25 – Imali

Ngokuya kwesikhathi uKhayini waletha ezinye izithelo zomhlabathi ukuba ngumnikelo kuJehova. Kodwa u-Abela waletha izitho ezinonileyo zisuka kwamanye amazibulo omhlambi wakhe. UJehova wamthokozela u-Abela kanye lomnikelo wakhe, kodwa kamthokozelanga uKhayini lomnikelo wakhe. Yikho uKhayini wazonda kakhulu, lobuso bakhe bahloba.

UAbhrama wayesenothile kakhulu ngezifuyo langesiliva legolide.

Kodwa ummango wawungabeneli bonke nxa behlala ndawonye, ngoba impahla yabo yayinengi kakhulu isala ukuthi bahlale ndawonye.

Njalo kadunyiswe uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, owanikela izitha zakho esandleni sakho.” Yikho u-Abhrama wasemupha ingxenye eyodwa yetshumi yakho konke.

UJehova uyibusisile inkosi yami kakhulu, isinothile kakhulu. Uyiphile izimvu lezinkomo, isiliva legolide, lezinceku zesilisa lezesifazana kanye lamakamela labobabhemi.

Yikho inceku yase ikhupha amacici egolide lesiliva kanye lezimpahla zokugqoka yakupha uRabheka; yapha njalo umnewabo lonina izipho ezidulayo.

U-Isaka walima amabele kulelolizwe, ngalowomnyaka wavuna okuphindwe ngekhulu, ngoba uJehova wambusisa. Yanotha indoda, kwathi imfuyo yayo yanda yaze yaba yisipatsha. Kwakungasimihlambi yezimvu leyezinkomo kanye lezisebenzi, amaFilisti aze aba lomona ngaye.

njalo lelitshe leli engilenze insika lizakuba yindlu kaNkulunkulu, njalo kuzakuthi konke onginika khona ngizakunika wena ingxenye yetshumi.”

UJosefa waqoqa izinqwaba lezinqwaba zamabele, kwaba njengetshebetshebe lolwandle. Kwaba kunengi waze wayekela ukukubhala phansi ngoba kwasekungaphezu kokulinganiswa.

Kwathi indlala isimemetheke kulo lonke ilizwe uJosefa wavula iziphala wawathengisela amaGibhithe ukudla ngoba indlala yase ibhahile kulo lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe. Kwathi wonke amanye amazwe eza eGibhithe ezothenga amabele kuJosefa, ngoba indlala yayibhahile kuwo wonke umhlaba.

UJosefa waphinda wapha uyise labafowabo kanye lendlu yonke kayise ukudla, kusiya ngobunengi babantwababo.

Kwakungelakudla elizweni lonke ngoba indlala yayibhahile; iGibhithe leKhenani womabili amazwe esevuthuzekile ngenxa yendlala. UJosefa wayiqoqa yonke imali eyayitholakala eGibhithe laseKhenani eyayingeyokuthenga amabele, wayiletha esigodlweni sikaFaro. Kwathi imali yabantu baseGibhithe labaseKhenani isiphelile, iGibhithe yonke yeza kuJosefa bathi, “Siphe ukudla. Singafelani kambe phambi kwamehlo akho? Imali yethu isiphelile.” UJosefa wathi, “Lethani izifuyo zenu. Ngizalithengisela ukudla libhadale ngezifuyo zenu, njengoba imali yenu isiphelile.” Ngakho basebeletha izifuyo zabo kuJosefa, wabapha ukudla bebhadala ngamabhiza abo, lezimvu kanye lezimbuzi zabo, lezinkomo kanye labobabhemi babo. Wabaphutshisa lowomnyaka ngokudla bekubhadala ngezifuyo zabo. Lowomnyaka usuphelile, beza kuye ngomnyaka olandelayo bathi, “Ngeke sayifihlela inkosi yethu ukuthi njengoba imali yethu isiphelile, ikanti lezifuyo zethu ngezakho, kakusekho okusayisalele inkosi yethu ngaphandle kwemizimba yethu leziqinti zethu kuphela. Kambe sesingaze sife nje usikhangele  —  thina kanye lelizwe lethu lalo? Sithenge kanye lelizwe lethu usiphe ukudla, kuzakuthi thina kanye lelizwe lethu sibe sebugqilini kuFaro. Siphe inhlanyelo ukuze siphile, singafi, njalo ukuze ilizwe lingabi yinkangala.” Yikho-ke uJosefa waselithengela uFaro lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe. AmaGibhithe wonke athengisa amasimu awo ngokuba indlala yayisiwabhahele okubi. Ilizwe laselisiba ngelikaFaro, uJosefa wasebagqilaza abantu, kusukela ngapha kwelizwe laseGibhithe kusiya ngale kwalo.

Wonke owesifazana kacele kumakhelwane wakhe lakuye wonke owesifazana ohlala endlini yakhe izinto ezililigugu ezenziwe ngesiliva legolide kanye lezigqoko ezizagqokwa ngamadodana lamadodakazi enu. Ngaleyondlela lizawephuca impahla amaGibhithe.”

UJehova wasesithi kuMosi, “Ngizalehlisela isinkwa sivela ezulwini. Abantu kumele baphume nsuku zonke bayebutha okwanela lelolanga. Ngale indlela ngizabalinga ukuze ngibone ukuthi bayayilandela yini imilayo yami. Ngelanga lesithupha kumele balungise lokho abayabe bekulethile, okumele kube ngokuphindwe kabili kulokho abakubutha kwezinye izinsuku.”

Ngakho-ke uMosi wathi kubo, “Akumelanga kube khona ozagcina okunye kwalokho kuze kube sekuseni.” Lanxa kunjalo abanye kabazange bamlalele uMosi: bagcina eyinye ingxenye kwaze kwaba sekuseni. Kodwa kwakugcwele impethu njalo kwasekulephunga elibi. Yikho-ke uMosi wabacaphukela.

“Ungebi.

“Ungahawukeli indlu kamakhelwane wakho. Ungahawukeli umfazi kamakhelwane wakho, loba isisebenzi sakhe sesilisa loba esesifazana, lenkabi yakhe, lobabhemi wakhe loba yini ekamakhelwane wakho.”

Lingenzi onkulunkulu ukuba babekhona kanye lami. Lingazenzeli onkulunkulu besiliva kumbe onkulunkulu begolide.

“Wonke umuntu othumba omunye abesemthengisa kumbe aficwe elaye kumele abulawe.

“Uma umuntu anganika umakhelwane wakhe isiliva kumbe impahla ukuba amgcinele izinto lezi besezintshontshwa endlini kamakhelwana, isela lingabanjwa kumele lihlawule okuphindwe kabili. Kodwa nxa isela lingabanjwanga, umnikazi wendlu kumele ame phambi kwabahluli ukuze kubonakale langabe uke wabeka izandla ezimpahleni zalowo omgcinisileyo.

“Uma lingeboleka imali omunye wabantu bami ohluphekayo phakathi kwenu, akumelanga lenze njengalowo oweboleka abanye imali, lingamhlawulisi inzuzo.

“Tshela ama-Israyeli angilethele umnikelo. Uzakwamukela umnikelo emuntwini munye ngamunye ozizwelayo enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi anikele.

Kulokho elilakho khiphani umnikelo kaJehova. Akuthi wonke ozimiseleyo ukuletha kuJehova umnikelo wegolide, isiliva kanye lethusi,

Bonke ababezimisele, abesilisa labesifazane ngokufanayo, baletha izinto zokucecisa ezemihlobo ngemihlobo ezenziwe ngegolide: izipenede, amacici, indandatho kanye lazo zonke izinto zokucecisa. Bonke baletha igolide labo kwaba ngumnikelo wokuzunguzwa phambi kukaJehova.

zathi kuMosi, “Abantu baletha okunengi kulalokho okuswelekayo nxa silandela lokho uJehova alaya ukuba kwenziwe.” Ngakho uMosi wakhupha isiqondiso basebethumela ilizwi ezihonqweni elithi, “Kakho owesilisa loba owesifazana osamele enze olunye ulutho ukuthi lube ngumnikelo wendlu engcwele.” Ngalokho abantu bavinjelwa ukuletha okunye futhi, ngoba abasebelakho kwasekukunengi okwedlula lokho okwakuzaphetha umsebenzi.

“Aluba umuntu esona njalo engathembeki kuJehova ngokukhohlisa umakhelwana wakhe ngalokho ayabe ekuphathisiwe loba ayabe ekugcinisiwe loba okuyabe kuntshontshiwe, loba nxa edlelezela omunye, loba nxa ethola obekulahlekile kodwa aqambe amanga ngakho, loba nxa efunga ngokungamanga, loba nxa esenza loba yisiphi isono esingenziwa ngabantu  —

“ ‘Lapho liqoqa isivuno samasimu enu lingavuni konke kuze kube semaphethelweni ensimu kumbe lize liguduze konke. Lingakhi izithelo ezikhithikileyo. Zitshiyeleni abayanga lezihambi. Mina nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu. “ ‘Lingebi. “ ‘Lingaqambi amanga. “ ‘Lingakhohlisani.

“ ‘Lingaqilibezeli umakhelwane wenu, lingamkhuthuzi. “ ‘Umuntu oqatshiweyo lingambambeli iholo lakhe kuze kube kusasa.

“ ‘Lingasebenzisi izilinganiso zokuqilibezela nxa lilinganisa ubude, isisindo loba umthamo. Sebenzisani izilinganiso eziqotho, i-efa elilungileyo lehini eliqotho. Mina yimi uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu owalikhupha eGibhithe.

“ ‘Lapho livuna isivuno selizwe lakini lingavuni lasemaphethelweni amasimu enu futhi lingabuthi okukhithikayo lapho livuna. Lokhu kutshiyeleni abayanga labemzini. Mina nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.’ ”

Hlanyelani amasimu enu okweminyaka eyisithupha, kuthi kweminye iminyaka eyisithupha lithene amavini enu. Kodwa ngomnyaka wesikhombisa ilizwe kalibe liSabatha lokuphumula, iSabatha likaJehova. Lingahlanyeli amasimu enu loba lithene izihlahla ezivinini zenu. Lingavuni imkhukhuzela kumbe likhe izithelo zamavini angalungiselwanga, ilizwe libe lomnyaka wokuphumula.

“ ‘Balani amasabatha ayisikhombisa eminyaka  —  iminyaka eyisikhombisa iphindwe kasikhombisa  —  ukuze amasabatha eminyaka eyisikhombisa abe yisibanga seminyaka engamatshumi amane lesificamunye. Lapho-ke akutshaywe uphondo ezindaweni zonke ngosuku lwetshumi lwenyanga yesikhombisa; kuthi ngosuku lokuBuyisana kutshaywe uphondo kulo lonke ilizwe lenu. Umnyaka wamatshumi amahlanu wenzeni ube ngcwele, limemezele inkululeko elizweni lonke kubo bonke abahleli kulo. Uzakuba lijubhili kini. Lowo lalowo wenu kuzamele abuyele emzini wakwabo, kwabozalo kwakhe. Umnyaka wamatshumi amahlanu uzakuba lijubhili kini. Lingahlanyeli lutho, njalo lingavuni imikhukhuzela kumbe likhe izithelo zamavini engalungiselelwanga. Ngoba uliJubhili, uzakuba ngcwele kini; dlanini kuphela lokho elikuthethe emasimini.

“ ‘Uma omunye wabantu bakini esiba ngumyanga owehluleka ukuziphilisa phakathi kwenu, msizeni njengelingakwenza kowezizweni kumbe ohlezi lani okwesikhatshana, ukuze aqhubeke ehlala lani.

Akungabi lanzuzo eliyithatha kuye, kodwa mesabeni uNkulunkulu wenu, ukuze umuntu wakini aqhubeke ehlala lani. Lingameboleki imali elenzalo kumbe limthengisele ukudla kulenzuzo.

“ ‘Okwetshumi kwakho konke okwelizwe, langabe ngamabele avela emhlabathini kumbe izithelo ezivela ezihlahleni, ngokukaJehova; kungcwele kuJehova.

UJehova wathi ku-Aroni, “Wena kawuyikuba lelifa elizweni labo, njalo awuyikuba lesabelo phakathi kwabo; mina ngiyisabelo sakho kanye lelifa lakho phakathi kwabako-Israyeli. “AbaLevi ngibanika konke okwetshumi kwelako-Israyeli kube yilifa labo ngenxa yomsebenzi abawenza eThenteni lokuHlanganela.

UJehova wathi kuMosi, “Tshela abaLevi utsho lokhu kubo: ‘Lapho lisamukela okwetshumi engilinika khona kuvela kwabako-Israyeli njengelifa lenu, kumele likhuphe ingxenye yetshumi kokwetshumi kube ngumnikelo kuJehova. Umnikelo wenu uzabalelwa kini njengamabele avela esizeni loba umhluzi ovela esihluzweni sewayani. Ngale indlela lani lizakwethula eyenu iminikelo kuJehova kukho konke okwetshumi elizakwamukela kuvela kwabako-Israyeli. Kulokho okwetshumi kumele liphe okuyisabelo sikaJehova ku-Aroni umphristi. Kumele lethule njengesabelo kuJehova okuhle okwedlula konke njalo kungokungcwelengcwele kukho konke elikuphiweyo.’

Kungani ibizo likababa licitsha kwabosendo lwakhe ngokungabi lendodana na? Sipheni ilifa lethu lathi ezihlotsheni zikababa.” Ngakho uMosi wethula indaba yawo phambi kukaJehova yena wathi kuye, “Lokho okutshiwo ngamadodakazi kaZelofehadi kuqondile. Kufanele ubaphe isabelo sabo selifa ezihlotsheni zikayise njalo ubaphe ilifa likayise. “Tshono uthi kwabako-Israyeli, ‘Nxa indoda ife ingelandodana, ilifa layo kaliphiwe indodakazi yayo. Nxa ingelandodakazi, ilifa layo kaliphiwe abafowabo. Nxa ingelabafowabo ilifa layo kaliphiwe abafowabo bakayise. Nxa uyise engelabafowabo, ilifa layo kaliphiwe oyisihlobo esiseduzane kwabosendo lwayo, ukuze libe ngelakhe. Lokho kumele kube ngumthetho oyisimiso kwabako-Israyeli, njengokulaywa kukaMosi nguJehova.’ ”

Ngakho sesilethe njengomnikelo kuJehova izinto zegolide esizitholileyo munye ngamunye  —  izigqizo, lamasongo, lezindandatho, lamacici kanye lezigqizo zentanyeni  —  ukuzenzela indlela yokubuyisana phambi kukaJehova.”

Kalikho ilifa elizasuka esizwaneni lisiya kwesinye isizwana, ngoba loba yisiphi isizwana sako-Israyeli kumele sigcine ilizwe eliyilifa laso.”

“Ungantshontshi.

“Ungafisi umfazi kamakhelwana wakho. Ungahawukeli indlu kamakhelwana wakho loba isiqinti sakhe, isisebenzi sakhe sesilisa loba esesifazana, inkabi yakhe loba ubabhemi wakhe loba kuyini okukamakhelwana wakho.”

elizweni lapha okungasayi kusweleka khona isinkwa njalo aliyikusilela lutho; elizweni lapho amatshe akhona ayinsimbi kanti njalo lingemba ikhopha emaqaqeni.

Kungenzeka ukuthi lithi selidlile lasutha, selakhe izindlu ezinhle lahlala lazinza, njalo imihlambi yezifuyo zenu leyezimvu zenu isiqhelile yanda kuze kuthi lesiliva legolide lenu selilinengi kanye lakho konke okwenu sekukunengi kuphindwe kanenginengi, liziqhenye ezinhliziyweni zenu, libe selikhohlwa uJehova wenu, yena owalikhupha eGibhithe, walikhupha elizweni lobugqili. UJehova walikhokhela enkangala enkulu eyesabekayo, eyomileyo engelamanzi, elobuthi bezinyoka lezinkume. Walinika amanzi aphuma edwaleni. Walinika imana ukuba lidle enkangala, into abangazange bayazi oyihlo, ukulichumisa njalo lokulilinga ukuze kuthi ekucineni kulihambele kuhle. Mhlawumbe lingathi, “Ngokuzimisela kwami langamandla ezandla zami sengizidalele inotho.” Kodwa khumbulani uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngoba kunguye owenza lenelise ukudala inotho, lokho kuyikho ukugcwaliseka kwesivumelwano sakhe, sona afunga kubokhokho benu, okulokhu kunjalo lalamuhla.

Ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu unguJehova wabonkulunkulu njalo unguJehova wamakhosi, uJehova ophakemeyo, olamandla njalo owesabekayo, ongelabandlululo futhi ongemukeli isivalamlomo. Uyavikela izimfanelo zezintandane kanye labafelokazi, njalo uyabathanda abangabezizweni phakathi kwenu, ubanika ukudla lezambatho.

khonapho lilethe iminikelo yenu yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo, lokwetshumi kwenu lezipho zenu eziqakathekileyo, lokho elifunge ukukunikela kanye leminikelo yenu yokuzithandela, amazibulo emihlambi yenu yezinkomo leyezimvu.

Okumayelana lendawo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu azayikhetha ibe likhaya leBizo lakhe  —  kulapho elizaletha konke engililaya ngakho: iminikelo yenu yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo, okwetshumi kwenu lezipho zenu eziqakathekileyo, kanye lazo zonke izimpahla zekhethelo elifunge ngazo kuJehova.

Lingakudli emadolobheni enu okwetshumi kwamabele enu kanye lokwewayini elitsha lamafutha, loba amazibulo emihlambi yezifuyo zenu, lakho konke eselifunge lathembisa ukuba lizanikela ngakho, leminikelo yokuzikhethela ukunikela loba izipho eziqakathekileyo.

Banini leqiniso ukuthi libeka eceleni lokhu okuyingxenye yetshumi yesivuno somnyaka. Dlanini okwetshumi lamabele enu, iwayini elitsha lamafutha, kanye lamazibulo emihlambi yezinkomo zenu lawezimvu emehlweni kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu endaweni azalikhethela yona ukuba ibe leBizo lakhe, ukuze lifunde ukumphakamisa uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngezikhathi zonke.

Ekupheleni kweminyaka eyisikhombisa kumele lesule izikwelede. Nanso indlela elizaphatha ngayo: Wonke umuntu owake waboleka omunye wakibo wako-Israyeli impahla yakhe kumele esule lesosikwelede. Akusafanelanga ukuthi adinge ukuhlawulwa ngomunye wakhe wako-Israyeli loba umfowabo, ngoba isikhathi seNkosi sokwesula izikwelede sesimenyezelwe. Lilakho ukuthi lihlawulwe ngabezizweni, kodwa kumele lesule isikwelede umfowenu ayabe elaso kini.

Kungenxa yalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu azalibusisa njengokulithembisa kwakhe, njalo lizakweboleka izizwe ezinengi kodwa lina aliyikweboleka lutho kuzo. Lizabusa phezu kwezizwe ezinengi kodwa lina akulasizwe esizalibusa.

Nxa ekhona ongumyanga phakathi kwabafowenu emadolobheni la uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alinika wona lasemazweni eliwaphiweyo, lingabi lezinhliziyo ezilukhuni loba ukuba ngabancitshanayo kumfowenu ongumyanga. Kuhle ukuthi libe ngabaphanayo limeboleke ngokukhululeka loba yini ayiswelayo.

Limukani lingagcini umnakano omubi othi: “Umnyaka wesikhombisa, umnyaka wokwesulwa kwezikwelede, ususondele,” ukuze lingabi lomoya omubi ngomfowenu oswelayo lingabe lisamnika lutho. Kungenzeka acele kuJehova ukuba alihlanekele, libe selifunyanwa lilesono. Mupheni okunengi njalo lokhu likwenze ngezinhliziyo ezingelamona; kanti-ke ngenxa yalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uzalibusisa kuyo yonke imisebenzi yenu lakukho konke elibeka izandla zenu kukho. Kuzahlala kulokhu kulabantu abangabayanga elizweni. Ngakho ngiyalilaya ukuba phanini ngezandla ezivulekileyo kubafowenu kanye lakubo bonke abangabayanga labaswelayo elizweni lenu.

Beselisenza iDili loMkhosi wamaViki kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngokupha umnikelo wokuzithandela kusiya ngezibusiso uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aliphe zona.

Ngamunye lina lonke kumele lize liphethe isipho kusiya ngokuthi liphiwe labusiswa ngokunganani nguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.

Kayingathathi abafazi abanengi funa inhliziyo yayo idukiswe. Kayingazinothisi ngesiliva langegolide elinengi kakhulu.

Abayikuba lelifa phakathi kwabafowabo; uJehova uyilifa labo, njengokuthembisa kwakhe.

Lingabosusa izikhonkwane zomngcele wendawo kamakhelwana wenu ezabethelwa ngabalandulelayo kulo ilifa eliliphiwa elizweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alinika lona ukuba libe ngelenu.

Umfowenu ungamhlawulisi inzuzo, loba ngeyemali loba ngeyokudla loba yini engamlethela inzuzo. Owezizweni lingamhlawulisa inzuzo, kodwa hatshi umfowenu ongum-Israyeli, ukuze iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu alibusise kukho konke elikwenza ngezandla zenu elizweni elizangena kulo ukuba libe ngelenu.

Nxa owesilisa angafunyanwa ethumba umfowabo wako-Israyeli abesesiyamgcina njengesigqili loba amthengise, kumele afe. Kumele liqede ububi phakathi kwenu.

Nxa uvuna izithelo zesivini sakho, ungabuyeleli futhi ukuvuna lapho osuvune khona. Okuseleyo tshiyela owezizweni, ongelayise, lomfelokazi.

Wasiletha kulindawo njalo wasinika lelilizwe, ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju; khathesi sengiletha izithelo zakuqala zomhlabathi lowo, O Jehova, onginike wona.” Uzabeka isitsha phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho umkhothamele. Ngakho wena labaLevi kanye labezizweni abahlala phakathi kwenu lizathokoza ezintweni zonke ezinhle uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akunike zona wena kanye labendlu yakho.

Kuzakuthi lapho usuqedile ukwahlukanisa okwetshumi kwaso sonke isivuno sakho ngomnyaka wesithathu, okungumnyaka wokwetshumi, wena uzakunika umLevi, owezizweni, ongelayise kanye lomfelokazi, ukuze badle basuthe emadolobheni akho. Tshono futhi kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uthi: “Sengikhuphile isabelo esingcwele endlini yami ngasinika umLevi, owezizweni, ongelayise lomfelokazi, njengokulaya kwakho. Kangeqanga imilayo yakho kumbe ukukhohlwa eminye yayo.

UJehova uzalenza liphumelele kakhulu  —  kunzalo yenu, lenzalo yezifuyo zenu kanye lezithelo zomhlabathi wenu  —  elizweni afunga ngalo kubokhokho benu ukuthi uzalinika lona. UJehova uzavula amazulu, isiphala sakhe esiphuphumayo, ukuze anise izulu phezu kwelizwe lenu ngesikhathi salo njalo abusise yonke imisebenzi eliyenzayo. Lizakweboleka izizwe ezinengi kodwa lina lingeboleki lutho kuzo.

Sonke isiliva legolide lezinto zonke ezenziwe ngethusi langensimbi ezingcwele ziletheni kuJehova. Ngakho kumele zifakwe esiphaleni sakhe sengcebo.”

Kodwa esizwaneni sabaLevi, uMosi wayengazanga aphe ilifa; uJehova, uNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli, nguye ilifa labo njengokubathembisa kwakhe.

UJehova uthumela ubuyanga kanye lenotho; uyathobekisa njalo uyaphakamisa. Uvusa abayanga ethulini aphakamise abaswelayo esilotheni; abahlalise lamakhosana. Enze bathole isihlalo sodumo sibe yilifa labo. “Ngokuba izisekelo zomhlaba ngezikaJehova; umise umhlaba phezu kwazo.

UJehova wathuma uNathani kuDavida. Esefikile kuye wathi, “Kwakulabantu ababili emzini othile, omunye enothile omunye engumyanga. Umuntu onothileyo wayelezimvu ezinengi kanye lezinkomo, kodwa umuntu ongumyanga wayengelalutho ngaphandle kwezinyane lemvu elincinyane ayelithengile. Walondla, lakhula laye kanye labantwana bakhe. Ladla ukudla kwakhe, lanatha enkomitshini yakhe laze lalala ezingalweni zakhe. Kuye lalinjengendodakazi yakhe. “Kwafika isihambi emuntwini onothileyo, kodwa umuntu onothileyo kafunanga ukuthatha enye yezimvu zakhe loba inkomo ukuba ahlabele isihambi esasifike kuye. Esikhundleni salokho, yena wathatha izinyane lemvu elisikazi elalingelomuntu lowo ongumyanga, walihlabela lowo owayefike kuye.” UDavida wavutha ulaka ngalowomuntu wathi kuNathani, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uJehova ekhona, umuntu owenze lokhu ufanele ukufa! Izinyane lelo kumele alihlawule ngokuphindwe kane, ngoba enze into enje njalo engabanga lozwelo.”

Kodwa inkosi yathi ku-Arawuna, “Hayi, ngiyagcizelela ekuthini ngikuthenge kuwe. Kangiyikunikela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wami umhlatshelo wokutshiswa ongangibizelanga lutho.” Ngakho uDavida wasithenga isiza kanye lezinkabi ngamashekeli esiliva angamatshumi amahlanu. UDavida wakhela uJehova ialithare khonapho wasenikela imihlatshelo yokutshiswa leminikelo yobudlelwano. Laphoke uJehova waphendula ukukhulekelwa kwelizwe, isifo saphela ko-Israyeli.

USolomoni wahuqa ingaphakathi yethempeli ngegolide elicengekileyo, njalo wengezelela amaketane egolide aquma phambi kwesiphephelo sangaphakathi, sona esasihuqwe ngegolide. Ngakho wahuqa ingaphakathi yonke ngegolide. Wasehuqa njalo ngegolide i-alithare elalingelesiphephelo sangaphakathi.

Wahuqa njalo iphansi lezindlu zangaphandle lezangaphakathi kwethempeli ngegolide.

USolomoni wenza yonke imiceciso eyayisethempelini likaJehova: i-alithare eliligolide; itafula eliligolide lilesinkwa sobukhona bukaNkulunkulu; izinti zezibane zegolide elicengekileyo (ezinhlanu zazo ngakwesokudla njalo zinhlanu langakwesenxele, phambi kwesiphephelo esingaphakathi); okubalazwe ngamaluba, izibane kanye lezindlawu; imiganu yegolide elicengekileyo, izibane, imiganu yokuchelisa, izinditshi leyempepha; kanye lezibambo zezivalo zingezegolide ezazenzelwe indlu engaphakathi, indawo eNgcwele Ngcwele, kanti-ke kwakunjalo lezivalweni zendlu enkulu phakathi kwethempeli.

Isisindo segolide elalizuzwa nguSolomoni minyaka yonke lalingamathalenta angamakhulu ayisithupha lamatshumi ayisithupha lesithupha,

Zonke inkezo zokunatha zenkosi uSolomoni zazingezegolide, lezimpahla zonke zendlini eSigodlweni seHlathi laseLebhanoni zazingezegolide elicengekileyo. Akulalutho olwalwenziwe ngesiliva, ngoba isiliva sasithiwa silegugu elincinyane ezinsukwini zikaSolomoni. Inkosi yayilemikhumbi yokuthengiselana eminengi eyayiselwandle iphathisana lekaHiramu. Yayiphenduka kanye ngemva kweminyaka emithathu ithwele igolide, isiliva kanye lezimpondo zendlovu lezindwangu lenkawu. INkosi uSolomoni yayisedlula wonke amakhosi emhlabeni ngenotho langenhlakanipho.

Uthe esayathatha amanzi, wambiza njalo wathi, “Ngicela ungiphathele locezu lwesinkwa.” Umfelokazi waphendula wathi, “Ngeqiniso lanjengoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ephila, angilaso isinkwa  —  ngilengcosana nje yefulawa engcebethwini encane lamafutha angenganani ediweni. Ngidobha incwathi lezi nje ngiya lazo ngekhaya ukuze ngiyezigoqozela engingakudla mina lendodana yami, kube yikho esizakudla  —  anduba sife.” U-Elija wathi kumfelokazi, “Ungesabi. Hamba uye ekhaya uyekwenza khonokho okutshoyo. Kodwa uqale ungiphekele iqebelengwana eliyisinkwa ngalokho olakho ube usuliletha lapha kimi, anduba uziphekele okwakho lendodana yakho. Ngoba lokhu yikho uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli akutshiloyo: ‘Impuphu esengcebethwini kayiyikuphela, lamafutha asediweni kawayikuphela, kuze kufike usuku uJehova azanisa ngalo izulu elizweni?’ ” Wasuka lapho wayakwenza njengalokho ayekutshilo u-Elija. Ngakho kwahlala kulokudla kuka-Elija lomfelokazi labendlu yakhe okwezinsuku zonke. Ngoba ifulawa elutshwana eyayisengcebethwini ayiphelanga, kanti njalo lamafutha agobhoza kokuphela kazaphela njengokutsho kukaJehova ku-Elija.

U-Elisha wamphendula wathi, “Ngingakunceda kanjani na? Akungitshele, kulani endlini yakho?” Umfelokazi wathi, “Incekukazi yakho ayilalutho ngaphandle kwengcosana yamafutha.” U-Elisha wasesithi, “Hamba uyekweboleka izimbiza ezinengi kubomakhelwana bakho bonke. Ungaceli ezilutshwana nje. Ubusungena endlini yakho lamadodana akho uvale umnyango. Ubusuthululela amafutha embizeni inye nganye, ithi ingagcwala uyibeke eceleni.” Wasuka kuye kwathi ngemva kwesikhathi wavala umnyango lamadodana akhe. Amadodana amqhubela izimbiza yena elokhu ezigcwalisa ngamafutha. Kuthe izimbiza zonke sezigcwele, wathi endodaneni yakhe, “Letha enye futhi.” Kodwa yaphendula yathi, “Akuselambiza eseleyo.” Amafutha kazabe esajuluka. Wasuka wayatshela umuntu kaNkulunkulu, owathi, “Hamba uyethengisa amafutha lawo ubhadale izikwelede zakho. Wena lamadodana akho lizaphila ngaseleyo.”

Ngakho uHezekhiya wamnika sonke isiliva esatholakala ethempelini likaJehova lasezindlini zenotho yesigodlweni senkosi. Ngalesisikhathi uHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda waxexebula igolide elalisezivalweni zethempeli likaJehova lelalinanyathiselwe emigubazini yethempeli likaJehova, walinika inkosi yase-Asiriya.

Njengelizwi likaJehova, uNebhukhadinezari wabutha yonke inotho yasethempelini likaJehova lenotho yesigodlo senkosi, wabutha zonke izitsha zegolide ezazisethempelini likaJehova, ezazenziwe nguSolomoni inkosi yako-Israyeli, njengokutsho kukaJehova. Wathumba abaseJerusalema bonke: izikhulu zonke, lawo wonke amadoda empi lazo zonke izingcitshi ezileminwe, abantu abayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi. Kwasala abantukazana kuphela elizweni.

UJabhezi wakhuleka kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wathi: “Sengathi ungangibusisa uqhelise ilizwe lami! Isandla sakho kasibe lami, ungivikele ebubini, ngingehlelwa yibuhlungu.” UNkulunkulu wamnika lokho ayekucela.

Konke labomakhelwane babo, ababevela kude khonale kubo-Isakhari, kuboZebhuluni lakuboNafthali beza bethwele ukudla ngabobabhemi, amakamela, izimbongolo langezinkabi. Kwakulefulawa enengi, amakhekhe omkhiwane, amakhekhe erezini, iwayini, amafutha, izinkomo lezimvu, ngoba kwakulokujabula ko-Israyeli.

“Ngayo yonke imizamo yami ngilungisele indlu kaJehova amathalenta egolide ayizinkulungwane ezilikhulu, lamathalenta esiliva ayisigidi, lethusi kanye lensimbi okulesisindo esingelakubalwa, lezigodo kanye lamatshe. Lawe ungengezelela kulokho.

Sengilungiselele ngayo yonke inzuzo engilayo ukwakhiwa kwethempeli likaNkulunkulu wami  —  igolide lokwenza izinto zegolide, isiliva sokwenza izinto zesiliva, ithusi lokwenza izinto zethusi, lensimbi yokwenza izinto zensimbi, lezigodo zokwenza izinto zezigodo, kanye lohlobo lwamatshe e-onikisi, lamatshe okubekwa, lamatshe okucecisa, lalemibala, lenhlobonhlobo zonke zamatshe amahle lamatshe alukhuni amanengi  —  konke lokhu ngikubuthelele ngakunengi. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ngenxa yokutshisekela kwami ithempeli likaNkulunkulu wami, manje senginikela inotho yami yegolide lesiliva ethempelini likaNkulunkulu wami ngaphezu kwakho konke engikulethileyo ethempelini leli elingcwele:

Banikela emsebenzini wethempeli likaNkulunkulu amathalenta ayizinkulungwane ezinhlanu lezinhlamvu zegolide ezizinkulungwane ezilitshumi, lamathalenta esiliva ayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi, amathalenta ethusi ayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi laficamibili, lamathalenta ayizinkulungwane ezilikhulu ensimbi. Loba ngubani owayelamatshe aligugu wawanikela endlini yenotho yethempeli likaJehova yona eyayiphethwe nguJehiyeli umGeshoni. Abantu baba lokujabula okukhulu bebona ukuzinikela kwabakhokheli babo, ngoba banikela kuJehova ngokukhululeka langezinhliziyo zabo zonke. UDavida inkosi laye wajabula kakhulu.

Inotho lodumo kuvela kuwe; ungumbusi wazo zonke izinto. Esandleni sakho kukhona ukuqina lamandla. Kukuwe ukuphakamisa lokupha amandla kubo bonke.

“Kodwa mina ngiyini, bayini abantu bami, ukuthi sinikele ngenhliziyo yonke na? Konke kuvela kuwe, thina sikunike kuphela lokho okuvela esandleni sakho.

O Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, lokhu esesikunikele ngobunengi bakho ekwakhiweni kwethempeli eliyindawo yeBizo lakho eliNgcwele, kuvela esandleni sakho, njalo konke kuvele kungokwakho.

UNkulunkulu wathi kuSolomoni, “Njengoba lesi kuyisifiso somoya wakho njalo kawucelanga impahla lenotho lodumo, lokubhubha kwalabo abakuzondayo, lokuthi awucelanga impilo ende kodwa ucele inhlakanipho lolwazi ukuze ubuse phezu kwabantu bami engikwenze waba yinkosi yabo, ngenxa yalokho ngizakunika inhlakanipho lolwazi. Njalo ngizakunika impahla, lenotho lodumo, okungakaze kwenzakale emakhosini akwandulelayo njalo akuyikwenzakala lakumakhosi alandelayo.”

UJehova wandisa isiliva legolide eJerusalema kwangathi ngamatshe, kwathi lomsedari wanda kwangathi ngumkhiwane wohlobo lwesikhamore emawatheni ezintaba.

Inkosi yathi abantu abahlala eJerusalema kumele banike abaphristi labaLevi imfanelo yabo ukuze basebenze ngokuzinikela eMthethweni kaJehova. Masinyazana ngemva kwesiqondiso, abako-Israyeli banikela kakhulu ngokwesivuno sakuqala samabele, lokwewayini elitsha, lokwamafutha lokwenyosi lakho konke okwakutholakala emasimini. Baletha okunengi kakhulu, okwetshumi kukho konke.

Ngalesosikhathi amadoda labomkawo baxokozela kakhulu besola abazalwane babo bamaJuda. Abanye babesithi, “Thina lamadodana lamadodakazi ethu sibanengi kakhulu; ukuthi sidle ukuze siphile kumele sizuze amabele.” Abanye babesithi, “Sesibambisa ngamasimu ethu, langezivini zethu kanye lemizi yethu ukuzuza amabele ngesikhathi sendlala.” Abanye njalo labo babesithi, “Sesiseboleka imali ukuze sikwazi ukubhadala imithelo yenkosi eyamasimu ethu lezivini zethu. Loba siyinyamanye legazi linye labantu bakithi njalo loba amadodana ethu elingana lawabo, kodwa sizibona sesifuqela amadodana lamadodakazi ethu ebugqilini. Abanye bamadodakazi ethu bavele sebegqilaziwe, kodwa kasilamandla, ngokuba amasimu ethu lezivini zethu sekungokwabanye.” Ngathi sengizwile ukukhala kwabo kanye lensolo yabo, ngathukuthela kakhulu. Ngakuhlolisisa kuhle konke lokhu engqondweni yami ngasengicala izikhulu lezinduna. Ngathi, “Libhadalisa abantu bakini inzuzo!” Ngasengibiza umhlangano omkhulu ukuthi ngiqondane labo, ngathi, “Ngokusemandleni ethu, sesabahlenga abazalwane bethu babaJuda abathengiselwe abezizwe. Kodwa manje selibathengisa abafowenu, babuye bathengiselwe kithi njalo!” Bathula ngoba baswela abangakutsho. Ngaqhubeka ngathi, “Elikwenzayo kakulunganga. Kungani lingahambi ngokwesaba uJehova na ukuze lingaklolodelwa yizitha zethu zabeZizwe? Mina labafowethu labantu bami lathi siyabeboleka abantu imali lamabele. Kodwa ukufuna inzuzo kakuphele! Babuyiseleni khona manje amasimu abo, lezivini zabo, lezihlahla zabo zama-oliva kanye lezindlu zabo, njalo lenzuzo yokweboleka leyo eliyithathayo kubo, ingxenye eyodwa yekhulu emalini, emabeleni, ewayinini elitsha lemafutheni.” Bathi, “Sizakubuyisela. Njalo kasiyikubiza lutho kubo. Sizakwenza njengoba usitsho.” Ngasengibiza abaphristi ngathi izikhulu lezinduna kabenze isifungo sokuthi bazakwenza lokho abakuthembisileyo. Njalo ngathintitha amavinqo esigqoko sami ngathi, “UNkulunkulu uzamthintitha kanje emkhupha endlini yakhe laselifeni lakhe wonke umuntu ongemi ngalesi isithembiso. Kanjalo umuntu onjalo kathintithwe achithwe!” Besizwa lokho umhlangano wonke wathi, “Ameni,” badumisa uJehova. Abantu benza njengokuthembisa kwabo.

“Thina  —  abaphristi, abaLevi labantu  —  sesenze inkatho ukubona ukuthi yiyiphi imuli emele ilethe izinkuni ngasiphi isikhathi endlini kaNkulunkulu ezokutshiswa e-alithareni likaJehova wethu, njengokulotshiweyo eMthethweni. “Njalo sizethesa umlandu wokuletha endlini kaJehova umnyaka ngomnyaka izithelo zakuqala zamabele ethu lokwezithelo zonke zezihlahla. “Njengoba kulotshiwe njalo eMthethweni, sizaletha amazibulo amadodana ethu, awezinkomo zethu, lawemihlambi yethu yezimvu endlini kaNkulunkulu wethu, kubaphristi abasebenza khona. “Futhi njalo, sizaletha okuya eziphaleni zasendlini kaNkulunkulu, kubaphristi, okokuqala kwempumpu yethu, okweminikelo yamabele ethu, izithelo zezihlahla zethu zonke lewayini lethu elitsha kanye lamafutha. Njalo sizaletha okwetshumi okwamabele ethu kubaLevi, ngokuba ngabaLevi abaqoqa okwetshumi kuwo wonke amadolobho esisebenza kuwo. Umphristi odabuka ku-Aroni kaphelekezele abaLevi besamukela okwetshumi, njalo abaLevi kumele balethe okwetshumi okomnikelo wetshumi kuze endlini kaJehova, eziphaleni eziqondane lesikhwama. Abantu bako-Israyeli, kanye labaLevi, bamele balethe iminikelo yabo yamabele, iwayini elitsha lamafutha eziphaleni lapho okugcinwa khona izimpahla zendlu engcwele, njalo lapho okuhlala khona abaphristi abasebenzayo labalindimasango labahlabeleli. “Kasiyikuyidela indlu kaNkulunkulu.”

wasemlungisela indlu enkulu eyayikade isetshenziswa ukulondoloza amabele omnikelo lempepha kanye lezimphahla zethempeli, kanye njalo lamabele awokwetshumi, lewayini elitsha lamafutha, konke okwakumiswe ukuthi kube ngokwabaLevi, labahlabeleli labalindimasango, kanye lezipho eziya kubaphristi.

Bonke abakoJuda baletha okwetshumi kwamabele, iwayini elitsha lamafutha eziphaleni.

ilezimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa, amakamela ayizinkulungwane ezintathu, izinkabi ezibotshwayo ezingamakhulu amahlanu labobabhemi abangamakhulu amahlanu, njalo ilezisebenzi ezinengi. Yayinothile okudlula bonke abantu beMpumalanga. Amadodana akhe ayezophisana ukwenza amadili ezindlini zawo, anxuse odadewabo bobathathu ukuzakudla anathe labo.

wathi: “Ngaphuma ngize esiswini sikamama, njalo ngizasuka ngize. UJehova wapha njalo uJehova usethathile; kalidunyiswe ibizo likaJehova.”

Uzayihlanza yonke inotho ayiginyayo; uNkulunkulu uzakwenza isisu sakhe sikuhlanze konke.

Ngokuba ubebacindezela abayanga basala bengelalutho; wathumba izindlu angazakhanga.

Yonke iminyaka yabo ngeyokuphumelela baze bayongena egodini belokuthula.

Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze. Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,

lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva sekhethelo kuwe.

Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane; bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo. Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso. Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni bacindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha. Njengabobabhemi benkangala, abayanga babhudula ukudla; egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo. Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi. Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke; kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni. Bagxanxwa lizulu lezintabeni bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela. Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni; usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede. Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu; bathwala izinyanda zamabele kodwa belambile.

Ngokuba ngesaba ukubhujiswa kukaNkulunkulu, kwathi ngokwesaba inkazimulo yakhe ngayekela ukwenza izinto ezinjalo. “Aluba ngifake ithemba lami phezu kwegolide, loba ngathi kulo igolide elicengekileyo, “Ulithemba lami,’ uma bengithokoziswa yinotho yami enengi, lenzuzo evele ngezandla zami,

ongatshengisi ukwazisa amakhosana kulabanye loba athande abanothileyo kulabayanga, ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe?

UJobe esebakhulekele abangane bakhe, uJehova wamenza waphumelela njalo wamupha okunengi okuphindwe kabili kwalokho ayelakho kuqala.

Kakuzange kube khona elizweni lonke abesifazana ababebahle njengamadodakazi kaJobe, njalo uyise wawabela ilifa kanye labanewabo.

Cela kimi, ngizakwenza izizwe zibe yilifa lakho, imikhawulo yomhlaba kube yinotho yakho.

Kodwa abaswelayo kabayikukhohlakala kokuphela, njalo lethemba labahlukuluzwayo kaliyikutshabalala.

Uzikhukhumeza ngezinkanuko zenhliziyo yakhe; ubusisa abayizihwaba athuke uJehova.

oweboleka imali yakhe engadingi inzuzo njalo owalayo ukuthengwa ukuze kwetheswe umlandu kongelacala. Lowo owenza lezizinto akayikuzanyazanyiswa lanini.

Jehova, usungahlukanisele isabelo sami kanye lenkezo yami; konke okwami usukumise kuhle. Imingcele yesabelo sami idabula ezindaweni ezibukekayo; ngeqiniso elami ilifa liyathokozisa.

Ihubo likaDavida UJehova ungumalusi wami, angiyikuswela.

Mesabeni uJehova, lina bangcwele bakhe, ngokuba labo abamesabayo kabasweli lutho.

Ikonke yami izamemeza ithi, “Ngubani onjengawe, O Jehova? Uyabakhulula abahluphekayo kulabo abalamandla kulabo, abahluphekayo labaswelayo kulabo ababantshontshelayo.”

Themba kuJehova wenze okulungileyo; hlala elizweni ukholise amadlelo amahle. Zithokozise kuJehova yena uzakupha izifiso zenhliziyo yakho.

Ngangimutsha, manje sengiluphele, kodwa angizange ngibone abalungileyo bedelwa loba abantwababo becela isinkwa. Bayaphana kokuphela njalo bayebolekana nje; abantwababo bazabusiswa.

abalungileyo bazazuza ilifa lelizwe bahlale kulo lanini.

Kodwa mina ngiyahlupheka, ngiyaswela; sengathi uJehova angangikhumbula. Ulusizo lwami lomkhululi wami; O Nkulunkulu wami, ungalibali.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. Ihubo likaDavida. Ubusisiwe lowo onanza abahluphekayo; uJehova uyamkhulula ngezikhathi zokuhlupheka. UJehova uzamvikela alondoloze impilo yakhe; uzambusisa phakathi kwelizwe angamyekeli emandleni ezitha zakhe.

labo abathembe inotho yabo abazitshaya isifuba ngenotho yabo enengi? Kakho umuntu ongahlenga impilo yomunye kumbe amkhuphele ihlawulo kuNkulunkulu  — ihlawulo lempilo liyadula, akulambadalo engalanelisa  —

“Nangu-ke manje umuntu lo ongenzanga uNkulunkulu inqaba yakhe kodwa wathemba inotho yakhe enkulu wakhula waba lamandla ngokuwisa abanye!”

Lingathembi ukuqilibezela kumbe lizikhukhumeze ngezimpahla zokwebiwa; kungaze kube inotho yenu iyanda, lingabeki izinhliziyo zenu kuyo.

Ngokuba uzabakhulula abaswelayo abakhalayo kuye, abahluphekayo abangelamsizi. Uzabahawukela ababuthakathaka labaswelayo asindise abaswelayo ekufeni.

Lamulelani ababuthakathaka lezintandane; melani amalungelo abayanga labahlukuluzwayo. Lamulelani ababuthakathaka labaswelayo; bephuleni esandleni sababi.

Ngokuba uJehova ulilanga lesihlangu; uJehova uyapha umusa lodumo; kancitshani langaluphi ulutho oluhle kulabo ozinyathelo zabo zingelansolo.

Uzaphendula imithandazo yabahluphekayo; kazukweyisa isicelo sabo.

Inotho lenzuzo kusendlini yakhe, lokulunga kwakhe kumi laphakade.

Ubuhle buzakwehlela kuye ophanayo loweboleka ekhululekile, oqhuba zonke izinto zakhe ngemfanelo.

Uyabavusa abampofu othulini, aphakamise abaswelayo esilotheni; abahlalise lamakhosana, amakhosana abantu bakibo.

Kodwa izithombe zabo yisiliva legolide, zenziwe ngezandla zabantu.

Sengathi uJehova angalenza lande, lonke lina kanye labantwana benu. Sengathi lingabusiswa nguJehova, uMenzi wezulu lomhlaba.

Ngingambonga ngani uJehova ngabo bonke ubuhle bakhe kimi?

Amehlo abo bonke akhangela kuwe, wena ubaphe ukudla kwabo ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. Uyavula isandla sakho usuthise izidingo zakho konke okuphilayo.

Sinjalo isiphetho salabo abadinga inzuzo ngokugebenga; kuyayichitha impilo yalabo abayitholayo.

futhi ukudingisisa njengokudinga isiliva ukuphenye njengento eligugu efihliweyo, lapho-ke uzakuzwisisa ukumesaba uJehova njalo uluzuze ulwazi lukaNkulunkulu.

Dumisa uJehova ngemfuyo yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke; ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.

Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa, ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lembuyiselo eyedlula igolide. Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.

Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho. Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa”  — wena ulalo lololutho.

Ndodana yami, nxa wenzele umakhelwane wakho isibambiso, uba libambene izandla ukuba uzamhlawulela imilandu yakhe, aluba usuzihilele ngalokho okutshiloyo, wazibambisa ngamazwi omlomo wakho, lapho-ke yenza lokhu, ndodana yami, ukuzikhulula, njengoba usuwele ezandleni zakhe umakhelwane wakho: Hamba ufike uzehlise; mncengancenge umakhelwane wakho! ungawavumeli ubuthongo amehlo akho, ungavumeli ukuwozela enkopheni zakho. Zikhulule njengempala ezandleni zomzingeli, njengenyoni esifini somthiyi.

Abantu kabalithuki isela nxa lintshontsha ngoba lifuqwa liphango. Kodwa lingabanjwa lihlawuliswa kasikhombisa, loba kulithathela yonke impahla yendlu yalo.

Kimi kukhona inotho lodumo, inotho engapheliyo lokuphumelela. Izithelo zami zingcono kulegolide elicengiweyo; okuphuma kimi kwedlula isiliva sekhethelo. Ngihamba ngendlela yokulunga, ngilandela umkhondo wokuqonda, ngiyabela inotho kulabo abangithandayo ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.

Inotho ezuzwe ngobuqili kayisizi lutho, kodwa ukulunga kuyakhulula ekufeni. UJehova kayekeli abalungileyo belambile kodwa uyavimbela izinkanuko zezixhwali. Izandla ezivilaphayo ziletha ubuyanga, kodwa izandla ezikhutheleyo ziletha inotho. Lowo obutha amabele ngesikhathi sawo yindodana ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa olalayo ngesikhathi sokuvuna yindodana ehlazisayo.

Inotho yabanothileyo iyiyona inqaba yabo, kodwa ubuyanga buyikudilika kwabampofu.

Ulimi lomuntu olungileyo luyisiliva esikhethiweyo, kodwa inhliziyo yesigangi kayisilutho. Izindebe zolungileyo ziphilisa abanengi; kodwa iziwula ziyafa ngokuswela ingqondo. Isibusiso sikaJehova siletha inotho, leyonotho ingabi lahlupho.

UJehova uyazenyanya izilinganiso zokudlelezela, kodwa uthokoza ngezilinganiso eziqondileyo.

Lowo okhuphela omunye umuntu isibambiso uzahlupheka, kodwa owalayo ukupha isibambiso uvikelekile. Umfazi olomusa uyahlonitshwa, kodwa amadoda alesihluku azuza inotho kuphela.

Ophayo ngesihle uyazuza okunengi kulakuqala, lowo ogodlayo ungenelwa yibuyanga. Lowo ophanayo uzaphumelela; owonga abanye laye uzakongiwa. Abantu bayamthuka lowo ogodla amabele, kodwa izibusiso zingumqhele walowo ovuma ukuwathengisa. Lowo odinga ukulunga uzuza umusa, kodwa okubi kwehlela lowo okudingayo. Othembele enothweni yakhe uzakuwa; kodwa olungileyo uzaphila njengehlamvu eliluhlaza.

Ivila liyaloyisa kodwa lingazuzi lutho, kodwa izifiso zokhutheleyo ziyagcwaliseka.

Umuntu angazitshaya onothileyo, yena engelalutho, omunye azitshaye umyanga, kanti ulenotho enengi. Inotho yomuntu ingahlenga impilo yakhe, kodwa umyanga uvele kasongelwa muntu.

Imali ezuzwe ngobuqili iyanyamalala, kodwa lowo oyizuza ngokuqogelela uyayandisa.

Umuntu olungileyo utshiyela isizukulwane sakhe ilifa, kodwa inotho yesoni ibekelwa abalungileyo.

Abayanga bahlanyukwa langabomakhelwane babo, kodwa izinothi zilabangane abanengi. Lowo oweyisa umakhelwane wenza isono, kodwa ubusisiwe olomusa kwabaswelayo. Kabalahleki yini abaceba ububi? Kodwa abamisa ukwenza okuhle bafumana uthando lokuthembeka. Ukusebenza nzima konke kuletha inzuzo, kodwa ukuqina ngomlomo kuthelela ubuyanga.

Lowo ocindezela abayanga weyisa uMenzi wabo, kodwa olomusa kwabaswelayo udumisa uNkulunkulu.

Indlu yolungileyo igcwele inotho, kodwa inzuzo yababi ibehlisela uhlupho.

Kungcono ukuba lokulutshwana umesaba uJehova kulenotho enengi ulezinhlupheko. Kungcono ukutsheba ngemibhida lapho okulothando khona, kulokudla inyama enonileyo okugcwele khona inzondo.

Indoda eyisihwaba iluhlupho kwabendlu yayo, kodwa lowo ozonda ukufunjathiswa uzaphila.

Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.

Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!

Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula, kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano. Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana. Umcenge ngowokutshisa isiliva lesithando ngesokutshisela igolide, kodwa uJehova uhlola inhliziyo.

Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.

Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.

Olomusa kubayanga upha uJehova, uzakumvuza ngalokho akwenzayo.

Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.

Izisindo ezitshiyanayo  — lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uJehova uyakuzonda kokubili.

Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.

Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.

Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga. Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.

Uma umuntu egcika izindlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.

Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe. Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho. Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lolicaphucaphu. Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.

Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza. Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.

Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiwula kumbe igolide. Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: uJehova unguMenzi wabo bonke.

Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo. Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa. Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngokuba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.

Lowo ocindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho  —  bonke bacina sebe ngabayanga.

Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni, ngokuba uJehova uzakuba ngummeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.

Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede; ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.

Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza. Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.

ngokuba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.

Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa; amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.

Ukulala kancane, ukuwozela kancane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula  — ngalokho uzakwehlelwa yibuyanga njengesigebengu lokuswela njengomuntu othwele izikhali.

Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengamangqongqo egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.

Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe. ngokwenza lokho umokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda, njalo uJehova uzakubusisa.

ngokuba inotho kayiyikuhlala kokuphela, lomqhele wobukhosi kawuyikuba ngowezizukulwane zonke.

Ungcono umyanga ohamba ngokulunga kulesinothi esilezindlela zokungcola. Lowo ogcina umthetho yindodana eqedisisayo, kodwa umngane wezixhwali uyangisa uyise. Lowo owandisa inotho yakhe ngenzaliso eyeqileyo uyibuthela omunye ozaba lomusa kubayanga.

Umuntu onothileyo angazibona ingathi uhlakaniphile, kodwa umyanga oqedisisayo uhle abone ukuthi kasumuntu.

Lowo osebenza amasimu akhe uzathola ukudla okunengi, kodwa lowo ophika ngezifiso zeze uzakuba ngumyanga onukayo. Umuntu othembekileyo uzabusiswa ngokuphumelela, kodwa ogijimela ukunotha kayikuphepha ekujezisweni. Ukubandlulula abantu kakulunganga ikanti umuntu uyona ukuze azuze ucezu lwesinkwa. Umuntu oncitshanayo utshisekela ukunotha kodwa kaboni ukuthi unyenyelwa yibuyanga. Lowo okhuza umuntu uzacina esethandeka kulalowo ololimi olukhohlisayo. Lowo owebela uyise loba unina athi, “Akusinto embi” uyafana lomuntu obhidlizayo.

Lowo ophayo abayanga kayikuswela lutho, kodwa ovala amehlo ingathi kababoni uzuza iziqalekiso ezinengi.

Olungileyo uyawananza amalungelo abayanga, kodwa ababi kabazidubi ngalokho.

Osizana lesela uyazizonda yena; usezifungise kulo ngakho ngeke afakaze iqiniso.

Susa kimi inkohliso lamanga; ungangiphi ubuyanga loba inotho, kodwa ungiphe kuphela ukudla kwami kwansuku zonke. Phela ngingaba lokunengi kakhulu ngikuphike wena ngithi, ‘Ungubani uJehova?’ loba ngibengumyanga ngintshontshe; ngalokho ngiliyangise ibizo likaNkulunkulu wami.

Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.” Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.

Welula izingalo zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.

Ngaqalisa imisebenzi emikhulu: ngazakhela izindlu ngahlanyela amavini. Ngasungula izivande lezigcawu zokubukwa ngahlanyela kuzo yonke imihlobo yezihlahla lezithelo. Ngenza iziziba zamanzi okuthelela izihlahla ezazikhula kuhle. Ngathenga izigqili zesilisa lezesifazana, ngilezinye futhi izigqili ezazalelwa emzini wami. Ngaba lemihlambihlambi yezinkomo lezimvu okwedlula bonke abake babakhona eJerusalema ngaphambi kwami. Ngabuthelela isiliva legolide, kanye lempahla yamakhosi eligugu ivela ezigodini. Ngazidingela abahlabeleli besilisa labesifazana, lesithembo esikhulu  —  yona kanye intokozo yendoda. Ngaba mkhulu ngokwedluleyo kulaloba ngubani owaba seJerusalema ngaphambi kwami. Phakathi kwayo yonke inyakanyaka le ukuhlakanipha kwami kwahlala kukhona. Angizincitshanga lutho olwalufiswa ngamehlo ami; inhliziyo yami angiyalelanga layiphi intokozo. Inhliziyo yami yathokoza ngawo wonke umsebenzi wami, lokhu kwaba ngumvuzo wezithukuthuku zami. Kanti lanxa ngahlolisisa konke okwenziwa yizandla zami lalokho engangibhensela ukukuzuza, konke kwakuyize, ukuxotshana lomoya; kwakungela nzuzo ngaphansi kwelanga.

Lowo othanda imali akaneliswa yiloba yimalini; lowo othanda inotho akasuthiswa yilokho akuzuzayo. Lokhu lakho kuyize.

Umuntu uphuma eze esiswini sikanina, njengokufika kwakhe ubuyela enjalo. Kazuzi lutho olusuka emsebenzini wakhe angaluphatha ezandleni zakhe.

Kunjalo futhi ukuthi nxa uNkulunkulu esipha umuntu inotho lezimpahla, amvumele ukuthi akholise ngazo, emukele isabelo sakhe athokoze emsebenzini wakhe  —  lesi yisipho sikaNkulunkulu.

UNkulunkulu upha umuntu inotho lempahla lodumo ukuze angasileli lutho oluloyiswa yinhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uNkulunkulu kamniki amandla okuthi azikholise lezozinto, zikholiswa ngowemzini. Lokhu kuyize, ububi obudanisayo.

Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.

Hlanyela imbewu yakho ekuseni, akuthi ntambama uphumuze izandla zakho, ngoba kawukwazi okuzaphumelela, kumbe yilokhu loba yilokhuyana, langabe kokubili kuzalunga ngokufananayo. Khumbula UMenzi Wakho UseseMutsha

Ilizwe labo ligcwele isiliva legolide; inotho yabo ayilakuphela. Ilizwe labo ligcwele amabhiza; izinqola zabo zempi kazipheli. Ilizwe labo ligcwele izithombe; bakhothamela umsebenzi wezandla zabo, lakulokho okwenziwa yiminwe yabo.

ukuba kwamukwe abayanga amalungelo abo lokugodla okufaneleyo kwabantu bami abacindezelweyo; bazingela abafelokazi baqhwage izintandane.

Kodwa umuntu ohloniphekayo wenza amacebo ahloniphekayo, njalo uma ngezenzo ezihloniphekayo.

“Wozani, lonke lina abomileyo, wozani emanzini. Lani lina elingelamali, wozani, lithenge, lidle! Wozani, thengani iwayini lochago ingekho imali lendleko. Lichithelani imali kokungasikho kudla lokusebenza kwenu kulokho okungasuthisiyo na? Lalelani, lalelani kimi, lidle okuhle, umoya wenu uzathokoziswa yizibiliboco.

Akusikwabela abalambayo ukudla kwakho lokunika umnyanga ongumhambuma indawo yokuhlala  —  lapho ubona abanqunu ubagqokise, lokungafulatheli izihlobo zakho zegazi na?

njalo uma unika abalambayo ukudla kwakho, wanelise leziswelo zabacindezelweyo, ukukhanya kwakho kuzavela emnyameni, ubusuku bakho buzakuba njengemini.

Ngakho uzakhangela ubobotheke ngokujabula. Inhliziyo yakho izatshaya ikhukhumale ngenxa yentokozo; inotho yasolwandle izalethwa kuwe, lenotho yezizwe izakuza kuwe. Imihlambi yamakamela izagcwala elizweni lakho, amakamela asakhulayo aseMidiyani lase-Efa. Wonke avela eSheba azakuza ethwele igolide lempepha ememezela udumo lukaJehova.

Esikhundleni sethusi ngizakulethela igolide, lesiliva esikhundleni sensimbi. Esikhundleni sezigodo ngizakulethela ithusi, lensimbi esikhundleni samatshe. Ngizakwenza ukuthula kube ngumbusi wakho, lokulunga kube yinkosi yakho.

Wenzani na, wena ohlutshwe kakhulu? Kungani ugqoka okubomvu gebhu ufaka lezigqoko zegolide na? Kungani ucomba amehlo akho ngomphendulo na? Uzicecisela ize. Izithandwa zakho ziyakweyisa, zifuna ukukubulala.

Inotho yakho lamatshe akho aligugu ngizakwenza kube yimpango, yamahala, ngenxa yezono zakho kulo lonke ilizwe lakini.

Lina elihlala ngasemanzini amanengi, njalo lilenotho enengi, isiphetho senu sesifikile, isikhathi senu sokuqunywa.

Bonke abantu bayo bayagomela behamba bedinga ukudla; bathengisa inotho yabo eligugu ngokudla ukuze bangafi. “Jehova, ake ungihawukele ngoba sengidelelwa.”

Bazalahlela isiliva sabo emigwaqweni, legolide labo lizakuba njengento engcolileyo. Isiliva sabo legolide labo akuyikwanelisa ukubakhulula ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova. Bangeke baqede ukulamba kwabo kumbe bagcwalise izisu zabo ngakho, ngoba sekubenze bakhubeka esonweni.

“ ‘Isono sikadadewenu uSodoma sasiyilesi: Yena lamadodakazi akhe babezigqaja, badla bedlulisa njalo bengakhathali; kababasizanga abayanga labaswelayo. Babezazisa njalo besenza izinto eziyangisayo phambi kwami. Ngakho ngabasusa njengoba ubonile.

Kacindezeli muntu kodwa uyabuyisela akuthathayo njengesibambiso sokwebolekwayo. Kabenzi ubuphangi kodwa unika abalambileyo ukudla kwakhe labanqunu abanike izigqoko. Kabolekisi ukuba athole inzuzo loba athathe inzuzo edlulisileyo. Uyasithinta isandla sakhe ekwenzeni okubi njalo ehlulele kuhle phakathi komuntu lomuntu. Uyazilandela izimiso zami agcine lemithetho yami ngokuthembeka. Lowomuntu ulungile; ngempela uzaphila, kutsho uJehova Wobukhosi.

Icindezela abayanga labaswelayo. Yenza ubuphangi. Kayibuyiseli eyakuthatha kuyisibambiso. Yethemba izithombe. Yenza izinto ezinengisayo. Yebolekisa ukuba ithole inzuzo njalo ithatha inzuzo edlulisileyo. Umuntu onjalo uzaphila na? Kasoze aphile! Ngenxa yokuba enze zonke lezizinto ezinengisayo uzabulawa mpela legazi lakhe lizakuba phezu kwekhanda lakhe.

Phakathi kwakho abantu bayavuma ukuthengwa ukuba bachithe igazi; uthatha inzuzo lomvuzo odlulisileyo emalini ebolekisiweyo, uthole inzuzo engafanelanga kumakhelwana wakho umbamba ngamandla. Njalo usungikhohliwe, kutsho uJehova Wobukhosi.

Abantu belizwe benza imisebenzi yokufuna imivuzo ngamandla kanye lobuphangi; bacindezela abayanga labaswelayo, baphathe kubi labezizweni, babenqabele ukulunga. “Ngadinga umuntu phakathi kwabo owayengakha umduli ame phambi kwami esikhaleni emele ilizwe ukuze ngingalitshabalalisi, kodwa ngamswela.

Ngenhlakanipho yakho lokuqedisisa uzizuzele inotho njalo wabuthela igolide lesiliva eziphaleni zengcebo yakho. Ngolwazi lwakho olukhulu ekuthengiseni uyandisile inotho yakho, njalo ngenxa yenotho yakho, inhliziyo yakho isizigqaja. “ ‘Ngakho nanku okutshiwo nguJehova Wobukhosi: “ ‘Njengoba ucabanga ukuthi uhlakaniphile, uhlakaniphe njengonkulunkulu, ngizaletha abezizweni ukuba bamelane lawe, izizwe ezilesihluku kakhulu; zizahwatsha izinkemba zazo zimelane lobuhle bakho kanye lenhlakanipho, zone lobuhle bakho obukhazimulayo.

Uzakuthi, “Ngizahlasela ilizwe elilemizi engelamithangala; ngizahlasela abantu abalokuthula abanganqineki lutho  —  bonke abahlezi bengelamithangala njalo bengelamasango lemigoqo. Ngizaphanga njalo ngithumbe ngiphinde ngiguqulele isandla sami ekumeleni amanxiwa asahlaliswa abantu lasebantwini abaqoqwa ezizweni, abalezifuyo ezinengi lempahla, abahlala enkabeni yelizwe.” ISheba leDedani kanye labathengisi bonke baseThashishi lemizi yalo yonke bazakuthi kuwe, “Ulande ukuzaphanga na? Uqoqe amaxuku akho ukuba uthumbe, uthathe isiliva legolide, uthathe izifuyo kanye lempahla njalo uthumbe impango enengi na?” ’

Kwathi uBhelishazari enatha iwayini lakhe walaya ukuthi kulethwe izitsha zegolide lezesiliva ezazithethwe nguyise uNebhukhadinezari ethempelini eJerusalema, efuna ukuthi inkosi, lezikhulu zayo, labafazi bayo kanye labafazi bayo beceleni banathele kuzo. Yikho baziletha izitsha zegolide ezazithethwe ethempelini likaNkulunkulu eJerusalema, kwasekusithi inkosi lezikhulu zayo kanye labafazi bayo beceleni banathela kuzo. Bathi belinatha iwayini babelokhu bedumisa onkulunkulu begolide labesiliva, labethusi, labensimbi, labezigodo labamatshe.

Ngokwanda kwabaphristi, kwanda kanjalo lokona kwabo kimi, benanisa uDumo lwabo ngento elihlazo.

Umthengisi usebenzisa izikali zenkohliso; uthanda ukuqilibezela. U-Efrayimi uyazincoma esithi, “Nginothe kakhulu; sengiyisipatsha. Ngenotho yami kabayikufumana ububi loba isono kimi.”

“Ngizalihlawula okwaleyo minyaka lokho okwadliwa zintethe, lesikhonyane lobuyane, ezinye izintethe kanye lemitshitshi yezintethe  —  ibutho lami elikhulu engalithumela kini. Lizakuba lokudla okunengi lize lisuthe, njalo lizadumisa ibizo likaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, olenzele izimangaliso; abantu bami kabayikuphinda bayangeke futhi.

Linyathezela umyanga limcindezele ukuba aliphe amabele. Ngakho-ke, lanxa lakhe izindlu ezinkulukazi zamatshe kaliyikuhlala kuzo; lanxa lihlanyele izivini ezinhle, iwayini lazo kaliyikulinatha. Ngoba iziphambeko zenu ngiyazazi ukuthi zingaki kanye lokuthi izono zenu zinkulu okunganani. Licindezela abalungileyo lamukele imvalamlomo, njalo emithethwandaba linqabela abayanga imfanelo.

Zwanini lokhu, lina elinyathezela abaswelayo, lichitha labayanga elizweni, lisithi, “Ukuthwasa kweNyanga Entsha kuzaphela nini ukuze sithengise amabele, leSabatha lidlule ukuze sithengise ingqoloyi na? Sinciphise isilinganiso, sikhweze intengo siqilibezele ngezilinganiso zenkohliso, sithenge abayanga ngesiliva, abaswelayo sibathenge ngamanyathelo, sithengise lamakhoba ngengqoloyi.

Bahawukela amasimu bawathumbe, kanye lezindlu, bazithathe. Badlelezela umuntu ngomuzi wakhe, lomuntu wakibo ngelifa lakhe.

“Bonke kabayikumchothoza na bamhleke besithi, “ ‘Maye kulowo obuthelela impahla zokwebiwa azinothise ngobugebenga! Koze kube nini lokhu kusenzakala na?’ Labo olezikwelede kubo kabayikukujuma na? Kabayikuvuka bakuthuthumelise na? Lapho-ke uzakuba yinto yabo yokuhlutshwa.

Inotho yabo izaphangwa, izindlu zabo zidilizwe. Bazakwakha izindlu kodwa bangahlali kuzo; bazahlanyela izivini, kodwa iwayini bangalinathi.

Isiliva sabo loba igolide labo kakuyikwanelisa ukubasindisa ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova. Umhlaba wonke uzatshiswa emlilweni womona wakhe ngoba uzakwenza isiphetho ngokuphangisa kubo bonke abahlala emhlabeni.”

‘Isiliva ngesami legolide ngelami,’ kutsho uJehova uSomandla.

Ngabatshela ngathi, “Nxa libona kufanele, ngiphani iholo lami; nxa njalo kungenjalo, yekelani.” Yikho basebengiholisa izinhlamvu zesiliva ezingamatshumi amathathu. UJehova wasesithi kimi, “Yiphosele kumbumbi”  —  imali engaka ababengilinganisele yona! Ngasengizithatha lezozinhlamvu zesiliva ezingamatshumi amathathu ngaziphosela endlini kaJehova kumbumbimbiza.

“Umuntu angamphanga uNkulunkulu na? Lina liyangiphanga kodwa liyabuza lithi, ‘Sikuphanga kanjani na?’ “Ngokwetshumi langeminikelo. Liphiwe isiqalekiso  —  isizwe sakini sonke  —  ngokuba liyangiphanga. Lethani konke okwetshumi esiphaleni ukuze kube lokudla endlini yami.” Uthi uJehova uSomandla, “Ngilingani kulokhu libone ingabe kangikuwavula amasango ezulu ngithulule izibusiso elizaze liswele ukuthi lizithele ngaphi.

Zangena endlini zambona umntwana lonina uMariya, zakhothama zamkhonza. Zasezivula izimpahla zazo eziligugu zamkhunga ngezipho zegolide lempepha lemure.

“Babusisiwe abampofu emoyeni ngoba umbuso wezulu ngowabo.

Babusisiwe labo abalambela bomele ukulunga, ngoba bazasuthiswa.

Njalo uma omunye efuna ukukumangalela ukuze akuthathele isigqoko sakho, myekele athathe lejazi lakho njalo. Uma omunye ekubamba ngamandla ukuthi uhambe ikhilomitha elilodwa, hamba laye abe mabili. Muphe lowo ocelayo kuwe, njalo ungamfulatheli lowo ofuna ukweboleka kuwe.

“Qaphelani ukuthi lingenzi ‘izenzo zenu ezinhle’ phambi kwabantu ukuze balibone. Uma lisenza njalo kaliyikuba lomvuzo ovela kuYihlo ezulwini. “Yikho nxa lisipha abaswelayo lingamemezeli ngamacilongo njengokwenziwa ngabazenzisi emasinagogeni lasezitaladini ukuze badunyiswe ngabantu. Ngilitshela iqiniso sebewemukele owabo umvuzo ngokugcweleyo. Kodwa nxa lina lisipha abaswelayo isandla senu sokhohlo masingakwazi lokho esikwenzayo esokunene, ukuze ukupha kwenu kube sensitha. Kuzakuthi uYihlo obonayo ensitha alivuze.

Siphe lamuhla ukudla kwethu kwensuku zonke. Sixolele imilandu yethu, njengoba lathi sesibaxolele abalemilandu kithi.

“Lingazibutheli inotho emhlabeni lapho okubhubhisa khona inondo lokuthomba, njalo lapho okugqekeza khona amasela ebe. Kodwa zibutheleni inotho ezulwini lapho kungabhujiswa khona yinondo lokuthomba, njalo lapho kungagqekezi khona amasela ebe. Ngoba lapho inotho yakho ikhona, kulapho inhliziyo yakho izakuba khona.

“Kakho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili. Mhlawumbe uzathanda enye azonde enye, loba uzabambelela kwenye azonde enye. Lingazake likhonze uNkulunkulu njalo leMali.

“Yikho ngiyalitshela ukuthi linganqinekeli ukuphila kwenu, ukuthi lizakudlani loba lizanathani; kumbe ngomzimba wakho, ukuthi uzavunulani. Impilo kayiqakathekanga okudlula ukudla na, lomzimba okudlula izigqoko na? Ake likhangele izinyoni zasemoyeni; kazihlanyeli, kazivuni njalo kazibutheli esiphaleni, kodwa uYihlo wasezulwini uyazipha ukudla. Lina kaliqakathekanga okudlula zona na? Ngubani kini othi ngokuzihlupha angengezelela ihora elilodwa empilweni yakhe na? “Kanti lizihluphelani ngezivunulo na? Ake libone ukuthi amaluba asegangeni akhula njani. Kawasebenzi njalo kaweluki. Ikanti ngilitshela lokhu ukuthi laye uSolomoni ebunkanyankanyeni bakhe wayengaceciswanga njengawo loba ngalinye. Nxa kuyiyo indlela uNkulunkulu agqokisa ngayo utshani beganga, obukhona lamuhla, kodwa kusasa sebuphoselwa emlilweni, pho lina kazukuligqokisa ngcono yini, hawu lina bokukholwa okuncinyane? Ngakho lingazihluphi lisithi, ‘Sizakudlani?’ kumbe ‘Sizanathani?’ loba ‘Sizavunulani na?’ Ngoba abahedeni bagijimela zona lezi zonke izinto, kodwa uYihlo wasezulwini uyakwazi ukuthi liyaziswela. Kodwa funani kuqala umbuso wakhe lokulunga kwakhe, kuzakuthi-ke zonke lezizinto liziphiwe lazo. Ngakho lingazihluphi ngelakusasa, ngoba ikusasa lizazinqinekela lona. Yilolosuku lulohlupho lwalo olulwaneleyo.

“Celani, lizaphiwa; dingani, lizafumana; qoqodani, lizavulelwa. Ngoba wonke ocelayo uyaphiwa; odingayo uyafumana; lalowo oqoqodayo uzavulelwa umnyango.

Nxa lina okuthi loba libabi likwazi ukupha abantwabenu izipho ezilungileyo pho kangakanani uYihlo wenu osezulwini uzabapha izipho ezinhle labo abacela kuye!

UJesu waphendula wathi, “Amakhanka alemilindi lezinyoni zezulu zilezidleke, kodwa iNdodana yomuntu kayilandawo yokubeka ikhanda layo.”

Lingaphathi igolide loba isiliva loba ithusi emixhakeni yamabhanti enu; lingathwali zikhwama ekuhambeni kwenu loba isigqoko sokuntshintsha, loba amanye amanyathela kumbe olunye udondolo; ngoba osebenzayo ufanele aphiwe okokuziphilisa.

Njalo loba ngubani onganathisa kumbe inkomitshi yamanzi aqandayo komunye walaba abancinyane ngokuba engumfundi wami, ngilitshela iqiniso, akazukulahlekelwa ngumvuzo wakhe.”

Kwathi enye inhlanyelo yawela emhlabathini omuhle lapho eyabeka khona izithelo  —  yeva ngekhulu, ngamatshumi ayisithupha loba ngamatshumi amathathu ukudlula leyo eyayihlanyelwe.

Lowo owemukela inhlanyelo eyawela emeveni ngumuntu olizwayo ilizwi, kodwa lisuke landelwe yizinhlupheko zale impilo lenkohliso yenotho, lingabe lisaba lezithelo. Kodwa lowo owemukela inhlanyelo eyawela emhlabathini olungileyo ngumuntu olizwayo ilizwi alibambisise. Uthela amabele andayo ngekhulu, ngamatshumi ayisithupha loba ngamatshumi amathathu okudlula lokho okwahlanyelwayo.”

“Umbuso wezulu unjengegugu elifihliweyo esivandeni. Kwathi indoda isilitholile yalifihla njalo, kwathi ngoba iphakathi kokuthokoza yahamba yayathengisa konke eyayilakho yayathenga lesosivande. “Njalo, umbuso wezulu ufana lomthengi edinga amaphareli amahle. Kwathi esefumene elinye elalilentengo ephezulu wahamba wayathengisa konke ayelakho walithenga.

Kuzamsiza ngani umuntu uma ezuza wonke umhlaba, kodwa alahlekelwe ngumphefumulo wakhe na?

UJesu labafundi bakhe sebefikile eKhaphenawume abaqoqi bomthelo wamadrakhima amabili beza kuPhethro babuza bathi, “Kanti umfundisi wenu kawubhadali yini umthelo wethempeli?” Wathi, “Yebo, uyawuthela.” Kwathi uPhethro esengenile endlini uJesu nguye owakhuluma kuqala wabuza wathi, “Uthini kambe, Simoni? Amakhosi omhlaba ayithatha kubani inkongozelo lemithelo  —  emadodaneni abo na loba kwabanye abantu?” UPhethro waphendula wathi, “Kwabanye abantu.” UJesu wasesithi kuye, “Ngakho-ke amadodana akhululekile. Kodwa ukuze singabakhubi, yana echibini uphosele iwuka yakho khona. Ubothatha inhlanzi yokuqala ozayibamba; uvule umlomo wayo uzafumana khona uhlamvu lwemali engamadrakhima amane. Ithathe uyiphe bona ibe ngumthelo wami lani.”

“Ngakho umbuso wezulu unjengenkosi eyayifuna ukuqeda izikwelede zayo lezisebenzi zayo. Yathi isiqalisa ukuthonisa kwalethwa kuyo indoda eyayilesikwelede samathalenta azinkulungwane ezilitshumi. Kwathi ngoba ingelamandla okubhadala inkosi yalaya ukuthi yona lomkayo labantwana lakho konke ayelakho kakuthengiswe ukuze kuqedwe umlandu. “Isisebenzi satshaya ngamadolo phansi phambi kwenkosi sayincenga sathi, ‘Ake ungibekezelele, ngizabhadala konke.’ Inkosi yesisebenzi leso yasizwela usizi yawesula umlandu yasiyekela sahamba. “Kodwa lesosisebenzi sonela ukuphuma, safumana esinye isisebenzi esasilesikwelede saso samadenariyu alikhulu. Sasibamba ngomphimbo sasiklinya sathi ngolaka, ‘Bhadala isikwelede sami!’ “Lowo owayesebenza laye wawa ngamadolo wamncenga wathi, ‘Ake ungibekezelele, ngizakubhadala.’ “Kodwa yena wala. Endaweni yalokho, wahamba wenza ukuba leyondoda iphoselwe entolongweni ize iqale ibhadale isikwelede. Kwathi ezinye izisebenzi sezibonile okwakwenzakele zacaphuka kakhulu zayaceba enkosini ngalokho okwenzakalayo. “Inkosi yase isibiza lesosisebenzi, yathi, ‘Wena nceku embi. Ngisesulile sonke isikwelede sakho ngokuba ungincengile. Kungani pho ungazwelanga omunye wakho isihawu njengalokhu ngenzile kuwe?’ Inkosi yakhe yazonda yafa yamnikela kubaphathi bejele ukuthi bamchukuluze aze asibhadale sonke isikwelede. “Yiyo le indlela uBaba osezulwini azaphatha ngayo lowo lalowo wenu uma lingathetheleli umfowenu kuphuma enhliziyweni.”

UJesu waphendula wathi, “Aluba ufuna ukuthi uphelele, thengisa yonke inotho yakho uphe abayanga, lapho-ke uzakuba lenotho ezulwini. Usungeza ungilandele.” Kwathi ukuba ijaha lelo likuzwe lokho, lasuka lidanile ngokuba lalilenotho enengi kakhulu.

UJesu wasesithi kubafundi bakhe, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi kunzima emuntwini onothileyo ukuthi angene embusweni wezulu. Njalo ngiyalitshela ukuthi kungaba lula ukuthi ikamela lingene embotsheni yenalithi kulokuthi umuntu onothileyo angene embusweni kaNkulunkulu.” Kwathi abafundi sebekuzwile lokhu bamangala kakhulu babuza bathi, “Pho ngubani ongasindiswa na?” UJesu wabakhangela wathi, “Ngokwabantu, lokhu kakwenzeki, kodwa kuNkulunkulu zonke izinto ziyenzeka.”

UPhethro wamphendula wathi, “Sesitshiye konke ukuze sikulandele! Pho sizazuzani na?” UJesu wathi kubo, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi ngesikhathi sokwenziwa kabutsha izinto zonke, lapho iNdodana yoMuntu isihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, lina elingilandelayo lani lizahlala ezihlalweni zobukhosi ezilitshumi lambili, lahlulele izizwana ezilitshumi lambili zako-Israyeli. Njalo bonke labo abatshiye izindlu zabo, loba abafowabo, loba odadewabo kumbe uyise loba unina kumbe abantwana loba amasimu ngenxa yami bazakwamukeliswa okwandiswe ngekhulu njalo bazakudla ilifa lokuphila kwaphakade.

“Ngokuba umbuso wezulu unjengomlimi owaphuma ekuseni kakhulu wayaqatsha amadoda okusebenza esivinini sakhe. Wathembisa ukubaholisa udenariyu okwalolosuku wasebathumela esivinini sakhe. “Waphuma njalo ngehora lesithathu wabona abanye bezimele nje emsikeni bengenzi lutho. Wabatshela wathi, ‘Lani hambani liyosebenza esivinini sami, ngizaliholisa okufaneleyo.’ Bahamba. “Wabuye waphuma ngehora lesithupha langehora lesificamunye wenza khona lokho. Sekusondele ihora letshumi waphuma wafumana abanye bezimele nje khonapho. Wababuza wathi, ‘Kungani kukade lilokhu limi lapha ilanga lonke lingenzi lutho na?’ “ ‘Ngokuba kakho osiqatshileyo,’ batsho bemphendula. “Wathi kubo, ‘Lani hambani liyosebenza esivinini sami.’ “Kwathi sekuntambama, umnininsimu wathi enduneni yezisebenzi, ‘Biza izisebenzi uziphe iholo lazo, uqalise ngabokucina usehla usiya kwabokuqala.’ “Izisebenzi ezaqatshwa sekubanga ihora letshumi lanye zeza ngamunye zaphiwa udenariyu. Kungakho bathi sebefika labo abaqatshwa kuqala balindela ukuphiwa okwedlulayo. Kodwa ngamunye wabo waphiwa udenariyu. Bonela ukuyamukela baqalisa ukumsola umnininsimu besithi, “Lababantu abaqatshwe ekucineni basebenze ihora elilodwa kuphela, kodwa usubalinganise lathi thina esithwale kanzima ngomsebenzi sitshiswa lilanga usuku lonke.’ “Kodwa waphendula omunye wabo wathi, ‘Mnakwethu, angikudlelezeli ngalutho. Kawuvumanga yini ukusebenzela udenariyu? Thatha umholo wakho uhambe. Mina ngithanda ukupha indoda leyo eqatshwe muva okulinganayo lalokho engikunike khona. Kangilalungelo na ukwenza loba yini engiyithandayo ngemali yami? Kumbe ulomhawu ngokuphana kwami na?’ “Kunjalo owokucina uzakuba ngowokuqala, lowokuqala abe ngowokucina.”

UJesu wangena esigcawini sethempeli wabaxotsha bonke ababethenga lababethengisa khona. Wagenqula amatafula alabo ababentshintshela abanye izimali lezihlalo zabathengisa amajuba. Wathi kubo, “Kulotshiwe ukuthi, ‘Indlu yami izabizwa ngokuthi yindlu yokukhuleka,’ kodwa lina seliyenza ‘ubhalu lwabaphangi.’ ”

Sitshele-ke, uthini ngalokhu? Kuqondile na ukuthela kuKhesari kumbe hatshi?” UJesu ngokwazi inhloso yabo embi wathi, “Lina bazenzisi, lenzani lizama ukungigwenxa na? Ake lingitshengise uhlamvu lwemali okuthelwa ngayo.” Bamlethela udenariyu, wasebabuza wathi, “Ngumfanekiso kabani lo? Njalo luphawu lukabani lolu?” Baphendula bathi, “NgokukaKhesari.” Wasesithi kubo, “Phanini uKhesari okungokukaKhesari loNkulunkulu okungokukaNkulunkulu.”

“Maye kini, bafundisi bomthetho lakini baFarisi, bazenzisi! Linika okwetshumi okweziyoliso zenu  —  iminti ledili lekhamini. Kodwa seliyekethisile kulezozinto eziyisiqokoqela somthetho  —  ukwenza okulungileyo kwabanye, umusa kanye lokwethembeka. Bekufanele lithi likwenza lokhu lingawuyekethisanga umthetho.

“Njalo unjengendoda eyathatha uhambo, eyabiza izisebenzi zayo yazigcinisa impahla yayo. Oyedwa yamupha amathalenta amahlanu emali, omunye amabili omunye njalo ithalenta elilodwa, ngulowo kusiya ngamandla akhe. Yase isuka ingena uhambo lwayo. Leyondoda eyayiphiwe amathalenta amahlanu yahle yasuka yayayidayiza leyomali yazuza amanye amahlanu. Yenza njalo laleyo eyayiphiwe amabili, yazuza amanye amabili. Kodwa indoda eyayiphiwe ithalenta elilodwa yasuka yemba igodi emhlabathini yayifihla imali yenkosi yayo. Ngemuva kwesikhathi eside umnini walezozisebenzi wabuya wafisa ukwazi ukuthi babehambise njani ngaleyomali. Leyondoda eyayiphiwe amathalenta amahlanu yaletha amanye amahlanu. Yathi, ‘Mnumzana, wangethemba ngamathalenta amahlanu. Khangela, sengizuze amanye amahlanu.’ “Umnini wayo waphendula wathi, ‘Wenze kuhle, nceku elungileyo lethembekileyo! Uthembekile ezintweni ezilutshwana; ngizakuphathisa izinto ezinengi. Woza uzojabula kanye lenkosi yakho!’ “Indoda eyayilamathalenta amabili layo yeza. Yathi, ‘Mnumzana, wangethemba ngamathalenta amabili; khangela, sengizuze amanye amabili.’ “Umniniyo waphendula wathi, ‘Wenze kuhle, nceku elungileyo lethembekileyo! Uthembekile ngezinto ezilutshwana; ngizakuphathisa izinto ezinengi. Woza uzojabula kanye lenkosi yakho! “Kwasekusiza leyondoda eyayiphiwe ithalenta elilodwa. Yathi, ‘Mnumzana, bengikwazi ukuthi uyindoda elukhuni, evuna lapho engahlanyelanga khona njalo ibuthe lapho ingazange ihaze khona inhlanyelo. Yikho ngesaba ngasuka ngayafihla ithalenta lakho emhlabathini. Khangela, nanku okungokwakho.’ “Umnumzana waphendula wathi, ‘Wena nceku embi, elivila! Utsho ukuthi wazile ukuthi ngivuna lapho engingahlanyelanga khona njalo ngibuthe lapho engingahazanga khona inhlanyelo? Ngabe phela imali yami uyibekise kwabebhanga, ukuze kuthi ekubuyeni kwami ngiyizuze isilenzalo. “Mthatheleni ithalenta lelo liliphe lowo olamathalenta alitshumi. Ngokuba lowo olakho uzaphiwa okunye njalo abesesiba lokunengi. Lowo ongelakho, lalokho alakho uzakwemukwa. Manje-ke iphoseni ngaphandle inceku engelamsebenzi, ebumnyameni lapho okuzakuba khona ukukhala lokugedla amazinyo.’

Lapho-ke iNkosi izakuthi kulabo abangasekunene kwayo, ‘Wozani, lina elibusisiweyo nguBaba; thathani ilifa lenu, umbuso owalungiselwa lina kulokhu kwadalwa umhlaba. Ngokuba ngangilambile, langinika ulutho oludliwayo, ngangomile langipha okunathwayo, ngangiyisihambi langingenisa, ngangiswela izambatho langigqokisa, ngangigula langonga, ngangisentolongweni lazongibona.’ “Abalungileyo bazamphendula bathi, ‘Nkosi, sakubona nini ulambile sakupha ukudla na, kumbe womile sakunathisa? Sakubona nini uyisihambi sakungenisa na, kumbe uswela izambatho sakugqokisa? Sakubona nini ugula kumbe usentolongweni seza sazakubona na?’ “INkosi izaphendula ithi, ‘Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi loba yini elayenzela loba ngomncinyane kanganani walaba abazalwane bami, lakwenzela mina.’

“INkosi izakuthi kulabo abasekhohlo kwayo, ‘Xekani kimi lina elithukiweyo liye emlilweni wanininini owalungiselwa uSathane lezingilosi zakhe. Ngokuba ngangilambile, kalingiphanga lutho lokudla, ngangomile kalingiphanga lutho lokunatha, ngangiyisihambi kalingingenisanga, ngangiswela izambatho kalingigqokisanga, ngangigula njalo ngisentolongweni kalizange lingidinge.’ “Labo bazaphendula bathi, ‘Nkosi, sakubona nini ulambile kumbe womile kumbe uyisihambi kumbe ungelazigqoko kumbe ugula noma usentolongweni asaze sakunceda na?’ “Izaphendula ithi, ‘Ngiqinisile ngithi, loba kuyini elingakwenzelanga oyedwa nje omncinyane kulabo bonke walaba, kalikwenzelanga mina.’

kweza kuye owesifazana ephethe umfuma wamakha adula kakhulu wawathela ekhanda likaJesu owayeyeme etafuleni. Abafundi bathi bekubona lokho bacasuka. Bathi, bebuza, “Adlaliselwani kanje na? Amakha la abengathengiswa ngemali ephezulu leyomali iphiwe abampofu.” UJesu esekunanzelele lokhu wathi kubo, “Limkhathazelani owesifazana lo na? Wenze into enhle kimi. Abampofu lizahlala lilabo kokuphela, kodwa kalisoze libe lami kokuphela.

wabuza wathi, “Lizangiphani uma ngimnikela kini?” Base bembalela izinhlamvu zesiliva ezingamatshumi amathathu. Kusukela khonapho uJudasi wadinga ithuba lokuba amnikele.

Kwathi uJudasi, owayemnikele, esebona ukuthi uJesu wayeselahliwe, wadabuka ngokuzisola, wabuyisela izinhlamvu zesiliva ezingamatshumi amathathu kubaphristi abakhulu labadala. Wathi, “Ngenze isono, ngokuba nginikele igazi elingelacala.” Baphendula bathi, “Silani lalokho thina? Lokho kungumlandu wakho.” Ngakho uJudasi wayiphosela ethempelini leyomali wahamba. Wasuka lapho wayazibophela. Abaphristi abakhulu bazidobha izinhlamvu zemali lezo bathi, “Kungaphandle komthetho ukufaka imali le emnikelweni ngoba yimali yegazi.” Ngakho basebemisa ukuyisebenzisa ukuthenga isiqinti sombumbi sibe yindawo yamangcwaba abantu bezizweni. Yikho yabizwa ngokuthi yiNsimu yeGazi kuze kube manje. Kwasekugcwaliseka okwakhulunywa nguJeremiya umphrofethi ukuthi: “Bathatha izinhlamvu zesiliva ezingamatshumi amathathu, intengo eyamiswa ngaye ngabantu bako-Israyeli, bazisebenzisa ukuthenga insimu yombumbi, njengokulaywa kwami yiNkosi.”

Futhi enye inhlanyelo yawela emhlabathini omuhle. Yamila, yakhula, yathela amabele yanda ngamatshumi amathathu, ayisithupha ngitsho langekhulu.”

Kunjalo abanye, njengenhlanyelo ehlanyelwe emeveni, bayalizwa ilizwi; kodwa iminqineko yempilo le, inkohliso yenotho kanye lezinkanuko zezinye izinto konke kuyeza kuliminyanise ilizwi, kulenze lingatheli. Abanye, njengenhlanyelo ehlanyelwe emhlabathini omuhle, bayalizwa ilizwi, balamukele, bathele izithelo  —  bedlule okwakuhlanyelwe ngamatshumi amathathu, ayisithupha loba ngekhulu.”

Kodwa waphendula wathi, “Bapheni lina ukudla.” Bathi kuye, “Lokho kungathatha umholo wendoda owenyanga eziyisificamibili! Uthi sihambe siyochitha imali engako sithenge isinkwa sibaphe badle?” Wabuza wathi, “Lilezinkwa ezingaki na? Ake liyokhangela.” Sebezibonile bathi, “Zinhlanu lezinhlanzi ezimbili.” UJesu wasebalaya ukuthi bahlalise bonke abantu phansi etshanini ngamaxuku. Yikho bahlala phansi ngamaxuku alikhulu. Abanye ngamatshumi amahlanu. Wazithatha izinkwa zonhlanu lezinhlanzi zombili wakhangela ezulwini, wabonga, wazihlephula izinkwa. Waseziqhubela abafundi bakhe ukuba bazabele abantu. Waphinda wabehlukanisela izinhlanzi zombili. Bonke badla basutha, abafundi basebebutha imvuthu zezinkwa lezinhlanzi bagcwalisa izitsha ezilitshumi lambili. Abadlayo babengamadoda azinkulungwane ezinhlanu.

ubuhwaba, umona, ubuqili, ukuxhwala, umhawu, ukugcona, ubuqholo lobuthutha. Zonke lezi izono ziphuma ngaphakathi zenze umuntu abe ‘ngongahlanzekanga.’ ”

Ngoba yilowo ofuna ukulondoloza impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, kodwa olahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe ngenxa yami kanye levangeli uzayilondoloza. Kumsizani umuntu ukuzuza wonke umhlaba kodwa alahlekelwe ngumphefumulo wakhe? Loba, kuyini umuntu angakunika kube yinhlawulo yomphefumulo wakhe na?

UJesu wamkhangela wamthanda. Wathi, “Uswele into eyodwa. Hamba uyethengisa konke olakho uphe abampofu, lapho-ke uzakuba lenotho ezulwini. Ubususiza ungilandele.” Isizwa lokhu indoda yathelwa ngamanzi. Yasukuma yahamba isidanile ngokuba yayinothile kakhulu.

UJesu wathalaza wasesithi kubafundi bakhe, “Kunzima okumangalisayo ukuthi isinothi singene embusweni kaNkulunkulu!” Abafundi bamangaliswa ngamazwi akhe lawo. Kodwa uJesu waphinde wathi, “Bantwana, kunzima kanganani ukungena embusweni kaNkulunkulu! Kulula ukuba ikamela lingene embotsheni yenalithi kulokuba umuntu onothileyo angene embusweni kaNkulunkulu.” Abafundi bamangala okwedlulayo, bathi omunye komunye, “Pho ngubani ongasindiswa na?” UJesu wabakhangela wathi, “Ngokwabantu kakwenzeki, kodwa hatshi ngoNkulunkulu; zonke izinto ziyenzakala ngoNkulunkulu.”

UPhethro wathi kuye, “Sesitshiye konke ukuba sikulandele!” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ngithi kakho osetshiye ikhaya kumbe abafowabo, loba odadewabo, kumbe unina loba uyise, loba umntwana kumbe amasimu ngenxa yami levangeli ozakwehluleka ukwamukeliswa okuphindwe ngekhulu kuso lesi isikhathi samanje (amakhaya, abafowabo, odadewabo, onina, abantwana lamasimu  —  kwengezwe ukuhlukunyezwa) lasesikhathini esizayo, ukuphila kwaphakade.

Bathi befika eJerusalema uJesu wangena egcekeni lethempeli wafika wabaxotsha labo ababethenga lababethengisa khona. Wagenqula amatafula abantshintshi bezimali lezihlalo zababethengisa amajuba, kaze avumela muntu ukungenisa okuthengiswayo ezindlini zethempeli. Wathi esabafundisa wathi, “Kakulotshwanga yini ukuthi: “Indlu yami izabizwa ngokuthi yindlu yokukhuleka okwezizwe zonke’? Kodwa lina seliyenze ubhalu lwabaphangi.”

Beza kuye bathi, “Mfundisi, siyakwazi ukuthi uyindoda eqotho. Kawuguqulwanga ngabantu ngokuba kawulandeli ukuthi bangobani; kodwa ufundisa indlela kaNkulunkulu mayelana leqiniso. Kulungile yini ukuthela kuKhesari, kumbe hatshi? Sithele yini kumbe hatshi?” Kodwa uJesu wayekubona ukuzenzisa kwabo, wathi, “Lizamelani ukungithiya na? Ake lingiphe idenariyo ngibone.” Baluletha uhlamvu lolo, wasebabuza wathi, “Ngumfanekiso kabani lo? Lombhalo ngokabani?” Baphendula bathi, “NgokaKhesari.” UJesu wasesithi kubo, “Phanini uKhesari okukaKhesari loNkulunkulu okungokukaNkulunkulu.” Bamangala kakhulu ngaye.

UJesu wahlala phansi malungana lendawo yokunikela wakhangela inengi libeka imali yalo enkongozelweni yethempelini: Izikhulu ezinengi zaziphosela imali ezwayo. Kodwa kweza umfelokazi ongumyanga waphosela okuyizicetshana kwethusi okubili okulingana lengxenyana yendibilitshi. Esebizele kuye abafundi bakhe uJesu wathi kubo, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi umfelokazi lo ompofu ufake okunengi enkongozelweni kulabo bonke. Bonke baphe ngokwenotho yabo, kodwa yena ebuyangeni bakhe, uphosele konke alakho  —  konke abemele aphile ngakho.”

Kwathi eseBhethani eyeme etafuleni emzini wendoda eyayithiwa nguSimoni uMlephero, owesifazana weza ephethe umfuma wamakha adulayo kakhulu, enziwe ngenadi elipheleleyo. Wawugumula umfuma wathela amakha ekhanda likaJesu. Abanye balabo ababekhona bacaphuka babuzana bathi, “Udlaliselani amakha la? Abengathengiswa ngokudlula umholo womnyaka wonke imali leyo iphiwe abampofu.” Bamkhuza ngokumkhahlameza kakhulu. UJesu wathi, “Myekeleni bo. Limkhathazelani kanti? Wenze into enhle kimi. Abampofu lizahlala lilabo, yikho lingabasiza noma yisiphi isikhathi elisifunayo. Kodwa kalisoze libe lami kokuphela.

Bathaba bafa ukuzwa lokhu bathembisa ukumupha imali. Yikho walindela ithuba lokumnikela.

UJohane waphendula wathi, “Leyondoda elamajazi amabili kayimuphe ongelalo elinye lalowo olokudla kenze njalo.”

Labathelisi labo beza ukuzabhaphathizwa. Babuza bathi, “Mfundisi, kumele senzeni na?” Wabatshela ukuthi, “Lingathelisi ledlulise okufunekayo.” Abanye abebutho bambuza bathi, “Thina-ke senzeni?” Waphendula wathi, “Lingacindezeli ukuthi liphiwe imali njalo lingabeki muntu umlandu wamanga  —  yaneliswani ngumholo wenu.”

Wakhangela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Libusisiwe lina elimpofu, ngoba okwenu ngumbuso kaNkulunkulu. Libusisiwe lina elilambileyo manje, ngoba lizasuthiswa. Libusisiwe lina elililayo manje, ngoba lizahleka.

“Kodwa maye kini lina elinothileyo, ngoba livele selikwamukele ukuhlala kuhle kwenu. Maye kini lina elidla kamnandi manje, ngoba lizalamba. Maye kini lina elihlekayo manje, ngoba lizakhala lilile.

Umuntu angakutshaya esihlathini sakho lesi, muphe lalesiyana. Umuntu angakwemuka ijazi lakho ungamaleli ukuthatha lebhatshi. Phanini loba ngubani ocelayo kini, njalo uma umuntu ethatha ulutho lwakho ungaluthonisi.

“Uma lithanda labo abalithandayo, lokho kulibuyiselani na? Lezoni lazo ziyabathanda abazithandayo. Njalo uma lisenza okuhle kulabo abalungileyo kini, lokho kulibuyiselani? Lezoni ziyakwenza lokho.

Njalo uma liboleka labo elizazuza imbadalo kubo, lokho kulibuyiselani na? Lezoni ziboleka izoni zilindele ukubhadalwa ngokugcweleyo. Kodwa thandani izitha zenu, lizenzele okuhle, njalo lizeboleke lingalindeli lutho kuzo. Lapho-ke umvuzo wenu uzakuba mkhulu, njalo lizakuba ngamadodana akhe oPhezukonke, ngokuba ulomusa kwabangabongiyo labayizigangi.

Phanini, lani lizaphiwa. Kuzathiwa qithi kini kugcwaliswe phamu, kwabandezelwa, kwakhuhlu-zwa kwaze kwaphuphuma. Ngoba ngasonaleso silinganiso elisisebenzisayo, lani lizalinganiselwa ngaso.”

UJesu waphendula ngokuthi: “Indoda yayihamba iphuma eJerusalema isiya eJerikho, yaqabuka isihlaselwa ngabaphangi. Bayihlubula izigqoko zayo, bayitshaya base behamba, beyitshiya iqalekile.

Ngosuku olulandelayo wakhupha izinhlamvu ezimbili zesiliva wazinika umphathi wendawo. Wathi, ‘Mgcine, kuzakuthi nxa sengibuya ngizalibhadala lezozindleko eziyabe zisele.’

Siphe usuku ngosuku isinkwa sethu sansuku zonke.

Nxa lina, elithi loba libabi, kodwa likwazi ukupha abantwabenu izipho ezilungileyo, pho uYihlo osezulwini uzabapha ngokudlulayo kangakanani uMoya oNgcwele kulabo abamcelayo!”

Ngakho phanini lokho okungaphakathi komganu kwabampofu, lapho-ke konke kuzakuba sekuhlanzekile kini. “Maye kini baFarisi, ngokuba lipha uNkulunkulu okwetshumi kwazo zonke izithelo zesivande senu kodwa lidele ukwenza okulungileyo kanye lokuthanda uNkulunkulu. Ngabe liyakwenza lokhu kodwa lingakuyekelanga okwetshumi.

Omunye emphakathini wathi kuye, “Mfundisi, tshela umfowethu ukuthi angabele lami ilifa.” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Ndoda, ngibekwe ngubani ukuba ngumahluleli kumbe umlamuli wenu?” Wasesithi kubo, “Qaphelani! limukani yonke imihlobo yobuhaga; isiqokoqela sempilo yomuntu kasikho ebunengini benotho yakhe.”

Wasebatshela umzekeliso lo: “Insimu yenye indoda eyayinothile yaphuma inala enkulu. Wasenakana wathi, ‘Kambe ngenzeni? Angilandawo yokubeka amabele ami.’ “Wasesithi, ‘Nanku engizakwenza. Ngizazidiliza iziphala zami ngakhe ezinkulu kulazo, besengithela khona wonke amabele ami kanye lezinye izimpahla zami. Ngizazitshela ngithi, “Usulezinto ezinengi ezinhle ezizakwanela iminyakanyaka. Ikholise manje impilo; dlana, unathe uthokoze.” ’ “Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathi kuye, ‘Wena siwula ndini! Ngabona lobu ubusuku impilo yakho izathathwa. Pho ngubani ozazuza lokhu obusuzilungisele khona na?’ “Yikho lokhu okuzakwenzeka kulowo ozibekela inotho kodwa enganothanga kuNkulunkulu.”

UJesu wasesithi kubafundi bakhe: “Ngakho ngilitshela ukuthi lingakhathazeki ngokuphila kwenu, ukuthi lizakudlani; kumbe ngomzimba wenu, ukuthi lizagqokani. Impilo iyakudlula ukudla, lomzimba uyazidlula izambatho. Ake likhumbule ngamawabayi: Kawahlanyeli kumbe avune, kawalasiphala; kodwa uNkulunkulu uyawapha ukudla. Manje lina liqakatheke okudlula izinyoni! Ngubani kini ongathi ngokukhathazeka engeze ihora elilodwa empilweni yakhe na? Manje, uma lingake liyenze into le encinyane kangaka, lizihluphelani na ngokunengi? “Ake libone ukuthi amaluba akhula njani. Kawasebenzi kumbe eluke. Kodwa ngiyalitshela ukuthi laye uSolomoni ebukhazikhazini bakhe kazange acece njengawo. Aluba uNkulunkulu ececisa kanjalo utshani beganga, obukhona namuhla, kusasa sebuphoselwa emlilweni, kambe uzalicecisa kanganani lina, hawu lina bokukholwa okuncinyane! Lingazihluphi ezinhliziyweni zenu ukuthi lizakudlani kumbe lizanathani; lingakhathazeki ngalokho. Ngoba umhlaba wabezizwe uxotshana lezinto ezinjalo, ikanti uYihlo uyazi ukuthi liyaziswela. Kodwa funani umbuso wakhe, izinto zonke lezi lazo lizaziphiwa.

Thengisani izimpahla zenu liphe abampofu. Zidingeleni izikhwama ezingagugiyo, inotho ezulwini engayikuphela, lapho okungasondeli khona isela lalapho impehlane ingabhubhisi khona.

Ngoba lapho okulenotho yakho khona, inhliziyo yakho ilapho layo.

UJesu wasesithi kumamnxusa, ‘Nxa usenza idili emini loba kusihlwa unganxusi abangane bakho, loba abafowenu kumbe izihlobo kumbe omakhelwana abanothileyo; ungenza njalo labo bangakunxusa, kuthi-ke lawe usuwenanisiwe. Kodwa nxa usenza idili, nxusa abayanga, izilima, izigoga, iziphofu, lapho uzabusiswa. Loba bengasoze bakwenanise lawe, uzakwenaniswa ekuvukeni kwabalungileyo.”

Ngaleyondlela, loba ngubani phakathi kwenu ongadeli konke alakho ngeke abe ngumfundi wami.

“Kumbe akekuthi owesifazana elezinhlamvu zesiliva ezilitshumi kulahleke uhlamvu olulodwa. Kalumathisi yini isibane, athanyele endlini, adingisise kuhle aze aluthole na? Uthi eseyitholile imali leyo abize abangane bakhe labomakhelwana beze, athi kubo, ‘Thokozani lami; sengilutholile uhlamvu lwemali yami obelukade lulahlekile.’ Ngiyalitshela ukuthi ngaleyondlela kulokuthokoza phambi kwezingilosi zikaNkulunkulu ngesoni esisodwa nxa siphenduka.”

UJesu waqhubeka wathi: “Kwakukhona indoda eyayilamadodana amabili. Encinyane yathi kuyise, ‘Baba, ngipha esami isabelo selifa.’ Ngakho uyise wasebehlukanisela impahla yakhe bobabili. “Ngemuva kwesikhatshana indodana encane yabutha konke okungokwayo, yasuka yaya elizweni elikude yafika khonale yayichitha inotho yayo ngempilo yokuxhwala. Isitshaye yachitha konke, kwaba khona indlala enkulu kulolonke ilizwe lelo, yasiswela kakhulu. Yasisiyadinga umsebenzi komunye umuntu wakulelo lizwe owayisa esiqintini sakhe ukuyagcina izingulube. Yabona kungcono kuyo ukuthi ixotshe iphango ngalawo makhafutha ayedliwa yizingulube, kodwa kayizange iphiwe lutho langubani. “Kwathi lapho ingqondo yayo isibuyile yathi, ‘Kambe zingaki izisebenzi zikababa ezidla zize zitshiye, kodwa nanku mina ngisifa yindlala! Ngizasuka ngibuyele kubaba ngifike ngithi kuye: Baba, ngenzile isono phambi kwezulu lakuwe. Kangisafanelanga ukuthiwa ngiyindodana yakho; ngenza ngibe njengomunye wezisebenzi zakho.’ Ngakho yaphakama yaya kuyise. “Kodwa kwathi ilokhu isebucwala uyise wayibona wayizwela isihawu; wagijimela kuyo indodana yakhe, wayigona, wayanga. “Indodana yathi kuye, ‘Baba, ngenzile isono phambi kwezulu lakuwe. Kangisafanelanga ukuthiwa ngiyindodana yakho.’ “Kodwa uyise wathi ezincekwini zakhe, ‘Phangisani! Lethani isigqoko esihle okudlula ezinye limgqokise. Lifake indandatho emunweni wakhe, limgqokise lamanyathela ezinyaweni zakhe. Beseliletha ithole elinonisiweyo lilihlabe. Kasenzeni idili sithokoze. Ngokuba indodana yami le yayisifile kodwa isiphila njalo; yayilahlekile manje isifunyenwe.’ Waqalisa manje umkhosi wokujabula.

UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe wathi, “Kwakulendoda eyayinothile eyayilomphathi owetheswa icala lokuthi wayechithachitha inotho yayo. Yambiza yambuza yathi, ‘Kuyini lokhu engikuzwayo ngawe? Landisa kuhle ukuthi uhambisa njani izinto ngokuba ungeke usaba ngumphathi njalo.’ “Umphathi wazibuza wathi, ‘Ngizakuthini? Inkosi yami isingithathela umsebenzi wami. Kangilamandla okugebha, njalo ngilezinhloni zokucela  — Ngiyazi engizakwenza ukuthi nxa ngilahlekelwa ngumsebenzi wami lapha abantu bazangemukela ezindlini zabo.’ “Ngakho yase ibiza labo ababelezikwelede enkosini yayo ngamunye. yathi kowokuqala, ‘Isikwelede sakho enkosini yami singanani?’ “Wathi, ‘Ngamalitha amafutha e-oliva azinkulungwane ezine.’ “Umphathi wamtshela wathi, ‘Phangisa, thatha incwadi yakho yesikwelede ubhale izinkulungwane ezimbili.’ “Yasibuza owesibili wathi, ‘Wena ulesikwelede esinganani?’ “Wathi, ‘Siyimigodla yengqoloyi eyinkulungwane.’ “Yamtshela yathi, ‘Thatha incwadi yakho yesikwelede ubhale amakhulu aficamibili. “Inkosi yamncoma lowomphathi owayeliqili ngokuba wayenze ukuhlakanipha. Ngokuba abantu balo umhlaba balezindledlana zabo zokuhlakanipha ekuphathaneni kwabo okudlula abantu bokukhanya. Ngiyalitshela ngithi sebenzisani inotho yomhlaba ukuzuza abangane, ukuze kuthi nxa isiphelile lizakwamukelwa ezindlini ezimi lanininini.

“Lowo ongathenjwa ngokuncinyane angathenjwa njalo ngokunengi, ikanti lowo ongathembekanga ngokuncinyane angeke njalo athembeke ngokunengi. Ngakho, uma belingathembekanga ekuphatheni inotho yasemhlabeni, pho ngubani ongalithemba ngenotho yeqiniso na? Njalo uma belingathembekanga ngempahla yomunye umuntu, ngubani kambe ozalipha impahla ibe ngeyenu na?

“Kakulanceku engakhonza amakhosi amabili. Izazonda enye ithande enye, loba izazinikela kwenye iyizonde enye. Lingeze lakhonza kanyekanye uNkulunkulu leMali.” AbaFarisi, ababeyithanda imali, bakuzwa konke lokhu bamklolodela uJesu.

“Kwakulendoda enothileyo eyayigqoka izigqoko zombala oyibubende lezelembu lelineni iphakathi kobutifitifi izinsuku zonke. Entubeni yomuzi wayo kwakuhlezi isiceli esasithiwa nguLazaro, ethe minci ngezilonda emzimbeni eloyisa ukudla lokho okwakukhithika etafuleni yesicebi, futhi lezinja zazifika zikhothe izilonda zakhe. “Kwafika isikhathi isiceli safa, izingilosi zasithwala zasisa eceleni lika-Abhrahama. Lesicebi laso safa sambelwa. Sasisesihogweni lapho esasitshwatshwama khona; sakhangela ngaphaya sabona u-Abhrahama ekude le, kuloLazaro eceleni kwakhe. Sasesimemeza sathi, ‘Baba Abhrahama, ake ungihawukele uthume uLazaro agxamuze isihloko somunwe wakhe emanzini apholise ulimi lwami, ngokuba ngisebuhlungwini emlilweni lo.’ “Kodwa u-Abhrahama waphendula wathi, ‘Ndodana, khumbula ukuthi ngesikhathi usaphila wazuza izinto zakho ezinhle, kodwa uLazaro wemukela izinto ezimbi, kodwa manje useduduzwa lapha, ikanti wena usebuhlungwini. Njalo ngaphandle kwakho konke lokhu, phakathi kwethu lawe kulodonga olukhulu, ukwenzela ukuthi labo abafisa ukuza ngapho besuka lapha bangeke, futhi kakho ongapho ongachaphela ngakithi.’ “Saphendula sathi, ‘Uma kunjalo-ke, ngiyakuncenga, baba, thuma uLazaro endlini kababa, ngoba ngilabafowethu abahlanu. Kafike abaxwayise, ukuze labo bangezi kule indawo yobuhlungu.’ “U-Abhrahama waphendula wathi, ‘BaloMosi labaPhrofethi; kabalalele bona.’ “Sathi, ‘Hatshi, baba Abhrahama, kodwa aluba kusuka umuntu kwabafileyo aye kubo bazaphenduka.’ “Wathi kuso, ‘Nxa bengalaleli uMosi labaPhrofethi, kabasoze bavume loba omunye angaze avuke kwabafileyo.’ ”

Lowo ozama ukulondoloza impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, lalowo olahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe uzayilondoloza.

Ngiyazila kabili ngeviki njalo ngiyanikela okwetshumi okwenzuzo yami yonke.’

UJesu esekuzwile lokho wathi kuye, “Usasilele into eyodwa. Thengisa konke olakho uphe abampofu, uzakuba lenotho ezulwini. Usungeza-ke, ungilandele.” Wathi esezwe lokhu wadana kakhulu ngokuba wayeyindoda eyayinothe kakhulu.

UJesu wamkhangela wathi, “Kulukhuni kabi ukuthi abanothileyo bawungene umbuso kaNkulunkulu! Ngempela kulula ukuthi ikamela lingene embotsheni yenalithi kulokuthi umuntu onothileyo awungene umbuso kaNkulunkulu.” Labo abakuzwayo lokho babuza bathi, “Ngubani pho ongasindiswa na?” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Lokho okungenzekiyo emandleni abantu kuyenzakala kwakaNkulunkulu.”

UPhethro wathi kuye, “Sesadela konke esasilakho sakulandela!” UJesu wathi kubo, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi kakho osetshiye ikhaya loba umfazi kumbe abafowabo loba abazali kumbe abantwana ngenxa yombuso kaNkulunkulu ozakwehluleka ukuzuza ngokuphindwe kanengi esikhathini samanje lesikhathini esizayo, ukuphila okungapheliyo.”

Kodwa uZakhewu wasukuma wathi eNkosini, “Khangela, Nkosi! Okwamanje nje senginika ingxenye yenotho yami kwabampofu, njalo uma ngike ngadlelezela omunye umuntu loba ngakuphi, ngizambhadala ngokuphindwe kane lokho engakuthathayo.”

Wathi, “Indoda ethile yasesikhosini ngokuzalwa yaya elizweni elikude isiyagcotshwa ubukhosi anduba ibuye. Yasibiza izinceku zayo ezilitshumi yazinika imali engamamina alitshumi. Yathi, “Yisebenziseni imali le ngize ngibuye. “Kodwa labo bantu ayezababusa babemzonda umuntu lo bathumela izigijimi ukumlandela ziyokuthi, ‘Kasimfuni lumuntu ukuthi abe yinkosi yethu.’ “Wabekwa waba yinkosi, loba kunjalo, wasebuya ekhaya. Wasebiza izinceku lezo ayezinike imali, ukuze ezwe ukuthi zazithole nzuzo bani ngayo. “Owokuqala weza wathi, ‘Mnumzana, imina yakho izuze amanye alitshumi.’ “ ‘Wenze kuhle, nceku yami enhle!’ kusitsho inkosi yayo. ‘Ngenxa yokuthi uthembekile ngento encinyane, usuzabusa amadolobho alitshumi.’ “Owesibili weza wathi, ‘Mnumzana, imina yakho isizele amanye amahlanu.’ “Inkosi yayo yaphendula yathi, ‘Busa phezu kwamadolobho amahlanu.’ “Kwase kusiza enye inceku yathi, ‘Mnumzana, nansi imina yakho; bengiyigcinile igoqelwe elenjini. Ngibengikwesaba wena ngokuba uyindoda elukhuni. Ucupha lokho ongakuthelanga phakathi, uvune lokho ongakuhlanyelanga.’ “Inkosi yayo yaphendula yathi, ‘Ngizakucala ngamazwi akho, wena nceku exhwalileyo! Ubukwazi, angithi, ukuthi ngingumuntu olukhuni, ngicupha lokho engingakuthelanga, ngivune lokho engingakuhlanyelanga? Kungani pho ungabekanga imali yami enzalisweni ukuze kuthi ekubuyeni kwami ngiyithathe isilenzuzo na?’ “Yasisithi kwababemi khonapho, ‘Mthatheleni imina le alayo liyiphe lowo olamamina alitshumi.’ “Basebesithi, ‘Mnumzana, kanti angithi uvele uselalitshumi?’ “Yaphendula yathi, ‘Ngithi kini, lowo olakho uzaphiwa okunye okunengi, kodwa lowo ongelalutho, lalokho alakho uzakwemukwa.

Wasengena eThempelini wadudula ababethengisa khona wabaxotsha, esithi kubo, “Kubhaliwe ukuthi, ‘Indlu yami iyindlu yokukhuleka; kodwa lina seliyenze ubhalu lwamasela.’ ”

Kufanele yini ukuthi sibhadale imithelo kuKhesari na, loba hatshi?” Wabubona ubuqili babo wathi kubo, “Ngitshengisani idenariyu. Kulomfanekiso kabani lombhalo kabani kuyo?” Baphendula bathi, “NgokaKhesari.” Wathi kubo, “Pho nikani uKhesari okungokukaKhesari, linike uNkulunkulu okungokukaNkulunkulu.”

Wathi ethalaza uJesu wabona izinothi ziphosela iminikelo yazo esitsheni. Wabona njalo umfelokazi ongumyanga ephosela okuzinhlamvana kwethusi okubili. Wathi, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ngithi umfelokazi lo ongumyanga unikele okudlula bonke abanye. Bonke lababantu banikele becupha enothweni; kodwa yena ngobuyanga bakhe uphosele konke abe lakho ukuthi kumphilise.”

Emagumeni ethempeli wafumana abantu bethengisa izinkomo, izimvu lamajuba, labanye behlezi ematafuleni bentshintsha izimali. Yikho waseseluka izintambo wenza isaswebhu wabadudula bonke emagcekeni ethempeli, konke izimvu lezinkomo; wayichithiza imali yabantshintshi bayo, wagenqula amatafula abo. Wathi kulabo ababethengisa amajuba, “Akhupheni lapha! Likuthatha ngaphi ukwenza indlu kaBaba umkambo wokuthengiselana na?” Abafundi bakhe bakhumbula ukuthi kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ukunqinekela indlu yakho kuzangidla ngaphakathi.”

Lingasebenzeli ukudla khona okubolayo, kodwa sebenzelani ukudla okuhlalayo, okwempilo engapheliyo, elizakuphiwa yiNdodana yoMuntu. UBaba usebeke kuyo uphawu lwakhe lokuyibeka.”

UJesu wachaza wathi, “Ngiyisinkwa sokuphila. Lowo ozayo kimi kasoze afa alamba, lalowo okholwa kimi kasoze aphinde ome.

Isela lilanda ukweba lokubulala lokubhubhisa kuphela; mina ngilande ukuze zibe lokuphila, zibe lakho ngokugcweleyo. “Ngingumalusi olungileyo. Umalusi olungileyo unikela ukuphila kwakhe izimvu zakhe.

Kodwa omunye wabafundi bakhe, uJudasi Isikariyothi, owayezamnikela muva wasola wathi, “Kungani amakha la engathengiswanga imali yaphiwa abampofu? Intengo yawo ibinganela umholo womnyaka wonke.” Kakutshongo lokhu ngoba ebanakekela abampofu kodwa ngokuba elisela; njengomgcinisikhwama wayandise ukuzisiza ngalokho okwakufakwa phakathi kwaso. UJesu waphendula wathi, “Myekele. Kwakuqondwe ukuthi amakha la awabekele usuku lokungcwatshwa kwami. Lizahlala lilabo abampofu phakathi kwenu, kodwa mina kaliyikuhlala lilami.”

Ngiqinisile ngithi uBaba uzalinika loba yini eliyicelayo ngebizo lami. Kuze kube manje kalikaceli lutho ngebizo lami. Celani, lizakwamukeliswa, ukuze ukuthokoza kwenu kuphelele.

Wonke amakholwa ayendawonye, ehlanganyela kukho konke. Bathengisa izinto zabo lezimpahla zabo banika loba ngubani oswelayo. Izinsuku zonke baqhubeka behlangana emagumeni ethempeli, njalo behlephula isinkwa emakhaya abo besidla ndawonye ngezinhliziyo ezimhlophe, eziqinisekileyo,

UPhethro wasesithi, “Isiliva kumbe igolide kangilakho, kodwa engilakho ngikunika khona. Ebizweni likaJesu Khristu waseNazaretha, sukuma uhambe.”

Wonke amakholwa ayenhliziyo nye, engqondo nye. Kakho owathi okwakhe ngokwakhe yedwa kodwa babelana ko-nke ababelakho. Abaphostoli baqhubeka ukufakaza ngamandla amakhulu ngokuvuka kukaJesu inkosi, bonke babusiseka kakhulu. Kakho owayeswela phakathi kwabo. Kwakusithi izikhathi ngezikhathi labo ababe leziqinti loba izindlu bazithengise balethe imali yentengo bayethule kubaphostoli yabelwe loba ngubani ngokuswela kwakhe.

UJosefa, umLevi waseKhuphro, abaphostoli ababembiza ngokuthi nguBhanaba (okutsho ukuthi, Ndodana yeNkuthazo), wathengisa isivande esasingesakhe waletha imali wayethula kubaphostoli.

Indoda eyayithiwa ngu-Ananiya ilomkayo uSafira labo bathengisa isiqinti sabo. Wavumelana lomkakhe ukuthi afihle enye imali ibe ngeyabo, kwathi enye wayethula kubaphostoli. UPhethro wasesithi, “Ananiya, kwenzeka kanjani ukuthi uSathane usegabhele inhliziyo yakho usuze uqamba amanga kuMoya oNgcwele, wazigcinela ingxenye yemali eliyizuzileyo ngesiqinti senu na? Kanti besingesisenu yini singakathengiswa? Njalo lapho sesithengisiwe, imali ibingaqondananga lani na? Kuyini okubangele ukuthi ukhumbule ukwenza into enje na? Kawuqambelanga muntu amanga lawo kodwa uwaqambele uNkulunkulu.”

Kwathi uSimoni ebona ukuthi uMoya wawuphiwa ngokubekwa izandla ngabaphostoli wabahuga ngemali esithi, “Ngiphani lami lawomandla ukuze kuthi wonke lowo engimbeka izandla azuze uMoya oNgcwele.” UPhethro waphendula wathi, “Sengathi imali yakho ingabhubha kanye lawe ngokuba ucabanga ukuthi ungasithenga isipho sikaNkulunkulu ngemali!

Abafundi bazimisela ukunika usizo kubazalwane ababehlala eJudiya, ngulowo enika ngokwamandla akhe.

Kangihawukelanga siliva samuntu, loba igolide kumbe izembatho. Lina ngokwenu liyakwazi ukuthi izandla zami lezi zapha zonke iziswelo zami leziswelo zabakhula bami. Kukho konke engakwenzayo ngalibonisa ukuthi ngalendlela yokusebenza nzima kumele sisize ababuthakathaka, sikhumbula amazwi eNkosi uJesu athi: ‘Ukupha kubusisekile okudlula ukwamukela.’ ”

ngakho wena ofundisa abanye, kambe lawe kawuzifundisi na? Wena otshumayela ngokungebi, uyeba na?

Esikhundleni salokho: “Uma isitha senu silambile, sipheni ukudla; uma somile, sinikeni okunathwayo. Ngokwenza lokhu, lokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda laso.”

Ngenxa yalokhu futhi yikho nje lithela imithelo, ngoba ababusi bayizinceku zikaNkulunkulu, ezinikela isikhathi sazo sonke ekubuseni. Phanini abantu bonke okungokwabo: Uma ungathelanga, thela imithelo, uma kuyikuqoqwa kwemali, iqoqeni. Uma kuyikuhlonipha, hloniphani; uma kuyikudumisa, dumisani. Lingayekeli umlandu ungahlawulwanga, ngaphandle kokuqhubeka komlandu wokuthandana, ngoba lowo othanda umuntu wakibo usewugcwalisile umthetho. Imilayo ethi, “Ungafebi,” “Ungabulali,” “Ungebi,” “Ungahawukeli” kanye leminye imilayo engabe ikhona ihlanganiswa ngumthetho lo othi: “Thanda umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.”

Kalazi yini ukuthi abaxhwalileyo kabayikudla ilifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu? Lingakhohliswa. Akulazifebe ezixhwalileyo loba abakhonza izithombe loba iziphingi loba amawule esilisa loba abesilisa abaphinganayo loba amasela loba izihwaba loba izidakwa loba abanyeyayo loba amaqili azakudla ilifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu.

Loba nginganika abayanga konke engilakho nginikele lomzimba wami emalangabini, kodwa ngingelalo uthando, kangizuzi lutho.

Mayelana lomnikelo onikelelwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu: Yenzani lokhu engatshela amabandla aseGalathiya ukuba akwenze. Ngosuku lwakuqala maviki wonke, yilowo lalowo wenu kabeke eceleni imali ethile kusiya mayelana leholo lakhe, ayigcine, ukuze kuthi ekufikeni kwami kungabi lokuqoqa okwenziwayo.

Kodwa inotho le silayo ezimbizeni zebumba ukubonakalisa ukuthi amandla la amakhulukazi avela kuNkulunkulu hatshi kithi.

Ngakho amehlo ethu kasiwakhangelisanga kokubonakalayo, kodwa kokungabonakaliyo. Ngoba okubonakalayo kuyedlula, kodwa okungabonakaliyo kakuyikuphela.

Siyakwazi ukuthi uma ithente lethu lasemhlabeni lidilizwa, silesakhiwo esivela kuNkulunkulu, indlu elaphakade ezulwini, engakhiwanga ngezandla zabantu.

Ngoba ngiyafakaza ukuthi anikela okunengi njengayengakwanelisa, kanye lokudlula amandla awo. Bona ngokwabo, basincenga ngokuphangisa ukuba babe lethuba lokuhlanganyela kulokhukusebenzela abangcwele. Kabenzanga njengesasikulindele, kodwa bazinikela eNkosini kuqala, muva bazinikela kithi kuvumelana lentando kaNkulunkulu.

Ngoba liyawazi umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu, ukuthi lanxa wayenothile, kodwa waba ngumyanga ngenxa yenu, ukuze kuthi ngobuyanga bakhe lina linothe.

Ngoba uma isifiso sikhona, isipho siyamukeleka mayelana lalokho umuntu alakho, hatshi mayelana lalokho angelakho. Isifiso sethu akusikuthi abanye bakhululwe lina lilokhu licindezekile, kodwa ukuba kube lokulingana. Ngalesisikhathi ngenala yenu lizabanika abakuswelayo, ukuze kuthi labo ngenala yabo baliphe elikuswelayo. Lapho-ke kuzakuba lokulingana, njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Lowo owabutha okunengi kabanga lokunengi kakhulu, lalowo owabutha okulutshwana kabanga lokulutshwana kakhulu.”

Ngakho ngibone kufanele ukukhuthaza abazalwane ukuba balethekele mandulo baqedise amalungiselelo esipho esihle elasithembisa sona. Ngalesosikhathi sizakuba sesilungile njengesipho esihle, hatshi esinikelwe ngomona.

Khumbulani lokhu: Lowo ohlanyela okunengi uvuna okunengi. Umuntu ngamunye kanike lokho amise enhliziyweni yakhe ukukunikela, kungabi luhonono loba ngokubanjwa ngamandla, ngoba uNkulunkulu uthanda onikela ngokuthokoza. Njalo uNkulunkulu ulamandla okwenza umusa wande kini, ukuze kuthi ezintweni zonke ngezikhathi zonke, lilakho konke elikuswelayo, lizakuba lokunengi kuyo yonke imisebenzi emihle. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Uhlakazele izipho zakhe kubayanga ezindaweni zonke; ukulunga kwakhe kumi kuze kube laphakade.”

Lowo onika umhlanyeli inhlanyelo lesinkwa sokudla uzanika njalo aqhelise isiphala senu senhlanyelo, andise lesivuno sokulunga kwenu. Lizanothiswa ngezindlela zonke ukuze liphane mathuba wonke, kuthi ngathi ukupha kwenu kulethe ukubongwa kukaNkulunkulu. Umsebenzi lo eliwenzayo kawuqedi ziswelo zabantu bakaNkulunkulu kuphela, kodwa ugcwele amazwi amanengi okubonga uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yomsebenzi eselizibonakalise ngawo, abantu bazamdumisa uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokulalela okukanye lokuvuma kwenu ivangeli likaKhristu, kanye lomusa wenu ekwabelaneni labo kanye labanye futhi.

Abakucelayo kuphela nje yikuthi kumele siqhubeke sikhumbula abayanga, yona kanye into engangitshisekela ukuyenza.

Umthetho wonke uhlanganiswa ngumlayo owodwa othi: “Thanda umakhelwana wakho njengoba uzithanda.”

Lingakhohliswa: UNkulunkulu angeke ahlekwa. Umuntu uvuna lokho akuhlanyelayo. Lowo ohlanyela ukuthokozisa imvelo yakhe yesono, kuleyomvelo uzavuna ukuchitheka; lowo ohlanyela ukuthokozisa uMoya, kuMoya uzavuna ukuphila okulaphakade. Kasingadinwa yikwenza okuhle, ngoba ngesikhathi esifaneleyo sizavuna isivuno uma singadeli. Ngakho-ke, njengokuba silethuba, kasenzeni okulungileyo ebantwini bonke, ikakhulu kulabo abangabemuli yabakholwayo.

Lanxa ngimncane kulabancane bonke babantu bakaNkulunkulu, umusa lo ngawunikwa: ukuba ngitshumayele kwabezizweni inotho kaKhristu engacubungulekiyo,

Lowo obekade entshontsha kangantshontshi futhi, kodwa kumele asebenze, enze ulutho olusizayo ngezandla zakhe, ukuze abe langakwabela abaswelayo.

Lowo lalowo wenu kangakhathaleli inzuzo yakhe kuphela kodwa akhathalele lenzuzo yabanye.

Kodwa loba kuyini okwakuyinzuzo kimi khathesi ngikubala njengokulahlekelwa ngenxa kaKhristu. Phezu kwalokho, konke ngikubona kuyize lapho kulinganiswa lobukhulu obumangalisayo bokwazi uKhristu Jesu iNkosi yami, esengilahlekelwe yizinto zonke ngenxa yakhe. Ngizibala njengemfucuza, ukuba ngizuze uKhristu

Kangitsho lokhu ngenxa yokuthi ngiyaswela, ngoba sengafunda ukwaneliseka loba kuyisimo bani. Ngiyakwazi ukuba ukuswela kuyini, njalo ngiyakwazi ukuba kuyini ukuba lokunengi. Sengafunda imfihlo yokwaneliseka kuzo zonke izimo, langabe ngiyasutha loba ngilambile, loba ngilokunengi kumbe ngiswela. Ngingazenza zonke izinto ngaye onginika amandla. Kodwa kwakukuhle ukuba lihlanganyele lami ekuhluphekeni kwami. Phezu kwalokho, lina maFiliphi, liyakwazi ukuba ezinsukwini elaqala ngazo ukwazi ivangeli, ekusukeni kwami eMakhedoniya, akukho lalinye ibandla elahlanganyela lami endabeni yokunika lokwamukela, ngaphandle kwenu kuphela; ngoba lalapho ngise-Thesalonika, langithumela usizo njalonjalo lapho ngangingoswelayo. Akusikuthi ngifuna isipho, kodwa ngifuna okuzakuba yinzuzo kini. Sengamukele umvuzo ogcweleyo lodlulisileyo; ngiphiwe okwaneleyo, njengoba khathesi sengamukele ku-Ephafroditu izipho elazithumelayo. Zingumnikelo wephunga elimnandi, umhlatshelo owamukelekayo, othokozisa uNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wami uzalinika konke elikuswelayo mayelana lenotho yakhe emangalisayo kuKhristu uJesu.

Bekani izingqondo zenu ezintweni eziphezulu, hatshi ezintweni zasemhlabeni.

Thokozani kokuphela; khulekani kokuphela; bongani kukho konke, ngoba lokhu kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ngani kuKhristu uJesu.

Ngoba lalapho sasilinika umlayo lo: “Uma umuntu engafuni ukusebenza, kangadli.”

Ngifuna ukuba abesifazana bagqoke ngokuchumileyo, ngokuhle lokufaneleyo, kungabi ngezinwele ezelukiweyo loba igolide loba amangqongqo loba izigqoko ezidulayo,

Uma umuntu enganakekeli izihlobo zakhe, ikakhulu abendlu yakwabo, uselulahlile ukholo lwakhe njalo mubi kakhulu kulongakholwayo.

Kodwa-ke ukulalela uNkulunkulu ngokusuthiseka kuyinzuzo enkulu. Ngoba akulalutho esalulethayo emhlabeni, njalo akulalutho esingasuka lalo kuwo. Kodwa uma silokudla lezigqoko kumele sisuthiseke ngalokho. Abantu abafuna ukunotha bawela ezilingweni lasemijibileni lasezinkanukweni ezinengi zobuthutha ezilimazayo eziwisela abantu ekufeni lasekubhujisweni. Ngoba ukuthanda imali kuyimpande yezinhlobo zonke zobubi. Abanye abantu, ngokutshisekela imali, baphambuka ekukholweni bazibangele izinsizi ezinengi.

Balaye labo abanothileyo kulo umhlaba wakhathesi ukuba bangazikhukhumezi loba babeke ithemba labo enothweni engathembekanga, kodwa ukuba babeke ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu, osinika kakhulu konke okwentokozo yethu.

Abantu bazakuba ngabazithandayo, labathanda imali, labazikhukhumezayo, labazigqajayo, labathukayo, labangalaleli abazali babo, labangabongiyo, labangcolileyo,

Njengoba umbonisi ephathiswe umsebenzi ka-Nkulunkulu, kumele angabi lasici  —  angazikhukhumezi, ongazondi masinya, ongasiso sidakwa, ongathandi ukulwa, ongadingi inzuzo ngobuqili.

UMelikhizedekhi lo wayeyinkosi yaseSalemu lomphristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke. Wahlangabeza u-Abhrahama evela kwehlula amakhosi, wambusisa, u-Abhrahama wamnika okwetshumi kwakho konke. Okwakuqala, ibizo lakhe litsho ukuthi “Nkosi yokulunga;” lokuthi futhi, “Nkosi yaseSalemu” kutsho ukuthi “Nkosi yokuthula.” Engelayise loba unina, engelamdabuko, engelakuqala kwezinsuku loba ukuphela kokuphila, njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu uhlezi engumphristi nini lanini. Ake licabange ukuthi wayemkhulu kangakanani: Lokhokho u-Abhrahama wamnika okwetshumi kwempango! Khathesi umthetho ufuna abenzalo kaLevi ababa ngabaphristi ukuba baqoqe okwetshumi ebantwini  —  lokhu kutsho abafowabo  —  lanxa abafowabo beyinzalo ka-Abhrahama. Kodwa umuntu lo kazange abonakalise umdabuko wakhe usukela kuLevi, kodwa waqoqa okwetshumi ku-Abhrahama njalo wambusisa yena lowo owayelezithembiso. Kakulakuthandabuza ukuthi umuntu omncinyane ubusiswa ngomkhulu. Kwesinye isehlakalo, okwetshumi kuthathwa ngabantu abafayo; kodwa kwesinye isehlakalo, kube ngulowo okuthiwe uyaphila. Umuntu angatsho lokuthi uLevi, oqoqa okwetshumi, wanikela okwetshumi ngo-Abhrahama, ngoba lapho uMelikhizedekhi ehlangabeza u-Abhrahama, uLevi wayelokhu esesemzimbeni kakhokho wakhe.

Ngokukholwa uMosi, esekhulile, wala ukuba aziwe njengendodana yendodakazi kaFaro. Wakhetha ukuphathwa kubi kanye labantu bakaNkulunkulu kulokuba akholise injabulo yesono okwesikhathi esifitshane. Wakhetha ihlazo ngenxa kaKhristu njengegugu elikhulu kulengcebo yaseGibithe, ngoba wayekhangelele umvuzo phambili.

Ekuphileni kwenu xwayani ukuthanda imali lisuthiseke ngalokho elilakho, ngoba uNkulunkulu wathi, “Kangisoze ngilitshiye; kangisoze ngilidele.”

Njalo lingakhohlwa ukwenza okulungileyo kanye lokwabela abanye, ngoba uNkulunkulu uyathokoza ngemihlatshelo enje.

Umzalwane olesimo esiphansi kumele aziqhenye ngesikhundla sakhe esiphezulu. Kodwa lowo onothileyo kumele aziqhenye ngesikhundla sakhe esiphansi, ngoba uzadlula njengeluba leganga. Ngoba ilanga liphuma litshisa okuhangulayo libunise ihlumela, umqhakazo walo uwohloke lobuhle balo buphele. Ngokufanayo umuntu onothileyo uzanyamalala esawenza umsebenzi wakhe.

Zonke izipho ezinhle lezipheleleyo zivela phezulu, zehlele phansi zivela kuYise wezibane zasezulwini, ongaguquki njengemithunzi etshudukayo.

Kasithi umuntu ufika emhlanganweni wenu egqize indandatho yegolide egqoke lezigqoko ezinhle, besekungena umyanga egqoke izigqoko ezinithizelayo. Nxa limnaka kakhulu lowo ogqoke izigqoko ezinhle lithi kuye, “Nansi isihlalo esingcono,” kodwa kongumyanga lithi, “Wena mana laphayana,” kumbe lithi, “Hlala phansi eduze kwezinyawo zami,” kalibandlululanga njalo laba ngabahluleli abalemicabango emibi na? Lalelani, bazalwane bami abathandekayo: Konje uNkulunkulu kabakhethanga yini labo abangabayanga emehlweni omhlaba ukuba babe ngabanothileyo ekukholweni kanye lokudla ilifa lombuso awuthembisa labo abamthandayo na? Kodwa lina libathukile abayanga. Abanothileyo akusibo yini abadinga inzuzo ngani? Akusibo yini abalihudulela emithethwandaba? Akusibo yini abahlambaza ibizo lobukhosi elalowo lina elingabakhe na?

Uma liwugcina sibili umthetho wobukhosi otholakala eMbhalweni othi, “Thanda umakhelwana wakho njengalokhu uzithanda,” lenza okulungileyo.

Kusizani bazalwane bami, uma umuntu esithi ulokholo kodwa engelazenzo? Ukholo olunjalo lungamsindisa na? Kasithi umzalwane loba umzalwanekazi kalazigqoko lokudla kwansuku zonke. Uma omunye wenu esithi kuye, “Hamba, ngikufisela okuhle; hlala ukhudumala njalo usutha,” kodwa angenzi lutho ngaleziziswelo zakhe zomzimba, kusizani na? Ngokunjalo, ukukholwa nje kuphela, uma kungelamisebenzi kufile.

Lapho licela, kaliphiwa ngoba licela ngenjongo embi, ukuba lichithe lokho elikuzuzayo ezinjabulweni zenu.

Lalelani lina elithi, “Lamhla loba kusasa sizakuya kuleli loba kuleliyana idolobho, siqede umnyaka khona, senze imisebenzi sizuze imali.” Kungani, kalikwazi lokuzakwenzakala kusasa. Ukuphila kwenu kuyini na? Liyinkungu ebonakala okwesikhatshana ibe isinyamalala. Kodwa kumele lithi, “Uma kuyintando yeNkosi sizaphila senze lokhu loba lokhuyana.”

Lalelani lina bantu abanothileyo, khalani lilile ngenxa yosizi oluzayo phezu kwenu. Inotho yenu isibolile, lezigqoko zenu sezidliwe zinondo. Igolide lenu lesiliva senu sekuthombile. Ukuthomba kwakho kuzafakaza kubi ngani kudle inyama yemizimba yenu njengomlilo. Libuthelele inotho ezinsukwini zokucina.

Khangelani! Imiholo elingayibhadalanga izisebenzi ezavuna amasimu enu iyalikhalela. Ukukhala kwabavuni sekufikile ezindlebeni zeNkosi uSomandla. Emhlabeni lihlale ngentokozo langokuzitika. Lizinonisele mhla kuhlatshiwe.

Zifikile ukuze ukukholwa kwenu  —  okuqakatheke kakhulu kulegolide, elonakalayo lanxa licengwe ngomlilo  —  kubonakaliswe kuqotho njalo kulethe ukubonga, lenkazimulo kanye lodumo lapho uJesu Khristu esebonakaliswa.

Ngoba liyakwazi ukuthi kalihlengwanga ngezinto ezifayo ezinjengegolide lesiliva endleleni yokuphila eyize elakutshiyelwa ngokhokho benu,

Ubuhle benu kabungaveli ekuziceciseni kwangaphandle, okunjengezinwele ezelukiweyo lokugqiza izigqizo zegolide kanye lokugqoka izigqoko ezinhle. Kodwa kumele bube ngobangaphakathi kwenu, ubuhle obungapheliyo bomoya omnene lothuleyo, oligugu elikhulu emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.

Lingawuthandi umhlaba loba olunye ulutho olusemhlabeni. Uma umuntu ethanda umhlaba, uthando lukaBaba kalukho kuye. Ngoba izinto zonke ezisemhlabeni  —  izinkanuko zabantu abalezono  —  ukulangazela kwamehlo abo kanye lokuzigqaja ngezimpahla  —  akuveli kuBaba kodwa emhlabeni. Umhlaba lezinkanuko zawo kuyadlula, kodwa umuntu owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uphila kuze kube nininini.

Uma umuntu enothile abone umzalwane wakhe oswelayo kodwa angabi lesihawu kuye, uthando lukaNkulunkulu lungaba kuye kanjani na? Bantwana abathandekayo, kasingathandi ngamazwi loba ulimi kuphela kodwa ngezenzo langeqiniso.

Ngakho njengoba ubuthukuthuku  —  ungatshisi njalo ungaqandi  —  sekuseduze ukuba ngikukhafule emlonyeni wami. Wena uthi, ‘Nginothile; sengazuza inotho njalo kangisweli lutho.’ Kodwa kawunanzeleli ukuthi uyahlupheka, ulusizi, ungumyanga, uyisiphofu njalo unqunu. Ngiyakucebisa ukuba uthenge kimi igolide elihlanjululwe emlilweni, ukuze unothe; ugqoke izigqoko ezimhlophe, ukuze uvale ubunqunu bakho obulihlazo, lamafutha okugcoba amehlo akho ukuze ubone.

Ngasengisizwa okwakungathi yilizwi phakathi kwezidalwa ezine eziphilayo lisithi, “Ilitha elilodwa lamabele umholo wosuku, lamalitha amathathu ebhali umholo wosuku, njalo ungoni amafutha lewayini!”

Amakhosi omhlaba, lamakhosana, lezinduna zamabutho, lezinothi, labalamandla, lezigqili zonke kanye labantu bonke abakhululekileyo, bacatsha ezimbalwini kanye lasemadwaleni ezintaba. Babiza izintaba lamadwala besithi, “Welani phezu kwethu lisifihle ebusweni balowo ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi kanye laselakeni lweWundlu!

Njalo sabamba abantu bonke ngamandla, abancane labakhulu, abanothileyo labayanga, abakhululekileyo kanye lezigqili, ukuba babekwe uphawu ezandleni zabo zokudla loba emabunzini abo, ukuze angabi khona ozathenga kumbe athengise ngaphandle kokuba elophawu lolo, olulibizo lesilo leso loba inombolo yebizo laso.

“Abathengisi basemhlabeni bazayikhalela bayililele ngoba kasekho othenga impahla yabo  — imithwalo yegolide, leyesiliva, leyamatshe aligugu, leyobuhlalu; eyelineni elihle, leyokulubende, leyesilika lelembu elibomvu gebhu; izinhlobo zonke zezigodo zesithironi, lezinhlobo zonke zezinto ezenziwe ngezimpondo zendlovu, lezigodo ezidulayo, lethusi, lensimbi kanye lelitshe elimhlophe; imithwalo yesinamoni leyeziyoliso, eyempepha, leyemure kanye leyamakha, eyewayini lamafutha e-oliva, eyefulawa ecolekileyo kanye lengqoloyi; inkomo lezimvu; amabhiza lezinqola, lezigqili kanye lemiphefumulo yabantu. Bazakuthi, “Izithelo owawuzikhanuka zisukile kuwe. Yonke inotho yakho lenkazimulo sekunyamalele, kakuyikutholakala futhi.”

Abathengisi ababethengisa lezizinto bezuza inotho yabo kuyo bazakuma khatshana betshaywa luvalo ngokuchukuluzwa kwayo. Bazalila babubule njalo bakhale kakhulu besithi: ‘Maye! Maye, O dolobho elikhulu, eligqoke ilineni elihle, lokulubende lokubomvu, lelikhazimulayo ngegolide, langamatshe aligugu kanye lobuhlalu! Ngehora linye nje inotho enengi kangaka isichithiwe!’ “Izinduna zonke zemikhumbi, labo bonke abahamba ngayo, labatshayeli, labo bonke abazuza ukuphila kwabo elwandle, bazakuma khatshana.

Wasesithi kimi, “Sekwenzakele. Mina ngingu-Alfa lo-Omega, ukuQala lokuCina. Lowo owomileyo ngizamnathisa emthonjeni wamanzi okuphila kungekho mbadalo.

UMoya lomlobokazi bathi, “Woza!” Ozwayo katsho athi, “Woza!” Loba ngubani owomileyo, keze; njalo loba ngubani ofisayo, kathathe isipho esingabhadalelwayo samanzi okuphila.