To The Word – Day 9

₁Wayesesuka uJakobe, waya ezweni labantu basempumalanga. ₂Wabheka, nanko umthombo endle, nemihlambi emithathu yezimvu ilele ngakuwo, ngokuba kulowo mthombo babephuzisa imihlambi; itshe elalisemlonyeni womthombo lalilikhulu kakhulu. ₃Kwabuthelwa khona imihlambi yonke, balisusa itshe emlonyeni womthombo, baphuzisa izimvu, balibuyisela itshe emlonyeni womthombo endaweni yalo.

₄UJakobe wathi kubo: “Bazalwane, nivelaphi na?”

Bathi: “SingabakwaHarana.”

₅Wayesethi kubo: “Niyamazi uLabani indodana kaNahori na?”

Bathi: “Siyamazi.”

₆Wathi kubo: “Usahlezi kahle na?”

Bathi: “Uhlezi kahle. Nangu uRaheli indodakazi yakhe; uyeza nezimvu.”

₇Wathi: “Bheka, kusesemini kakhulu, akusiso isikhathi sokuba zibuthwe izinkomo; phuzisani izimvu, nihambe niziklabise.”

₈Base bethi: “Singekwenze lokho ingakabuthani imihlambi yonke, balisuse itshe emlonyeni womthombo; yikhona siyakuphuzisa izimvu.”

₉Esakhuluma nabo, uRaheli wafika nezimvu zikayise, ngokuba wayezalusa. ₁₀Kwathi uJakobe ebona uRaheli indodakazi kaLabani uninalume nezimvu zikaLabani uninalume, uJakobe wasondela, wasusa itshe emlonyeni womthombo, waziphuzisa izimvu zikaLabani uninalume. ₁₁UJakobe wamanga uRaheli, waphakamisa izwi lakhe, wakhala. ₁₂UJakobe wayesemtshela uRaheli ukuthi ungumfowabo kayise nokuthi uyindodana kaRebeka; wagijima, watshela uyise.

₁₃Kwathi uLabani esezwe indaba kaJakobe indodana kadadewabo, wagijima ukuyomhlangabeza, wamgona, wamanga, wamngenisa endlini yakhe; wayesetshela uLabani zonke lezi zinto. ₁₄ULabani wathi kuye: “Impela uyithambo lami nenyama yami.” Wahlala kuye inyanga yonke.

₁₅ULabani wayesethi kuJakobe: “Lokhu ungumfowethu, ubuzakungisebenzela ngeze na? Ngitshele ukuthi umvuzo wakho uyakuba yini na?”

₁₆ULabani wayenamadodakazi amabili; igama lenkulu lalinguLeya, igama lencane lalinguRaheli. ₁₇Amehlo kaLeya ayebuthakathaka, kepha uRaheli wayemuhle ngesimo, ebukeka kahle. ₁₈UJakobe wamthanda uRaheli; wathi: “Ngizakukusebenzela iminyaka eyisikhombisa ngoRaheli indodakazi yakho encane.”

₁₉Wayesethi uLabani: “Kuhle ukuba ngimnike wena kunokuba ngimnike enye indoda; hlala kimi.” ₂₀UJakobe wayesesebenzela uRaheli iminyaka eyisikhombisa; yayisemehlweni akhe njengezinsuku eziyingcosana nje ngenxa yokumthanda kwakhe.

₂₁UJakobe wathi kuLabani: “Nginike umkami, ngokuba izinsuku zami seziphelile, ngize ngingene kuye.”

₂₂ULabani wabutha abantu bonke bakuleyo ndawo, wenza idili. ₂₃Kepha kwathi kusihlwa wathatha uLeya indodakazi yakhe, wamyisa kuye; wangena kuye. ₂₄ULabani wanika indodakazi yakhe uLeya incekukazi yakhe uZilipa, abe yincekukazi yakhe.

₂₅Kwathi ekuseni, bheka, kunguLeya; wayesethi kuLabani: “Kuyini lokhu okwenzile kimi na? Angikusebenzelanga ngoRaheli na? Ungikhohliseleni na?”

₂₆Wathi uLabani: “Akwenziwa njalo endaweni yakithi ukuba kuganiswe omncane ngaphambi komkhulu. ₂₇Qeda isonto lalona, sikuphe nomunye ngomsebenzi osezakuwusebenza kimi eminye iminyaka eyisikhombisa.”

₂₈UJakobe wenze njalo, waqeda isonto lakhe; wamupha uRaheli indodakazi yakhe, abe ngumkakhe. ₂₉ULabani wanika indodakazi yakhe uRaheli incekukazi yakhe uBiliha, abe yincekukazi yakhe. ₃₀Wangena nakuye uRaheli, wathanda uRaheli kakhulu kunoLeya; wayesesebenza kuye eminye iminyaka eyisikhombisa.

₃₁UJehova ebona ukuthi uLeya uyazondwa, wavula isizalo sakhe; kepha uRaheli wayeyinyumba. ₃₂ULeya wakhulelwa, wazala indodana, waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uRubeni, ngokuba wathi: “UJehova ubonile ukuhlupheka kwami; manje umyeni wami uyakungithanda.”

₃₃Wabuye wakhulelwa, wazala indodana, wathi: “Lokhu uJehova ezwe ukuthi ngiyazondwa, ungiphile nalena futhi,” waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uSimeyoni.

₃₄Wabuye wakhulelwa, wazala indodana, wathi: “Manje ngalesi sikhathi umyeni wami uyakunamathela kimi, ngokuba ngimzalele amadodana amathathu,” ngalokho waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uLevi.

₃₅Wakhulelwa futhi, wazala indodana, wathi: “Sengiyakumdumisa uJehova,” ngalokho waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uJuda; wayesekhawula ukuzala.

₁URaheli esebonile ukuthi wayengamzaleli uJakobe abantwana, uRaheli waba nomhawu ngodadewabo, wathi kuJakobe: “Ngiphe abantwana, funa ngife.”

₂Intukuthelo kaJakobe yayisivuthela uRaheli, wathi: “Ngisesikhundleni sikaNkulunkulu okwenqabele isithelo sesizalo na?”

₃Wathi: “Nansi incekukazi yami uBiliha; ngena kuye, ukuze azalele emathangeni ami, ngakheke nami ngaye.”

₄Wayesemupha uBiliha incekukazi yakhe, abe ngumkakhe; uJakobe wangena kuye. ₅UBiliha wakhulelwa, wamzalela uJakobe indodana. ₆Wayesethi uRaheli: “UNkulunkulu ungahlulele, futhi wezwa izwi lami: wangipha indodana,” ngalokho waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uDani.

₇UBiliha incekukazi kaRaheli wabuye wakhulelwa, wamzalela uJakobe indodana yesibili. ₈URaheli wathi: “Ngokubambana ngibambene nodadewethu ngamandla kaNkulunkulu, ngamahlula,” waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uNafetali.

₉ULeya esebonile ukuthi ukhawulile ukuzala, wamthatha uZilipa incekukazi yakhe, wamupha uJakobe, abe ngumkakhe. ₁₀UZilipa incekukazi kaLeya wamzalela uJakobe indodana. ₁₁ULeya wayesethi: “Kwenziwe inhlanhla,” waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uGadi.

₁₂UZilipa incekukazi kaLeya wamzalela indodana yesibili. ₁₃Wayesethi uLeya: “Yisibusiso sami! Ngokuba izintombi ziyakungibiza ngokuthi ngingobusisiweyo,” waqamba igama layo ngokuthi u-Asheri.

₁₄Ngesikhathi sokuvuna ukolweni uRubeni waya wafumana amamandragora* endle, wawayisa kunina uLeya. URaheli wayesethi kuLeya: “Ake ungiphe amamandragora endodana yakho.”

₁₅Wathi kuye: “Kuncane yini ukuba uthathile umyeni wami na? Usuyakuthatha namamandragora endodana yami na?”

URaheli wathi: “Ngalokho uzakulala nawe ngalobu busuku ngamamandragora endodana yakho.”

₁₆Kusihlwa uJakobe esebuya endle, uLeya waya ukumhlangabeza, wathi: “Ngena kimi, ngokuba impela ngikuqashile ngamamandragora endodana yami.” Wayeselala naye ngalobo busuku.

₁₇UNkulunkulu wamuzwa uLeya; wakhulelwa, wamzalela uJakobe indodana yesihlanu. ₁₈Wayesethi uLeya: “UNkulunkulu unginikile umvuzo, lokhu ngamnika umyeni wami incekukazi yami,” waqamba igama lakhe ngokuthi u-Isakare.

₁₉ULeya wabuye wakhulelwa, wamzalela uJakobe indodana yesithupha. ₂₀Wayesethi uLeya: “UNkulunkulu ungiphe isipho esihle; manje umyeni wami useyakuhlala kimi, ngokuba ngimzalele amadodana ayisithupha,” waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uZebuloni.

₂₁Ngasemuva wazala indodakazi, waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uDina.

₂₂UNkulunkulu wamkhumbula uRaheli, uNkulunkulu wamuzwa, wavula isizalo sakhe. ₂₃Wakhulelwa, wazala indodana, wathi: “UNkulunkulu ususile ihlazo lami.” ₂₄Waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uJosefa, ethi: “UJehova makangenezelele nenye indodana futhi.”

₂₅Kwathi uRaheli esemzalile uJosefa, uJakobe wathi kuLabani: “Ngimukise ukuba ngiye endaweni yami ezweni lakithi. ₂₆Ngiphe omkami nabantwana bami engikusebenzele ngabo, ngihambe, ngokuba uyawazi umsebenzi engikwenzele wona.”

₂₇ULabani wayesethi kuye: “Ake ngifumane umusa emehlweni akho. Sengibonile ukuthi uJehova ungibusisile ngenxa yakho.” ₂₈Wathi futhi: “Nquma umvuzo wakho, ngikuphe wona.”

₂₉Wathi kuye: “Uyazi wena ukuthi ngikukhonze kanjani nokuthi izinkomo zakho zazinjani kimi. ₃₀Ngokuba kwakukuncane okwakho ngingakafiki; kepha kwandile, sekukuningi; uJehova ukubusisile ezinyathelweni zami; manje ngiyakuyisebenzela nini eyami indlu na?”

₃₁Wathi: “Ngiyakukuphani na?”

Wathi uJakobe: “Awuyikunginika lutho; uma ungenzela lokhu, ngiyakubuye ngaluse umhlambi wakho, ngiwulinde. ₃₂Namuhla ngiyakudabula emhlambini wakho wonke, ngikhiphe khona zonke ezimanakanaka nezimagqabhagqabha, nazo zonke ezimnyama ezimvini, nezimagqabhagqabha nezimanakanaka ezimbuzini, kube ngumvuzo wami. ₃₃Ukulunga kwami kuyakungifakazela ngesikhathi esizayo, lapho ufika ngomvuzo wami osebusweni bakho, ukuthi zonke ezingemanakanaka nezingemagqabhagqabha ezimbuzini, nezingemnyama ezimvini ezikimi, mazithiwe zebiwe.”

₃₄Wayesethi uLabani: “Bheka, makube njengezwi lakho.” ₃₅Ngalowo muhla wakhipha izimpongo ezinemishwe nezimagqabhagqabha, nezimbuzikazi zonke ezimanakanaka nezimagqabhagqabha, zonke ezinokumhlophe, nezimnyama zonke ezimvini, wazinikela esandleni samadodana akhe. ₃₆Wamisa ibanga lezinsuku ezintathu phakathi kwakhe noJakobe; uJakobe walusa imihlambi eseleyo kaLabani.

₃₇UJakobe wathatha izinti ezimanzi zompopula* nezomalimondi* nezompelatani,* wazebula imishwe emhlophe, wambula okumhlophe okusezintini. ₃₈Wazifaka izinti abezebulile emikhombeni nasemiqengqeni yamanzi phambi kwemihlambi, lapho imihlambi iza khona ukuphuza; yamitha ekufikeni kwayo ukuphuza. ₃₉Imihlambi yamitha phambi kwezinti, imihlambi yazala ezinemishwe, nezimanakanaka, nezimagqabhagqabha.

₄₀UJakobe wayesahlukanisa amawundlu, wabhekisa ubuso bemihlambi kwezinemishwe nakwezimnyama emhlambini kaLabani; wabeka amaqembu akhe abe wodwa engawafaki emhlambini kaLabani. ₄₁Kwathi lapho ibiyakumitha imihlambi eqinileyo, uJakobe wabeka izinti phambi kwamehlo emihlambi emiqengqeni ukuba imithe phakathi kwezinti. ₄₂Kepha lapho umhlambi wawubuthakathaka, akazifakanga; yathi-ke ebuthakathaka yaba ngekaLabani neqinileyo yaba ngekaJakobe. ₄₃Yayisikhula kakhulu impela le ndoda, yaba nemihlambi emikhulu, nezincekukazi, nezinceku, namakamela, nezimbongolo.

₁Wayesezwa amazwi amadodana kaLabani, ethi: “UJakobe uthathile konke okwakungokukababa; ngokwakungokukababa uzizuzele lonke lolu dumo.” ₂UJakobe wabona ubuso bukaLabani; bheka, babungasenjengayizolo nakuthangi kuye.

₃UJehova wayesethi kuJakobe: “Buyela ezweni lawoyihlo nasezihlotsheni zakho; ngiyakuba nawe.”

₄UJakobe wathuma wabiza oRaheli noLeya, beze endle emhlambini wakhe. ₅Wathi kubo: “Ngiyabubona ubuso bukayihlo ukuthi abusenjengayizolo nakuthangi kimi, kepha uNkulunkulu kababa unami. ₆Niyazi nina ukuthi ngimkhonzile uyihlo ngamandla ami onke. ₇Kepha uyihlo ungikhohlisile, waguqula umvuzo wami kayishumi; kodwa uNkulunkulu akamvumelanga ukwenza okubi kimi. ₈Uma ebesho ukuthi: ‘Ezimanakanaka ziyakuba ngumvuzo wakho,’ umhlambi wonke wazala ezimanakanaka; uma ebesho ukuthi: ‘Ezinemishwe ziyakuba ngumvuzo wakho,’ umhlambi wonke wazala ezinemishwe. ₉Kanjalo uNkulunkulu uthathile imfuyo kayihlo, wayinika mina.

₁₀“Kwathi ngokumitha kwemihlambi ngaphakamisa amehlo ami, ngabona ephusheni; bheka, izimpongo ezikhwela umhlambi zazingezinemishwe, nezimanakanaka, nezinala. ₁₁Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yathi kimi ephusheni: ‘Jakobe!’ Ngathi: ‘Ngilapha.’ ₁₂Yayisithi: ‘Awuphakamise amehlo akho, ubone ukuthi zonke izimpongo ezikhwela umhlambi zingezinemishwe, nezimanakanaka, nezinala, ngokuba ngibone konke uLabani akwenza kuwe. ₁₃NginguNkulunkulu waseBethele, lapho wagcoba khona insika nalapho wenza isithembiso kimi; manje vuka, usuke kuleli zwe, ubuyele ezweni lokuzalwa kwakho.’ ”

₁₄ORaheli noLeya baphendula, bathi kuye: “Sisenesabelo nefa endlini kababa na? ₁₅Asibalwanga njengabofakazi na? Ngokuba wathengisa ngathi, waqeda intengo yethu. ₁₆Ngokuba yonke ingcebo uNkulunkulu amamuke yona ubaba ingeyethu neyabantwana bethu; manje konke uNkulunkulu akutshele khona, kwenze.”

₁₇UJakobe wayesesuka, wakhwelisa amadodana akhe nawomkakhe emakameleni. ₁₈Wathatha yonke imfuyo yakhe ayizuzileyo, imfuyo yokufuya kwakhe ayizuze ePhadani Aramu ukuba aye ku-Isaka uyise ezweni laseKhanani.

₁₉ULabani esehambile ukuyogunda izimvu zakhe, uRaheli weba izithixo zikayise. ₂₀UJakobe wamnyenyela uLabani umAramu engamtshelanga ukuthi uyabaleka. ₂₁Wayesebaleka nakho konke anakho; wasuka, wawela umfula, waqonda ngasentabeni yakwaGileyadi.

₂₂Ngosuku lwesithathu uLabani watshelwa ukuthi uJakobe ubalekile. ₂₃Wayesethatha abafowabo, wamlandela ibanga lezinsuku eziyisikhombisa, wamfica entabeni yakwaGileyadi. ₂₄UNkulunkulu weza kuLabani umAramu ephusheni ebusuku, wathi kuye: “Qaphela ukuba ungakhulumi kuJakobe okuhle noma okubi.”

₂₅ULabani wayesemfica uJakobe. UJakobe wayemisile itende lakhe entabeni; uLabani nabafowabo bamisa entabeni yakwaGileyadi. ₂₆ULabani wathi kuJakobe: “Wenzeni, lokhu unginyenyele, wathatha amadodakazi njengabathunjwa benkemba, na? ₂₇Ubalekeleni ngasese na? Wanginyenyelelani ungangitshelanga ukuba ngabe ngikuvalelise ngokwenama nangezihlabelelo, ngesigubhu nangehabhu,* na? ₂₈Awungivumelanga ukuba ngange amadodana ami namadodakazi ami. Untumazele ngalokho. ₂₉Kusemandleni esandla sami ukwenza okubi kuwe, kepha uNkulunkulu kayihlo ukhulumile kimi ebusuku obudlule, wathi: ‘Qaphela ukuba ungakhulumi kuJakobe okubi noma okuhle.’ ₃₀Manje njengokuba usumuka impela, lokhu ulangazelela nokulangazelela indlu kayihlo, webeleni izithixo zami na?”

₃₁UJakobe waphendula, wathi kuLabani: “Ngokuba ngesaba ngithi: Funa ungiqhwage amadodakazi akho. ₃₂Kepha lowo ozakuthola kuye izithixo zakho akayikusinda; qaza phambi kwabafowethu okwakho okukimi, ukuthathe.” Ngokuba uJakobe wayengazi ukuthi uRaheli wayezebile.

₃₃ULabani wayesengena etendeni likaJakobe, nasetendeni likaLeya, nasetendeni lezincekukazi zombili; akazitholanga. Waphuma etendeni likaLeya, wangena etendeni likaRaheli. ₃₄URaheli wayezithathe izithixo, wazifaka esihlalweni sekamela, wahlala phezu kwazo. ULabani waphumputha etendeni lonke, kepha akazitholanga.

₃₅Wathi kuyise: “Mayingathukutheli inkosi yami ukuthi anginakusukuma phambi kwakho, ngokuba indlela yabesifazane ikimi.” Wanyalula, kepha akazitholanga izithixo.

₃₆UJakobe wathukuthela, wamsola uLabani; uJakobe waphendula, wathi kuLabani: “Yisiphi isiphambeko sami na? Yisiphi isono sami, lokhu ungizingele kangaka, na? ₃₇Njengalokho usufunisisile kuyo yonke impahla yami, uthole ntoni yezinto zonke zendlu yakho na? Yibeke lapha phambi kwabafowethu nabafowenu ukuba banqume phakathi kwethu sobabili.

₃₈“Le minyaka engamashumi amabili bengihlezi kuwe; izimvukazi zakho nezimbuzikazi zakho aziphunzanga; izinqama zomhlambi wakho angizidlanga. ₃₉Ezidweshulwe yizilo ngangingaziyisi kuwe; kwalahlekelwa mina; wazibiza esandleni sami, noma zebiwe emini noma zebiwe ebusuku. ₄₀Nganginjalo; emini ngaqedwa ngukushisa, ebusuku ngamakhaza; ubuthongo bami babalekela amehlo ami. ₄₁Le minyaka engamashumi amabili bengisendlini yakho; ngakusebenzela iminyaka eyishumi nane ngamadodakazi akho omabili, neminyaka eyisithupha ngomhlambi wakho, uguqule umvuzo wami kayishumi. ₄₂Uma ebengenami uNkulunkulu kababa, uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, ukwesaba kuka-Isaka, ngempela ubuyakungimukisa ze. UNkulunkulu ubone ukuhlupheka kwami nokukhathala kwezandla zami, wakusola ubusuku obudlule.”

₄₃ULabani waphendula, wathi kuJakobe: “Amadodakazi angamadodakazi ami, abantwana bangabantwana bami, imihlambi iyimihlambi yami; konke okubonayo kungokwami; lawa madodakazi ami ngingawenzela ntoni namuhla, nabantwana bawo abazalileyo, na? ₄₄Woza manje, senze isivumelwano mina nawe, sibe ngufakazi phakathi kwami nawe.”

₄₅UJakobe wayesethatha itshe, walimisa laba yinsika. ₄₆Wathi uJakobe kubafowabo: “Buthani amatshe,” bathatha amatshe, benza inqwaba; base bedla khona phezu kwenqwaba. ₄₇ULabani wayiqamba ngokuthi iJegari Sahadutha,* kepha uJakobe wayibiza ngokuthi iGaledi.*

₄₈Wathi uLabani: “Le nqwaba ingufakazi phakathi kwami nawe namuhla.” Ngalokho igama layo laqanjwa ngokuthi iGaledi, ₄₉neMispa futhi, ngokuba wathi: “UJehova makalinde phakathi kwami nawe, lapho sesingasabonani. ₅₀Uma uyakuhlupha amadodakazi ami, noma uthatha abafazi ngaphandle kwamadodakazi ami, akukho muntu onathi; bheka, uNkulunkulu ungufakazi phakathi kwami nawe.”

₅₁Wathi uLabani kuJakobe: “Bheka, le nqwaba nensika engikumise phakathi kwami nawe, ₅₂le nqwaba ayibe ngufakazi, nensika ibe ngufakazi ukuthi angiyikudlula kule nqwaba, ngiye kuwe, nokuthi wena awuyikudlula kule nqwaba nakule nsika, uze kimi, ngokubi. ₅₃UNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu kaNahori, uNkulunkulu wawoyise, makahlulele phakathi kwethu.”

UJakobe wafunga ukwesaba kukayise u-Isaka. ₅₄UJakobe wanikela ngomhlatshelo entabeni, wabiza abafowabo ukuba badle isinkwa; badla isinkwa, bahlala ubusuku bonke entabeni.

₅₅ULabani wavuka ekuseni, wawanga amadodana akhe namadodakazi akhe, wawabusisa; wayesehamba uLabani, wabuyela endaweni yakhe.

₁UJakobe wahamba indlela yakhe; izingelosi zikaNkulunkulu zamhlangabeza. ₂UJakobe ezibona wathi: “Lokhu kuyibandla likaNkulunkulu.” Waqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iMahanayimi.*

₃UJakobe wathuma izithunywa phambi kwakhe ku-Esawu umfowabo ezweni laseSeyiri, izwe lakwa-Edomi. ₄Waziyala ngokuthi: “Niyakukhuluma kanje enkosini yami u-Esawu, nithi: ‘Inceku yakho uJakobe ithi: Ngigogobele kuLabani, ngilibele kuze kube manje; ₅nginezinkabi, nezimbongolo, nezimvu, nezinceku, nezincekukazi; sengithumele ukubika enkosini yami ukuba ngithole umusa emehlweni akho.’ ”

₆Izithunywa zabuyela kuJakobe, zathi: “Safika kumfowenu u-Esawu, naye uyeza ukukuhlangabeza enamadoda angamakhulu amane.”

₇UJakobe wayeseshaywa luvalo kakhulu, ekhathazeka; wahlukanisa abantu ababenaye, nezimvu, nezinkomo, namakamela, kwaba ngamaqembu amabili, ₈wathi: “Uma u-Esawu efika kwelinye iqembu, alichithe, iqembu eliseleyo liyakubaleka.”

₉Wathi uJakobe: “Nkulunkulu kababa u-Abrahama, Nkulunkulu kababa u-Isaka, Jehova, wena owathi kimi: ‘Buyela ezweni lakho nasezihlotsheni zakho,’ ngikwenzele okuhle, ₁₀angifanele neze wonke umusa nalo lonke iqiniso okwenzele inceku yakho, ngokuba ngawela leli Jordani ngodondolo lwami kuphela, manje sengingamaqembu amabili. ₁₁Ake ungophule esandleni somfowethu, esandleni sika-Esawu, ngokuba mina ngiyamesaba, funa eze angichithe kanye nawonina nabantwana. ₁₂Wathi wena: ‘Impela ngiyakukwenzela okuhle, ngenze inzalo yakho ibe ngangesihlabathi solwandle esingebalwe ngobuningi.’ ”

₁₃Walala khona lobo busuku; kulokho okwakusesandleni sakhe wathathela u-Esawu umfowabo isipho: ₁₄izimbuzikazi ezingamakhulu amabili, nezimpongo ezingamashumi amabili, nezimvukazi ezingamakhulu amabili, nezinqama ezingamashumi amabili, ₁₅namakamela asengwayo angamashumi amathathu namathole awo, nezinkomazi ezingamashumi amane, nezinkunzi eziyishumi, nezimbongolokazi ezingamashumi amabili, namathole ayishumi. ₁₆Wazinikela esandleni sezinceku amaqambi ngamaqambi, wathi ezincekwini zakhe: “Dlulani ngaphambi kwami, nenze ibanga phakathi kweqambi neqambi.”

₁₇Wamyala ophambili, wathi: “Nxa u-Esawu umfowethu ehlangana nawe, ekubuza ethi: ‘Ungokabani wena? Uyangaphi na? Ngezikabani lezi eziphambi kwakho na?’ ₁₈wothi: ‘Ngezenceku yakho uJakobe; kuyisipho esithunywa enkosini yami u-Esawu; bheka, naye uyeza, ungasemuva kwethu.’ ”

₁₉Wayala nowesibili, nowesithathu, nabo bonke ababelandela amaqembu, wathi: “Niyakusho njalo ku-Esawu, lapho nimfumana. ₂₀Niyakukhuluma nithi: ‘Futhi bheka, inceku yakho uJakobe iyeza, isemva kwethu.’ ” Ngokuba wathi: “Ngizakumthoba ngalesi sipho esihamba phambi kwami, andukuba ngibone ubuso bakhe; mhlawumbe angangamukela.” ₂₁Sase sihamba isipho phambi kwakhe, kepha yena wahlala ekamu* lobo busuku.

₂₂Wavuka ebusuku, wathatha omkakhe ababili, nezincekukazi zakhe ezimbili, nabantwana bakhe abayishumi nanye, wawela ezibukweni elithiwa iJaboki. ₂₃Wabathatha, wabawelisa emfuleni, wakuwelisa nalokho anakho. ₂₄Wasala yedwa uJakobe; kwabambana naye umuntu, kwaze kwasa. ₂₅Esebona ukuthi akamahluli, wathinta esikhoxeni senyonga yakhe, waphinyazeka uJakobe esikhoxeni senyonga esebambene naye. ₂₆Wayesethi: “Angihambe, ngokuba sekuyasa.”

Kepha wathi: “Anginakukuyeka ukuba uhambe ungangibusisanga.”

₂₇Wathi kuye: “Ungubani igama lakho na?”

Wathi: “NginguJakobe.”

₂₈Wathi: “Igama lakho alisayikuthiwa uJakobe, kepha u-Israyeli,* ngokuba ulwile noNkulunkulu nabantu, wanqoba.”

₂₉UJakobe wayesembuza ethi: “Ake ungitshele igama lakho.”

Wathi: “Ubuzelani igama lami na?” Wayesembusisa khona.

₃₀UJakobe waqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iPheniyeli,* ngokuba wathi: “Sibonene noNkulunkulu ubuso nobuso, nokho umphefumulo wami wophulwa.”

₃₁Ilanga lamphumela esadlula iPheniyeli, waqhuga enyongeni yakhe. ₃₂Ngalokho abantwana bakwa-Israyeli abawudli umsipha wenqulu osesikhoxeni senyonga kuze kube namuhla, ngokuba wathinta isikhoxo senyonga kaJakobe emsipheni wenqulu.

₁UJesu wakhuluma lokho; wayesephakamisela amehlo akhe ezulwini, wathi: “Baba, isikhathi sifikile; khazimulisa iNdodana yakho, ukuze iNdodana ikukhazimulise wena, ₂njengalokho uyiphile amandla phezu kwenyama yonke ukuba bonke oyiphe bona ibaphe ukuphila okuphakade. ₃Ukuphila okuphakade yilokhu ukuba bazi wena Nkulunkulu wedwa oqinisileyo, nomthumileyo, uJesu Kristu. ₄Ngikukhazimulisile emhlabeni, ngifeze umsebenzi ongiphe wona ukuba ngiwenze. ₅Manje-ke ngikhazimulise wena Baba, kuwe uqobo, ngenkazimulo ebenginayo ngikuwe, izwe lingakabikho.

₆“Ngibonakalisile igama lakho kubantu ongiphe bona kwabasezweni; babengabakho, wangipha bona; baligcinile izwi lakho. ₇Sebazi ukuthi konke ongiphe khona kuvela kuwe. ₈Ngokuba amazwi ongiphe wona ngibaphile wona, bawamukela, bazi isibili ukuthi ngavela kuwe, bakholwa ukuthi wangithuma wena. ₉Ngiyabakhulekela bona; angikhulekeli izwe kepha labo ongiphe bona, ngokuba bengabakho. ₁₀Konke okwami kungokwakho, nokwakho kungokwami; ngikhazimulisiwe kubona. ₁₁Angisekho ezweni mina, basezweni bona, mina ngiza kuwe. Baba ongcwele, bagcine egameni lakho labo ongiphe bona, ukuze babe munye njengathi. ₁₂Lapho ngise nabo ezweni, ngabagcina egameni lakho labo ongiphe bona, ngabalonda; akakho kubo owalahleka, kuphela indodana yokulahlwa, ukuba kugcwaliseke umbhalo.

₁₃“Sengiza kuwe kalokhu; ngikhuluma lokhu ezweni ukuba babe nokuthokoza kwami, kugcwale kubo. ₁₄Mina ngibanikile izwi lakho; izwe labazonda, ngokuba bengesibo abezwe, njengalokhu nami angisiye owezwe. ₁₅Angiceli ukuba ubasuse ezweni; kepha ngicela ukuba ubalonde kokubi. ₁₆Abasibo abezwe, njengalokhu nami angisiye owezwe. ₁₇Bangcwelise ngeqiniso, izwi lakho liyiqiniso. ₁₈Njengalokho wangithumela ezweni, nami ngibathumela ezweni. ₁₉Ngiyazingcwelisa ngenxa yabo ukuba bangcweliswe nabo ngeqiniso.

₂₀“Angiceleli laba bodwa kepha nalabo abakholwa yimi ngezwi labo ₂₁ukuba bonke babe munye, njengalokhu wena Baba ukimi, nami ngikuwe, ukuba nabo babe kithina, ukuze izwe likholwe ukuthi wena ungithumile. ₂₂Nenkazimulo ongiphe yona ngiyiphile bona, ukuze babe munye, njengalokhu thina simunye, ₂₃mina kubona, nawe kimina, ukuba bapheleliswe ebunyeni, ukuze izwe lazi ukuba wena ungithumile, wabathanda, njengalokho ungithandile.

₂₄“Baba, ngithanda ukuba labo ongiphe bona nabo babe khona nami lapha ngikhona, ukuze babone inkazimulo yami ongiphe yona; ngokuba wangithanda, kungakasekelwa izwe.

₂₅“Baba olungileyo, izwe kalikwazanga, kepha mina ngikwazile, nalaba bazile ukuthi ungithumile. ₂₆Ngibazisile igama lakho, ngizakubazisa lona ukuba uthando ongithande ngalo lube kubo, nami ngibe kubo.”