Ukubaleka kukaJona
1Ke kaloku ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lafikela uJona unyana ka-Amitayi, lisithi: 2“Hamba uye kweso sixekokazi siyiNiniva, usishumayeze, kuba inkohlakalo yaso seyide yaza kufika nakum.”
3Kambe ke yena uJona wambaleka uNdikhoyo, wasabela eTashishe. Wehla waya eJopa, apho wafumana inqanawa eya eTashishe. Akuba ke eyihlawule imali yendlela, wakhwela wasinga eTashishe, ebaleka uNdikhoyo.
4Ke kaloku uNdikhoyo wathumela umoyakazi omkhulu apho elwandle; yaba sisaqhwithi esayitsho yasemngciphekweni wokuqhekeka inqanawa leyo. 5Abaqhubi benqanawa leyo baphakuzela, yangulowo nalowo wakhala *kuthixo wakhe. Umthwalo wenqanawa bawuphungulela elwandle, bezama ukuba ibe khaphukhaphu.
Ke yena uJona wayesuke wehla wangena kumagumbi asezantsi, walala obentlombe. 6Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yenqanawa leyo ke yaya kuye, yafika yathi: “Ngani ukuba ulale, thongorhandini? Vuka, ubize uThixo wakho! Mhlawumbi angasikhumbula, size singatshabalali.”
7Ke bathi omnye komnye: “Yizani senze *amaqashiso ukuze sibhaqe lo mntu ungunobangela wale ntlekele.” Benjenjalo ke, laza iqashiso laphuma noJona. 8Baza ke bathi kuJona: “Khawutsho! Ngubani unobangela wale ntlekele? Uzokwenza ntoni apha? Khona, uvela phi? Liphi ikowenu? Ungumni kakade?”
9UJona waphendula wathi: “Mna ndingumHebhere. Ndinqula uNdikhoyo uThixo wamazulu, lo udale ulwandle kunye nomhlaba.”
10Ke kaloku loo madoda othuka gqitha, kuba uJona wawachazela ukuba elapho nje ubaleka uNdikhoyo, aza athi kuye: “Yintoni na le uyenzileyo?” 11Ke lona ulwandle lwaqhubela phambili ukulwa. Baza ke bathi kuJona: “Masenze ntoni ngawe ukuze ulwandle luzole?”
12UJona waphendula wathi: “Ndifunquleni nindiphose elwandle, ukuze luzole. Kaloku ndiyaqonda ukuba ndim lo unizisele olu qhwithela.”
13Kambe ke abaqhubi bazama kangangoko ukuyisa elunxwemeni inqanawa leyo. Kodwa ke nelo icebo lafadalala kuba ulwandle lwaya luthatha unyawo ngokulwa. 14Badanduluka kuNdikhoyo ke bathi: “Awu, Ndikhoyo, uze ungasohlwayi ngenxa yokufa kwale ndoda. Uze ungalibizi kuthi igazi elimsulwa. Kaloku yonke le nto ikholeke kuwe, Ndikhoyo.”
15Amfunqula ke uJona, amphosa elwandle, lwaza ke ulwandle olulwayo lwadamba. 16Le nto ke yawatsho amhlonela uNdikhoyo loo madoda, aza amenzela idini, enza nezibhambathiso kuNdikhoyo.
17Kambe ke uNdikhoyo wayalela intlanzi enkulu, yaza yamginya uJona. Wahlala apho kuyo ke iimini ezintathu nobusuku bazo.
