To The Word – Day 11

₁UJakobe wakha ezweni lokugogobala kukayise, ezweni laseKhanani. ₂Lokhu kuyindaba kaJakobe. UJosefa eseneminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa wawalusa umhlambi kayise enabafowabo; engumfana nje wayekuwo amadodana kaBiliha nakuwo amadodana kaZilipa omkayise; uJosefa waletha kuyise imibiko emibi ngabo.

₃Kepha u-Israyeli wathanda uJosefa kakhulu kunabantwana bakhe bonke, ngokuba wayeyindodana yobuxhegu bakhe; wamenzela ingubo enemikhono emide. ₄Abafowabo babona ukuthi uyise umthanda kunabafowabo bonke; khona bamzonda, bengenakukhuluma kuye ngokuthula.

₅UJosefa waphupha iphupho, wabalandisa lona abafowabo; babelokhu bemzonda kakhulu. ₆Wathi kubo: “Ake nizwe leli phupho engiliphuphileyo. ₇Bhekani, besibopha izithungu ensimini; naso-ke isithungu sami sivuka sima; nazo-ke izithungu zenu zisiphahla, zisikhothamela isithungu sami.”

₈Base bethi kuye abafowabo: “Impela uyakuba yinkosi yethu, usibuse na?” Bamzonda kakhulu kunakuqala ngenxa yamaphupho akhe namazwi akhe.

₉Waphupha nelinye iphupho, wabalandisa lona abafowabo, wathi: “Bhekani, ngiphuphe nelinye iphupho; bhekani-ke ilanga nenyanga nezinkanyezi eziyishumi nanye kwangikhothamela.”

₁₀Wabalandisa uyise nabafowabo; uyise wamsola, wathi kuye: “Yiphupho lini leli oliphuphileyo na? Impela mina nonyoko nabafowenu siyakuza, sikukhothamele emhlabathini na?” ₁₁Abafowabo baba nomhawu ngaye, kepha uyise wawalonda lawa mazwi.

₁₂Abafowabo baya ukwalusa umhlambi kayise eShekemi. ₁₃U-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Abafowenu abawalusi umhlambi eShekemi na? Woza, ngiyakukuthuma kubo.”

Wathi kuye: “Ngilapha.”

₁₄Wayesethi kuye: “Hamba-ke, ubone ukuthi basahlezi kahle yini abafowenu nomhlambi, uze ungibuyisele izwi.” Wamthuma esuka esigodini saseHebroni, waze wafika eShekemi. ₁₅Umuntu othile wamfumana ezulazula endle; lo muntu wambuza wathi: “Ufunani na?”

₁₆Wathi: “Ngifuna abafowethu; ake ungitshele ukuthi baluselaphi.”

₁₇Wathi lowo muntu: “Basukile lapha, ngokuba ngabezwa bethi: ‘Asiye eDotayini.’ ” UJosefa walandela abafowabo, wabafumana eDotayini. ₁₈Bambona esekude; engakasondeli kubo, bamenzela ugobe lokumbulala.

₁₉Bakhulumisana omunye nomunye, bathi: “Bhekani, inyanga yamaphupho iyeza. ₂₀Ngalokho wozani, siyibulale, siyiphonse komunye wemigodi, bese sithi: ‘Isilwane esibi siyidlile,’ sibone ukuthi azakuba yini amaphupho ayo.”

₂₁URubeni wakuzwa, wamophula esandleni sabo ngokuthi: “Asingambulali.” ₂₂URubeni wathi kubo: “Ningachithi gazi; mphonseni kulo mgodi osehlane, ningabeki isandla kuye,” ukuba amophule esandleni sabo, ambuyisele kuyise.

₂₃Kwathi uJosefa esefike kubafowabo, bamkhumula ingubo yakhe, leyo ngubo enemikhono emide ayeyigqokile. ₂₄Bamthatha, bamphonsa emgodini; umgodi wawungenalutho, kungekho manzi kuwo.

₂₅Bahlala phansi ukuba badle isinkwa; baphakamisa amehlo abo, babona; bheka, kwafika ihele labakwa-Ishmayeli livela kwaGileyadi, linamakamela alo ethwele inhlaka nebhalisamu* nemure,* likwewusela eGibithe.

₂₆Wayesethi uJuda kubafowabo: “Kuyakusizani, uma simbulala umfowethu, sifihle igazi lakhe, na? ₂₇Wozani sithengise ngaye kwabakwa-Ishmayeli, isandla senu singabi phezu kwakhe, ngokuba ungumfowethu, uyinyama yethu.” Abafowabo bamlalela.

₂₈Kwase kudlula abathengi bakwaMidiyani; bamdonsa uJosefa, bamkhuphula emgodini, bathengisa ngoJosefa kwabakwa-Ishmayeli ngezinhlamvu ezingamashumi amabili zesiliva. Labo-ke bamusa uJosefa eGibithe.

₂₉URubeni wabuyela emgodini; bheka, uJosefa wayengasekho emgodini; waklebhula izingubo zakhe. ₃₀Wayesebuyela kubafowabo, ethi: “Akasekho umntwana; mina-ke ngizakushonaphi na?”

₃₁Base bethatha ingubo kaJosefa, bahlaba impongo, bacwilisa ingubo egazini. ₃₂Bathumela leyo ngubo enemikhono emide, bayiyisa kuyise, bathi: “Siyitholile lena; ake ubone, uma le ngubo ingeyendodana yakho yini, noma akusiyo na?”

₃₃Wayibona, wathi: “Yiyo ingubo yendodana yami; isilwane esibi simdlile; yebo, uJosefa udatshuliwe nokudatshulwa.”

₃₄UJakobe wayeseklebhula izingubo zakhe, wafaka indwangu yamasaka okhalweni lwakhe, walilela indodana yakhe izinsuku eziningi. ₃₅Onke amadodana akhe nawo onke amadodakazi akhe asuka ukuyomduduza, kepha wala ukududuzwa, wathi: “Ngiyakwehla, ngiye endodaneni yami endaweni yabafileyo ngilila.” Uyise wamlilela-ke.

₃₆AbakwaMidiyani bathengisa ngaye eGibithe kuPotifari, inceku kaFaro, induna yabalindi bakhe.

₁Kwathi ngaleso sikhathi uJuda wasuka kubafowabo, wehla, waya kumuntu wase-Adulamu ogama lakhe linguHira. ₂UJuda wabona lapho indodakazi yomuntu waseKhanani ogama lakhe linguShuwa; wayithatha, wangena kuyo. ₃Yakhulelwa, yazala indodana, yaqamba igama layo ngokuthi u-Eri. ₄Yabuye yakhulelwa, yazala indodana, yaqamba igama layo ngokuthi u-Onani. ₅Yabuye yazala futhi indodana, yaqamba igama layo ngokuthi uShela; uJuda wayeseKesibi ekuyizaleni kwayo.

₆UJuda wamthathela u-Eri izibulo lakhe umfazi ogama lakhe linguTamari. ₇U-Eri izibulo likaJuda wayemubi emehlweni kaJehova; uJehova wambulala.

₈UJuda wathi ku-Onani: “Yiya kumkamfowenu, umngene, umvusele umfowenu inzalo.” ₉U-Onani wayekwazi ukuthi inzalo ayiyikuba ngeyakhe; kwathi nxa engena kumkamfowabo, wachitha emhlabathini ukuba angamniki umfowabo inzalo. ₁₀Kwaba kubi emehlweni kaJehova lokho akwenzileyo; wambulala naye futhi.

₁₁UJuda wayesethi kuTamari umalokazana wakhe: “Hlala ungumfelokazi endlini kayihlo, aze akhule uShela indodana yami,” ngokuba wathi: “Ukuba angafi njengabafowabo.” UTamari waya wahlala kwabo.

₁₂Emva kwezinsuku eziningi yafa indodakazi kaShuwa umkaJuda; eseduduzekile uJuda wakhuphuka, waya kubo abagundi bezimvu zakhe eThimna, yena kanye nomhlobo wakhe uHira wase-Adulamu.

₁₃Kwatshelwa uTamari ukuthi: “Bheka, uyihlozala uyakhuphukela eThimna ukuyogunda izimvu zakhe.” ₁₄Wayesekhumula izingubo zakhe zobufelokazi, wagubuzela, wazimboza, wahlala esangweni lase-Enayimi ngasendleleni eya eThimna, ngokuba wabona ukuthi uShela usekhulile, engamnikwa nokho abe ngumkakhe.

₁₅UJuda esembona wacabanga ukuthi uyisifebe, ngokuba wayegubuzele ubuso. ₁₆Waphambukela kuye endleleni, wathi: “Woza, ake ngingene kuwe,” ngokuba wayengazi ukuthi ungumalokazana wakhe.

Wathi: “Uyakungiphani ukuba ungene kimi na?”

₁₇Wayesethi: “Mina ngizakukuthumela izinyane lembuzi elisemhlambini.”

Wathi: “Uzakunginika isibambiso, uze ulithume, na?”

₁₈Wathi: “Ngikuphe sibambiso sini na?”

Wathi: “Indandatho yakho, nentambo yakho, nodondolo lwakho olusesandleni sakho.” Wamupha, wangena kuye; wakhuliselwa nguye. ₁₉Wasuka, wahamba, wakhumula iveli lakhe, wembatha izingubo zakhe zobufelokazi.

₂₀UJuda wathuma izinyane lembuzi ngesandla somhlobo wakhe wase-Adulamu ukuba athathe isibambiso esandleni sowesifazane, kepha akamfumananga. ₂₁Wayesebuza abantu bendawo yakhe, wathi: “Siphi isifebe esasise-Enayimi ngasendleleni na?”

Bathi: “Akuzange kube khona isifebe lapha.”

₂₂Wayesebuyela kuJuda, ethi: “Angisifumananga; nabantu bendawo bathi: ‘Akuzange kube khona isifebe lapha.’ ”

₂₃Wathi uJuda: “Masizithathele sona, funa sibe nehlazo; bheka, ngithume leli zinyane, kepha awusifumananga.”

₂₄Kwathi emva kwezinyanga ezintathu uJuda watshelwa ukuthi: “UTamari umalokazana wakho ufebile; bheka, futhi ukhulelwe ngokufeba kwakhe.”

UJuda wathi: “Mletheni, ashiswe.”

₂₅Eselethiwe wathumela kuyisezala, wathi: “Ngikhuleliswe yile ndoda engumnini walezi zinto.” Wathi futhi: “Ake ubone ukuthi ngokukabani le ndandatho, nale ntambo, nalolu dondolo na?”

₂₆Wakuvuma uJuda, wathi: “Ulungile kunami, njengokuba ngingamnikanga uShela indodana yami.” Akabange esamazi futhi.

₂₇Kwathi ngesikhathi sokubeletha kwakhe, bheka, ngamawele asesiswini sakhe. ₂₈Kwathi esabeletha, omunye wakhipha isandla; umbelethisi wathatha, wabopha esandleni sakhe ngentambo ebomvu, wathi: “Lo uphume kuqala.” ₂₉Kwathi ukuba afinyeze isandla sakhe, nangu umfowabo ephuma; wathi: “Ufuzuleleni na?” Ngalokho igama lakhe laqanjwa ngokuthi uPheresi.* ₃₀Ngasemuva waphuma umfowabo owayenentambo ebomvu esandleni sakhe; igama lakhe lathiwa uZera.

₁UJosefa wehliselwa eGibithe; uPotifari inceku kaFaro, induna yemilindankosi, owaseGibithe, wamthenga esandleni sabakwa-Ishmayeli ababemehlisele khona.

₂UJehova wayenaye uJosefa, waba ngumuntu onenhlanhla; wayesendlini yenkosi yakhe yaseGibithe. ₃Inkosi yakhe yabona ukuthi uJehova unaye nokuthi konke akwenzayo uJehova wakuphumelelisa esandleni sakhe. ₄UJosefa wafumana umusa emehlweni ayo, wayikhonza; yambeka abe yinduna phezu kwendlu yayo, nakho konke okwayo yakunikela esandleni sakhe. ₅Kusukela kuleso sikhathi embeke ngaso ukuba abe yinduna phezu kwendlu yayo naphezu kwakho konke okwayo, uJehova wabusisa indlu yowaseGibithe ngenxa kaJosefa; isibusiso sikaJehova sasikukho konke okwayo endlini nasensimini. ₆Yashiya konke okwayo esandleni sikaJosefa; yayingazi lutho olwayo, ukudla eyakudlayo kuphela. UJosefa wayengumgembeleza, eyigeza.

₇Kwathi emva kwalezo zinto umkankosi yakhe waphonsa amehlo kuJosefa, wathi: “Lala nami.”

₈Kepha wala, wathi kumkankosi yakhe: “Bheka, inkosi yami ayikwazi enginakho endlini, inikele konke okwayo esandleni sami; ₉ayinkulu kunami kule ndlu; futhi ayingigodlelanga lutho ngaphandle kwakho kuphela, ngokuba ungumkayo; pho, ngingenza kanjani lobo bubi obungaka, ngone kuNkulunkulu na?” ₁₀Kwathi esakhuluma kuJosefa izinsuku ngezinsuku, akamlalelanga ukuba alale naye, nokuba abe naye.

₁₁Kwathi ngosuku lumbe engena endlini ukuyokwenza imisebenzi yakhe, kungekho lapho phakathi noyedwa owendlu, ₁₂wambamba ngengubo yakhe, wathi: “Lala nami,” kepha washiya ingubo yakhe esandleni sakhe, wabaleka, wagijimela phandle.

₁₃Kwathi esebone ukuthi ushiyile ingubo esandleni sakhe, wabaleka, ₁₄wabiza abantu bendlu, wakhuluma kubo, wathi: “Bonani usilethele umHeberu ukuba adlale ngathi; uze kimina ukuba alale nami; ngamemeza ngezwi elikhulu; ₁₅wathi ezwa ukuthi ngiphakamisa izwi lami ngimemeza, washiya ingubo yakhe kimi, wabaleka, wagijimela phandle.”

₁₆Wayesebeka le ngubo kuye, yaze yafika ekhaya inkosi yakhe. ₁₇Wakhuluma kuyo wona lawa mazwi, wathi: “Le nceku engumHeberu, osilethele yona, ize kimi ukuba idlale ngami; ₁₈kwathi ukuba ngiphakamise izwi lami ngimemeza, yashiya ingubo yayo kimi, yabalekela phandle.”

₁₉Yathi inkosi yakhe isizwe amazwi omkayo ayewakhulume kuyo, ethi: “Yenze njalo kimi inceku yakho,” lwavutha ulaka lwayo. ₂₀Inkosi kaJosefa yamthatha, yamfaka etilongweni, indawo lapho iziboshwa zenkosi zaziboshwa khona; waba khona etilongweni. ₂₁Kepha uJehova wayenaye uJosefa, wamupha umusa, wamenzela ububele emehlweni omlindi wetilongo. ₂₂Umlindi wetilongo wanikela esandleni sikaJosefa zonke iziboshwa ezazisetilongweni; konke ezazikwenza khona nguyena owayekwenza. ₂₃Umlindi wetilongo akabanga esabheka lutho olusesandleni sakhe, ngokuba uJehova wayenaye, nalokho akwenzayo uJehova wakuphumelelisa.

₁Kwathi emva kwalezo zinto umphathizitsha wenkosi yaseGibithe nomphekizinkwa wayo bona enkosini yabo, inkosi yaseGibithe. ₂UFaro wazithukuthelela lezo zinceku zakhe zombili, induna yabaphathizitsha nenduna yabaphekizinkwa. ₃Wazibeka ukuba zilindwe endlini yenduna yemilindankosi etilongweni, indawo lapho wayeboshwe khona uJosefa. ₄Induna yemilindankosi yamyala ngazo uJosefa ukuba azibheke; wazikhonza; zazisekulindweni izinsukwana. ₅Baphupha iphupho bobabili, kwaba yilowo nalowo iphupho lakhe ngabusuku bunye, yilowo nalowo ngokokuchazwa kwephupho lakhe, umphathizitsha nomphekizinkwa wenkosi yaseGibithe, ababeboshwe etilongweni.

₆UJosefa wangena kubo ekuseni, wabona ukuthi badabukile. ₇Wayesebuza izinceku zikaFaro ezazinaye zilindwe endlini yenkosi yakhe, ethi: “Ubuso benu budabukeleni namuhla na?”

₈Bathi kuye: “Siphuphe iphupho, akakho ongalichaza.”

UJosefa wathi kubo: “Ukuchaza akusikho okukaNkulunkulu na? Ake ningilandise lona.”

₉Induna yabaphathizitsha yayisimlandisa uJosefa iphupho layo, yathi kuye: “Ephusheni lami kwakukhona umvini phambi kwami; ₁₀emvinini kwakukhona amagatsha amathathu; wahluma qede wakhahlela, amahlukuzo awo athela izithelo. ₁₁Indebe kaFaro yayisesandleni sami; ngathatha izithelo zomvini, ngazikhamela endebeni kaFaro, indebe ngayinikela esandleni sikaFaro.”

₁₂Wathi uJosefa kuye: “Nakho ukuchazwa kwalo: lawo magatsha amathathu ayizinsuku ezintathu; ₁₃zingakadluli izinsuku ezintathu, uFaro uzakuphakamisa ikhanda lakho, akubuyisele esikhundleni sakho; uzakunikela indebe esandleni sikaFaro njengokwenza kwakho kwakuqala, lapho wawungumphathizitsha wakhe. ₁₄Kepha ngikhumbule, nxa usuhlezi kahle, ungenzele umusa, ungibike kuFaro, ungikhiphe kule ndlu. ₁₅Ngokuba ngebiwa nokwebiwa ezweni lamaHeberu, nalapha futhi angenzanga lutho ukuba bangifake emgodini.”

₁₆Kwathi induna yabaphekizinkwa ibona ukuthi lokho kuchazwa kwakukuhle, yathi kuJosefa: “Nakimi ephusheni lami kwakungathi kukhona amaqoma amathathu esinkwa esimhlophe ekhanda lami. ₁₇Eqomeni elingaphezulu kwakukhona izinhlobo zonke zokudla kukaFaro; izinyoni zazikudla eqomeni eliphezu kwekhanda lami.”

₁₈UJosefa waphendula wathi: “Lokhu kungukuchazwa kwalo: lawo maqoma amathathu ayizinsuku ezintathu; ₁₉zingakadluli izinsuku ezintathu, uFaro uzakuphakamisa ikhanda lakho, alisuse kuwe, akuphanyeke emthini; izinyoni ziyakudla inyama yakho, ziyisuse kuwe.”

₂₀Kwathi ngosuku lwesithathu, usuku lokuzalwa kukaFaro, wazenzela izinceku zakhe zonke idili, waphakamisa ikhanda lenduna yabaphathizitsha nelenduna yabaphekizinkwa phakathi kwezinceku zakhe. ₂₁Wayibuyisela induna yabaphathizitsha esikhundleni sayo, waze wanikela indebe esandleni sikaFaro; ₂₂kepha wayiphanyeka induna yabaphekizinkwa, njengalokho ebebachazele uJosefa.

₂₃Nokho induna yabaphathizitsha ayamkhumbula uJosefa, yamkhohlwa.

₁Kwathi ngasekupheleni kweminyaka emibili waphupha uFaro; bheka, wayemi ngasemfuleni. ₂Bheka, kwakhuphuka emfuleni izithole eziyisikhombisa ezibukeka kahle, zikhuluphele, zadla emhlangeni. ₃Nazo ezinye izithole eziyisikhombisa zenyuka emfuleni emva kwazo, zibukeka kabi, zondile; zema kwezinye izithole ogwini lomfula. ₄Izithole ezibukeka kabi ezondileyo zadla izithole ezibukeka kahle ezikhulupheleyo. Wayesephaphama uFaro.

₅Walala ubuthongo, waphupha ngokwesibili; bheka, kwahluma izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezeleni linye, zibhoxile, zizinhle. ₆Bheka, nezikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezincane, ezihamukile ngumoya wasempumalanga, zahluma emva kwazo. ₇Izikhwebu ezincane zagwinya izikhwebu ezibhoxileyo ezipheleleyo. Wayesephaphama uFaro; bheka, kwakuyiphupho.

₈Kwathi ekuseni umoya wakhe wakhathazeka; wathuma wabiza izanusi zonke zaseGibithe nezihlakaniphi zonke zalo; uFaro wazilandisa iphupho lakhe; kepha akubangakho ongachazela wona uFaro.

₉Yayisikhuluma induna yabaphathizitsha kuFaro, ithi: “Ngiyakhumbula namuhla amacala ami. ₁₀UFaro wathukuthelela izinceku zakhe, wangifaka ukuba ngilindwe endlini yenduna yemilindankosi, mina kanye nenduna yabaphekizinkwa. ₁₁Saphupha iphupho ngabona lobo busuku mina naye. Saphupha, kwaba yilowo nalowo ngokokuchazwa kwephupho lakhe. ₁₂Kwakukhona nathi lapho insizwa, umHeberu, inceku yenduna yemilindankosi; sayilandisa yona, yasichazela amaphupho ethu, yachazela, kwaba yilowo nalowo ngokwephupho lakhe. ₁₃Kwathi njengalokho yasichazela, kwaba njalo; mina inkosi yangibuyisela esikhundleni sami, yena yamphanyeka.”

₁₄UFaro wayesethuma wambiza uJosefa; bashesha bamkhipha emgodini; waphucula, waphendulela ezinye izingubo, wangena kuFaro.

₁₅Wayesethi uFaro kuJosefa: “Ngiphuphe iphupho, kakho ongalichaza; sengizwe kuthiwa ngawe, lapho ulizwa iphupho, ungalichaza.”

₁₆UJosefa wamphendula uFaro, wathi: “Akukimi lokho; uNkulunkulu uzakumphendula kahle uFaro.”

₁₇UFaro wakhuluma kuJosefa, wathi: “Ephusheni lami, bheka, ngangimi ogwini lomfula; ₁₈bheka, kwase kukhuphuka emfuleni izithole eziyisikhombisa ezikhulupheleyo ezibukeka kahle; zadla emhlangeni. ₁₉Nazo ezinye izithole eziyisikhombisa zenyuka emva kwazo, zizacile, zibukeka kabi kakhulu, zondile, engingazange ngibone ezimbi njengalezo ezweni lonke laseGibithe. ₂₀Izithole ezondileyo ezimbi zadla eziyisikhombisa zokuqala ezikhulupheleyo. ₂₁Lapho sezingene eziswini zazo, akwabonakala ukuthi zingene eziswini zazo; zazisabukeka zizimbi njengakuqala. Ngase ngiphaphama.

₂₂“Futhi ngabona ephusheni lami, bheka, kwahluma izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezeleni linye, ziphelele, zizinhle. ₂₃Bheka, nezikhwebu eziyizintshwamu ezincane, ezihamukile ngumoya wasempumalanga, zahluma emva kwazo. ₂₄Izikhwebu ezincane zagwinya izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezinhle; ngakulandisa izanusi, kepha sasingekho esingangazisa khona.”

₂₅UJosefa wayesethi kuFaro: “Iphupho likaFaro linye; lokho uNkulunkulu azakukwenza umazise uFaro khona. ₂₆Izithole eziyisikhombisa ezinhle ziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa; izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezinhle ziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa; iphupho linye. ₂₇Izithole ezondileyo ezimbi ezakhuphuka emva kwazo ziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa kanye nezikhwebu ezincane, ezihamukile ngumoya wasempumalanga; ziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala.

₂₈“Yikho lokhu engikushilo kuFaro: lokho uNkulunkulu asezakukwenza ukubonakalisile kuFaro. ₂₉Bheka, kuyeza iminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala enkulu ezweni lonke laseGibithe. ₃₀Emva kwayo iyakuvela iminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala; iyakukhohlakala inala yonke ezweni laseGibithe; indlala iyakuliqeda izwe. ₃₁Inala ayiyukwaziwa ezweni ngenxa yendlala elandelayo, ngokuba iyakuba nzima kakhulu. ₃₂Lokhu ukuthi iphupho liphindwe kabili kuFaro, kungokuba le nto inqunywe nguNkulunkulu, futhi uNkulunkulu uyakushesha ayenze.

₃₃“Manje uFaro makakhethe umuntu oqaphelayo ohlakaniphileyo, ambeke phezu kwezwe laseGibithe. ₃₄Makenze njalo uFaro, abeke ababonisi phezu kwezwe, bahlukanise okwesihlanu kwezwe laseGibithe ngeminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala. ₃₅Mababuthe konke ukudla kwale minyaka emihle ezayo, banqwabele phansi kwesandla sikaFaro amabele emizini, abe ngukudla, bawalonde. ₃₆Lokhu kudla kuyakubekelelwa izwe ngenxa yeminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala eyakuba khona ezweni laseGibithe ukuba izwe lingabhubhi ngendlala.”

₃₇Leli zwi laba lihle emehlweni kaFaro nasemehlweni ezinceku zakhe zonke. ₃₈Wayesethi uFaro ezincekwini zakhe: “Singamthola yini umuntu onjalo, onoMoya kaNkulunkulu, na?”

₃₉Wathi uFaro kuJosefa: “Njengokuba uNkulunkulu ekwazise wena konke lokhu, akakho oqaphelayo ohlakaniphileyo njengawe. ₄₀Wena uzakuba phezu kwendlu yami; ngezwi lakho bayakuhlelwa bonke abantu bami; esihlalweni sobukhosi kuphela ngiyakuba mkhulu kunawe.”

₄₁Wathi uFaro kuJosefa: “Bheka, sengikubeke phezu kwezwe lonke laseGibithe.” ₄₂UFaro wayesekhumula indandatho yakhe esandleni sakhe, wayifaka esandleni sikaJosefa, wamembathisa izingubo zelineni elicolekileyo, wafaka umnaka wegolide entanyeni yakhe. ₄₃Wamkhwelisa enqoleni yesibili emva kwakhe; bamemeza phambi kwakhe, bathi: “Guqani!” Wambeka phezu kwezwe lonke laseGibithe.

₄₄UFaro wathi kuJosefa: “NginguFaro; ngaphandle kwakho akuyikuphakamisa muntu isandla sakhe nonyawo lwakhe ezweni lonke laseGibithe.” ₄₅UFaro waqamba igama likaJosefa ngokuthi uSafenati Phaneya; wamnika u-Asenati indodakazi kaPotifera umpristi wase-Oni abe ngumkakhe. UJosefa waphuma, wahamba izwe lonke laseGibithe.

₄₆UJosefa wayeneminyaka engamashumi amathathu mhla emi phambi kukaFaro inkosi yaseGibithe. UJosefa waphuma ebusweni bukaFaro, wahamba izwe lonke laseGibithe. ₄₇Ngeminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala umhlaba wathela kakhulu. ₄₈Waqoqa konke ukudla kwale minyaka eyisikhombisa eyayisezweni laseGibithe, wabekelela ukudla emizini; ukudla kwamasimu azungeza yilowo nalowo muzi wakubekelela kuwo. ₄₉UJosefa waqongelela amabele angangesihlabathi solwandle, okuningi kakhulu, waze wayeka ukubala, ngokuba kwakungenakubalwa.

₅₀UJosefa wazalelwa amadodana amabili, kungakafiki mnyaka wendlala, amzalela wona u-Asenati indodakazi kaPotifera umpristi wase-Oni. ₅₁UJosefa waqamba igama lezibulo ngokuthi uManase,* wathi: “Ngokuba uNkulunkulu ungenze ngikhohlwe konke ukuhlupheka kwami nendlu yonke kababa.” ₅₂Igama lowesibili waliqamba ngokuthi u-Efrayimi,* wathi: “Ngokuba uNkulunkulu ungenze ngizale ezweni lokuhlupheka kwami.”

₅₃Iminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala eyayisezweni laseGibithe yaphela. ₅₄Iminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala yayisiqala ukufika, njengalokho eshilo uJosefa; kwakuyindlala emazweni onke; kepha ezweni lonke laseGibithe ukudla kwakukhona. ₅₅Kwathi selilambile izwe lonke laseGibithe, abantu bakhala kuFaro ngokudla; uFaro wathi kubo bonke abaseGibithe: “Yanini kuJosefa; lokho anitshela khona, nikwenze.”

₅₆Indlala yayisebusweni bezwe lonke; uJosefa wavula zonke izinqolobane, wathengisela abaseGibithe; indlala yayinzima ezweni laseGibithe. ₅₇Amazwe onke afika kuJosefa eGibithe ukuyothenga amabele, ngokuba indlala yayinzima emhlabeni wonke.

₁Kwathi ngosuku lokuqala lweviki uMariya Magdalena wafika ethuneni ekuseni kusemnyama, wabona itshe lisusiwe ethuneni. ₂Khona wayesegijima waya kuSimoni Petru nakulowo mfundi omunye uJesu amthandayo, wathi kubo: “Bayisusile iNkosi ethuneni, asazi lapha beyibeke khona.”

₃Ngakho wayesephuma uPetru nomunye umfundi, beza ethuneni. ₄Bagijima bobabili kanyekanye; kepha umfundi omunye wagijima kakhulu kunoPetru, wafika kuqala ethuneni; ₅elunguza wabona izindwangu zelineni zikhona, kepha akangenanga. ₆Khona wafika noSimoni Petru emlandela, wangena ethuneni, wabona izindwangu zelineni zikhona, ₇neduku ebelisekhanda lakhe libekiwe lingekho ezindwangwini zelineni, kepha lisongwe lilodwa kwenye indawo. ₈Khona wayesengena nomfundi omunye ofike kuqala ethuneni, wabona, wakholwa; ₉ngokuba bebengakawuqondi umbhalo wokuthi ubefanele ukuvuka kwabafileyo.

₁₀Base bemuka abafundi, baphindela kubo.

₁₁Kepha uMariya wema ethuneni ngaphandle ekhala; esakhala walunguza ethuneni; ₁₂wabona izingelosi ezimbili zembethe okumhlophe, zihlezi, enye ngasekhanda nenye ngasezinyaweni, lapho isidumbu sikaJesu besilele khona.

₁₃Zona-ke zathi kuye: “Mame, ukhalelani na?”

Wathi kuzo: “Bayithathile iNkosi yami, futhi angazi ukuthi bayibekephi.” ₁₄Eseshilo lokho waphenduka, wabona uJesu emi, kepha wayengazi ukuthi nguJesu.

₁₅UJesu wathi kuye: “Mame, ukhalelani na? Ufuna bani na?”

Kepha yena ethi ngumphathi wensimu wathi kuye: “Nkosi, uma umsusile, ngitshele ukuthi umbekephi, ngiye ngiyakumthatha mina.”

₁₆UJesu wathi kuye: “Mariya!”

Waphenduka, wathi kuye ngesiHeberu: “Rabuni,” okungukuthi: “Mfundisi.”

₁₇UJesu wathi kuye: “Ungangithinti, ngokuba angikenyukeli kuBaba. Kepha yana kubazalwane bami, ubatshele ukuthi ngenyukela kuBaba noYihlo, kuNkulunkulu wami noNkulunkulu wenu.”

₁₈UMariya Magdalena weza wabikela abafundi ukuthi: “Ngiyibonile iNkosi,” nokuthi: “Ishilo lokho kimi.”

₁₉Kwathi-ke kusihlwa ngalolo suku, olokuqala lweviki, iminyango ivaliwe lapho abafundi bekhona ngokwesaba abaJuda, uJesu wafika wema phakathi kwabo, wathi kubo: “Ukuthula makube kinina.” ₂₀Eseshilo lokho wabakhombisa izandla nohlangothi lwakhe. Base bethokoza abafundi beyibona iNkosi.

₂₁Khona uJesu wabuye wathi kubo: “Ukuthula makube kinina. Njengokuba uBaba engithume mina, nami ngiyanithuma nina.” ₂₂Kwathi ukuba asho njalo, wabaphephetha, wathi kubo: “Yamukelani uMoya oNgcwele. ₂₃Enibathethelela izono zabo bathethelelwe; nenibabamba ngazo babanjiwe.”

₂₄Kepha uTomase, omunye kwabayishumi nambili, othiwa uDidimu, wayengekho kubo mhla efika uJesu. ₂₅Ngakho-ke abanye abafundi bathi kuye: “Siyibonile iNkosi.”

Kepha wathi kubo: “Uma ngingaboni ezandleni zayo inxeba lezipikili, ngifake umunwe wami enxebeni lezipikili, ngifake isandla sami ohlangothini lwayo, angisoze ngakholwa.”

₂₆Emva kwezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili abafundi bakhe babesendlini futhi, uTomase enabo. UJesu wafika iminyango ivaliwe, wema phakathi kwabo, wathi: “Ukuthula makube kinina.” ₂₇Wayesethi kuTomase: “Zisa lapha umunwe wakho, ubone izandla zami; zisa isandla sakho, usifake ohlangothini lwami; ungabi ngongakholwayo kodwa okholwayo.”

₂₈UTomase waphendula, wathi kuye: “Nkosi yami, Nkulunkulu wami!”

₂₉UJesu wathi kuye: “Ngokuba ungibonile, ukholiwe na? Babusisiwe abakholwa bengabonanga.”

₃₀Izibonakaliso ezinye eziningi uJesu wazenza phambi kwabafundi bakhe, ezingalotshiwe kule ncwadi. ₃₁Kodwa lezi zilotshiwe ukuba nikholwe ukuthi uJesu unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, nokuba nikholwe, nibe nokuphila egameni lakhe.

₁Emva kwalokho uJesu wabuye wazibonakalisa kubafundi ngaselwandle lwaseTiberiya; wazibonakalisa kanje: ₂kwakukhona ndawonye oSimoni Petru, noTomase othiwa uDidimu, noNathanayeli waseKhana laseGalile, nabakaZebedewu, nabanye ababili kubafundi bakhe. ₃USimoni Petru wathi kubo: “Ngiya kodoba.”

Bathi kuye: “Nathi sihamba nawe.” Base bephuma, bangena emkhunjini; kepha ngalobo busuku ababambanga lutho.

₄Kuthe sekusa, uJesu wayemi ogwini. Kepha abafundi babengazi ukuthi nguJesu.

₅UJesu wathi-ke kubo: “Bantwana, aninakho ukudla na?”

Bamphendula bathi: “Qha.”

₆Wayesethi kubo: “Phonsani inetha ngakwesokunene somkhumbi, nizakuthola.” Base bephonsa, ababe besaba namandla ukulidonsa ngenxa yobuningi bezinhlanzi.

₇Khona lowo mfundi uJesu amthandayo wathi kuPetru: “YiNkosi.” USimoni Petru, ekuzwa ukuthi yiNkosi, wagqoka, ngokuba wayehamba ze, waziphonsa elwandle. ₈Kepha abanye abafundi beza ngesikebhe, ngokuba bebengekude nenhlabathi kepha kungathi izingalo ezingamakhulu amabili, bedonsa inetha linezinhlanzi. ₉Kuthe sebephumele emhlabathini, babona umlilo wamalahle, nezinhlanzi zibekwe kuwo, nesinkwa.

₁₀UJesu wathi kubo: “Lethani izinhlanzi kwenizibambe manje.”

₁₁Wasuka uSimoni Petru, walihudulela emhlabathini inetha. Ligcwele izinhlanzi ezinkulu, ziyikhulu namashumi ayisihlanu nantathu; noma zingako, inetha alidabukanga. ₁₂UJesu wathi kubo: “Wozani nidle.” Kepha akwabakho kubafundi owaba nesibindi sokumbuza ngokuthi: “Ungubani wena na?” Bazi ukuthi yiyo iNkosi. ₁₃UJesu weza, wathabatha isinkwa, wabapha, nezinhlanzi futhi. ₁₄Lokho sekungokwesithathu uJesu ebonakaliswa kubafundi, esevukile kwabafileyo.

₁₅Khona sebedlile uJesu wathi kuSimoni Petru: “Simoni kaJona, uyangithanda kunalaba na?”

Wathi kuye: “Yebo, Nkosi, uyazi wena ukuthi ngiyakuthanda.”

Wathi kuye: “Yipha amawundlu ami.”

₁₆Wabuye wathi kuye ngokwesibili: “Simoni kaJona, uyangithanda na?”

Wathi kuye: “Yebo, Nkosi, uyazi wena ukuthi ngiyakuthanda.”

Wathi kuye: “Yalusa izimvu zami.”

₁₇Wathi kuye ngokwesithathu: “Simoni kaJona, uyangithanda na?”

UPetru wadabuka ngokuba wathi kuye ngokwesithathu: “Uyangithanda na?” Wathi kuye: “Nkosi, wazi konke wena, uyazi ukuthi ngiyakuthanda.”

UJesu wathi kuye: “Yipha izimvu zami. ₁₈Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Usemusha wawugqoka, uhambe lapho uthanda khona; kepha nxa usumdala, uyakwelula izandla zakho, omunye akugqokise, akuyise lapho ungathandi khona. ₁₉Kepha wakusho lokho ekhomba ukufa azakumdumisa uNkulunkulu ngakho.” Eseshilo lokho wathi: “Ngilandele.”

₂₀UPetru ephenduka wabona umfundi uJesu amthandayo elandela, oyena futhi wayencike esifubeni sakhe ekudleni, nowathi: “Nkosi, ngubani ozakukukhaphela na?” ₂₁Kuthe uPetru embona lowo, wathi kuJesu: “Nkosi, kepha lona, pho?”

₂₂UJesu wathi kuye: “Uma ngithanda ukuba ahlale ngize ngifike, kuyini kuwe na? Wena landela mina.” ₂₃Ngakho-ke leli zwi laphumela kubazalwane lokuthi lowo mfundi akayikufa. Kanti uJesu akashongo ukuthi akayikufa kodwa ukuthi: “Uma ngithanda ukuba ahlale ngize ngifike, kuyini kuwe na?”

₂₄Nguye lo mfundi ofakaza ngalezi zinto nokulobile lokhu; siyazi ukuthi ubufakazi bakhe buqinisile.

₂₅Kukhona nezinye izinto eziningi azenza uJesu; uma zilotshiwe zona ngazinye, ngithi nezwe lonke lingezanele izincwadi ezingalotshwa.