Joshuwa 3:1-17
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U-Israyeli uwela iJordani (1-17)
3 Khona-ke uJoshuwa wavuka kusesekuseni, yena nawo wonke ama-Israyeli,* basuka eShithimi + bahamba baze bayofika eJordani. Balala lapho ngalobo busuku abazange bawele.
2 Ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu, izikhulu + zanqamula ekamu
3 zayala abantu, zathi: “Lapho nje nibona umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uthwelwe abapristi abangamaLevi, + kumelwe nisuke lapho nikhona niwulandele.
4 Kodwa kumelwe niqhele kuwo ngamamitha angaba ngu-890;* ningasondeli kuwo ukuze nikwazi ukubona indlela okufanele nihambe ngayo, ngoba niyaqala ukuhamba ngale ndlela.”
5 UJoshuwa wabe esethi kubantu: “Zingcweliseni, + ngoba kusasa uJehova uzonenzela izinto ezimangalisayo.” +
6 Khona-ke uJoshuwa wathi kubapristi: “Thathani umphongolo + wesivumelwano nihambe phambi kwabantu.” Ngakho bawuthatha umphongolo wesivumelwano bahamba phambi kwabantu.
7 UJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: “Namuhla ngizoqala ukukwenza ube mkhulu emehlweni ka-Israyeli wonke, + ukuze azi ukuthi ngizoba nawe + njengoba nje ngaba noMose. +
8 Kufanele uyale abapristi abathwele umphongolo wesivumelwano, uthi: ‘Lapho nifika osebeni lomfula iJordani, kufanele ningene phakathi emanzini nime khona.’” +
9 UJoshuwa wathi kuma-Israyeli: “Sondelani lapha nilalele amazwi kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.”
10 Ngemva kwalokho uJoshuwa wathi: “Ngalokhu nizokwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu, + nokuthi nakanjani uzowaxosha phambi kwenu amaKhanani, amaHeti, amaHivi, amaPherizi, amaGirigashi, ama-Amori namaJebusi. +
11 Umphongolo wesivumelwano weNkosi yomhlaba wonke uzohamba phambi kwenu ungene eJordani.
12 Manje thathani amadoda angu-12 ezizweni zakwa-Israyeli, indoda eyodwa esizweni ngasinye, +
13 kuyothi nje lapho izinyawo zabapristi abathwele uMphongolo kaJehova, iNkosi yomhlaba wonke, zithinta amanzi* eJordani, amanzi eJordani avela ngenhla anqamuke, ame abe yidamu.” *+
14 Ngakho lapho abantu besuka ematendeni abo ngaphambi nje kokuba bawele iJordani, abapristi ababethwele umphongolo + wesivumelwano bahamba phambi kwabo.
15 Lapho nje labo ababethwele uMphongolo befika eJordani futhi abapristi ababethwele uMphongolo befaka izinyawo zabo emanzini (zonke izinsuku zokuvuna iJordani lisuke ligcwele kakhulu), +
16 amanzi avela ngenhla ama. Akhuphuka aba yidamu* kude kakhulu e-Adamu, idolobha eliseduze naseZaretani, kuyilapho amanzi ehlela oLwandle Lwase-Araba, uLwandle Lukasawoti,* eqhubeka egeleza. Anqamuka, abantu bawela maqondana neJeriko.
17 Ngesikhathi abapristi ababethwele umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova bemile emhlabathini owomile + phakathi neJordani, wonke ama-Israyeli awela emhlabathini owomile + kwaze kwaba yilapho sonke isizwe sesiqedile ukuwela iJordani.
Imibhalo yaphansi
^ NgesiHebheru, “amadodana ka-Israyeli.”
^ Izingalo ezingaba ngu-2 000. Bheka iSithasiselo B14.
^ NgesiHebheru, “zima emanzini.”
^ Noma, “udonga.”
^ Noma, “udonga.”
^ Okuwukuthi, uLwandle Olufile.
