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An eye on eternity - 23 November 2023

An eye on eternity - 23 November 2023

By Ewald Schmidt

Itekisi yeBhayibhile

AMAVA ENGQONDI 3

10Ndilubonile uxanduva alunike uluntu uThixo.

AMAVA ENGQONDI 4

Ngubani endibulalekela yena?

1Kwakhona ke ndathi ndakukhangela ndayibona ingcinezelo ekhoyo apha phantsi kwelanga.

Awu, iinyembezi zabo bacinezelweyo;

ibe ke kungekho namthuthuzeli!

Ewe, akukho mntu ubathuthuzelayo,

ibe ke bona abacinezeli baxhaswa ligunya.

2Ndafumanisa ukuba abo bangasekhoyo, abasele befile kakade,

bakwimeko engcono kunabo baphilayo, abasahleliyo nangoku.

3Kambe ke oyena ukwimeko engcono ngulowo ungekabikho,

engekayiboni le nkohlakalo yenziwayo apha phantsi kwelanga.

4Ndafumanisa ukuba into eyenza abantu babulaleke bazabalaze kangaka kukuxhalela abamelwane. Kambe ke naleyo ngamampunge, nqwa nokusukelana nomoya.

5Isiyatha sisonga izandla,

sizitshabalalise ngokwaso.

6Phofu ke akunani kwaintwana engephi, oyifumana wonwabile,

kunentabalala ezuzwa ngembulaleko kusukelwana nomoya.

7Kwakhona ndawabona amampunge alapha phantsi kwelanga:

8Nanko umntu ohlala yedwa, kungekho owesibini:

akananyana namntakwabo,

kodwa uxhabashile, uyasebenza engaphezi;

noxa kunjalo amehlo akhe akaneliswa bubutyebi bakhe.

Ude athi: “Ngubani endibulalekela yena,

ndide ndizivimbe ulonwabo kangaka?”

Ewe, nale into ngamampunge;

ngumzamo ophuthileyo!

Intsontelo ephindwe kathathu iqhawuka nzima

9Kungcono abasebenzi babe babini kunokuba abe mnye, kuba baba nengeniso eyiyo ngomsebenzi wabo.

10Kaloku xa omnye ethe wawa omnye unokuphakamisa ugxa wakhe. Mawoo ke lowo uyedwa xa athe wawa! Akukho bani unokumphakamisa. 11Ewe, xa ababini belala ngangubo-nye abagodoli. Kodwa ke kunzima ukufudumala xa ulele wedwa. 12Oyedwa uyagaganyelwa, kodwa ababini banako ukumelana nohlaselo. Intsontelo ephindwe kathathu iqhawuka nzima.

Izikhundla ngamampunge

13Endaweni yokumkani owalupheleyo osisityhakala esingeva nacebiso lilunge kanye igatyana lomfana olihlwempu xa enobulumko, 14nangona angade abe wazalelwa ebuhlwempini phantsi kwaloo kumkani. Ewe, usenokuphuma nasentolongweni abe ngukumkani alawule. 15Ndibone ukuba bonke abadla ubomi besihla benyuka apha phantsi kwelanga basuke bamlandela umfana lowo ungene esikhundleni sokumkani lowo walupheleyo. 16Ewe, baba baninzi kakhulu abantu abamlandelayo kangangokuba bangabi nakubalwa. Kambe ke sona isizukulwana esilandelayo asibi saba namdla kuye. Ngenene nale ke into ikwangamampunge nokusukelana nomoya.

AMAVA ENGQONDI 5

Isilumkiso ngezithembiso

1Lumka, ugqale ukunyathela kwakho xa usiya endlwini kaThixo. Xa usiya khona hamba ngeenjongo zokuphulaphula endaweni yokwenza amadini njengezityhakala ezingaziyo ukuba zenza ubugwenxa.

2Qiqa phambi kokuba uthethe;

musa ukungxama ukwenza izithembiso kuThixo.

Kaloku yena usezulwini, ube ke wena ulapha emhlabeni;

ngoko ke amazwi akho makabe mbalwa.

3Ubuninzi bemicimbi bubanga amaphupha;

ubuninzi bamazwi kuhamba nentetho yobutyhakala.

4Xa wenze isifungo kuThixo, khawuleza usifezekise. Kaloku yena akavani nezityhakala; ngoko ke siphumelelise isifungo sakho. 5Akunani kwaukungenzi sifungo kunokubhambathisa uze ungafezekisi. 6Umlomo wakho mawungakukhokeleli esonweni, uze ke ube ubongoza isigidimi, usithi: “Ndiphazamile.” Ngani ukuba umkhathaze uThixo ngento oyithethileyo, ade atshabalalise umsebenzi wezandla zakho? 7Intlaninge yamaphupha namazwi amaninzi ngamampunge. Kuphela hlonela uThixo!

Ubutyebi ngamampunge

8Sukumangaliswa xa ubona abantu abahlelelekileyo becinezelwa, bengazelelelwa kummandla othile, bengenzelwa ubulungisa nokufanelekileyo. Kaloku igosa ngalinye livelelwa lelinye, aze ke xa ewomabini avelelwe ngamanye angentla kuwo. 9Kambe ke ilizwe lilungelwa yinto yonke xa ukumkani enyamekela ukulinywa kwamasimi akhe.

10Umntu oyinyolukeleyo imali soze imanelise;

kanti ke noxhinele ubutyebi akaze aneliswe yingeniso yakhe.

Nale ke into ngamampunge.

11Yakukhula ingeniso bayanda nabaxhomekeke kuyo,

ibe yintoni ke ezuzwa ngumniniyo?

Kuphela uyitya ngamehlo!

12Umntu ophangelayo ulala athi yoyi,

noba utya kancinci, okanye ke uyahlutha.

Ke bona ubunewu-newu besityebi busitsho siphuthelwe.

13Apha phantsi kwelanga ndibone ububi obungcungcuthekisayo:

umntu angaziqwebela ubutyebi, busuke benzakalise kwayena mnikazi wabo!

14Omnye ke ufumba ubutyebi, alahlekelwe bubo ngenxa yentlekele,

ze ke unyana ozelwe nguye angabi nanto ezandleni.

15Mhla wavela umntu uzalwa ngunina ezé;

mhla andulukayo uhamba kwangolo hlobo eze ngalo.

Kuko konke ukubulaleka kwakhe umntu apha emhlabeni

umka engaphathanga nto ngesandla sakhe.

16Ewe ngenene, ibuhlungu le meko!

Umntu umka eyiloo nto ebefike eyiyo.

Kumncede ntoni ke ukusebenzela ilize?

17Kananjalo imihla yobomi bakhe yonke uyidlela ebumnyameni,

egutyungelwa ziinkathazo neenzingo nomsindo.

18Ke kaloku ndifumanise ukuba eyona nto ilungileyo nefanelekileyo ukuba umntu ayenze kukutya asele, akuxhamle enelisekile ukubulaleka kwakhe ngezi ntsukwana zimbalwa aziphiwe nguThixo apha phantsi kwelanga. Kaloku eso sisabelo sakhe. 19Ewe, umntu xa ephiwe ubutyebi nezinye izinto eziphathekayo, aze futhi uThixo amnike inyhweba yokuzixhamla ezo zinto, kufuneka akuxhamle enombulelo ukubulaleka kwakhe – kaloku eso sisipho esivela kuThixo. 20Ngenxa yolo lonwabo aluphiwe nguThixo, umntu utsho angabi sazikhathaza ngobungakanani bobomi bakhe.

AMAVA ENGQONDI 6

1Nabu obunye ububi endibubonileyo apha phantsi kwelanga, yaye buthe zinzi phezu kwabantu: 2nditsho into yokuba umntu anikwe ubutyebi nguThixo, aze abe ngumfo omi kakuhle nohlonelwayo, ade angasweli nto ayinqwenelayo, kambe ke uThixo angamniki ithuba lokuzixhamla, ndaweni yaloo nto kuvele owasemzini azixhamle ezo zinto. Ewe, ngamampunge le nto; iyimeko ebuhlungu.

3Umntu noba anganekhulu labantwana, aphile imihla emininzi, phofu angabuxhamli ubumnandi bobomi, angènzelwa umngcwabo onguwo, mna ndithi akunani kwaumntwana ovele engasekho kunaye. 4Kaloku ukuzalwa akumphathelanga nto loo mntwana, usuke aduke ebumnyameni, negama lakhe ligutyungelwe bubumnyama. 5Nakuba lo mntwana engazange walibona ilanga, futhi engazange wazi nto, kodwa ke yena ukufumene ukuphumla kunaloo mntu. 6Ewe, umdlula kude lee umntu ongaxhamlanga luyolo ebomini, noba angade aphile iwaka eliphindwe kabini leminyaka. Andithi na kaloku bonke baya ndaweni-nye?

7Kuyo yonke imizabalazo yakhe umntu usebenzela emlonyeni,

kodwa akaze anele.

8Umntu osisilumko usigqitha ngani isityhakala?

Kulinceda ntoni ihlwempu ukuyazi indlela yokuziphatha phakathi kwabantu?

9Masanele zezo zinto sinazo

endaweni yokuzikhathaza ngokunqwenela le naleya.

Hayi bo, ngamampunge lawo, nqwa nokusukelana nomoya!

10Yonke into ekhoyo sekukudala ithiywe igama layo,

nento ayiyo umntu selisaziwa kakade;

umntu akanako ukumelana nalowo womeleleyo kunaye.

11Okukhona intetho iba nde kokukhona iye ilambatha intsingiselo yayo,

ize ke incede bani loo nto?

12Umntu angayazi njani eyona nto imfaneleyo umntu kobu bomi bufutshane buphuthe kangaka? Ewe, obu bomi buthi phinzi njengesithunzi. Ngubani onokumxelela into eya kwenzeka apha phantsi kwelanga akuba engasekho yena?

AMAVA ENGQONDI 7

Amagqabantshintshi ngobulumko

1Igama elihle lilungile

ngaphezu kwamafutha aqholiweyo.

Umhla wokufa ulungile kunomhla wokuzalwa.

2Kungcono uye emzini onesililo kunokuya emzini onetheko,

kuba kaloku ukufa sisiphelo sabantu bonke.

Ngoko ke abantu ngebeyithathela ingqalelo le nto.

3Kubhetele kwaiinzingo kunokuhleka,

kuba ubuso obuthe rhubaxa buyayomeleza intliziyo.

4Intliziyo yesilumko isendlwini yesijwili,

ke intliziyo yesiyatha isendlwini yeziyolo.

5Kulungile ukuva ukukhalinyelwa sisilumko

kunokuphulaphula ukombelelwa sisityhakala.

6Ukuhleka kwesityhakala kufana nqwa nokunqanqaza komlilo wameva phantsi kwembiza.

Nale ke into ngamampunge!

7Isilumko esiphantsi kwezoyikiso silahlekelwa ziingqondo;

umntu onyotywayo wonakala ingqiqo.

8Isiphelo somcimbi sibhetele kunesiqalo sawo.

Umonde ungcono kunekratshi.

9Musa ukukhawuleza ucaphuke ngaphakathi kwakho;

kaloku umsindo yinto yezityhakala.

10Musa ukuthi: “Bekungani ukuba imihla yamandulo ibe ngcono kunale yangoku?”

Kaloku ayibubo ubulumko ukubuza umbuzo onjalo.

11Ubulumko nqwa nelifa ngokulunga;

bululutho kubo bonke abaphilayo;

12umntu bumenza akhuseleke njengokuba nemali isenjenjalo.

Ewe, naku ukubalasela kolwazi: ubulumko buyabukhusela ubomi balowo unabo.

13Khawucamngce ngemisebenzi kaThixo:

Ngubani ongayolulayo into ayenze goso?

14Ngamathuba obumnandi yonwaba;

ngemihla yobubi qonda kakuhle ukuba kwale njengaleya yenziwe nguThixo.

Ngoko ke akukho mntu uyaziyo into eza kwenzeka kamva.

15Kobu bomi bam bungamampunge ndizibonile zonke ezi zinto:

Ndibone umntu olungileyo efela ebulungiseni bakhe,

ngokunjalo ndabona nomntu okhohlakeleyo ephila ubomi obude benkohlakalo.

16Ngani ukuba uzenzakalise ngokusuka uzenze uchwenene welungisa,

okanye ingcaphephe yesilumko?

17Ngani ukuba ufe phambi kwexesha lakho ngokusuka ubalasele ngenkohlakalo,

okanye ugqwese ngobutyhakala?

18Bambelela kwezi zinto zombini, kungabikho oyiyekelelayo.

Umntu omoyikayo uThixo uya kuwaphepha omabini la macala.

19Ubulumko bumenza onabo abe namandla

ngaphezu kwabalawuli besixeko abalishumi.

20Emhlabeni akukho mntu ulilungisa

owenza okuhle kuphela angoni.

21Musa ukuphulaphula yonke into ethethwa ngabantu,

hleze ude uve isicaka sakho sikunyemba.

22Kaloku nawe ngokwakho uyazi

ukuba kukaninzi ubanyelisa abanye abantu.

23Ngobulumko bam ndayivavanya yonke le nto, ndaza ndathi:

“Ndizimisele ukuba sisilumko,”

kodwa ke andafikelela kubo.

24Oko kukude kakhulu –

ndithi oko kunzulu gqitha –

ngubani ongaze akubhaqe?

25Ndazinikezela ke ukuba ndiphande ndifune ulwazi,

ukuze ndibuzuze ubulumko bokubhaqa isizekabani sezinto,

ndibuqonde nobutyhakala benkohlakalo nokuphutha kobudenge.

26Ndifumanise ukuba eyona nto ikrakra nangaphezu kokufa ngumfazi oliqili,

ontliziyo inezabatha, ongalo zifana namakhamandela.

Ke yona indoda ekholisa uThixo iyasinda kuye,

kodwa ke yona engumoni uyayibambisa.

27“Khangel' apha,” itsho iNgqondi,

“nantsi into endiyibhaqileyo:

Ndakudibanisa enye nenye ukuze ndicacelwe zizinto –

28lo gama umoya wam wawusaphengulula ndingekafumani nto –

ndibhaqe indoda yanye kwiwaka ethe ngqo,

kodwa yena umfazi onjalo andimfumananga phakathi kwabo bonke.

29Kuphela kwendikufumeneyo kukuba uThixo uluntu waludala luthe ngqo,

kodwa ke abantu basuke bayila ubuqili phezu kobuqili.”

AMAVA ENGQONDI 8

1Yaz'ba ngubani eso silumko singaziqondayo ezi zinto?

Ngubani ongayichazayo intsingiselo yezi zinto?

Kaloku ubulumko buyabuswabulula ubuso bomntu,

atsho ayeke ukumatsheka.

Makathotyelwe ukumkani

2Mna ndithi mthobele ukumkani; kaloku wènze isifungo phambi koThixo. 3Musa ukungxama ukumka kukumkani. Futhi ke sukumela ububi, kuba kaloku yena angenza nantoni na athanda ukuyenza. 4Ekubeni ilizwi lokumkani litshatshele akukho bani unokuthi kuye: “Yintoni le uyenzayo?”

5Lowo ugcina umthetho akayi kuhlelwa bububi;

onobulumko uyakwazi amakakwenze ngexesha elifanelekileyo.

6Kaloku yonke into inexesha layo nendlela emayenziwe ngayo;

kambe buninzi ububi obunokumhlela umntu –

7akazi ukuba kuya kwenzeka ntoni.

Kakade ngubani onokuxela okuya kubakho?

8Umntu akanalo igunya phezu komoya ukuba awuthintele;

akukho bani uyilawulayo imini yokufa kwakhe.

Njengokuba kungekho ukuphuncula emfazweni,

kananjalo inkohlakalo ayibayeki abo bayenzayo.

Inkohlakalo nobulungisa

9Yonke le nto ndiyibone xa bendiphicotha izinto ezenziwa apha phantsi kwelanga – nditsho into yokuba umntu abe negunya phezu komnye, kube buhlungu kuye. 10Ewe, ndibabonile abantu abakhohlakeleyo bengcwatywa, bathi shwaka, kanti ke nâbo bangena bephuma endlwini kaThixo besenza ubulungisa, kwanabo bayalityalwa esixekweni. Ewe, kwanaloo nto ngamampunge!

11Xa isohlwayo setyala singàphunyezwa msinya abantu baqhubela phambili ukwenza ububi. 12Nakuba isikhohlakali singona nakalikhulu, siphile ixesha elide, noko ndiyazi ukuba izinto ziya kuhamba kakuhle kwabo bamoyikayo uThixo, abo bamhlonelayo. 13Phofu ke, ngenxa yokuba izikhohlakali zingamoyiki uThixo, izinto aziyi kuzilungela, nemihla yazo ingòlulwa oku kwesithunzi.

14Ewe, ikho into engamampunge eyenzekayo kweli hlabathi: maxa wambi amalungisa azuza isohlwayo sezikhohlakali, zize zona izikhohlakali zifumane indwe yamalungisa! Ndithi kwanaloo nto ngamampunge! 15Ngoko ke mna ndithi masonwabe, kuba ayikho enye into emfaneleyo umntu apha phantsi kwelanga ngaphandle kokuba atye asele azonwabele. Loo nto ke únokuyenza phakathi kwemizabalazo yakhe kobu bomi abuphiwe nguThixo kulo mhlaba.

16Xa ndandizikisa ukucinga, ndifuna ukubazi ubulumko, ndiqwalasela ukubulaleka komntu kulo mhlaba – nditsho le nto yokuba amehlo akhe angabonani nokulala imini nobusuku – 17ndide ndakubona konke akwenzayo uThixo. Akukho bani onako ukukuqonda okwenzekayo apha phantsi kwelanga; noba selesenza yonke imigudu yokuphengulula akangeze akufumane. Nezilumko noba zingade zithi ziyaqonda, azazi nto tu!

AMAVA ENGQONDI 9

Oko ukwenzayo kwenze ngamandla

1Ke kaloku ndithe ndisakuwuphonononga lo mbandela ndafumanisa ukuba izenzo zamalungisa kunye nezezilumko zisesandleni sikaThixo, phofu kungekho namntu waziyo nokuba ulindelwe luthando okanye ukuthiywa na. 2Abantu bonke isiphelo sabo sinye: amalungisa nezikhohlakali, abalungileyo [nabagwenxa], abahlambulukileyo nabanomlaza, abawenzayo amadini nâbo bangawenziyo. Umntu olungileyo ufaniswa nomoni, nalowo wenza isifungo afaniswe nowoyikayo ukwenza isifungo.

3Ezintweni zonke ezenzeka apha phantsi kwelanga eyona imbi yile yokuba kubo bonke isiphelo sabo sinye. Iintliziyo zoonyana babantu zizele bububi; bubugeza ezintliziyweni zabo lo gama besadla ubomi – ze kuthi kamva baye kwelabafileyo. 4Lowo usaphilayo usenethemba; kaloku nenja esaphilayo ibhetele kunengonyama efileyo. 5Kaloku bona abaphilayo bayazi ukuba baseza kufa, kambe ke bona abafileyo abazi nto. Abasajonganga mvuzo, futhi ke sebelityelwe. 6Uthando ndawonye nentiyo yabo, kunye neminqweno, kukonke nje kwafa kunye nabo. Abasoze babuye babe nenxaxheba kwizinto ezenzekayo apha phantsi kwelanga.

7Hayi ke, yitya isonka sakho wonwabile, usele iwayini yakho uchwayitile entliziyweni, kuba ngoku lithuba elikholekileyo kuThixo lokuba wenze oko. 8Maxa onke vatha ezimhlophe, nezithambiso zentloko ungaziyeki. 9Hlala ngokonwaba nomfazi wakho omthandayo ngemihla yobomi bakho obungamampunge obunikwe nguThixo kulo mhlaba – nditsho zonke ezo ntsuku zingamampunge – kuba eso kuphela kwesabelo oya kusizuza ngokubulaleka kwakho apha phantsi kwelanga. 10Nawuphi na umsebenzi owubambileyo ngezandla zakho wenze ngamandla akho onke; kuba kaloku akwenziwa nto, akucingwa, kungekho lwazi nabulumko engcwabeni, apho wena uya khona.

11Nantsi enye into endiyibonileyo apha phantsi kwelanga: ezona mbaleki zisenokungaphumeleli elugqatsweni, futhi namagorha avunyiweyo asenokoyiswa edabini. Ewe, izilumko zisenako ukuswela ukutya, kanti ke neengqondi zisenokuphulukana nobutyebi, kwanjengokuba neengcaphephe zisenokuphosana nezikhundla eziphezulu. Kaloku wonke umntu uba namaxesha namathuba akhe.

12Ke yena umntu akazi ukuba ithuba lakhe linini na. Njengentlanzi ebanjiswe ngomnatha ongenalusini, okanye intaka ebhajiswe ngumgibe, nathi bantu sisuka sixinwe yimin' embi esigubungela singayilindelanga.

Ubulumko nobutyhakala

13Apha phantsi kwelanga ndibone omnye umzekelo wobulumko ondenze umdla. 14Kwakukho idolophu ebantu bambalwa. Yahlaselwa yingangamsha yokumkani. Wayingqinga, wayakhela izikanisi ezayame iindonga eziyikhuselayo. 15Kwalapho kuloo dolophu kwakukho umfo olihlwempu, phofu esisilumko, owathi ngobulumko bakhe wayihlangula loo dolophu. Kambe ke akukho mntu wamkhumbulayo loo mfo ulihlwempu. 16Ndaza ndathi ke mna: “Ubulumko bubhetele kunamandla.” Kambe ke ubulumko behlwempu budeliwe, namazwi alo akakhathalelwe.

17Kungcono ukuphulaphula amazwi esilumko esithetha sizolile

kunokuzikhathaza ngokukhwaza komlawuli wezityhakala.

18Ubulumko bubaluleke ngaphezu kwezixhobo zemfazwe,

kambe ke nomoni omnye nje angonakalisa lukhulu kwizinto ebezilungile.

AMAVA ENGQONDI 10

1Iimpukane ezifileyo zingasonakalisa isiqholo sitsho sibile sinuke,

ngokunjalo nentwana nje yobutyhakala ingabutshabhisa ubulumko ndawonye nesidima.

2Intliziyo yesilumko isitsho sibe namandla;

kanti ke eyesityhakala isitsho sibe buthathaka.

3Noba isityhakala sesihamba ngendlela, sibonakala kubo bonke ukuba simuncu.

Umntu onjalo uzicacisa nakubani na ukuba usisiyatha.

4Xa ekhathazekile umlawuli wakho musa ukurhoxa esikhundleni sakho –

kaloku kukuzola into ewulungisayo umonakalo.

5Apha phantsi kwelanga kukho ububi endibubonileyo,

impazamo eyenziwa ngophetheyo.

6Izikhundla ezininzi eziphezulu zinikwa izityhakala,

zize ke zona izityebi zinikwe ezisezantsi.

7Ndiwabonile amakhoboka ekhwele amahashe,

kodwa zona izikhulu zibhadaza ngeenyawo ngathi ngamakhoboka.

8Umntu owomba umngxuma usenokweyela kuwo;

otyhoboza eludongeni usenokulunywa yinyoka.

9Umntu owomba amatye usenokwenzakaliswa ngawo,

nocanda iinkuni usenokuba sengozini.

10Xa izembe libuthuntu, lingalolwanga,

kufuneka ubethe ngamandla ngalo.

Kodwa ke bubuchule into enika impumelelo.

11Inyoka kufuneka ilalaniswe ngaphambi kokuba imlume umntu,

kuba xa seyimlumile akusancedi lutho kumlalanisi wayo.

12Anendili amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesilumko,

ukanti ke sona isityhakala sizitshabalalisa ngemilebe yaso.

13Siqala ngokulavuza,

size sigqibele sesiwanqa impambano.

14Ewe, isityhakala sithetha singayeki.

Akukho mntu uyaziyo into eza kwehla,

kungekho namntu unokuyixela into eya kwenzeka kamva.

15Umntu ongenangqondo uzidinisa ngomsebenzi,

aze ke akhohlwe nayindlela egodukayo isiya esixekweni.

16Mawoo kwilizwe elikumkani ebesakuba likhoboka,

elimatshawe enza amatheko kusekusasa.

17Kambe ke linoyolo ilizwe elikumkani uzalwa zizikhulu,

elimatshawe atya ngexesha elililo, efuna amandla, ingekuko ukunxila.

18Ngobuvila iyawa imiqadi;

kozandla ziqhokriweyo indlu iyanetha.

19Isidlo simenza onwabe umntu,

ke yona iwayini iyabudlamkisa ubomi;

kambe ke kuyo yonke into yimali ethethayo.

20Ungaze umnyembe ukumkani, nditsho nangeengcinga;

nesityebi sukusinyelisa, noba sewusesililini sakho,

hleze kubekho ntakazana iphuma namazwi akho,

into enamaphiko iyixele loo ntetho.

AMAVA ENGQONDI 11

Amacebo empumelelo

1Kusebenzise oko unako;

ngokuhamba kwexesha uya kufumana inzuzo.

2Indyebo yakho yigcinise kwiindawo ezisixhenxe –

ewe, noba zide zasibhozo –

kuba kaloku akuyazi intlekele enokulihlela ihlabathi.

3Amafu xa anemvula ayithulula emhlabeni;

noba umthi uwela ngasezantsi okanye ngasentla,

kodwa uhlala uthi ncwaba kuloo ndawo uwe kuyo.

4Ukuba ujonge imo ethile yezulu soze ulime;

kanti ke ukuba uqwalasela amafu soze uvune.

5Njengoko ungayazi indlela yomoya,

ungamazi nokuba wenziwa njani na umntu esizalweni sonina,

kananjalo soze ukuqonde nokusebenza kukaThixo onguMdali weento zonke.

6Imbewu yihlwayele kusasa,

nangokuhlwa ungasiphumzi isandla sakho.

Kaloku akuyazi eya kuphumelela:

isenokuba yile okanye leya,

ukanti zisenokuphumelela zombini.

7Kuyanambitheka ukukhanya;

kulungile emehlweni ukulibona ilanga.

8Yixhamle ngokobungakanani bayo iminyaka yokudla kwakho ubomi,

ukhumbule ukuba imihla yobumnyama xa ungasekhoyo iya kuba mininzi.

Ewe, yonke into ezayo ingamampunge.

Icebiso kulutsha

9Wena mntu osemtsha, yonwaba ngethuba lobutsha bakho,

intliziyo yakho ichwayite lo gama uselula.

Yenze loo nto isentliziyweni yakho,

nditsho leyo ibonwa ngamehlo akho,

kambe ke ukhumbule ukuba uza kuziphendulela enkundleni kaThixo ngayo yonke into oyenzileyo.

10Ngoko ke ligxothe ixhala entliziyweni yakho,

ukuphephe okunokwenzakalisa umzimba wakho.

Kaloku ubutsha namandla awo ngamampunge.

AMAVA ENGQONDI 3:10XHO96Vula kumfundi weBhayibhile

The old Romans had the saying, tempus fugit velut umbra – time flies like a shadow. In this verse, there is a differentiation between human time and eternity (God’s time). Human time is measurable. So many hymns sing of the passing of time, like this one by Sidney Dyer: “Time is earnest, passing by; Death is earnest, drawing nigh; Sinner, wilt thou trifling be, while the voice of God doth call thee?

When we are very young, it feels as if time stands still. It seems to be such a long time before our lunch break or until dinner time. Christmas is still an eternity away. As we grow older, we are more aware of the sand in our hour glass running out. Time feels as if it is going faster. Last year this time, it was still September and now, we are a month away from Christmas. Where has the time gone?

Our human time is measurable. It is the time we are aware of – the time from our birth until our very last breath. We are ever more aware that our time is finite and, therefore, precious. May we pray with Moses in Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, Psalm 111:10 teaches us. The art of graceful living is to find every day as a gift from God’s hand. It invites us to make the most of every passing day. We need to make time to celebrate the small things along the way. Its asks of us to spend our precious time on the precious people God has put in our lives. Quality time together is the most valued gift that we can give one another. Time flies, so don’t waste it! Be aware of the things that steal your time – time thieves, like social media.

The secret is to live every day to its fullest, to find the grace and love of God in every moment, because we are also aware of another dimension of time – God’s time, eternity – the time that we are not able to measure. How do I begin to comprehend eternity before I was born? How do I grasp eternity after my death? Eternity is God’s time, where one day is like a thousand years for him and a thousand years, like one day (2 Peter 3:8). God is above time, he is not bound by it. I am too small to comprehend the magnitude of eternal time; I can only stand in awe.

I know that, one day, my time on earth will run out. I am not afraid, for I belong to the God who is in control of eternity. I trust him for my future; his love expels all fear.

Prayer: Lord, you wrote the days of my life even before I was born. You have given me a life, here and now. You fill my life with your beauty. Teach me to number my days, that I may gain wisdom, to serve you more. Thank you that I may leave eternal matters in your capable hands! Amen

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
SIFUMANE KU-