Bible Society of South Africa

To The Word – Day 115

1 Kings 16–19, James 4–5

Itekisi yeBhayibhile

1 YOOKUMKANI 16

1Ke kaloku uYehu unyana kaHanani wafikelwa lilizwi *likaNdikhoyo ngokubhekiselele kuBhayesha. Lalisithi: 2“Ndakuphakamisa eluthulini, ndakwenza inkokheli yabantu bam amaSirayeli. Kambe ke wena suka wangena ekhondweni likaJerobhowam, wabalukuhlela esonweni abantu bam amaSirayeli. Ezo zono ke ziwuxhokonxile umsindo wam. 3Ngoko ke ngoku ndiza kumsusa uBhayesha kunye nendlu yakhe. Ewe, ndokufanisa nendlu kaJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati. 4AbakwaBhayesha abafela ezixekweni botyiwa zizinja, ke bona abafela emaphandleni boxhwithwa ziintaka.”

5Ezinye iziganeko mayela nolawulo lukaBhayesha nayo yonke imisebenzi yakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaSirayeli. 6UBhayesha waya kuphumla kooyise, waza wangcwatywa eTirza. Esikhundleni sakhe ke kwangena unyana wakhe uEla.

7Into eyezisa eli lizwi likaNdikhoyo ngomlomo kaYehu unyana kaHanani mayela noBhayesha nendlu yakhe, kungenxa yobubi awabenzayo nemikhwa eyamcaphukisayo uNdikhoyo, nokuhamba kwakhe ekhondweni likaJerobhowam, nokutshabalalisa indlu yakhe.

UEla ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli

8Kwathi ngonyaka wamashumi amabini anesithandathu uAsa engukumkani wakwaJuda, uEla unyana kaBhayesha waqalisa ukulawula kwaSirayeli, waza walawula eTirza iminyaka emibini.

9Elinye lamaphakathi akhe uZimri wamenzela iyelenqe. Eli phakathi lalilawula isiqingatha seenqwelo zemfazwe. Ngeli thuba ke uEla wayelibele kukunxila kwa-Arza eTirza. UArza lo ke wayengumlawuli apho komkhulu eTirza. 10UZimri wangena wambetha wambulala, xa kanye uAsa akunyaka wamashumi amabini anesixhenxe engukumkani kwaJuda. Waza ke wathatha indawo yakhe.

11Uthe ke uZimri akungena ezintanjeni wayingenela wayibulala indlu kaBhayesha iphela. Wabulala akashiya duna, nditsho isizalwana nesihlobo. 12Ewe, uZimri wayitshabalalisa yonke indlu kaBhayesha ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo ethetha ngomshumayeli uYehu ngokubhekiselele kuBhayesha. 13Le nto ke wayenza ngenxa yezono ezenziwa nguBhayesha nonyana wakhe uEla, nangenxa yokuba uSirayeli bamlukuhlela esonweni, ngeso senzo ke bamxhokonxa uNdikhoyo, waza wakhathazeka uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli yimifanekiso yabo ephuthileyo yezithixo.

14Ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo lukaEla, nayo yonke imisebenzi yakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaSirayeli.

UZimri ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli

15Ngonyaka wamashumi amabini anesixhenxe uAsa engukumkani wakwaJuda, uZimri walawula eTirza iintsuku ezisixhenxe. Umkhosi wawumi ngakwidolophu yamaFilistiya iGibheton. 16Athi akuva amaSirayeli asemkhosini ukuba uZimri wenzele ukumkani iyelenqe wambulala, ammisela uOmri, owayeyinjengele yomkhosi, wangukumkani kwangaloo mini phezu koSirayeli ephela. 17Ke uOmri nawo onke amaSirayeli ahlehla eGibheton, aza angqinga iTirza. 18Uthe akuqonda uZimri ukuba isixeko sihlaselwe, wasuka waya enqabeni yakomkhulu, waza walintumeka umlilo ikomkhulu elo, naye wafela apho. 19Le nto yenzeka ngenxa yezono awazenzayo esona *uNdikhoyo, ehamba ekhondweni likaJerobhowam nezono awazenzayo nokulukuhlela kwakhe amaSirayeli esonweni.

20Ke ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo lukaZimri kunye novukelo lwakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaSirayeli.

UOmri ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli

21Kwesi sithuba ke amaSirayeli ahlukana kubini, elinye iqela lifuna uTibheni unyana kaGinati abe ngukumkani, laye elinye lixhasa uOmri. 22Ke abalandeli bakaOmri baboyisa abo bakaTibheni unyana kaGinati. Ke yena uTibheni wafa, waza ke uOmri wangukumkani.

23Ke kaloku ngonyaka wamashumi amathathu ananye uAsa engukumkani kwaJuda, uOmri waba ngukumkani kwaSirayeli, waza ke walawula iminyaka elishumi elinambini, emithandathu eseTirza. 24Wathenga induli yaseSamariya kuShemere ngamawaka amathandathu eengqekembe zesiliva, waza ke wakha isixeko apho kuyo, wasibiza ngokuba yiSamariya, igama likaShemere umnini waloo nduli kumaxesha angaphambili.

25Kambe ke uOmri lo wabalasela ukona kuNdikhoyo kunabo bonke ababengaphambi kwakhe. 26Wathatha ikhondo likaJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati, wenza kwaeso sono sakhe, walukuhlela amaSirayeli kuso. Ngaloo mifanekiso iphuthileyo yezithixo wawuxhokonxa umsindo kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli.

27Ezinye ke iziganeko zolawulo lukaOmri, imisebenzi ndawonye nemizabalazo yakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaSirayeli. 28UOmri ke waya kuphumla kooyise, waza wangcwatywa eSamariya, esikhundleni sakhe ke kwangena uAhabhi unyana wakhe wangukumkani.

UAhabhi ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli

29Ngonyaka wamashumi amathathu anesibhozo wokulawula kuka-Asa kwaJuda, uAhabhi waba ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli, waza walawula iminyaka emashumi mabini anambini kwaSirayeli eSamariya. 30UAhabhi unyana kaOmri wathi kratya ngobubi *kuNdikhoyo kunabo bonke ababengaphambi kwakhe. 31Akanelanga nje ukwenza izono zikaJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati, kodwa wongeza nangokuthatha uJezebhele intombi kaEtibhali ukumkani wamaSidon, waza ke wangena ekunquleni uBhali. 32Wenzela uBhali iqonga lamadini kwisibingelelo awamakhela sona eSamariya. 33UAhabhi wamisela isibonda esifanekisa uAshera, waza ngokwenjenjalo wawuxhokonxa umsindo kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, nto leyo yamenza wabalasela ekuqumbiseni uNdikhoyo kunabo bonke ookumkani bakwaSirayeli ababengaphambi kwakhe.

34Ngexesha lika-Ahabhi uHiyeli waseBhetele waphinda wayivusa iJeriko. Iziseko zayo zamenza walahlekelwa ngunyana wakhe wamazibulo uAbhiram, kanti ke xa amisa amasango ayo walahlekelwa ngunyana wakhe omnci uSegubhi. Yonke loo nto yenzeka ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo kuYoshuwa unyana kaNune.

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1 YOOKUMKANI 17

UEliya wondliwa ngamahlungulu

1Ke kaloku uEliya waseTishbhi eGiliyadi wathetha noAhabhi, wathi: “Ekho nje *uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, lo ndimkhonzayo, kuza kubakho imbalela kungabikho mbethe namvula kule minyaka izayo kungengalo ilizwi lam.”

2UEliya wafikelwa lilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi: 3“Mka kule ndawo, ubheke ngasempuma, uye kuzimela ngasentlanjeni iKeriti kwimpuma yomlambo iJordan. 4Apho ke uya kusela kuloo ntlambo; futhi ke amahlungulu ndiwayalele ukuba akondle.”

5Ngoko ke uEliya wenza ngokwelizwi likaNdikhoyo. Wahamba waya kuloo ntlambo yaseKeriti kwimpuma yeJordan, wahlala khona apho. 6Ke amahlungulu amphathela isonka nenyama kusasa, aza amzisela isonka nenyama emalanga, esela kuloo ntlambo.

Umhlolokazi waseZarfati

7Kuthe ke ngokuhamba kwexesha yatsha loo ntlanjana, kuba kwakungekho mvula kwelo lizwe. 8Lafika ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuye lisithi: 9“Hamba uye eZarfati eSidon, uhlale khona. Nalapho ndiyalele umhlolokazi wakhona ukuba akuphe ukutya.”

10Ngoko ke wahamba waya eZarfati. Ekufikeni kwakhe ke esangweni lesixeko eso, wafika kukho mhlolokazi uthile echola-chola iintsasa. Wambiza waza wathi: “Khawundiphathele amanzi ngendebe ukuze ndisele.” 11Uphinde wayaleza xa ahambayo wathi: “Uze uncede undiphathele neqhekeza lesonka.”

12Waphendula wathi: “Ngenene, ekho nje uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, andinaso isonka. Into ekhoyo ngumgubo ongephi osengqayini, kunye nentwana yamafutha omnquma asendebeni. Undibona ndichola-chola ezi ntsasa nje, ndenzela ukuba ndigoduke nazo, ndize ndiphekele mna nonyana wam lo, ukuze sitye sife ke emva koko.”

13UEliya wathi kuye: “Musa ukoyika. Goduka wenze njengoko uthethile. Kodwa ke kuqala yenzela mna iqebengwana lesonka ngaloo nto unayo, uze ulizise apha kum, kamva ke wenzele wena nonyana wakho lowo. 14Kaloku utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Loo ngqayi yomgubo ayiyi kuphela, naloo ndebe yamafutha ayiyi kuphela, yohlala kude kube yiloo mini ayinethisa ngayo imvula uNdikhoyo kweli lizwe.’ ”

15Umhlolokazi lowo ke wemka waza wenza ngokomyalelo kaEliya. Kwahlala kukhona ke ukutya okwanele uEliya nomhlolokazi lowo nosapho lwakhe. 16Kaloku loo ngqayi yomgubo zange iphele, kananjalo naloo ndebe yamafutha ayiphelanga, ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo kuEliya.

17Ekuhambeni kwethuba ke unyana waloo mhlolokazi wayengumnikazi ndlu, wahlabeka wagula. Wakhula umkhuhlane ayabi kuko, waza ke ekugqibeleni wayeka ukuphefumla. 18Wabhekisa kuEliya umhlolokazi, wathi: “Undenza ntoni kodwa, mntundini kaThixo? Ngaba apha uze kundikhumbuza ngezono zam, ubulala unyana wam nje?”

19UEliya waphendula wathi: “Mzise apha kum unyana wakho lowo!” Wamthatha ke apho kuloo mhlolokazi, waza waya naye kwigumbi eliphezulu, apho wayehlala khona, wafika wamlalisa kumandlalo wakhe. 20Waza ke wadanduluka wathandaza kuNdikhoyo, wathi: “Ndikhoyo, Thixo wam, ngani ukuba umzisele isithwakumbe esinje lo mhlolokazi ndihlala kuye? Kutheni ukuba umbulale unyana wakhe?” 21Waza ke wazolula apho phezu kwaloo mntwana kwakathathu, wakhala kuNdikhoyo wathi: “Hayi bo, Ndikhoyo, Thixo wam, wubuyisele kuye umphefumlo walo mntwana!”

22UNdikhoyo waliva ilizwi likaEliya, waza ke wabubuyisela kwakuloo mntwana ubomi bakhe, waphila. 23UEliya ke wamfunqula umntwana lowo, waphuma naye kwelo gumbi, waya naye kwelikanina. Wamnikezela kunina, waza wathi: “Uyabona ke, unyana wakho uphilile!”

24Loo mhlolokazi ke wathi apho kuEliya: “Ngenene ngoku ndiyaqonda ukuba wena ungumfo wakwaThixo, yaye ke nelizwi olithethayo lelikaNdikhoyo, liyinyaniso.”

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1 YOOKUMKANI 18

UEliya no-Obhadiya

1Ke kaloku emva kwethuba, kunyaka wesithathu waloo mbalela, uEliya wafikelwa lilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi: “Hamba uye kubonana noAhabhi; ke mna ndiya kuyinisa imvula elizweni.” 2Ngenene ke uEliya waya kuAhabhi.

Ngelo xesha ke imbalela yayibhokile eSamariya, 3waza ke uAhabhi wabiza uObhadiya owayengumaqhuzu apho komkhulu. (UObhadiya wayenqula uNdikhoyo enyanisekile. 4Kwathi xa uJezebhele wayebaphumele ngokubabulala abashumayeli bakaNdikhoyo, uObhadiya wathatha ikhulu labashumayeli, waya kubafihla emiqolombeni emibini, wafaka amashumi amahlanu kumqolomba ngamnye, wamana ebapha ukutya namanzi.) 5UAhabhi ke wathi kuObhadiya: “Khawuhamba-hambe kuwo wonke lo mhlaba, ujonge ngasemithonjeni nasezintilini, hleze kuthi kanti sisengayizuza ingca, ukuze afumane ukutya amahashe neemeyile, abe nokuphila, nathi singade siyibulale imfuyo yethu.” 6Umhlaba lowo ke bawahlula-hlula, waza uAhabhi waya kwelinye icala, no-Obhadiya waya kwelinye.

7Uthe ke esahamba uObhadiya, wadibana noEliya. UObhadiya wamnakana, waza wakhahlela, waguqa phantsi, wathi: “Ngaba ngenene nguwe na lowo, nkosi yam Eliya?”

8UEliya waphendula wathi: “Ewe, ndim kanye! Hamba uye kuxelela inkosi yakho uthi: ‘Nanku uEliya!’ ”

9“Ngaba ndenze bugwenxa buni kodwa,” ubuzile uObhadiya, “le nto isicaka sakho usinikela esandleni sika-Ahabhi ukuze sibulawe? 10Ekho nje uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, akukho lizwe nabukumkani ingathumelanga mntu kulo inkosi yam izingelana nawe lo. Isizwe okanye ubukumkani obuthe bakulandula, ubeqononondisa abafungise ukuba ngenene awufumaneki ndawo khona. 11Ngoku ke wena uthi mandiye enkosini yam, ndifike ndithi kuyo: ‘Nanku Eliya.’ 12Kaloku andinakwazi apho wokusa khona uMoya kaNdikhoyo, sakuba sahlukene. Ukuba ndinokuya kuye ndimxelele, aze yena uAhabhi angakufumani apha, angandibulala, ndibe ke mna, sicaka sakho, uNdikhoyo lo ndamnqula kwasebuntwaneni. 13Ngaba akuyivanga na, nkosi yam, into endiyenzileyo ngokuya uJezebhele ebebulala abashumayeli bakaNdikhoyo? Kaloku ndathatha ikhulu labashumayeli bakaNdikhoyo, ndalifihla emiqolombeni, ndafaka amashumi amahlanu kuwo ngamnye, ndaza ndamana ndibapha ukutya namanzi. 14Uze ke wena ngoku uthi mandiye enkosini yam, ndiyixelele ndithi: ‘Nanku uEliya.’ Ngenene angandibulala!”

15UEliya wathi: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo uSomandla lo ndimkhonzayo, inene, ngayo yona le mini ndiza kubonana noAhabhi.”

UEliya kwintaba iKarmele

16Ke kaloku uObhadiya wemka, waza ke wadibana naye uAhabhi, wamxelela. Ke uAhabhi wahamba, waza wabonana noEliya. 17Akubona uEliya uAhabhi wathi: “Ngaba nguwe lowo, wena ohlisela amaSirayeli intlekele?”

18UEliya waphendula ngelithi: “Khange ndiwahlisele mna intlekele amaSirayeli. Kodwa nguwe nendlu kayihlo lo uhlisele amaSirayeli intlekele. Imithetho kaNdikhoyo uyityeshele, waza walandelana nooBhali. 19Khawubaqokelele bonke abantu bakwaSirayeli, ukuze ndihlangane nabo phezu kwentaba iKarmele. Uze ungabashiyi abashumayeli bakaBhali abamakhulu mane namashumi amahlanu, kananjalo nabashumayeli baka-Ashera abamakhulu mane, abo batya kwisithebe sikaJezebhele.”

20Ngoko ke uAhabhi wathumela ilizwi kuSirayeli ephela, wabaqokelela kwintaba iKarmele bonke abashumayeli. 21UEliya wasondela kubo ke abo bantu, waza wathi: “Koda kube nini na nimbaxa! Ukuba uNdikhoyo nguye uThixo, landelani yena; kanti ke ukuba uBhali nguThixo, landelani yena kaloku.” Kwasuka kwathi cwaka.

22UEliya wabhekisa ebantwini wathi: “Ndim ndodwa umshumayeli kaNdikhoyo oshiyekileyo, kodwa ke yena uBhali usenabashumayeli abangamakhulu amane anamashumi amahlanu. 23Sinikeni iinkunzana zeenkomo zibe mbini. Abashumayeli bakaBhali mabazikhethele ibe nye, baze bayixhele bayixhaxhe, bayibeke phezu kweenkuni, kodwa bangaphembi mlilo. Nam ke ndozilungiselela enye inkunzana leyo, ndiyixhaxhe, ndiyibeke phezu kweenkuni, kodwa ndingaphembi mlilo. 24Ze ke nibize igama lothixo wenu, nam ndibize igama likaNdikhoyo. Ke uThixo othe waphendula ngomlilo ngoyena-yena Thixo!”

Ke abantu baphendula bathi: “La mazwi uwathethileyo mahle.”

25UEliya wabhekisa kubashumayeli bakaBhali wathi: “Makuqale nina baninzi, nizikhethele inkunzana ibe nye, nizilungiselele yona. Nakugqiba ke, bizani igama lothixo wenu, kodwa ningawuphembi umlilo.” 26Ngenene ke bayithatha eyabo inkunzana yenkomo, bayixhela, bayixhaxha.

Baza ke banqula igama likaBhali, besukela kusasa kwada kwasemini emaqanda, besithi: “Khawuncede usiphendule, Bhali!” Kodwa ke akwabikho mpendulo, akwabikho bani usabelayo. Hayi ke, baxhentsa bejikeleza elo qonga babelenzile.

27Emini emaqanda uEliya waphoxisa ngabo esithi: “Khanibe ngathi niyakhwaza. Kaloku nguthixo lo! Mhlawumbi usaminxwe ziingcinga, okanye ziingxaki, angathi kanti useseluhambeni. Mhlawumbi usalele, abe ke usavuswa.” 28Ngoko ke bathath' unyawo ukukhwaza, bezicenta ngemikhonto namakrele ngokwesiko labo, lada latsaza igazi kubo. 29Yadlula imini emaqanda, bona baqhubela phambili betaka-taka bekrotsha lada lafika ixesha lamadini asemalanga. Kodwa nangoko kwathi cwaka, akwabikho mpendulo, akwabikho bani usabelayo.

30Ke uEliya wabhekisa kubo bonke abantu, wathi: “Yizani kum apha.” Beza kuye bonke, waza ke yena walilungisa iqonga likaNdikhoyo elaliselonakele. 31UEliya wathatha amatye alishumi elinambini, ngalinye limele indlu kwezo zizwe zikaYakobi, yena lowo wafikelwa lilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi: “Igama lakho kothiwa unguSirayeli.” 32Ngala matye wakha iqonga egameni likaNdikhoyo, waza wenza umsele walijikeleza. Lo msele wawubanzi, unokungena iilitha ezimalunga neshumi elinesine. 33Wazilungisa iinkuni, wayixhaxha inkunzi leyo, wayibeka phezu kweenkuni ezo. 34Waza wathi kubo: “Zalisani iingqayi ezinkulu zibe ne ngamanzi, nize niwagalele kwelo dini nakwezo nkuni.” Waza wathi: “Phindani okwesibini!” Baphinda okwesibini. Wathi: “Phindani okwesithathu!” Baphinda okwesithathu. 35Amanzi lawo ke ehla apho eqongeni, angena kuloo msele, wazala thwahla.

36Kwathi ke ngexesha lamadini angokuhlwa umshumayeli uEliya wasondela eqongeni, waza wathandaza wenjenje: “Ndikhoyo, Thixo ka-Abraham, Thixo kaIsake, Thixo kaSirayeli, namhlanje mayaziwe into yokuba nguwe uThixo kaSirayeli, mna ke ndisisicaka sakho, nezi zinto zonke ndizenzileyo ndizenze ngokuyalelwa nguwe. 37Ewe, ndiphendule kaloku, Ndikhoyo, khon' ukuze naba bantu bakuqonde, bakwazi, wena Ndikhoyo, ukuba unguThixo, babone ukuba wena ngoku uziguqulele kuwe iintliziyo zabo.”

38Ke kaloku wehla umlilo, uvela kuNdikhoyo, waza walitshisa idini elo, kunye neenkuni, amatye, nomhlaba, wada walenca naloo manzi ayesemseleni.

39Bakuyibona ke le nto, abantu basuka baziphosa phantsi, bathi: “UNdikhoyo nguye uThixo! UNdikhoyo nguye uThixo!”

40Ke uEliya wathi kubo: “Babambeni abashumayeli bakaBhali, kungasindi noba abe mnye!” Ngenene ke babanjwa, waza uEliya wathi makuyiwe nabo kwintili yeKishon, apho wababulalela khona.

41Waza ke uEliya wathi kuAhabhi: “Hamba, uye kutya usele, kuba kuvakala ukundila kwemvula enkulu.” 42Ke uAhabhi wahamba, watya wasela.

Kambe ke yena uEliya wenyuka waya encotsheni yentaba iKarmele, waza wagobela emhlabeni, wafaka ubuso phakathi kwamadolo.

43UEliya wathumela ihlakani lakhe, wathi: “Khawuhambe ukhangele ngaselwandle ukuba awuboni nto na.”

Laya ke lajonga, labuya lisithi: “Hayi, akubonakali nto.”

Ke uEliya lo walithuma kwada kwasixhenxe, emana esithi: “Khawuphume ujonge.”

44Ngesihlandlo sesixhenxe ihlakani lakhe elo labuya lisithi: “Nalo ilifu elingangesandla somntu, lisithi thu elwandle.”

UEliya wathi kulo: “Yiya kuxelela uAhabhi, uthi kuye: ‘Bopha inqwelo yakho ugoduke, hleze uvalelwe yimvula.’ ”

45Kananjalo ke saxubayela isibhakabhaka, kwavela izibhaxu zamafu amnyama, kwavuthuza nomoya, yaza yagaleleka imvula, yatsho ngezantyala-ntyala; wabe ke yena uAhabhi ekhwele esendleleni egodukayo eya eYizereli. 46UEliya ke wafikelwa ngamandla kaNdikhoyo, waza wazibhinqa ngebhanti izambatho zakhe, wabaleka wamshiya uAhabhi ukuya kufika eYizereli.

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1 YOOKUMKANI 19

UEliya ubalekela eHorebhe

1Ke kaloku uAhabhi waxelela umkakhe uJezebhele ngako konke awayekwenzile uEliya, nendlela ababulele ngayo abashumayeli bakaBhali ebaqhushek' ikrele. 2Ngoko ke uJezebhele wathumela kuEliya esithi: “Mabandohlwaye oothixo, nokuba kuqatha kangakanani na, ukuba lide lafika ingomso ungekabi njengabo abo bashumayeli bakaBhali.”

3Akuluva olo daba uEliya woyika, wabaleka, esindisa ubomi bakhe. Uthe akufika eBheshebha kwelakwaJuda, walishiya khona ihlakani lakhe. 4Ke yena wathatha uhambo lwemini enye, wangena entlango. Wathi ke akufumana umthi wonwele, wahlala phantsi kwawo, wathandazela ukuba afe. Wathi: “Kwanele ngoku, *Ndikhoyo! Buthathe ubomi bam; kuba andilunganga ukugqitha oobawo.” 5Wasuka ke wangqenqa apho phantsi kwaloo mthi wonwele, wasindwa bubuthongo, walala.

Kwabonakala isithunywa sezulu, samshukumisa uEliya, sathi: “Vuka, utye!” 6Wathi khwaphululu walaqaza, waza wabona iqebengwana lesonka ebesojiwe ngamalahle ashushu, kunye nendebe yamanzi. Wathatha ke, watya wasela, waza waphinda walala.

7Siphinde sabuya isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo, samshukumisa sathi: “Vuka utye, kuba lude uhambo lwakho.” 8Wavuka ke, watya wasela. Oko kutya ke kwamomeleza, waza wathatha uhambo lweentsuku ezimashumi mane nobusuku bazo, wada waya kufika eHorebhe, intaba kaThixo. 9Apho ke wafumana umqolomba, waza walala khona.

UNdikhoyo ubonakala kuEliya

Ke kaloku uEliya wafikelwa lilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi: “Ukho ngani apha, Eliya?”

10Ke yena wathi: “Ndenziwe likhwele ngenxa kaNdikhoyo uThixo uSomandla. Kaloku amaSirayeli awukhabile umnqophiso wakho; awadilizile namaqonga akho, nabashumayeli bakho ababulele ngekrele. Ngoku ke sendisele ndodwa; nam ngokwam ke afuna ukundibulala.”

11UNdikhoyo waphendula wathi: “Hamba uye kuma phezu kwentaba phambi koNdikhoyo, kuba uNdikhoyo uza kudlula khona.”

Ke kaloku kwabhudla isitshu somoyakazi omkhulu owaqhaqhambisa amawa, watsho kwacandeka neentaba; ukanti ke yena uNdikhoyo wayengekho apho kuwo. Emva komoya lowo kwabakho inyikima, kanti ke nalapho kuyo wayengekho yena uNdikhoyo. 12Emva kwaloo nyikima ke kwavela umlilo, ukanti ke nalapho kuwo wayengekho uNdikhoyo. Wakudlula umlilo kwabakho impepho ethi sebe-sebe. 13Akuyiva ke uEliya wazigquma ubuso ngomnweba wakhe, waphuma wema emnyango apho kuloo mqolomba. Kwavakala ilizwi lisithi: “Ukho ngani apha, Eliya?”

14Ke yena waphendula wathi: “Ndenziwe likhwele ngenxa kaNdikhoyo uThixo uSomandla. Kaloku amaSirayeli awukhabile umnqophiso wakho; awadilizile amaqonga akho; nabashumayeli bakho ababulele ngekrele. Ngoku ke sendisele ndodwa. Nam ngokwam ke afuna ukundibulala.”

15UNdikhoyo ke wathi kuye: “Hamba ubuyele apho ubuvela khona, uye kwintlango yaseDamasko. Wakufika khona ke uze uthambise uHazayeli abe ngukumkani wama-Aram. 16Kwakhona uze uthambise uYehu, unyana kaNimshi, abe ngukumkani wamaSirayeli; kananjalo uthambise uElisha, unyana kaShafati waseAbhele-mehola, ukuze abe *ngumshumayeli emva kwakho. 17UYehu uya kubabulala bonke abasinde kwikrele likaHazayeli, aze yena uElisha ababulale abo basinde kwikrele likaYehu. 18Kambe ke kwaSirayeli apha ndozigcinela loo mawaka asixhenxe abantu abamadolo angazange aguqe kuBhali, nabamilomo ingazange iwange umfanekiso wakhe.”

Ukubizwa kukaElisha

19Ngoko ke uEliya waphuma apho, waza wadibana naye uElisha unyana kaShafati. Wayelima ngezipani ezilishumi elinambini, isipani ngasinye sineenkabi ezimbini, inguye ngokwakhe oqhuba esi seshumi elinambini. UEliya waya kuye ngqo, wafika wamambathisa ngomnweba wakhe. 20Ke uElisha wazishiya iinkabi ezo, waza wabaleka emva koEliya. Wathi kuye: “Makhe ndiye kwanga utata nomama kuqala, ukuze ke ndihambe nawe.”

UEliya waphendula wathi: “Hamba kaloku; andikuthinteli nganto.”

21Ngoko ke uElisha wamshiya wagoduka. Wathatha iinkabi ezimbini, wazixhela, wayipheka inyama yazo, ebase ngedyokhwe yazo, inyama leyo wayinika abantu, bayitya. Ke yena wemka walandela uEliya, waba lihlakani lakhe.

1 YOOKUMKANI 19XHO96Vula kumfundi weBhayibhile

EKAYAKOBI 4

Ingozi yokuhlobana nehlabathi

1Yintoni edala iimfazwe neengxabano apha phakathi kwenu? Ngokuqinisekileyo zivela kwiinkanuko zenu ezisoloko zisenza imizabalazo ngaphakathi kwenu. 2Xa ungazifumani izinto ozifunayo, ukhetha ukubulala; okanye xa ungafezeki umnqweno wakho, uyaxabana ulwe. Kanti ke, ungazifumani nje izinto ozifunayo, kungenxa yokuba awuziceli kuThixo. 3Noba sowude wathandaza ucela, awuzuzi, kuba kaloku iinjongo zakho zimbi, ufuna nje ukufezekisa iinkanuko zakho. 4Bantundini abangathembekanga, anazi kakade ukuba ngokuhlobana neli hlabathi nizenza iintshaba zikaThixo? Ewe, nabani na okhetha ukuvana neli hlabathi ulutshaba lukaThixo. 5Mhlawumbi ngaba nicinga ukuba iziBhalo ziyalavuza xa zisithi: “UMoya esimnikiweyo uyakhweleta”? 6Kodwa ke sona isisa asinika sona uThixo singaphezulu. Zitsho neziBhalo ukuthi: “UThixo uyabachasa abanekratshi, kodwa unesisa kwabathobekileyo.”

7Ngoko ke zinikeleni ngokupheleleyo kuThixo. Mchaseni uSathana azokunibaleka. 8Sondelani kuThixo naye azokusondela kuni. Hlambani izandla zenu, nina bonindini! Nizenze nyulu iintliziyo zenu, nina bahanahanisi! 9Yibani lusizi nilile nintywizise! Ukuhleka makujike kube ziinyembezi, uvuyo lube lusizi! 10Ukuba niyazithoba kuye uThixo, uya kuniphakamisa.

Isilumkiso ngokugxekana

11Mawethu, musani ukugxekana. Nabani na oligxekayo okanye aligwebe elinye ikholwa, ugxeka ugweba umthetho. Ukuba ke uyawugxeka umthetho, akuwuthobeli, koko ungumgwebi wawo. 12NguThixo kuphela umniki-mthetho nomgwebi. Nguye kuphela onelungelo lokusindisa okanye atshabalalise. Kuxa ungubani ke wena ude ugwebe ummelwana wakho nje?

Isilumkiso ngokuqhayisa

13Makhe ndibhekise kuni nina bathi: “Namhlanje okanye ngomso siya kuya kwidolophu ethile, sifike sihlale unyaka wonke, sirhwebe sizuze imali eninzi.” 14Nithetha nje ningayazi into eniza kuba yiyo ngomso. Nifana nje nomfa-nkungu othi uvele umzuzwana nje uphinde uphele. 15Xa nithetha yithini: “INkosi ivuma, siya kwenza le naleya.” 16Kodwa ke endaweni yokwenjenjalo nisuka nibe nekratshi, niqhayise; ibe ke ukuqhayisa yinto egwenxa. 17Phofu ke yena umntu ongayenziyo imfanelo yakhe nakuba eyazi, unetyala.

EKAYAKOBI 5

Isilumkiso kwizityebi

1Ngoku makhe ndibhekise kwabo bemi kakuhle, izityebi. Hlahlambani ningqukruleke ngenxa yeenzingo ezinizelayo! 2Kaloku ubutyebi benu buyangunda, neempahla zenu zityiwa ngamanundu. 3Igolide nesiliva yenu idliwa ngumhlwa. Ngulo mhlwa ke kanye obubungqina obunilahlayo, kuba uya kuyisuba njengomlilo inyama yenu. Kaloku nina nizifumbela ubutyebi ngoku sikwimihla yokugqibela. 4Abasebenzi abalima amasimi enu anibahlawuli. Khanisive isikhalo sabo! Ewe, isililo sabavuni seside savakala nakuThixo, iNkosi uSomandla. 5Kaloku obenu ubomi apha emhlabeni bubunewu-newu nobumnandi. Ewe, nizondle natyeba, kanti nizilungiselela umhla womgwebo. 6Nimgwebile nambulala umntu ongenatyala. Kanti noko akaxhathisi.

Umonde nomthandazo

7Mawethu, yibani nomonde ide ifike iNkosi. Thathani umzekelo kumlimi: yena usilinda ngomonde isivuno asixabisileyo somhlaba wakhe. Ewe, yena uzilinda ngomonde iimvula zasentlakohlaza ngokunjalo nezasekwindla. 8Ngoko ke nani yibani nomonde, ningatyhafi; kaloku iMini yokufika kweNkosi ikufuphi.

9Mawethu, musani ukukhalazelana ukuze ningagwetywa nguThixo. Ngenene yena uMgwebi usemnyango. 10Nanku ke umzekelo, mawethu: ndixela *abashumayeli bamandulo, abo babethetha egameni leNkosi. Bona mababe ngumzekelo wenu wokunyamezela ngomonde naxa kunzima. 11Ewe, sithi banoyolo abo banyamezelayo. Seniyivile indlela awayenomonde ngayo uYobi; niyayazi indlela eyambuyekeza ngayo iNkosi. Kaloku iNkosi inenceba novelwano.

12Ngaphezu koko ke, mawethu, musani ukufunga xa nisenza isithembiso; nditsho nangezulu, umhlaba, nangantoni na. Xa nivuma yithini: “Ewe,” nithi: “Hayi,” xa nisala, kube kuphela, ukuze ningabi sesichengeni sokugwetywa.

13Ukuba kukho umntu osenkathazweni, makathandaze. Ukanti xa umntu evuya, makahlabele ingoma adumise. 14Xa umntu egula, makabize amadoda amakhulu ebandla; wona aya kumthandazela, amthambise ngeoyile egameni leNkosi. 15Lo mthandazo uphuma elukholweni uya kumnyanga umntu ogulayo, iNkosi imbuyisele empilweni, zithi nezono azenzileyo zixolelwe. 16Ngoko ke zivumeni izono omnye komnye, nithandazelane, khon' ukuze ninyangeke. Kaloku umthandazo womntu olungileyo unamandla angummangaliso. 17Ewe, uEliya wayengumntu efana nathi. Kodwa wathandaza ngokuzimisela ukuba ingani imvula, ngenene labalela iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. 18Waphinda wathandaza, saza isibhakabhaka sayithoba imvula, lachuma ilizwe.

19Mawethu, ukuba omnye wenu ulahlekile waphuma enyanisweni, waza omnye umntu wambuyisa, 20qinisekani ngale ndawo: Nabani na oguqula umoni olahlekayo usindise umphefumlo ekufeni, watsho kwaxolelwa izono ezininzi.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.7
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