Bible Reading Plan – Day 173

₁Kwathi ngomnyaka wesithathu kaHosheya indodana ka-Ela, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, uHezekiya indodana ka-Ahazi inkosi yakwaJuda waba yinkosi. ₂Wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka engamashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye eJerusalema; igama likanina lalingu-Abi indodakazi kaZakariya. ₃Wenza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova njengakho konke akwenzileyo uDavide uyise. ₄Wasusa izindawo eziphakemeyo, wadiliza izinsika, wanquma o-Ashera,* wachitha inyoka yethusi ayeyenzile uMose, ngokuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babeshisa impepho kuyo kwaze kwaba ngalezo zinsuku; yabizwa ngokuthi uNehushitani. ₅Wamethemba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakwa-Israyeli kwaze kwangabakho onjengaye phakathi kwawo onke amakhosi akwaJuda nakuwo ayengaphambi kwakhe. ₆Ngokuba wabambelela kuJehova, akasukanga ekumlandeleni, kepha wagcina imiyalo yakhe uJehova ayala ngayo uMose. ₇UJehova wayenaye; nomaphi lapho eya khona, waphumelela; wayihlubuka inkosi yase-Asiriya, kayikhonzanga. ₈Wachitha amaFilisti kwaze kwaba seGaza nemikhawulo yalo, imibhoshongo yabalindi nemizi ebiyelweyo.

₉Kwathi ngomnyaka wesine wenkosi uHezekiya owawungumnyaka wesikhombisa kaHosheya indodana ka-Ela, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, uShalimaneseri inkosi yase-Asiriya wenyuka walivimbezela iSamariya. ₁₀Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka emithathu balithatha; ngomnyaka wesithupha kaHezekiya owawungumnyaka wesishiyagalolunye kaHosheya inkosi yakwa-Israyeli iSamariya lathathwa. ₁₁Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathumbela u-Israyeli e-Asiriya, yababeka eHala naseHabori ngasemfuleni waseGozani nasemizini yamaMede, ₁₂ngokuba abalalelanga izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, kepha beqa isivumelwano sakhe; konke ayala ngakho uMose inceku kaJehova kabavumanga ukukulalela nokukwenza.

₁₃Ngomnyaka weshumi nane wenkosi uHezekiya, uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wenyuka wahlasela yonke imizi ebiyelweyo yakwaJuda, wayithatha. ₁₄UHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda wathumela enkosini yase-Asiriya eLakishi, wathi: “Ngonile; buya kimi; okubeka kimi ngiyakukwenza.” Inkosi yase-Asiriya yamnqumela uHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda amatalenta* angamakhulu amathathu esiliva namatalenta angamashumi amathathu egolide. ₁₅UHezekiya wamnika lonke isiliva elalifunyanwa endlini kaJehova nasengcebeni endlini yenkosi.

₁₆Ngaleso sikhathi uHezekiya wanquma izivalo zethempeli likaJehova nezinsika uHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda ayezinamekile, wakunika inkosi yase-Asiriya.

₁₇Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathuma oTharithani, noRabi Sarisi, noRabi Shake ukuba basuke eLakishi, baye enkosini uHezekiya eJerusalema, benempi enkulu. Benyuka bafika eJerusalema. Sebenyukile bafika, bema ngasemseleni wechibi lasenhla elingasendleleni yeNsimu yoMhlanzi. ₁₈Bayibiza inkosi, kwaphumela kubo u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, noJowa indodana ka-Asafa, umabhalana.

₁₉Wathi kubo uRabi Shake: “Ake nisho kuHezekiya, nithi: ‘Isho kanje inkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ithi: Yithemba lini leli olethembayo na? ₂₀Wena uyakhuluma, kepha kungamazwi angawomlomo nje lana ngesu nangamandla okulwa. Pho, wethemba bani, lokhu ungihlubukile, na? ₂₁Manje bheka, wethemba udondolo lwalo mhlanga ofecekileyo oyiGibithe; kepha uma umuntu ezimelela ngalo, luyakungena esandleni sakhe, lusihlabe; unjalo uFaro inkosi yaseGibithe kubo bonke abamethembayo. ₂₂Kepha uma nithi kimi: “Siyamethemba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,” akusiye yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakemeyo nama-altare akhe akususile uHezekiya, wathi kuJuda nakulo iJerusalema: “Niyakukhuleka phambi kwaleli altare eJerusalema,” na?

₂₃“ ‘Ngalokho ake uvumelane nenkosi yami, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ngiyakukunika amahhashi ayizinkulungwane ezimbili, uma ungabeka izinkweli kuwo. ₂₄Pho, ungaphindisela emuva kanjani nenduna eyodwa ezincekwini ezincane zenkosi yami na? Nokho wethemba iGibithe ukuthola khona izinqola nabamahhashi. ₂₅Manje ngenyukele yini ngaphandle kukaJehova kule ndawo ukuba ngiyichithe na? UJehova wathi kimi: “Yenyukela kulelo zwe, ulichithe.” ’ ”

₂₆Base bethi u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya noShebina noJowa kuRabi Shake: “Ake ukhulume ezincekwini zakho ngesi-Aramu, ngokuba siyaluzwa, ungakhulumi kithi ngolimi lwabaJuda ezindlebeni zabantu abasogangeni.”

₂₇Kepha uRabi Shake wathi kubo: “Inkosi yami ingithumile yini enkosini yakho nakuwena ukukhuluma lawa mazwi na? Hhayi kulaba bantu yini abahlezi ogangeni ukuba badle amasimba abo, baphuze umshobingo wabo kanye nani, na?”

₂₈Wayesema uRabi Shake, wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu ngolimi lwabaJuda, wakhuluma wathi: “Zwanini amazwi enkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya. ₂₉Isho kanje inkosi, ithi: ‘Maningakhohliswa nguHezekiya, ngokuba akayikuba namandla okunophula esandleni sami; ₃₀futhi uHezekiya makanganenzi nethembe uJehova ngokuthi: “UJehova uyakusophula nokusophula, nalo muzi awuyikunikelwa esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya.” ’

₃₁“Ningamlaleli uHezekiya, ngokuba inkosi yase-Asiriya isho kanje, ithi: ‘Yenzani ukuthula nami, niphumele kimi, nidle, kube yilowo nalowo emvinini wakhe, kube yilowo nalowo emkhiwaneni wakhe, niphuze, kube yilowo nalowo amanzi omthombo wakhe, ₃₂ngize ngifike, nginiyise ezweni elinjengezwe lakini, izwe lamabele nelewayini, izwe lesinkwa nelezivini, izwe leminqumo nezinyosi, ukuba niphile, ningafi.’ Futhi ningamlaleli uHezekiya, lapho eniyenga ngokuthi: ‘UJehova uyakusophula.’ ₃₃Abanye onkulunkulu bezizwe bake bophula nokophula yini izwe lakubo esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya na? ₃₄Baphi onkulunkulu baseHamati nase-Aripadi na? Baphi onkulunkulu baseSefarivayimi, nabaseHena, nabase-Iva, na? Balophulile iSamariya esandleni sami na? ₃₅Ngobani phakathi kwabo bonke onkulunkulu bamazwe abophule izwe lakubo esandleni sami ukuba uJehova alophule iJerusalema esandleni sami na?”

₃₆Kepha abantu bathula, abamphendulanga ngazwi, ngokuba umyalo wenkosi wathi: “Ningamphenduli.”

₃₇Base befika u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umlobi, noJowa indodana ka-Asafa, umabhalana, kuHezekiya, izingubo zabo ziklebhukile, bamlandisa amazwi kaRabi Shake.

₁Kwathi inkosi uHezekiya ikuzwile lokho, yaklebhula izingubo zayo, yazembesa indwangu yamasaka, yangena endlini kaJehova. ₂Yathuma u-Eliyakimi owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, namalunga abapristi, bembeswe izindwangu zamasaka, ku-Isaya umprofethi, indodana ka-Amose. ₃Bathi kuye: “Usho kanje uHezekiya, uthi: ‘Lolo suku lungusuku losizi nolokusolwa nolokudelelwa, ngokuba abantwana sebefikile ekuzalweni, kepha amandla okubeletha awakho. ₄Mhlawumbe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uyakuzwa onke amazwi kaRabi Shake othunywe yinkosi yase-Asiriya, inkosi yakhe, ukweyisa uNkulunkulu ophilayo, asole amazwi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho awezwileyo; ngalokho phakamisela insali esafunyanwayo umkhuleko wakho.’ ”

₅Izinceku zenkosi uHezekiya sezifikile ku-Isaya, ₆u-Isaya wathi kuzo: “Niyakusho kanje enkosini yenu, nithi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Ungesabi lawo mazwi owezwileyo, izinceku zenkosi yase-Asiriya ezingithuke ngawo. ₇Bhekani, ngiyakubeka umoya kuyo, izwe amahemuhemu, ibuyele ezweni lakubo, ngiyiwise ngenkemba ezweni lakubo.’ ”

₈Wayesebuya uRabi Shake, wafumana inkosi yase-Asiriya ilwa neLibina, ngokuba wayezwile ukuthi isukile eLakishi.

₉Kepha isizwile ngoTirahaka inkosi yaseKushe ukuthi: “Bheka, uphumile ukulwa nawe, yabuye yathuma izithunywa kuHezekiya, yathi: ₁₀‘Niyakukhuluma kanje kuHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda, nithi: “UNkulunkulu wakho omethembayo makangakukhohlisi ngokuthi iJerusalema aliyikunikelwa esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya.” ₁₁Bheka, wena uzwile okwenziwe ngamakhosi ase-Asiriya kuwo onke amazwe ngokuwachitha; pho, wena uyakophulwa na? ₁₂Onkulunkulu balezo zizwe ezachithwa ngobaba, iGozani, neHarana, neResefi, nabantwana base-Edene abaseThelasari, bazophula na? ₁₃Iphi inkosi yaseHamati, nenkosi yase-Aripadi, nenkosi yomuzi waseSefarivayimi, naseHena, nase-Iva, na?’ ”

₁₄UHezekiya wayamukela incwadi esandleni sezithunywa, wayifunda; uHezekiya wayesenyukela endlini kaJehova, wayeneka phambi kukaJehova.

₁₅UHezekiya wakhuleka phambi kukaJehova, wathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ohlezi phezu kwamakherubi,* wena unguNkulunkulu, wena wedwa, wemibuso yonke yomhlaba, wena wenzile izulu nomhlaba. ₁₆Beka, Jehova, indlebe yakho, uzwe; vula amehlo akho, Jehova, ubone, uzwe amazwi kaSaneheribi athume ukweyisa ngawo uNkulunkulu ophilayo.

₁₇“Yiqiniso, Jehova; amakhosi ase-Asiriya achithile izizwe namazwe azo, ₁₈alahlile onkulunkulu bawo emlilweni, ngokuba babengesibo onkulunkulu, babe ngumsebenzi wezandla zomuntu kuphela, umuthi namatshe; ngalokho abachithile. ₁₉Manje, Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, ake usisindise esandleni sakhe ukuba yonke imibuso yomhlaba yazi ukuthi wena Jehova unguNkulunkulu, yebo, wena wedwa.”

₂₀U-Isaya indodana ka-Amose wathumela kuHezekiya, wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Lokho okukhuleke kimi ngoSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya ngikuzwile.’ ₂₁Nanti izwi uJehova alikhulumile ngaye:

₃₂“Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova ngenkosi yase-Asiriya, uthi:

₃₅Kwathi ngalobo busuku kwaphuma ingelosi kaJehova, yabulala ekamu* labase-Asiriya abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayishiyagalombili nanhlanu; sekuvukwa ngakusasa, bheka, kwakuyizidumbu zodwa ezifileyo. ₃₆Wayesesuka uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya, wahamba, wabuya, wahlala eNineve.

₃₇Kwathi ekhuleka endlini kaNisiroki unkulunkulu wakhe, o-Adirameleki noSareseri bambulala ngenkemba, babalekela ezweni lase-Ararati. U-Esari Hadoni indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁Ngalezo zinsuku uHezekiya wagula, wayephansi kokufa. Kwafika kuye u-Isaya umprofethi, indodana ka-Amose, wathi kuye: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Yalela indlu yakho, ngokuba uyakufa, awuyikusinda.”

₂Wayesephendulela ubuso bakhe odongeni, wakhuleka kuJehova, wathi: ₃“Ngiyacela, Jehova: ake ukhumbule ukuthi ngihambile phambi kwakho ngeqiniso nangenhliziyo epheleleyo, ngenzile okuhle emehlweni akho.” Wayesekhala uHezekiya ngokukhala okukhulu.

₄Kwathi u-Isaya engakaphumi emzini ongaphakathi, izwi likaJehova lafika kuye, lathi: ₅“Buya, uthi kuHezekiya umholi wabantu bami: ‘Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu kaDavide uyihlo, uthi: Ngizwile umkhuleko wakho, ngibonile izinyembezi zakho; bheka, ngiyakukuphilisa; ngosuku lwesithathu uyakwenyukela endlini kaJehova. ₆Ngiyakwenezela ezinsukwini zakho iminyaka eyishumi nanhlanu, ngikophule wena nalo muzi esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya; ngiyakuwuvikela lo muzi ngenxa yami nangenxa yenceku yami uDavide.’ ”

₇Wathi u-Isaya: “Landani isigaxa samakhiwane.” Basilanda, basibeka ethumbeni, wasinda.

₈Wayesethi uHezekiya ku-Isaya: “Siyakuba yini isibonakaliso sokuthi uJehova uyangiphilisa nokuthi ngiyakwenyukela endlini kaJehova ngosuku lwesithathu na?”

₉Wathi u-Isaya: “Lesi siyakuba yisibonakaliso kuwe esivela kuJehova sokuthi uJehova uyakukwenza lokho akukhulumileyo: isithunzi siyakuya phambili izinyathelo eziyishumi, noma siyakubuya izinyathelo eziyishumi na?”

₁₀UHezekiya wathi: “Kulula kuso isithunzi ukuba selule izinyathelo eziyishumi; qha, isithunzi masibuye izinyathelo eziyishumi.”

₁₁U-Isaya umprofethi wakhala kuJehova, wasibuyisa isithunzi izinyathelo eziyishumi ebesizehlile ezinyathelweni zika-Ahazi.

₁₂Ngaleso sikhathi uMerodaki Baladani indodana kaBaladani, inkosi yaseBabele, wathuma abanezincwadi nesipho kuHezekiya, ngokuba wayezwile ukuthi uHezekiya kade egula. ₁₃UHezekiya wabalalela, wababonisa yonke indlu yengcebo yakhe, isiliva, negolide, namakha, namafutha amahle, nendlu yezikhali zakhe, nakho konke okwafunyanwa engcebeni yakhe; akubangakho nto endlini yakhe nasembusweni wakhe wonke angababonisanga yona.

₁₄Wayesefika u-Isaya umprofethi enkosini uHezekiya, wathi kuye: “Batheni labo bantu; beze kuwe bevelaphi na?”

Wathi uHezekiya: “Bavela ezweni elikude eBabele.”

₁₅Wayesethi: “Baboneni endlini yakho na?”

UHezekiya wathi: “Babone konke okusendlini yami; akukho nto phakathi kwengcebo yami engingababonisanga yona.”

₁₆U-Isaya wathi kuHezekiya: “Yizwa izwi likaJehova: ₁₇Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza, lapho konke okusendlini yakho nalokho oyihlo abakubekelele khona kuze kube namuhla kuyakuyiswa eBabele; akuyikusala lutho, usho uJehova. ₁₈Nasemadodaneni akho ayakuphuma kuwe, oyakuwazala, bayakuwathatha abe yizinceku endlini yobukhosi yenkosi yaseBabele.”

₁₉Wayesethi uHezekiya ku-Isaya: “Lihle izwi likaJehova olikhulumileyo.” Wathi futhi: “Akunjalo, uma kuyakuba khona ukuthula nokulondeka emihleni yami, na?”

₂₀Ezinye izindaba zikaHezekiya, nawo onke amandla akhe, nokwenza kwakhe ichibi nomsele, nokungenisa kwakhe amanzi emzini, angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaJuda na? ₂₁UHezekiya wayeselala koyise. UManase indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.