To The Word – Day 39

₁Kwathi ngenyanga yokuqala uSirayeli ephela wagaleleka kwintlango iZin, waza wamisa eKadeshe. Apho ke kulapho wafa waza wangcwatyelwa khona uMiriyam.

₂Ke kaloku kwakungekho manzi kuloo ndawo. Ngoko ke amaSirayeli aqokelelana kuMosis noAron, ₃alwa noMosis, athi: “Akwaba nathi sasife nabantakwethu phambi *kwesibingelelo *sikaNdikhoyo. ₄Ngani ukuba thina bantu bakaNdikhoyo nisizise kule ntlango? Benifuna size kufela apha ndawonye nemfuyo yethu? ₅Kakade, kwakutheni ukuze nisikhuphe eJiputa, nize kusifaka kwenje yona indawo, emhlaba ungavelisi nento le? Akukho ngqolowa namakhiwane, kungekho diliya narharnati; ke wona amanzi tu!” ₆UMosis noAron balishiya ibandla, baya kuma esangweni lesibingelelo. Baguqa phantsi, baza ke babubona ubungangamsha bukaNdikhoyo.

₇UNdikhoyo wathi kuMosis: ₈“Thatha intonga ephambi kwetyesi yomnqophiso, uze wena nomntakwenu uAron nilihlanganise ibandla, uze ke uthethe neliwa bejongile. Kothi kumpompoze amanzi kulo, baze abantu nemfuyo yabo basele.” ₉Ke uMosis wayithatha intonga leyo esibingelelweni ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo.

₁₀Yena noAron bawaqokelela onke amaSirayeli apho phambi kweliwa, waza wathi uMosis: “Phulaphulani, nina baqhankqalazi! Ngaba nifuna sikhuphe amanzi kweli liwa?” ₁₁UMosis wayiphakamsa intonga, walibetha kabini iliwa elo, kwaza ke kwampompoza amanzi, abantu ndawonye nemfuyo basela.

₁₂UNdikhoyo wabhekisa kuMosis noAron wathi: “Ngenxa yokungandithembi nokungandiniki imbeko phambi kwamaSirayeli, anisayi kulikhokela eli bandla nilingenise kwelo lizwe ndalithembisa lona.”

₁₃Esi siganeko ke sehla eMeribha apho amaSirayeli amkhalazela khona uNdikhoyo. Ke yena wazibonakalisa kuwo ukuba ungcwele.

₁₄Ke kaloku uMosis wakhupha abathunywa, baya kukumkani wase-Edom, esithi: “Nanku umyalezo ovela kubantakwenu amaSirayeli: ‘Uyazazi iinzingo ezasihlelayo. ₁₅Kaloku ookhokho bethu bafudukela eJiputa, apho sahlala khona iminyaka ngeminyaka. AmaJiputa ke abaphatha kakubi ndawonye nathi. ₁₆Sasuka ke sazibika *kuNdikhoyo, waza ke yena wasabela, wathumela isithunywa sakhe, wasikhupha eJiputa. Ngoku ke naku silapha eKadeshe, idolophu esemideni yakho. ₁₇Sicela ukuba usivumele sinqumle kulo mhlaba wakho. Siyathembisa ukuba thina nemfuyo yethu siya kuhamba ngqo ngendlela, singaphambukeli emasimini nakwizidiliya zakho, singayi kukhe sisele nakumaqula akho. Ewe, siya kuthi ngqo ngohola, singaphambuki side siphume emhlabeni wakho.’ ”

₁₈Ke wona amaEdom aphendula athi: “Unotshe! Akuyi kucanda apha. Ukungena oku kwakho ndiya kuphuma ndikuhlasele.”

₁₉AmaSirayeli aphendula esithi: “Siya kuhamba ngqo ngohola. Ukuba thina okanye impi yethu ithe yasela amanzi akho, siya kuwahlawulela. Inye into esiyifunayo, kukunqumla ngeenyawo.”

₂₀AmaEdom athi: “Anizukunqumla!” Aza ke amaEdom asuka nomkhosi omkhulu, afunza kumaSirayeli. ₂₁Ke kaloku amaSirayeli ajika athatha ndlela yimbi, kuba amaEdom ewalela ukuba anqumle emhlabeni wawo.

₂₂USirayeli ephela wanduluka ke eKadeshe, waza waya kugaleleka kwintaba iHore ₂₃kufutshane nomda wase-Edom. Apho ke *uNdikhoyo wathetha noMosis noAron, wathi: ₂₄“Wena Aron, uza kufa; akuzi kuya kufika kwelo lizwe ndamthembisa ngalo uSirayeli. Kaloku nina nobabini nawuvukela umthetho wam eMeribha. ₂₅Ngoko ke, wena Mosis, thatha uAron nonyana wakhe uElazare, uye nabo kwintaba iHore. ₂₆Khona apho ke uze uyithathe iminweba ka-Aron yobubingeleli, uyinxibe uElazare unyana wakhe, kuba uAron yena uza kufa.”

₂₇UMosis wenza ngokwelizwi likaNdikhoyo. Benyuka baya kwintaba iHore, lonke ibandla libukele, ₂₈waza uMosis wayikhulula iminweba yobubingeleli kuAron, wayinxiba uElazare. Ke yena uAron wafela apho phezu kwentaba, baza ke uMosis noElazare behla entabeni. ₂₉Athi ke amaSirayeli, akuva ukuba uAron akasekho, amzilela iintsuku ezimashumi mathathu.

₁Ke kaloku ukumkani waseAradi, umKanana, owayemi emazantsi eKanana, wathi akuva ukuba amaSirayeli ayeza ngendlela esinga eAtarim, wawahlasela, wada wawathimba amanye. ₂AmaSirayeli ke asuka enza isifungo *kuNdikhoyo, athi: “Ukuba usiphile amandla, saboyisa abo bantu, inene siya kubatshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo ndawonye nezixeko zabo.” ₃Ngenene ke uNdikhoyo waweva amaSirayeli, waza wawanceda awoyisa awatshabalalisa tu amaKanana ndawonye nezixeko zawo. Loo ndawo ke ayithiya igama eliyiHoma.

₄Ukumka kwawo kwintaba iHore amaSirayeli ahamba ngendlela esinga kuLwandle oluBomvu, khon' ukuze bawucezele umhlaba wamaEdom. Endleleni ke apho amaSirayeli akruquka, ₅aza amkhalazela uThixo ndawonye noMosis, athi: “Kwakutheni kakade ukuze usikhuphe eJiputa, sizokufela kule ntlango? Akukho kutya namanzi apha! Okokwayo ke yona le nkatshu-nkatshu isikruqule!” ₆Ke *uNdikhoyo wawathumela isibetho seenyoka ezinobuhlungu, zawaluma amaSirayeli, kwafa amaninzi. ₇AmaSirayeli ke athi akuqonda ukuba enze imposiso, aya kuMosis, avuma athi: “Sonile ngokukrokrela uNdikhoyo ndawonye nawe. Khawusitarhuzisele, uNdikhoyo azisuse ezi nyoka.” Ngoko ke uMosis wawathandazela amaSirayeli.

₈UNdikhoyo ke wathi kuMosis: “Yenza umfanekiso wenyoka, uwuxhome esibondeni, khon' ukuze athi nabani na olunywe yinyoka akhangele kuyo, aphile.” ₉Ngenene ke uMosis wayenza inyoka ngobhedu, wayixhoma esibondeni. Nabani na ke olunywe yinyoka wayekhangela apho kuloo nyoka yobhedu, atsho aphile.

₁₀AmaSirayeli ke anduluka, aya kumisa eObhoti. ₁₁Nalapha ke anduluka, aya kutsho kwi-Iye-abharim kwintlango esempuma yomhlaba wamaMowabhi. ₁₂Ukusuka apho ke aya kumisa kwintili yaseZerede. ₁₃Ukuphuma apha ke aya kumisa kwicala elingentla komlambo iAnoni, kwintlango ehamba iyokuthi xhaxhe kumhlaba wama-Amori. Ke iAnoni le yayingumda owahlula amaMowabhi kuma-Amori. ₁₄Yiyo loo nto ke iNcwadi yamaDabi *kaNdikhoyo ithetha ngezi ndawo nje:

₁₆Ukuphuma apho ke aya kufika kwindawo ekuthiwa kuseBhere. Lelaa qula ke eli apho uNdikhoyo wathi uMosis makawaqokelele amaSirayeli, azokuwapha amanzi. ₁₇Ngelo thuba ke amaSirayeli amemelela enjenje:

Ukuphuma apho entlango ke baya kugaleleka eMatana; ₁₉baza ke ngokunjalo bagqitha eNahalile naseBhamoti, ₂₀bandula ke ukuya kufika kwintili ekumhlaba wamaMowabhi, phantsi kwentaba iPisga ekrobele umqwebedu.

₂₁AmaSirayeli athumela izigidimi kuSihon ukumkani wama-Amori, athi: ₂₂“Sivumele sinqumle elizweni lakho. Asiyi kuphambukela emasimini okanye ezidiliyeni, okanye sisele amanzi emaquleni. Siya kuhamba ngqo ngohola, side siphume emhlabeni wakho.”

₂₃Kambe ke uSihon akavumanga ukuba amaSirayeli anqumle emhlabeni wakhe. Ndaweni yaloo nto waphuma nomkhosi wakhe, waya eJaza entlango, wawahlasela amaSirayeli. ₂₄Kodwa ke amaSirayeli alwa alalis' ugodo, aloyisa utshaba ada awuthimba umhlaba walo, ukusukela kumlambo iAnoni ngasentla, ukuya kwiJabhoko; lelama-Amon ke elo. Kaloku umda wama-Amon wawukhuselwe. ₂₅Ngoko ke amaSirayeli azithatha zonke izixeko zama-Amori, ngokunjalo neHeshbhon needolophu eziyingqongileyo, aza ema kuzo. ₂₆IHeshbhon le ke yayisisixeko esilikomkhulu likaSihon, ukumkani wama-Amori. Wayelwe nokumkani wamandulo waseMowabhi, waza wawuhlutha umhlaba wakhe ukuya kuma ngomlambo iAnoni. ₂₇Kuthe ke kwakuba nje zadanduluka iimbongi zathi:

₃₁Aba ngaloo ndlela ke amaSirayeli ayawuma umhlaba wama-Amori. ₃₂UMosis wathumela iintlola, zaya kujonga indlela yokuhlasela isixeko iJazere. Ngenene ke amaSirayeli ayihlasela iJazere needoluphu eziyingqongileyo, bawagxotha ama-Amori awayemi apho kuzo.

₃₃Ke kaloku amaSirayeli ajika ajonga eBhashan. UOgi, ukumkani waseBhashan, waphuma nomkhosi wakhe, wawahlasela e-Edreyi. ₃₄*UNdikhoyo wathetha noMosis, wathi: “Ungaxhali wena; naye lo ndiza kumenza abe lixhoba lakho ndawonye nomkhosi nomhlaba wakhe. Qhuba kwangalaa ndlela wawenze ngayo kuSihon ukumkani wama-Amori owayehlala eHeshbhon.” ₃₅Ngoko ke amaSirayeli ambulala uOgi noonyana bakhe, ngokunjalo nabo bonke abantu bakhe, akashiya nempunde le. Ke wona loo mhlaba wakhe ema kuwo.

₁Ke kaloku amaSirayeli anduluka, aza aya kumisa kumathafa aseMowabhi, kwimpuma yeJordan, malunga neJeriko.

₂Uthe ke uBhalaki, ukumkani waseMowabhi, unyana kaZipore, akuziva izigigaba zamaSirayeli phakathi kwama-Amori, ₃akubuqonda nobungakanani bawo, suka yena nabantu bakhe bankwantya. ₄Ke amaMowabhi athetha neenkokheli zamaMidiyan, athi: “Eli hlokondiba losuka livuthulule nje konke kule ngingqi yethu, kanye oku kwenkunzi yenkomo igramza ingca edlelweni.”

Ngoko ke ukumkani uBhalaki ₅wathumela kuBhalam unyana kaBhehore owayesePetore ngakumlambo iEfrati, kumhlaba wamawabo. Umyalezo lowo wawusithi: “Ndiyakwazisa ukuba kukho isizwe esifikileyo apha siphuma eJiputa. Abantu baso banwenwele kulo lonke eli, futhi sebefike kwimida yam. ₆Ngokwamanani bangaphezu kwethu; ngoko ke nceda uze kubaqalekisa. Mhlawumbi xa ubaqalekisile singanako ukuboyisa, sibadudule baphume kweli lizwe. Kaloku ndiyazi ukuba xa uthe wabathamsanqela abantu, bayathamsanqeleka; ukanti xa uthe waqalekisa, abantu bahlelwa lishwangusha.”

₇Zasuka ke iinkokheli zamaMowabhi nezamaMidiyan zahamba ziphethe intlawulo kaBhalam. Zakufika kuye zawugqithisa umyalezo kaBhalaki. ₈UBhalam wathi kuwo la madoda: “Lalani. Mna ndonazisa ngomso into endiyixelelwe *nguNdikhoyo.” Ngenene ke amatshawe amaMowabhi alala apho kwaBhalam.

₉UThixo wafika, wabuza uBhalam, wathi: “Ngoobani la madoda unawo apha?”

₁₀Ke yena waphendula wathi: “UBhalaki, ukumkani waseMowabhi, unyana kaZipore, uthumele kum, wathi: ₁₁‘Kukho isizwe esifikileyo siphuma eJiputa. Ngoku sinwenwela kuwo wonke umhlaba. Yiza usiqalekise eso sizwe, khon' ukuze ndibe nako ukusoyisa ndisidudule simke.’ ”

₁₂UThixo wathi kuBhalam: “Uze ungahambi nala madoda; uze ungabaqalekisi abo bantu, kuba bathamsanqelekile.”

₁₃Ngengomso ke uBhalam wabandulula abathunywa bakaBhalaki, wathi: “Buyelani ezweni lenu, kuba uNdikhoyo akavumi ukuba ndihambe nani.” ₁₄Ngoko ke bagoduka, bafika bamxelela uBhalaki ukuba uBhalam walile ukuhamba nabo.

₁₅Ngoku ke uBhalaki waphinda wathumela iqela leenkokheli ezaziwayo elikhulu kuneliya. ₁₆Zaya kuBhalam, zafika zathi: “UBhalaki unyana kaZipore uthi mawuncede uye kuye, ungavumeli nasiphi na isithintelo, ₁₇kuba uza kukuhlawula, waye uzimisele ukukwenzela nayiphi na into oyifunayo. Ngoko ke nceda uye kuqalekisa abaya bantu.”

₁₈Kambe ke uBhalam waphendula wathi: “Noba uBhalaki ubeza kundinika ibhotwe lakhe lizele yigolide nesiliva bendingeze ndawaphula umyalelo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wam. ₁₉Kodwa ke nani khanilale kwanjengabanye abaya, ukuze ndiphinde ndibuzise, hleze uNdikhoyo andinike myalelo wumbi.”

₂₀Ngobo busuku uThixo wafika kuBhalam, wathi: “Njengoko la madoda eze kukulanda nje, lungisa uhambe nawo. Kambe ke uze wenze loo nto ndikuxelela yona.” ₂₁Ngentsasa elandelayo ke uBalam wabopha idonki yakhe, wakhwela, wahamba nezo nkokheli zamaMowabhi.

₂₂Uthe ke uBhalam akuba ehamba, suka wavutha ngumsindo uThixo. Wayesahamba njalo ekhwele kuloo donki yakhe enezicaka zakhe ezibini, suka isithunywa *sikaNdikhoyo saxaba endleleni yakhe. ₂₃Idonki ithe yakusibona isithunywa eso sixabile endleleni, siphethe ikrele, yacebuka endleleni, yangena emasimini. Suka ke uBhalam wayibetha, wayibuyisela endleleni.

₂₄Ngoku ke isithunywa eso sema apho indlela imxinwa khona phakathi kwezidiliya ezibini, kwaye kukho uthango lwamatye ngapha nangapha. ₂₅Idonki leyo ithe yakusibona isithunywa eso, yayama uthango olo, latsho lagruzuka unyawo lukaBhalam. Kwakhona uBhalam wayibetha idonki leyo.

₂₆Kwakhona isithunywa sahambela phambilana, safika sema apho indlela yayimxinwa kangangokuba kungabikho sithuba sakudlula ngapha nangapha. ₂₇Kwesi ke isihlandlo idonki ithe yakusibona isithunywa eso yalala phantsi. UBhalam wacaphuka, waza wayingena ngenduku idonki yakhe. ₂₈Kwesi sithuba ke uNdikhoyo wayenza ukuba ikwazi ukuthetha idonki leyo, yaza ke yathetha yathi kuBhalam: “Kodwa kodwa ndikwenze ntoni? Yintoni kanye ondibethela yona kwezi zihlandlo zozithathu?”

₂₉UBhalam waphendula wathi: “Kungoba uyandibhanxa! Ndiswele nje ikrele, ngendikubulele.”

₃₀Idonki yaphendula yabuza yathi: “Andithi na kanene ndiyidonki yakho, le yasoloko ikuthwala bonke ubomi bakho? Ke, kukangaphi ndikuphatha ngolu hlobo?”

UBhalam waphendula wathi: “Zange nakanye.”

₃₁UNdikhoyo ke wenza ukuba uBhalam asibone isithunywa eso sixabe endleleni siphethe ikrele. Akusibona ke, waziphosa phantsi ngobuso. ₃₂Isithunywa sabuza sathi: “Ubuyibethela ntoni kangaka le donki yakho kude kube kathathu? Ndize kukunqanda, kuba uzifaka engozini ngolu hambo. ₃₃Ke yona idonki yakho indibonile, yaza yaphambuka kwada kwakathathu. Ukuba ibingaphambukanga ngendikubulele ndasindisa kwayona.”

₃₄UBhalam waphendula wathi: “Hayi, ndonile. Bendingaqondi ukuba uxabile endleleni yam, kambe ke ngoku xa ubona ukuba akufanelekanga ukuba ndihambe, ndiyajika, ndiyagoduka.”

₃₅Ke sona isithunywa sathi kuye: “Hayi, sowuhamba nala madoda; kodwa ke uze uthethe loo nto ndithi thetha yona.” Ngoko ke uBhalam wahamba nazo iinkokheli zakwaBhalaki.

₃₆UBhalaki uthe akuva ukuba uBhalam uyeza, wamhlangabeza, wadibana naye kwisixeko esiphezu komlambo iAnoni, kumda welaseMowabhi. ₃₇UBhalaki wambuza wathi: “Kwakutheni ukuze ungezi ngokuya ndandikuthumele kuqala? Ngaba wawukrokrela ukuba sobe ndibe nako ukukuhlawula?”

₃₈UBhalam waphendula wathi: “Andithi na kaloku ndizile? Kambe ke gunya lini endinalo? Hayi kaloku, ndothetha loo nto athi mandiyithethe uThixo.” ₃₉Ngoko ke uBhalam wahamba noBhalaki, baya eKiriyati-huzoti. ₄₀UBhalaki waxhela iinkabi zeenkomo ndawonye neegusha, wamkela uBhalam nezo nkokheli wayehamba nazo.

₄₁Ngengomso ke uBhalaki wamthatha uBhalam, wamsa eBhamoti-bhali, apho wayeza kuba nako ukubona inxalenye yamaSirayeli.

₁UBhalam waxelela uBhalaki ukuba akhe amaqonga amadini apho abe sixhenxe, aze amzisele isixhenxe seenkunzi zeenkomo ngokunjalo nesixhenxe seenkunzi zeegusha.

₂UBhalaki wenza ngokomyalelo lowo, baza ke noBhalam banikela inkunzi yenkomo neyegusha kwiqonga ngalinye. ₃UBhalam ke washiya uBhalaki kuloo ndawo, wathi kuye: “Yima ngakweli dini litshiswayo, ngeli lixa mna ndiza kukhe ndithi gu. Mhlawumbi *uNdikhoyo uza kudibana nam. Ndiya kukwazisa nasiphi na isityhilelo andinika sona.” Wahamba ke, wenyuka inkqantosi yenduli. ₄UThixo ke wadibana naye, uBhalam wathi: “Ndakhe amaqonga asixhenxe; kulo ngalinye ndenze idini ngenkunzi yenkomo neyegusha.”

₅UNdikhoyo ke waxelela uBhalam oko makakuthethe, wathi: “Buyela kuBhalaki, umazise oku.”

₆Ekubuyeni kwakhe ke wamfumana uBhalaki esemi apho ngakwidini elitshiswayo, enezo nkokheli zamaMowabhi. ₇UBhalam ke wathetha la mazwi andilisekileyo, wenjenje:

₁₁UBhalaki wabuza uBhalam wathi: “Yintoni le undenza yona? Ndingakuzisa apha ukuba uqalekise iintshaba zam, uze usuke wena uzithamsanqele!”

₁₂Waphendula ke yena wathi: “Mandingakuthethi oko ndikuxelelwe nguNdikhoyo?”

₁₃Ke kaloku uBhalaki wathi kuBhalam: “Hamba siye kwenye indawo apho unokubona inxalenye yamaSirayeli kuphela, uze ke uthi ulapho uwaqalekise.” ₁₄Waya naye kwintsimi kaZofim phezu kwentaba iPisga. Nalapho ke wenza amaqonga asixhenxe, waza wanikela ngenkunzi yenkomo neyegusha kwiqonga ngalinye.

₁₅UBhalam wathi kuBhalaki: “Yima ngakweli dini litshiswayo, ngeli lixa mna ndiye kuhlangana naye qelele.”

₁₆*UNdikhoyo ke wadibana noBhalam, wathi: “Buyela kuBhalaki, uthethe naye wenjenje.” ₁₇Wabuyela kwakuBhalaki ke, waza wamfumana esemi ngakwelo dini litshiswayo ndawonye neenkokheli zamaMowabhi.

UBhalaki ke wambuza wathi: “Utheni uNdikhoyo?”

₁₈Waza ke yena uBhalam wathetha la mazwi andilisekileyo, wenjenje:

₂₅UBhalaki wabhekisa kuBhalam wenjenje: “Xa usala ke ukuwaqalekisa la maSirayeli musa ukuwathamsanqela!”

₂₆UBhalam waphendula wathi: “Andithi na kanene ndikuxelele ukuba mna ndenza loo nto ndiyixelelwa nguNdikhoyo kuphela?”

₂₇UBhalaki waphinda wathetha noBhalam, wathi: “Hamba siye kwenye indawo. Mhlawumbi uThixo angakuvumela uwaqalekise amaSirayeli xa ukuloo ndawo.”

₂₈Ngoko ke wamsa phezu kwentaba iPehore evelele intlango.

₂₉UBhalam wathi: “Yenza amaqonga abe sixhenxe apha, futhi uze nesixhenxe seenkunzi zeenkomo ngokunjalo nezeegusha.” ₃₀Ngenene ke uBhalaki wenza ngokomyalelo kaBhalam, wanikela ngenkunzi yenkomo neyegusha kwiqonga ngalinye.

₁Ndiva kusithiwa kukho umbulo phakathi kwenu. Lowo ke ngumbulo onganyamezelekiyo naphakathi kweentlanga. Ndithetha lo wokuba umntu ahlalisane nomfazi kayise. ₂Ningathini ke ukuzidla? Benimelwe kukwenyela, nimsuse phakathi kwenu lowo wenze loo ntlondi. ₃Mna ke, ndingekho nje okunene ngesiqu (kodwa ndikho ngomoya) sendide ndagqiba ngokungathi ndikho, malunga noyenzileyo loo nto. ₄Ndigqibe kwelithi xa nihlangene egameni leNkosi yethu uYesu Krestu, nam ndikho ngomoya, amandla eNkosi yethu uYesu Krestu esixhasa, ₅makanikelwe onjalo kuSathana, ukuze umzimba wakhe utshatyalaliswe, ngenjongo yokuba umoya wakhe ube nokusindiswa ngomhla womgwebo.

₆Hayi ukunyanyeka kweqhayiya lenu! Anisazi kakade isaci esithi: “Igwele elincinane libilisa intlama iphela”? ₇Likhupheni ngoko liphele tu igwele elidala elonakalisayo, ukuze nibe yintlama entsha. Kaloku niyintlama engenagwele, kuba *iPasika yethu seyilungisiwe, ethe nje uKrestu, ixhwane lethu lePasika, wenziwa idini. ₈Ngoko ke itheko lethu masingalityi ngasonka sinegwele elidala, elikukona nobubi, kodwa masilitye ngesonka esingenagwele, isonka sobunyulu nenyaniso.

₉Kwincwadi endanibhalela yona ndathi ze ningadibaniselani nabarheletyi. ₁₀Ke bendingaxeli abarheletyi beli hlabathi, ababawayo, izigebenga, nabakhonza izithixo. Ukuze ningadibaniselani nabo, bekuya kufuneka ningabikho emhlabeni! ₁₁Hayi, bendixela ukuba ningadibaniselani nosukuba ebizwa ngokuba likholwa, ukanti uyarheletya, okanye uyabawa, ukhonza izithixo, okanye uyanyelisa, linxila, okanye limenemene. Ewe, ze ningatyi nokutya oku nonjalo. _12-13Asingomsebenzi wam ukubagweba abangengabo abebandla. Bagwetywa nguThixo bona. Kodwa ngumsebenzi wenu ukubagweba abebandla lenu, njengoko *iziBhalo zitshoyo ukuthi: “Ze nimsuse phakathi kwenu lowo ukhohlakeleyo.”

₁Xa kukho umntu phakathi kwenu onento afuna ukumangalela omnye ngayo, angathini ukusuka aye kummangalela enkundleni, ukuze ityala lakhe lithethwe ngabangengomakholwa? Kutheni le nto angalisi kumakholwa nje ityala lakhe? ₂Anazi na ukuba amakholwa aya kuligweba ihlabathi? Ukuba ke ihlabathi liya kugwetywa nini, ningathini ke ukuxakwa kukuthetha nawona mancinci amatyala? ₃Thina siya kugweba nkqu nezithunywa zezulu, singathini ukuxakwa kukugweba izinto zobu bomi? ₄Ningathini ke ukusuka niye ematyaleni ngezinto zobu bomi, ukuze amatyala enu athethwe ngabantu abangento ebandleni? ₅Niyazihlazisa ke khona! Ngaba akukho nasinye na isilumko phakathi kwenu esinokuwalamla amakholwa? ₆Phofu ke lingathini ikholwa ukusuka limangalelane nekholwa enkundleni yabangakholwayo?

₇Iyimposiso enkulu kambe kwainto yokuba nibe nemicimbi enimangalelana ngayo. Ngekungcono ukuba benivuma ukuba noniwe; ngekungcono ukuba benivuma ukuba niqhathwe. ₈Kodwa, nina nisuka none okanye nibaqhathe abanye, nangona bengamawenu! ₉Anazi na ukuba abakhohlakeleyo abayi kubuxhamla ubuncwane bokulawulwa nguThixo? Musani ukulahlekiswa: abarheletyi, nabakhonza izithixo, nabakrexezayo, nabafebayo, nabangamadoda alalanayo, ₁₀nabangamasela, nababawayo, nabangamanxila, nabathukayo, nabazizikrelemnqa, abanakubuxhamla ubuncwane bokulawulwa nguThixo. ₁₁Kanti abanye kuni babenjalo kanye, kodwa nahlanjwa, nenziwa imilowo, naba ngamalungisa phambi koThixo ngenxa yegama leNkosi uYesu nangoMoya kaThixo wethu.

₁₂Ubani unokuthi: “Zonke izinto zivumelekile kum.” Ewe, kunjalo, kodwa azikulungelanga zonke. Nam bendinokuthi: “Zonke izinto zivumelekile kum;” kodwa ngekhe ndinikezele ukuze ndilawulwe nayiyiphi na into. ₁₃Omnye unokuthi: “Ukutya kokwesisu, nesisu sesokutya.” Ewe, kunjalo, kodwa uThixo wokutshabalalisa kokubini. Ke wona umzimba asingowokurheletya, ngoweNkosi; nayo iNkosi yeyomzimba. ₁₄UThixo ke owayivusayo kwabafileyo iNkosi, uya kusivusa nathi ngamandla akhe.

₁₅Anazi na ukuba imizimba yenu ngamalungu omzimba kaKrestu? Ngaba ndinokuthi ke ndiwathathe amalungu kaKrestu ndiwenze amalungu esifebe? Unotshe! ₁₆Ngaba anazi na ukuba ozimanya nesifebe umzimba mnye naso? Kaloku *iziBhalo zithi: “Abo babini boba mzimba mnye.” ₁₇Ke ozimanye neNkosi umoya mnye nayo.

₁₈Kucezeleni ukurheletya. Ezinye izono umntu anokuzenza aziwungcolisi umzimba, kodwa yena umrheletyi wona umzimba wakhe. ₁₉Anazi na ukuba imizimba yenu yindlu kaMoya oyiNgcwele, ahlala kuyo, evela kuThixo? Kaloku aningobenu; ₂₀ningabakaThixo owanithenga ngexabiso elikhulu. Mdumiseni ke uThixo ngemizimba yenu.