16 – Ukudla okunikelwe kwizithombe

Ngakho uJakhobe wasesithi kwabomuzi wakhe lakubo bonke ababelaye, “Lahlani onkulunkulu bezizweni labo elilabo, lizihlambulule, lintshintshe lezigqoko zenu.

“Ungabi labanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami. “Ungazenzeli izithombe ezifana lezinto ezisezulwini kumbe phansi emhlabeni kumbe ngaphansi kwamanzi. Ungakhothameli izithombe, njalo ungazikhonzi. Ngoba mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu olobukhwele, ojezisa abantwana ngenxa yezono zaboyise kuze kube yisizukulwane sesithathu lesesine salabo abangizondayo,

Qaphelisisani lenze konke engilitshela khona. Lingamemezi abanye onkulunkulu; mabangezwiwa ezindlebeni zenu.

Alibowadiliza amaalithare abo, libhidlize lezithombe zabo, ligamule lezinsika zika-Asheri wabo abamkhonzayo. Lingakhonzi omunye unkulunkulu, ngoba uJehova, obizo lakhe linguBukhwele, nguNkulunkulu olobukhwele. “Qaphelani lingenzi isivumelwano lalabo abahlala elizweni lelo, ngoba nxa bezibhixa kubonkulunkulu babo benikela iminikelo kubo, bazalinxusa libeselisidla imihlatshelo yabo. Njalo lapho likhetha amanye amadodakazi abo ukuba abe ngabafazi bamadodana enu kuzakuthi lapho amadodakazi lawo esezibhixa kubonkulunkulu bawo, ahugele amadodana enu ekwenzeni okunjalo.

“ ‘Lingaphendukeli ezithombeni loba lizibumbele onkulunkulu benu. Yimi uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.

“Ungabi labanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami. “Ungazenzeli isithombe ngesimo saloba yini esezulwini phezulu loba emhlabeni phansi loba emanzini ngaphansi. Ungazikhothameli loba ukuzikhonza; ngoba Mina, uJehova uNkulunlunkulu wakho, nginguJehova olobukhwele, ojezisa abantwana ebajezisela izono zaboyise kuze kube yisizukulwane sesithathu lesesine sabangizondayo,

kuthi lapho uJehova wenu esezinikele ezandleni zenu lani selizinqobile kufanele lizitshabalalise ngokupheleleyo. Lingabi lesivumelwano lazo, njalo lingabi lesihawu kuzo. Lingendiselani lazo. Lingendiseli amadodakazi enu emadodaneni azo, kumbe lithathele amadodana enu amadodakazi azo, ngoba azaphambula amadodana enu ekungikhonzeni abesekhonza abanye onkulunkulu, kuthi ulaka lukaJehova luvuthe lulitshise litshabalale. Nanku okumele likwenze kulezi zizwe: Dilizani ama-alithare azo, libhidlize amatshe eziwakhonzayo, ligamule izigodo zophawu luka-Ashera njalo litshise izithombe zazo ngomlilo.

Izithombe zabonkulunkulu bazo lizazitshisa ngomlilo. Lingahawukeli isiliva legolide eliphezu kwezithombe, lingazigcineli lona, ngoba lizabe selizibambisile emjibileni ngalo, ngoba liyisinengiso kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu. Lingalethi okunengisayo ezindlini zenu, ngoba lani njengakho lokho lizakhethelwa ukubhujiswa. Kwenyanyeni linengeke ngakho, ngoba kumiselwe ukutshabalaliswa.

Nxa lizake likhohlwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu beselilandela abanye onkulunkulu libakhonze libakhothamele, ngiyalifungela lamuhla ukuthi lizabhujiswa ngempela. Njengezizwe uJehova azibhubhisa phambi kwenu lani lizabhujiswa nguJehova wenu.

Nanzelelani ukuthi lenza lokho engililaya ngakho, lingengezeleli loba liphungule kulokho.

Bambangela ubukhwele ngabonkulunkulu babo bezizweni bamthukuthelisa ngezithombe zabo ezinengekayo. Benza imihlatshelo kuwo kumadimoni, wona angayisuye uNkulunkulu  —  onkulunkulu ababengazange babazi, onkulunkulu ababesanda kuvela, onkulunkulu ababengakhonzwa ngoyihlo.

Kodwa uSamuyeli waphendula wathi: “Kambe uJehova uthokozela iminikelo yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo ngokunjengokulalela ilizwi likaJehova na? Ukulalela kungcono kulomhlatshelo, lokukhathalela kungcono kulamahwahwa ezinqama. Ngoba ukuhlamuka kufana lesono sokuhlahlula, lobuqholo bufana lobubi bokukhonza izithombe. Ngokuba ilizwi likaJehova ulalile. Usekwalile njengenkosi.”

Bakhipha ilitshe elikhonzwayo likaBhali balitshisa. Balidiliza lelolitshe likaBhali elikhonzwayo babhidliza lethempeli lakhe, balenza laba yindlu yokuyela ngaphandle kuze kube lalamuhla lokhu.

Ngoba umkhulu uJehova, ufanele ukudunyiswa kakhulu, uyesabeka ukwedlula onkulunkulu bonke. Ngoba bonke onkulunkulu bezizwe bayizithombe; kodwa uJehova wadala amazulu.

Wanikela imihlatshelo kubonkulunkulu baseDamaseko, ababemehlule, ngoba wakhumbula wathi, “Njengoba onkulunkulu bamakhosi ama-Aramu bewancedile, ngizanikela imihlatshelo kubo ukuze bangisize lami.” Kodwa-ke kwahle kwaba yikuwa kwakhe lokuchitheka kwabako-Israyeli.

Ngokuba umkhulu uJehova, ufanele ngokuphindiweyo ukudunyiswa; kumele esatshwe ngaphezu kwabonkulunkulu bonke. Ngoba bonke onkulunkulu bezizwe bayizithombe, kodwa uJehova wenza amazulu.

Kodwa izithombe zabo yisiliva legolide, zenziwe ngezandla zabantu. Zilemilomo, kodwa kazikhulumi, amehlo, kodwa kaziboni; zilezindlebe, kodwa kazizwa, amakhala, kodwa kazizwa ukunuka; zilezandla, kodwa kazizwa ukuthinta, izinyawo, kodwa kazikwazi ukuhamba; njalo ngeke nje zikhuphe umsindo ngemiphimbo yazo. Labo abazenzayo bazakuba njengazo, kube njalo lakulabo abathemba kuzo.

Izithombe zezizwe ziyisiliva legolide, zenziwe ngezandla zabantu. Zilemilomo, kodwa kazikhulumi, amehlo, kodwa kaziboni; zilezindlebe, kodwa kazizwa, njalo kazilamphefumulo emilonyeni yazo. Labo abazenzayo bazakuba njengazo, kanjalo lalabo bonke abathemba kuzo.

Ngoba ngalolosuku lonke lizazilahla izithombe zenu zesiliva lezegolide elizenze ngezandla zenu ezonayo.

Aphosela onkulunkulu bawo emlilweni, abatshabalalisa ngoba babengasibo onkulunkulu kodwa kuyizigodo lamatshe, kubazwe ngabantu.

“Mina nginguJehova, lelo yilo ibizo lami! Ubukhosi bami angiyikubunika omunye loba nginike izithombe udumo lwami.

Kodwa labo abathemba izithombe, abathi kuzifanekiso, ‘Lingonkulunkulu bethu,’ bazabuyiselwa emuva beyangeke impela.

Ngizamemezela ukwahlulela kwami ebantwini bami ngenxa yobubi babo bokungidela, betshisela abanye onkulunkulu impepha, langokukhonza lokho okwenziwa ngezandla zabo.

Abantwana batheza inkuni, oyise babasa imililo, labesifazana baxova inhlama benzele iNdlovukazi yaseZulwini isinkwa. Bathelela abanye onkulunkulu iminikelo yokunathwayo ukuba bangithukuthelise. Kodwa yimi abangithukuthelisayo na? kutsho uJehova. Kabazilimazi bona ngokwabo na, okulihlazo kubo? “ ‘Ngakho uJehova Wobukhosi uthi: Ukuthukuthela kwami lolaka lwami kuzakwehliselwa kule indawo, phezu kwabantu lasezinyamazaneni, phezu kwezihlahla zeganga laphezu kwezithelo zomhlabathi; njalo kuzakutsha kungacitsheki.

Umuntu wonke kalangqondo njalo kalalwazi; wonke umkhandi wensimbi uyangiswa yizithombe zakhe. Izithombe zakhe ziyinkohliso; kazilamphefumulo phakathi kwazo. Ziyize, izinto zenhlekisa nje; lapho ukwahlulelwa kwazo sekufikile, zizabhubha.

uthi, ‘Zwanini ilizwi likaJehova, lina makhosi akoJuda lani bantu abahlala eJerusalema. UJehova uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Lalelani! Ngizaletha umonakalo kule indawo ozabanda izindlebe zomuntu wonke owuzwayo. Ngoba bangidelile kwathi indawo le bayenza eyabonkulunkulu bezizweni; kuyo batshisele imihlatshelo onkulunkulu abangabaziyo, bona labokhokho babo kanye lamakhosi akoJuda, njalo indawo le sebayigcwalisa igazi labantu abangelacala.

Izindlu zaseJerusalema kanye lezamakhosi akoJuda zizangcoliswa njengale indawo, iThofethi  —  zonke izindlu lapho abazatshisela khona impepha phezu kwezimpahla kuwo wonke amaxuku ezinkanyezi, bathelela abanye onkulunkulu umnikelo wokunathwayo.’ ”

Lapho-ke wonke amadoda ayekwazi ukuthi omkawo babetshisela abanye onkulunkulu impepha, kanye labesifazana bonke ababekhona  —  ixuku elikhulu  —  labantu bonke abahlala eGibhithe yangeZansi langaPhezulu, bathi kuJeremiya: “Thina kasiyikulilalela ilizwi olikhulume kithi ngebizo likaJehova! Impela sizakwenza konke esathi sizakwenza: Impepha sizayitshisela iNdlovukazi yaseZulwini siyithululele leminikelo yokunathwayo njengalokhu esakwenzayo thina labobaba, amakhosi ethu kanye lezikhulu zakithi emadolobheni akoJuda lasemigwaqweni yaseJerusalema. Ngalesosikhathi sasilokudla okunengi, sinothile kungekho okubi. Kodwa selokhu sayekela ukutshisela iNdlovukazi yaseZulwini impepha lokuyithululela iminikelo yokunathwayo, kasisabanga lalutho njalo sesilokhu sisifa ngenkemba langendlala.” Abesifazana bengeza bathi, “Lapho sasitshisela iNdlovukazi yaseZulwini impepha siyithululela leminikelo yokunathwa omkethu babengakwazi na ukuthi sasisenza amakhekhe anjengesithombe sayo siyithululela leminikelo yokunathwayo?”

Kwathi uJehova engaselakho ukubekezelela izenzo zenu ezimbi lezinto ezinengisayo elazenzayo, ilizwe lenu laba yinto yokuqalekiswa logwadule oluphundlekileyo olungahlali muntu njengoba kunjalo lalamhla. Umonakalo lo wehlele kini njengoba liwubona khathesi ngoba litshise impepha lenza okubi kuJehova njalo kalaze lamlalela loba lilandele umthetho wakhe kumbe izimiso zakhe loba izilayezelo zakhe.”

“Abantu bonke kabalangqondo njalo kabalalwazi; wonke umkhandi wegolide uyayangiswa yizithombe zakhe. Izifanekiso zakhe ziyinkohliso; akulamphefumulo kuzo. Kazisizi lutho, yizinto eziyinhlekisa ekufikeni kokwahlulelwa kwazo, zizabhubha.

Endaweni yalokho, uzimisele ukumelana loJehova wezulu. Wathi kakuthathwe izitsha zethempeli layo zilethwe kuwe, kwase kusithi wena lezikhulu zakho, labafazi bakho kanye labafazi bakho beceleni lanathela iwayini kuzo. Wadumisa onkulunkulu besiliva legolide, abethusi, lensimbi, lezigodo lamatshe, abangaboniyo, labangezwayo labangaqedisisiyo. Kodwa kawumhloniphanga uNkulunkulu ophethe ukuphila kwakho kanye lezindlela zakho zonke esandleni sakhe.

Babeka amakhosi kungekho mvumo yami; bakhetha ababusi kungekho mvumo yami. Ngesiliva sabo langegolide, bazenzela izithombe zibe yikubhujiswa kwabo.

Kodwa kwathi lapho u-Israyeli ngimbiza kanengi kwayikhona ehlehlela khatshana lami. Banikela imihlatshelo kuboBhali, batshisela lezifanekiso impepha.

Silosizo bani isithombe njengoba sibazwe ngumuntu? Kumbe isifanekiso esifundisa amanga? Ngoba lowo osenzayo uthemba isidalwa sakhe; wenza izithombe ezingeke zikhulume.

“Lingacabangi ukuthi ngilande ukudiliza uMthetho labaPhrofethi. Kangilandanga ukubadiliza kodwa ukubaphelelisa. Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi kuze kunyamalale izulu lomhlaba kakuyikususwa lutho eMthethweni, loba libadlana kumbe lichatshana elilotshiweyo, kuze kupheleliswe konke. Loba ngubani owephula owodwa nje wale imilayo emincinyane, afundise abanye ukwenza njalo uzathiwa mncinyane okudlulayo embusweni wezulu, kodwa loba ngubani olandela njalo afundise imilayo le uzathiwa mkhulu embusweni wezulu.

Wabuza wathi, “Lilamakhanda alukhuni kangaka na? Kalikuboni yini ukuthi kakulalutho olungena emuntwini lusuka ngaphandle olungamenza ‘angahlanzeki’? Ngokuba kalungeni enhliziyweni yakhe kodwa luya esiswini sakhe luphinde luphume emzimbeni wakhe.” (Ngokutsho lokhu uJesu wathi konke ukudla ‘kuhlanzekile.’)

“Lowo ongathenjwa ngokuncinyane angathenjwa njalo ngokunengi, ikanti lowo ongathembekanga ngokuncinyane angeke njalo athembeke ngokunengi.

“Kakulanceku engakhonza amakhosi amabili. Izazonda enye ithande enye, loba izazinikela kwenye iyizonde enye. Lingeze lakhonza kanyekanye uNkulunkulu leMali.”

Umphristi kaZewusi owayelethempeli eduze ngaphandle kwedolobho waletha izinkunzi lemigaxo emasangweni edolobho ngokuba yena kanye lexuku labantu babefuna ukwenza imihlatshelo kubo. Kodwa kwathi abaphostoli uBhanaba loPhawuli bekuzwa lokhu, badabula izigqoko zabo bazithela phakathi kwabantu bememeza besithi: “Madoda, likwenzelani lokhu? Lathi singabantu njengani. Sililethela izindaba ezinhle, silitshela ukuthi litshiye izinto lezi ezingasulutho liye kuNkulunkulu ophilayo owenza izulu, lomhlaba, lolwandle lakho konke okukulezo zindawo.

Esikhundleni salokho kasibalobeleni sibatshele ukuthi kabaxwaye ukudla okungcoliswe yizithombe, lokuphinga, lenyama yenyamazana ekhanyiweyo lobubende.

Kubonakele kufanele kuMoya oNgcwele lakithi ukuthi singalisindisi ngalutho bani ngaphandle kwezimiso ezilandelayo: Xwayani ukudla okunikelwe izithombe, ububende, inyama yenyamazana ekhanyiweyo kanye lokuphinga. Lizabe lenze kuhle uma lizixwaya lezizinto. Salani kuhle.”

UPhawuli esabamelele e-Athene, wakhathazeka kakhulu ngokubona ukuthi idolobho lelo laligcwele izithombe.

“Yikho-ke njengoba singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, masingacabangi ukuthi ubuNkulunkulu bunjengegolide, loba isiliva kumbe ilitshe  —  isifanekiso esibunjwe ngobungcitshi bomuntu. Ekadeni uNkulunkulu kakunakanga lokhu ukungazi, kodwa khathesi uselaya bonke abantu ezindaweni zonke ukuba baphenduke. Ngoba uselumisile usuku lapho azakwehlulela khona umhlaba ngokulunga ngomuntu ammisileyo. Usevezile ubufakazi balokhu kubo bonke abantu ngokumvusa kwabafileyo.”

Abezizwe bona abakholwayo sesibalobele ngesinqumo sethu ukuthi kabaxwaye ukudla okunikelwe ezithombeni, bangadli ububende, lenyama yenyamazana ekhanyiweyo lokuphinga.” Ngosuku olulandelayo uPhawuli wawathatha lawomadoda wayazihlambulula kanye lawo. Wasesiya ethempelini ukuyakwazisa ngosuku lokuphela kwezinsuku zokuhlambulula lokuthi umnikelo walowo lalowo wabo wawuzakwenziwa nini.

Lanxa bazenza abahlakaniphileyo baba yizithutha benana inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ongafiyo ngezifanekiso ezenziwa zafana labantu abalakho ukufa lezinyoni lezinyamazana kanye lezinanakazana ezihuquzelayo.

Mamukeleni lowo okholo lwakhe lubuthakathaka, kungekho kwahlulela ezindabeni eziphikisekayo. Omunye umuntu ukholo lwakhe luyamvumela ukuba adle izinto zonke, kodwa omunye umuntu olokholo olubuthakathaka, udla imibhida kuphela.

Kalazi yini ukuthi umzimba wenu ulithempeli likaMoya oNgcwele, ophakathi kwenu, elamamukela kuNkulunkulu na? Kalisibo benu, lathengwa ngentengo. Ngakho-ke dumisani uNkulunkulu ngemizimba yenu.

Mayelana lokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni: Siyakwazi ukuthi sonke silolwazi. Ulwazi luyakhukhumeza, kodwa uthando luyakha. Umuntu ocabanga ukuthi wazi ulutho kakazi njengoba efanele ukwazi. Kodwa umuntu othanda uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu uyamazi lowomuntu.

Ngakho-ke mayelana lokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni: Siyakwazi ukuthi isithombe kasisilutho emhlabeni, kanye lokuthi uNkulunkulu munye kuphela kakho omunye. Ngoba lanxa kulabonkulunkulu abatshiwoyo, langabe ezulwini loba emhlabeni (njengoba impela kulabonkulunkulu abanengi lamakhosi amanengi), kodwa kithi kuloNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela, uYise, okwavela kuye izinto zonke njalo okunguye esimphilelayo; njalo kuleNkosi eyodwa kuphela, uJesu Khristu, ozinto zonke zeza ngaye njalo esiphila ngaye.

Kodwa akusimuntu wonke okwaziyo lokhu. Abanye abantu balokhu bejwayele izithombe kuze kuthi lapho besidla ukudla okunjalo, bacabange ukuthi kunikelwe esithombeni njalo njengoba isazela sabo sibuthakathaka, siyangcoliswa. Kodwa ukudla akusisondezi eduzane loNkulunkulu; kasilahlekelwa lutho uma singadli, njalo kasizuzi lutho uma sisidla. Kodwa qaphelani ukuba ukusebenza kokukhululeka kwenu akubi yisikhubekiso kwababuthakathaka. Ngoba nxa umuntu olesazela esibuthakathaka ebona lina elilalolulwazi lisidla ethempelini lesithombe, kambe kazukuba lesibindi sokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni na? Ngakho umzalwane lo, uKhristu amfelayo, uchithwa yikwazi kwenu. Uma lisenza isono kubazalwane benu kanje lilimaza isazela sabo esibuthakathaka, lenza isono kuKhristu. Ngakho-ke uma engikudlayo kusenza umzalwane wami awele esonweni, angiyikudla inyama futhi, ukuze ngingamwisi.

Ngakho-ke, bangane bami, balekelani ukukhonza izithombe. Ngikhuluma labantu abalengqondo; zenzeleni esenu isinqumo ngalokho engikutshoyo.

Khumbulani abantu bako-Israyeli: Kakusikho yini ukuthi labo abadla imihlatshelo balokuhlanganyela e-alithareni na? Pho ngitsho ukuthi umhlatshelo onikelwe esithombeni uyilutho, loba ukuthi isithombe siyilutho na? Hatshi, kodwa imihlatshelo yabangakholwayo inikelwa kumadimoni, hatshi kuNkulunkulu, njalo kangifuni ukuba libe ngabahlanganyela lamadimoni. Kalingeke linathe inkomitsho yeNkosi lenkomitsho yamadimoni njalo, alingeke libe lokuhlanganyela etafuleni leNkosi lasetafuleni lamadimoni. Sizama ukuvusa umona weNkosi na? Kambe silamandla kulayo na?

“Izinto zonke ziyavunyelwa”  —  kodwa akusizinto zonke ezilosizo. “Izinto zonke ziyavunyelwa”  —  kodwa akusizinto zonke ezakhayo. Akulamuntu omele azidingele okuhle, kodwa okuhle kwabanye. Dlanini konke okuthengiswa lapha okuthengiswa khona inyama kungekho kubuza imibuzo yesazela, ngoba, “Umhlaba ngoweNkosi, lakho konke okukuwo.” Uma omunye wabangakholwayo elibizela ukudla njalo lifuna ukuhamba, dlanini loba kuyini okubekwe phambi kwenu kungekho kubuza imibuzo yesazela. Kodwa uma omunye esithi kini, “Lokhu kunikelwe njengomhlatshelo,” lapho-ke lingakudli, ngenxa yomuntu lowo olitshelileyo langenxa yesazela  — ngitsho isazela salowomuntu, hatshi esenu. Ngoba kungani ukukhululeka kwami kumele kwahlulelwe ngesazela somunye na? Uma ngihlanganyela ekudleni ngokubonga, kungani ngisolwa ngolutho engilubongela iNkosi na?

Ngakho langabe liyadla kumbe liyanatha, loba kuyikuphi elikwenzayo, kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu. Lingakhubekisi muntu, loba kungamaJuda, amaGiriki loba ibandla likaNkulunkulu  — lalapho ngizama ukuthokozisa abantu bonke ngezindlela zonke. Ngoba kangidingi okuhle kwami kodwa okuhle kwabanengi, ukuze basindiswe.

Lingazibopheli ndawonye labangakholwayo. Ngoba ukulunga lobubi kulokuhambelana bani na? Loba yibudlelwano bani obungaba khona phakathi kokukhanya lobumnyama na? Yikuzwana bani okukhona phakathi kukaKhristu loBheliyali na? Yikuhambelana bani okholwayo alakho longakholwayo na? Yisivumelwano bani esikhona phakathi kwethempeli likaNkulunkulu lezithombe na? Ngoba thina silithempeli likaNkulunkulu ophilayo. Njengoba uNkulunkulu wathi: “Ngizahlala labo ngihambe phakathi kwabo, njalo ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo bona babe ngabantu bami.” “Ngakho phumani kubo lehlukane labo, kutsho iNkosi. Lingathinti lutho olungcolileyo, mina ngizalemukela.”

Ngakho lingavumeli umuntu elahlulela ngalokho elikudlayo loba elikunathayo, loba ngokuphathelane lomkhosi wokholo, ukuthokozela ukuthwasa kwenyanga loba usuku lweSabatha. Lezizinto ziyisithunzi nje sezinto ezazizakuza; kodwa ubuqotho bufunyanwa kuKhristu.

Njengoba lafa loKhristu ezimisweni zalo umhlaba eziyisisusa, kungani, ngokungathi lilokhu lingabawo, lizibeka ngaphansi kwemithetho yawo yokuthi: “Ungabambi! Unganambithi! Ungathinti!”? Konke lokhu kumiselwe ukuqedwa yikusetshenziswa, ngoba kweyame phezu kwemilayo yabantu lemfundiso yabo. Impela izimiso ezinje zibonakala njengenhlakanipho, ngenkonzo yazo yokuzenzela, ukuzithoba kwamanga lokuphatha umzimba kabuhlungu, kodwa kazilalo usizo lokuzithiba ezinkanukweni zomzimba.

ngoba bona ngokwabo bayabika ukuthi lasamukela njani. Bayatsho ngokuphendukela kwenu kuNkulunkulu lihlubuka ezithombeni ukuba likhonze uNkulunkulu ophilayo loqotho,

Umoya utsho ngokucacileyo ukuthi ngezikhathi zokucina abanye bazalahla ukukholwa balandele imimoya ekhohlisayo lezinto ezifundiswa ngamadimoni. Ukufundisa okunjalo kuza labaqambi bamanga abangabazenzisi abalezazela ezatshayo kungathi zahaqazwa ngensimbi etshisayo. Balela abantu ukuba bathathane njalo babalaye ukuba bazile ukudla okuthize, uNkulunkulu akudalela ukuthi kwamukelwe ngokubonga yilabo abakholwayo labalaziyo iqiniso. Ngoba konke uNkulunkulu akudalayo kulungile, njalo akulalutho okumele lwaliwe uma lusamukelwa ngokubonga, ngoba kungcweliswe yilizwi likaNkulunkulu lomkhuleko.

Lingalaleli ilizwi nje kuphela, beselizikhohlisa ngalokho. Yenzani lokho elikutshoyo. Loba ngubani olalela ilizwi kodwa angaze enza elikutshoyo unjengomuntu okhangela ubuso bakhe esibukweni kuthi esezibukile asuke ahle akhohlwe ukuthi unjani.

Umuntu wonke owenza izono wephula umthetho; ngempela, isono yikungabi lomthetho.

Bantwana abathandekayo, xwayani izithombe.

Lowo odlulela phambili angabe esaqhubeka ngemfundiso kaKhristu kalaye uNkulunkulu; lowo oqhubekayo ngemfundiso uloBaba leNdodana. Uma umuntu esiza kini engalethi imfundiso le, lingamngenisi ezindlini zenu njalo lingamamukeli. Lowo omamukelayo uyahlanganyela emisebenzini yakhe emibi.

Kodwa-ke kulezinto ezilutshwana engilensolo kuwe ngazo: Ulabantu khonapho ababambelele emfundisweni kaBhalami, owafundisa uBhalaki owahugela abako-Israyeli ekwenzeni isono ngokudla ukudla okwanikelwa ezithombeni kanye langokuxhwala kobufebe.

Kodwa-ke ngilale insolo ngawe: Uyambekezelela owesifazana lowana uJezebeli, ozibiza ngokuthi ngumphrofethikazi. Ngemfundiso yakhe udukisela izinceku zami ekuxhwaleni kobufebe lekudleni ukudla okunikelwe ezithombeni. Ngimnike isikhathi ukuba aphenduke ekuxhwaleni kwakhe, kodwa kafuni. Ngakho ngizamphosela phezu kombheda wokuhlupheka, njalo labo afeba labo ngizabenza bahlupheke kakhulu, ngaphandle kokuba baphenduke ezindleleni zakhe. Abantwana bakhe ngizabatshaya bafe. Ngakho amabandla wonke azakwazi ukuthi mina nginguye ohlola izinhliziyo lezingqondo, njalo ngizavuza omunye lomunye wenu mayelana lemisebenzi yenu.

Abanengi boluntu ababengabulawanga yizifo lezi bajinge bengaphenduki emisebenzini yezandla zabo; kabayekelanga ukukhonza amadimoni, lezithombe zegolide, lezesiliva, lezethusi, lezamatshe kanye lezezigodo  —  izithombe ezingeke zibone loba zizwe loba zihambe.

Kodwa amagwala, labangakholwayo, labaxhwalileyo, lababulali leziphingi, labathakathi, labakhonza izithombe labo bonke abaqamba amanga  —  indawo yabo izakuba sechibini lomlilo wesolufa ovuthayo. Lokhu yikufa kwesibili.”