Bible Society of South Africa

To The Word – Day 116

1 Kings 20–22, Proverbs 4–5

Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli

1 AmaKhosi 20

U-Ahabi unqoba ama-Aramu kabili

1UBeni Hadadi inkosi yase-Aramu wabutha yonke impi yakhe; wayenamakhosi angamashumi amathathu nambili, namahhashi, nezinqola; wenyuka, wavimbezela iSamariya, walwa nalo, 2wathuma izithunywa ku-Ahabi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli emzini, 3wathi kuye: “Usho kanje uBeni Hadadi, uthi: ‘Isiliva lakho negolide lakho lingelami, nawomkakho nabantwana bakho abahle bangabami.’ ”

4Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yaphendula yathi: “Kunjengokusho kwakho, nkosi yami, nkosi: Ngingowakho nakho konke enginakho.”

5Kepha izithunywa zabuya, zathi: “Usho kanje uBeni Hadadi, uthi: ‘Ngathumela kuwe, ngathi: Uyakunikela kimi isiliva lakho negolide lakho, nawomkakho, nabantwana bakho, 6kepha ngalesi sikhathi kusasa ngiyakuthuma izinceku zami kuwe, ziyalule indlu yakho nezindlu zezinceku zakho; kuyakuthi konke okuhle emehlweni akho zikufake esandleni sazo, zikususe.’ ”

7Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yayisibiza onke amalunga ezwe, yathi: “Ake niqaphele, nibone ukuthi lowo muntu ufuna okubi, ngokuba wathumela kimi ngawomkami, nangabantwana bami, nangesiliva lami, nangegolide lami, angimnqabelanga.”

8Amalunga onke nabantu bonke bathi kuye: “Ungalaleli, ungavumi.”

9Wayesethi kuzo izithunywa zikaBeni Hadadi: “Yitsheleni inkosi yami, inkosi, ukuthi: ‘Konke owathumela ngakho encekwini yakho kuqala ngiyakukwenza, kepha le nto anginakuyenza.’ ” Zase zihamba izithunywa, zambuyisela izwi.

10UBeni Hadadi wayesethumela kuye, wathi: “Onkulunkulu mabenze njalo kimi, benezele futhi, uma uthuli lwaseSamariya luyakwanela abantu bonke abasezinyathelweni zami ukuba babe nokhweshe.”

11Yayisiphendula inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, ithi: “Khulumani kuye, nithi: ‘Obhinca izikhali makangazigabisi njengokhumulayo.’ ”

12Kwathi esezwa leli zwi, ephuza kanye namakhosi emadokodweni, wathi ezincekwini zakhe: “Mayiphume.” Yayisiphuma ukulwa nomuzi.

13Bheka, kwasondela umprofethi ku-Ahabi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Uyasibona sonke lesi sixuku na? Bheka, ngiyakusinikela esandleni sakho namuhla, uze wazi ukuthi mina nginguJehova.’ ”

14Wayesethi u-Ahabi: “Ngobani na?”

Wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Ngezinsizwa zezikhulu zezifunda.’ ”

Wayesethi: “Ngubani oyakokha impi?”

Wathi: “Nguwe.”

15Wayesebala izinsizwa zezikhulu zezifunda, zazingamakhulu amabili namashumi amathathu nambili; emva kwazo wabala abantu bonke, bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, beyizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa. 16Baphuma emini. Kepha uBeni Hadadi wayephuza waze wadakwa emadokodweni, yena namakhosi, amakhosi angamashumi amathathu nambili amsizayo. 17Izinsizwa zezikhulu zezifunda zaphuma kuqala; uBeni Hadadi wathumela, bamtshela ukuthi kuphume abantu eSamariya.

18Wathi: “Noma bephumele ukuthula, babambeni besaphila, noma bephumele ukulwa, babambeni besaphila.”

19Zaphuma-ke emzini izinsizwa lezo zezikhulu zezifunda kanye nempi eyazilandela. 20Babulala, kwaba yilowo nalowo umuntu wakhe; ama-Aramu abaleka, u-Israyeli wawaxosha; uBeni Hadadi inkosi yama-Aramu waphunyuka ngehhashi kanye nabamahhashi. 21Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yaphuma, yagenca amahhashi nezinqola, yabulala ama-Aramu ngokuceka okukhulu.

22Umprofethi wasondela enkosini yakwa-Israyeli, wathi kuyo: “Hamba uziqinise, uqaphele, ubone oyakukwenza, ngokuba emva komnyaka inkosi yama-Aramu iyakwenyuka ukulwa nawe.”

23Izinceku zenkosi yama-Aramu zathi kuyo: “Unkulunkulu wabo ungunkulunkulu wezintaba, ngalokho basahlula; kepha masilwe nabo ethafeni, impela siyakubahlula. 24Futhi yenza lokhu: Susa amakhosi onke, kube yileyo naleyo endaweni yayo, ubeke ababusi ezikhundleni zawo, 25uzibalele impi njengaleyo mpi olahlekelwe yiyo, ihhashi ngehhashi, inqola ngenqola, silwe nabo ethafeni, sibahlule impela.” Yalalela izwi labo, yenze njalo.

26Kwathi emva komnyaka uBeni Hadadi wabala ama-Aramu, wenyukela e-Afeki ukuba alwe no-Israyeli. 27Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babalwa, baphiwa ukudla, bahamba ukuhlangabezana nabo; abakwa-Israyeli bamisa phambi kwabo njengemihlanjana emibili yamazinyane ezimbuzi, kepha ama-Aramu agcwalisa izwe.

28Wayesesondela umuntu kaNkulunkulu, wathi enkosini yakwa-Israyeli: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Ngokuba ama-Aramu eshilo ukuthi uJehova ungunkulunkulu wezintaba, kasiye unkulunkulu wezigodi, ngiyakusinikela sonke lesi sixuku esikhulu esandleni sakho, nize nazi ukuthi nginguJehova.’ ”

29Base bemisile bebhekana izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. Kwathi ngosuku lwesikhombisa kwaqala ukuliwa; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babulala ama-Aramu ayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu ayimigundatshani ngalusuku lunye. 30Abaseleyo babalekela emzini wase-Afeki; ugange lwawela phezu kwabantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nesikhombisa abaseleyo. Naye uBeni Hadadi wabaleka, wangena emzini amakamelo ngamakamelo.

31Kepha izinceku zakhe zathi kuye: “Bheka, sizwile ukuthi amakhosi endlu yakwa-Israyeli angamakhosi anomusa; ake sembathe izindwangu zamasaka ezinkalweni zethu nezintambo emakhanda ethu, siphume, siye enkosini yakwa-Israyeli; mhlawumbe iyakusindisa ukuphila kwakho.”

32Zase zibhinca izindwangu zamasaka ezinkalweni zazo, nezintambo emakhanda azo, zaya enkosini yakwa-Israyeli, zathi: “Ithi inceku yakho uBeni Hadadi: ‘Ake ungiyeke, ngiphile.’ ”

Yayisithi: “Usekhona na? Ungumfowethu yena.”

33Amadoda aqaphela lokho, ashesha ukuqinisa okuvela kuye, athi: “Ngumfowenu uBeni Hadadi.”

Wathi: “Hambani, nimlande.” UBeni Hadadi wayesephumela kuye; wamkhwelisa inqola yakhe.

34UBeni Hadadi wayesethi kuye: “Imizi ubaba ayithatha kuyihlo ngiyakuyibuyisa, uzenzele izitaladi eDamaseku njengokwenza kukababa eSamariya.”

U-Ahabi wathi: “Ngalesi sivumelwano ngiyakukuvumela ukuba uhambe.” Wayesenza isivumelwano naye, wamvumela ukuba ahambe.

U-Ahabi usolwa ngumprofethi

35Umuntu othile wamadodana abaprofethi wathi kumngane wakhe ngezwi likaJehova: “Ake ungishaye.” Kepha lowo muntu wala ukushaya.

36Wayesethi kuye: “Ngokuba ungalalelanga izwi likaJehova, bheka, uyakwanele ukusuka nje kimi, ingonyama ikubulale.” Wanele wasuka nje kuye, ingonyama yamfumana, yambulala.

37Wayesefumana omunye umuntu, wathi: “Ake ungishaye.” Lowo muntu wamshaya; wamshaya, wamlimaza. 38Wayesesuka umprofethi, walindela inkosi endleleni, waziguqula ngeqhele elalisemehlweni akhe. 39Kwathi inkosi isidlula, wamemeza enkosini, wathi: “Inceku yakho yaphumela phakathi kokulwa; bheka, kwabuya umuntu owaletha kimi omunye, wathi: ‘Linda lo muntu; uma elahleka, ukuphila kwakho kuyakuba sesikhundleni sokuphila kwakhe, noma uyakukhokha italenta* lesiliva.’ 40Kwathi lapho inceku yakho isasebenza ngalapha nangalapha, kanti wayesehambile.”

Yayisithi kuye inkosi yakwa-Israyeli: “Kunjalo ukwahlulelwa kwakho; nguwe onqumile.”

41Washesha wasusa iqhele emehlweni akhe; yayisimbona inkosi yakwa-Israyeli ukuthi ungowabaprofethi. 42Wathi kuyo: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Ngokuba umyekile ukuba aphume esandleni sakho umuntu engangimqalekisile, ukuphila kwakho kuyakuba sesikhundleni sokuphila kwakhe, nabantu bakho babe sesikhundleni sabantu bakhe.’ ” 43Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yaya endlini yayo ihluneme, ithukuthele, yeza eSamariya.

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1 AmaKhosi 21

Isivini sikaNaboti nokubulawa kukaNaboti

1Kwathi emva kwalezo zinto uNaboti waseJizreyeli wayenesivini esasiseJizreyeli eceleni kwendlu yenkosi u-Ahabi, inkosi yaseSamariya. 2U-Ahabi wakhuluma kuNaboti, wathi: “Ngiphe isivini sakho ukuba sibe yisivande sami semifino, ngokuba siseduze nendlu yami, ngikunike isivini esihle kunaso esikhundleni saso; kepha uma kukuhle emehlweni akho, ngiyakukunika isiliva libe yintengo yaso.”

3Wayesethi uNaboti ku-Ahabi: “Makube kude nami ngenxa kaJehova ukuba ngikunike ifa lawobaba.”

4U-Ahabi wangena endlini yakhe ehluneme, ethukuthele ngenxa yezwi abelikhulume kuye uNaboti waseJizreyeli; ngokuba wayeshilo ukuthi: “Angiyikukunika ifa lawobaba.” Walala embhedeni, waphendula ubuso, akadlanga lutho.

5Kepha kwase kufika kuye u-Izebeli umkakhe, wakhuluma kuye, wathi: “Uhlunameleni umoya wakho ukuba ungadli lutho na?”

6Wathi kuye: “Ngokuba ngakhuluma kuNaboti waseJizreyeli, ngathi kuye: ‘Ngiphe isivini sakho ngesiliva; kepha uma uthanda, ngiyakukunika esinye isivini esikhundleni saso;’ kodwa wathi: ‘Angiyikukunika isivini sami.’ ”

7Wayesethi kuye u-Izebeli umkakhe: “Manje, nguwe ophethe umbuso wakwa-Israyeli na? Vuka udle, inhliziyo yakho ithokoze; mina ngiyakukunika isivini sikaNaboti waseJizreyeli.”

8Wayeseloba izincwadi egameni lika-Ahabi, wazinamathelisa ngophawu lwakhe, wazithuma izincwadi kumalunga nakwabakhulu ababesemzini wakhe, abakhe kanye noNaboti. 9Waloba ezincwadini ukuthi: “Memezelani ukuzila ukudla, nimbeke uNaboti emqoka kubantu, 10nibeke amadoda amabili, abantu ababi, phambi kwakhe, afakaze ngaye ngokuthi: ‘Uthukile uNkulunkulu nenkosi, bese nimkhiphela ngaphandle, nimkhande ngamatshe, afe.’ ”

11Amadoda omuzi wakubo, amalunga nabakhulu ababehlala emzini wakubo, enza njengokuthumela kuka-Izebeli kuwo nanjengokulotshiweyo ezincwadini ayezithume kuwo. 12Amemezela ukuzila ukudla, ambeka uNaboti emqoka kubantu. 13Lawo madoda amabili, abantu ababi, angena, ahlala phambi kwakhe; bafakaza labo bantu ababi ngaye, bathi: “Yena uNaboti uthukile uNkulunkulu nenkosi.” Base bemkhiphela ngaphandle komuzi, bamkhanda ngamatshe, wafa. 14Base bethumela ku-Izebeli, bethi: “UNaboti ukhandiwe ngamatshe, wafa.”

15Kwathi u-Izebeli esezwile ukuthi uNaboti ukhandiwe ngamatshe, wafa, u-Izebeli wathi ku-Ahabi: “Suka udle isivini sikaNaboti waseJizreyeli, enqaba ukukunika sona ngesiliva, ngokuba uNaboti kasekho, ufile.” 16Kwathi u-Ahabi esezwile ukuthi uNaboti ufile, u-Ahabi wasuka ukuba ehlele esivinini sikaNaboti waseJizreyeli ukusidla.

U-Ahabi usolwa ngu-Eliya

17Izwi likaJehova lase lifika ku-Eliya waseThishibi, lathi: 18“Suka wehle, umhlangabeze u-Ahabi, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, oseSamariya; bheka, usesivinini sikaNaboti, lapho ehlele khona ukusidla. 19Uyakukhuluma kuye ngokuthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Usubulele, wadla isizi na?’ Bese wukhuluma kuye ngokuthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Endaweni lapho izinja zaxhapha khona igazi likaNaboti, izinja ziyakuxhapha negazi lakho, yebo, elakho.’ ”

20Wayesethi u-Ahabi ku-Eliya: “Usungitholile wena sitha sami na?”

Wathi: “Ngikutholile, ngokuba uzithengisile ukwenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova. 21‘Bheka, ngiyakukwehlisela okubi, ngikukhukhule, nginqume ku-Ahabi wonke umlisa, omncane nomkhulu kwa-Israyeli; 22ngiyakwenza indlu yakho ibe njengendlu kaJerobowamu indodana kaNebati nanjengendlu kaBahasha indodana ka-Ahiya ngenxa yesicunulo ongicunule ngaso, wonisa futhi ngaso u-Israyeli.’

23“Nango-Izebeli uJehova wakhuluma, wathi: ‘Izinja ziyakumudla u-Izebeli ngasogangeni lwaseJizreyeli.’

24“Owakwa-Ahabi ofela emzini izinja ziyakumudla, nofela endle izinyoni zezulu ziyakumudla.”

25Kepha akubangakho onjengo-Ahabi owazithengisa ukwenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, edudwa ngu-Izebeli umkakhe. 26Wenza isinengiso esikhulu ngokulandela izithombe njengakho konke ukwenza kwama-Amori axoshwa nguJehova ngaphambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.

27Kwathi u-Ahabi esezwile lawo mazwi, waklebhula izingubo zakhe, wembatha indwangu yamasaka emzimbeni wakhe, wazila ukudla, walala endwangwini yamasaka, wahambahamba kancane.

28Izwi likaJehova lafika ku-Eliya waseThishibi, lathi: 29“Ubonile yini ukuthi u-Ahabi uyazithoba phambi kwami na? Ngokuba ezithoba phambi kwami angiyikwehlisa okubi emihleni yakhe; kepha emihleni yendodana yakhe ngiyakwehlisela indlu yakhe okubi.”

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1 AmaKhosi 22

U-Ahabi uhlangana noJehoshafati

1Bahlala iminyaka emithathu kungekho ukulwa phakathi kwe-Aramu no-Israyeli. 2Kwathi ngomnyaka wesithathu uJehoshafati inkosi yakwaJuda wehlela enkosini yakwa-Israyeli. 3Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yathi ezincekwini zayo: “Niyazi ukuthi iRamoti Gileyadi lingelethu na? Kepha siyathula, asilikhiphi esandleni senkosi yase-Aramu.”

4Yathi kuJehoshafati: “Uyakuhamba nami ukulwa neRamoti Gileyadi na?”

UJehoshafati wathi enkosini yakwa-Israyeli: “Mina nginjengawe, abantu bami banjengabantu bakho, amahhashi ami anjengamahhashi akho.” 5Kepha uJehoshafati wathi enkosini yakwa-Israyeli: “Ake ubuze namuhla izwi likaJehova.”

6Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yayisibutha abaprofethi kungathi abantu abangamakhulu amane, yathi kubo: “Ngihambe ngilwe neRamoti Gileyadi, noma ngiliyeke na?”

Bathi: “Yenyuka, ngokuba uJehova uyakulinikela esandleni senkosi.”

7Kepha uJehoshafati wathi: “Akusekho mprofethi kaJehova lapha ukuba sibuze kuye na?”

8Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yathi kuJehoshafati: “Kusekhona umuntu munye, uMikhaya, indodana kaJimila, esingabuza ngaye kuJehova, kodwa ngiyamzonda, ngokuba akaprofethi okuhle ngami kepha okubi.”

Wathi uJehoshafati: “Inkosi mayingasho njalo.”

9Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yayisibiza induna, yathi: “Landa masinyane uMikhaya indodana kaJimila.”

10Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli noJehoshafati inkosi yakwaJuda babehlezi, kwaba yilowo nalowo esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, bembethe izambatho zabo, esibuyeni ngasesikhaleni sesango laseSamariya; bonke abaprofethi baprofetha phambi kwabo. 11USedekiya indodana kaKhenahana wazenzela izimpondo zensimbi, wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Ngalezi uyakuqhubukusha ama-Aramu aze aphele.’ ”

12Bonke abaprofethi baprofetha kanje, bathi: “Yenyukela eRamoti Gileyadi, ube nempumelelo, ngokuba uJehova uyakulinikela esandleni senkosi.”

13Isithunywa ebesihambile ukumbiza uMikhaya sakhuluma kuye, sathi: “Bheka, amazwi abaprofethi mahle enkosini ngamlomo munye; ngalokho izwi lakho malibe njengezwi lomunye wabo, ukhulume okuhle.”

14Kepha uMikhaya wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova, lokhu uJehova akushoyo kimi, lokhu ngiyakukhuluma khona.”

15Esefikile enkosini, inkosi yathi kuye: “Mikhaya, sihambe silwe neRamoti Gileyadi, noma siliyeke, na?”

Wathi kuyo: “Yenyuka, ube nempumelelo; uJehova uyakulinikela esandleni senkosi.”

16Yayisithi kuye inkosi: “Ngiyakukufungisa izikhathi ezingaki ukuba ungakhulumi lutho kimi ngaphandle kweqiniso egameni likaJehova na?”

17Wayesethi: “Ngabona wonke u-Israyeli ehlakazekile ezintabeni njengezimvu ezingenamalusi; uJehova wathi: ‘Laba abasenankosi; mababuyele, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe ngokuthula.’ ”

18Yayisithi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli kuJehoshafati: “Angishongo yini kuwe ukuthi akayikuprofetha okuhle ngami, okubi kuphela.”

19UMikhaya wathi: “Ngalokho yizwa izwi likaJehova lokuthi: Ngambona uJehova ehlezi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, nebandla lonke lasezulwini limi ngakuye ngakwesokunene sakhe nangakwesokhohlo sakhe. 20UJehova wathi: ‘Ngubani oyakuyenga u-Ahabi ukuba enyuke afele eRamoti Gileyadi na?’

“Omunye washo ukuthi nomunye ukuthi. 21Kwavela umoya, wema phambi kukaJehova, wathi: ‘Mina ngiyakumyenga.’

“UJehova wathi kuye: ‘Ngantoni na?’

22“Wathi: ‘Ngiyakuphuma ngibe ngumoya wamanga emilonyeni yabaprofethi bakhe bonke.’

“Wayesethi: ‘Uyakumyenga, futhi uyakumahlula; hamba, wenze njalo.’

23“Bheka, ngalokho uJehova ubekile umoya wamanga emilonyeni yalaba baprofethi bakho bonke; uJehova ukhulumile okubi ngawe.”

24USedekiya indodana kaKhenahana wayesesondela, wamshaya uMikhaya esihlathini, wathi: “UMoya kaJehova wasuka kimi ngaphi ukuba akhulume kuwe na?”

25Wathi uMikhaya: “Bheka, uyakukubona ngalolo suku oyakungena ngalo emakamelweni ngamakamelo ukuba ucashe.”

26Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yathi: “Mthathe uMikhaya, umbuyisele ku-Amoni, umbusi womuzi, nakuJowashi indodana yenkosi, 27uthi: ‘Isho kanje inkosi, ithi: Fakani lona etilongweni, nimuphe isinkwa sokuhlupheka namanzi okuhlupheka, ngize ngibuye ngokuphila.’ ”

28Wayesethi uMikhaya: “Uma ubuya impela ngokuphila, uyakube engakhulumanga ngami uJehova.” Wathi futhi: “Yizwani nina bantu bonke.”

29Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, noJehoshafati, inkosi yakwaJuda, base benyukela eRamoti Gileyadi. 30Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli yathi kuJehoshafati: “Ngiyakuziguqula, ngingene ekulweni, kepha wena wembathe izambatho zakho.” Yayisiziguqula inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, yangena ekulweni.

31Kepha inkosi yase-Aramu ibiyalile izinduna ezingamashumi amathathu nambili zezinqola zayo ngokuthi: “Ningalwi namuntu, omncane noma omkhulu, kuphela nenkosi yakwa-Israyeli yodwa.” 32Kwathi lapho izinduna zezinqola sezibonile uJehoshafati, zathi: “Impela lo uyinkosi yakwa-Israyeli.” Zase ziphambuka ukuba zilwe nayo, kepha uJehoshafati wamemeza. 33Kwathi sezibonile izinduna zezinqola ukuthi yena akasiyo inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, zabuya ekumlandeleni.

34Kepha umuntu othile wansala umnsalo wakhe ngokungazeleli nje, wayihlaba inkosi yakwa-Israyeli enhlanganisweni yebhantshi lensimbi, yathi kumshayeli: “Phenduka, ungikhiphe empini, ngokuba ngikhutshaziwe.” 35Ukulwa kwaqina ngalolo suku; inkosi yasekelwa enqoleni yayo malungana nama-Aramu, yafa ngakusihlwa; igazi lenxeba laphalazeka phansi enqoleni. 36Ekushoneni kwelanga kwadlula ekamu* lonke isimemo sokuthi: “Yilowo nalowo makaye emzini wakubo, yilowo nalowo ezweni lakubo.”

37Yafa-ke inkosi, yayiswa eSamariya; bayimbela inkosi eSamariya. 38Sebeyihlanza inqola echibini laseSamariya, izinja zaxhapha igazi lakhe, nezifebe zageza khona njengezwi likaJehova abelikhulumile.

39Ezinye izindaba zika-Ahabi, nakho konke akwenzayo, nendlu yezimpondo zendlovu ayakhayo, nayo yonke imizi ayakhayo, angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli na? 40U-Ahabi wayeselala koyise; u-Ahaziya waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

UJehoshafati uyinkosi kwaJuda; u-Ahaziya uyinkosi kwa-Israyeli

41UJehoshafati indodana ka-Asa waqala ukubusa kwaJuda ngomnyaka wesine ka-Ahabi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli. 42UJehoshafati wayeneminyaka engamashumi amathathu nanhlanu ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa; wabusa iminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu eJerusalema. Igama likanina lalingu-Azuba indodakazi kaShilehi. 43Wahamba ngezindlela zonke zika-Asa uyise, kaphambukanga kuzo, enza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova. Kepha izindawo eziphakemeyo azisuswanga; abantu babesanikela, babesashisa impepho ezindaweni eziphakemeyo. 44UJehoshafati wenza ukuthula nenkosi yakwa-Israyeli.

45Ezinye izindaba zikaJehoshafati, namandla awabonakalisayo, nokulwa kwakhe, angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaJuda na? 46Insali yezifebe zethempeli ezazisasele emihleni kayise u-Asa wayixosha ezweni. 47Kwakungekho nkosi kwa-Edomi; kwabusa umbambeli.

48UJehoshafati walungisa imikhumbi yaseTharishishi ukuba iye e-Ofiri ukulanda igolide, kepha ayihambanga, ngokuba imikhumbi yaphuka e-Esiyoni Geberi. 49Khona u-Ahaziya indodana ka-Ahabi wathi kuJehoshafati: “Izinceku zami mazihambe nezinceku zakho emikhunjini.” Kepha uJehoshafati akavumanga.

50UJehoshafati wayeselala koyise, wembelwa koyise emzini kaDavide uyise; uJehoramu indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

51U-Ahaziya indodana ka-Ahabi waqala ukubusa kwa-Israyeli eSamariya ngomnyaka weshumi nesikhombisa kaJehoshafati inkosi yakwaJuda, wabusa iminyaka emibili kwa-Israyeli. 52Wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, wahamba ngendlela kayise, nangendlela kanina, nangendlela kaJerobowamu indodana kaNebati ayonisile u-Israyeli. 53Wakhonza uBali, wakhuleka kuye, wacunula uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, njengakho konke akwenzileyo uyise.

1 AmaKhosi 22ZUL59NOVula kumfundi weBhayibheli

IzAga 4

Ukulaya kukayise

1Zwanini, madodana ami, ukulaya kukayise,

nilalele, ukuze nazi ukuqonda.

2Ngokuba ngiyaninika izifundiso ezinhle;

ningawushiyi umthetho wami.

3Ngokuba ngangiyindodana kubaba,

ethambileyo neyodwa emehlweni kamame.

4Wangifundisa, wathi kimi:

“Inhliziyo yakho mayibambe amazwi ami;

gcina imiyalo yami, uphile.

5Zuza ukuhlakanipha, zuza ukuqonda;

ungakhohlwa, ungachezuki emazwini omlomo wami;

6ungakushiyi, kuyakukugcina;

kuthande, kuyakukulondoloza.

7Ukuqala kokuhlakanipha yilokhu:

Zuza ukuhlakanipha;

yebo, ngakho konke okutholileyo zuza ukuhlakanipha.

8Kukhulise, kuyakukuphakamisa;

kuyakukudumisa, lapho ukugona.

9Kuyakunika ikhanda lakho umgexo womusa,

kunikeze kuwe umqhele wodumo.”

10Yizwa, ndodana yami,

wamukele izwi lami;

kuyakuthi iminyaka yokuphila kwakho ibe miningi.

11Ngikufundisa ngendlela yokuhlakanipha;

ngikuhola emikhondweni yobuqotho.

12Ekuhambeni kwakho isinyathelo asiyikuvinjelwa,

nasekugijimeni kwakho awuyikukhubeka.

13Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyeki;

kulonde,

ngokuba kungukuphila kwakho.

14Ungangeni emkhondweni wababi,

ungahambi endleleni yabonakeleyo.

15Yixwaye, ungadluli ngayo;

chezuka kuyo, udlule.

16Ngokuba abalali,

uma bengenzanga okubi;

ubuthongo buyasuswa,

uma bengakhubekisanga muntu.

17Ngokuba badla isinkwa sobubi,

baphuza iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.

18Umkhondo wabalungileyo unjengokukhanya kokusa

okuqhubeka ngokukhanya njalo kuze kube semini.

19Indlela yababi injengobumnyama;

abazi ukuthi bakhubeka ngani.

20Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami,

ubeke indlebe yakho kukho ukukhuluma kwami.

21Makungachezuki emehlweni akho,

ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho,

22ngokuba kungukuphila kwabakufumanayo

nempilo yomzimba wonke wabo.

23Phezu kwakho konke okugcinayo,

gcina inhliziyo yakho,

ngokuba kuyilapho kuvela khona ukuphila.

24Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo,

nezindebe eziyisigwegwe uzidedisele kude nawe.

25Amehlo akho mawabheke phambili,

nezinkophe zakho maziqonde phambi kwakho.

26Yenza umkhondo wonyawo lwakho ukuba ulingane,

ziqine zonke izindlela zakho.

27Ungaphambuki ngakwesokunene nangakwesokhohlo;

chezukisa unyawo lwakho ebubini.

IzAga 5

Uthando olungcolileyo

1Ndodana yami, lalela ukuhlakanipha kwami,

ubeke indlebe yakho ekuqondeni kwami

2ukuba ugcine amasu,

nezindebe zakho zilonde ukwazi.

3Ngokuba izindebe zowesifazane ondindayo ziconsa izinyosi;

umlomo wakhe ubushelezi kunamafutha.

4Kepha ekugcineni umunyu njengomhlonyane,

ubukhali njengenkemba enezinhlangothi ezimbili.

5Izinyawo zakhe ziyehlela ekufeni;

izinyathelo zakhe zibambelela endaweni yabafileyo.

6Akanaki umkhondo wokuphila;

imikhondo yakhe iyaguquguquka,

engazi.

7Ngalokho, madodana ami, ngizweni,

ningachezuki emazwini omlomo wami.

8Dedisela kude naye indlela yakho,

ungasondeli emnyango wendlu yakhe,

9funa unike abanye udumo lwakho,

naye ononya iminyaka yakho,

10funa abezizwe basuthe ngamandla akho,

umshikashika wakho ube sendlini yomfokazi,

11uze ububule ekugcineni,

lapho umzimba wakho nenyama yakho kuqediwe,

12ngokuthi: “Yeka ukuzonda kwami ukulaywa

nokudelela kwenhliziyo yami ukusolwa!

13Angilalelanga izwi labafundisi bami,

angibekanga indlebe yami kubo abangifundisayo.

14Ngacishe ngaba sebubini bonke

phakathi kwebandla nasemhlanganweni.”

15Phuza amanzi emgodini wakho,

amanzi agobhozayo emthonjeni wakho.

16Imithombo iyaphalala ngaphandle yini,

nemifula yamanzi ezigcawini, na?

17Mayibe ngeyakho wena wedwa,

ingabi ngeyabafokazi kanye nawe.

18Mawubusiswe umthombo wakho,

uthokoze ngomfazi wobusha bakho.

19Uyindluzelekazi ethandayo negogokazi elihle;

amabele akhe mawakudelise ngesikhathi sonke,

weqiwe njalo luthando lwakhe.

20Ubuyakweqelwani ngowesifazane ondindayo, ndodana yami,

ugone isifuba somfokazi, na?

21Ngokuba izindlela zomuntu

ziphambi kwamehlo kaNkulunkulu;

uyenza yonke imikhondo yakhe ukuba ilingane.

22Omubi uyakubanjwa ngububi bakhe,

abhajwe ngezintambo zezono zakhe.

23Uyakufa yena ngokuswela ukulaywa,

nangobuningi bobuwula bakhe uyakuduka.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.28.1
SITHOLE KU