12 – Uvalelwa entolongweni aphinde akhululwe

₁Ke kaloku amaIshmayeli aya naye eJiputa uJosefu, afika amthengisa kuPotifare, owayengomnye wamaphakathi okumkani waseJiputa, owayenguyena nduna yabalindi basebhotwe. ₂*UNdikhoyo waba naye uJosefu, wamphumeza kwinto yonke. Wayehlala endlwini yenkosi yakhe yomJiputa, ₃eyaqondayo ukuba uJosefu wayephantsi kogcino lukaNdikhoyo, yaye yayinesandla sikaNdikhoyo yonke into ayenzayo. ₄Wakholiseka nguJosefu uPotifare, wamenza intonga yakhe yasekhosi. Ngoko ke wamenza induna yomzi wakhe nomlawuli wempahla yakhe yonke. ₅Ukususela ngoko uNdikhoyo wawuthamsanqelisa umzi waloo mJiputa, kunye nemfuyo yakhe, namasimi akhe, nayo yonke into awayenayo, ngenxa kaJosefu. ₆Yonke into yakhe ke uPotifare wayinikela elulawulweni lukaJosefu, akwabikho nto yimbi azikhathaza ngayo ngaphandle nje kokuthatha icephe atye.

UJosefu wayemile kakuhle, eyinzwana yomfana. ₇Kwakuba mzuzu umka-Potifare wafikelwa ngumnqweno ngoJosefu, wazicelela isondo kuye. ₈UJosefu wala, esithi: “Inkosi yam ijonge kum, mna Josefu, ngento yonke yayo; ayisazikhathazi nganto, kuba ithembe mna. ₉Yaye indinike lonke igunya emzini wayo; nguwe kuphela endingenagunya kuye. Ke ndingathini mna ukwenza into embi kangako, ndimone uThixo?” ₁₀Naxa wazingayo lo mfazi ukucela isondo kuJosefu mihla le, uJosefu yena wala ukuyenza loo nto.

₁₁Kwathi ngenye imini, uJosefu engene endlwini kaPotifare, eye kusebenza, wafika kungekho nasinye isicaka. ₁₂Umka-Potifare wambamba, emtsala ngengubo, wathi: “Yiza kaloku!” Kodwa waphuncula uJosefu, wabalekela ngaphandle, washiya loo ngubo yakhe eyiphethe ngesandla loo mfazi. ₁₃Uthe loo mfazi akuphawula ukuba uJosefu uyishiyile ingubo yakhe, wabalekela ngaphandle, ₁₄wabiza izicaka zakhe, wazibonisa loo ngubo. Watsho esithi: “Laa mHebhere ungeniswe ngumyeni wam emzini wam uyasihlazisa, kuba ungene egumbini lam efuna ukundidlwengula. Kodwa mna ndizincede ngokutsho esikrakra esi isikhalo. ₁₅Wothuswe seso sikhalo, wabalekela ngaphandle, eshiya loo ngubo yakhe ngakum.”

₁₆Wayigcina ke loo ngubo kaJosefu kwada kwabuya inkosi yakhe. ₁₇Ithe yakufika nayo wayenzela eli bali: “Laa mHebhere umngenise ekhaya apha ungene egumbini lam, efun' ukundihlazisa. ₁₈Ndizincede ngokutsho esikrakra sona isikhalo, ukuze abalekele ngaphandle. Washiya nale ngubo yakhe ngakum.”

₁₉Waqumba kakhulu uPotifare akuyiva loo nto ithethwa ngumkakhe, ₂₀wathi uJosefu makabanjwe, avalelwe entolongweni ekwakuvalelwa kuyo amabanjwa kakumkani.

Wahlala apho. ₂₁Kodwa nalapho uNdikhoyo waba ngakuJosefu, wamthamsanqelisa, watsho wathandwa ngujela. ₂₂Ujela wamnyusela uJosefu, wangumphathi wamanye amabanjwa. Yonke into eyenziwa entolongweni yajonga yena. ₂₃UNdikhoyo wamphumeza uJosefu kangangokude ujela angabi sajongana nemisebenzi eyayijongwe nguJosefu, kuba uNdikhoyo wayemthamsanqelisa.

₁Emva kwexesha injoli kakumkani waseJiputa, kunye nombhaki oyintloko, bayona inkosi yabo ukumkani. ₂Wacaphuka ukumkani zizenzo zala madoda, ₃wawafaka ke entolongweni kumzi wenduna yabalindi, apho kwakugcinwe khona uJosefu. ₄Bahlala ke entolongweni apho, yaza induna yenza uJosefu umququzeleli wabo.

₅Ngabusuku buthile bakuba besentolongweni ithutyana, injoli yaba nephupha, kwanaye nombhaki waba nelakhe iphupha. Amaphupha abo ayethetha izinto ngezinto. ₆Akufika kubo uJosefu ngentsasa, wababona bematshekile. ₇Ubuze wathi: “Kutheni ingathi nikhathazekile nje namhlanje?”

₈Bathe bona: “Sibe namaphupha phezolo, yaye akukho namnye umntu apha okwaziyo ukuwachaza into ayithethayo.”

“NguThixo otyhila inkcazelo yamaphupha,” utshilo uJosefu. Watsho esithi: “Ndilawuleleni amaphupha enu.”

₉Kuqale injoli, yathi: “Mna ndiphuphe kukho umdiliya ngaphambi kwam, ₁₀unamasebe amathathu. Kuthe nje kuvele amagqabi, kwantshula iintyatyambo, neediliya zavuthwa. ₁₁Bendiphethe indebe kakumkani, ndazikha iidiliya ezo, ndazikhamela endebeni, ndazinika ukumkani.”

₁₂Uthe uJosefu: “Nantsi into ethethwa leli phupha lakho: Amasebe amathathu ziintsuku ezintathu. ₁₃Ngeentsuku ezintathu ukumkani uza kukukhulula, akuxolele, akubuyisele emsebenzini wakho. Uza kubuya ube yinjoli yendebe yakhe njengoko ubuyiyo ngaphambili. ₁₄Uzuncede ke kodwa, ungandilibali xa izinto sezikulungele, uncede uthethe ngam kukumkani, ndikhululwe kule ntolongo. ₁₅Ikakade mna ndebiwa kwilizwe lamaHebhere, ukanti nalapha eJiputa akukho nto ndiyenzileyo ibinokundingenisa entolongweni.”

₁₆Uthe naye umbhaki wezonka, akubona ukuba into iphupha lenjoli eliyithethayo iyanandipheka, naye walilawula kuJosefu iphupha lakhe, esithi: “Mna, kwelam iphupha bendithwele ngentloko iibhaskiti ezintathu. ₁₇Kwephezulu ibhaskiti bekukho zonke iindidi zokutya kukakumkani okwenziwa ngumbhaki, kwafika iintaka zakuxhola.”

₁₈UJosefu uthe: “Nantsi into ethethwa liphupha lakho: Iibhaskiti ezintathu zithetha iintsuku ezintathu. ₁₉Ukumkani uza kukukhulula ngeentsuku ezintathu, kodwa uza kunqunyulwa intloko, uze uxhonywe esibondeni, zize iintaka zikuxhole.”

₂₀Ngomhla wokukhunjulwa kokuzalwa kukakumkani, ngemva kweentsuku ezintathu ukususela koku, ukumkani wenzela iindedeba zasebhotwe itheko. Wayikhulula injoli nombhaki, beziswa phambi kwezo ndedeba. ₂₁Injoli yabuyiselwa kumsebenzi wayo ebikade iwenza, ₂₂kodwa yena umbhaki wanqunyulwa intloko. Kwaba njengokutsho kukaJosefu.

₂₃Kodwa injoli yamlibala kwaphela uJosefu.

₁Kwadlula iminyaka yamibini, ukumkani waseJiputa waphupha emi ngakumlambo iNayile, ₂apho kwathi gqi iimazi zeenkomo ezityebileyo ezisixhenxe, ziphuma emlanjeni, zigramza apho phezu komlambo. ₃Kuthe thu ezinye iimazi ezinqinileyo, ezikwasisixhenxe. Zafika zema ngakwezo zaziphezu komlambo. ₄Zaza ezo mazi zinqinileyo zazithi bimbilili ezo zityebileyo. Kwesi sithuba waphaphama ukumkani.

₅Uphinde walala, wabuya waphupha kwakhona. Ubone izikhwebu ezisixhenxe zengqolowa, zizihle, zivuthiwe, zikhula kwisikhondo esinye. ₆Kusuke kwantshula ezinye izikhwebu zengqolowa. Ezo zazintshwenyile, zimbatshiswe lulophu lwasempumalanga. ₇Ezo zikhwebu zazintshwenyile zazithi bimbilili eziya zihle izikhwebu. Uphaphamile ukumkani, waza waziqonda ukuba ubephupha.

₈Kwasa ekhathazekile yile nto, waza wathi makubizwe zonke izanuse noosiyazi baseJiputa. Wabalawulela amaphupha akhe, kodwa bonke batsho phantsi, ababi nako ukuwachaza.

₉Kuvele injoli, yathi kukumkani: “Mandiyivume namhla into yokuba ndenze impazamo. ₁₀Ngokuya wawukhathazekile ngenxa yam nombhaki, wasivalela entolongweni emzini womphathi-balindi bebhotwe, ₁₁kwathi ngabusuku buthile saphupha. Elowo waba nelakhe iphupha, engathethi nto inye loo maphupha. ₁₂Apho kwakukho umfana womHebhere, evalelwe nathi, engumququzeleli womphathi-balindi. Sathi sakumlawulela wasichazela sobabini amaphupha ethu. ₁₃Kwenzeka kanye njengoko wayetshilo: mna ndabuyiselwa emsebenzini wam, waxhonywa yena umbhaki.”

₁₄Ukumkani wathi makabizwe uJosefu, waza ngoko nangoko wakhululwa entolongweni. Akuba etshevile, wanxiba kakuhle, wasiwa kukumkani. ₁₅Waza wathi ukumkani kuJosefu: “Ndinephupha ekungekho bani ube nako ukulichaza. Ke ndivile ukuba uyakwazi ukuchaza amaphupha.”

₁₆UJosefu uphendule ngelithi: “Mhlekazi, andikwazi kuchaza maphupha, koko nguThixo oya kuchazela ukumkani iphupha lakhe.”

₁₇Ulilawule ke iphupha lakhe ukumkani wenjenje: “Ndiphuphe ndimi phezu komlambo iNayile. ₁₈Ndabona kuvela iimazi zeenkomo ezisixhenxe ezityebileyo emlanjeni apho, zigramza. ₁₉Kuvele esinye isixhenxe seemazi ezinqinileyo. Zaziyeyona migqutsuba ndakha ndayibona kwelaseJiputa. ₂₀Loo migqutsuba ke yazithi bimbilili ezo mazi zityebileyo. ₂₁Kambe ke ayikhange ibonakale loo nto, kuba zasala ziyiloo migqutsuba kwanjengangaphambili. Ndaphaphama ke. ₂₂Emva koko ke ndibuye ndaphupha ndibona izikhwebu ezisixhenxe ezihle zengqolowa, zintshula sikhondweni sinye. ₂₃Kuphinde kwantshula nezinye ezisixhenxe izikhwebu zizibi ngathi zitshazwe lulophu lwasempumalanga, ₂₄zazithi ginyi-ginyi eziya zikhwebu zihle. Ndiwalawule la maphupha kwizanuse zalapha, kodwa akwabikho namnye unokundichazela.”

₂₅Uthe ukuphendula uJosefu: “Omabini la maphupha athetha into enye, mhlekazi. UThixo ebekuxelela into aza kuyenza. ₂₆Iimazi ezityebileyo ezisixhenxe yiminyaka esixhenxe, ukanti nezikhwebu ezihle ezisixhenxe zikwayiminyaka esixhenxe. Athetha into enye omabini la maphupha. ₂₇Zona iimazi ezisixhenxe ezinqinileyo, ezivele mva, kwakunye nezikhwebu ezisixhenxe ezibi, ezitshaziswe lulophu lwasempumalanga, yiminyaka esixhenxe yendlala. ₂₈Kunjengokuba besenditshilo, mhlekazi, uThixo ubekuxelela into aza kuyenza. ₂₉Kuza kubakho iminyaka esixhenxe yendyebo kulo lonke elaseJiputa, ₃₀emva koko kubekho iminyaka esixhenxe yendlala; yaye yonke loo minyaka yendyebo iya kuba ngathi ayizange yabakho ngenxa yendlala eya kuligqiba lonke ilizwe. ₃₁Koba ngathi akuzange kubekho ntlutha, kuba indlala eyolandela yoba yeyoyikekayo. ₃₂Ukuphinda-phindwa kwephupha lakho kuthetha ukuthi uThixo selesenzile isigqibo, yaye uselembovu ukuyenza le nto.

₃₃“Ngoko ke, mhlekazi, khetha indoda elumkileyo, enamava, uyenze umphathiswa kweli lizwe. ₃₄Kufuneka utyumbe nabanye abaphathi abaza kugcina isihlanu sesivuno kule minyaka isixhenxe yendyebo. ₃₅Kufuneka bakuqokelele ukutya kule minyaka izayo yendyebo, babe negunya lokuvula oovimba ezixekweni, kugcinwe apho. ₃₆Kukutya okugciniweyo kaloku okuya kondla abantu kwiminyaka yendlala eya kulandela kweli laseJiputa. Ngale ndlela ke abasayi kulamba abantu.”

₃₇Ukumkani namaphakathi akhe balivuma eli cebo likaJosefu, ₃₈watsho esithi kubo: “Ngaba singafumana ndoda yimbi ngaphandle koJosefu, umfo owambathiswe ngoMoya kaThixo?”

₃₉Ubhekise kuJosefu ke ukumkani, wathi: “Nguwe oyiboniswe nguThixo le nto yonke. Kucacile ke ukuba asinakubuya sifumane mntu wumbi onobulumko namava, ingenguwe. ₄₀Ndiza kwenza wena ube ngumphathiswa elizweni lam. Bonke abantu bam baya kuthobela wena. Igunya lakho liya kuba ngaphantsi kwelam qha. ₄₁Ngoko ke ndithi ungumphathiswa kulo lonke elaseJiputa.”

₄₂Watsho ukumkani wakhulula emnweni wakhe umsesane owawukrwelwe uphawu lokumkani, wawufaka emnweni kaJosefu. Wamthi wambu ngomnweba owenziwe ngelinen entle, watsho emgaxela entanyeni ngesidanga esenziwe ngegolide. ₄₃Wamnika enye yeenqwelo zakhe ukuba ajikeleze ngayo njengesekela likakumkani. Wamnika namaphakathi okuhamba emgabulela izigcawu endleleni esithi: “Shenxani nikhahlele!” Wamiselwa ke uJosefu, waba ngumphathiswa waseJiputa.

₄₄Wathi ukumkani kuye: “Ukumkani ndim, ndithi ke akukho bani kulo lonke elaseJiputa oya kwenza nto engakhululelwanga nguwe.”

_45-46Watsho ke ethiya uJosefu igama abizwa ngalo eJiputa elinguZafenati-paneya, wamzekela nomfazi, uAsenati intombi kaPotifare umbingeleli waseOni.

Ukuqala kwakhe ukungena kwakumkani waseJiputa wayemashumi mathathu ubudala uJosefu. Wemka ebhotwe, walijikeleza lonke elaseJiputa. ₄₇Ngale minyaka isixhenxe yendyebo saba sikhulu kakhulu isivuno. ₄₈Wasivalela koovimba isivuno uJosefu kuzo zonke iidolophu. Kwidolophu nganye wayeqokelela ukutya okuvunwe kumasimi alapho. ₄₉Ingqolowa yayiyintaphane kangangokuba wada wayeka ukuyiveyisha uJosefu. Yayingangentlabathi ukuba ninzi kwayo.

₅₀UAsenati intombi kaPotifera, umbingeleli waseOni, wazalela uJosefu oonyana ababini ngaphambi kwendlala. ₅₁Unyana olizibulo wathi igama lakhe nguManase, kuba esithi: “UThixo undiphumzile ndatsho ndazilibala iinkxwaleko zam, andawakhumbula namawethu.” ₅₂Owesibini unyana wathi nguEfrayim, kuba esithi: “UThixo undiphe inzala kwilizwe endihlupheke kulo.”

₅₃Yaphela ke yona iminyaka yendyebo eJiputa, ₅₄yagaleleka iminyaka yendlala, kanye njengoko wayetshilo uJosefu. Kwalanjwa kuwo onke amanye amazwe, kodwa kulo lonke elaseJiputa kwakukho intlutha. ₅₅Athe akulamba amaJiputa, aya kuzicelela ukutya kukumkani. Wathi ke yena makaye kuJosefu, aze enze loo nto awayalela yona. ₅₆Yakhula indlala, yaligqiba lonke elaseJiputa. Wabavula ke oovimba uJosefu, wawathengisela ingqolowa amaJiputa. ₅₇Babevela ngeenkalo zonke abantu elizweni, beze kuthenga ingqolowa kuJosefu, kuba indlala yayiligqugqisile lonke.