxa senibona o-Abrahama, no-Isaka, noJakobe, nabaprofethi bonke embusweni kaNkulunkulu, kepha nina nikhishelwe ngaphandle. ₂₉Bayakufika bevela empumalanga, nasentshonalanga, nasenyakatho, naseningizimu, bahlale ekudleni embusweni kaNkulunkulu. ₃₀Bhekani, bakhona abokugcina abayakuba ngabokuqala; bakhona abokuqala abayakuba ngabokugcina.”

₃₁Ngawo lowo mzuzwana kweza abaFarisi abathile, bathi kuye: “Suka, umuke lapha, ngokuba uHerode ufuna ukukubulala.”

₃₂Wathi kubo: “Hambani nithi kuleyo mpungushe: ‘Bheka, ngikhipha amademoni, ngiphulukise abagulayo namuhla nakusasa, kuthi ngosuku lwesithathu ngipheleliswe.’ ₃₃Nokho ngimelwe ukuba ngihambe namuhla nakusasa nangomhlomunye; ngokuba akunakwenzeka ukuba umprofethi abhubhe ngaphandle kweJerusalema.

₃₄“Jerusalema, Jerusalema, wena obulala abaprofethi, okhanda ngamatshe abathunyelwe kuwe, bengithanda kangaki ukubuthela ndawonye abantwana bakho njengesikhukukazi sibuthela amazinyane aso phansi kwamaphiko; kepha anivumanga. ₃₅Bhekani, indlu yenu isisala inxiwa kini; kepha ngithi kini: Anisoze nangibona, kuze kufike isikhathi sokuba nithi: ‘Ubusisiwe ozayo egameni leNkosi.’ ”

₁Kwathi ekungeneni kwakhe ngesabatha endlini yomunye waba yizikhulu kubaFarisi ukuba adle ukudla, bona uqobo babemqaphele. ₂Bheka, kwavela phambi kwakhe umuntu othile owayenesifo samanzi. ₃UJesu wathatha, wathi kuzo izazimthetho nabaFarisi: “Kuvunyelwe yini ukuphulukisa ngesabatha noma qha?” ₄Kepha bathula. Wayesemphatha, wamphulukisa, wammukisa.

₅Wathi kubo: “Ngumuphi kini ongathi indodana noma inkabi iyele emgodini, angayikhiphi masinyane ngosuku lwesabatha, na?” ₆Bahluleka ukuphendula kulokho.

₇Wabalandisa abamenyiweyo umfanekiso, ebona ukuzikhethela kwabo izihlalo eziphambili, wathi kubo: ₈“Nxa umenyiwe ngumuntu ukuya emshadweni, ungahlali esihlalweni esiphambili, funa ngabe ukhona omkhulu kunawe omenyiwe nguye, ₉eze yena onimeme wena naye, athi: ‘Mdedele lo;’ khona uqale uhlale kwesisenzansi unamahloni. ₁₀Kepha nxa umenyiwe, hamba uhlale endaweni esenzansi ukuba, nxa efika okumemileyo, athi kuwe: ‘Mhlobo, yenyukela enhla;’ khona uyakuba nodumo phambi kwabo bonke abahlezi nawe ekudleni. ₁₁Ngokuba oziphakamisayo uzakuthotshiswa; nozithobayo uzakuphakanyiswa.”

₁₂Wathi nakommemileyo: “Uma wenza isidlo sasemini noma esakusihlwa, ungabizi abahlobo bakho, nabafowenu, nomndeni wakho, nabakhelwane bakho abacebileyo, funa nabo babuye bakumeme, kube khona ukwenanana. ₁₃Kepha uma wenza isidlo, mema abampofu, nezinyonga, nezimpumputhe; ₁₄uyakubusiswa-ke, ngokuba bangekwenanisele; uyakwenaniselwa ekuvukeni kwabalungileyo.”

₁₅Esezwile lokho omunye wababehlezi naye ekudleni, wathi kuye: “Ubusisiwe lowo oyakudla isinkwa embusweni kaNkulunkulu.”

₁₆Kepha wathi kuye: “Umuntu othile wenza idili elikhulu, wamema abaningi. ₁₇Ngesikhathi sedili wathuma inceku yakhe ukuba isho kwabamenyiweyo ukuthi: ‘Zanini, ngokuba sekulungisiwe konke.’

₁₈“Kepha bonke baqala ukuzilandulela ngazwi linye; owokuqala wathi kuye: ‘Ngithengile insimu, kuswelekile ukuba ngiye ngiyibone; ngiyakuncenga, mawungilandulele.’

₁₉“Omunye wathi: ‘Ngithengile izinkabi eziyishumi, sengiya ukuzilinga; ngiyakuncenga, mawungilandulele.’

₂₀“Omunye wathi: ‘Ngithathile umfazi, ngalokho ngingeze.’

₂₁“Isibuyile inceku yabika lokho enkosini yayo. Khona umninindlu wathukuthela, wathi encekwini yakhe: ‘Khawuleza, uye emigwaqweni nasemingcingweni yomuzi, ungenise lapha abampofu, nezilima, nezimpumputhe, nezinyonga.’

₂₂“Yathi inceku: ‘Nkosi, sekwenziwe ngokuyala kwakho; kepha isekhona indawo.’

₂₃“Yathi inkosi encekwini: ‘Phuma uye ezindleleni nasezintangweni, ubacindezele bangene ukuba igcwale indlu yami. ₂₄Ngokuba ngithi kini: Ayikho neyodwa yalawo madoda abemenyiwe eyakulizwa idili lami.’ ”

₂₅Kwakuhamba naye izixuku eziningi; waphenduka, wathi kuzo: ₂₆“Uma umuntu eza kimi engamzondi uyise, nonina, nomkakhe, nabantwana, nabafowabo, nawodadewabo, yebo, nokuphila kwakhe, angebe ngumfundi wami. ₂₇Nalowo ongathwali isiphambano sakhe, angilandele, angebe ngumfundi wami.

₂₈“Ngokuba ngumuphi kini othi efuna ukwakha umbhoshongo, angaqali ahlale phansi, abale izindleko ukuthi unakho okokuwuqeda na? ₂₉Funa kuthi esebeke isisekelo, engenamandla okuqeda, bonke abakubonayo baqale ukumhleka, ₃₀bathi: ‘Lo muntu waqala kabanga namandla okuqeda.’

₃₁“Noma yiyiphi inkosi eya kwenye inkosi ukuhlaselana nayo engaqali ihlale phansi, ihlole ukuba inamandla yini ukuhlangabezana ngezinkulungwane eziyishumi naleyo eza kuyo, inezinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili na? ₃₂Kepha uma kungenzeke, ingathi isekude leyo, ithuma amanxusa, icele okokuthula. ₃₃Kunjalo-ke yilowo nalowo kini ongavalelisi nakho konke anakho angebe ngumfundi wami.

₃₄“Usawoti uyinto enhle; kepha uma usawoti edumele, uyakuhlaziywa ngani na? ₃₅Akasafanele namhlabathi namquba; uyalahlwa nje phandle; onezidlebe zokuzwa makezwe.”

₁Kwase kusondela kuye bonke abathelisi nezoni ukumuzwa. ₂AbaFarisi nababhali base bakhonona bethi: “Lo muntu wamukela izoni, adle nazo.”

₃Wayesebalandisa lo mfanekiso, ethi: ₄“Ngumuphi umuntu kini onezimvu eziyikhulu, alahlekelwe ngenye kuzo, angazishiyi ezingamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye ehlane, aye kwelahlekileyo, aze ayithole, na? ₅Athi eseyitholile, ayetshathe ethokoza. ₆Esefike ekhaya ameme abahlobo nabakhelwane, athi kubo: ‘Thokozani nami, ngokuba ngiyitholile imvu yami ebilahlekile.’ ₇Ngithi kini: Kanjalo kuyakuba khona ukuthokoza ezulwini ngesoni sisinye esiphendukayo, kunabalungileyo abangamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye abangasweli ukuphenduka.

₈“Noma ngumuphi owesifazane othi enezinhlamvu zesiliva eziyishumi, uma elahlekelwe luhlamvu lwaba lunye, angokheli isibani, ashanele indlu, afunisise, aze aluthole? ₉Athi ukuba aluthole, abize abahlobo nabakhelwane, athi: ‘Thokozani nami, ngokuba ngilutholile uhlamvu lwami obelungilahlekele.’ ₁₀Ngithi kini: Kanjalo kukhona ukuthokoza phambi kwezingelosi zikaNkulunkulu ngesoni sisinye esiphendukayo.”

₁₁Wayesethi: “Umuntu othile wayenamadodana amabili. ₁₂Encane yawo yayisithi kuyise: ‘Baba, nginike isabelo sefa esiqondene nami;’ wawahlukanisela impahla.

₁₃“Kwathi emva kwezinsuku ezingeziningi indodana encane yayisibutha konke, yamuka, yaya ezweni elikude, yachitha khona imfuyo yayo ihamba ngokonakala. ₁₄Isisaphaze konke, kwavela indlala enkulu kulelo zwe; yaqala ukuswela. ₁₅Yayisiya kukhonza komunye umuntu walelo zwe; yena wayithuma emadlelweni akhe ukuba yaluse izingulube. ₁₆Yafisa ukuzisuthisa ngemidumba edliwa yizingulube; kepha kayiphiwanga muntu.

₁₇“Kuthe sekusile kuyo, yathi: ‘Bangaki abaqashwa bakababa abanokudla okuningi, kanti mina ngifa indlala lapha. ₁₈Ngiyakusuka, ngiye kubaba, ngithi: Baba, ngonile kulo izulu naphambi kwakho; ₁₉angisafanele ukuthiwa indodana yakho; ngenze ngibe njengomunye wabaqashwa bakho.’ ₂₀Yayisisuka, yafika kuyise; kepha kuthe isekude, uyise wayibona, waba nesihe, wagijima, wayisingatha entanyeni, wayanga.

₂₁“Indodana yayisithi kuye: ‘Baba, ngonile kulo izulu naphambi kwakho; angisafanele ukuthiwa indodana yakho.’

₂₂“Kepha uyise wathi ezincekwini zakhe: ‘Sheshani nikhiphe ingubo enhle kunazo zonke, niyembathise, nifake indandatho esandleni sayo nezicathulo ezinyaweni, ₂₃nilethe ithole elikhuluphalisiweyo, nilihlabe, sidle, sijabule; ₂₄ngokuba le ndodana yami ibifile, yabuye yaphila; ibilahlekile, seyatholakala;’ base beqala ukujabula.

₂₅“Kepha indodana yakhe enkulu yayisensimini; yathi iseza isondela endlini, yezwa ukuhlabelela nokusina. ₂₆Yabiza omunye wabafana, yabuza ukuthi kwenze njani lokho. ₂₇Wathi kuyo: ‘Kufike umfowenu; uyihlo wahlaba ithole elikhuluphalisiweyo, ngokuba ubuye wamthola ephilile.’

₂₈“Kepha yathukuthela, kayivumanga ukungena; uyise wayesephuma, wayincenga. ₂₉Kodwa yaphendula, yathi kuyise: ‘Bheka, iminyaka engaka ngikukhonzile; angizange ngeqe umyalo wakho, kepha mina awuzange ungiphe nazinyane lembuzi ukuba ngijabule nabahlobo bami, ₃₀kodwa kuthe ukuba ifike leyo ndodana yakho eqede imfuyo yakho nezifebe, wayihlabisa ithole elikhuluphalisiweyo.’

₃₁“Wayesethi kuyo: ‘Mntanami, wena uhlala nami njalo; konke okwami kungokwakho. ₃₂Kepha simelwe ukujabula, sithokoze, ngokuba umfowenu lo wayefile, wabuye waphila; wayelahlekile, sewatholakala.’ ”

₁Wayesekhuluma nakubafundi bakhe, ethi: “Kwakukhona umuntu othile oyisicebi, owayenomphathi; yena wamangalelwa kuye ngokuthi uchitha impahla yakhe. ₂Wambiza, wathi kuye: ‘Kuyini lokhu engikuzwa ngawe na? Landa ngobuphathi bakho, ngokuba ungebe usaba ngumphathi.’

₃“Wayesethi umphathi phakathi kwakhe: ‘Ngizakwenze njani, lokhu inkosi yami ingaphuca ubuphathi? Anginamandla okulima, nginamahloni ukunxiba. ₄Ngiyakwazi engiyakukwenza ukuba bangamukele ezindlini zabo, nxa ngikhishwa ebuphathini.’

₅“Wababiza ngabanye abanamacala enkosini yakhe, wathi kowokuqala: ‘Unecala elingakanani enkosini yami na?’

₆“Wathi: ‘Amabhati* ayikhulu amafutha.’

“Wayesethi kuye: ‘Thatha incwadi yakho, usheshe uhlale phansi, ulobe amashumi ayisihlanu.’

₇“Khona wathi komunye: ‘Wena-ke unecala elingakanani na?’

“Wathi: ‘Izilinganiso eziyikhulu zikakolweni.’

“Wathi kuye: ‘Thatha incwadi yakho, ulobe amashumi ayisishiyagalombili.’

₈“Inkosi yambabaza umphathi ongalungile ngokuthi wenze ngokuhlakanipha, ngokuba abantwana balesi sikhathi bahlakaniphile esizukulwaneni sabo kunabantwana bokukhanya. ₉Nami ngithi kini: Zenzeleni nina abahlobo ngokukaMamona* ongalungile, ukuze kuthi, nxa kuphelile, banamukele ezindlini eziphakade.

₁₀“Othembekile kokuncinyane uthembekile nakokukhulu; ongalungile kokuncinyane kalungile nakokukhulu. ₁₁Ngakho uma beningathembeki kokukaMamona* ongalungile, ubani oyakuniphathisa okuyikhonakhona na? ₁₂Futhi uma beningathembeki kokomunye, ubani oyakuninika okungokwenu na?

₁₃“Akukho nceku engakhonza amakhosi amabili, ngokuba kokunye iyakuzonda enye, ithande enye, noma ibambelele kwenye, iyeyise enye. Ningeze nakhonza uNkulunkulu noMamona.*”

₁₄AbaFarisi ababethanda imali bakuzwa konke lokho, bamklolodela. ₁₅Wayesethi kubo: “Nina ningabazishaya abalungileyo emehlweni abantu; kepha uNkulunkulu uyazazi izinhliziyo zenu, ngokuba lokho okuphakemeyo phakathi kwabantu kuyisinengiso emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.

₁₆“Umthetho nabaprofethi kwakukhona kwaze kwafika uJohane; kusukela kuleso sikhathi ivangeli lombuso kaNkulunkulu liyashunyayelwa, wonke umuntu uphika ngokufuzula kuwo. ₁₇Kepha kulula ukuba kudlule izulu nomhlaba kunokuba kuwe ibalana elilodwa lomthetho.

₁₈“Yilowo nalowo olahla umkakhe, aganwe ngomunye, uyaphinga; noganwa ngolahliwe yindoda uyaphinga.

₁₉“Kwakukhona umuntu othile onothileyo, owayegqoka ezibubende nezelineni elihle, ezijabulisa imihla ngemihla etamasa. ₂₀Kwakukhona futhi ompofu othile, nguLazaru igama lakhe, owayelahliwe ngasesangweni lakhe egcwele izilonda, ₂₁enxanela ukusuthiswa ngemvuthuluka ewa etafuleni lesicebi; yebo, kweza nezinja, zamkhotha izilonda.

₂₂“Kwase kuthi wafa ompofu, wathwalwa yizingelosi, wasiwa esifubeni sika-Abrahama; nesicebi safa, sembelwa. ₂₃SesiseHayidese* saphakamisa amehlo aso, sisebuhlungwini, sambona u-Abrahama ekude, noLazaru esesifubeni sakhe. ₂₄Samemeza sathi: ‘Baba Abrahama, ngihawukele, uthume uLazaru, agcobhoze isihloko somunwe wakhe emanzini, aphozise ulimi lwami, ngokuba ngiyahlushwa kuleli langabi.’

₂₅“Kepha u-Abrahama wathi: ‘Ndodana, khumbula ukuba wamukela okuhle kwakho usesekuphileni noLazaru kanjalo okubi; kodwa manje uyaduduzwa yena lapha, wena uyahlushwa. ₂₆Nangaphezu kwakho konke lokho kubekiwe umhosha omkhulu phakathi kwethu nani ukuba abafuna ukusuka lapha baye kini bangekwenze, nabalapho bangaweleli kithi.’

₂₇“Sase sithi: ‘Njalo ngiyakucela, baba, ukuba umthumele endlini kababa, ₂₈ngokuba nginabafowethu abayisihlanu, ukuze afakaze kubo, bangezi nabo kule ndawo yobuhlungu.’

₂₉“Kepha u-Abrahama wathi: ‘BanoMose nabaprofethi; mabezwe bona.’

₃₀“Sathi-ke: ‘Qha, baba Abrahama, kodwa uma kusuka umuntu kwabafileyo, aye kubo, bayakuphenduka.’

₃₁“Kepha wathi kuso: ‘Uma bengalaleli uMose nabaprofethi, kabayikuvunyiswa, noma kuvuka umuntu kwabafileyo.’ ”

₁Wayesethi kubafundi bakhe: “Kungeze kwenzeka ukuba kungaveli izikhubekiso; kodwa maye kulowo ezivela ngaye! ₂Kungcono kuye ukuba itshe lokusila ligaxwe entanyeni yakhe, alahlwe elwandle, kunokuba akhubekise abe munye kulaba abancinyane. ₃Xwayani nina. Uma umfowenu ona, mkhuze; uma ephenduka, mthethelele. ₄Noma ekonela kasikhombisa ngosuku, abuyele kuwe kasikhombisa, ethi: ‘Ngiyaphenduka,’ womthethelela.”

₅Abaphostoli base bethi eNkosini: “Yandisa ukukholwa kwethu.”

₆Yayisithi iNkosi: “Uma beninokukholwa okungangenhlamvu yesinaphi, beningasho kulo mthombe: ‘Simbuka, utshaleke elwandle,’ ubuyakunilalela.

₇“Ngumuphi kini onenceku elimayo nokuba eyalusayo, athi kuyo ibuya endle: ‘Sondela masinyane, uhlale phansi, udle’? ₈Kodwa akayikusho kuyo ukuthi: ‘Lungisa engizakukudla, uzibophe, ungiphakele, ngize ngidle, ngiphuze, andukuba udle, uphuze wena,’ na? ₉Uyayibonga yini inceku, ngokuba yenzile ekuyaliweyo na? ₁₀Kunjalo nani, nxa nikwenzile konke enikuyaliweyo, anothi: ‘Asizinceku zalutho; sikwenzile nje ebesifanele ukukwenza.’ ”

₁₁Kwathi esehamba ukuya eJerusalema, wadabula iSamariya neGalile. ₁₂Esangena emzaneni othile, kwahlangana naye amadoda ayishumi anochoko, amela kude, ₁₃aphakamisa izwi, athi: “Jesu Nkosi, sihawukele!”

₁₄Kuthe ewabona, wathi kuwo: “Hambani, niyoziveza kubapristi.” Kwathi esahamba, ahlanjululwa.

₁₅Enye yawo isibona ukuthi iphulukisiwe, yabuya imdumisa uNkulunkulu ngezwi elikhulu, ₁₆yawa ngobuso ngasezinyaweni zakhe imbonga; yayingumSamariya.

₁₇Kepha uJesu waphendula wathi: “Akuhlanjululwanga abayishumi na? Baphi, pho, abayisishiyagalolunye na? ₁₈Abafunyaniswanga yini ababuyela ukumnika uNkulunkulu udumo, kuphela lona wezizwe na?” ₁₉Wayesethi kuye: “Sukuma uhambe; ukukholwa kwakho kukusindisile.”

₂₀Ebuzwe ngabaFarisi ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu uzakufika nini, wabaphendula wathi: “Umbuso kaNkulunkulu awufiki ubonwa ngamehlo. ₂₁Futhi kabayikusho ukuthi: ‘Bhekani, nanku,’ nokuba, ‘nankuya;’ ngokuba bhekani, umbuso kaNkulunkulu uphakathi kini.”

₂₂Wayesethi kubafundi bakhe: “Kuzakufika izinsuku, lapho niyakufisa ukubona lube lunye lwezinsuku zeNdodana yomuntu, kepha aniyikulubona. ₂₃Bayakuthi kini: ‘Bhekani, nansiya; bhekani, nansi;’ maningayi, ningalandeli. ₂₄Ngokuba njengonyazi, nxa lunyazima kwenye indawo phansi kwezulu, lukhanya luze lufike kwenye indawo phansi kwezulu, yoba njalo iNdodana yomuntu ngosuku lwayo. ₂₅Kepha kuqala imelwe ukuhlupheka ngokuningi, yaliwe yilesi sizukulwane.

₂₆“Njengokuba kwenzeka emihleni kaNowa, kuyakuba njalo nasemihleni yeNdodana yomuntu. ₂₇Babedla, bephuza, beganwa, bendiswa, kwaze kwafika usuku uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini, kwafika uzamcolo, wababhubhisa bonke.

₂₈“Kanjalo njengokuba kwenzeka nasemihleni kaLoti, babedla, bephuza, bethenga, bethengisa, betshala, bakha; ₂₉kepha ngosuku uLoti aphuma ngalo eSodoma lana umlilo nesibabule kuvela ezulwini, kwababhubhisa bonke; ₃₀kuyakuba njalo ngosuku eyakwambulwa ngalo iNdodana yomuntu. ₃₁Ngalolo suku oyakuba phezu kwendlu, impahla yakhe isendlini, kangehli ukuyithatha; njalo nosensimini kangabuyeli emuva. ₃₂Khumbulani umkaLoti. ₃₃Ofuna ukuzuza ukuphila kwakhe uyakulahlekelwa yikho, kepha olahlekelwa yikho uyakukulondoloza. ₃₄Ngithi kini: Ngalobo busuku kuyakuba khona ababili embhedeni munye; omunye uyakuthathwa, omunye ashiywe. ₃₅Kuyakuba khona ababili besila ndawonye; omunye uyakuthathwa, omunye ashiywe. ₃₆Kuyakuba khona ababili ensimini; omunye uyakuthathwa, omunye ashiywe.”

₃₇Base bephendula, bethi kuye: “Kuphi, Nkosi?”

Wathi kubo: “Lapho kukhona isidumbu, kulapho amanqe eyakubuthana khona.”

₁Wabalandisa umfanekiso wokuthi bamelwe ukukhuleka njalo, bangadangali. ₂Wathi: “Kwakukhona emzini othile umahluleli othile owayengamesabi uNkulunkulu, enganaki muntu. ₃Kulowo muzi kwakukhona futhi umfelokazi owayelokhu efika kuye, ethi: ‘Ngizwele esitheni sami.’

₄“Kwaba yisikhathi engavumi; kepha ngasemuva wathi phakathi kwakhe: ‘Nakuba ngingamesabi uNkulunkulu, nginganaki muntu, ₅nokho-ke ngokuba lo mfelokazi engikhathaza njalo, ngiyakumzwela, funa angizuke ngokufika njalonjalo.’ ”

₆Yayisithi iNkosi: “Yizwani okushiwo ngumahluleli ongalungile. ₇UNkulunkulu kayikubezwela yini abakhethiweyo bakhe abakhala kuye imini nobusuku, ababekezelele, na? ₈Ngithi kini: Uzakubezwela masinyane. Nokho nxa ifika iNdodana yomuntu, imbala iyakufumana ukukholwa emhlabeni na?”

₉Wayesekhuluma kwabathile ababezethemba ukuthi balungile, bedelela abanye, ebalandisa lo mfanekiso ngokuthi: ₁₀“Abantu ababili benyukela ethempelini beya kukhuleka, omunye engumFarisi, omunye engumthelisi. ₁₁UmFarisi wema wazikhulekela ngokuthi: ‘Nkulunkulu, ngiyakubonga ngokuba ngingenjengabanye abantu: izigcwelegcwele, abangalungile, iziphingi, nanjengalo mthelisi. ₁₂Ngizila ukudla kabili ngeviki, nginikela okweshumi kukho konke enginakho.’

₁₃“Kepha umthelisi emi kude wayengafuni nakuphakamisela amehlo akhe ngasezulwini, kodwa washaya isifuba sakhe, ethi: ‘Nkulunkulu, ngihawukele mina soni.’

₁₄“Ngithi kini: Lo wehlela endlini yakhe elungisisiwe kunomunye. Ngokuba yilowo nalowo oziphakamisayo uzakuthotshiswa, kodwa ozithobayo uzakuphakanyiswa.”

₁₅Baletha kuye nabantwanyana ukuba abaphathe; kepha abafundi bekubona babakhuza. ₁₆Kodwa uJesu wababizela kuye, wathi: “Vumelani abantwana beze kimi, ningabenqabeli, ngokuba umbuso kaNkulunkulu ungowabanjalo. ₁₇Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Yilowo nalowo ongamukeli umbuso kaNkulunkulu njengomntwana kasoze angena kuwo.”

₁₈Umbusi othile wayesembuza ethi: “Mfundisi omuhle, ngiyakwenzani ukuba ngidle ifa lokuphila okuphakade na?”

₁₉Kepha uJesu wathi kuye: “Ungibizelani ngokuthi ngimuhle na? Kakho omuhle, munye kuphela, uNkulunkulu. ₂₀Uyayazi imiyalelo ukuthi: ‘Ungaphingi, ungabulali, ungebi, ungafakazi amanga, yazisa uyihlo nonyoko.’ ”

₂₁Kepha wathi: “Konke lokho ngikugcinile kwasebusheni bami.”

₂₂UJesu ekuzwa lokho wathi kuye: “Usasilalelwe into inye: thengisa ngakho konke onakho, wabele abampofu, khona uzakuba negugu ezulwini; uze ungilandele.”

₂₃Kuthe ekuzwa lokho, wadabuka impela, ngokuba wayenothile kakhulu. ₂₄UJesu embona wathi: “Kulukhuni kangakanani kwaba nomnotho ukungena embusweni kaNkulunkulu. ₂₅Kulula ukuba ikamela lingene ngentunja yosungulo kunokuba onothileyo angene embusweni kaNkulunkulu.”

₂₆Abezwayo base bethi: “Pho, kungasindiswa bani na?”

₂₇Kepha wathi: “Okungenzeki kubantu kungenzeka kuNkulunkulu.”

₂₈Wayesethi uPetru: “Bheka, thina sishiye okwethu, sakulandela.”

₂₉Wathi kubo: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Akukho muntu oshiye indlu, noma umkakhe, noma abafowabo, noma abazali, noma abantwana ngenxa yombuso kaNkulunkulu, ₃₀ongayikwamukeliswa okuphindwe kaningi kulesi sikhathi nasenkathini ezayo ukuphila okuphakade.”

₃₁Wayesebasondeza kuye abayishumi nambili, wathi kubo: “Bhekani, sikhuphukela eJerusalema; konke okulotshwe ngabaprofethi ngeNdodana yomuntu kuyakugcwaliseka. ₃₂Ngokuba izakukhashelwa kwabezizwe, iklolodelwe, idunyazwe, ikhafulelwe ngamathe, ₃₃bayishaye, bayibulale; kepha ngosuku lwesithathu izakuvuka.”

₃₄Kepha bona kabaqondanga lutho lwalokho; lelo zwi lalifihlakele kubo, abakuqondanga obekushiwo.

₃₅Kwathi esesondela eJeriko, impumputhe ethile yayihlezi ngasendleleni inxiba. ₃₆Isizwa isixuku sidlula, yabuza ukuthi: “Kuyini lokhu?”

₃₇Base beyitshela ukuthi: “Kudlula uJesu waseNazaretha.”

₃₈Yayisimemeza ithi: “Jesu, Ndodana kaDavide, ngihawukele!”

₃₉Ababehamba phambili bayikhuza ukuba ithule kepha kwayikhona imemeza kakhulu yona, ithi: “Ndodana kaDavide, ngihawukele!”

₄₀Wema-ke uJesu, wayala ukuba ilethwe kuye. Isisondele, wayibuza wathi: ₄₁“Ufuna ukuba ngikwenzeleni na?”

Yathi: “Nkosi, ukuba ngibone.”

₄₂UJesu wathi kuyo: “Bona! Ukukholwa kwakho kukusindisile.” ₄₃Yayisibona khona lapho, yamlandela imdumisa uNkulunkulu, nabantu bonke bekubona bamnika uNkulunkulu indumiso.