To The Word – Day 115

₁Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJehu indodana kaHanani ngoBahasha, lathi: ₂“Njengokuba ngakuphakamisa othulini, ngakubeka umbusi wabantu bami u-Israyeli, kepha uhambe endleleni kaJerobowamu, wonisa abantu bami u-Israyeli ukuba bangicunule ngezono zabo, ₃bheka, ngiyakukhukhula nokukhukhula uBahasha nendlu yakhe, ngenze indlu yakho ibe njengendlu kaJerobowamu indodana kaNebati. ₄Yena wakwaBahasha ofela emzini uyakudliwa yizinja, nalowo wakwakhe ofela endle uyakudliwa yizinyoni zezulu.”

₅Ezinye izindaba zikaBahasha, nakwenzayo, namandla akhe, angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli na? ₆UBahasha wayeselala koyise, wembelwa eTirisa; u-Ela indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₇Kwafika ngesandla somprofethi uJehu indodana kaHanani izwi likaJehova ngoBahasha nendlu yakhe ngenxa yakho konke okubi akwenza emehlweni kaJehova ukuthi wamcunula ngomsebenzi wezandla zakhe, waba njengendlu kaJerobowamu, nangenxa yokuba wayiqothula.

₈Ngomnyaka wamashumi amabili nesithupha ka-Asa, inkosi yakwaJuda, u-Ela, indodana kaBahasha, waqala ukubusa phezu kuka-Israyeli eTirisa, wabusa iminyaka emibili.

₉Inceku yakhe uZimri, induna yenxenye yezinqola zakhe, yamenzela ugobe; eseTirisa ephuzile waze wadakwa endlini ka-Arisa owayephezu kwabendlu yaseTirisa, ₁₀uZimri wangena, wamshaya, wambulala ngomnyaka wamashumi amabili nesikhombisa ka-Asa inkosi yakwaJuda, waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁₁Kwathi esaqala nje ukubusa, esehlezi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, wabulala yonke indlu kaBahasha, kamshiyelanga nomntwana oyedwa owesilisa kwabazalana naye nakubo abangane bakhe. ₁₂UZimri waqeda kanjalo yonke indlu kaBahasha, njengezwi likaJehova alikhuluma ngoBahasha ngesandla sikaJehu umprofethi, ₁₃ngenxa yezono zonke zikaBahasha nezono zika-Ela indodana yakhe one ngazo, futhi onise ngazo u-Israyeli, baze bacunula uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ngezithombe zabo.

₁₄Ezinye izindaba zika-Ela nakho konke akwenzayo angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli na?

₁₅Ngomnyaka wamashumi amabili nesikhombisa ka-Asa inkosi yakwaJuda, uZimri waba yinkosi izinsuku eziyisikhombisa eTirisa. Abantu base bemisile ngaseGibethoni elalingelamaFilisti. ₁₆Abantu ababemisile bezwa kuthiwa: “UZimri wenzile ugobe, ubulele nenkosi;” ngalokho wonke u-Israyeli wambeka u-Omri induna yempi abe yinkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli ngalolo suku ekamu.* ₁₇U-Omri wenyuka eGibethoni wonke u-Israyeli enaye, bavimbezela iTirisa. ₁₈Kwathi uZimri esebonile ukuthi umuzi uthathiwe, wangena enqabeni yendlu yenkosi, wayishisa indlu yenkosi phezu kwakhe ngomlilo, wafa ₁₉ngenxa yezono zakhe one ngazo ngokwenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, ngokuhamba endleleni kaJerobowamu nasesonweni sakhe asenzayo ukuba onise u-Israyeli.

₂₀Ezinye izindaba zikaZimri nogobe alwenzayo angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli na?

₂₁Khona abantu bakwa-Israyeli bahlukana kabili; inxenye yabantu yalandela uThibini, indodana kaGinati, ukuba bambeke inkosi, inxenye yalandela u-Omri. ₂₂Kepha abantu ababemlandela u-Omri bahlula abantu ababemlandela uThibini indodana kaGinati; wayesefa uThibini, u-Omri waba yinkosi.

₂₃Ngomnyaka wamashumi amathathu nanye ka-Asa inkosi yakwaJuda u-Omri waba yinkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli, wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nambili; wabusa iminyaka eyisithupha eTirisa. ₂₄Wathenga intaba yaseSamariya kuShemere ngamatalenta* amabili esiliva, wakha entabeni, waqamba igama lomuzi awakhileyo ngegama likaShemere umninintaba ngokuthi iSamariya.

₂₅Kepha u-Omri wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, wenza kabi kunabo bonke ababe ngaphambi kwakhe. ₂₆Ngokuba wahamba ezindleleni zonke zikaJerobowamu, indodana kaNebati, nasezonweni zakhe onisa ngazo u-Israyeli, baze bacunula uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ngezithombe zabo.

₂₇Ezinye izindaba zika-Omri azenzayo namandla awabonakalisayo angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli na? ₂₈U-Omri wayeselala koyise, wembelwa eSamariya; u-Ahabi, indodana yakhe, waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₂₉U-Ahabi, indodana ka-Omri, waqala ukubusa phezu kuka-Israyeli ngomnyaka wamashumi amathathu nesishiyagalombili ka-Asa; u-Ahabi, indodana ka-Omri, wabusa phezu kuka-Israyeli eSamariya iminyaka engamashumi amabili nambili. ₃₀Kepha u-Ahabi, indodana ka-Omri, wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova kunabo bonke ababe ngaphambi kwakhe. ₃₁Kwathi lapho kuyinto elula kuye ukuhamba ezonweni zikaJerobowamu, indodana kaNebati, wathatha u-Izebeli, indodakazi ka-Etibali inkosi yamaSidoni, abe ngumkakhe, waya wakhonza uBali, wakhuleka kuye. ₃₂Wammisela uBali i-altare endlini kaBali abeyakhile eSamariya. ₃₃U-Ahabi wamenza u-Ashera;* u-Ahabi wenezela waze wacunula uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kunawo onke amakhosi akwa-Israyeli ayengaphambi kwakhe.

₃₄Ezinsukwini zakhe uHiyeli waseBethele wabuye wakha iJeriko; wabeka isisekelo salo ngokulahlekelwa ngu-Abiramu izibulo lakhe, wamisa amasango alo ngokulahlekelwa yithunjana lakhe uSegubi, njengezwi likaJehova owalikhuluma ngesandla sikaJoshuwa indodana kaNuni.

₁U-Eliya waseThishibi, owayengowabagogobeleyo kwaGileyadi, wathi ku-Ahabi: “Kuphila kukaJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, engimi phambi kwakhe, akuyikubakho mazolo namvula kule minyaka, kuphela ngesiyalezo sezwi lami.”

₂Izwi likaJehova lafika kuye, lathi: ₃“Suka lapha, uye ngasempumalanga, ucashe ngasemfudlaneni iKeriti ongaphambi kweJordani. ₄Kuyakuthi uphuze emfudlaneni; ngiyalile amagwababa ukuba akondle khona.”

₅Wahamba wenza njengezwi likaJehova, ngokuba wahamba wahlala ngasemfudlaneni iKeriti ongaphambi kweJordani. ₆Amagwababa amlethela isinkwa nenyama ekuseni, nesinkwa nenyama kusihlwa, waphuza emfudlaneni.

₇Kwathi ekupheleni kwezinsuku umfudlana washa, ngokuba yayingekho imvula ezweni.

₈Kwase kufika izwi likaJehova kuye, lathi: ₉“Suka uye eSarefati elingeleSidoni, uhlale khona; bheka, ngiyalile lapho umfelokazi ukuba akondle.” ₁₀Wayesesuka waya eSarefati; esefikile esangweni lomuzi, bheka, umfelokazi wayecakasha khona; wambiza wathi: “Ake ungilethele ingcosana yamanzi esitsheni, ngiphuze.” ₁₁Esasuka ukuwalanda, wambiza wathi: “Ake ungilethele nocezu lwesinkwa esandleni sakho.”

₁₂Kepha wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, anginalo neqebelengwane, kukhona kuphela ukhweshe lwempuphu embizeni nengcosana yamafutha ophisweni; bheka, sengicakashile izinkuni ezimbili, ukuze ngingene ngizilungiselele khona nendodana yami ukuba sikudle, sife.”

₁₃Wayesethi u-Eliya kuye: “Ungesabi; hamba wenze njengokusho kwakho, kepha ngenzele mina kuqala iqebelengwane elincane ngakho, ulilethe kimi, andukuba uzilungiselele wena nendodana yakho. ₁₄Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Imbiza yempuphu ayikuphela, nophiso lwamafutha aluyikuswela kuze kufike lolo suku uJehova anisa ngalo imvula emhlabeni.’ ”

₁₅Wayesehamba, wenza njengokusho kuka-Eliya: kwadla yena, no-Eliya, nendlu yakhe izinsuku eziningi. ₁₆Imbiza yempuphu ayiphelanga, nophiso lwamafutha aluswelanga njengezwi likaJehova alikhulumile ngesandla sika-Eliya.

₁₇Kwathi emva kwalokho indodana yalowo mfelokazi, umnikazindlu, yagula; ukugula kwayo kwaba namandla kangaka ngangokuba yayingasenakho ukuphefumula. ₁₈Wayesethi ku-Eliya: “Nginamsebenzi muni nawe muntu kaNkulunkulu na? Uze kimi ukuba kukhumbuleke isono sami nokuba kubulawe indodana yami.”

₁₉Kepha wathi kuye: “Nginike indodana yakho.” Wayithatha esifubeni sakhe, wayikhuphulela ekamelweni eliphezulu lapho ehlala khona, wayibeka embhedeni wakhe. ₂₀Wayesekhala kuJehova, wathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, usuwehlisele nalo mfelokazi engigogobele kwakhe okubi okungaka uze ubulale indodana yakhe na?” ₂₁Wazelula phezu komntwana kathathu, wakhala kuJehova, wathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, umphefumulo walo mntwana mawubuyele kuye.”

₂₂UJehova walizwa izwi lika-Eliya; umphefumulo womntwana wabuyela kuye, waphila. ₂₃U-Eliya wayesethatha umntwana, wamehlisa ekamelweni eliphezulu, wamngenisa endlini, wamnika unina; wathi u-Eliya: “Bheka, indodana yakho isiyaphila.”

₂₄Owesifazane wathi ku-Eliya: “Manje sengiyazi ukuthi wena ungumuntu kaNkulunkulu nokuthi izwi likaJehova elisemlonyeni wakho liyiqiniso.”

₁Kwathi emva kwezinsuku eziningi izwi likaJehova lafika ku-Eliya ngomnyaka wesithathu, lathi: “Hamba uzibonakalise ku-Ahabi; ngiyakunisa imvula emhlabeni.” ₂Wayesehamba u-Eliya ukuzibonakalisa ku-Ahabi. Indlala yayinamandla eSamariya. ₃U-Ahabi wabiza u-Obadiya owayephezu kwendlu yakhe. U-Obadiya wayemesaba kakhulu uNkulunkulu, ₄ngokuba kwathi lapho u-Izebeli ebulala abaprofethi bakaJehova, u-Obadiya wathatha abaprofethi abayikhulu, wabafihla emhumeni ngamashumi ayisihlanu, wabondla ngesinkwa nangamanzi. ₅U-Ahabi wathi ku-Obadiya: “Hamba ezweni, uye emithonjaneni yonke yamanzi nasemifudlaneni yonke; mhlawumbe singafumana utshani, sisindise amahhashi neminyuzi,* izilwane zingabhubhi.” ₆Base bahlukaniselana izwe ukuba balidabule: u-Ahabi wahamba ngenye indlela eyedwa, u-Obadiya naye wahamba ngenye indlela eyedwa.

₇U-Obadiya esendleleni, bheka, kwahlangana naye u-Eliya, wambona, wawa ngobuso, wathi: “Wena uyinkosi yami u-Eliya na?”

₈Wathi kuye: “Yimi; hamba utshele inkosi yakho ukuthi: ‘Nangu u-Eliya.’ ”

₉Wayesethi kuye: “Ngoneni ukuba unikele inceku yakho esandleni sika-Ahabi ukungibulala na? ₁₀Kuphila kukaJehova, uNkulunkulu wakho, akukho sizwe nambuso lapho inkosi yami ingathumanga khona ukukufuna, nanxa bethi akakho lapha, yafungisa umbuso nesizwe ukuthi abakufumananga. ₁₁Manje usuthi wena: ‘Hamba utshele inkosi yakho ukuthi: Nangu u-Eliya.’ ₁₂Kuyakuthi sengisukile kuwe, uMoya kaJehova akuyise lapho ngingazi khona, nanxa sengifika ukuba ngimtshele u-Ahabi, yena angakufumani, uyakungibulala; kepha mina nceku yakho ngiyamesaba uJehova kwasebusheni bami. ₁₃Inkosi yami ayitshelwanga yini lokho engakwenzayo lapho u-Izebeli ebulala abaprofethi bakaJehova, ukuthi ngafihla abantu abayikhulu kubaprofethi bakaJehova ngamashumi ayisihlanu emhumeni, ngabondla ngesinkwa nangamanzi, na? ₁₄Usuthi manje: ‘Hamba utshele inkosi yakho ukuthi: Nangu u-Eliya,’ bese yingibulala.”

₁₅Kepha u-Eliya wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova Sebawoti engimi phambi kwakhe namuhla, ngizakuzibonakalisa kuye.”

₁₆U-Obadiya wayesehamba ukumhlangabeza u-Ahabi, wamtshela lokho; wayesehamba u-Ahabi ukumhlangabeza u-Eliya. ₁₇Kwathi u-Ahabi esembonile u-Eliya, u-Ahabi wathi kuye: “Nguwe ongumhluphi wakwa-Israyeli na?”

₁₈Kodwa wathi: “Mina angimhluphanga u-Israyeli, kepha nguwe nendlu kayihlo, ngokuyilahla imiyalo kaJehova, uze ulandele oBali. ₁₉Ngalokho thumela ubuthe kimi u-Israyeli wonke entabeni yaseKarmeli, nabaprofethi bakaBali abangamakhulu amane namashumi ayisihlanu, nabaprofethi baka-Ashera* abangamakhulu amane abadla etafuleni lika-Izebeli.”

₂₀U-Ahabi wayesethumela kubo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wabutha abaprofethi entabeni yaseKarmeli. ₂₁U-Eliya wasondela kubo bonke abantu, wathi: “Koze kube nini nimanqikanqika phakathi kwezinhlangothi ezimbili na? Uma uJehova enguNkulunkulu, mlandeleni yena, kepha uma kunguBali, mlandeleni yena.” Kodwa abantu kabamphendulanga ngazwi.

₂₂Wayesethi u-Eliya kubantu: “Yimi ngedwa oseleyo engumprofethi kaJehova, kepha abaprofethi bakaBali bangabantu abangamakhulu amane namashumi ayisihlanu. ₂₃Mabasinike izinkunzi ezimbili, bazikhethele inkunzi ibenye, bayihlahlele, bayibeke phezu kwezinkuni, bangafaki umlilo; mina ngiyakuyilungisa enye inkunzi, ngiyibeke phezu kwezinkuni, ngingafaki umlilo. ₂₄Libizeni igama likankulunkulu wenu, mina ngibize igama likaJehova; bese kuthi uNkulunkulu ophendula ngomlilo abe nguye onguNkulunkulu.”

Bonke abantu bathi: “Lihle leli zwi.”

₂₅U-Eliya wayesethi kubaprofethi bakaBali: “Zikhetheleni inkunzi, niyilungise kuqala, ngokuba nibaningi, nibize igama likankulunkulu wenu, ningafaki umlilo nokho.”

₂₆Bayithatha inkunzi abayinikwayo, bayilungisa, balibiza igama likaBali kwasekuseni kwaze kwaba semini ngokuthi: “Bali, siphenduleni;” kepha akubangakho zwi, nophendulayo wayengekho. Baxhuma ngase-altare ebelenziwe.

₂₇Kwathi ngasemini u-Eliya wadlala ngabo, wathi: “Memezani ngezwi elikhulu; noma engunkulunkulu, mhlawumbe uyazindla, noma echezukile nje, noma esohambeni, noma elele edinga ukuvuswa.” ₂₈Base bememeza ngezwi elikhulu, bazisika ngawomese nangemikhonto ngomthetho wabo, kwaze kwatshaza igazi kubo. ₂₉Kwathi lapho isidlulile imini, baprofetha kwaze kwanikelwa ngomnikelo wempuphu, kepha akubangakho zwi, nophendulayo, nonakekelayo.

₃₀U-Eliya wayesethi kubantu bonke: “Sondelani kimi.” Bonke abantu basondela kuye. Wayeselungisa i-altare likaJehova elalidiliziwe. ₃₁U-Eliya wathatha amatshe ayishumi nambili njengomumo wezizwe zamadodana kaJakobe okweza kuye izwi likaJehova, lathi: “Igama lakho lizakuba ngu-Israyeli.” ₃₂Wakha i-altare ngamatshe egameni likaJehova, wenza umsele ngase-altare nxazonke olingene namaseya* amabili embewu. ₃₃Wahlela izinkuni, wayihlahlela inkunzi, wayibeka phezu kwezinkuni.

₃₄Wathi: “Gcwalisani izimbiza ezine ngamanzi, niwathele emnikelweni wokushiswa naphezu kwezinkuni.” Wathi: “Kwenzeni ngokwesibili.” Wayesethi: “Kwenzeni nangokwesithathu.” Baphinda ngokwesithathu. ₃₅Amanzi agobhoza ngase-altare nxazonke; wagcwalisa nomsele ngamanzi.

₃₆Kwathi ngesikhathi sokunikela ngomnikelo wempuphu u-Eliya umprofethi wasondela, wathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Abrahama noka-Isaka noka-Israyeli, makwazeke namuhla ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli, nokuthi mina ngiyinceku yakho, nokuthi ngenzile konke lokhu ngezwi lakho. ₃₇Ngiphendule, Jehova, ngiphendule ukuba laba bantu bazi ukuthi wena Jehova unguNkulunkulu nokuthi uphendukisela kuwe izinhliziyo.”

₃₈Wawusuwehla umlilo kaJehova, wawuqeda umnikelo wokushiswa, nezinkuni, namatshe, nothuli, wakhotha amanzi asemseleni.

₃₉Abantu bonke sebekubonile lokho bawa ngobuso babo, bathi: “UJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu; uJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu.”

₄₀U-Eliya wathi kubo: “Bambani abaprofethi bakaBali, kungabaleki noyedwa kubo.” Bababamba, u-Eliya wabehlisela emfudlaneni iKishoni, wababulala khona.

₄₁Wayesethi u-Eliya ku-Ahabi: “Khuphuka, udle, uphuze, ngokuba kukhona umdumo wemvula enkulu.” ₄₂Wayesekhuphuka u-Ahabi ukuba adle, aphuze. U-Eliya wakhuphukela esiqongweni saseKarmeli, wakhothamela phansi, wabeka ubuso bakhe phakathi kwamadolo akhe.

₄₃Wathi encekwini yakhe: “Khuphuka, ubheke ngaselwandle.”

Yakhuphuka, yabheka, yathi: “Akukho lutho.”

Wayesethi: “Phinda kasikhombisa.”

₄₄Kwathi ngokwesikhombisa yathi: “Bheka, kukhuphuka ifu elwandle, lingangesandla somuntu.”

Wayesethi: “Khuphuka, umtshele u-Ahabi ukuthi: ‘Bophela, wehle, funa uvinjelwe yimvula.’ ”

₄₅Kwathi ngesikhashana nje izulu laguqubala ngamafu nangomoya, lana imvula enkulu. U-Ahabi wakhwela inqola, waya eJizreyeli. ₄₆Isandla sikaJehova sasiku-Eliya; wabopha ukhalo lwakhe, wagijima phambi kuka-Ahabi, waze wafika ekungeneni kwaseJizreyeli.

₁U-Ahabi wamtshela u-Izebeli konke akwenzile u-Eliya, naphakathi kwalokho ukuthi ubulele bonke abaprofethi ngenkemba. ₂U-Izebeli wayesethuma isithunywa ku-Eliya ngokuthi: “Mabenze njalo kimi onkulunkulu, benezele futhi, uma ngingakwenzi wena ube njengomunye wabo ngalesi sikhathi kusasa.”

₃Esezwile lokho wasuka, wahamba ukuba asinde, waya eBeri Sheba elingelakwaJuda, washiya khona inceku yakhe. ₄Kodwa yena wahamba ibanga losuku ehlane, waya wahlala phansi konwele, wacela enhliziyweni yakhe ukuba afe, wathi: “Sekwanele; manje, Jehova, sale usuthatha umphefumulo wami, ngokuba angilungile kunawobaba.” ₅Walala ubuthongo phansi konwele; bheka, kwamthinta ingelosi, yathi kuye: “Vuka udle.” ₆Wabheka, nanto iqebelengwane ngasekhanda lakhe elenziwe ematsheni ashisayo, nophiso lwamanzi. Wadla, waphuza; wayesebuye walala phansi.

₇Ingelosi kaJehova yabuye yamthinta ngokwesibili, yathi: “Vuka udle, ngokuba indlela yakho inde.” ₈Wavuka, wadla, waphuza, wahamba ngamandla alokho kudla izinsuku ezingamashumi amane nobusuku obungamashumi amane, waya entabeni kaNkulunkulu iHorebe. ₉Wangena khona emhumeni, walala khona.

Bheka, kwafika kuye izwi likaJehova; wathi kuye: “Wenzani lapha, Eliya, na?”

₁₀Wathi: “Ngishisekele nokushisekela uJehova uNkulunkulu Sebawoti, ngokuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli balahlile isivumelwano sakho, badilizile ama-altare akho, babulele abaprofethi bakho ngenkemba, kusele mina ngedwa; sebefuna umphefumulo wami ukuba bawususe.”

₁₁Wathi: “Phuma, ume entabeni phambi kukaJehova.” Bheka, uJehova wadlula, umoya omkhulu onamandla wadabula izintaba, waphahlaza amadwala phambi kukaJehova; kepha uJehova wayengekho emoyeni; emva komoya kwazamazama umhlaba; kepha uJehova wayengekho ekuzamazameni komhlaba; ₁₂emva kokuzamazama komhlaba ngumlilo; kepha uJehova wayengekho emlilweni; emva komlilo yizwi elincane elihashazayo. ₁₃U-Eliya esezwile lokho wagubuzela ubuso bakhe ngengubo yakhe, waphuma, wema emnyango womhume. Bheka, kwafika kuye izwi, lathi: “Wenzani lapha, Eliya, na?”

₁₄Wathi: “Ngishisekele nokushisekela uJehova uNkulunkulu Sebawoti, ngokuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli balahlile isivumelwano sakho, badilizile ama-altare akho, babulele abaprofethi bakho ngenkemba, kusele mina ngedwa; sebefuna umphefumulo wami ukuba bawususe.”

₁₅Wayesethi uJehova kuye: “Hamba, ubuye ngendlela yakho, uye ehlane laseDamaseku; usufikile khona uyakumgcoba uHazayeli abe yinkosi yase-Aramu; ₁₆uyakumgcoba uJehu indodana kaNimishi abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli, umgcobe u-Elisha indodana kaShafati wase-Abela Mehola abe ngumprofethi esikhundleni sakho. ₁₇Kuyakuthi obalekela inkemba kaHazayeli abulawe nguJehu; obalekela inkemba kaJehu uyakubulawa ngu-Elisha. ₁₈Kepha ngiyakushiya kwa-Israyeli izinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa, onke amadolo anganguqanga kuBali nayo yonke imilomo engamanganga.”

₁₉Wayesesuka lapho, wamfumana u-Elisha indodana kaShafati; wayelima ngezinkabi ezingamabhangqa ayishumi nambili phambi kwakhe, yena esebhangqeni leshumi nambili; u-Eliya wadlulela kuye, waphonsa ingubo yakhe kuye. ₂₀Wayeseshiya izinkabi, wagijima wamlandela u-Eliya, wathi: “Ake ngange ubaba nomame, bese ngikulandela.”

Wathi kuye: “Hamba, ubuyele emuva, ngokuba ngenzeni kuwe na?”

₂₁Wabuya ekumlandeleni, wathatha izinkabi zombili, wazihlaba, wapheka inyama yazo ngempahla yezinkabi, wabapha abantu, badla. Wayesesuka, wamlandela u-Eliya, wamkhonza.

₁Zivelaphi izimpi, nokulwa kuvelaphi phakathi kwenu na? Akuveli yini lapho ezinkanukweni zenu ezilwayo ezithweni zenu na? ₂Niyafisa, nokho aninalutho; niyabulala ninomhawu, nokho anizuzi lutho; niyalwa nenza impi. Aninalutho, ngokuba ningaceli; ₃niyacela, nokho anamukeliswa, ngokuba nicela kabi, ukuze nikuchithele ezinkanukweni zenu.

₄Ziphingi, anazi yini ukuthi ukuthanda izwe kungubutha kuNkulunkulu na? Ngakho lowo othanda ukuba ngumhlobo wezwe, umi eyisitha sikaNkulunkulu. ₅Niyacabanga yini ukuthi umbhalo usho ngeze ukuthi: “Umoya awuhlalisa kithi unxanela ngokomhawu,” na? ₆Kodwa unika umusa ngokwenezela; ngakho uthi: “UNkulunkulu umelana nabazidlayo, kepha abathobekileyo ubapha umusa.”

₇Ngakho thobelani uNkulunkulu, kepha nimelane noSathane, khona uyakunibalekela; ₈sondelani kuNkulunkulu, khona uyakusondela kinina. Hlanzani izandla nina zoni, nihlambulule izinhliziyo nina bonhliziyombili. ₉Yibani lusizi, nidabuke, nikhale; ukuhleka kwenu makuphenduke ukudabuka, nokujabula kube ngukujabha. ₁₀Zithobeni ebusweni beNkosi, khona iyakuniphakamisa.

₁₁Ningahlebani, bazalwane. Ohleba umzalwane, noma ahlulele umzalwane wakhe, uhleba umthetho, ahlulele umthetho; kepha uma wahlulela umthetho, awusiye owenza okomthetho kodwa ungumahluleli. ₁₂Munye ongummisimthetho nomahluleli; nguyena onamandla okusindisa nokubhubhisa; kepha ungubani wena omahlulelayo umakhelwane na?

₁₃Minani nina enithi: “Namuhla noma ngomuso siyakuya kulona noma kulowaya muzi, siqede khona umnyaka, sithengiselane, sizuze,” ₁₄anikwazi okwangomuso; kuyini ukuphila kwenu na? Ngokuba niyinkungu ebonakala isikhashana, ibisinyamalala. ₁₅Nga nisho nithi: “Uma iNkosi ithanda, siphila, siyakwenza lokhu nalokho.” ₁₆Kepha manje niyazibonga ngokuzigabisa kwenu; konke ukuzigabisa okunjalo kubi. ₁₇Ngakho owaziyo ukwenza okuhle engakwenzi kuyisono kuye.

₁Minani nina bacebileyo; khalani, nilile ngezinhlupheko eziyakunehlela. ₂Ingcebo yenu ibolile, nezingubo zenu zidliwe yizinundu; ₃igolide lenu nesiliva kugwalile, nokugwala kwakho kuyakuba ngufakazi ngakini, kudle inyama yenu njengomlilo. Niqongelele ingcebo ezinsukwini zokuphela. ₄Bhekani, umvuzo wezisebenzi ezavuna amasimu enu eniwugodlileyo uyakhala, nokukhala kwabavunileyo kungenile ezindlebeni zeNkosi Sebawoti. ₅Nibusile emhlabeni, natamasa; ninonisile izinhliziyo zenu ngosuku lokuhlaba. ₆Nilahlile, nabulala olungileyo; akamelani nani.

₇Ngakho bekezelani, bazalwane, ize ifike iNkosi. Bhekani, umlimi uyalindela isithelo somhlaba esiyigugu, ebekezelela sona, size sithole imvula yokuqala neyamuva. ₈Bekezelani nani, niqinise izinhliziyo zenu, ngokuba ukufika kweNkosi kusondele. ₉Ningavungamelani, bazalwane, ukuba ningahlulelwa; bhekani, umahluleli umi ngaseminyango.

₁₀Bazalwane, misani abaprofethi ababekhuluma egameni leNkosi babe yisibonelo sokuhlupheka nokubekezela. ₁₁Bhekani, babusisiwe abakhuthazelayo; nizwile ngokukhuthazela kukaJobe, nibonile impetho yeNkosi ukuthi iNkosi inesihe esikhulu nesihawu.

₁₂Kepha phezu kwakho konke, bazalwane bami, ningafungi; ningafungi izulu noma umhlaba noma esinye isifungo; kodwa uyebo wenu makabe nguyebo, noqhabo uqhabo, ukuze ningaweli ekwahlulelweni.

₁₃Kukhona ohluphekayo phakathi kwenu na? Makakhuleke; kukhona owenamileyo na? Makahube. ₁₄Kukhona ogulayo phakathi kwenu na? Makabize amalunga ebandla, amkhulekele, amgcobe ngamafutha egameni leNkosi. ₁₅Umkhuleko wokukholwa uyakumsindisa ogulayo, iNkosi imvuse; noma enzile izono, uzakuthethelelwa zona. ₁₆Ngakho, vumani izono omunye komunye, nikhulekelane ukuba niphulukiswe. Umkhuleko oqinileyo wolungileyo unamandla kakhulu.

₁₇U-Eliya wayengumuntu efana nathi; wakhuleka nokukhuleka ukuba lingani; alinanga emhlabeni iminyaka emithathu nezinyanga eziyisithupha. ₁₈Wabuye wakhuleka; izulu lana imvula, nomhlaba wathela izithelo zawo.

₁₉Bazalwane bami, uma omunye kini eduka eqinisweni, omunye ambuyise, ₂₀yazini ukuthi obuyisile isoni ekudukeni kwendlela yaso uyakusindisa umphefumulo wakhe ekufeni, asibekele izono eziningi.