Ujoshuwa 9:5-22 Ibhayibheli Elingcwele (ZUL59)

5. nezicathulo ezigugileyo eziciciyelweyo zisezinyaweni zabo, bembethe nezingubo ezigugileyo; isinkwa sonke somphako wabo sasomile, sikhuntile.

6. Baya kuJoshuwa ekamu* laseGiligali, bathi kuye nakumadoda akwa-Israyeli: “Sivela ezweni elikude; ngalokho manenze manje isivumelwano nathi.”

7. Amadoda akwa-Israyeli athi kumaHivi: “Mhlawumbe nakhile phakathi kwethu; singenza kanjani isivumelwano nani na?”

8. Bathi kuJoshuwa: “Siyizinceku zakho.”UJoshuwa wathi kubo: “Ningobani, futhi nivelaphi na?”

9. Bathi kuye: “Izinceku zakho zivela ezweni elikude kakhulu ngenxa yegama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ngokuba siluzwile udumo lwakhe, nakho konke akwenzayo eGibithe,

10. nakho konke akwenza kuwo amakhosi omabili ama-Amori ayengaphesheya kweJordani, uSihoni inkosi yaseHeshiboni no-Ogi inkosi yaseBashani, eyayise-Ashitaroti.

11. Amalunga ethu nabo bonke abakhileyo ezweni lakithi bakhuluma kithi, bathi: ‘Phathani ezandleni zenu umphako wendlela, niye nibahlangabeze, nithi kubo: “Siyizinceku zenu; manenze isivumelwano nathi.” ’

12. Lesi sinkwa somphako wethu sasithatha sisashisa ezindlini zethu ngosuku esaphuma ngalo ukuba siye kini; kepha manje, bhekani, sesomile, sikhuntile;

13. lezi zimvaba zewayini esazigcwalisa zazizintsha; bhekani, seziklebhukile; lezi zingubo zethu nezicathulo zethu sezigugile ngenxa yendlela ende kakhulu.”

14. Amadoda ayesethatha emphakweni wabo engabuzanga umlomo kaJehova.

15. UJoshuwa wabethembisa ukuthula, wenza isivumelwano nabo ukuba baphile; izikhulu zenhlangano zafunga kubo.

16. Kwathi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu sebesenzile isivumelwano nabo, bezwa ukuthi bangabakhelwane babo nokuthi bahlala phakathi kwabo.

17. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli base besuka, bafika emizini yabo ngosuku lwesithathu; imizi yabo yayiyiGibeyoni, neKefira, neBeroti, neKiriyati Jeharimi.

18. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababachithanga, ngokuba izikhulu zenhlangano zazifungile kubo uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Yonke inhlangano yakhonona ngezikhulu.

19. Zonke izikhulu zase zithi kuyo yonke inhlangano: “Sifungile kubo uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli; ngalokho asinakubathinta manje.

20. Siyakwenza lokho kubo, sibayeke baphile, funa sehlelwe lulaka ngenxa yesifungo esasifunga kubo.”

21. Izikhulu zase zithi kubo: “Mabayekwe baphile; baba ngabagawuli bemithi nabakhi bamanzi kuyo yonke inhlangano njengalokho izikhulu zazibatshelile.”

22. UJoshuwa wababiza, wakhuluma kubo, wathi: “Nisikhohliseleni ngokuthi: ‘Sikude kakhulu nani,’ lokhu nakhile phakathi kwethu, na?

Ujoshuwa 9