To The Word – Day 6

₁Akuba mashumi asithoba anethoba ubudala uAbram, wabonakala kuye *uNdikhoyo, wathi: “Mna ndinguThixo uSomandla. Uze undithobele, uhlale ungasoleki. ₂Ndowugcina umnqophiso wam, ndikunike inzala eninzi.” ₃Wakhahlela uAbram, ubuso baya kuthi ngqu phantsi; waza uThixo waqhuba wathi: ₄“Ndikunika lo mnqophiso; ndithi uya kuba ngukhokho wezizwe ezininzi. ₅Akusayi kuthiwa Abram kuwe; uya kuba nguAbraham, kuba uza kuba ngukhokho wezizwe ngezizwe. ₆Ndiza kukupha inzala eninzi; abanye kuyo boba ziikumkani; kuya kuvela izizwe kuwe.

₇“Andiyi kuwujika umnqophiso wam endiwenze nawe kunye nenzala yakho; uya kuhlala uhleli. Ndoba nguThixo wakho nenzala yakho. ₈Lo mhlaba ungumfiki kuwo, ndiza kukunika wona uwume kunye nenzala yakho. Wonke umhlaba waseKanana uya kumiwa yinzala yakho ngalo lonke ixesha, mna ndibe nguThixo wabo.”

₉Waqokela wathi uThixo kuAbraham: “Nawe ke, kwakunye nenzala yakho ngokunjalo, ze niwugcine umnqophiso wam nakwizizukulwana ezizayo. ₁₀Nantsi into emaniyenze nina ukuwugcina kwenu umnqopiso wam: Wena kufuneka waluke, kwaluke lonke iduna phakathi kwabantu bakho. _11-12Ukususela ngoku wonke umntwana oyinkwenkwe kufuneka aluke eneentsuku ezisibhozo ubudala; nditsho nkqu nezicaka ezizalelwe phantsi kwakho kwanezo zingeneleleyo. Lowo ke uya kuba ngumqondiso womnqophiso phakathi kwakho nam. ₁₃Makwaluke wonke umntu, oyinzalelwane kwanothengiweyo, ube ngumqondiso obonakalayo lowo wokuba umnqophiso wam nawe awusoze uphele. ₁₄Nawuphi na umntu oliduna ongalukanga uya kuhlanjwa ngamawabo, kuba kaloku uwutyeshele umnqophiso wam.”

₁₅Uqhube wathi uThixo kuAbraham: “Uze ungabuye uthi Sarayi kumkakho, yithi Sara. ₁₆Ndiza kumthamsanqelisa, ndimenze akuzalele unyana. Ndiza kumsikelela abe ngunina wezizwe ngezizwe. Uya kuzala neekumkani.”

₁₇Waqubuda uAbraham, waya kuthi ngqu ngobuso phantsi. Wasuka waphela yintsini akucinga ukuba umntu onekhulu leminyaka angazala umntwana. Yena uSara enamashumi alithoba nje, angamfumana umntwana? ₁₈Wathi uAbraham kuThixo: “Kutheni ungaseluyeka nje ibe nguIshmayeli indlalifa yam?”

₁₉Uthe uThixo: “Hayi, uSara umkakho uza kuzala inkwenkwe. Uzuthi nguIsake igama layo. Umnqophiso wam ndowugcina kuye nakwinzala yakhe ngalo lonke ixesha, ingumnqophiso ongayi kujika nanini na. ₂₀Ndikuvile ucelela uIshmayeli, naye ndiza kumthamsanqelisa abe nabantwana abaninzi nesizukulwana esikhulu. Uya kuba nguyise weenkosi ezilishumi elinambini. Inzala yakhe iya kuba sisizwe esikhulu. ₂₁Kodwa wona umnqophiso wam ndiya kuwugcinela unyana wakho uIsake, oya kuzalwa nguSara malunga neli xesha kunyaka ozayo.” ₂₂Akuba etshilo kuAbraham uThixo wemka.

₂₃Kwangaloo mini uAbraham wamthobela uThixo, wamalusa uIshmayeli nawo onke amanye amaduna emzini wakhe. Walusa izicaka ezazalelwa kwakhe, kwanezo zazithengiwe. ₂₄Ukwaluka kwakhe uAbraham wayemashumi alithoba anethoba ubudala. ₂₅Ukwaluka kwakhe uIshmayeli unyana ka-Abraham wayeneshumi elinesithathu leminyaka ubudala. ₂₆Bobabini baluka ngamini-nye, ₂₇kwakunye nezicaka zika-Abraham zonke.

₁*UNdikhoyo wabonakala kuAbraham ngakwimithi kaMamre. UAbraham wayehleli ngasemnyango wentente emini emaqanda. ₂Nako kusithi thu amadoda amathathu. Uthe ke ukuwabona kwakhe wakhawuleza ukuwahlangabeza, wafika waqubuda ekhahlela. ₃“Bahlekazi,” utshilo kuwo, “noko sanukudlula emzini wam ningakhanga nikhe nithule imithwalo. Kaloku ndikholo nina apha. ₄Ndinganiphathela amanzi, nikhe nihlambe iinyawo, lo gama nisaphumle phantsi kwalo mthi. ₅Ndiza kuniphathela nento etyiwayo, ukuze nifumane amandla endleleni. Nakuthi ke nandule ukuhamba loo ndlela yenu inidlulise ekhaya apha.”

Athe ke wona amadoda: “Ngxatsho ke, ungénjenjalo.”

₆UAbraham wakhawuleza ukungena ententeni, wafika wathi kuSara: “Khawuthathe izitya ezithathu zomgubo wengqolowa, uxove wenze amaqebengwana, ukhawulezise.” ₇Watsho ekhawulezile uAbraham ukuya ezinkomeni, wafika wakhetha elona lityebileyo ithole, wathi malixhelwe ngokukhawuleza. ₈Wathatha amasi anengqaka nenyama leyo, wabeka phambi kwaloo madoda, azenzela apho phantsi kwaloo mthi, emi apho yena ngakuwo.

₉Ambuza athi: “Uphi na umkakho uSara?”

Wathi: “Usendlwini.”

₁₀Lwathi olunye undwendwe: “Malunga neli xesha kunyaka ozayo ndobe ndibuye. USara umkakho woba enomntwana oyinkwenkwe.”

USara wabavela emi emva kwabo ngasemnyango. ₁₁Bobabini, uAbraham noSara, babesebaluphele kakhulu, uSara selegqithile kwixabiso lokuzala. ₁₂Wahleka yedwa ke uSara, wathi: “Sendigqithile kwixabiso lokuzala, kanti nomyeni wam selaluphele.”

₁₃Uthe uNdikhoyo kuAbraham: “Uhleka ntoni uSara, ade athi: ‘Ndingamfumana njani umntwana sendaluphele nje?’ ₁₄Niba kukho into enokuxaka uNdikhoyo? Bendithe ngeli xesha kunyaka ozayo ndobe ndibuye; uSara woba enomntwana oyinkwenkwe.”

₁₅USara wakhanyela, kuba wayesoyika, wathi: “Andikhange ndihleke.”

Wathi yena: “Hayi, uhlekile.”

₁₆La madoda anduluka, ayivelela iSodom. UAbraham wayehamba nawo ewakhapha. ₁₇Uthe *uNdikhoyo: “Mandingayifihli kuAbraham into endifuna ukuyenza. ₁₈Inzala yakhe yoba sisizwe esikhulu, yaye ndozithamsanqelisa ngaye zonke izizwe. ₁₉Ndimtyumbele ukuze aqeqeshele abantwana bakhe kunye nabazukulwana bakhe ekundithobeleni nasebulungiseni. Xa besenjenjalo ndozizalisekisa izithembiso zam kuAbraham.”

₂₀Uqhube wathi kuAbraham uNdikhoyo: “Iyakhalazelwa iSodom neGomora ngenxa yobubi besono sayo. ₂₁Ngako oko ndiza kukhe ndihle ndiye kuzibonela ukuba kunjalo na. Ndobona ngoko ukuba akunjalo.”

₂₂Emka ke loo madoda, abheka ngaseSodom. Wasala noNdikhoyo yena uAbraham. ₂₃Uthe uAbraham kuNdikhoyo: “Ngaba ngenene, *Mhlekazi, uza kutshabalalisa amalungisa ndawonye nezibhoja? ₂₄Ukuba kukho amashumi amahlanu amalungisa, ngaba ungasibhangisa eso sixeko? Akungesisindisi ngenxa yamashumi amahlanu lawo? ₂₅Hayi kaloku, akunakuyenza into enjalo ukutshabalalisa abangenatyala ndawonye nabagwenxa, ube njalo wohlwaya amalungisa ngesohlwayo esinye naboni. Ngunongekhe lowo. UMgwebi welizwe liphela akamele kugweba ngobulungisa na?”

₂₆Uthe uNdikhoyo: “Ukuba kungakho amashumi amahlanu abantu abamsulwa eSodom, ndingasisindisa eso sixeko sonke ngenxa yabo.”

₂₇Uthe kwakhona uAbraham: “Ndinyamezele, Mhlekazi, ndiyintw' engento, andifanele nakuthetha oku nawe. ₂₈Ukuba ngaba kukho amashumi amane anantlanu endaweni yamashumi amahlanu, ungátshabalalisa isixeko sonke ngenxa yokuba bengaphantsi nje ngesihlanu abantu abamsulwa?”

Uthe uNdikhoyo: “Nokuba ngamashumi mane anantlanu abantu abamsulwa, ndosisindisa isixeko.”

₂₉Ubuye wathi uAbraham: “Ukuba ngamashumi mane nje kuphela?”

Uthe uNdikhoyo: “Sosinda nokuba kunjalo.”

₃₀Wathi ke uAbraham: “Mhlekazi, ungakhathazeki, ndisafuna ukuqonda. Kuya kuthini ke xa bengamashumi amathathu?”

“Nokuba ngamashumi amathathu, sosinda,” utshilo uNdikhoyo.

₃₁“Ndinyamezele, Mhlekazi,” utshilo uAbraham. “Ukuba bangamashumi mabini kuphela, kothini?”

“Nokuba bangamashumi mabini, ndosisindisa isixeko,” utshilo uNdikhoyo.

₃₂Wathi uAbraham: “Mhlekazi, selundinyamezela oku kokugqibela! Kuya kuthini ukuba lishumi linye kuphela abantu abamsulwa abalapho?”

“Nokuba lishumi nje qha, andiyi kusitshabalalisa isixeko,” utshilo uNdikhoyo.

₃₃Wemka ke uNdikhoyo akugqiba ukuthetha noAbraham, naye uAbraham wagoduka.

₁Ukufika kwezithunywa ezibini eSodom ngorhatya lwaloo mini, uLothe wayehleli ngasemasangweni edolophu. Uthe khwasululu ukuwabona kwakhe, wawahlangabeza. Ufike waqubuda ekhangele phantsi ekhahlela, wathi: ₂“Zinkosi zam, khanikhe niye kwam, nihlambe oku kweenyawo, nilalise khona. Ningavuka ke ngentsasa, nithabathise uhambo lwenu.”

Zithe zona izithunywa ukuphendula: “Hayi noko wena, siza kuhlala phaya ebaleni kude kuse.”

₃Wazithundeza, ezicenga-cenga uLothe, zada zoyisakala, zaya naye kwakhe. Wazilungiselela ukutya, wenza namaqebengwana ngentlama engenagwele. Kuthe ke kwakulunga ukutya zatya.

₄Ngaphambi kokuba ziye kulala, kwafika amadoda nabafana baseSodom, bevela kumacala ngamacala, bayingqonga indlu kaLothe. ₅Bakhwaza bebuza kuLothe ukuba aye phi na laa madoda ayeze kulala kwakhe ngobo busuku. Batsho besithi makawakhuphe, kuba babefuna ukulala nawo.

₆Waphuma endlwini uLothe, waluvala ucango ukuphuma kwakhe. ₇Ufike wathi kuloo madoda: “He, zinkosi, sanukuyenza into enje ukuba mbi. ₈Ndineentombi zimbini apha, ziseziintombi nto; kubhetele ndininike zona, nizenze ukuthanda kwenu endaweni yale nto nifuna ukuyenza. La madoda ziindwendwe zam; aphantsi kokhuselo lwam.”

₉Kodwa loo madoda athi: “Suka endleleni, mfikindini! Ungubani wena? Ucinga ukuba singagwetywa nguwe? Singajikela wena thina, kube kubi nangaphezu kwawo.” Atsho emsunduza uLothe, etyhala ezama ukuluqhekeza ucango. ₁₀Kodwa la madoda ayengaphakathi amtsalela endlwini uLothe, aluvala ucango, ₁₁awabetha ngobumfama onke loo madoda ayengaphandle, atsho akalubona ucango apho lukhoyo.

₁₂Athe kuLothe la madoda mabini: “Ngaba kusekho mntu wumbi na apha – nokuba ngoonyana, nokuba ziintombi zakho, nabayeni beentombi, nasiphi na isizalwana sakho? Yitsho bemke apha. ₁₃Kaloku le dolophu siza kuyitshabalalisa. Isikhalo esivakele ngayo sibi kangangokuba sithunywe *nguNdikhoyo ukuba size kuyibhubhisa iSodom.”

₁₄ULothe ke waya kuxelela amasoka eentombi zakhe ukuba makumkiwe eSodom, kuba uNdikhoyo wayeza kuyibhubhisa. Kodwa wona aba uyaqhula nje.

₁₅Ngentseni izithunywa zamxhesha uLothe, zathi: “Gxabha-gxabhisa, ndoda, umke apha neentombi zakho kunye nomkakho. Kungenjalo uya kutshabalala xa kusohlwaywa le dolophu.” ₁₆Unge angazila-zila, suka zambamba ngesandla, zamkhuphela ngaphandle kwedolophu kunye nomkakhe neentombi zakhe. Kaloku uNdikhoyo wamenzela inceba uLothe.

₁₇Bakuba bengaphandle kwedolophu, esinye isithunywa sathi: “Balekani ukuze nisinde. Ze ningakhangeli ngasemva, ningemi nokuma phaya entilini. Balekelani phaya endulini, kungenjalo nani nakutshabalala.”

₁₈“Hayini noko, nkosi,” utshilo uLothe, “sanukundenjenjalo. ₁₉Sele undincedile kakade ngokundisindisa; noko kukude kakhulu phaya endulini. Le ntlekele isenokundifumana, ndife singekafiki nalapho. ₂₀Uyayibona laa dolophana? Ikufuphi noko yona. Yidolophana nje engenkulu. Mna ndithi ngesele ndisiya khona ukuze ndikhuseleke.”

₂₁Sithe isithunywa: “Kulungile ke. Andiyi kuba sayitshabalalisa loo dolophana uthetha ngayo. ₂₂Kodwa ke khawuleza ukuya apho, kuba akukho nto ndinokuyenza de ube ulapho.” Yiyo ke loo dolophu kuthiwa yiZoware.

₂₃Laliseliphumile ilanga ukufika kukaLothe eZoware. ₂₄*UNdikhoyo wathobela isalfa evuthayo phezu kweSodom neGomora, ₂₅wazibhubhisa kunye naloo ntili yonke, kunye nabo bonke abantu ababelapho, nento yonke ehlumayo. ₂₆Umka-Lothe wajonga ngasemva, suka wajika waba yintsika yetyuwa.

₂₇UAbraham wavuka kwakusasa, waya kulaa ndawo wayemi noNdikhoyo kuyo. ₂₈Wakhangela ezantsi eSodom naseGomora nakuloo ntili, wabona kukho ukuqhuma okungathi ngumsi ophuma eziko. ₂₉Kodwa uThixo wasikhumbula isicelo sika-Abraham ukubhubhisa kwakhe loo ntili, wamsindisa uLothe.

₃₀ULothe woyika ukuhlala eZoware. Uthe ngenxa yoko wenyukela ezintabeni kunye neentombi zakhe, wahlala emqolombeni. ₃₁Yathi intombi enkulu kudade wayo: “Ubawo uyaluphala, yaye akukho madoda apha kule ndawo angasitshatayo sizale. ₃₂Yiza simseze anxile, khon' ukuze simambathe, sifumane abantwana bakhe.”

₃₃Ngobo busuku bamntyintya ngewayini, yaza ke intombi enkulu yamambatha. ULothe wayenxile kangangokuba akazange akuqonde okwaqhubekayo.

₃₄Ngosuku olulandelayo yathi intombi enkulu kwencinci: “Bendikunye naye phezolo. Masiphinde nanamhlanje ngokuhlwa, ukuze nawe ulale naye. Sobabini ke soba nabantwana bakabawo osizalayo.” ₃₅Baphinda ke bamntyintya nangobo busuku, yamambatha nencinci intombi. Wayenxile engayazi into eqhubekayo.

₃₆Yaba njalo ke into yokumitha kweentombi zikaLothe, zimithiswe nguyise. ₃₇Intombi enkulu yazala inkwenkwe, eyathi igama layo nguMowabhi. Nguye lo ungukhokho wamaMowabhi. ₃₈Intombi encinci yazala inkwenkwe nayo, yathi igama layo nguBhenami. Yena ngukhokho wama-Amon.

₁UAbraham wafuduka kwelo lizwe, wajonga emazantsi eKanana, apho wafika wamisa khona phakathi kweKadeshe neShure. Waya kutsho naseGerare, ₂wafika wathi apho uSara ngudade wabo. Ukumkani walapho, uAbhimeleki, wathi uSara makasiwe komkhulu.

₃Kodwa uThixo wavela kuAbhimeleki ephupheni, wathi: “Abhimeleki, usisisulu sokufa, ngenxa yokuba lo mfazi umthathileyo ngumka-mtu.”

₄UAbhimeleki ke wayengekamambathi uSara, waza wathi: “Mhlekazi, ungathini ukutshabalalisa isizwe esingenatyala? ₅Andibi kanene yilaa ndoda ngokwayo ethe kum ngudade wayo lo, waza naye wathi ingumnakwabo? Le nto ndiyenze ndingenasazela, yaye andonanga bani.”

₆Uphendule uThixo kwasephupheni apho: “Ewe, ndiyazi ukuba le nto uyenze ungenabubi konke. Yaye ikwandim lo okuncedileyo ukuba ungandoni; yiyo loo nto ndingakuvumelanga ukumambatha. ₇Kodwa ke mbuyisele kumyeni wakhe ngoku lo mfazi. *Ngumshumayeli laa mfo; uya kunithandazela nisinde. Kodwa ukuba akumbuyiseli umkakhe, ngenene uya kuba lilifa lokufa kunye nabantu bakho bonke.”

₈Wavuka kwangentseni uAbhimeleki, wazibiza zonke izicaka zakomkhulu, waza wazilawulela iphupha lakhe. Othuka kakhulu loo madoda.

₉UAbhimeleki ubize uAbraham, wathi kuye: “Yintoni le nto usenza yona? Ndakwenza ntoni le nto undizisela ishwangusha elingaka kunye nabantu bam? Wenze into engenziwayo ke kambe. ₁₀Bekutheni ukuze wenze into enje?”

₁₁Uthe uAbraham: “Ndibe akukho mntu umoyikayo kweli lizwe uThixo, ndaba ke ndingábulawa apha ngenxa yomkam. ₁₂Únguye udade wethu ngenene. Singabantwana bendoda enye, nakuba sahlukile ngoomama. Ngumkam noko kunjalo. ₁₃Uthe akundindulula kwilizwe loobawo uThixo, ndathi kumkam uya kubonakala ukuba uyandithanda ngokuthi ebantwini ungudade wethu.”

₁₄UAbhimeleki wambuyisela kuAbraham uSara, wabuya wamnqoma ngeegusha neenkomo, wamnika nezicaka. ₁₅Wathi kuAbraham: “Ngumhlaba wam lo; ungema apho uthanda khona.” ₁₆Ubuye wathi kuSara: “Umntakwenu ndiza kumnika iwaka leesiliva, ukuze wonke ubani azi ukuba akunatyala.”

_17-18Ngenxa yale nto yehlela uSara, uThixo wabavala bonke abafazi bakomkhulu, ababi nanzala. UAbraham ke wathandazela uAbhimeleki kuThixo, waza wamphilisa uThixo. Kwaphila nomkakhe kunye nezicakazana zakhe, bonke bakhululeka.

₁“Inene, lowo ungangeniyo ngesango esibayeni seegusha, kodwa usuka angene ngandawo yimbi, ulisela nesihange. ₂Ke lowo ungena ngesango, ngumalusi wazo iigusha. ₃Umgcini-sango uyamvulela lowo. Iigusha zakhe ziyaliva izwi lakhe. Uzibiza ngamagama azo, azikhokelele phandle. ₄Akuba ezikhuphile esibayeni iigusha zakhe, uhamba phambi kwazo, zize zimlandele, kuba ziyalazi izwi lakhe. ₅Omnye umntu azingekhe zimlandele. Zosuka zimbaleke, kuba azilazi izwi lowasemzini.”

₆UYesu wabenzela lo mzekeliso, kodwa bona babengayiqondi into awayeyithetha kubo.

₇Wabuya wathetha nabo uYesu, wathi: “Ndithi kuni, inene, ndim isango lesibaya seegusha. ₈Iigusha zange zibaphulaphule bonke abathe bafika ngaphambi kwam, kuba babengamasela nezihange. ₉Ndim isango; othe wangena ngam wosindiswa. Wongena ephuma, atye anele. ₁₀Isela lizele kuphela ukuba libe, lixhele, litshabalalise. Mna ndizele ukuba abantu babe nobomi, obona bupheleleyo.

₁₁“Mna ndingumalusi olungileyo. Umalusi olungileyo ubuncamela iigusha zakhe ubomi bakhe. ₁₂Kodwa umqeshwa, ongenguye umninizo, owalusa nje kwagusha, uthi akubona ingcuka isiza, abaleke, azishiye; ifike ke ingcuka, izibambe iigusha, izichitha-chithe. ₁₃Umqeshwa lo ke ubaleka kuba engumntu nje oqeshiweyo engazikhathalele iigusha. _14-15Ndim umalusi olungileyo. Njengokuba uBawo endazi mna, nam ndimazi uBawo, ngokukwanjalo ndiyazazi iigusha zam, nazo ziyandazi, ndaye nobomi bam ndibuncamela iigusha zam. ₁₆Ndinazo nezinye iigusha ezingezizo ezesi sibaya. Nazo kufuneke ndize nazo. Ziya kuliva ilizwi lam, umhlambi ube mnye, nomalusi abe mnye.

₁₇“UBawo uyandithanda, ngenxa yokuba ndibuncama ubomi bam. Ke ndobuya ndibufumane. ₁₈Akukho bani ubuhluthayo kum ubomi bam; ndibuncama ngokwam. Ndinelungelo lokubuncama; ndikwanalo nelokubuya ndibufumane. Yiyo ke leyo into endiyiyalelweyo nguBawo ukuba ndiyenze.”

₁₉Nala ke amazwi âbanga okokuba amaJuda angavani. ₂₀Into eninzi yawo yayisithi: “Unendimoni! Uyageza! Ningáthini ukumphulaphula?”

₂₁Kodwa amanye ayesithi: “Umntu onendimoni akanakuthetha ngolu hlobo. Ibinokuthini indimoni ukuba nako ukuvula amehlo eemfama?”

₂₂Kwakusebusika ukufika kwexesha letheko lokukhumbula ukuhlaziywa *kwendlu kaThixo eJerusalem. ₂₃UYesu wayehamba-hamba endlwini kaThixo evarandeni ekuthiwa yekaSolomon. ₂₄Amrhawula amaJuda, athi kuye: “Phum' egusheni! Ukuba unguye *uKrestu, yitsho ngokuphandle.”

₂₅Wawaphendula uYesu wathi: “Sendinixelele, kodwa anakholwa noko. Imisebenzi endiyenzileyo ngegunya endilinikwe nguBawo, iyandingqinela. ₂₆Ningàkholwa nje kum kungenxa yokuba ningezizo iigusha zam. ₂₇Ezam iigusha ziyaliva izwi lam. Ibe ke ndiyazazi; zona ziyandilandela. ₂₈Ndizinika ubomi obungenasiphelo. Azisoze zitshabalale, kwaye akukho bani unokuzihlutha kum. ₂₉Kaloku uBawo ondinike zona unamandla; noko ke akukho bani unokuhlutha nto kuye. ₃₀Ke mna noBawo sibanye.”

₃₁Aphinda amaJuda achola amatye, efuna ukumgibisela ngawo ambulale uYesu. ₃₂Wathi ke kuwo uYesu: “Ngamandla andinike wona uBawo, ndenzé izinto ezininzi ezilungileyo, nindibona. Ngaba kungenxa yasiphi na isenzo senifuna ukundigibisela ngamatye nje?”

₃₃Aphendula amaJuda athi: “Asifuni kukugibisela ngamatye ngenxa yanto ilungileyo uyenzileyo; kungenxa yokuba unyelisa uThixo. Ungáthini, ungumntu nje, ukusuka uzenze uThixo?”

₃₄Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Kowenu umthetho kukhankanywa la mazwi kaThixo athi: ‘Mna ndithe ningoothixo.’ ₃₅Aninakuyijika le ntetho *yeziBhalo. Kaloku uThixo yena uthi bangoothixo abo athetha nabo. ₃₆Ningáthini ke ukuthi mna ndithetha into emanyumnyezi ngoThixo, xa ndithi ndinguNyana kaThixo, mna ndamiselwayo nguBawo, ndathunyelwa ehlabathini nguye? ₃₇Ukuba andiwenzi umsebenzi endithunywe wona nguBawo, sanukundamkela; ₃₈kodwa ukuba ndiyawenza, bamkeleni ubungqina bezenzo zam, nokuba ananeliseki ndim. Ke ngoko noqonda nazi okokuba uBawo ukum, nam ndikuye.”

₃₉AmaJuda azama kwakhona ukumbamba uYesu, kodwa wawaphepha, ₄₀wabuya wemka waya phesheya kweJordan, apho wayebhaptiza khona kuqala uYohane, wahlala khona. ₄₁Kweza abantu abaninzi kuye, bathi: “UYohane okunene akazange enze namnye umqondiso, kodwa konke awakuthethayo ngalo mntu kuyinyaniso.” ₄₂Abantu abaninzi ke balapho bazinikela kuye.

₁Kwakukho mntu uthile ugulayo, uLazaro. WayengowaseBhetani kuloMariya noMarta oodade wabo. ₂UMariya lo ngulowa wayithambisayo iNkosi ngamafutha aqholiweyo, waza wazisula ngeenwele zakhe iinyawo zayo. Lo Lazaro wayegula wayengumnakwabo. ₃Ke ngoko oodade wabo aba bathumela kuYesu, besithi: “Nkosi, umhlobo wakho uyagula.”

₄Akuyiva loo nto, wathi uYesu: “Oku kugula akuyi kuphelela ekufeni, koko kuya kubonakalisa amandla kaThixo, aze uNyana kaThixo abe nodumo.”

₅Ngoko ke, nangona uYesu wayebathanda ooMarta noMariya noLazaro, ₆wahlala iintsuku zambini kuloo ndawo weva ekuyo ngokugula kukaLazaro. ₇Emva koko wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Masiphinde siye kwelakwaJuda.”

₈Ke ngoko bathi kuye abafundi: “Mfundisi, ebesand' ukufuna ukukugibisela ngamatye nje amaJuda, ungáthini ukubuya uye khona?”

₉Wabaphendula uYesu wathi: “Ilanga liyavela, litshone, anditsho? Ke ukuba umntu uhamba emini, akakhubeki; kuba ukhanyiselwa lukhanyiso lweli hlabathi. ₁₀Kodwa ukuba uhamba ebusuku, uyakhubeka; kuba akukho kukhanya kumkhanyiselayo.” ₁₁Akuba etshilo, waqokela wathi: “Umhlobo wethu uLazaro ulele; ndisaya kumvusa.”

₁₂Baza bathi kuye abafundi: “Nkosi, ukuba ulele, uya kuvuka.”

₁₃Kanti ke uYesu wayethetha okokuba uLazaro uswelekile, kodwa bona babeba uthetha ukuthi ulele ubuthongo. ₁₄Ke ngoko wabaxelela ngokuphandle, wathi: “ULazaro ufile; ₁₅kodwa ngenxa yenu ndiyavuya ngokungabikho kwam khona, ukuze nikholwe. Ngoko ke, masiye kuye.”

₁₆Ke ngoko uTomas, uWele, wathi kwabanye abafundi: “Masiye nathi, size sife kunye naye.”

₁₇Kwathi akufika uYesu, wafumana ukuba uLazaro seleneentsuku ezine engcwatyiwe. ₁₈IBhetani yayikufuphi neJerusalem, umgama onganeno kweekhilomitha ezintathu, ₁₉kwaza kwafika amaJuda amaninzi, eze kukhuza ooMarta noMariya ngokusweleka komnakwabo.

₂₀Akuva uMarta okokuba uYesu uyeza, wamhlangabeza, kodwa yena uMariya wasala endlwini. ₂₁Waza wathi uMarta kuYesu: “Nkosi, ukuba ubukho, ngengabhubhanga umnakwethu. ₂₂Kodwa nangoku ndiyazi ukuba uThixo wokunika nantoni na oyicelayo kuye.”

₂₃Waza wathi kuye uYesu: “Umnakwenu uya kubuya avuke.”

₂₄Wathi kuye uMarta: “Ndiyazi okokuba uya kubuya avuke xa kuvuswa bonke abafileyo ngomhla wokugqibela.”

₂₅Waza wathi kuye uYesu: “Ndim uvuko; ndim ubomi. Lowo ukholwayo kum wodla ubomi nokuba ebefile. ₂₆Wonke odla ubomi ekholwa kum, soze afe naphakade. Ke wena ngaba uyakholwa koku?”

₂₇Waza wathi kuye: “Ewe, Nkosi. Sendoyisekile; ndiyavuma okokuba wena unguye *uKrestu, uNyana kaThixo, lowo umelwe kukuza ehlabathini.”

₂₈Akuba etshilo uMarta, wemka waya kubizela bucala udade wabo uMariya, wathi kuye: “Umfundisi ukho; uyakubiza.” ₂₉Akukuva oko uMariya, wakhawuleza waphuma, wahlangabeza uYesu. ₃₀UYesu ke wayengekangeni edolophini, kodwa wayesekuloo ndawo wayedibene kuyo noMarta. ₃₁Ke amaJuda lawo awayekunye noMariya endlwini, eze kukhuza, athi akubona ephakama kamsinya, aphuma amlandela. Ayeba uya kulila engcwabeni.

₃₂UMariya waya kulaa ndawo wayekuyo uYesu, wafika waziphosa ezinyaweni zakhe, wathi kuye: “Nkosi, ukuba ubukho, ngengabhubhanga umnakwethu.”

₃₃Wathi uYesu akumbona elila, namaJuda abeze naye elila, wachukumiseka entliziyweni, wakhathazeka kakhulu, ₃₄wathi: “Nimngcwabe phi?”

Bathi: “Nkosi, yiza sikubonise.”

₃₅Zehla iinyembezi kuYesu. ₃₆Ke ngoko amaJuda athi: “Khanikhangele ukumthanda kwakhe!”

₃₇Ke amanye kuwo athi: “Wawavula nje amehlo emfama, ngaba ebengenako ukwenza ukuba noLazaro angabhubhi?”

₃₈Esachukumiseke njalo entliziyweni uYesu, waya engcwabeni. Ingcwaba eli lalingumqolomba, livalwe ngelitye. ₃₉Waza wathi uYesu: “Lisuseni ilitye.”

Wathi uMarta, udade bomfi: “Nkosi, selenevumba, kuba seleneentsuku ezine eswelekile.”

₄₀UYesu wathi kuye: “Bendingatshongo na kuwe okokuba uya kuwabona amandla kaThixo ukuba uyakholwa?” ₄₁Balisusa ke ilitye, waza uYesu wakhangela phezulu, wathi: “Bawo, ndiyabulela kuba undiva. ₄₂Mna ke bendisazi ukuba uhlala undiva, kambe ke nditsho ngenxa yale ndimbane yabantu ixhontelene apha, khon' ukuze ikholwe ukuba ndithunywe nguwe.” ₄₃Akuba etshilo wadanduluka wathi: “Lazaro, phuma engcwabeni!” ₄₄Waphuma umfi, izandla neenyawo zithandelwe ngamalaphu elinen, ubuso bujikelwe ngeqhiya. Wathi kubo uYesu: “Mkhululeni, nimyeke ahambe.”

₄₅Into eninzi yaloo maJuda awayeze kukhuza uMariya, ithe yakukubona oko uYesu akwenzileyo, yakholwa kuye. ₄₆Kodwa athile kuwo abuyela *kubaFarasi, abaxelela oko uYesu akwenzileyo. ₄₇Ke ngoko abaFarasi nababingeleli abaziintloko babiza intlanganiso *yeBhunga, bathi: “Makuthiweni na? Nanku lo mntu esenza imiqondiso emininzi. ₄₈Ukuba sithe samyeka waqhuba ngolu hlobo, bonke baya kukholwa kuye, aze eze amaRoma, ayidilize *indlu kaThixo, alutshabalalise uhlanga lwethu.”

₄₉Omnye wabo, uKayafa, owayengumbingeleli omkhulu ngaloo nyaka, wathi: “Anikayiqondi mpela le nto! ₅₀Aniqondi na okokuba kunilungele ukuba umntu omnye afele abantu, kunokuba kutshatyalaliswe uhlanga lonke?” ₅₁Oku akakuthethanga kuphuma kuye. Watsho kuba wayengumbingeleli omkhulu ngaloo nyaka, ebhengeza okokuba uYesu wayeza kulufela uhlanga, ₅₂engafeli lona kuphela, koko efela bonke abantwana bakaThixo abathe saa, ebahlanganisela ndawonye.

₅₃Kwathi ke ukususela ngaloo mini iinkokheli zamaJuda zabhunga ukumbulala uYesu. ₅₄Ke ngoko uYesu akabanga sahamba ekuhleni kwelakwaJuda, kodwa wemka waya ngasentlango, kwidolophu ekuthiwa yeyakwaEfrayim, wahlala khona apho enabafundi bakhe.

₅₅Itheko lamaJuda ekuthiwa *yiPasika, lalisondele; baza ke baba baninzi abaphuma kuloo mimandla, besiya eJerusalem ngaphambi kwePasika, ukuze bazihlambulule. ₅₆Babemfuna uYesu; baza bathi bakuhlangana endlwini kaThixo, bamana bebuzana besithi: “Nithini na? Makube akezi ePasikeni?” ₅₇Ababingeleli abaziintloko nabaFarasi babeyalele okokuba ukuba kukho bani waziyo apho uYesu akhoyo, kufuneka axele, ukuze bambambe.