27 – Ukuhlupheka

kodwa ungadli isihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi, ngoba ungaze usidle uzakufa ngempela.”

Kowesifazana wathi, “Ngizakwandisa ngokuphindiweyo izinhlungu zakho nxa ubeletha; ngobuhlungu uzazala abantwana. Inkanuko yakho izakuba sendodeni yakho, yona izabusa phezu kwakho.” Ku-Adamu wathi, “Ngokuba ulalele umkakho wadla isihlahla engangikulaye ngathi, ‘ungaqali ukusidla,’ “Uthukiwe umhlabathi ngenxa yakho; ngobuhlungu uzakudla okuphuma kuwo zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakho. Uzamila ameva lezihlahlana zameva azahlaba wena, njalo uzakudla izihlahla zeganga. Ngezithukuthuku zebunzi lakho uzakudla ukudla kwakho uze ubuyele emhlabathini, njengoba wathathwa kuwo; ngokuba uluthuli njalo uzabuyela othulini.”

UJehova wasesithi, “Impela ngilubonile usizi lwabantu bami eGibhithe. Ngibazwile bekhala ngenxa yezinduna zezigqili ezibacindezelayo, njalo ngiyaphisekela ukuhlupheka kwabo. Ngakho ngehlile ukuzabakhulula ezandleni zamaGibhithe ngibakhuphe kulelolizwe ngibase elizweni elilendawo enengi, ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju endaweni yamaKhenani, amaHithi, amaAmori, amaPherizi, amaHivi lamaJebhusi. Ukukhala kwabako-Israyeli sekufikile kimi, njalo sengibonile lendlela amaGibhithe abahlukuluza ngayo.

UJehova uzalilwela; lina manini lithule.”

Wathi, “Uma lilalela kakuhle ilizwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, lenze okulungileyo kuye, lilandele imilayo yakhe njalo ligcine lezimemezelo zakhe, kangisoze ngilehlisele iziga lezo engazehlisela amaGibhithe; ngoba nginguJehova olisilisayo.”

ngoba lingakwenza, besebekhala kimi ngizakuzwa ukukhala kwabo;

Mkhonzeni uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, kuzakuthi isibusiso sakhe sibe phezu kokudla laphezu kwamanzi enu. Ngizasusa imikhuhlane phakathi kwenu,

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

“ ‘Ngizaletha ukuthula elizweni lenu, kungekho muntu ozalethusa. Ngizasusa izinyamazana eziyingozi elizweni; inkemba ayiyikwedlula phakathi kwelizwe lenu.

njalo uma lizakwala izimiso zami, linengwe yimithetho yami, lingenzi okwemilayo yami yonke, ngalokho lephule isivulwameno sami, ngizakwenza lokhu kini: Ngizalilethela ukwesaba okukhulu izifo ezicikizayo, loqhuqho oluzafiphaza amehlo enu, lunciphise impilo yenu. Lizahlanyela inhlanyelo ingasizi ngalutho, ngoba izitha zenu zizayidla. Ngizaliphendukela lehlulwe yizitha zenu, abalizondayo bazalibusa; lizabaleka lanxa kungekho olixotshayo.

Nxa selisesizini zonke lezizinto sezilehlela, lapho-ke ngezinsuku ezizayo lizabuyela kuJehova wenu limlalele. Phela uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu unguJehova olomusa; kayikulidela loba alibhubhise loba alibale isivumelwano sakhe asenza labokhokho benu, leso asiqinisa kubo ngesifungo.

UJehova uzaliphephisa emikhuhlaneni yonke. Kayikulehlisela imikhuhlane yonke eyesabekayo elaliyibona eGibhithe, kodwa uzayehlisela kulabo abalizondayo.

Izigqoko zenu aziguganga njalo lezinyawo zenu azivuvukanga kuleyo minyaka engamatshumi amane. Gcinani lokhu ezinhliziyweni zenu lazi ukuthi njengendoda ikhuza indodana yayo, ngokufananayo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyalikhuza. Gcinani imilayo kaJehova wenu lihambe endleleni yakhe njalo limkhonze.

Uyavikela izimfanelo zezintandane kanye labafelokazi, njalo uyabathanda abangabezizweni phakathi kwenu, ubanika ukudla lezambatho.

Khangelani, lamuhla ngifaka phambi kwenu isibusiso lesithuko  — isibusiso nxa lilalela imilayo kaJehova wenu engilinika yona lamuhla; isithuko nxa lingalaleli imilayo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu njalo libe selitshiya indlela engilikhomba yona ngokulandela abanye onkulunkulu, elingabaziyo.

Lapho liphuma ukuya kulwa lesitha senu empini libe selibona amabhiza lezinqola kanye lebutho elikhulu ukwedlula elenu, lingabesabi, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, owalikhupha eGibhithe, uzakuba lani.

Uba limlalela ngokupheleleyo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu njalo lilandele yonke imilayo yakhe engilitshela yona lamuhla ngonanzelelo, uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uzaliphakamisa ngaphezu kwezizwe zonke emhlabeni.

Lamuhla nginxusa izulu lomhlaba ukuba ngofakazi bami ukumelana lani ngisithi sengimise phambi kwenu ukuphila loba ukufa, izibusiso leziqalekiso. Khathesi zikhetheleni ukuphila, ukuze kuthi lina kanye labantwabenu libe lokuphila kanye lokuthi limthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, lilalele ilizwi lakhe, libambelele liqine kuye, ngoba uJehova uyikuphila kwenu, njalo nguye ozalinika iminyaka eminengi lihlezi elizweni afunga ukuba uzalinika okhokho benu, u-Abrahama, u-Isaka loJakhobe.

Qinani libe lesibindi. Lingesabi lithithibale ngenxa yabo, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uhamba lani, kayikulitshiya njalo kayikulifulathela.”

UJehova ngokwakhe uhamba phambi kwakho njalo uzakuba lawe; kasoze akutshiye loba akufulathele. Ungesabi; ungapheli amandla.

Angithi liyazibonela ukuthi Mina ngiNguye! Kakho omunye unkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami. Ngiyabhubhisa njalo ngiyaphilisa. Ngilimazile njalo ngelaphile kakho ongakhululwa esandleni sami.

Angikulayanga na? Qina ube lesibindi ungethuki njalo ungalahli ithemba, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uzakuba lawe loba kungaphi lapho oya khona”

UJoshuwa wathi kubo, “Lingesabi; lingadangali qinani libe lezibindi. Lokhu yikho okuzakwenziwa nguJehova kuzo zonke izitha elizalwisana lazo.”

“UJehova uletha ukufa njalo enze ukuphila, wehlisela phansi engcwabeni njalo avuse. 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.

UDavida wakhela uJehova ialithare khonapho wasenikela imihlatshelo yokutshiswa leminikelo yobudlelwano. Laphoke uJehova waphendula ukukhulekelwa kwelizwe, isifo saphela ko-Israyeli.

Ngalezonsuku uHezekhiya wagula, waba seduze lokufa. Umphrofethi u-Isaya indodana ka-Amozi waya kuye wafika wathi: “Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova: Lungisa indlu yakho, ngoba uzakufa; awuyikusila.” UHezekhiya waphendula ubuso bakhe wakhangela emdulini wakhuleka kuJehova wathi, “Khumbula, O Jehova ukuthi bengiziphethe njani phambi kwakho ngokwethembeka, ngokuzinikela ngenhliziyo yami yonke njalo ngenze okulungileyo emehlweni akho.” UHezekhiya walila kabuhlungu. U-Isaya engakasuki egumeni elingaphakathi, kwafika ilizwi likaJehova kuye lisithi: “Buyela uyetshela uHezekhiya, umkhokheli wabantu bami uthi, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova, uNkulunkulu kayihlo uDavida. Uthi: Ngiwuzwile umthandazo wakho njalo ngizibonile lezinyembezi zakho; ngizakusilisa. Ngosuku lwesithathu kusukela khathesi uzakhwela uye ethempelini likaJehova. Ngizakwengezelela iminyaka elitshumi lanhlanu empilweni yakho. Ngizakukhulula wena kanye lawo umuzi esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya. Ngizawuvikela umuzi lo ngizenzela mina njalo ngisenzela inceku yami uDavida.’ ”

Jabulani ebizweni lakhe elingcwele; kazithokoze izinhliziyo zabo abafuna uJehova. Funani uJehova lamandla akhe, limdinge yena njalonjalo. Khumbulani izenzo zakhe ezimangalisayo azenzayo, izimangaliso azenzayo, lezahlulelo azikhulumayo,

nxa abantu bami, ababizwa ngebizo lami, bezazithoba bakhuleke badinge ubuso bami njalo batshiye izindlela zabo ezimbi, kulapho ngizakuzwa khona ngisezulwini ngithethelele izono zabo njalo ngiphephise ilizwe labo. Ngalokho amehlo ami azavuleka, lezindlebe zami zizalalela imikhuleko eyenziwa kulindawo.

Yena ulengalo yenyama kuphela, kodwa thina siloJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukusisiza lokusilwela izimpi zethu.” Abantu baba lesibindi ngenxa yalokho okwatshiwo yinkosi yakoJuda uHezekhiya.

isigijimi safika kuJobe sathi, “Izinkabi bezilima labobabhemi besidla eduze khonapho, kwafika amaSabhini ahlasela aqhuba konke ahamba. Izisebenzi azicakazile ngenkemba kwasala mina ngedwa engisindileyo ukuzakubikela!” Sisakhuluma esinye isigijimi safika sathi, “Umlilo kaNkulunkulu wehla uvela phezulu wazitshisa izimvu lezisebenzi, kwasala mina ngedwa ukuzakubikela!” Elokhu esakhuluma kwafika esinye isigijimi sathi, “AmaKhaledi abe yimikhakha emithathu ehlela emakamelweni akho awaqhuba ahamba lawo. Izisebenzi azilalise phansi ngenkemba kwasila mina ngedwa ukuzakubikela!” Elokhu esakhuluma kwafika njalo esinye isigijimi sathi, “Amadodana lamadodakazi akho abesidla edilini enatha iwayini endlini yomnewabo omdala, kwathi masinyane vungu isivunguzane siqhamuka enkangala saphekula amagumbi womane endlu. Ithe mbo phezu kwabo bahle bafa, kwasila mina ngedwa ukuzakubikela!” Ekuzwa lokho uJobe wasukuma wadabula isambatho sakhe, waphuca ikhanda lakhe. Wazilahla phansi wakhonza

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

USathane waphendula wathi, “Isikhumba ngesikhumba! Umuntu anganikela loba yini alayo ukusiza impilo yakhe. Kodwa yelula isandla sakho umtshaye inyama lamathambo akhe, uzabona uzakuthuka ekukhangele.” UJehova wathi kuSathane, “Kulungile, usezandleni zakho, kodwa ungayithinti impilo yakhe.” Yikho uSathane wasesuka phambi kukaJehova wathela uJobe izilonda ezibuhlungu kusukela ngaphansi kufika esicholo sekhanda lakhe. UJobe wasethatha ucezu lodengezi wazihwaya ngalo yena esehlezi esilotheni.

Umkakhe wathi kuye, “Ulokhu ubambelele kubo ubuqotho bakho na? Mthuke uNkulunkulu uzifele!” Waphendula wathi, “Ukhuluma njengomfazi oyisiwula. Sizakwamukela okuhle kuNkulunkulu singalwamukeli uhlupho na?” Kukho konke lokhu uJobe kenzanga isono ngakutshoyo.

Kwathi abangane bakaJobe abathathu, u-Elifazi umThemani, uBhilidadi umShuhi loZofa umNamathi, sebezwile ngazo zonke izinhlupho ezazimwele basuka emakhaya abo bahlangana bavumelana ukuthi bahambe bayomqinisa bamduduze. Bathi bembona besesebucwala kabaze bamazi; baqhinqa isililo, badabula izambatho zabo, bathela uthuli emakhanda abo. Basebehlala phansi laye okwezinsuku eziyisikhombisa lobusuku obuyisikhombisa. Kakho kubo owatsho ulutho kuye ngoba babona ubuhlungu obukhulu ayebuzwa.

“Ubusisiwe umuntu oqondiswa nguNkulunkulu; ngakho ungaseyisi isijeziso sikaSomandla. Ngokuba uyagwaza, kodwa aphinde abophe amanxeba; uyalimaza kodwa izandla zakhe njalo ziyapholisa.

Lalapho ngizabe ngilokhu ngilale induduzo intokozo yami ebuhlungwini obungadediyo  —  ukuthi bengingawaphikanga amazwi akhe oNgcwele. “Ngilamandlana bani ukuthi ngibe lokhu ngithemba? Ngisamelelwe yini ukuba ngibe ngilokhu ngibekezela?

“Indoda esilahlekelwa lithemba iswela ukuxhaswa ngabangane, lokuba angabe isidele ukwesaba uSomandla.

Umzimba wami uphihlika impethu lamathuthuva, isikhumba sami siyobukile siyabhibhidla.

Ulokhu ezajinge agcwalise umlomo wakho ngohleko lezindebe zakho ngokumemeza ngentokozo.

“Senginengwa yimpilo yami; ngakho sengizasola ngingasathikazi ngithulule ubuhlungu bomphefumulo wami.

Uzalukhohlwa ngempela uhlupho lwakho, lufike nje engqondweni njengezikhukhula ezadlulayo. Impilo izakhanya kulemini enkulu, lobumnyama buzakuba njengasekuseni. Uzavikeleka, ngoba ithemba likhona; uzathalaza langaphi kwakho uzuze ukuphumula uvikelekile. Uzazilalela, kungekho okwethusayo, njalo abanengi bazabe sebezisondeza kuwe.

Kodwa lina lingigcona ngamanga; lonke liyizinyanga ezingelamsebenzi!

Angaze angibulale kodwa ngizakwala ngithemba kuye; ngizazivikela izindlela zami phambi kwakhe.

Yikho-ke umuntu uyacikizeka njengento ebolileyo, njengesigqoko esidliwe yinondo.

Uzwa kuphela ubuhlungu bomzimba wakhe azikhalele yena.”

Angiselalutho ngaphandle kwesikhumba lamathambo kuphela; ngisile manayinayi.

Ngiyazi ukuthi uMhlengi wami uyaphila, lokuthi ekupheleni uzakuma emhlabeni. Kuzakuthi nxa isikhumba sami sesibhujisiwe, kodwa ngikuyo inyama yami ngizambona uNkulunkulu;

“Manje impilo yami isincipha; izinsuku zokuhlupheka zingibambe nko. Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami; lokuqaqamba kobuhlungu bami kakupheli.

Ukudunguluka ngaphakathi kwami kakukhawuli; izinsuku zokuhlupheka zingijamele. Ngihamba nje ngimnyama kubi, kungesikutshiswa lilanga; ngiyasukuma enkundleni ngicele uncedo. Sengingumfowabo wamakhanka, umkhula wezikhova. Isikhumba sami siba mnyama, siyaxathuka; umzimba wami uyatshisa ngomkhuhlane.

Loba umuntu angajeziswa ngobuhlungu esembhedeni wakhe, langokuqaqamba okungathuliyo emathanjeni akhe, aze ezwe umzimba wakhe usunengwa yikudla lomoya wakhe usenyanya lokudla okumnandi kakhulu. Inyama yakhe iyacikizeka iphele, lamathambo akhe ayekade evaliwe abonakale egcekeni. Umoya wakhe uyasondela egodini, lempilo yakhe kuzo izigijimi zokufa.

“Ake sithi umuntu athi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Ngilecala kodwa kangisayikona njalo. Ngifundisa lokho engingakuboniyo; aluba ngenzile okubi, kangisayikuphinda ngikwenze.’

UJobe esebakhulekele abangane bakhe, uJehova wamenza waphumelela njalo wamupha okunengi okuphindwe kabili kwalokho ayelakho kuqala. Bonke abafowabo labodadewabo kanye lobani owayemazi ngaphambili weza ukuzakudla laye endlini yakhe. Bamkhalela, bamzwela ngakho konke ukuhlupheka uJehova ayemehlisele khona, kwathi ngulowo lalowo wamupha ulutho lwesiliva kanye lesongo legolide.

Amakhosi omhlaba azimisele lababusi bahlangana ndawonye ukumelana loJehova njalo bamelane lalowo Ogcotshiweyo Wakhe. Bathi, “Kasiwaqamuleni amaketane abo, silahle izibopho zabo.” Yena osesihlalweni ezulwini uyahleka; uJehova ubahleka ulunya.

Kodwa wena uyisihlangu sokungivikela, O, Jehova; ungethesa inkazimulo, uphakamise ikhanda lami. Ngikhala kakhulu kuJehova laye angiphendule esentabeni yakhe engcwele. Ngiyalala phansi ngijumeke; ngibuye ngiphaphame, ngoba uJehova uyangilondoloza. Angiyikubesaba abangamatshumitshumi ezinkulungwane abangihlaselayo inxa zonke.

Ngizalala phansi ngijunywe yibuthongo ngilokuthula, ngokuba wena wedwa, O Jehova, uhlezi ungilondolozile.

Woba lomusa kimi, Jehova, ngokuba ngiphela amandla; O Jehova, ngisilisa, ngoba amathambo ami alobuhlungu. Umoya wami udabukile. Koze kube nini, O Jehova, koze kube nini? Phenduka, O Jehova, ungikhulule; ngihlenga ngenxa yothando lwakho olungehlulekiyo.

UJehova uyisiphephelo sabacindezelweyo, uyinqaba ezikhathini zokuhlupheka. Labo abalaziyo ibizo lakho bazathemba kuwe, ngoba wena, Jehova, kawubafulatheli abakudingayo.

O Jehova, ake ubone ukuthi izitha zami zingichukuluza njani! Yiba lesihawu ungenyule emasangweni okufa,

Kodwa wena, O Nkulunkulu, uyalubona uhlupho losizi; uyakunanzelela ukuze ulamule. Ongelamandla uzilahla kuwe; wena ungumsizi wezintandane.

Koze kube nini ngitshukumisana lemicabango yami, inhliziyo yami ihlale idabukile izinsuku zonke na? Koze kube nini isitha sami sitshakala phezu kwami? Ngizwela ungiphendule, O Jehova Nkulunkulu wami. Khanyisela amehlo ami funa ngihle ngilale kokuphela;

Sengibeke uJehova phambi kwami kokuphela. Njengoba ekwesokunene sami, angiyikuzanyazanyiswa. Ngakho-ke inhliziyo yami iyathokoza lolimi lwami luyajabula; lomzimba wami uzaphumula uvikelekile, ngokuba kawuzukungidela ngize ngiye engcwabeni, njalo kawuyikuyekela Ongcwele wakho abone ukubola. Usungazisile indlela yempilo; uzangigcwalisa ngokuthaba phambi kwakho, ngenjabulo engapheliyo kwesokunene sakho.

Ngilondoloza njengegugu lakho; ngifihla ethunzini lamaphiko akho, kwababi abangihlaselayo, ezitheni zami ezimbi ezingihanqileyo.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. ElikaDavida inceku yeNkosi. Wahlabelela uJehova amazwi engoma le lapho uJehova ayemkhulule esandleni sezitha zakhe zonke lasesandleni sikaSawuli. Wathi: Ngiyakuthanda, O Jehova, mandla ami. UJehova ulidwala lami, inqaba yami, lomkhululi wami; uNkulunkulu wami ulidwala lami, ngiphephela kuye. Uyisihlangu sami lophondo lokusindiswa kwami, inqaba yami. Ngiyambiza uJehova, ufanele ukudunyiswa, ngikhululwe ezitheni zami. Izibopho zokufa zangihilela; izikhukhula zokubhubhisa zangigabhela. Izibopho zengcwaba zangithandela; imijibila yokufa yaqondana lami. Ekukhathazekeni kwami ngamemeza kuJehova; ngakhala kuNkulunkulu wami ngicela usizo. Walizwa ilizwi lami esethempelini lakhe; ukukhala kwami kwafinyelela kuye, ezindlebeni zakhe.

Ngokuba keyisanga loba adelele ukuhlupheka kwalowo ohlukuluzwayo; kamfihlelanga ubuso bakhe kodwa walalela ukukhala kwakhe ecela ukusizwa.

Ihubo likaDavida UJehova ungumalusi wami, angiyikuswela. Uyangilalisa emadlelweni aluhlaza, ungikhokhelela emanzini apholileyo, uvuselela umphefumulo wami. Uyangihola ezindleleni zokulunga ngenxa yebizo lakhe. Loba ngidabula esigodini sethunzi lokufa, angiyikwesaba okubi ngokuba wena ulami; intonga yakho lodondolo lwakho kuyangithokozisa. Ulungisa itafula phambi kwami emehlweni ezitha zami. Ugcoba ikhanda lami ngamafutha; inkomitsho yami igcwele iyaphuphuma. Impela okuhle lothando kuzangilandela zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwami, njalo ngizahlala endlini kaJehova kuze kube nininini.

Phendukela kimi ube lobubele kimi, ngokuba ngilesizungu, ngikhathazekile. Izinhlupheko zenhliziyo yami sezandile; ngikhulula ekudabukeni kwami. Khangela ukukhathazeka kwami lokuhawula kwami, ususe zonke izono zami.

ElikaDavida UJehova uyikukhanya kwami lensindiso yami  —  ngizakwesaba bani na? UJehova uyinqaba yokuphila kwami  —  ngubani engingamesaba na? Nxa ababi bengihlasela bezodlithiza inyama yami, lapho izitha zami labangizondayo bengihlasela, bazakhubeka bawe. Loba impi ingivimbezela, inhliziyo yami kayizukwesaba; loba ngivukelwa yimpi, loba kunjalo ngizakuma isibindi. Yinye into engiyicelayo kuJehova, yilokhu engikudingayo: ukuba ngihlale endlini kaJehova zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwami, ngibuke ubuhle bukaJehova, lokuthi ngimdinge ethempelini lakhe. Phela ngosuku lokuhlupheka uzangilondoloza emuzini wakhe, uzangifihla esiphephelweni sethabanikeli lakhe angimise phezulu esiqongweni sedwala.

Loba obaba lomama bengangidela, uJehova uzangemukela.

UJehova ungamandla ami lesihlangu sami; inhliziyo yami yethemba kuye, ngiyancedwa. Inhliziyo yami iyaqolotsha ngentokozo njalo ngizambonga ngehubo.

Awu Jehova, Nkulunkulu wami, ngacela kuwe uncedo wangisilisa. Yebo Jehova wangenyula elibeni, wangisiza ngaphepha ukungena egodini. Hlabelelani kuJehova lina bangcwele bakhe; dumisani igama lakhe elingcwele. Ngokuba ukuthukuthela kwakhe ngokomzuzwana nje, kodwa umusa wakhe ukhona okwempilo yonke; ukulila kungaqhubeka ubusuku bonke, kodwa ukuthokoza kuyafika ekuseni.

“Kulenzuzo bani ngokubhujiswa kwami na, ngokutshona kwami egodini? Kambe uthuli luzakudumisa na? lona luzafakaza na ngokuthembeka kwakho? Zwana, O Jehova, ube lomusa kimi; woba lusizo lwami.” Waguqula ukububula kwami kwaba ngumgido; wangihlubula izigqoko zamasaka wangigqokisa ukuthokoza, ukuze inhliziyo yami ikuhlabelele ingathuli. O Jehova, Nkulunkulu wami, ngizakubonga nini lanini.

Ngipha indlebe yakho, woza ngokuphangisa ungihlenge; woba lidwala lami lokuphephela, inqaba eqinileyo yokungisindisa. Njengoba ulidwala lami lenqaba yami, ngikhokhela ungihole ngenxa yegama lakho.

Woba lomusa kimi, O Jehova, ngokuba ngiyahlupheka; amehlo ami ayafiphala ngenxa yosizi, umphefumulo wami lomzimba wami ngokudabuka. Impilo yami incitshiswa yikukhathazeka. leminyaka yami yikububula; amandla ami ayadeda ngenxa yokuhlupheka kwami, lamathambo ami aphela amandla. Ngenxa yezitha zami, sengiyinhlekisa enjani kubomakhelwana; sengiyinunu kubangane bami  —  labo abangibonayo ezindleleni bayangibalekela. Sebekhohliwe ngami kungathi sengafa; senginjengembiza yebumba ehlephukileyo.

Izikhathi zami zisezandleni zakho; ngisindisa ezitheni zami lakulabo abangizingelayo.

Ngathi lapho ngithule, amathambo ami ababuthakathaka ngenxa yokububula kwami ilanga lonke. Ngokuba imini lobusuku isandla sakho sasingelekile; amandla ami aphela kwafana lesikhudumezi sehlobo.

Kodwa amehlo kaJehova akulabo abamesabayo, kulabo othemba labo lisethandweni lwakhe olungapheliyo, ukubakhulula ekufeni baphiliswe lanxa kulendlala.

Ingilosi kaJehova iyabazungeza labo abamesabayo, ibakhulule.

Amehlo kaJehova akhangele abalungileyo lezindlebe zakhe ziyezwa ukukhala kwabo; ubuso bukaJehova bumelana labenza okubi, ukuba acitshe ukukhunjulwa kwabo emhlabeni. Abalungileyo bayakhala kuJehova abezwe; uyabakhulula kuzo zonke izinhlupheko zabo. UJehova useduze labo abalezinhliziyo ezephukileyo asindise labo abadabukileyo emoyeni. Umuntu olungileyo angaba lezinhlupheko ezinengi, kodwa uJehova uyamkhulula kuzo zonke. Uyawavikela wonke amathambo akhe, kungephuki loba lalinye.

Ikanti kwathi bona begula ngembatha amasaka ngazithoba ngazila ukudla. Kwathi lapho imithandazo yami ingaphendulwa ngaba sesililweni kwangathi ngililela umngane wami loba umfowethu. Ngakhothamisa ikhanda lami ngokudabuka kwangathi ngililela umama.

Luligugu elinganani uthando lwakho olungaphuthiyo! Bonke abantu abayizikhulu labahluphekayo bazuza isiphephelo emthunzini wamaphiko akho. Bayazitika ngokudla okunengi endlini yakho; ubapha okunathwayo okwemfuleni wakho wokuthokoza. Ngoba kuwe kulomthombo wokuphila; kokwakho ukukhanya sibona ukukhanya.

kodwa uJehova uyabahleka ababi, ngokuba uyazi ukuthi usuku lwabo luyeza. Ababi bakhokha inkemba, banweba idandila ukulimaza abahluphekayo labaswelayo, ukubulala labo abandlela zabo ziqotho. Kodwa izinkemba zabo zizagwaza ezabo izinhliziyo, lamadandila abo azakwephulwa.

Nanzelela abangelecala, qaphela abaqotho. Likhona ikusasa kumuntu wokuthula.

Ngenxa yokuthukuthela kwakho kangiselakuphila emzimbeni wami; amathambo ami kawasaqinanga ngenxa yesono sami. Ukona kwami sekungisinda njengomthwalo onzima ongathwalekiyo. Izilonda zami sezilobovu sezisenyanyeka ngenxa yobuthutha bami besono. Ngiyangiswe ngehliswa kakhulu; sengitshona ngilila ilanga lonke. Ngiphethwe liqolo ngobuhlungu obuqumayo; umzimba wami kawuselampilo. Sengibuthakathaka, sengicubuzekile; ngiyabubula ngobuhlungu benhliziyo. Zonke iziloyiso zami zisobala kuwe, O Jehova; ukububula kwami kakufihlekanga kuwe. Inhliziyo yami iyagubhaza, amandla ami ayaphela; lokukhanya sekufiphele emehlweni ami.

Susa uswazi lwakho kimi; sengikhulelwa yisidutshulo sesandla sakho. Abantu uyabakhuza ubajezisele isono sabo; ucikiza inotho yabo njengenondo  —  umuntu ngamunye ungumoya nje. “Zwana umthandazo wami, O Jehova, lalela isikhalazo sami ngicela uncedo; ungabi ligcikandlebe nxa ngikhala. Phela ngihlala lawe nginjengesihambi, ngiyisethekeli njengoba okhokho bonke babenjalo.

Wangenyula emgodini ototayo, wangikhupha edakeni lexhaphozini; wamisa izinyawo zami edwaleni, wangipha indawo eqinileyo yokuma. Wangipha ingoma entsha emlonyeni wami, ihubo lokudumisa kuNkulunkulu wethu. Abanengi bazabona besabe babeke ithemba labo kuJehova.

Ungasigodli isihawu sakho kimi, O Jehova; sengathi uthando lwakho leqiniso lakho kungahlala kungivikele.

UJehova uzamqinisa lanxa elele egula njalo amsilise avuke ekuguleni kwakhe. Ngathi, “O Jehova ake ungihawukele; ngisilisa, ngoba ngonile kuwe.”

Kungani wephukile na, hawu mphefumulo wami? Kungani udungekile kanje ngaphakathi kwami? Beka ithemba lakho kuNkulunkulu, ngoba ngisezakumdumisa, uMsindisi wami loNkulunkulu wami. Umphefumulo wami wephukile ngaphakathi kwami; ngakho ngizakukhumbula kusukela esifundeni seJodani, iziqongo zaseHemoni  —  kusukela entabeni iMizari.

Lapho-ke ngizakuya e-alithareni likaNkulunkulu, kuNkulunkulu, intokozo yami lenjabulo yami. Ngizakudumisa ngechacho, O Nkulunkulu, Nkulunkulu wami. Kungani wephukile, hawu mphefumulo wami? Kungani udungekile kanje ngaphakathi kwami? Beka ithemba lakho kuNkulunkulu, ngokuba ngisezakumdumisa, uMsindisi wami loNkulunkulu wami.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. ElamaDodana kaKhora. Ingoma. UNkulunkulu uyisiphephelo sethu lamandla ethu, usizo oluhlezi lukhona nxa kulohlupho. Ngakho kangiyikwesaba, umhlaba ungaze ubhidlike lezintaba ziwele ekujuleni kolwandle,

“Thulani, lazi ukuba mina nginguNkulunkulu; ngizaphakanyiswa phakathi kwezizwe; ngizaphakanyiswa emhlabeni.” UJehova uSomandla ulathi, uNkulunkulu kaJakhobe uyinqaba yethu.

Ngokuba uNkulunkulu lo nguNkulunkulu wethu nini lanini; uzakuba ngumholi wethu lasekupheleni.

njalo lize kimi mhla lisekuhluphekeni; ngizalikhulula, lani lizangidumisa.”

Mangizwe intokozo lokuthaba; makuthi amathambo owacobozileyo ajabule.

Imihlatshelo kaNkulunkulu iyinhliziyo edabukileyo; inhliziyo edabukileyo, ezisolayo, hawu Nkulunkulu, kawuyikuyilahla.

Abalungileyo bazabona besabe; bazamhleka bathi, “Nangu-ke manje umuntu lo ongenzanga uNkulunkulu inqaba yakhe kodwa wathemba inotho yakhe enkulu wakhula waba lamandla ngokuwisa abanye!”

Uyangihlenga ngingakalimali kuleyompi engihlaselayo, loba bebanengi abaxabana lami.

Yethula iziswelo zakho kuJehova yena uzakusekela; akazukuyekela abalungileyo bawe.

Nxa ngisesaba ngizathemba kuwe. KuNkulunkulu, engidumisa ibizo lakhe, ngithemba kuye uNkulunkulu; angiyikwesaba. Umuntu wenyama angenzani kimi? Ilanga lonke batshona behlanekela amazwi ami; balandele izinyathelo zami betshisekela ukucitsha impilo yami.

Bhala phansi isililo sami; bhala ithonsi ngalinye lezinyembezi zami emqulwini wakho  —  kazikho yini emibhalweni yakho?

kuNkulunkulu ngiyathemba; angiyikwesaba. Umuntu angenzani kimi na? Ngibanjwe yizifungo kuwe, O Nkulunkulu; ngizakwethula umnikelo wami wokubonga kuwe. Ngokuba ungikhulule ekufeni lezinyawo zami lapho ngikhubeka, ukuze ngihambe phambi kukaNkulunkulu ekukhanyeni kwempilo.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. Itshuni ethi, “Ungabhidlizi.” ElikaDavida. Imikithami. Ngesikhathi ebalekele uSawuli wacatsha ebhalwini. Woba lesihawu kimi, O Nkulunkulu, woba lomusa kimi, ngokuba umphefumulo wami uphelela kuwe. Ngizaphephela ethunzini lamaphiko akho kuze kudlule incithakalo le.

Kodwa wena, O Jehova, uyabahleka; uyazigqabhazela zonke lezozizwe. Hawu Mandla ami, ngiyakulindela; wena, O Nkulunkulu, uyinqaba yami,

Kodwa mina ngizahlabelela ngihaya amandla akho, ekuseni ngizahlabelela ngihaya amandla akho, ngokuba wena uyinqaba yami, isiphephelo sami ezikhathini zokuhlupheka. O wena Mandla ami, ngihlabelela indumiso kuwe; wena, O Nkulunkulu uyinqaba yami, Nkulunkulu wami olothando.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. Kutshaywa iziginci. ElikaDavida. Zwana ukukhala kwami, O Nkulunkulu; lalela umkhuleko wami. Ngisemkhawulweni womhlaba ngiyakubiza, ngiyabiza lapho inhliziyo yami isiphela amandla; ngikhokhelela edwaleni eliphakeme kulami. Ngokuba ube uyisiphephelo sami, inqaba eqinileyo evikela esitheni. Ngiyalangazelela ukuhlala ethenteni lakho laphakade ngizifihle emthunzini wamaphiko akho.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. KuJeduthuni. Ihubo likaDavida. Umphefumulo wami ufumana ukuphumula kuNkulunkulu kuphela; ukusindiswa kwami kuvela kuye. Yena yedwa uyilo idwala lami lensindiso yami; uyinqaba yami, kangisoze ngihlukunyezwe lanini.

Fumana ukuphumula, O mphefumulo wami, kuNkulunkulu kuphela; ithemba lami livela kuye. Yena yedwa ulidwala lami lensindiso; uyinqaba yami, kangisoze ngihlukunyezwe. Insindiso yami lodumo lwami kweyeme kuNkulunkulu; ulidwala lami eliqinileyo, isiphephelo sami. Thembani kuye ngezikhathi zonke, lina bantu; likhuphe konke okusezinhliziyweni zenu kuye, ngokuba uNkulunkulu uyisiphephelo sethu.

Ihubo likaDavida. WayeseNkangala yakoJuda. O Nkulunkulu, unguNkulunkulu wami, ngiyakudinga ngitshiseka; umphefumulo wami uyakomela, umzimba wami uyakudinga, elizweni elomileyo eseligugile lapho okungelamanzi khona. Ngikubonile endlini yakho engcwele ngawabona amandla akho lenkazimulo yakho. Ngokuba uthando lwakho lungcono kulempilo, izindebe zami zizakutsho inkazimulo yakho. Ngizakudumisa kokuphela uma ngisaphila, ngebizo lakho ngizaphakamisa izandla zami. Umphefumulo wami uzasuthiswa ngokudla okuhle okuphilisayo; ngezindebe ezihlabelayo umlomo wami uzakudumisa. Ngisembhedeni wami ngiyakhumbula; ngiyakukhumbula lanxa ngisemlindweni wasebusuku. Ngokuba ulusizo lwami, ngiyahlabelela ngisemthunzini wamaphiko akho. Umphefumulo wami unamathele kuwe; isandla sakho sokunene siyangisekela.

Uyise wezintandane, umlamuleli wabafelokazi, nguNkulunkulu emzini wakhe ongcwele. UNkulunkulu uyabalungisela indawo ezimulini labo abalesizungu, ukhokhela izibotshwa ngokuhlabela; kodwa abahlamuki bahlala elizweni elomileyo.

Lokuba sengiluphele sengiyimpunga ungangideli, O Nkulunkulu, ngize ngifakaze ngamandla akho esizukulwaneni esizayo, amandla akho kubo bonke abalandelayo. Ukulunga kwakho kufika emkhathini, O Nkulunkulu, wena osuwenze izinto ezinkulu. Ngubani, O Nkulunkulu, onjengawe? Loba usungenze ngabona izinhlupheko ezinengi lezibuhlungu, uzangenyula njalo ekujuleni komhlabathi. Uzalwandisa udumo lwami ungiduduze futhi njalo. Ngizakudumisa ngechacho ngenxa yokuthembeka kwakho, O Nkulunkulu wami; ngizahlabelela indumiso kuwe ngomqangala, wena oNgcwele ka-Israyeli. Izindebe zami zizamemeza ngentokozo lapho ngihlabelela indumiso kuwe mina ongisindisileyo.

Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene. Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemuva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini. Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho. Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.

Lamulelani ababuthakathaka lezintandane; melani amalungelo abayanga labahlukuluzwayo.

Umphefumulo wami uyalangazela, uze ungathi uyaphela, amaguma kaJehova; inhliziyo yami lenyama yami kukhalela uNkulunkulu ophilayo. Intaka layo ilizuzile ikhaya, lenkonjane isidleke sayo, lapho ingazalela khona abantwana bayo indawo eduze kwe-alithare lakho, O Jehova Somandla, Nkosi yami loNkulunkulu wami. Babusisiwe labo abahlala endlini yakho; bahlala bekudumisa kokuphela.

Mhla ngiphakathi kokuhlupheka ngizakhala kuwe, ngokuba uzangiphendula.

Ngokuba lukhulu uthando lwakho kimi; ungenyule ekujuleni kwengcwaba.

Khumbula ukwedlula masinyane kwempilo yami. Ngoba wabadalela ize nje abantu! Ngumuntu bani ongaphila angaze abona ukufa, loba azisindise emandleni eliba na?

Umthandazo kaMosi umuntu kaNkulunkulu. Jehova, wena ulikhaya lethu kuzo zonke izizukulwane.

Lowo ohlala ekusithekeni koPhezukonke uzaphumula emthunzini kaSomandla. Ngizakuthi kuJehova, “Uyisiphephelo sami lenqaba yami, uNkulunkulu wami, engithemba kuye.” Ngempela uzakuphephisa emjibileni womthiyi lasesifeni esibi esibulalayo. Uzakusibekela ngezinsiba zakhe, uzuze isiphephelo ngaphansi kwamaphiko akhe; ukuthembeka kwakhe kuzakuba yisihlangu sakho lenqaba yakho. Awuyikwesaba umnyama wobusuku, loba umtshoko ontweza emini, kumbe ingozi ehahabela emnyameni, kumbe umkhuhlane obhubhisayo emini enkulu. Abayizinkulungwane bangawa eceleni lakho; itshumi lezinkulungwane esandleni sakho sokunene, kodwa kakusoze kusondele kuwe.

Ungenza oPhezukonke abe likhaya lakho  —  yena uJehova oyisiphephelo sami  — lapho-ke akulangozi engakuwela, akulamonakalo ozasondela ethenteni lakho. Ngokuba uzayala izingilosi zakhe ngawe zikulinde kuzo zonke izindlela zakho; zizakuphakamisa ezandleni zazo, ukuze ungakhubeki elitsheni. Uzanyathela isilwane lephimpi; uzasigxoba isilwane esikhulu lenyoka. “Ngokuba uyangithanda,” kutsho uJehova, “ngizamkhulula; ngizamvikela, ngokuba uyalinaka ibizo lami. Uzangibiza, ngimphendule; ngizakuba laye ekuhluphekeni, ngizamkhulula ngimenzele udumo. Ngizamsuthisa ngempilo ende ngimtshengise insindiso yami.”

Nxa ukunqineka kwase kungikhulela, induduzo yakho yaletha intokozo emphefumulweni wami.

Kodwa uJehova useyinqaba yami, loNkulunkulu wami ulidwala engiphephela kulo.

Ihubo. Elokubonga. Hlokomani ngentokozo kuJehova, mhlaba wonke. Mkhonzeni uJehova ngenjabulo; wozani phambi kwakhe ngezingoma zokuthokoza. Yazini ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu. Nguye owasenzayo, singabantu bakhe, izimvu zedlelo lakhe. Ngenani emasangweni akhe ngokubonga lemagumeni akhe ngokudumisa; mbongeni lidumise ibizo lakhe. Ngokuba uJehova ulungile lothando lwakhe lumi kuze kube phakade; ukuthembeka kwakhe kumi kuzo zonke izizukulwane.

Umkhuleko womuntu okhathazekileyo. Lapho esephela umoya eseqhinqa isililo phambi kukaJehova. Zwana umkhuleko wami, O Jehova; ukukhala kwami ngicela uncedo kakufike kuwe. Ungangifihleli ubuso bakho nxa ngikhathazekile. Ngipha indlebe yakho; nxa ngibiza ngiphendula masinyane. Ngoba izinsuku zami ziyanyamalala njengentuthu; amathambo ami ayavutha njengamalahle abhebhayo. Inhliziyo yami yonakele, ibunile njengotshani; ngiyakhohlwa ukudla kwami. Ngenxa yokububula kwami okukhulu sengiphelile, isigogo sesinamathela emathanjeni.

Izinsuku zami zifana lesithunzi sakusihlwa; ngiyabuna njengotshani. Kodwa wena, O Jehova, uhlezi ebukhosini lanininini; udumo lwakho lumi ezizukulwaneni zonke.

ElikaDavida Dumisa uJehova, O mphefumulo wami; konke okuphakathi kwami, kakudumise ibizo lakhe elingcwele. Dumisa uJehova, O mphefumulo wami, ungaze wakhohlwa konke asiza ngakho  — othethelelayo zonke izono zakho akusilise zonke izifo zakho, ohlenga impilo yakho egodini akwethese uthando lesihawu,

ngokuba uyakwazi ukuthi sibunjwa njani, uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli. Umuntu yena izinsuku zakhe zinjengotshani, ukhula amemetheke njengembali yeganga; umoya uyayiphephetha ihle inyamalale, indawo yakhe ingabe isayikhumbula lanini. Kodwa kusukela phakade kusiya phakade uthando lukaJehova lukulabo abamesabayo, lokulunga kwakhe ebantwaneni babantwana

Izikhathi ezinengi wabakhulula, kodwa babezimisele ukuhlamuka bacikizeka ngenxa yesono sabo. Kodwa wananzelela ukuhlupheka kwabo esezwile ukukhala kwabo; ngenxa yokubahawukela wakhumbula isivumelwano sakhe, kwathi ngothando lwakhe olukhulu wadeda. Wabenza bahawukelwa yibo bonke ababebathumbile.

Balamba boma, izimpilo zabo zancipha. Basebekhala kuJehova besekuhluphekeni kwabo, wasebakhulula osizini lwabo.

ngokuba ubenza bakholwe abonileyo asuthise abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle. Abanye bahlala emnyameni lasethunzini elinzima beyizibotshwa ezihluphekayo zibotshwe ngamaketane ensimbi, ngoba babewahlamukele amazwi kaNkulunkulu beyisa iseluleko soPhezukonke. Ngakho wabathwalisa umsebenzi onzima; bawa kodwa kungekho ongabasiza. Ngakho basebekhala kuJehova besekuhluphekeni kwabo wabasindisa osizini lwabo. Wabakhupha emnyameni lethunzini elinzima waqamula amaketane abo.

Abanye baba yiziwula ngenxa yezindlela zabo zokuhlamuka badliwa yizinhlupheko ngenxa yokuxhwala kwabo. Benyanya konke ukudla balengela emasangweni okufa. Bakhala kuJehova besekuhluphekeni kwabo, wabasindisa osizini lwabo. Wathumela ilizwi lakhe labasilisa; wabahlenga engcwabeni.

Phumula njalo, we mphefumulo wami, ngoba uJehova ukwenzile ukulunga. Ngokuba wena, O Jehova, uwukhulule umphefumulo wami ekufeni, amehlo ami ezinyembezini, lezinyawo zami azaze zakhubeka, ukuze ngihambe phambi kukaJehova elizweni labaphilayo.

Kuligugu emehlweni kaJehova ukufa kwabangcwele bakhe.

Ngathi ngidabukile ngakhala kuJehova, waphendula ngokungikhulula. UJehova ulami, angiyikwesaba. Umuntu angenzani kimi na?

Kungcono ukuphephela kuJehova kulokuthemba umuntu. Kungcono ukuphephela kuJehova kulokuthemba amakhosana.

Angizukufa kodwa ngizaphila, ngizamemezela lokho akwenzileyo uJehova.

UJehova ungitshayile kakhulu, kodwa kanginikelanga ekufeni.

Ngehliselwe phansi othulini; londoloza impilo yami njengokwelizwi lakho.

Umphefumulo wami ukhathele ngosizi; ngiqinisa njengokwelizwi lakho.

Induduzo yami phakathi kokuhlupheka kwami yile: Isithembiso sakho sigcina impilo yami.

Ngingakabi sekuhluphekeni ngalahleka, kodwa manje sengilalela ilizwi lakho.

Kwakukuhle kimi ukuthi ngihlutshwe ukuze ngifunde izimiso zakho.

Ngiyazi, Jehova, ukuthi imithetho yakho ilungile, lokuthi ungihlukuluzile ngenxa yokuthembeka kwakho. Sengathi uthando lwakho olungaphuthiyo lungaba yinduduzo kimi, njengesithembiso sakho encekwini yakho. Isihawu sakho kasize kimi ukuze ngiphile, umthetho wakho uyikuthokoza kwami.

Aluba umthetho wakho ubungesiyo injabulo yami ngabe ngabhubha ngiphakathi kokuhlupheka kwami. Kangisoze ngafa ngayilibala imithetho yakho, ngoba ngayo uyilondolozile impilo yami.

Sengihlupheke kakhulu; londoloza impilo yami, O Jehova, njengokutshiwo yilizwi lakho.

Uhlupho losizi kuyakungehlele, kodwa imilayo yakho iyikuthokoza kwami.

Usizo lwami luvela kuJehova, uMenzi wezulu lomhlaba.

UJehova uzakuvikela kuzo zonke izingozi  —  uzalinda impilo yakho; UJehova uzalondoloza ukufika kwakho lokusuka kwakho manje kuze kube phakade.

Labo abahlanyela ngezinyembezi bazavuna ngezingoma zentokozo. Lowo ophuma ekhala, ethwele inhlanyelo ukuba ayehlanyela uzabuya ngezingoma zentokozo, ethwele izinyanda.

Ngiyamlindela uJehova, umphefumulo wami uyalinda, ngibeka ithemba lami elizwini lakho. Umphefumulo wami ulindela uJehova okudlula abalindi bemelele ukusa, okudlula abalindi bemelele ukusa.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. Ihubo LikaDavida. Ngilamulela, O Jehova, ebantwini ababi; ngivikela ebantwini bodlakela, abakha amacebo amabi ezinhliziyweni zabo bahlokomise impi ukusa kwamalanga. Benza izindimi zabo zicije njengezenyoka; ubuhlungu benhlangwana busezindebeni zabo.

Ngiyazi ukuthi uJehova ubenzela okulungileyo abayanga, ubamele abaswelayo.

Ihubo likaDavida. Wayesebhalwini. Umthandazo. Ngiyamemeza kakhulu kuJehova; ngiphakamisela ilizwi lami kuJehova ngicela umusa. Ngithululela ukusola kwami phambi kwakhe; phambi kwakhe ngichaza ukuhlupheka kwami. Lapho umphefumulo wami uncipha ngaphakathi kwami, nguwe oyaziyo indlela yami. Endleleni engihamba ngayo abantu bangithiyile khona. Khangela kwesokunene sami ubone; kakho lobani onginanzayo. Angilaso isiphephelo; kakho onakekela impilo yami. Ngikhala kuwe, O Jehova; ngithi, “Uyisiphephelo sami, uyisabelo sami elizweni labaphilayo.” Lalela ukukhala kwami, ngokuba ngileziswelo ezizikileyo, ngikhulula kulabo abaxotshana lami, ngokuba balamandla kakhulu kulami. Ngikhulula entolongweni yami, ukuze ngidumise igama lakho. Lapho-ke abalungileyo bazangibuthanela ngenxa yokulunga kwakho kimi.

Ngiyelula izandla zami kuwe; umphefumulo wami uyakomela njengomhlabathi owomileyo. Ngiphendula masinyane, hawu Jehova; umoya wami uyaphela. Ungangifihleli ubuso bakho funa ngibe njengalabo abaya egodini.

UJehova useduze kulabo abacela kuye, kubo bonke abacela kuye ngeqiniso. Uyagcwalisa izidingo zalabo abamesabayo; uyezwa ukukhala kwabo abasindise. UJehova uyabalinda bonke abamthandayo, kodwa bonke ababi uzababhubhisa. Umlomo wami uzakhuluma ngokudumisa uJehova. Akuthi izidalwa zonke zidumise ibizo lakhe elingcwele kuze kube nini lanini.

Uyabalwela abacindezelwayo anike abalambileyo ukudla. UJehova ukhulula izibotshwa, UJehova wenza iziphofu zibone, uJehova uyabaphakamisa labo asebebhazalele, uJehova uthanda abalungileyo. UJehova uyabalinda abezizweni asekele izintandane labafelokazi, kodwa anyampise izindlela zababi.

Uyabathoba abadabukileyo enhliziyweni abophe amanxeba abo.

Themba kuJehova ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi okwakho ukuzwisisa; mvume kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho. Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uJehova uxwaye okubi. Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.

Inhliziyo ekhathazekileyo iyamcakisa umuntu, kodwa ilizwi elilomusa liyamthokozisa.

Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza ubuso buchelese, kodwa inhiziyo ebuhlungu yephula umoya.

Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.

Ibizo likaJehova liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.

Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?

Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.

Uma uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho! Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.

Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu; kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo. “Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.

Zonke izinto zilesikhathi sazo, konke okwenziwayo ngaphansi kwelanga kulesibanga sakho: isikhathi sokuzalwa lesikhathi sokufa, isikhathi sokuhlanyela lesikhathi sokusiphuna, isikhathi sokubulala lesikhathi sokuphilisa, isikhathi sokubhidliza lesikhathi sokwakha, isikhathi sokukhala lesikhathi sokuhleka, isikhathi sokulila lesikhathi sokugida,

Ibizo elihle lingcono kulamakha amnandi, lelanga lokufa lingcono kulelanga lokuzalwa. Kungcono ukuya endlini yesililo kulokuya endlini yedili, ngoba ukufa kuyisiphetho somuntu wonke; abaphilayo kabakunanzelele lokho. Usizi lungcono kulokuhleka, ngokuba ubuso obudanileyo buyayisiza inhliziyo. Inhliziyo yabahlakaniphileyo isendlini yokulila, kodwa inhliziyo yeziwula isendlini yokuzithokozisa.

Ngezikhathi konke kukuhle, thokoza; kodwa ngezikhathi zobubi, cabanga ukuthi: uNkulunkulu ukwenzile lokhu kanye lalokhuyana njalo. Ngakho-ke umuntu ngeke akwazi ukuthi ikusasa lakhe lizakuba yini.

Kungani kumele litshaywe futhi? Kungani liqhubeka ngokuhlamuka? Ikhanda lakho lonke lilimele, yonke inhliziyo yakho ihlukuluziwe. Kusukela ngaphansi kwentende yonyawo lwakho kusiya esicholo sekhanda lakho akukho kuphelela, kodwa izilonda lemvivinya kuphela, kanye lamanxeba; akugeziswanga, akubotshwanga kumbe kwathanjiswa ngamafutha.

Amazwe wonke alokuphumula lokuthula aphahluka ahlabelele izingoma.

UJehova uzatshaya iGibhithe ngesifo; uzabatshaya aphinde abasilise. Bazaphendukela kuJehova, njalo uzakuzwa imikhuleko yabo abasilise.

Ngalokhu umzimba wami uyafuthelwa, ngiphethwe yibuhlungu obufana lobowesifazana ehelelwa. Ngithithibaliswa yilokhu engikuzwayo, Ngidideka ngalokhu engikubonayo.

Umhlaba uyoma ubune, umhlaba uyahodoza ubune, abaphakemeyo bomhlaba bayahodoza! Umhlaba ungcoliswa ngabantu bawo. kabayilalelanga imithetho, beqe imilayo bephula isivumelwano esingapheliyo. Ngakho-ke umhlaba uchithwa yisiqalekiso; abantu bawo kumele bahlupheke ngenxa yokona kwabo. Ngakho abantu abahlala emhlabeni bayatshiswa, njalo balutshwana kakhulu abaseleyo.

Ubuyisiphephelo sabayanga, isiphephelo soswelayo osizini lwakhe, isivikelo esivunguzaneni. Ngoba umoya wabalolunya unjengesiphepho sitshayeka emdulini,

uzakuginya kokuphela ukufa. UJehova Wobukhosi uzakwesula izinyembezi ebusweni babantu bonke; uzasusa ihlazo labantu bakhe emhlabeni wonke. UJehova usekhulumile.

Lizamemeza abe lokuthula okupheleleyo lowo olengqondo ebambelelayo, ngoba wethemba kuwe. Thembani kuJehova kokuphela, ngoba uJehova, uJehova uliDwala laphakade.

Jehova, usilethela ukuthula; konke esesikufezile sikwenzelwe nguwe.

Kodwa uJehova ulangatha ukuba lomusa kini; uyavuka ukuba alitshengise isihawu. Ngoba uJehova unguNkulunkulu wokulunga. Babusisiwe bonke abamlindeleyo! Awu bantu baseZiyoni, abahlala eJerusalema, alisayikulila. UJehova uzakuba lomusa kini nxa licela usizo. Uzaliphendula khonokho nje ekulizweni kwakhe. Lanxa nje uJehova elinika isinkwa sokuhlupheka lamanzi osizi, abalifundisayo kabayikucatsha futhi; lizababona ngamehlo enu. Loba liphambukele kwesokudla kumbe kwesenxele lizalizwa ilizwi ngemuva kwenu lisithi, “Le yiyo indlela; hambani ngayo.”

Qinisani izandla ezibuthakathaka, liqinise lamadolo axegayo; tshonini kulabo abalezinhliziyo ezilokwesaba lithi: “Qinani, lingesabi; uNkulunkulu wenu uzakuza, uzakuza ukuba alikhulule.” Lapho-ke amehlo eziphofu azavuleka, lezindlebe zezacuthe zivuleke. Lapho-ke abaqhulayo bazakweqa njengempala, izimungulu zihlabele ngokuthokoza. Amanzi azampompoza ogwaduleni, izifula zigeleze enkangala.

Njalo kuzakuba lomgwaqo omkhulu: uzathiwa yiNdlela yobuNgcwele. Abangcolileyo kabayikuhamba kuwo; uzakuba ngowalabo abahamba kuleyoNdlela lezithutha ezonayo kaziyikuhambahamba kuwo. Akuyikuba lesilwane khona. loba esinye isilo esilolaka sivuke kuwo; kaziyikutholwa khona, Kodwa abakhululiweyo yibo kuphela abazahamba lapho, labahlengiweyo bakaJehova bazabuyela. Bazangena eZiyoni behlabela; intokozo engapheliyo izakuba ngumqhele emakhanda abo. Bazakuba lokuthula lenjabulo, usizi lokububula kuzaphela.

Duduzani, duduzani, baduduzeni abantu bami, kutsho uNkulunkulu wenu. Khulumani ngomusa kulo iJerusalema, limemezele kulo ukuthi ukusebenza kwalo nzima sekuphelile, ukuthi isono salo sihlawulwe, ukuthi selamukele okuvela esandleni sikaJehova kuphindwe kabili kuzo zonke izono zalo.

Welusa umhlambi wakhe njengomalusi: ubuthelela amawundlu ezingalweni zakhe awathwale eseduzane lenhliziyo yakhe; awakhokhele kuhle lawo alamazinyane.

Kalazi yini? Kalizwanga na? UJehova unguNkulunkulu waphakade, UMdali wemikhawulo yomhlaba. Kayikudinwa kumbe akhathale, ukuqedisisa kwakhe kakho ongakulinganisa. Abakhatheleyo uyabanika amandla, andise amandla ababuthakathaka. Labatsha baphelelwa ngamandla bakhathale, lamajaha ayakhubeka awe, kodwa labo abathemba uJehova bazawavuselela amandla abo. Bazaqonga ngezimpiko njengezinkozi, bazagijima kodwa bangadinwa, bazahamba kodwa bangapheli amandla.

Ngakho ungesabi, ngoba ngilawe; ungakhathazeki, ngoba nginguNkulunkulu wakho. Ngizakuqinisa, ngikusize; ngizakusekela ngesandla sami sokudla esiqotho.

“Abayanga labaswelayo badinga amanzi, kodwa kawakho; izilimi zabo sezitshile ngokoma. Kodwa mina Jehova ngizabaphendula; mina, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, angiyikubalahla.

Kodwa khathesi, nanku akutshoyo uJehova uthi  —  yena owakudalayo, wena Jakhobe, yena owakubumbayo, wena Israyeli: “Ungesabi, ngoba ngikuhlengile; ngikubize ngebizo lakho; ungowami. Lapho udabula phakathi kwamanzi ngizakuba lawe; lalapho udabula emifuleni, kayiyikukukhukhula. Lapho uhamba phakathi komlilo, kawuyikutsha; amalangabi kawayikukubhebhisa.

Ngenza ukukhanya njalo ngidale umnyama, ngiletha ukuphumelela njalo ngidale incithakalo; mina, uJehova ngiyazenza zonke lezizinto.

Lasebudaleni benu, izinwele zenu sezimhlophe, mina nginguye, nginguye ozaliqinisa. Sengilenzile njalo ngizalithwala; ngizaliqinisa ngilihlenge.

Khangela, ngikulungisile lanxa kungenjengesiliva; ngikuhlole emlilweni wokuhlupheka.

Kabayikulamba kumbe bome, lokutshisa kwasenkangala kumbe okwelanga kabayikukuzwa. Lowo obazwela isihawu uzabakhokhela abase emithonjeni yamanzi.

Hlabelelani ngentokozo lina mazulu; jabula lawe mhlaba; tshayani ingoma lina zintaba. Ngoba uJehova uyabaduduza abantu bakhe njalo uzakuba lesihawu kwabahluphekayo bakhe.

Khangela, sengikudwebe ezintendeni zezandla zami; imiduli yakho ihlezi iphambi kwami.

Ngeqiniso uJehova uzaduduza iZiyoni abe lesihawu kuwo wonke amanxiwa alo; uzakwenza izinkangala zalo zibe njenge-Edeni, amazwe alo alugwadule afane lesivande sikaJehova. Ukuthaba lentokozo kuzafunyanwa kulo, kanye lokubonga lelizwi lokuhlabela.

Abahlengiweyo bakaJehova bazabuya. Bazangena eZiyoni behlabela; ukuthokoza okungapheliyo kuzakuba ngumqhele emakhanda abo. Ukuthaba lokujabula kuzabehlela; usizi lokububula kuzaphela. “Mina, mina uqobo, nginguye oliduduzayo. Ungubani wena ukuba wesabe abantu abafayo, amadodana abantu, abutshani nje,

Ngubani olikholiweyo ilizwi lethu, njalo amandla kaJehova abonakaliswe kubani na? Wakhula phambi kwakhe njengehlumela, lanjengempande emhlabathini owomileyo. Wayengelabuhle lobukhosi ukuba asikhange, kungelalutho esimeni sakhe olungenza simfune. Weyiswa njalo waliwa ngabantu, umuntu wezinsizi, njalo ekujayele ukuhlupheka. Lowo abantu abangafuniyo ukukhangelana laye. Weyiswa, asimhloniphanga. Ngempela wathatha ubucubi bethu wathwala izinsizi zethu, kodwa thina sathi utshaywe nguNkulunkulu, ebethwe nguye, njalo uhlutshiwe. Kodwa wagwazwa ngenxa yeziphambeko zethu, wachobozwa ngenxa yokona kwethu, ukuhlutshwa kwakhe kwasilethela ukuthula, njalo sasiliswa ngamanxeba akhe. Thina sonke njengezimvu, silahlekile, lowo lalowo wethu uphambukele endleleni yakhe; njalo uJehova ubeke phezu kwakhe ukona kwethu sonke. Wacindezelwa wahlutshwa, kodwa kawuvulanga umlomo wakhe; wakhokhelwa ukuya bulawa njengewundlu, njalo njengemvu ithule phambi komgundi wayo, laye kawuvulanga umlomo wakhe. Ngokucindezelwa langokwahlulela wathathwa. Ngubani ongakhuluma ngesizukulwane sakhe na? Ngoba wasuswa elizweni labaphilayo; watshaywa ngenxa yeziphambeko zabantu bami. Wabelwa ingcwaba kanye lababi, kanye labanothileyo ekufeni kwakhe, lanxa kungeladlakela alwenzayo njalo kungekho inkohliso emlonyeni wakhe. Ikanti kwakuyintando kaJehova ukumchoboza lokumenza ahlupheke, njalo lanxa uJehova esenza ukuphila kwakhe umnikelo wecala, uzabona inzalo yakhe, andise izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe, lentando kaJehova izaphumelela ngaye. Emva kokuhlupheka komoya wakhe, uzabona ukukhanya kokuphila asuthiseke; ngokwazi kwayo inceku yami elungileyo izalungisa abanengi, ithwale izono zabo. Ngakho-ke ngizamnika isabelo phakathi kwabakhulu, njalo uzakwabelana impango labalamandla ngoba wanikela ukuphila kwakhe ekufeni, wabalwa ndawonye lezoni; ngoba wathwala izono zabanengi, wancengela izoni.

“Ungesabi, ngoba awuyikwehlelwa lihlazo. Ungesabi ukuyangeka, ngoba awuyikudumazeka. Uzalikhohlwa ihlazo lasebutsheni bakho, ungakhumbuli lesithuko sobufelokazi bakho.

Uzaqiniswa ngokulunga: uchuku luzakuba khatshana lawe, awuyikwesaba lutho. Ukwesaba kuzasuselwa khatshana, akuyikusondela phansi kwakho.

akulasikhali esikhandelwe wena esizaphumelela, njalo bonke abakumangalelayo uzabehlula. Leli yilifa lezinceku zikaJehova, lokhu yikho ukwenaniswa kwazo yimi,” kutsho uJehova.

Lina lizaphuma ngokuthokoza likhokhelwe ngokuthula; izintaba lamaqaqa kuzasusa ingoma phambi kwenu, njalo zonke izihlahla zeganga zizaqakeza izandla zazo.

Labo abahamba ngokulunga bayangena ekuthuleni; bathola ukuphumula belele ekufeni.

Ngoba ophakemeyo ongaPhezulu  —  yena ophila kokuphela, obizo lakhe lingcwele uthi: “Ngihlala endaweni ephakemeyo lengcwele, kodwa laye ozisolayo lothobekileyo emoyeni, ukuba kuvuselelwe umoya wabathobekileyo, kuvuselelwe lezinhliziyo zabazisolayo.

Izindlela zakhe sengizibonile, kodwa ngizamsilisa. Ngizamkhokhela, ngimduduze futhi, ngenze ukubonga ezindebeni zabalilayo ko-Israyeli. Ukuthula, ukuthula kwabakhatshana labaseduze,” kutsho uJehova. “Ngizabasilisa.”

Lokhu yikho ukuzila engikukhethileyo na, ukuthi umuntu azithobe okosuku olulodwa nje? Yikuthi umuntu akhothamise ikhanda lakhe njengomhlanga nje, lokulala esakeni lemlotheni na? Lokho yikho elithi yikuzila, usuku olwamukelekayo kuJehova na? “Lokhu akusikho yini ukuzila engikukhethileyo: ukukhulula izibopho zokungalungi lokuthukulula imichilo yejogwe, kukhululwe abacindezelweyo, kwephulwe amajogwe wonke na? Akusikwabela abalambayo ukudla kwakho lokunika umnyanga ongumhambuma indawo yokuhlala  —  lapho ubona abanqunu ubagqokise, lokungafulatheli izihlobo zakho zegazi na?

Lapho-ke ukukhanya kwakho kuzavela njengokusa, lokusila kwakho kuzabonakala masinyane, kuthi ukulunga kwakho kuhambe phambi kwakho, inkazimulo kaJehova izakuba yisivikelo ngemuva kwakho. Lapho-ke uzabiza, uJehova asabele; uzacela usizo, yena uzakuthi: Ngilapha. “Ungalahla ijogwe lokucindezela lokukhomba ngomunwe kanye lezinkulumo ezihlinikezayo; njalo uma unika abalambayo ukudla kwakho, wanelise leziswelo zabacindezelweyo, ukukhanya kwakho kuzavela emnyameni, ubusuku bakho buzakuba njengemini. UJehova uzakukhokhela kokuphela; uzakwanelisa iziswelo zakho elizweni elitshiswa lilanga, aqinise amathambo akho. Uzakuba njengesivande esithelezelwa kuhle, lanjengomthombo olamanzi angacitshiyo.

Umoya kaJehova Wobukhosi uphezu kwami, ngoba uJehova ungigcobile ukuba ngitshumayele izindaba ezinhle kubayanga. Ungithumile ukuba ngibophe izinhliziyo ezidabukileyo, ngimemezele ukukhululwa kwabathunjiweyo, lokukhululwa kwezibotshwa emnyameni, ukumemezela umnyaka womusa kaJehova, losuku lokuphindisela kukaNkulunkulu wethu; ukududuza abalilayo, lokunakekela labo abadabukileyo eZiyoni  —  ukubapha umqhele wobuhle esikhundleni somlotha, amafutha okujabula esikhundleni sokulila, lengubo yokudumisa esikhundleni somoya wokulahla ithemba. Bazabizwa ngokuthi ngama-okhi okulunga, ahlanyelwe nguJehova ukuba abonakalise inkazimulo yakhe.

Kukho konke ukuhlupheka kwabo laye waba losizi; ukuba khona kwengilosi yakhe kwabasindisa. Ngothando lwakhe langesihawu sakhe wabahlenga; wabaphakamisela phezulu, wabathwala izinsuku zonke zakudala.

“Khangelani, ngizadala izulu elitsha lomhlaba omutsha. Izinto zakuqala aziyikukhunjulwa, kumbe zifike engqondweni. Kodwa thabani lijabule kokuphela ngalokho engizakudala, ngoba ngizadala iJerusalema libe yintokozo labantu balo babe yinjabulo. Ngizathokoza ngeJerusalema njalo ngijabule ngabantu bami; ukulila lokukhala akusayikuzwakala kulo futhi.

Ngizaliduduza njengomama eduduza umntanakhe, njalo lizaduduzeka eJerusalema.”

“Kodwa ubusisiwe umuntu othemba uJehova, othemba lakhe likuye. Uzakuba njengesihlahla esihlanyelwe eduze lamanzi esinabisela izimpande zaso esifuleni. Kasesabi lapho ukutshisa kufika; kasikhathazeki ngomnyaka wokoma; kasiphuthi ukuthela izithelo.”

Ngisilisa, Jehova, njalo ngizasiliswa; ungikhulule, ngizakhululeka, ngoba nguwe engimdumisayo.

Ngoba ngiyawazi amacebo engilawo ngani,” kutsho uJehova, “amacebo okuliphumelelisa hatshi ukulilimaza, amacebo okulinika ithemba kanye lesikhathi esizayo. Ngaleso sikhathi lizangibiza lizekhuleka kimi, njalo ngizalizwa. Lizangidinga lingifumane uma lingidinga ngenhliziyo yenu yonke.

Kodwa ngizakusilisa ngipholise lamanxeba akho,’ kutsho uJehova, ‘ngoba kuthiwa ungolahliweyo, iZiyoni okungekho olendaba lalo.’

Ngizaqinisa abadiniweyo ngisuthise abangelamandla.” Lapho-ke ngaphaphama ngakhangela indawana yonke. Ubuthongo bami babubemnandi kimi.

“ ‘Kodwa, ngizaletha ukuphila lokusiliswa kulo: Abantu bami ngizabasilisa ngibenze bajabulele ukuthula okukhulu kanye lokuvikeleka.

Ngikhumbula ukuhlupheka lokuntula kwami, ubumunyu lenyongo. Konke ngikukhumbula kamhlophe, umoya wami wephukile.

Ngenxa yothando olukhulu lukaJehova kasibhujiswanga, ngoba isihawu sakhe asipheli. Sitsha ukusa kwamalanga; kukhulu ukuthembeka kwakho. Ngiyazitshela ngithi, “UJehova uyisabelo sami; ngakho ngizalindela yena.” UJehova ulungile kulabo abathemba kuye, kulowo omdingayo; kuhle ukulinda ngokuthula, ukulindela insindiso kaJehova.

Loba engaletha ubuhlungu, uyaveza uzwelo, lukhulu kangaka uthando lwakhe olungapheliyo. Akathandi ukukwehlisela mahlayana ukuhlupheka losizi ebantwaneni babantu.

Wasondela lapho ngikumemeza, wathi kimi, “Ungesabi.” Awu Jehova, wasamukela isikhalazo sami; wahlenga ukuphila kwami.

Isikhumba sethu sitshisa njengeziko, silomkhuhlane wendlala.

Ngizazelusela emadlelweni amahle, njalo izingqongo zezintaba zako-Israyeli zizakuba ngumhlaba wedlelo lazo. Khonapho zizalala phansi emhlabeni olidlelo elihle, njalo khonapho zizakudla edlelweni elivundileyo phezu kwezintaba zako-Isarayeli. Mina ngokwami ngizazelusa izimvu zami njalo ngizazilalisa phansi, kutsho uJehova Wobukhosi. Ngizadinga ezilahlekileyo nginqande eziphambukileyo. Ngizabopha ezilimeleyo ngiqinise ezibuthakathaka. Ezinonileyo leziqinileyo ngizazibulala. Umhlambi ngizawelusa ngokulunga.

UNebhukhadinezari wasesithi, “Kadunyiswe uNkulunkulu waboShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko, othume ingilosi yakhe wasindisa izinceku zakhe! Bathemba kuye badelela umlayo wenkosi njalo bazimisela ukunikela izimpilo zabo kulokuthi bakhonze loba badumise omunye unkulunkulu ngaphandle kowabo uNkulunkulu.

UNkulunkulu wami uthume ingilosi yakhe yayivala imilomo yezilwane. Kazingilimazanga ngokuba ngifunyanwe ngingelacala phambi kwakhe. Njalo kangikaze ngenze okubi kuwe, O nkosi.” Inkosi yathaba yafa yakhupha umlayo wokuba uDanyeli akhutshulwe emgodini lowo. UDanyeli esekhutshiwe emgodini, kakubonakalanga nxeba kuye, ngokuba wathemba kuNkulunkulu wakhe.

Uyakhulula, asindise; wenza izibonakaliso lemimangaliso emazulwini lasemhlabeni. Umhlangulile uDanyeli emandleni ezilwane.”

“Wozani sibuyele kuJehova. Usesidabule saba yizicucu kodwa uzaselapha; usilimazile kodwa uzawabopha amanxeba ethu. Emva kwezinsuku ezimbili uzasivuselela; ngosuku lwesithathu uzasibuyisela ukuze sihlale lapho akhona.

“Ngizabahlenga emandleni engcwaba; ngizabasindisa ekufeni. Zingaphi, we kufa izifo zakho? Kungaphi, we ngcwaba, ukuchitha kwakho? “Kangiyikuba lesihawu,

“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.

Wathi: “Ekuhluphekeni kwami ngambiza uJehova, wangiphendula. Ngisekujuleni kwengcwaba ngacela uncedo, wena wakulalela ukukhala kwami.

UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ulawe, ulamandla okusindisa. Uzathokoza kakhulu ngawe, uzakududuza ngothando lwakhe, uzakuthokozela ngokuhlabelela.”

Kodwa lina elilesabayo ibizo lami, ilanga lokulunga lizaphuma lilokusiliswa emaphikweni alo. Njalo lizaphuma liqolotshe njengamathole evulelwe esilugwini sawo.

Kwathi ukuba uHerodi ananzelele ukuthi iZazi zazimphicile wazonda wafa, wasekhupha umlayo ukuthi kubulawe bonke abafanyana eBhethilehema lasemmangweni wonke oseduze, bonke ababeleminyaka emibili langaphansi, kuhambelana lesikhathi leso ayesitshelwe yiZazi. Ngakho lokho okwakutshiwo ngumphrofethi uJeremiya kwagcwaliseka ukuthi: “Ilizwi lezwakala eRama, ukukhala lesililo esikhulu, uRasheli ekhalela abantwabakhe esala ukududuzwa, ngokuba bengasekho!”

UJesu wahamba kulo lonke iGalile efundisa emasinagogeni abo, etshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezombuso, esilisa zonke izifo lemikhuhlane ebantwini. Udumo lwakhe lwanda kulo lonke elaseSiriya, abantu babaletha kuye bonke ababegula belezifo ezahlukeneyo, labo ababesebuhlungwini obukhulu, abaphethwe ngamadimoni, abalesithuthwane labayizilima, bonke wabasilisa.

“Babusisiwe abampofu emoyeni ngoba umbuso wezulu ngowabo. Babusisiwe labo abakhalayo ngoba bazaduduzwa.

Babusisiwe abahlukunyezwayo ngenxa yokulunga, ngoba umbuso wezulu ungowabo. “Libusisiwe lina nxa abantu belithuka, belihlukumeza njalo beligcona ngobubi bonke ngenxa yami. Thokozani lijabule ngokuba mkhulu umvuzo wenu ezulwini, ngoba bahlukunyezwa ngaleyondlela abaphrofethi ababephambi kwenu.

Kodwa mina ngilitshela ukuthi, Thandani izitha zenu, libathandazele labo abalihluphayo,

“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.

Indoda eyayilobulephero yeza yaguqa phambi kwakhe yathi, “Nkosi uma uthanda ungangenza ngihlambuluke.” UJesu welula isandla sakhe wayithinta wathi, “Ngiyathanda, hlambuluka!” Masinyane nje yasila ebulepherweni bayo.

UJesu esengenile eKhaphenawume kwafika kuye induna yekhulu izocela uncedo. Yathi, “Nkosi, inceku yami ilele phansi yomile umhlubulo, isebuhlungwini obukhulu.” UJesu wathi kuyo, “Ngizakuza ngizeyisilisa.” Induna yekhulu yaphendula yathi, “Kakungilingananga ukuthi ungeza ungene ngaphansi kophahla lwami. Kodwa tshono ilizwi nje kuphela, inceku yami izasila. Ngokuba mina ngokwami ngiyindoda engaphansi komthetho, ngilamabutho angaphansi kwami. Ngitshela lo ngithi, ‘Hamba,’ ahambe; ngithi kuloyana, ‘Woza’, lakanye eze. Ngithi encekwini yami, ‘Yenza lokhu’, ikwenze.” UJesu wathi ekuzwa lokhu wamangala wathi kulabo ababemlandela, “Ngilitshela iqiniso, kangikamboni loyedwa ko-Israyeli olokholo olukhulu kangaka. Ngithi kini abanengi bazavela empumalanga lentshonalanga, bahlale edilini lo-Abhrahama, lo-Isaka loJakhobe embusweni wezulu. Kodwa abanini bombuso bazaxotshelwa phandle emnyameni lapho okuzakuba khona ukukhala lokugedla amazinyo.” UJesu wasesithi enduneni yekhulu, “Hamba! Kuzakwenziwa njengalokhu ukholwe ukuthi kuzakwenziwa.” Inceku yayo yahle yasila ngasona lesosikhathi.

Kwathi lapho uJesu esengenile endlini kaPhethro, wabona uninazala kaPhethro elele embhedeni ephethwe ngumkhuhlane. Wamthinta esandleni umkhuhlane wahle waphuma kuye, wavuka wamlungisela ukudla.

Sekuntambama abanengi ababelamadimoni balethwa kuye wayikhupha imimoya ngelizwi njalo wasilisa bonke abagulayo. Lokhu kwakugcwalisa okwakhulunywa ngoMphrofethi u-Isaya ukuthi: “Wathatha ubuthakathaka bethu wathwala izifo zethu.”

Masinyane nje kwaqubuka isiyaluyalu sesiphepho echibini, amagagasi akhaphakela phezu kwesikepe. Kodwa uJesu wayelele. Abafundi bahamba bayamvusa besithi, “Nkosi, silamulele! Nanku sesigalula!” Waphendula wathi, “Lina bokukholwa okuncane, kungani lisesaba kangaka?” Wasephakama wawukhuza umoya kanye lamagagasi, kwasekuthula nya.

Wathi ekufikeni kwakhe ngakwelinye icele lelizwe lamaGadarini wahlangabezwa ngamadoda amabili ayekhwelwe ngamadimoni eqhamuka emathuneni. Babetshinga bebheda, kungasadluli muntu ngaleyondlela. Bamemeza bathi, “Ufunani ngathi, Ndodana kaNkulunkulu? Uze lapha ukuzasi-chukuluza singakafiki isikhathi esimisiweyo na?” Bucwala kwabo kwakulomhlambi omkhulu wezingulube usidla. Amadimoni amncenga uJesu athi, “Nxa usikhupha sithumele emhlambini wezingulube.” Wathi kuwo, “Hambani!” Aphuma ayangena ezingulubeni, kwathi umhlambi wonke waqubuka waqonda iliwa lodonga wagxumukela echibini wafela emanzini.

Amanye amadoda aletha kuye umuntu owaye ome izitho elele ecansini. UJesu ebona ukukholwa kwabo wathi kowome izitho, “Woba lesibindi, ndodana; izono zakho sezithethelelwe.” Bekuzwa lokho abanye abafundisi bomthetho bahleba bodwa bathi, “Umuntu lo uyahlambaza!” Esazi imicabango yabo uJesu wathi kubo, “Kungani licabanga izinto ezimbi ezinhliziyweni zenu na? Yikuphi okulula, ukuthi, ‘Izono zakho sezithethelelwe’ kumbe ukuthi, ‘Sukuma uhambe’? Kodwa ukuze lazi ukuthi iNdodana yoMuntu ilamandla okuthethelela izono emhlabeni … ” Wasesithi kowome izitho, “Sukuma, thatha icansi lakho uhambe uye ekhaya.” Indoda yasukuma yaqonda ekhaya.

UJesu wakuzwa lokho wathi, “Abaphilayo kabayidingi inyanga, kodwa idingwa ngabagulayo.

Khonokho owesifazana owayehlutshwa ngumopho okweminyaka elitshumi lambili weza ngemva kwakhe wabamba umphetho wejazi lakhe. Wazitshela wathi, “Aluba nje ngingathinta ijazi lakhe kodwa lokhu, ngizasila.” UJesu wanyemukula wambona. Wathi kuye, “Mana isibindi, ndodakazi, ukukholwa kwakho sekukusilisile.” Lakanje owesifazana lowo wasila ngalesosikhathi.

UJesu wathi esengenile endlini yombusi, ebona abahlabeleli bokulila kanye lexuku elalixokozela, wathi kubo, “Phumani. Intombazana kayifanga kodwa ilele.” Kodwa bamhleka. Ixuku labantu selikhutshelwe phandle, wangena wayibamba ngesandla intombazana yaphakama.

Kwathi uJesu esuka lapho amadoda ayiziphofu amabili amlandela ememeza esithi, “Sihawukele, Ndodana kaDavida!” Esengenile endlini iziphofu lezo zeza kuye wazibuza wathi, “Liyakholwa na ukuthi ngingakwenza lokhu?” “Yebo, Nkosi,” bamphendula. Wasezithinta amehlo wathi kuzo, “Kuzakwenziwa kini njengokukholwa kwenu;” basiliswa babona. UJesu wabaqonqosela wathi, “Akungabi lomuntu ozakwazi ngalokhu.”

Ekuphumeni kwalezoziphofu, kwalethwa kuJesu indoda eyayikhwelwe lidimoni iyisimungulu. Kwathi idimoni selikhutshwiwe indoda leyo eyayiyisimungulu yakhuluma. Ixuku labantu lamangala abantu bathi, “Akukaze kubonwe okunje ko-Israyeli.”

UJesu wanquma kuwo wonke amadolobho lemizi efundisa emasinagogeni abo, etshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezombuso njalo eselapha zonke izifo lemikhuhlane.

UJesu wabizela ndawonye abafundi bakhe abalitshumi lambili wabapha amandla okukhupha imimoya emibi lokusilisa zonke izifo lemikhuhlane.

Philisani abagulayo, vusani abafileyo, hlambululani abalobulephero likhuphe amadimoni. Lamukelisiwe kungelambadalo, lani phanini kungelambadalo.

Lingabesabi labo ababulala umzimba kodwa bengeke babulale umphefumulo. Kodwa yesabani lowo ongabhubhisa kokubili umphefumulo lomzimba esihogweni. Izintaka ezimbili kazithengiswa ngendibilitshi na? Kodwa kayikho leyodwa yazo ewela phansi ingavunyelwanga nguYihlo. Kwala zona izinwele zamakhanda enu zibaliwe. Ngakho lingesabi; liligugu elidlula izintaka ezinengi.

Loba ngubani ozuza impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, njalo lalowo olahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe ngenxa yami uzayizuza.

Iziphofu zenziwa zibone, abaqhugezayo bayahamba kuhle, labo abalobulephero bayasiliswa, izacuthe ziyezwa, abafileyo bayavuswa, lezindaba ezinhle ziyatshumayelwa kubayanga.

“Wozani kimi lina lonke elikhatheleyo lelisindwayo, ngizaliphumuza. Zithwaliseni ijogwe lami, lifunde kimi, ngokuba ngimnene ngithobekile enhliziyweni, njalo lizazuza ukuphumula kwemiphefumulo yenu. Ngokuba ijogwe lami lilula lomthwalo wami kawusindi.”

khonapho kulendoda eyayitshwabhene isandla. Kwathi ngoba bedinga indlela yokubeka uJesu icala bambuza bathi, “Kuyavunyelwa yini emthethweni ukusilisa ngeSabatha na?” Wathi kubo, “Nxa omunye wenu elemvu esuka iwele egodini ngeSabatha, kazukuyibamba ayikhuphe na? Pho umuntu uligugu elinganani kulemvu! Yikho-ke kusemthethweni ukwenza okuhle ngeSabatha.” Wasesithi kuleyondoda, “Yelula isandla sakho.” Ngakho yaselula sesisilile ngokupheleleyo, sesiqinile njengesinye.

UJesu esekunanzelele lokho wasuka kuleyondawo. Abanengi bamlandela, wasilisa bonke abagulayo babo,

Basebeletha kuye indoda eyayiledimoni, eyayiyisiphofu njalo iyisimungulu. UJesu wayisilisa yakwazi ukukhuluma lokubona.

Lowo owemukela inhlanyelo eyawela ekhetheni ngumuntu olizwayo ilizwi aphange alamukele ngentokozo. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi kalampande, uma okwesikhatshana kuphela. Nxa kufika uhlupho lokuhlukunyezwa ngenxa yelizwi uphanga akhubeke.

Ekukhuphukeni kwakhe uJesu wabona ixuku labantu elikhulu wabazwela usizi ngakho wasesilisa abagulayo babo.

Kwathi abantu bakuleyondawo sebemnanzelele uJesu bathumela ilizwi kuwo wonke ummango wakulelo. Abantu babaletha bonke abagulayo babo kuye bamncenga ukuthi avumele labo abagulayo ukuthi bathinte nje umphetho wesigqoko sakhe, kwathi bonke labo abamthintayo basiliswa.

Umfazi ongumKhenani owaleyondawo weza kuye ezokhala esithi, “Nkosi, Ndodana kaDavida, ake ungihawukele! Indodakazi yami ithwele nzima itshukunyezwa ngamadimoni.” UJesu kazange amphendule. Ngakho abafundi bakhe beza kuye bamkhuthaza bathi, “Mxotshe, nangu uselokhu ememeza esilandela.” Waphendula wathi, “Ngathunywa kuphela ezimvini ezilahlekileyo zako-Israyeli.” Owesifazana lowo weza waguqa phambi kwakhe wathi, “Nkosi, ake ungisize.” Waphendula uJesu wathi, “Kakulunganga ukuthatha isinkwa sabantwana usiphosele ezinjeni zabo.” Owesifazana wathi, “Yebo, Nkosi, kanti angithi izinja ziyayidla imvuthu ewa etafuleni labaninizo.” UJesu wasephendula wathi, “Mfazi, ulokholo olukhulu! Isicelo sakho sesamukelwe.” Indodakazi yakhe yahle yasila ngasonaleso isikhathi.

Kweza kuye amaxuku amakhulu abantu beletha abaqhugezayo, iziphofu, izigoga, izimungulu labanye abanengi bababeka phambi kwakhe; wabasilisa. Abantu bamangala ukubona izimungulu sezikhuluma, izigoga seziphila, abaqhugezayo sebezihambela leziphofu sezibona. Bamdumisa uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.

Bathi sebefike exukwini labantu indoda ethile yamqonda uJesu yaguqa phambi kwakhe. Yathi, “Nkosi, ake uhawukele indodana yami. Ilesithuthwane esiyijumayo kanengi, iyahlupheka kakhulu. Kanengi iwela emlilweni kumbe emanzini. Ngiyilethile kubafundi bakho kodwa behlulekile ukuyisilisa.” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Hawu, lina sizukulwane esingakholwayo lesonakeleyo. Ngizahlala lani kuze kube nini na? Ngizalibekezelela kuze kube nini na? Mletheni lapha kimi umfana lowo.” UJesu walikhuza idimoni laphuma emfaneni wahle wasila kusona lesosikhathi.

Waphendula wathi, “Ngokuba ukholo lwenu luncinyane. Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi nxa lingaba lokholo loba luluncinyane njengenhlamvu yemastadi, lingathi entabeni le, ‘Suduka lapha uye laphayana’ izasuduka. Kakukho kini okungasoze kwenzeke.” (

Aluba isandla sakho loba unyawo lwakho lukwenzisa isono kuqume ukulahle. Kungcono kuwe ukuba ungene ekuphileni uyingini kumbe ugogekile kulokuba lezandla ezimbili kumbe izinyawo ezimbili ujinge uphoselwe emlilweni waphakade. Aluba ilihlo lakho likwenzisa isono, likopole ulilahle. Kungcono kuwe ukungena ekuphileni ulelihlo elilodwa kulokuba lamehlo amabili kodwa uphoselwe emlilweni wesihogo.

Ngaleyondlela uYihlo ezulwini kafisi ukuthi lamunye walaba abancinyane alahleke.

Amadoda amabili ayiziphofu ayehlezi eceleni komgwaqo. Athi esizwa ukuthi uJesu wayesedlula khonapho amemeza athi, “Nkosi, Ndodana kaDavida, sihawukele!” Ixuku labantu lawakhuza lathi kawathule, kodwa amemeza ngamandla athi, “Nkosi, Ndodana kaDavida, sihawukele!” UJesu wema wawabiza, wawabuza wathi, “Lifuna ukuba ngilenzeleni?” Aphendula athi, “Nkosi, sifuna ukuthi sibone.” UJesu wawazwela isihawu wawabambabamba emehlweni awo. Masinyane nje ahle abona asemlandela.

Iziphofu labaqhugezelayo beza kuye ethempelini wabasilisa.

UJesu waphendula wathi, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ngithi uma lilokukholwa njalo lingathandabuzi, kalisoze lenze nje okwenziwe kulesi isihlahla somkhiwa, kodwa njalo lingathi kule intaba, ‘Suka, ziphosele olwandle,’ lakanye kwenzeke. Uma likholwa lizaphiwa loba yini eliyicelayo ngomthandazo.”

“Lapho lizanikelwa ukuba lihlutshwe njalo libulawe, futhi lizazondwa yizizwe zonke ngenxa yami. Ngalesosikhathi abanengi bazadela ukukholwa banikelane njalo bazondane, kuvele abaphrofethi abanengi abazakhohlisa abantu abanengi. Ngenxa yokwanda kobubi, uthando lwabanengi luzaphola, kodwa lowo oma aqine kuze kube sekupheleni uzasindiswa.

Ngoba ngalesosikhathi kuzakuba lokuhlupheka okukhulu, okungazange kube khona kulokhu kwadabuka umhlaba kuze kube manje  —  njalo kakusoze kube khona futhi. Uma lezosinsuku bezingaphungulwanga, kakho obezaphepha, kodwa ngenxa yabakhethiweyo lezozinsuku zizaphungulwa.

ngangiswela izambatho langigqokisa, ngangigula langonga, ngangisentolongweni lazongibona.’

Kodwa uPhethro wala wagomela wathi, “Loba kungaze kube ngizakufa lawe, ngeke lanini ngikuphike.” Abanye abafundi bonke labo batsho khonokho.

Wathatha uPhethro lamadodana womabili kaZebedi wahamba labo, waseqalisa ukuhlulukelwa lokukhathazeka. Wasesithi kubo, “Umphefumulo wami ugajelwa lusizi kuze kuthi ngife. Hlalani lapha lilinde lami.” Wahamba ibanganyana, wasezilahla phansi wathi mbo ngobuso wakhuleka wathi, “Baba, uma kungenzeka, sengathi inkomitshi le ingasuswa kimi. Kodwa akungabi ngokuthanda kwami, kodwa kube ngokuthanda kwakho.”

Wasebakhululela uBharaba. Wathi uJesu katshaywe, wasemnikeza ukuba abethelwe.

Kwathi sebembethele behlukaniselana izigqoko zakhe ngokwenza inkatho.

Ngehora lesificamunye uJesu wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu wathi, “Eloyi, Eloyi, lamasabakthani?”  —  okutsho ukuthi, “Nkulunkulu wami, Nkulunkulu wami, kungani usungidelile na?”

Khonokho nje indoda eyayisesinagogini labo eyayiphethwe ngumoya omubi yamemeza yathi, “Ufunani kithi, Jesu waseNazaretha? Ulande ukuzasibhubhisa na? Ngiyakwazi ukuthi ungubani  —  ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu!” “Thula!” kukhwaza uJesu. “Phuma kuye!” Umoya omubi wayidlukuluza ngamandla indoda waphuma kuyo unqongoloza.

Uninazala kaSimoni wayelele phansi ephethwe ngumkhuhlane, basebetshela uJesu ngaye. Yikho wasesiya kuye, wambamba ngesandla wamvusa. Umkhuhlane wamtshiya wahle waqalisa ukubadekela ukudla.

Ngaleyontambama ilanga selitshonile abantu baletha kuJesu bonke abagulayo labaphethwe ngamadimoni. Idolobho lonke lagcwala emnyango, uJesu wasilisa abanengi ababelezifo ezehlukeneyo. Njalo wakhupha amadimoni amanengi, kodwa kaze awavumela amadimoni ukuthi akhulume ngoba ayemazi ukuthi ungubani.

Kanjalo walibhoda lonke elaseGalile etshumayela emasinagogini abo njalo ekhupha amadimoni. Kweza kuye indoda eyayilobulephero yamncenga iguqe phansi ngamadolo yathi, “Aluba uthanda ungangihlambulula.” UJesu eyizwela isihawu welula isandla sakhe wayibamba indoda. Wathi, “Ngiyathanda. Hlanzeka!” Masinyane ubulephero baphela, wasila.

Kwafika amadoda eletha owayome umhlubulo ethwelwe ngabane babo. Kwathi ngoba bengafinyeleli kuJesu laye ngenxa yesixhobexhobe bavula intuba ephahleni malungana loJesu, baphendla behlisela isendlalo esasilele indoda eyome umhlubulo. Kwathi uJesu ebona ukholo lwabo wathi endodeni eyome umhlubulo, “Ndodana, izono zakho sezithethelelwe.” Kwakuhlezi khonapho abanye babafundisi bomthetho, benakana besithi, “Umuntu lo ukhulumeleni kanjalo? Uyahlambaza! Ngubani ongathethelela izono ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu yedwa?” Masinyane uJesu wakwazi emoyeni wakhe ukuthi yilokho ababekucabanga ezinhliziyweni zabo, wasesithi kubo, “Linakanelani izinto lezi? Yikuphi okulula: ukuthi kowome umhlubulo: ‘Izono zakho sezithethelelwe,’ loba ukuthi, ‘Phakama, thatha icansi lakho uhambe’? Kodwa ukuze lazi ukuthi iNdodana yoMuntu ilamandla emhlabeni ukuthethelela izono … ” Wathi kowome umhlubulo, “Ngiyakutshela ngithi phakama, thatha icansi lakho uye ekhaya.” Waphakama wathatha icansi lakhe wahamba waphuma bonke bemkhangele. Lokho kwamangalisa umuntu wonke, bamdumisa uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kasikaze sikubone okunje!”

Wathi ekuzwa lokho uJesu wathi kubo, “Kakusibo abaphilayo abaswela inyanga, kodwa ngabagulayo. Kangilandanga ukuzabiza abalungileyo, kodwa izoni.”

Ngesinye isikhathi wangena esinagogini, kukhona lapho indoda elesandla esitshwabheneyo. Abanye babo babedinga izaba lokwethesa uJesu icala, yikho bamlinda ukubona ingabe wayezayelapha yini ngeSabatha. UJesu wathi endodeni yesandla esitshwabheneyo, “Sukuma ume phambi kwabo bonke.” UJesu wasebabuza wathi, “Kuyini okusemthethweni na ngeSabatha; ukwenza okuhle loba ukwenza okubi, ukuhlenga impilo kumbe ukubulala?” Kodwa bathula zwi. Wabakhangela ngolaka, ehlutshwa yibuqholo bezinhliziyo zabo, wasesithi kuleyondoda, “Yelula isandla sakho.” Yaselula, isandla sesilunge saphelela.

Phela wayesesilise abanengi, yikho labo ababelezifo babeminyezela befuna ukumthinta. Kwakusithi imimoya emibi ingambona iguqe phambi kwakhe imemeze ithi, “UyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.”

Wehlukanisa abalitshumi lambili wabamisa ukuba ngabaphostoli ababezakuba laye ukuze abathume ezindaweni bayotshumayela lokuba lamandla okukhupha amadimoni.

Abanye, njengenhlanyelo eyahlanyelwa ematsheni bayalizwa ilizwi bahle balamukele ngentokozo. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi kabalampande bema okwesikhatshana kuphela. Kungafika uhlupho loba ukuchukuluzwa komhlaba baphanga bawe.

Kwaqubuka isiyaluyalu sesiphepho, amagagasi asakazeka esikepeni kwaze kwangathi sesigalula. UJesu wayengemuva ezilalele emendlalweni obuthakathaka. Abafundi bamvusa bathi, “Hawu, mfundisi kawunanzi yini uma sigalula?” Waphakama wawukhuza umoya wathi emagagasini, “Zwi! Pholani!” Yikho umoya wasuthula kwasekuphola nya. Wathi kubafundi bakhe, “Kungani lisesaba kangaka? Lilokhu lingakholwa na?”

Kwathi uJesu ephuma esikepeni kwaqhamuka emathuneni indoda elomoya omubi yamhlangabeza. Indoda le yayihlala emathuneni, kungaselamuntu ongayibopha loba langeketane. Ngoba yayihlezi ibotshiwe izandla lezinyawo kodwa iqamule amaketane iqamule lezinsimbi ezinyaweni zayo. Kwakungekho muntu owayelamandla okuyinqoba. Ubusuku lemini yayihlaba umkhosi isemathuneni lasezintabeni, izisike ngamatshe. Yathi ibona uJesu isebucwala yagijima yafika yazilahla phansi ngamadolo phambi kwakhe. Yaklabalala yathi, “Ufunani ngami Jesu, Ndodana kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke? Funga kuNkulunkulu ukuthi kawuzukungichukuluza!” Ngoba uJesu wayesethe kuyo, “Phuma kuyo indoda le, wena moya omubi!” UJesu waseyibuza wathi, “Ungubani ibizo lakho?” Yaphendula yathi, “Ibizo lami nguLigiyoni, ngokuba sibanengi.” Yamncenga uJesu futhi futhi ukuthi angabaxotshi kulowommango. Kwakulomhlambi omkhulu wezingulube usidla ewatheni lentaba eduze khonapho. Amadimoni amncenga uJesu athi, “Sithumele ezingulubeni; sivumele singene kuzo.” Wabavumela, baphuma omoya ababi bayangena ezingulubeni. Umhlambi wazo lowo owawungaba yizinkulungwane ezimbili wathi zimu wehla eliweni lechibi wagalula.

Kwakulowesifazana khonapho owayephethwe yikopha sekumhluphe iminyaka elitshumi lambili. Wayesehlupheke kakhulu loba wayebhadalazwa ngabelaphi, njalo esechithe konke ayelakho, kodwa ekubeni abe ngcono kwakusiya phambili. Wathi esezwile ngoJesu wazithukuza exukwini labantu weza kuye ngemuva wabamba ijazi lakhe, ngokuba wacabanga wathi, “Aluba ngithinta izigqoko zakhe kodwa nje, ngizasila.” Masinyane ukopha kwakhe kwakhawula wezwa emzimbeni wakhe ukuthi wayesekhululekile ekuhluphekeni kwakhe.

UJesu elokhu esakhuluma kweza amanye amadoda ephuma endlini kaJayiru, induna yesinagogi. Athi, “Indodakazi yakho isifile. Kambe usamhluphelani umfundisi na?” Akaze akunaka lokho ababekutsho uJesu, wasetshela induna yesinagogi wathi, “Ungesabi; kholwa nje kuphela.” Kavumelanga muntu ukuba amlandele ngaphandle kukaPhethro, loJakhobe loJohane umfowabo kaJakhobe. Bathi befika emzini wenduna yesinagogi uJesu wabona isiphithiphithi abantu bekhala benqongoloza. Wangena wathi kubo, “Ngesani isiphithiphithi sonke lesi lomkhosi wonke lo? Umntwana kafanga kodwa ulele.” Kodwa bamhleka. Esebakhuphele phandle bonke wathatha uyise womntwana lonina kanye labafundi ayelabo wangena lapho umntwana ayekhona. Wambamba ngesandla wathi kuye, “Thalitha khumi!” (okutsho ukuthi, “Ntombazana, ngithi kuwe, sukuma!”) Masinyane intombazana yasukuma yahambahamba (wayemdala okweminyaka elitshumi lambili). Lokhu kwabamangalisa baphela amandla.

Wayengeke enze izimangaliso lapho ngaphandle kokubeka izandla abalutshwana abantu abagulayo abasilise.

Bakhupha amadimoni amanengi, bagcoba abantu abanengi abagulayo ngamafutha babaphilisa.

Bagijima indawana yonke kulowommango bethwala abagulayo ngamacansi bebasa ngaphi langaphi lapho ayekhona. Loba wayengaze aye ngaphi  —  emizini, emadolobheni loba emaphandleni  —  babeka abagulayo ezindaweni zokuthengisela. Bamncenga ukuthi abavumele bathinte nje umphetho wesigqoko sakhe, kwathi bonke labo abamthintayo basila.

Owesifazana owayelendodakazi yakhe encinyane eyayikhwelwe ngumoya omubi wonela ukuzwa ngaye weza wayazilahla ezinyaweni zakhe. Umfazi lo wayengumGiriki, owazalelwa eFenikhe yaseSiriya. Wancenga uJesu ukuthi akhuphe idimoni endodakazini yakhe. Wamtshela wathi kuye, “Qala uyekele abantwana badle basuthe, ngokuba kakulunganga ukuthatha ukudla kwabantwana ukuphosele izinja zabo.” Wathi owesifazana, “Yebo, Nkosi, kodwa izinja lazo ezingaphansi kwetafula ziyadla imvuthuluka.” UJesu wamtshela wathi, “Ngenxa yempendulo enhle kangaka usungahamba; idimoni seliphumile endodakazini yakho.” Owesifazana wabuyela ekhaya wafumana umntanakhe elele embhedeni, idimoni selihambile.

Khonale abantu bamlethela indoda eyayiyisacuthe isehluleka lokukhuluma, bamcela ukuthi abeke isandla sakhe phezu kwayo. UJesu wayisusela eceleni kwexuku labantu wasefaka iminwe yakhe ezindlebeni zaleyondoda. Wasekhafula wathinta ulimi lwayo indoda. Wakhangela ezulwini wakhokha umoya wathi kuyo, “EFifatha!” (okutsho ukuthi, “Vuleka!”) Ngalokhu izindlebe zendoda zavuleka, ulimi lwayo lwatshwaphuluka yahle yaqalisa ukukhuluma kuhle. UJesu wabaqonqosela ukuthi bangatsheli muntu. Kodwa wathi ngokwenza njalo baqhubeka ngamandla befakaza ngakho. Abantu bamangala baphela amandla. Bathi, “Konke asekwenzile kuhle. Uyenza futhi lezacuthe zizwe, lezimungulu zikhulume.”

Bafika eBhethisayida, abanye abantu baletha indoda eyayiyisiphofu bancenga uJesu ukuba ayibeke isandla. Wasithatha isiphofu leso wasibamba ngesandla wasiholela ngaphandle komuzi. Esekhafulele emehlweni aso wasibeka izandla uJesu wabuza wathi, “Kukhona okubonayo na?” Sathalaza sathi, “Ngibona abantu; bakhangeleka njengezihlahla ezihambahambayo.” UJesu waphinde wabeka izandla zakhe emehlweni ayo indoda leyo. Amehlo ayo asevuleka, ukubona kwayo kwalunga, isibona zonke izinto kakuhle.

Kwaphendula indoda ethile exukwini yathi, “Mfundisi, ngikulethele indodana yami ekhwelwe ngumoya omenza abe yisimungulu. Uthi ungamjuma umlahlele phansi. Usuka abhubhudle amagwebu, agedle amazinyo, ome qha umzimba. Ngibacelile abafundi bakho ukuthi bawukhuphe umoya kodwa behluleka.” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Hawu, lina sizukulwane esingakholwayo, ngizahlala lani kuze kube nini na? Ngilibekezelele kuze kube nini? Mletheni kimi umfana.” Basebemletha kuye. Umoya wonela ukumbona uJesu wamlahla phansi umfana wazigiqagiqa ekhihliza amagwebu ngomlomo. UJesu wabuza uyise womfana wathi, “Sekulesikhathi esinganani enje umfana?” Wathi, “Kusukela ebuntwaneni. Kuhlezi kumphosela emlilweni loba emanzini kufuna ukumbulala. Kodwa aluba kukhona ongakwenza ake usihawukele usisize.” UJesu wathi, “Uthi ‘ongakwenza’? Yonke into iyenzakala kulowo okholwayo.” Masinyane uyise womfana wamemeza wathi, “Ngiyakholwa; ake ungisize ngehlule ukungakholwa kwami!” UJesu esebona ukuthi ixuku laligijimela kuye wawukhuza umoya omubi wathi, “Wena moya oyisacuthe lesimungulu, ngiyakulaya mina, ngithi phuma kuye ungaphindi ungene kuye futhi.” Umoya waklabalala wamgiqa phansi umfana wamhlukuluza waphuma. Umfana wathi daca waba yisidumbu, abanengi bathi, “Usefile.” Kodwa uJesu wambamba ngesandla wamdonsa wammisa ngezinyawo wema.

Aluba isandla sakho sikwenzisa ukona, siqume. Kungcono kuwe ukuthi ungene ekuphileni ungungini kulokuya esihogweni ulezandla ezimbili, lapho umlilo wakhona ongacimiyo, ( lapho impethu yakhona engafiyo lomlilo kawucimi). Njalo uma unyawo lwakho lukwenzisa isono, luqume. Kungcono kuwe ukuthi ungene ekuphileni uyisilima kulokuthi ulezinyawo ezimbili uphoselwe esihogweni ( lapho impethu yakhona engafiyo lomlilo wakhona kawucimi.) Njalo uma ilihlo lakho likonisa, likhuphuluze liphume. Kungcono kuwe ukungena umbuso kaNkulunkulu ulelihlo elilodwa kulokuba lamehlo amabili kodwa uphoselwe esihogweni, lapho “ ‘impethu yakhona kayifi, lomlilo kawucimi.’

Basebefika eJerikho. Kwathi uJesu labafundi bakhe kanye lexuku elikhulu sebesuka edolobheni, indoda eyisiphofu, uBhathimewu (kutsho indodana kaThimewu) yayihlezi eceleni kwendlela icela. Yathi isizwa ukuthi kwakunguJesu waseNazaretha yanqolonga yathi, “Jesu, Ndodana kaDavida, ake ungihawukele!” Abanengi bayikhuza bathi kayithule, kodwa yaqhubeka yamemeza ngamandla isithi, “Ndodana kaDavida, ake ungihawukele!” UJesu wema wathi, “Mbizeni.” Basebeyibiza indoda eyisiphofu bathi, “Thokoza ndoda! Phakama! Uyakubiza.” Walahla ijazi lakhe phansi wasukuma weza kuJesu. UJesu wambuza wathi, “Ufuna ngikwenzeleni na?” Indoda eyisiphofu yathi, “Rabi, ngifuna ukuthi ngibone.” UJesu wathi, “Hamba-ke, ukukholwa kwakho sekukusilisile.” Masinyane yahle yabona yase ilandela uJesu endleleni.

UJesu waphendula wathi, “Woba lokholo kuNkulunkulu. Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi nxa omunye esithi entabeni le, ‘Suka, ziphosele olwandle,’ engelakuthandabuza enhliziyweni yakhe, kodwa ekholwa ukuthi lokho akutshoyo kuzakwenzakala, kuzakwenziwa kuye. Ngakho ngiyalitshela ukuthi loba kuyini elikucelayo ngomthandazo, kholwani ukuthi selikwamukele, sekuzakuba ngokwenu.

“Libohlala liqaphele. Lizanikelwa kubaphathi bezindawo litshaywe emasinagogweni. Ngenxa yami lizamiswa phambi kwababusi lamakhosi libe yibufakazi kubo. Njalo ivangeli kufanele liqale litshunyayelwe ezizweni zonke. Loba lingaze libotshwe lilethwe emthethwandabeni lingaze lazihlupha mandulo ukuthi lizakhuluma lithini. Khulumani ingqe yilokho elizakuphiwa ngalesosikhathi, ngoba kakusini elikhulumayo, kodwa nguMoya oNgcwele. “Umfowabo uzanikela umfowabo ekufeni, loyise anikele umntanakhe. Abantwana bazahlamukela abazali babo bababulalise. Bonke abantu bazalizonda ngenxa yami, kodwa lowo omayo aqine kuze kube sekupheleni uzasindiswa.

Kodwa uPhethro waphika wagomela wathi, “Loba kungabe ngifanele ngife lawe, kangisoze ngikuphike.” Bonke abanye labo batsho khona lokho.

Wathatha uPhethro loJakhobe loJohane wasuduka labo, waseqalisa ukukhathazeka kakhulu wahlulukelwa. Wathi kubo, “Umphefumulo wami udabukile kakhulu ngosizi kungathi ngingaze ngife. Hlalani lapha lilinde.” Wagudluka njalo kubo wazilahla phansi wakhuleka ukuthi aluba kungenzeka lelohora lingedlula kuye. Wathi, “Abha, Baba, konke kungenzakala kuwe. Ake ususe inkezo le kimi. Kodwa kakungabi yintando yami, kodwa kube yintando yakho.”

UPhilathu wasebakhululela uBharaba ngokuba wayefuna ukusuthisa ixuku labantu. Wathi uJesu katshaywe, ngemva kwalokho wasebapha ukuba bambethele.

Base bembethela. Bahlukanisa izigqoko zakhe base besenza inkatho ukuze babone ukuthi ngulowo athathe kuphi. Kwakulihora lesithathu isikhathi abambethela ngaso.

Kwathi ngehora lesificamunwe munye uJesu wakhala ngelizwi elikhulu wathi, “Eloyi, Eloyi, lamasabakithani?”  —  okutsho ukuthi, “Nkulunkulu wami, Nkulunkulu wami, usungitshiyelani na?”

Lezi zibonakaliso zizabalandela labo abakholwayo: Ngebizo lami bazakhupha amadimoni; bazakhuluma ngezindimi ezintsha; bazadobha izinyoka ngezandla zabo; bazakuthi banganatha okubulalayo kungaze kwabalimaza lakancinyane; bazabeka izandla zabo phezu kwabantu abagulayo, basile.”

“UMoya weNkosi uphezu kwami, ngokuba ingigcobile ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle kubayanga. Ingithumile ukumemezela ukukhululwa kwezibotshwa lokusiliswa kweziphofu zibone, ukukhululwa kwabacindezelweyo,

Esinagogeni lapho kwakulendoda eyayiphethwe lidimoni, umoya ongcolileyo. Yaklabalala ngelizwi layo lonke yathi, “Hawu! Ufunani kithi, Jesu waseNazaretha? Ulande ukuza sibhubhisa na? Ngiyakwazi ukuthi ungubani  —  ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu!” “Thula!” watsho ngolaka uJesu. “Phuma kuye!” Idimoni layilahla phansi indoda phambi kwabo bonke laphuma lingayilimazanga indoda. Bonke abantu bamangala kakhulu bakhulumisana bathi, “Yikufundisa bani lokhu? Ulaya imimoya emibi ngegunya langamandla layo iphume!”

UJesu wasuka esinagogeni waya emzini kaSimoni. Uninazala kaSimoni wayegula ebanjwe ngumkhuhlane onzima, base becela uJesu ukuthi amsize. Wasekhothamela kuye wakhuza umkhuhlane lowo wahle wamyekela. Wathi lothu masinyane wahle walungisela uJesu ukudla.

Kwathi ilanga selitshona, abantu baletha kuJesu bonke ababe lemikhuhlane eyehlukeneyo wabaphilisa ngokubeka izandla phezu kwalowo lalowo ngamunye.

Kwathi uJesu ekwelinye lamadolobho kweza indoda eyayigcwele ubulephero. Yathi ibona uJesu yathi mbo phansi ngobuso yamncenga yathi, “Nkosi, uma uthanda ungangihlambulula.” UJesu welula isandla sakhe wayithinta indoda leyo. Wathi, “Ngiyathanda. Hlambuluka!” Masinyane nje ubulephero bahle baphela.

Kodwa udumo lwakhe lwanda ngamandla, yikho amaxuku abantu eza ukuza muzwa lokusiliswa emikhuhlaneni yabo.

Ngelinye ilanga elokhu efundisa, kwakuhlezi khonapho abaFarisi labafundisi bomthetho ababephuma emizini yonke yaseGalile abanye bevela eJudiya laseJerusalema. Amandla eNkosi ayekhona kuye ukuze asilise abagulayo. Kwafika amanye amadoda ethwele owome umhlubulo ngecansi bezama ukungena laye endlini bambeke phambi kukaJesu. Bathi sebehlulekile ngenxa yokuminyana kwabantu bakhwela ephahleni bamehlisela phansi ngesikhala bamuthi qithi phakathi kwabantu phambi kukaJesu. Kwathi uJesu ebona ukholo lwabo wathi, “Mzalwane, izono zakho sezithethelelwe.” AbaFarisi labafundisi bomthetho bakhonona bathi, “Ungubani yena lo umuntu okhuluma inhlamba na? Ngubani ongathethelela izono ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu kuphela na?” UJesu wayekwazi abakucabangayo wasebuza wathi, “Kungani linakana izinto ezinje ezinhliziyweni zenu na? Yikuphi okulula: ukuthi, ‘Izono zakho sezithethelelwe,’ loba ukuthi, ‘Sukuma uhambe’? Kodwa ukuze lazi ukuthi iNdodana yoMuntu ilamandla emhlabeni awokuthethelela izono … ” Wasesithi koyisilima, “Ngiyakutshela ngithi sukuma uthathe icansi lakho uye ekhaya.” Masinyane wathi lothu phambi kwabo, wabutha ayekade elele phezu kwakho waya ekhaya edumisa uNkulunkulu.

UJesu wabaphendula wathi, “Kakusibo abaphilayo abaswela umelaphi, kodwa ngabagulayo. Kangilandanga ukubiza abulungileyo, kodwa ukubiza izoni ukuba ziphenduke.

Ngelinye iSabatha waya esinagogeni wafundisa, khonapho kulendoda elesandla sokudla esitshwabheneyo. AbaFarisi labafundisi bomthetho babedinga izaba lokubeka uJesu icala, yikho bamlinda ukubona ingabe wayezasilisa ngeSabatha. Kodwa uJesu wakwazi ababekucabanga, wasesithi endodeni yesandla esitshwabheneyo, “Sukuma ume phambi kwabantu bonke.” Lakanye yasukuma yema khonapho. UJesu wasesithi kubo, “Ngiyalibuza, yikuphi okusemthethweni ngelanga leSabatha: ukwenza okuhle kumbe ukwenza okubi, ukusindisa impilo kumbe ukuyibhubhisa?” Wabakhangela wababhoda bonke, wasesithi endodeni leyo, “Yelula isandla sakho.” Yenza njalo, isandla sayo sasiliswa ngokupheleleyo.

Wehla labo bema esigcawini. Kwakubuthene ixuku elikhulu elabafundi bakhe njalo kulabantu abanengi bevela kulo lonke elaseJudiya, leJerusalema lasemakhunjini olwandle eThire leSidoni, ababeze ukuza muzwa lokuzakwelatshwa izifo zabo. Labo ababehlutshwa ngomoya ababi basiliswa, kwathi bonke abantu bazama ukumthinta ngoba amandla ayephuma kuye ebasilisa bonke.

Libusisiwe lina elilambileyo manje, ngoba lizasuthiswa. Libusisiwe lina elililayo manje, ngoba lizahleka. Libusisiwe lina nxa abantu belizonda, nxa belibandlulula njalo belichothoza bephika ibizo lenu besithi lingcolile, ngenxa yeNdodana yoMuntu. “Thokozani ngalolosuku liqolotshe ngokuthokoza ngokuba mkhulu umvuzo wenu ezulwini. Ngokuba yiyo indlela oyise abaphatha ngayo abaphrofethi.

Khonapho inceku yenduna yekhulu eyayiligugu kakhulu enkosini yayo, yayigula isilengela ekufeni. Induna yekhulu yezwa ngoJesu yathuma kuye abanye abadala babaJuda icela ukuba eze azosilisa inceku yayo. Bafika kuJesu bamncenga kakhulu bathi, “Indoda le ifanele ukuthi uyenzele lokhu, ngokuba iyasithanda isizwe sakithi njalo yiyo eyakha isinagogi yethu.” Ngakho uJesu wahamba labo. Wayengasekhatshana lendlu lapho induna yekhulu yathuma abangane bayo ukuyakuthi kuye, “Nkosi, ungazihluphi, akungifanelanga mina ukuthi ungene ngaphansi kophahla lwami. Yikho okwenze ukuthi ngingazake nginakane ukuthi ngize kuwe. Kodwa tshono ilizwi nje, inceku yami izasila. Ngokuba mina ngokwami ngingumuntu olawulayo, ngilamabutho angaphansi kwami. Lo ngimtshela ngithi, ‘Hamba,’ ahambe; kuloyana ngithi, ‘Woza,’ eze. Ngingathi encekwini yami, ‘Yenza lokhu,’ ikwenze.” UJesu wathi ekuzwa lokhu, wamangala ngaye, wasephendukela exukwini labantu ababemlandela wathi, “Ngiyalitshela, kangikaluboni ukholo olukhulu kangaka kanye lako-Israyeli.” Abantu ababethunyiwe babuyela endlini bafica inceku isiziphilela.

Wathi esebanga entubeni yedolobho, khonapho umuntu ofileyo wayethwelwe ekhutshelwa ngaphandle  —  eyiyo yodwa indodana kanina wayo, lowonina engumfelokazi. Ixuku elikhulu labantu bedolobheni lalilaye. Kwathi uJesu embona umfelokazi, wamzwela usizi wathi kuye, “Ungakhali.” Wasesondela wathinta ithala elalilesidumbu, kwathi labo ababelithwele bema mpo. Wathi, “Jaha, ngithi kuwe vuka!” Indoda efileyo yavuka yahlala, yasikhuluma, uJesu wayinika unina.

Ngasona leso sikhathi uJesu wasilisa abanengi ababelezifo, lemikhuhlane lemimoya emibi, wathungulula iziphofu ezinengi. Waseziphendula izithunywa wathi, “Buyelani liyobikela uJohane elikubonileyo lelikuzwileyo: Iziphofu zenziwa zibone, abaqhulayo bayahamba, labo abalobulephero bayasiliswa, izacuthe ziyezwa, abafileyo bayavuswa lezindaba ezinhle ziyatshunyayelwa kubayanga.

kanye labesifazana ababephilisiwe emimoyeni emibi lezifeni: uMariya (owayethiwa nguMagadalena) okwakuphume kuye amadimoni ayisikhombisa;

Bathe belokhu behamba yena walala. Kwafika isiphepho phezu kwechibi isikepe saqalisa ukugalula, baba sengozini embi. Abafundi bahamba bayamvusa besithi, “Nkosi, Nkosi, nanku sesigalula bo!” Wavuka wawukhuza umoya lamanzi ayeyabuka; isiphepho sadeda, kwathula cwaka. Wababuza abafundi bakhe, wathi, “Kungaphi ukukholwa kwenu na?” Babuzana ngokumangala lokwesaba bathi, “Kanti ungubani lo? Ukhuza kanye lomoya lamanzi kumlalele.”

Bagwedla isikepe baya emmangweni wamaGerasene, okungaphetsheya kwechibi kusuka eGalile. Kwathi uJesu esehla okhunjini wahlangabezwa yindoda ephethwe lidimoni iqhamuka ngasedolobheni. Indoda le yayisilesikhathi eside ingavunuli zigqoko, ingahlali endlini, kodwa ihlala emathuneni. Yathi ibona uJesu, yahlaba umkhosi yazilahla ezinyaweni zakhe iklabalala ngelizwi elikhulu isithi, “Ufuna ukungenzani, Jesu, Ndodana kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke? Ngiyakuncenga, ungaze wangichukuluza!” Ngokuba uJesu wayeseyale umoya omubi ukuthi uphume kuleyondoda. Izikhathi ezinengi wawumdumela, kwale loba wayebotshwe ngamaketane ezandleni lezinyaweni njalo ehlezi elindiwe, wayewaqamula amaketane idimoni limfuqele enkangala. UJesu wambuza wathi, “Ungubani ibizo lakho?” “NginguLigiyoni,” waphendula, ngoba amadimoni amanengi ayengene kuye. Amncenga futhi futhi ukuthi angawalayi ukuthi ayewolokothela eMgodini oNgelamkhawulo. Umhlambi omkhulu wezingulube wawusidla khonapho eceleni koqaqa. Amadimoni acela uJesu ukuthi awavumele ukuyangena kuzo, laye wawavumela. Amadimoni aphuma endodeni ayangena ezingulubeni, umhlambi wathi zimu ubaleka wayakhalakathela eliweni wagxumukela echibini wagalula.

Khonapho kwakulowesifazana owayekade ephethwe yikopha okweminyaka elitshumi lambili, kodwa kungekho owayengamsiza. Weza ngemuva kukaJesu wathinta umphetho wesigqoko sakhe, kwathi masinyane ukopha kwaphela.

Kwathi uJesu elokhu esakhuluma omunye weza evela endlini kaJayirosi umbusi wesinagogi, wafika wathi, “Indodakazi yakho isifile. Ungabe usamhlupha umfundisi.” UJesu wathi ekuzwa lokhu wathi kuJayirosi, “Ungesabi, wena kholwa kuphela, izaphiliswa.” Wathi esefikile endlini kaJayirosi kavumelanga muntu ukungena laye ngaphandle kukaPhethro loJohane loJakhobe, kanye loyise womntwana lonina. Kunjalo nje inengi labantu babekhihliza isililo bekhalela intombazana. UJesu wathi kubo, “Thulani ukukhala. Kafanga kodwa ulele.” Bamhleka uJesu ngoba besazi ukuthi intombazana yayisifile. Kodwa wayibamba ngesandla wathi, “Mntanami, vuka!” Umoya wayo wabuya, masinyane yasukuma yathi lothu! UJesu wasesithi kabamnike ukudla.

UJesu esebizele abaLitshumi Lambili ndawonye wabapha amandla lemvumo ukuthi bakhuphe wonke amadimoni, belaphe lemikhuhlane, njalo wasebathuma ukuyatshumayela umbuso kaNkulunkulu lokuphilisa abagulayo,

Base besuka bangena imizi ngemizi, betshumayela ivangeli njalo besilisa abantu ezindaweni zonke.

kodwa amaxuku abantu ezwa ukuthi ukhonale base bemlandela. Wabemukela wabatshela ngombuso kaNkulunkulu, wasilisa labo ababekuswela ukusiliswa.

Enye indoda exukwini yamemeza yathi, “Mfundisi, ngiyakuncenga ukuthi uke ukhangele indodana yami, ngoba inguye yedwa umntwana engilaye. Umoya uyamjuma abeseklabalala; uyamgiqa ajanquke abesebhubhudla amagwebu emlonyeni. Usuhlezi udlala ngaye nje usufuna ukumqeda. Bengicele abafundi bakho ukuthi bawuxotshe kodwa behlulekile.” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Hawu, sizukulwane esingakholwayo, esixhwalileyo, ngihlale lani kuze kube nini ngilokhu ngilibekezelela na? Ilethe lapha indodana yakho.” Kwathi lapho umfana elokhu esalethwa kuye idimoni lambhuqa phansi ebhinqika. Kodwa uJesu wawukhuza umoya omubi, wamsilisa umfana wambuyisela kuyise.

Silisani abagulayo abayabe belapho, njalo libatshele lithi, ‘Umbuso kaNkulunkulu useduze kwenu.’

Ngiliphile amandla okugxoba izinyoka lezinkume lokunqoba wonke amandla esitha; kakukho okuzalilimaza.

UJesu waphendula ngokuthi: “Indoda yayihamba iphuma eJerusalema isiya eJerikho, yaqabuka isihlaselwa ngabaphangi. Bayihlubula izigqoko zayo, bayitshaya base behamba, beyitshiya iqalekile. Kwakulomphristi owayehamba ngaleyo ndlela, owathi eyibona indoda leyo waceza kwelinye icele. Wenza njalo lomLevi, wafika kuleyondawo wayibona indoda wakhekheleza wedlula. Kodwa umSamariya, wathi ezihambela wafika lapho indoda eyayikhona, wathi eyibona wayizwela usizi. Waya kuyo, wawabopha amanxeba ayo, elokhu ethela amafutha lewayini. Waseyikhweza kubabhemi wakhe indoda leyo wayisa endlini yezihambi wayinakekela.

UJesu wayekhupha idimoni elaliyisimungulu. Lathi idimoni selisuka, indoda eyayiyisimungulu yakhuluma, ixuku labantu lamangala.

Izintaka ezinhlanu kazithengiswa ngezindibilitshi ezimbili na? Kodwa kayikho lanye yazo uNkulunkulu ayilibalayo. Ngempela, izinwele zekhanda lakho zibaliwe. Lingesabi; lina liligugu okudlula izintaka ezinengi.

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. “Lingesabi, mhlambi omncane, ngoba uYihlo uthandile ukulipha umbuso.

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.

khonapho kulowesifazana owayengenwe ngumoya wamenza isilima okweminyaka elitshumi leficamibili. Wayegogekile esehluleka ukuhlala aqonde. Kwathi uJesu embona wambizela phambili wathi kuye, “Mama, usukhululwe ekugogekeni kwakho.” Wasebeka izandla zakhe phezu kwakhe, masinyane nje owesifazana watshwaphuluka waqonda wasedumisa uNkulunkulu.

Manje-ke owesifazana lo oyindodakazi ka-Abhrahama, obebotshwe nguSathane okweminyaka eminengi, elitshumi leficamibili, lithi kangakhululwa yini ngeSabatha kulokho obekumbophile?”

Waphendula wathi, “Hambani liyotshela ikhanka lelo lithi, ‘Ngizawaxotsha amadimoni, ngisilise abantu, lamuhla lakusasa langosuku lwesithathu ngize ngiyiphethe indima yami.’

Phambi kwakhe khonapho kwakulendoda eyayilesifo sikambizankulu, esivuvukisa izitho. UJesu wasebuza abaFarisi lezazi zomthetho wathi, “Kusemthethweni yini kumbe hatshi ukusilisa ngosuku lweSabatha na?” Kodwa bathula. Yikho waseyibamba indoda leyo wayisilisa wathi kayihambe.

Kodwa nxa usenza idili, nxusa abayanga, izilima, izigoga, iziphofu,

“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.’ ”

Wathi efika komunye umuzi wahlangabezwa ngamadoda alitshumi ayelobulephero. Bema bucwala bamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu bathi, “Jesu, Nkosi, sihawukele!” Wathi ebabona wathi kubo, “Hambani liyoziveza kubaphristi.” Bathi besahamba bahlambuluka. Omunye wabo wathi ngokubona ukuthi usesilile wabuya, edumisa uNkulunkulu ngelizwi elikhulu.

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

UJesu esebanga eJerikho kwakulendoda eyisiphofu eyisiceli ihlezi eceleni kwendlela icela. Yathi isizwa kudlula ixuku labantu yabuza ukuthi kuyini okwakusenzakala. Bayitshela bathi, “UJesu waseNazaretha uyedlula khonapha.” Yamemeza yathi, “Jesu, Ndodana kaDavida, ake ungihawukele!” Labo ababehamba phambili bayikhuza bathi kayithule, kodwa yona yasimemeza ngamandla yathi, “Ndodana kaDavida ake ungihawukele!” UJesu wema wathi indoda leyo kayilethwe kuye. Isifikile uJesu wayibuza wathi, “Ufuna ukuthi ngikwenzeleni na?” Yaphendula yathi, “Nkosi, ngifuna ukuthi ngibone.” UJesu wathi kuyo, “Kuzuze-ke ukubona; ukukholwa kwakho kukusindisile.” Masinyane yahle yabona yasimlandela uJesu idumisa uNkulunkulu. Kwathi bonke abantu bekubona lokho, labo bamdumisa uNkulunkulu.

Ngokuba iNdodana yoMuntu yalanda ukudinga lokusindisa lokho okwakulahlekile.”

njalo kabasayikufa; ngoba sebenjengezingilosi. Bangabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, ngokuba bengabantwana bokuvuka kwabafileyo.

Kodwa mandulo kwakho konke lokhu bazalibeka isandla, balihlukuluze. Bazalinikela emasinagogeni lasezintolongweni, kungenxa yebizo lami. Lokhu kuzalenza libe ngofakazi kubo. Kodwa bekani phansi amaphaphu linganqinekeli ukuthi lizazivikela lithini. Ngokuba ngizalinika amazwi lokuhlakanipha ukuze angabi khona ezitheni zenu ozalehlula loba aliphikise. Lizanikelwa ngabazali, ngabafowenu layizihlobo labangane njalo abanye benu bazalibulala. Bonke abantu bazalizonda ngenxa yami. Kodwa kakuyikubhubha lanwele olulodwa emakhanda enu.

Liyilabo abame lami ebunzimeni bami.

“Simoni, Simoni uSathane usecele ukulihlungula lonke njengengqoloyi. Kodwa sengikukhulekele wena, Simoni, ukuthi ukholo lwakho lungehluleki. Akubokuthi nxa usubuyile kimi uqinise abafowenu.” Kodwa waphendula wathi, “Nkosi, ngizimisele ukuhamba lawe entolongweni lasekufeni.”

Kwathi edabukile kakhulu, wakhuleka ngokutshiseka, izithukuthuku zakhe zangathi ligazi lithontela phansi.

Bathi sebefike endaweni ethiwa luKhakhayi bambethela esiphambanweni kanye lezigebengu lezo  —  omunye ngakwesokunene kwakhe, omunye ngasekhohlo. UJesu wathi, “Baba, baxolele, ngokuba kabakwazi abakwenzayo.” Njalo base besabelana izigqoko zakhe ngokwenza inkatho.

UJesu wamphendula wathi, “Ngiyakutshela iqiniso ngithi, lamuhla uzakuba lami epharadisi.”

UJesu wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu wathi, “Baba, nginikela umoya wami ezandleni zakho.” Esetshilo lokhu waphela.

“UNkulunkulu walithanda ilizwe waze wanikela iNdodana yakhe iyiyo yodwa ukuze kuthi loba ngubani okholwa kuyo angabhubhi kodwa abe lokuphila okungapheliyo.

Wabuya njalo wethekelela eKhana laseGalile, lapho aguqula khona amanzi aba liwayini. Kwakukhona lapho isiphathamandla sasesikhosini esasigulelwa yindodana yaso eKhaphenawume. Kwathi indoda leyo isizwile ukuthi uJesu wayesefikile eGalile evela eJudiya yaya kuye yamncenga ukuthi eze azosilisa indodana yayo eyase ilengela ekufeni. UJesu wamtshela wathi, “Ngaphandle kokuthi lina bantu libone izibonakaliso ezididayo lezimangaliso kalisoze lafa lakholwa.” Sathi isiphathamandla sasesikhosini, “Mnumzana, woza umntanami engakafi.” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Usungahamba. Indodana yakho izaphila.” Indoda yalikholwa ilizwi likaJesu yahamba. Yathi ilokhu iseza isesendleleni izinceku zayo zayihlangabeza zayibikela ukuthi indodana yayo yayisiphila. Isibuzile ukuthi kwakuyisikhathi bani lapho indodana yayo yasila ngaso, zathi kuyo, “Umkhuhlane uyixolele izolo ngehora lesikhombisa.” Uyise wananzelela ukuthi leso sasiyiso kanye isikhathi uJesu atsho kuye ukuthi, “Indodana yakho izaphila.” Yikho yena kanye labendlu yakhe bonke bakholwa.

Khonapho abantu abayizilima abanengi babandise ukulala  —  iziphofu, abaqhugezelayo, abome umhlubulo  —  belindele ukuqubuka kwamanzi; ( ngokuba kwakusithi ngezikhathi ezithile ingilosi yeNkosi yayisehlela echibini, amanzi adungadungwe, besekusithi umuntu oqalayo ukungena emanzini ngemuva kokudungeka kwawo asiliswe loba kukuwuphi umkhuhlane owawumbambile.) Omunye owayelapho wayesebe yisigoga okweminyaka engamatshumi amathathu lesificamibili. Kwathi uJesu embona elele khonapho njalo esetsheliwe ukuthi kade abanjalo okwesikhathi eside, wambuza wathi, “Uyafuna na ukuba usile?” Oyisilima waphendula wathi, “Mnumzana, kangilamuntu wokungisiza angingenise echibini lapho amanzi edungwa. Ngithi lapho ngizama ukungena omunye angingenele kuqala.” UJesu wasethi kuye, “Sukuma! Thatha icansi lakho uhambe.” Khonokho nje indoda yasila; yathatha icansi layo yahamba. Lokhu kwenzakala ngelanga leSabatha,

Muva kwalokho uJesu wayifumana ethempelini indoda leyo wathi kuyo, “Khangela-ke usuphila njalo. Khawula ukwenza isono funa okubi okudlulayo kungakwehlela.”

njalo walandelwa lixuku elikhulu labantu ngokuba babona imimangaliso ayeyenzile kwababegula.

UJesu wachaza wathi, “Ngiyisinkwa sokuphila. Lowo ozayo kimi kasoze afa alamba, lalowo okholwa kimi kasoze aphinde ome. Kodwa njengoba ngilitshelile selingibonile kodwa lilokhu lingakholwa. Konke lokho uBaba anginika khona kuzakuza kimi, njalo lowo ozayo kimi kangisoze ngimlahle.

Kwathi uJesu esekhuluma ebantwini njalo wathi, “Ngiyikukhanya komhlaba. Loba ngubani ongilandelayo kasoze ahambe ebumnyameni lanini, kodwa uzakuba lokukhanya kokuphila.”

UJesu wathi elokhu ehamba wabona indoda eyayiyisiphofu kwasekuzalweni kwayo. Abafundi bakhe bambuza bathi, “Rabi, ngubani owenza isono, indoda le noma abazali bayo ukuze izalwe iyisiphofu na?” UJesu wathi, “Kakusikho ukuthi abazali bayo loba yona indoda le yenza isono, kodwa lokhu kwenzakala ukuze umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ubonakaliswe empilweni yayo. Nxa kulokhu kusemini simele siwenze umsebenzi wakhe ongithumileyo. Ubusuku buyeza lapho kungelamuntu ongasebenza khona. Nxa ngisekhona emhlabeni, ngiyikukhanya komhlaba.” Esetshilo lokhu wakhafulela emhlabathini, wavuba udaka ngamathe waluname-ka emehlweni endoda. Wayitshela wathi, “Hamba uyogeza esizibeni saseSilowami: (Igama leli litsho ukuthi ‘uThunyiwe’). Ngakho indoda yahamba yayageza, yabuyela ekhaya isibona.

Kakho osewake wezwa ngokuvulwa kwamehlo omuntu owazalwa eyisiphofu.

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

Ngizipha ukuphila okungapheliyo, kazisoze zabhubha; kakho ongazihlwitha esandleni sikaBaba. Ubaba ongiphe zona mkhulu kulakho konke, kakho ozangihlwitha esandleni sikaBaba

UJesu wathi kuye, “Mina ngiyikuvuka kwabafileyo lokuphila. Lowo okholwa kimi uzaphila, loba ezakufa; njalo lowo ophilayo njalo ekholwa kimi kasoze afa lanini. Uyakukholwa lokhu na?”

UMariya wonela ukufika lapho uJesu ayekhona, wambona, wazilahla phansi ezinyaweni zakhe wathi, “Nkosi, uba ubukhona lapha, umnewethu ngabe kafanga.” UJesu embona ekhala, kanye labaJuda ababemlandele labo bekhala, wadabuka kakhulu emoyeni, wakhathazeka. Wabuza wathi, “Limbeke ngaphi na?” Baphendula bathi, “Woza uzobona, Nkosi.” UJesu wakhala. AbaJuda basebesithi, “Liyabona ukuthi wayemthanda njani!”

Wathi, “Lisuseni ilitshe.” UMatha, udadewabo wendoda efileyo wathi, “Nkosi, kodwa khathesi sekulephunga elibi, ngoba usebe lapha izinsuku ezine.” UJesu wasesithi, “Kangikutshelanga yini ukuthi uma ukholwa uzabona inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu na?” Yikho base belisusa ilitshe. UJesu wasekhangela phezulu wathi, “Baba ngiyakubonga ukuthi ungizwile. Mina bengisazi ukuthi uhlala ungizwa, kodwa ngikutshela lokhu ngisenzela abantu abemi lapha, ukuze bakholwe ukuthi ungithumile.” Esetshilo lokhu uJesu wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu wathi, “Lazaro, phuma!” Indoda efileyo yaphuma, izandla zayo lezinyawo kusongiwe ngamaqhele elineni, kulelembu limboze ubuso. UJesu wathi kubo, “Khuphani izivunulo zokungcwaba limyekele ahambe.”

“Izinhliziyo zenu kazingakhathazeki. Thembani kuNkulunkulu; thembani njalo kimi. Emzini kaBaba kulezindlu ezinengi; aluba kungenjalo ngabe ngalitshela. Ngiya khona ukuyalilungisela indawo.

Njalo ngizakwenza noma yini eliyicelayo ngebizo lami, ukuze iNdodana ilethe inkazimulo kuBaba. Lingangicela noma yini ngebizo lami, ngizayenza.

Ukuthula ngikutshiya kini; ukuthula kwami ngilinika khona. Kangiliniki njengokunika komhlaba. Lingakhathazeki ezinhliziyweni zenu njalo lingesabi.

Uma lihlala kimi lamazwi ami ehlala kini, celani loba yini eliyifunayo, lizayiphiwa. Lokhu kungokwenkazimulo kaBaba ukuze lithele izithelo ezinengi, lizitshengisa ukuthi lingabafundi bami.

Ngilitshelile lokhu ukuze ukuthokoza kwami kube kini njalo ukuze ukuthokoza kwenu kuphelele.

Kunjalo lakini: Manje yisikhathi senu sosizi, kodwa ngizaphinda ngilibone beselithokoza, njalo kakho ozaphinda alemuke intokozo yenu. Ngiqinisile ngithi uBaba uzalinika loba yini eliyicelayo ngebizo lami. Kuze kube manje kalikaceli lutho ngebizo lami. Celani, lizakwamukeliswa, ukuze ukuthokoza kwenu kuphelele.

“Ngilitshelile izinto lezi ukuze kuthi kimi libe lokuthula. Kulo umhlaba lizakuba lokuhlupheka. Kodwa yimani isibindi! Sengiwunqobile umhlaba.”

UPhilathu wasemthatha uJesu wathi katshaywe ngesaswebhu.

Ekucineni uPhilathu wamnikela kubo ukuba abethelwe. Lapho-ke amabutho asemthatha uJesu. Wathwala isiphambano wasuka waya eNdaweni yoKhakhayi (okuthiwa ngesiHebheru yiGoligotha). Bambethela khona lapho kanye labanye ababili  —  ngapha langapha kwakhe, uJesu waba phakathi.

Esenathile wathi, “Sekuphelile.” Esetsho lokho wagobisa ikhanda lakhe wafa.

lomunye umbhalo uthi, “Bazakhangela kulowo abamgwazayo.”

Kuzakuthi wonke obiza ibizo leNkosi asindiswe.’

Ngakho inhliziyo yami iyathaba lolimi lwami luyathokoza; umzimba wami lawo uzahlala uthembile, Ngokuba kawuzukungiyekela ngiye engcwabeni njalo kawuyikuyekela oNgcwele wakho abone ukubola. Ungazisile izindlela zempilo; uzangigcwalisa ngentokozo phambi kwakho.’

UPhethro wasesithi, “Isiliva kumbe igolide kangilakho, kodwa engilakho ngikunika khona. Ebizweni likaJesu Khristu waseNazaretha, sukuma uhambe.” Wambamba ngesandla sokudla wamsukumisa, kwathi masinyane izinyawo lezinqagala zaqina. Wathi lothu ngezinyawo zakhe wahle wahamba. Wasehamba labo ethempelini, ezihambela, eseqa njalo edumisa uNkulunkulu,

Kwathi ngenxa yalokho abantu baletha abagulayo ezitaladini babalalisa emibhedeni lemacansini ukuze kuthi nje isithunzi kodwa sikaPhethro sisithe abanye babo lapho esedlula. Amaxuku abantu abuthana eqhamuka emizini eyayiseduze kweJerusalema, beletha abagulayo babo lalabo ababehlukuluzwa yimimoya emibi, kwathi bonke basiliswa.

Kwasekusithi umphristi omkhulu kanye leqembu lakhe elalingelexuku labaSadusi bangenwa ngumhawu. Bababopha abaphostoli babaphosela entolongweni yomuntu wonke. Kodwa ebusuku ingilosi yeNkosi yavula iminyango yentolongo yabakhupha. Yathi, “Hambani liyokuma emagumeni ethempeli litshele abantu lonke ilizwi lempilo entsha.”

Abaphostoli basuka eSanihedrini bethokoza ngokuba basebebonakalisile ukuthi babengalimela ihlazo lokulihluphekela iBizo.

Kodwa uSawuli waqalisa ukulichitha ibandla. Wahamba engena izindlu ngezindlu ephuthuma amadoda labafazi esiyabaphosela entolongweni. Labo ababehlakazekile balitshumayela ilizwi loba kungaphi abaya khona.

Kwathi amaxuku abantu emuzwa uFiliphu njalo ebona imimangaliso ayeyenza bonke bakulalelisisa lokho ayekukhuluma. Omoya ababi baphuma ebantwini abanengi beklabalala, njalo abanengi ababome imihlubulo labayizilima basiliswa. Ngakho kwaba lentokozo enkulu kulelodolobho.

ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamgcoba kanjani uJesu waseNazaretha ngoMoya oNgcwele langamandla, lokuthi wahamba izindawana zonke esenza ubuhle njalo esilisa bonke ababesemandleni omubi, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wayelaye.

Esembophile wamphosela entolongweni, wamnikela ukuba alindwe ngamaqula amane amabutho ngalinye lilamabutho amane. UHerodi wayefuna ukuthi ngemuva kwePhasika amkhuphele obala athonisiswe phambi kwabantu. Ngakho uPhethro wagcinwa entolongweni, kodwa ibandla laphitsheka limkhulekela kuNkulunkulu. Ngobusuku obandulela ukuthonisiswa kukaPhethro nguHerodi, uPhethro wayelele ephahlwe ngamabutho amabili, ebotshiwe ngamaketane amabili, kumi abalindi entubeni. Masinyane ingilosi yeNkosi yavela, kwabakhona ukukhanya kulelokamela lentolongo. Yaphumputha uPhethro ohlangothini yamvusa, yathi, “Phangisa, vuka!” Amaketane akhithika ezingalweni zikaPhethro. Ingilosi yasisithi kuye, “Gqoka, ufake lamanyathelo akho.” UPhethro wenzenjalo. Ingilosi yamtshela yathi, “Yembatha ijazi lakho ungilandele. UPhethro wayilandela ngaphandle kwentolongo, kodwa wayedidekile engakwazi ukuthi lokho ingilosi eyayikwenza kwakusenzakala ngempela; wayekhumbula ukuthi ubona umbono. Bedlula kubalindi, owokuqala lowesibili bafika esangweni lensimbi elaliphumela edolobheni. Lazivulekela baphuma. Kwathi sebehambe baphutsha umgwaqo wedolobho, ingilosi yaphanga yamtshiya.

beqinisa abafundi njalo bebakhuthaza ukuthi babambelele ekukholweni. Bathi, “Kufanele sedlule ezinhlungwini ezinengi ukuze singene embusweni kaNkulunkulu.”

Ixuku layingenela indaba yokuhlasela uPhawuli loSila, yikho omantshi bathi kabakhululwe izigqoko batshaywe. Sebebabhansule kabuhlungu babaphosela entolongweni kwathiwa umlindijele kabakhangele aqinisise.

Esezwe lowomlayo wabafuqela endlini yentolongo ephakathi wababopha izinyawo wazibophela ezinsikeni. Sekungaba phakathi kwamabili ebusuku uPhawuli loSila bakhuleka bahlabela amahubo kuNkulunkulu, ezinye izibotshwa zibalalele. Masinyane kwaba lokuzamazama komhlaba kwaze kwanyikinyeka izisekelo zentolongo. Izivalo zentolongo zathi gwabu zavuleka, amaketane ezibotshwa athukuluka. Umlindijele waphaphama, wathi ngokubona iminyango yentolongo ivulekile wakhokha inkemba yakhe esefuna ukuzibulala ngoba ekhumbula ukuthi izibotshwa zasezibalekile. Kodwa uPhawuli wamemeza wathi, “Ungazilimazi bo! Sikhona sonke!” Umlindijele wathi kakulethwe izibane, wangena wazilahla phambi kukaPhawuli loSila eqhaqhazela. Wasebakhuphela phandle wababuza wathi, “Madoda, ngenzeni ukuze ngisindiswe na?”

UNkulunkulu wenza imimangaliso engajayelekanga ngoPhawuli. Izifinyo lamathawulo okwakuthintiswe yena kwakusiwa kwabagulayo bahle basile emikhuhlaneni yabo lemimoya emibi iphume kubo.

Ngayikhonza iNkosi ngokuzithoba okukhulu langezinyembezi, loba ngangilingwa kabuhlungu ngamacebo abaJuda.

“Okwamanje ngiqhutshwa nguMoya ukuthi ngiye eJerusalema, loba ngingazi ukuthi kuzakwenzakalani kimi khonale. Ngazi kuphela ukuthi kuwo wonke amadolobho uMoya oNgcwele ungixwayisa ukuthi ngizulelwa yintolongo lobunzima. Kungenani, eyami impilo ngiyibona ingasulutho kimi, uba kodwa lokhu ngingaliqeda ibanga ngiwufeze lomsebenzi iNkosi uJesu engiphe wona  —  umsebenzi wokufakaza ivangeli lomusa kaNkulunkulu.

Kukho konke engakwenzayo ngalibonisa ukuthi ngalendlela yokusebenza nzima kumele sisize ababuthakathaka, sikhumbula amazwi eNkosi uJesu athi: ‘Ukupha kubusisekile okudlula ukwamukela.’ ”

UPhawuli wasephendula wathi, “Likhalelani lingidabula inhliziyo yami na? Kangilungelanga ukubotshwa kuphela, kodwa lokufa eJerusalema ngifela ibizo leNkosi uJesu.” Kwathi ngoba engancengeki sadela sathi, “Mayenzeke intando yeNkosi.”

Uyise wayegula elele phansi ephethwe luqhuqho lesihudo. UPhawuli wayambona, kwathi esekhulekile, wambeka izandla wamsilisa. Kwathi sekwenzakele lokhu, bonke abagulayo esihlengeni beza basiliswa.

Akunjalo kuphela, kodwa siyathokoza njalo ezinhluphekweni zethu, ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi ukuhlupheka kudala ukuqinisela; ukuqinisela, ubuntu; lobuntu, ithemba. Njalo ithemba kalisidanisi, ngoba uNkulunkulu usethululele uthando lwakhe ezinhliziyweni zethu ngoMoya oNgcwele, asinike yena.

Kodwa uNkulunkulu ubonakalisa uthando lwakhe kithi ngalokhu: Siseseyizoni, uKhristu wasifela. Njengoba khathesi sesilungiswe ligazi lakhe, pho sizasindiswa kakhulu kangakanani elakeni lukaNkulunkulu ngaye! Ngoba uma lapho sasiyizitha zikaNkulunkulu sabuyiselwa kuye ngokufa kweNdodana yakhe, kuzakuba kukhulu kangakanani, sesibuyiselwe, ukuhlengwa kwethu ngokuphila kwakhe! Lokhu akunjalo nje kuphela, kodwa siyathokoza njalo kuNkulunkulu ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu, khathesi esesithole ngaye ukubuyisana.

Ngakho-ke njengalokhu isono sangena emhlabeni ngomuntu oyedwa, lokufa ngesono, njalo ngale indlela ukufa kwafika ebantwini bonke, ngoba bonke benze isono  —

Kumbe njalo kalazi yini ukuthi sonke thina esabhaphathizelwa kuKhristu uJesu sabhaphathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe na? Ngakho sangcwatshwa laye ngokubhaphathizelwa ekufeni, ukuze kuthi njengoba uKhristu wavuswa kwabafileyo ngobukhosi bukaYise, lathi singaphila ukuphila okutsha. Uma sihlanganiswe laye kanje ekufeni kwakhe, ngempela sizahlanganiswa laye futhi ekuvukeni kwakhe. Ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi ubuntu bethu obudala babethelwa laye ukuze umzimba wesono ulahlwe, ukuze singabi yizigqili zesono futhi  — ngoba lowo osefile usekhululwe esonweni.

Uma safa loKhristu, siyakholwa ukuthi sizaphila laye. Ngoba siyazi ukuthi njengoba uKhristu wavuswa kwabafileyo, angeke afe futhi; ukufa akuselawo amandla phezu kwakhe. Ukufa akufayo wakufela bonke kanye ngenxa yesono; kodwa ukuphila akuphilayo, ukuphilela uNkulunkulu. Ngokufanayo, zibaleni lingabafileyo esonweni kodwa abaphilayo kuNkulunkulu ngoKhristu uJesu. Ngakho lingavumeli isono ukuba sibuse imizimba yenu efayo ukuba livumele izinkanuko zaso ezimbi. Linganikeli izitho zemizimba yenu esonweni, njengezikhali zobubi, kodwa zinikeleni kuNkulunkulu, njengabavuswe kwabafileyo balethwa ekuphileni; linikele izitho zemizimba yenu kuye njengezikhali zokulunga.

Ngumvuzo bani elawutholayo ngalesosikhathi ezintweni eseliyangeka ngazo khathesi? Lezozinto ziphetha ngokufa! Kodwa njengoba khathesi selikhululwe esonweni laba yizigqili kuNkulunkulu, umvuzo eliwutholayo uholela ebungcweleni, lesiphetho yikuphila okungapheliyo.

Ngoba umvuzo wesono yikufa, kodwa isipho sikaNkulunkulu siyikuphila okungapheliyo kuKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.

Yeka isinothongwana esengiyiso sona. Ngubani ozangihlenga kulo umzimba wokufa?

Ngakho, khathesi akusekho ukulahlwa kulabo abakuKhristu uJesu, ngoba ngoKhristu uJesu umthetho woMoya wokuphila wangikhulula emthethweni wesono lokufa. Ngoba lokho umthetho owawungelamandla okukwenza ngokuba waxegiswa yimvelo elesono, uNkulunkulu wakwenza ngokuthuma iNdodana yakhe ngesimo somuntu olesono ukuba ibe ngumnikelo wesono. Ngakho isono yasilahla emuntwini olesono, ukuze izimiso ezilungileyo zomthetho zipheleliswe kithi, thina esingaphili ngokwemvelo yesono kodwa ngokoMoya. Labo abaphila ngokwemvelo yesono izingqondo zabo zigxile kulokho okufiswa yileyomvelo, kodwa labo abaphila ngokumayelana loMoya izingqondo zabo zigxile kulokho okufiswa nguMoya. Ingqondo yomuntu olesono yikufa, kodwa ingqondo ebuswa nguMoya yikuphila lokuthula; ingqondo yesono iyamzonda uNkulunkulu. Kayiwuvumi umthetho kaNkulunkulu, njalo ayingeke yenze njalo. Labo ababuswa yimvelo yesono abangeke bamthokozise uNkulunkulu.

Kodwa lina kalibuswa yimvelo yesono kodwa nguMoya, uma uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehlala kini. Njalo uma umuntu engelaye uMoya kaKhristu, kasuye kaKhristu. Kodwa uma uKhristu ekini, umzimba wenu ufile ngenxa yesono, kodwa umoya wenu uyaphila ngenxa yokulunga. Njalo uma uMoya walowo owavusa uKhristu kwabafileyo ehlala kini, yena owavusa uKhristu kwabafileyo, imizimba yenu efayo uzayinika ukuphila ngoMoya wakhe ohlala kini.

Ngakho-ke, bazalwane, silomlandu  —  kodwa kawungabi yimvelo yesono, ukuba siphile ngokwawo. Ngoba uma liphila ngokwemvelo yesono, lizakufa; kodwa uma kunguMoya libulala izenzo ezimbi zomzimba, lizaphila, ngoba labo abakhokhelwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu bangamadodana kaNkulunkulu. Ngoba kalamukelanga umoya olenza libe yizigqili futhi zokwesaba, kodwa lamukela uMoya wobudodana. Njalo siyamemeza ngawo sithi, “Abha, Baba.” UMoya uqobo uyafakaza lomoya wethu ukuthi thina singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, uma singabantwana, siyizindlalifa  —  izindlalifa zikaNkulunkulu lezindlalifa kanye loKhristu, uma sihlanganyela laye impela ezinhluphekweni zakhe ukuze sihlanganyele laye njalo enkazimulweni yakhe.

Ngikholwa ukuthi izinhlupheko zethu zakhathesi kazifanelanga ukulinganiswa lenkazimulo ezabonakaliswa kithi. Indalo ilindile ngokuthakazelela okukhulu ukuba amadodana kaNkulunkulu abonakaliswe. Ngoba indalo ihlezi ihlukuluzekile njalo, kungasintando yayo, kodwa kungentando yalowo oyihlukuluzayo, ngethemba lokuthi indalo yona ngokwayo izakhululwa ebugqilini bokonakala ilethwe kunkululeko elenkazimulo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. Siyakwazi ukuthi indalo yonke ibubula njengaye osebuhlungwini bokuhelelwa kuze kube khathesi. Akunjalo kuphela, kodwa lathi uqobo esilezithelo zakuqala zikaMoya, siyabubula ngaphakathi silindile ngokutshiseka ukwamukelwa njengamadodana, ukuhlengwa kwemizimba yethu. Ngokuba ngaleli ithemba sasindiswa. Kodwa ithemba elibonakalayo kalisilothemba. Ngubani othemba lokho avele eselakho na? Kodwa uma sithemba lokho esingakabi lakho, siyakulindela ngokubekezela.

Ngokufananayo, uMoya uyasisiza ebuthakathekeni bethu. Kasikwazi okumele sikukhulekele, kodwa uMoya uqobo uyasincengela ububula okungeke kuchazwe ngamazwi. Njalo yena lowo ohlola izinhliziyo zethu uyayazi ingqondo kaMoya, ngoba uMoya uyabancengela abangcwele ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu.

Njalo siyakwazi ukuthi ezintweni zonke uNkulunkulu usebenzela okuhle kwalabo abamthandayo, ababizwe ngokwenjongo yakhe. Ngoba labo uNkulunkulu abazi ngaphambili wabamisela ukuba babe lesimo esifana leseNdodana yakhe, ukuze ibe lizibulo phakathi kwabazalwane abanengi. Labo abamiselayo, wababiza; labo ababizayo, wabenza balunga; labo abenza balunga, wabanika inkazimulo.

Pho sizakuthini ngalokhu na? Uma uNkulunkulu elathi ngubani ongamelana lathi na? Yena ongayigodlanga iNdodana yakhe, kodwa wayinikelela thina sonke  —  angayekela kanjani ukusipha ngesihle izinto zonke kanye layo na? Ngubani ozababeka icala labo abakhethwe nguNkulunkulu na? NguNkulunkulu olungisayo. Ungubani lowo olahlayo? UKhristu Jesu owafayo  —  okudlula lokho, owavuswayo waphila  —  usesandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu njalo laye uyasincengela.

Ngubani ozasehlukanisa lothando lukaKhristu na? Yikuhlupheka kumbe ukudubeka loba ukuhlukuluzwa kumbe indlala loba ukuhamba ze loba ingozi kumbe inkemba na? Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ngenxa yakho sikhangelane lokufa ilanga lonke; sibalwa njengezimvu ezizahlatshwa.”

Hatshi, kuzo zonke lezizinto singaphezu kokuba ngabanqobi ngaye owasithandayo. Ngoba ngiyakholwa ukuthi loba yikufa kumbe ukuphila, loba yizingilosi kumbe amadimoni, loba likhathesi kumbe isikhathi esizayo, loba kungamandla bani, loba kuyikuphakama kumbe ukutshona, loba olunye ulutho kukho konke okudaliweyo, akuyikusehlukanisa lothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.

Ngikhuluma iqiniso ngikuKhristu  —  kangiqambi manga, isazela sami siyakufakaza lokhu ngoMoya oNgcwele  — Ngilosizi olukhulu lobuhlungu obungapheliyo enhliziyweni yami. Ngoba ngangifisa ukuba ngabe mina uqobo ngiyaqalekiswa ngisuswe kuKhristu ngenxa yabazalwane bami, labo abohlanga lwami,

Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Khangelani, ngibeka eZiyoni ilitshe elenza abantu bakhubeke ledwala elibenza bawe, njalo lowo othemba kuye kazukuyangiswa.”

Njengoba uMbhalo usithi, “Loba ngubani okholwa kuye akayikuyangiswa.” Ngoba kawukho umahluko phakathi komJuda lowezizwe  —  iNkosi yinye iyiNkosi yabo bonke njalo iyababusisa kakhulu bonke abakhuleka kuyo, ngoba, “Bonke abakhuleka ebizweni leNkosi bazasindiswa.”

Ngakho-ke, ngiyalincenga bazalwane, ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu, ukuba linikele imizimba yenu njengemihlatshelo ephilayo, engcwele lemthokozisayo uNkulunkulu  —  okuyikukhonza kwenu ngomoya.

Thokozani ekwethembeni, libekezele ekuhlukuluzweni, libambelele ekukhulekeni. Bapheni abantu bakaNkulunkulu abaswelayo. Zejwayezeni ukuphana. Babusiseni labo abalihluphayo; busisani lingaqalekisi. Thokozani lalabo abathokozayo, lilile lalabo abalilayo.

Uma siphila, siphilela iNkosi; njalo uma sisifa, sifela eNkosini. Ngakho, loba siphila kumbe sisifa, singabeNkosi. Ngenxa yasonalesi isizatho, uKhristu wafa, wabuya waphila ukuze abe yiNkosi yabafileyo labaphilayo.

Sengathi uNkulunkulu wethemba angaligcwalisa ngentokozo enkulu langokuthula ekumethembeni kwenu, ukuze libe lethemba elikhaphakayo ngamandla kaMoya oNgcwele.

Kwababuthakathaka ngababuthakathaka, ukuba ngizuze ababuthakathaka. Sengibe yizinto zonke ebantwini bonke ukuze kuthi ngazo zonke izindlela ezingenzakala ngisilise abanye.

Lapho sisahlulelwa yiNkosi, siyajeziswa ukuze singalahlwa lomhlaba.

ukuze kungabi lokwahlukana emzimbeni, kodwa ukuba izitho zawo zibe lokuzwelana okufananayo. Uma esinye isitho sibongwa, izitho zonke zithokoza laso.

Ngoba uNkulunkulu kasuye Nkulunkulu wengxabangxoza kodwa owokuthula. Njengasemabandleni wonke abangcwele,

Ngoba njengoba ku-Adamu bonke besifa, ngokunjalo kuKhristu bonke bazaphiliswa.

Isitha sokucina esizachithwa, yikufa.

Ngoba okubolayo kumele kuzigqokise ngokungaboliyo, lokufayo ngokungafiyo. Nxa okubolayo sekugqokiswe okungaboliyo, lokufayo ngokungafiyo, kuzagcwaliseka isitsho esilotshiweyo esithi: “Ukufa kuginyiwe ekunqobeni.” “Kungaphi ukunqoba kwakho, wena kufa? Lungaphi udonsi lwakho, wena kufa?”

Kabongwe uNkulunkulu uYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu, uYise wesihawu loNkulunkulu wendunduzo yonke, osiduduzayo kuzo zonke izinhlupheko zethu, ukuze lathi siduduze abasekuhluphekeni ngenduduzo esiduduzwe ngayo nguNkulunkulu. Ngoba njengoba izinhlupheko zikaKhristu zigelezela ekuphileni kwethu, ngakho ngokunjalo futhi ngoKhristu induduzo yethu iyaphuphuma. Uma sidabukile, kungenxa yenduduzo yenu lensindiso; uma siduduzekile, kungenxa yokududuzwa kwenu, okulenza liqinisele ekubekezeleleni zona lezo zinhlupheko ezisihluphayo. Ithemba lethu ngani liqinile, ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi njengoba lahlanganyela ekuhluphekeni kwethu, ngokunjalo liyahlanganyela ekududuzweni kwethu.

Kasithandi, bazalwane, ukuba libe ngabangaziyo ngobunzima esabuzwayo esifundeni sase-Asiya. Sasilokucindezeleka okukhulu, okungaphezu kwamandla ethu okokubhensela, saze saphelelwa lalithemba lokuphila. Impela isigwebo sokufa sasizwa ezinhliziyweni zethu. Kodwa lokhu kwenzakala ukuze singazithembi thina ngokwethu kodwa uNkulunkulu, ovusa abafileyo. Wasihlenga engozini ebulalayo, njalo uzasikhulula. Ithemba lethu silibeke kuye ukuba uzaqhubeka ngokusihlenga,

Kodwa inotho le silayo ezimbizeni zebumba ukubonakalisa ukuthi amandla la amakhulukazi avela kuNkulunkulu hatshi kithi. Sicindezelwe kalukhuni emaceleni wonke, kodwa kasichobozwanga; sididekile, kodwa kasilahlanga ithemba; siyahlukuluzwa, kodwa kasidelwanga; sitshayelwa phansi, kodwa kasibhujiswanga. Sikuthwele njalo nje emizimbeni yethu ukufa kukaJesu, ukuze ukuphila kukaJesu lakho kwambulwe emizimbeni yethu. Ngoba thina abaphilayo sihlezi sinikelwa ekufeni ngenxa kaJesu, ukuze ukuphila kwakhe kwambulwe emizimbeni yethu efayo. Ngakho ukufa kuyasebenza kithi, kodwa ukuphila kuyasebenza kini.

Ngakho kasilahli themba. Lanxa ngaphandle sicikizeka, kodwa ngaphakathi senziwa sibe batsha izinsuku zonke. Ngoba ukukhanya kwethu lezinhlupheko zethu ezincane ezesikhatshana zisizuzela inkazimulo elaphakade enkulu kulazo zonke. 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. Okwakhathesi siyabubula, sifisa ukwembeswa ngekhaya lethu lasezulwini,

Ngakho sihlezi silethemba njalo siyakwazi ukuthi uma sisesekhona ekhaya emzimbeni sikhatshana leNkosi. Siphila ngokukholwa, hatshi ngokubona. Ngithi silethemba, njalo ngingakhetha ukuba khatshana lomzimba ngisekhaya kanye leNkosi.

Ngoba uthando lukaKhristu luyasifuqa, ngoba siyakholwa ukuba oyedwa wafela bonke, ngakho bonke bafa. Wafela abantu bonke ukuze abaphilayo bangaziphileli bona ngokwabo, kodwa lowo owabafelayo wavuswa njalo. Ngakho-ke kusukela khathesi kusiya phambili kasikhangeli muntu ngengqondo yasemhlabeni. Lanxa sake sakhangela uKhristu ngale indlela, kasisakwenzi.

Ngakho uma umuntu ekuKhristu, uyisidalwa esitsha; okudala akusekho, sekufike okutsha.

Kodwa, njengezisebenzi zikaNkulunkulu sizethula ngazo zonke izindlela: ngokubekezela okukhulu; ekuhluphekeni, ebunzimeni kanye lasezinsizini; ekutshayweni, ekuvalelweni entolongweni lakuziphithiphithi; ukusebenza nzima, ukungalali ebusuku kanye lendlala; ukuhlambuluka, ukuqedisisa, ukubekezela kanye lomusa; ngoMoya oNgcwele langothando oluqotho;

siyaziwa kodwa sikhangelwa njengabangaziwayo, abafayo, kodwa siqhubeka siphila; siyatshaywa, kodwa kasibulawanga, sisosizini, kodwa sihlezi sijabula; simpofu, kodwa sinothisa abanengi; kasilalutho, kodwa silezinto zonke.

Kangitsho lokhu ukuba ngililahle; ngitshilo ngaphambili ukuthi likhona ezinhliziyweni zethu okungenza siphile kumbe sife lani. Ngilethemba elikhulu ngani; ngiyazigqaja kakhulu ngani. Ngiqungwe isibindi; kuzo zonke izinhlupho zami intokozo yami kayilamikhawulo.

Ngoba ekufikeni kwethu eMakhedoniya, umzimba wethu lo wawungelakuphumula, kodwa sasikhathazwa ezindaweni zonke  —  ingxabano ngaphandle, lokwesaba ngaphakathi. Kodwa uNkulunkulu oduduza abadanileyo, wasiduduza ngokufika kukaThithusi,

Usizi lokwesaba uNkulunkulu luletha ukuphenduka okuholela ekusindisweni kungatshiyi nsolo, kodwa usizi lwasemhlabeni luletha ukufa. Khangelani ukuba usizi lokwesaba uNkulunkulu lolu selufezeni kini: ukutshisekela okungaka, lokufisa okungaka ukuba lizigeze, lentukuthelo engaka, lokwethuka okungaka ekuboneni ukulunga kusenziwa. Kukho konke libonakalise ukuthi lina limsulwa kule indaba.

Ekulingweni kwawo okunzima kakhulu, lokuthokoza kwawo okukhulu kanye lobuyanga bawo bokucina kugcwele ukuphana okumangalisayo.

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.

Bayizinceku zikaKhristu na? (Sengiphambene ingqondo ukuba ngikhulume kanje.) Mina ngedlula lokho. Sengisebenze nzima, ngibe sentolongweni kanengi, ngatshaywa kakhulukazi, ngabekwa engozini yokufa futhi futhi. Kahlanu ngatshaywa ngamaJuda izinswazi ezingamatshumi amathathu lesificamunye. Kathathu ngatshaywa ngemiqwayi, kanye ngatshaywa ngamatshe, ngafelwa ngumkhumbi kathathu, ngachitha ubusuku losuku ngindenda elwandle, kade ngihlezi ngingohambayo njalo nje. Ngibesezingozini zemifula, ezingozini zezigebenga, ezingozini zabantu bakithi, ezingozini zabezizweni, ezingozini edolobheni, ezingozini emaphandleni, ezingozini elwandle; lasezingozini zabazalwane bamanga. Ngasebenza nzima ngatshikatshika njalo kanengi ngingalali; ngezwa indlala lokoma, ngaswela lokudla kanengi; ngagodola ngahamba nqunu. Langaphandle kwezinye zonke izinto; ngibhekane lokucindezelwa yikukhathazeka kwami ngamabandla wonke. Ngubani obuthakathaka, mina ngingabuzwa lobo buthakathaka na? Ngubani oholelwa esonweni, ngingatshi ngaphakathi kwami na? Uma kumele ngizincome, ngizazincoma ngezinto ezibonakalisa ubuthakathaka bami.

Ngazincoma ngomuntu onjalo, kodwa mina angiyikuzincoma, ngaphandle kwangobuthakathaka bami.

Ukuze ngenqabele ukuzikhukhumeza ngenxa yalezizambulo ezinkulu kakhulukazi, ngahlatshwa ngameva emzimbeni wami, ayisithunywa sikaSathane, ukuba angihluphe. Ngancenga iNkosi kathathu ukuba iwasuse kimi. Kodwa yathi kimi, “Umusa wami ukwanele, ngoba amandla ami apheleliswa ebuthakathakeni.” Ngakho ngizazincoma kakhulu-ke ngokuthokoza ngobuthakathaka bami, ukuze amandla kaKhristu ahlale phezu kwami. Yikho nje, ngenxa kaKhristu, ngithokozela ubuthakathaka, lezithuko, lezinhlupho, lokuhlukuluzwa, lokukhathazeka. Ngoba nxa ngibuthakathaka, kulapho-ke ngilamandla.

AkulamJuda loba umGiriki, isigqili loba okhululekileyo, owesilisa loba owesifazana, ngoba lonke limunye kuKhristu uJesu. Uma lingabakaKhristu, ngalokho liyinzalo ka-Abhrahama, lezindlalifa mayelana lesithembiso.

Kodwa izithelo zikaMoya luthando, lokuthokoza, lokuthula, lokubekezela, lomusa, lokulunga, lokuthembeka,

Thwalani imithwalo yomunye lomunye, ngalokho lizagcwalisa umthetho kaKhristu.

UNkulunkulu wasivusa kanye loKhristu wasihlalisa laye ebukhosini basezulwini kuKhristu uJesu,

Ngenxa yalesisizatho, mina Phawuli, isibotshwa sikaKhristu uJesu ngenxa yenu lina bezizweni  —

Ngakho, njengesibotshwa seNkosi, ngiyalincenga ukuba liphile impilo efanele ukubizwa elakwamukelayo. Wobani ngabathobekileyo labamnene okupheleleyo; bekezelani, libekezelelane ethandweni.

Ngoba kasilwi lenyama legazi, kodwa silwa lababusi, lemibuso kanye lamandla omhlaba lo ogcwele ubumnyama, silwe njalo lamabutho emimoya emibi emibusweni yasemazulwini. Ngakho-ke fakani isihlangu esipheleleyo sikaNkulunkulu, ukuze kuthi lapho usuku lobubi lufika libe lamandla okugxila, kuthi lalapho selenze konke, lime.

Khulekani ngoMoya ezikhathini zonke ngezinhlobo zonke zemikhuleko lezicelo. Ngalokhu qaphelani liqhubeke kokuphela libakhulekela bonke abangcwele. Lami lingikhulekele, ukuba kokuphela lapho ngivula umlomo wami, ngiphiwe amazwi ukuze ngitshumayele ngesibindi imfihlakalo yevangeli, engingummeli walo ngibotshwe ngamaketane. Khulekani ukuba ngilitshumayele ngesibindi, njengokumele ngikwenze.

Ngoba kimi, ukuphila kunguKhristu lokufa kuyinzuzo. Uma ngingaqhubeka ngiphila emzimbeni, lokhu kuzakutsho umsebenzi olezithelo kimi. Kodwa-ke kuyini engizakukhetha? Angazi! Ngiphakathi kwakho kokubili: Ngifisa ukusuka ngibe loKhristu, okungcono kakhulu;

Ngoba kunikelwe kini ngenxa kaKhristu kungasikukholwa kuye kuphela, kodwa lokumhluphekela,

Ngempela wayegula, njalo waphosa wafa. Kodwa uNkulunkulu waba lesihawu kuye, njalo kungayisikho kuye kuphela kodwa lakimi, ukuba angiphephise osizini phezu kosizi.

Ngoba thina yithi abokusokwa, thina esikhonza ngoMoya kaNkulunkulu, esiziqhenya ngoKhristu uJesu, njalo esingabeki ithemba okwenyama  —

Ngifuna ukumazi uKhristu lamandla okuvuka kwakhe ekufeni lobudlelwano bokuhlanganyela ekuhluphekeni kwakhe, ngibe njengaye ekufeni,

Kodwa elethu ikithi lisezulwini. Njalo simlindele ngokutshiseka uMsindisi evela khonale, iNkosi uJesu Khristu, yena okuzakuthi ngamandla amenza abeke izinto zonke ngaphansi kwakhe, uzaguqula imizimba yethu elesimo esiphansi ibe njengomzimba wakhe olenkazimulo.

Thokozani eNkosini kokuphela. Ngiyatsho futhi ngithi: Thokozani! Akuthi ukubekeka kwenu kubonakale kubo bonke. INkosi iseduze. Lingakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa ezintweni zonke, ngokukhuleka langokuncenga, ngokubonga, bekani izicelo zenu kuNkulunkulu. Ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula ukuqedisisa konke, kuzalinda izinhliziyo zenu lezingqondo zenu kuKhristu uJesu.

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.

UNkulunkulu wami uzalinika konke elikuswelayo mayelana lenotho yakhe emangalisayo kuKhristu uJesu.

liqiniswa ngamandla wonke mayelana lamandla akhe amangalisayo ukuze libe lokubekezela kanye lesineke esikhulu, kuthi njalo ngokuthokoza limbonge uYise owalenza lafanela ukuhlanganyela elifeni labangcwele embusweni wokukhanya. Ngoba wasihlenga embusweni wobumnyama wasiletha embusweni weNdodana yakhe ayithandayo,

Khathesi ngiyathokoza ngokulihluphekela kwami, njalo ngiyagcwalisa emzimbeni okulokhu kusasilela mayelana lezinhlupheko zikaKhristu, ngenxa yomzimba wakhe, olibandla.

Ngakho-ke, njengoba livuswe kanye loKhristu, bekani izinhliziyo zenu ezintweni eziphezulu, lapho uKhristu ahlezi khona esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu. Bekani izingqondo zenu ezintweni eziphezulu, hatshi ezintweni zasemhlabeni. Ngoba lafa, ukuphila kwenu khathesi kufihlwe loKhristu kuNkulunkulu. Lapho uKhristu, oyikuphila kwenu, ebonakala, lani futhi lizabonakala laye enkazimulweni.

Ukuthula kukaKhristu kakubuse ezinhliziyweni zenu, ngoba, njengezitho zomzimba munye, labizelwa ukuthula. Njalo bongani.

Sasihluphekile ngaphambili njalo sithukiwe eFiliphi, njengoba lisazi, kodwa ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu wethu saba lesibindi sokulitshela ivangeli lakhe lanxa nje kwakulobunzima obukhulu.

ukuze angabi khona ongayikuhlaliseka ngenxa yalezizilingo. Liyakwazi kakuhle ukuthi samiselwa zona. Ngeqiniso, siseselani, sasihlala silitshela ukuthi sizahlukuluzwa. Kwaba njalo njengoba lisazi kakuhle. Ngenxa yalokhu, kwathi ngingasanelisi ukukumela, ngathumela ukuba ngazi ngokholo lwenu. Ngangisesaba ukuthi engxenye umlingi uselilingile lemizamo yethu kayisizanga.

Bazalwane, kasifuni ukuba libe ngabangaziyo ngalabo abalalayo loba lidabuke njengabanye abantu, abangelalo ithemba. Siyakholwa ukuthi uJesu wafa wabuya wavuka njalo ngalokho siyakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzabavusa kanye loJesu labo asebelele kuye. Ngoba mayelana lelizwi leNkosi, siyalitshela ukuthi thina esisaphilayo, esatshiywayo iNkosi ize ifike, kasiyikubandulela impela labo asebelele.

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

Sengathi uNkulunkulu uqobo, uNkulunkulu wokuthula, angalingcwelisa ngokupheleleyo. Sengathi umoya wenu wonke, lomphefumulo kanye lomzimba kungalondolozwa kungelasici ekufikeni kweNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu. Lowo olibizayo uthembekile njalo uzakukwenza lokho.

Ngakho-ke, phakathi kwamabandla kaNkulunkulu thina siyazincoma ngokuqinisela kwenu lokukholwa phakathi kwakho konke lokhukuhlukuluzwa kanye lokuhlupheka elikubekezelelayo. Konke lokhu kuyibufakazi bokuthi ukwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu kulungile, ngakhoke lizabalwa njengabafanele umbuso kaNkulunkulu, eliwuhluphekelayo. UNkulunkulu ulungile: Uzaphindisela izinhlupho kulabo abalihluphayo alinike, kanye lathi, ukuhlaliseka lina elihlutshwayo. Lokhu kuzakwenzakala lapho iNkosi uJesu isibonakaliswa ezulwini phakathi komlilo ovuthayo ilezingilosi zayo ezilamandla.

Sengathi iNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu uqobo kanye loNkulunkulu uBaba, owasithandayo kwathi ngomusa wakhe wasinika isikhuthazo esingapheliyo lethemba elihle, angalikhuthaza aliqinise kuzo zonke izenzo ezinhle lasemazwini amahle.

Sengathi iNkosi yokuthula uqobo ingalinika ukuthula ngezikhathi zonke njalo ngezindlela zonke. INkosi kayibe lani lonke.

Yekela ukunatha amanzi kuphela, usebenzise lewayini elincane ngenxa yesisu sakho lokuhlala ugula.

Ngoba akulalutho esalulethayo emhlabeni, njalo akulalutho esingasuka lalo kuwo. Kodwa uma silokudla lezigqoko kumele sisuthiseke ngalokho.

Ngoba uNkulunkulu kasiphanga umoya wobugwala, kodwa umoya wamandla, lowothando kanye lowokuzithiba.

Ngakho ungabi lenhloni ukufakaza ngeNkosi yethu, loba ube lenhloni ngami isibotshwa sayo. Kodwa hlanganyela lami ekuhluphekeleni ivangeli, ngamandla kaNkulunkulu, owasisindisayo wasibizela ekuphileni okungcwele  —  kungayisikho ngenxa yokuthi kukhona esakwenzayo kodwa ngenxa yenjongo yakhe langomusa wakhe. Umusa lo sawunikwa ngoKhristu uJesu ngaphambi kokuqala kwesikhathi, kodwa khathesi usubonakaliswe ngokubonakala koMsindisi wethu, uKhristu Jesu, osechithe ukufa waletha ekukhanyeni ukuphila lokungafi ngevangeli. Njalo ivangeli leli mina ngabekwa ukuba ngummemezeli lomphostoli kanye lomfundisi walo. Yikhonje ngihlupheka njengoba nginje. Kodwa kangilanhloni, ngoba ngiyamazi engikholwa kuye, njalo ngiyakholwa ukuthi ulamandla okulondoloza lokho engikubeke kuye ngalolosuku.

engilihluphekelayo ngize ngibotshwe ngamaketane njengesigangi. Kodwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu kalibotshwanga. Ngakho ngibekezelela konke ngenxa yabakhethiweyo, ukuze labo bazuze ukusindiswa okukuKhristu uJesu, lenkazimulo engapheliyo. Nansi isitsho esiqotho: Uma safa laye sizaphila laye futhi; uma sibekezela sizabusa laye futhi. Uma simphika, laye futhi uzasiphika;

Kodwa wena, wazi konke ngemfundiso yami, lempilo yami, lenjongo yami, lokukholwa, lokubekezela, lothando, lokuqinisela, lokuhlukuluzwa, lezinhlupheko  —  izinhlobo zezinto ezenzakalayo kimi e-Antiyokhi, lase-Ikhoniyami, laseListra, lezinhlupheko engazithwalayo. Kodwa iNkosi yangihlenga kuzo zonke. Impela, umuntu wonke othanda ukuphila impilo yokulalela uNkulunkulu kuKhristu uJesu uzahlukuluzwa,

Kodwa wena chuma kuzo zonke izehlakalo, ubekezele ebunzimeni, wenze umsebenzi womvangeli, uyifeze yonke imisebenzi yenkonzo yakho.

Ngoba mina sengilungele ukwenziwa umnikelo, njalo lesikhathi sokusuka kwami sesifikile. Ngilwile ukulwa okuhle, umjaho wami sengiwuqedile, ukukholwa ngikulondolozile. Khathesi ngigcinelwe umqhele wokulunga, iNkosi, uMahluleli olungileyo, ezanginika wona ngalelolanga  —  njalo kungayisimi kuphela, kodwa bonke futhi abatshisekela ukubonakala kwayo.

Ekuzivikeleni kwami kwakuqala, kakho owazangisekela, kodwa abantu bonke bangibalekela. Kabangabi lamlandu walokho. Kodwa iNkosi yema phansi kwami yangipha amandla, ukuze kuthi ngami ilizwi litshunyayelwe ngokupheleleyo njalo kuthi labezizweni bonke balizwe. Njalo ngakhutshwa emlonyeni wesilwane. INkosi izangihlenga kukho konke ukuhlaselwa okubi, ingilethe kungekho bubi embusweni wayo wasezulwini. Udumo kalube kuyo kuze kube nini lanini. Ameni.

ukukholwa lokwazi okweyame ethembeni lokuphila okulaphakade, okwathenjiswa nguNkulunkulu, ongaqambi manga, isikhathi singakaqalisi,

UPhawuli, isibotshwa sikaKhristu uJesu, loThimothi umzalwane wethu, KuFilimoni umngane wethu othandekayo loyisisebenzi kanye lathi,

kodwa ngiyakuncenga ngenxa yothando. Ngakho-ke mina, enginguPhawuli  —  umuntu omdala khathesi oyisibotshwa sikaKhristu uJesu futhi  —

Njengoba abantwana belomzimba legazi, laye wahlanganyela ebuntwini babo ukuze kuthi ngokufa kwakhe amchithe lowo ophethe amandla okufa  —  okutsho uSathane  — abakhulule ababebambeke ebugqilini impilo yabo yonke ngenxa yokwesaba kwabo ukufa.

Njengoba laye wahlupheka lapho elingwa, uyanelisa ukubasiza abalingwayo.

Ngakho-ke, njengoba isithembiso sokungena ekuphumuleni kwakhe silokhu sikhona, kasiqapheleni ukuba kakho owenu otholakala engafinyeleli kuso. Ngoba ivangeli latshunyayelwa kithi njengakubo; kodwa ilizwi abalizwayo lalingelasizo kubo, ngoba labo abalizwayo kabalihlanganisanga lokholo. Thina esakholwayo siyangena kulokhokuphumula, njengoba uNkulunkulu etshilo ukuthi: “Ngakho ngamemezela ngesifungo ekuthukutheleni kwami ngathi, ‘Kabayikungena ekuphumuleni kwami.’ ” Kodwa umsebenzi wakhe usuqediwe kusukela ekudalweni komhlaba. Ngoba kwenye indawo ukhulume ngosuku lwesikhombisa ngala amazwi athi: “Njalo ngosuku lwesikhombisa uNkulunkulu waphumula emsebenzini wakhe.” Njalo endimeni engaphezulu uthi, “Kabayikungena ekuphumuleni kwami.” Kulokhu kunjalo ukuthi abanye bazangena kulokhokuphumula, lalabo ivangeli elatshunyayelwa kubo kuqala kabangenanga ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabo. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wabuya wamisa olunye usuku, elubiza ngokuthi Lamuhla, lapho kwathi emva kwesikhathi eside wakhuluma ngoDavida, njengokwakutshiwo mandulo ukuthi: “Lamhla, uma lisizwa ilizwi lakhe lingazenzi zibe lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu.” Ngoba aluba uJoshuwa wayebanikile ukuphumula, ngabe uNkulunkulu kakhulumanga muva ngolunye usuku. Ngakho kulokhu kukhona ukuphumula kweSabatha kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu;

Ngoba kasilamphristi omkhulu onganelisiyo ukuzwela ubuthakathaka bethu, kodwa silaye oseke walingwa ngezindlela zonke njengathi kodwa akaze aba lesono. Kasisondeleni esihlalweni sobukhosi somusa ngesibindi, ukuze samukele isihawu njalo sithole umusa wokusisiza ezikhathini zokuswela kwethu.

Ngezinsuku zokuphila kukaJesu emhlabeni, wakhuleka wacela ngokukhala kakhulu langezinyembezi kuye lowo owayengamsindisa ekufeni, njalo wezwakala ngenxa yokuzehlisa kwakhe okuhloniphekayo. Lanxa wayeyindodana wafunda ukulalela kulokhu ahlupheka ngakho,

Khumbulani izinsuku zakuqala leziyana emva kokuba selamukele ukukhanya, lapho elaqinisela khona ebunzimeni obukhulu phakathi kokuhlupheka. Ngezinye izikhathi lenziwa umbukiso wokuhlanjazwa lokuhlukuluzwa; kwathi ngezinye izikhathi lamanyana lalabo ababephathwa kanjalo. Laba lozwelo kulabo ababesentolongweni, lamukela ngentokozo ukuthunjwa kwempahla yenu, ngoba lalikwazi ukuthi lina lilempahla engcono engapheliyo. Ngakho lingalilahli ithemba lenu; lizavuzwa ngokunengi. Kuyasweleka ukuba libekezele ukuze kuthi lapho seliyenzile intando kaNkulunkulu, lamukele lokho akuthembisayo. Ngoba ngesikhatshana nje, “Lowo ozayo uzafika njalo kazukuphuza. Kodwa olungileyo wami uzaphila ngokukholwa. Angahlehlela emuva: kangiyikuthokoza ngaye.”

Ngakho kusukela kulo umuntu oyedwa, owayefana lofileyo, kwavela inzalo enengi njengezinkanyezi emkhathini njalo engeke ibalwe njengenhlabathi ekhunjini lolwandle.

Abantu bonke laba bafa belokhu bephila ngokukholwa. Kabazamukelanga izinto ezathenjiswayo; bazibona nje kuphela bazithakazelela kude. Njalo bavuma ukuthi bona babeyizizwe lezihambi emhlabeni.

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. Ngokukholwa wasuka eGibhithe, engalwesabi ulaka lwenkosi; wabekezela ngoba wambona lowo ongabonakaliyo.

Kuyini okunye engingakutsho? Kangilasikhathi sokulandisa ngoGidiyoni, loBharakhi, loSamsoni, loJefitha, loDavida, loSamuyeli kanye labaphrofethi, abanqoba imibuso ngokukholwa batshaya imithetho, njalo bathola okwakuthenjisiwe; bona abavala imilomo yezilwane, bacitsha ukuvutha kwamalangabi, baphepha lasebukhalini benkemba; ababuthakathaka babo bezwa amandla; njalo ababa lamandla empini bawachitha amabutho ezizweni. Abesifazana bamukela abafayo babo sebevuselwe ekuphileni futhi. Abanye bahlukuluzwa njalo bala ukukhululwa, ukuze bathole ukuvuka ekufeni okuhle. Abanye bahozwa batshaywa, kwathi abanye babotshwa ngamaketane bafakwa entolongweni. Batshaywa ngamatshe, baqunywa ngesaha baba ziqambili; babulawa ngenkemba. Bahamba begqoke izikhumba zezimvu lezikhumba zezimbuzi, beswela, behlukuluzwa, bephathwa kubi  — umhlaba kubo wawungabafanele. Bantula enkangala lasezintabeni lasezimbalwini kanye lasemilindini emhlabathini. Bonke laba banconywa ngokukholwa kwabo, ikanti kakho owabo owathola okwakuthenjisiwe. Thina uNkulunkulu wayesimisele okuhle ukuze bapheleliswe yikuba kanye lathi kuphela.

Ngakho-ke, njengoba sihanqwe lixuku elikhulu kangaka labofakazi, kasikulahleni konke okusivimbelayo kanye lesono esihilela lula, njalo kasigijimeni ngokubekezela kulo umjaho ophawulelwe thina. Kasikhangeliseni amehlo ethu kuJesu, uMqalisi loMphelelisi wokukholwa kwethu, okwathi ngentokozo eyayibekwe phambi kwakhe wabekezelela isiphambano, engananzi ihlazo laso, wahlala kwesokudla phansi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu. Cabangani ngaye owabekezelela ukuphikiswa okungaka ngabantu abayizoni, ukuze lingabi buthakathaka lilahle ithemba.

Ekulweni kwenu lesono, kalimelananga laso okufika ebangeni lokuchitha igazi lenu. Njalo selilikhohliwe lelizwi lokulikhuthaza elikhuluma kini njengamadodana elithi: “Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kweNkosi. Njalo ungalahli ithemba lapho ikukhuza, ngoba iNkosi ilaya labo ebathandayo, ijezise wonke emamukela njengendodana.” Bekezelelani ukuhlupheka njengokulaywa; uNkulunkulu uliphatha njengamadodana akhe. Ngoba yiyiphi indodana engalaywa nguyise na? Uma lingalaywa (umuntu wonke uyalaywa), liyabe lingabantwana abazalwa ngokungemthetho abangasiwo amadodana uqobo. Phezu kwalokho, sonke sake saba labobaba abasilayayo njalo sabahlonipha ngenxa yalokho. Pho kufanele sizehlise kakhulu okungakanani kuBaba wemimoya yethu njalo siphile! Obaba basilaya okwesikhatshana ngababebona kukuhle; kodwa uNkulunkulu usilaya ukuba sisizakale, ukuba sihlanganyele ebungcweleni bakhe. Akukho kulaywa okukhanya kukuhle ngalesosikhathi, kodwa kubuhlungu. Kodwa muva, kuletha isivuno sokulunga lokuthula kulabo abafundiswa yikho.

Ngakho-ke qinisani izingalo zenu ezibuthakathaka lamadolo enu axegayo. “Yenzelani izinyawo zenu izindlela ezibekekileyo,” ukuze abaqhulayo bangagogeki, kodwa basiliswe.

Khumbulani abasentolongweni ngokungathi lani liyizibotshwa kanye labo, kanye lalabo abaphethwe kubi ngokungathi lani uqobo liyahlupheka.

Ekuphileni kwenu xwayani ukuthanda imali lisuthiseke ngalokho elilakho, ngoba uNkulunkulu wathi, “Kangisoze ngilitshiye; kangisoze ngilidele.” Ngakho siyatsho ngethemba sithi, “INkosi ingumsizi wami; kangiyikwesaba. Umuntu angenzani kimi na?”

Ngokunjalo uJesu laye wahlupheka ngaphandle kwesango ledolobho ukuba enze abantu bakhe babe ngcwele ngegazi lakhe. Ngakho-ke, kasiyeni kuye ngaphandle kwezihonqo silehlazo alithwalayo. Ngoba lapha kasiladolobho elimiyo njalo, kodwa sidinga idolobho elizayo.

Ngakho, ngoJesu, kasinikeleni njalonjalo kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokubonga  —  isithelo sezindebe ezivuma ibizo lakhe. Njalo lingakhohlwa ukwenza okulungileyo kanye lokwabela abanye, ngoba uNkulunkulu uyathokoza ngemihlatshelo enje.

Bazalwane bami, lapho lisehlelwa yizilingo ezinhlobonhlobo, kubaleni njengentokozo epheleleyo, ngoba liyakwazi ukuthi ukuhlolwa kokholo lwenu kukhulisa ukubekezela. Ukubekezela kufanele kuqede umsebenzi wakho ukuze lina likhule njalo liphelele, lingasileli ngalutho.

Ubusisiwe umuntu oqiniselayo ekulingweni, ngoba lapho esephumelele ekuhlolweni, uzaphiwa umqhele wokuphila, ukuphila uNkulunkulu akuthembisa labo abamthandayo.

Bazalwane, njengesibonelo sokubekezela ekuhluphekeni, khumbulani abaphrofethi abakhuluma ngebizo leNkosi. Njengoba lisazi, labo ababekezelayo sibabala njengababusisiweyo. Selezwa ngokubekezela kukaJobe njalo selikubonile okwalethwa yiNkosi ekucineni. INkosi igcwele isihawu esikhulu lomusa.

Kukhona yini kini ohluphekayo na? Kakhuleke. Ukhona othokozayo na? Kahlabele izingoma zokudumisa. Ukhona kini ogulayo na? Kumele abize abadala bebandla bamkhulekele njalo bamgcobe ngamafutha ebizweni leNkosi. Umkhuleko owenziwe ngokukholwa uzakwenza lowomuntu ogulayo asile; iNkosi izamvusa. Uma enze isono, uzathethelelwa. Ngakho-ke vumani izono zenu omunye komunye njalo likhulekelane ukuze lisiliswe. Umkhuleko womuntu olungileyo ulamandla njalo uyasebenza.

Liyathokoza kakhulu ngalokhu lanxa like lahlupheka okwesikhatshana ngezinsizi zezinhlobo zonke zezilingo. Zifikile ukuze ukukholwa kwenu  —  okuqakatheke kakhulu kulegolide, elonakalayo lanxa licengwe ngomlilo  —  kubonakaliswe kuqotho njalo kulethe ukubonga, lenkazimulo kanye lodumo lapho uJesu Khristu esebonakaliswa.

Ngoba kuyabongeka uma umuntu eqinisela ebuhlungwini bokuhlupheka okungafanelanga ngoba uyazi ngoNkulunkulu. Kodwa kuba ludumo njani kini uma litshayelwa ukwenza okulungileyo njalo likubekezelela, lokhu kuyancomeka phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Labizelwa lokhu, ngoba uKhristu walihluphekela, walitshiyela isibonelo, ukuba lilandele amanyathelo akhe. “Yena kenzanga sono, njalo akukho nkohliso eyatholakala emlonyeni wakhe.” Kwathi bemchaphaza ngezinhlamba zabo, yena kaphindiselanga; lapho ehlupheka, kazange asonge. Kodwa wathembeka kulowo owahlulela ngokulunga. Yena ngokwakhe wathwala izono zethu emzimbeni wakhe esiphambanweni ukuze siphephe ezonweni njalo siphilele ukulunga; lisilisiwe ngamanxeba akhe.

Kodwa lanxa lingahlupheka ngenxa yokulungileyo, libusisekile. Lingakwesabi lokho abakwesabayo; kalingethuswa.

Kungcono, uma kuyintando kaNkulunkulu, ukuhlupheka ngenxa yokwenza okulungileyo kulangenxa yokwenza okubi. Ngoba uKhristu wafela izono zenu kwaba kanye, olungileyo efela abangalunganga, ukuze alise kuNkulunkulu. Wabulawa emzimbeni kodwa wavuswa nguMoya,

Ngakho, njengoba uKhristu wahlupheka emzimbeni wakhe, lani hlomani ngesimo esifanayo, ngoba lowo owahluphekayo emzimbeni wakhe usehlule isono.

Bangane bami abathandekayo, lingamangaliswa yibuhlungu besilingo elibuzwayo, kungathi kwenzakala into engaziwayo kini. Kodwa thokozani ngokuthi liyahlanganyela ekuhluphekeni kukaKhristu, ukuze lithokoze kakhulu lapho inkazimulo yakhe isibonakaliswa. Uma lithukwa ngenxa yebizo likaKhristu, libusisiwe, ngoba uMoya wenkazimulo lokaNkulunkulu uhlezi phezu kwenu. Uma lihlupheka, akungabi njengombulali loba isela kumbe olunye uhlobo lwesigebenga loba lanjengongenelayo ezindabeni zabanikazi. Kodwa-ke, uma lihlupheka njengomKhristu, lingayangeki, kodwa dumisani uNkulunkulu ngokuba lebizo lakhe.

Ngakho-ke labo abahlupheka ngokwentando kaNkulunulu kumele bazinikele kuMdali wabo othembekileyo njalo baqhubeke besenza okulungileyo.

Ebadaleni abaphakathi kwenu, ngiyakhalaza njengomunye wabadala, ufakazi wezinhlupheko zikaKhristu lomunye laye ozahlanganyela enkazimulweni ezabonakaliswa:

Ngakho-ke zithobeni ngaphansi kwesandla sikaNkulunkulu esilamandla, ukuze aliphakamise ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. Yethulani kuye konke ukukhathazeka kwenu ngoba yena uyalikhathalela. Zithibeni, liqaphele. Isitha senu, uSathane, siyazulazula njengesilwane esibhongayo sidinga esingamudla. Menqabeni, liqinile ekukholweni, ngokuba liyakwazi ukuthi abazalwane benu emhlabeni wonke baphakathi kwazona lezo izinhlupheko. Njalo uNkulunkulu womusa wonke, yena owalibizela enkazimulweni yakhe kuKhristu, emva kokuba lihlupheke okwesikhatshana, yena uqobo uzalivuselela alenze libe lamandla, liqine njalo lithembeke.

Amandla akhe obuNkulunkulu asesinike konke esikuswelayo ekuphileni kanye lokumesaba uNkulunkulu ngokumazi kwethu yena owasibiza ngenkazimulo yakhe langokulunga.

uma lokhu kunjalo, uNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukuhlenga abantu abamesabayo ekulingweni kanye lokugcinela abangalunganga usuku lokwahlulela, eqhubeka ngokujeziswa kwabo.

Kodwa, bangane abathandekayo, lingakhohlwa into le eyodwa ukuthi: ENkosini usuku lunjengeminyaka eyinkulungwane, leminyaka eyinkulungwane injengosuku olulodwa. INkosi kayiphuzi ukugcwalisa isithembiso sayo, njengokuqedisiswa ngabanye ngokuphuza. Iyalibekezelela, ingafuni ukuba lamunye abhubhe, kodwa ukuba umuntu wonke aphenduke.

Lina, bantwana abathandekayo, lingabakaNkulunkulu, njalo selibanqobile, ngoba lowo okini mkhulu kulalowo osemhlabeni.

Ngakho siyazi njalo sithembe uthando uNkulunkulu alalo kithi. UNkulunkulu uluthando. Ohlala ethandweni, uhlala kuNkulunkulu, loNkulunkulu kuye. Uthando luyapheleliswa kithi ukuze sibe lesibindi ngosuku lokwahlulelwa, ngoba kulo umhlaba lathi sinjengaye. Ethandweni akulakwesaba. Uthando olupheleleyo luyaxotsha ukwesaba, ngoba ukwesaba kukhumbuza isijeziso. Umuntu owesabayo kapheleliswa ethandweni.

ngoba umuntu wonke ozelwe nguNkulunkulu uwunqobile umhlaba. Lokhu yikunqoba okwehlule umhlaba, okuyikukholwa kwethu. Ngubani lowo onqoba umhlaba? Ngulowo kuphela okholwayo ukuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.

Silesiqiniselo lesi ekusondeleni kuNkulunkulu: ukuthi uma sicela ulutho ngokwentando yakhe, uyasizwa. Uma sisazi ukuthi uyasizwa  —  loba kuyini esikucelayo  —  siyakwazi ukuthi silakho esikucele kuye.

Mngane wami othandekayo, ngiyakhuleka ukuba ube lempilo enhle, kanye lokuthi konke kukuhambele kuhle njengalokhu umphefumulo wakho uphila kuhle.

NgingoPhilayo; ngangifile, njalo khangela ngiyaphila kuze kube nininini! Njalo ngiphethe izivulo zokufa kanye leNdawo yabafileyo.

Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni. Lowo onqobayo ngizamnika ilungelo lokudla esihlahleni sokuphila esisepharadisi kaNkulunkulu.

“Ingilosi yebandla laseSimina ilobele uthi: La ngamazwi akhe yena ongo-wokuQala lokuCina, owafayo wabuya wavuka. Ngiyazazi izinhlupheko zakho kanye lobuyanga bakho  —  kanti-ke unothile! Ngiyakwazi ukuhlambaza kwalabo abathi bangamaJuda bengayisiwo, kodwa beyisinagogi sikaSathane. Ungazesabi izinhlupheko esezizakwehlela. Ngiyakutshela ukuthi uSathane uzabeka abanye benu entolongweni ukuba alilinge, njalo lizahlukuluzwa okweminyaka elitshumi. Thembeka, lanxa kuselungeni lokufa, mina ngizakupha umqhele wokuphila.

Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni. Lowo onqobayo kasoze alinyazwe lakancane yikufa kwesibili.

Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni. Lowo onqobayo, ngizamupha enye yemana efihliweyo. Ngizamupha lelitshe elimhlophe okulotshwe kulo ibizo elitsha, elaziwa ngulowo kuphela olamukelayo.

Lowo onqobayo esenza intando yami kuze kube sekucineni, ngizamnika amandla phezu kwezizwe  — ‘Uzazibusa ngentonga yensimbi, aziphahlaze zibe yizicucu njengokwenziwa ngebumba’  —  njengoba ngithole amandla avela kuBaba. Ngizamupha lendonsakusa. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.

Lowo onqobayo uzagqoka okumhlophe njengabo. Ibizo lakhe kangisoze ngilesule encwadini yokuphila, kodwa ibizo lakhe ngizalivuma phambi kukaBaba lezingilosi zakhe. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.

Lowo onqobayo ngizamenza abe yinsika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu. Kasoze asuke kulo futhi. Ngizaloba phezu kwakhe ibizo likaNkulunkulu wami kanye lebizo ledolobho likaNkulunkulu wami, iJerusalema elitsha, elehlela phansi liphuma ezulwini livela kuNkulunkulu wami; njalo ngizaloba phezu kwakhe lebizo lami elitsha. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.

Lowo onqobayo, ngizamnika ilungelo lokuhlala lami esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, njengoba lami nganqoba ngasengihlala loBaba esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.”

Ngaphendula ngathi, “Nkosi, uyakwazi.” Wasesithi, “Laba yibo abaphume ekuhluphekeni okukhulu; bagezise izambatho zabo egazini leWundlu bazenza zaba mhlophe. Ngakho-ke, “baphambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu bemkhonza emini lebusuku ethempelini lakhe; njalo yena ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi uzakwendlala ithente lakhe ngaphezu kwabo. Kabasoze balambe futhi; njalo kabasoze bome futhi. Ilanga kalisayikuhlaba phezu kwabo loba ukutshisa okuhangulayo. Ngoba iWundlu elingaphakathi kwesihlalo sobukhosi lizakuba ngumelusi wabo; lizabaholela emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila. UNkulunkulu uzazesula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo.”

Bamnqobile ngegazi leWundlu langelizwi lobufakazi babo; kabakuthandanga kakhulu ukuphila kwabo ukuba besabe ukufa.

Lokho kufuna ukuqinisela lokubekezela kwabangcwele abagcina imilayo kaNkulunkulu baqhubeke bethembekile kuJesu. Ngasengisizwa ilizwi livela ezulwini lisithi, “Loba ukuthi: Babusisiwe abafileyo befela eNkosini kusukela khathesi kusiya phambili.” “Yebo,” kutsho uMoya, “bazaphumula ekusebenzeni kwabo, ngoba izenzo zabo zizabalandela.”

Kuwe kwafunyanwa igazi labaphrofethi lelabangcwele, kanye lelabo bonke ababulawayo emhlabeni.’ ”

Ngabona izihlalo zobukhosi okwakuhlezi kuzo labo ababephiwe amandla okwahlulela. Ngabona imiphefumulo yalabo ababequnywe amakhanda ngenxa yokufakazela kwabo uJesu langenxa yelizwi likaNkulunkulu. Babengasikhonzanga isilo loba isifanekiso saso njalo bengabekwanga uphawu lwaso emabunzini abo loba ezandleni zabo. Bavuka, njalo baphila njalo babusa loKhristu iminyaka eyinkulungwane.

Uzazesula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo. Akusayikuba khona futhi ukufa loba ukulila loba ukukhala loba ubuhlungu, ngoba umumo omdala wezinto usudlule.” Lowo owayehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi wathi, “Ngenza izinto zonke zibe zintsha!” Wabuya wathi, “Kulobe lokhu, ngoba amazwi la aqotho njalo aliqiniso.” Wasesithi kimi, “Sekwenzakele. Mina ngingu-Alfa lo-Omega, ukuQala lokuCina. Lowo owomileyo ngizamnathisa emthonjeni wamanzi okuphila kungekho mbadalo. Lowo onqobayo uzakudla ilifa lakho konke lokhu, njalo ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wakhe yena abe yindodana yami.