To The Word – Day 187

“U-Israyeli kanamadodana,

kanandlalifa, na?

UMilkomu udleleni ifa likaGadi,

abantu bakhe bahlale emizini yakhe, na?

₂Ngalokho bheka, izinsuku ziyeza,” usho uJehova,

“lapho ngiyakwenza ukuba kuhlatshwe umkhosi wempi

ngeRaba labantwana bakwa-Amoni;

liyakuba yincithakalo,

imizi yalo ishiswe ngomlilo,

u-Israyeli abeselidla ifa lowalidla elakhe,” usho uJehova.

₃“Hhewula, Heshiboni,

ngokuba i-Ayi lichithekile,

nikhale, madodakazi aseRaba,

nibhince izindwangu zamasaka,

nilile, nigijime phakathi kwezintango,

ngokuba uMilikomu uyakuya ekuthunjweni,

abapristi bakhe nezikhulu zakhe kanyekanye.

₄Uzidumiselani ngezigodi,

isigodi sakho esichichimayo,

wena ndodakazi ehlubukayo,

othemba engcebeni yakho ngokuthi:

‘Ngubani ongehlela mina, na?’

₅Bheka, ngiyakwehlisela phezu kwakho uvalo,” isho iNkosi uJehova Sebawoti,

“luvela kubo bonke abakuzungezayo,

nixoshwe, kube yilowo nalowo ngendlela yakhe,

kungabikho obutha ababalekileyo.

₆“Kepha ngasemuva ngiyakubuyisa

ukuthunjwa kwabantwana bakwa-Amoni,” usho uJehova.

₇Ngo-Edomi.

Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi:

“Akusekho ukuhlakanipha eThemani na?

Amasu aphelile kwabaqondileyo,

ukuhlakanipha kwabo kunyamalele, na?

₈Balekani, nibuye,

nihlale ezigoxini nina bakhileyo eDedani,

ngokuba ngiyakwehlisela phezu kwakhe ingozi ka-Esawu

ngesikhathi sokumhambela kwami.

₉Uma bekufika kuwe abavuna izithelo zomvini,

abayikushiya umkhothozo;

namasela ebusuku

abeyakuchitha aze aneliswe.

₁₀Kepha mina ngiyakumhlubula u-Esawu,

ngambule izindawo zakhe ezichithekileyo, kanakucasha;

inzalo yakhe ichithekile,

nabafowabo, nabakhelwane bakhe,

yena abe engasekho.

₁₁Shiya izintandane zakho,

mina ngiyakuziphilisa,

abafelokazi bakho bethembe kimi.”

₁₄Ngizwile imibiko evela kuJehova;

kuthunyiwe isithunywa phakathi kwezizwe ngokuthi:

“Buthanani, nilihlasele,

nisukele ukulwa.”

₁₅“Ngokuba bheka,

ngiyakukwenza ube mncane phakathi kwezizwe,

udelelwe phakathi kwabantu.

₁₆Ukwesabeka kwakho kukudukisile,

ukuziqhenya kwenhliziyo yakho,

wena ohlezi emifantwini yamawa

ubambe isiqongo sentaba;

noma wakha isidleke sakho njengokhozi,

ngiyakukwehlisa khona,” usho uJehova.

₁₇“U-Edomi uyakuba yisimangaliso,

kumangale yilowo nalowo odlula kuye,

ancimfe ngenxa yezinhlupheko zakhe.

₁₈Njengasekuchithweni kweSodoma neGomora

nemizi yangakhona,” usho uJehova,

“akuyikuhlala muntu khona,

nendodana yomuntu ayiyikugogobala khona.

₁₉“Bheka,

njengengonyama ekhuphuka ezihlahleni zaseJordani,

iye endaweni eyinqaba,

ngiyakubazuma, ngibagijimise, basuke kuyo;

nobani okhethwayo ngiyakumbeka phezu kwabo,

ngokuba ngubani onjengami,

ngubani onginqumelayo,

ngumuphi umalusi oyakuma phambi kwami, na?”

₂₀Ngalokho yizwani isiluleko sikaJehova

asinike ngo-Edomi namacebo

awacebile ngabakhileyo eThemani ukuthi:

Abancinyane bomhlambi bayakudonswa,

basuswe, ikhaya labo limangale ngabo.

₂₁Ngomsindo wokuwa kwabo

umhlaba uyazamazama;

ngukukhala okumsindo wakho

uzwakele ngaseLwandle Olubomvu.

₂₂Bheka,

onjengokhozi uyakhuphuka, andize,

elulele amaphiko akhe kulo iBosira;

izinhliziyo zamaqhawe akwa-Edomi

ziyakuba njengenhliziyo yowesifazane onemihelo.

₂₃NgeDamaseku.

“IHamati ne-Aripadi kujabhile,

ngokuba kuzwile imibiko emibi,

kuphela amandla.

Kuyahlupheka njengolwandle,

akunakuthula.

₂₄IDamaseku selibuthakathaka,

liyaphenduka ukuba libaleke;

ingebhe ilibambile,

ukudabuka nosizi kulibambile

njengowesifazane obelethayo.

₂₅Yeka ukushiywa komuzi wodumo,

umuzi wokuthokoza kwami!

₂₆Ngalokho izinsizwa zawo

ziyakuwa ezitaladini zalo,

nawo onke amadoda empi

ayakuthuliswa ngalolo suku,” usho uJehova Sebawoti.

₂₇“Ngiyakuphemba umlilo ogangeni lwaseDamaseku,

uqede izindlu zobukhosi zikaBeni Hadadi.”

Usho kanje uJehova, uthi:

“Sukani, nikhuphukele eKedari,

nichithe abantwana basempumalanga.

₂₉Amatende abo nemihlambi yabo niyakukuthatha,

bazithuthele izilenge zabo,

nazo zonke izimpahla zabo,

namakamela abo,

bamemeze kubo, bathi:

‘Luvalo nxazonke.’

₃₀“Balekani, nizulazulele kude,

nihlale ezigoxini

nina bakhileyo eHasori,” usho uJehova,

“ngokuba uNebukadinesari,

inkosi yaseBabele

wenze amasu ngani,

waceba amacebo ngani.

₃₁“Sukani,

nikhuphukele kuso isizwe esizinzileyo,

esihlala ngokulondeka,” usho uJehova,

“esingenazicabha nemigoqo,

sakhe sodwa.

₃₂Amakamela aso ayakuba yimpango,

nezinkomo zaso eziningi ziyakuphangwa.

Ngiyakubahlakazela emimoyeni yonke,

bonke abadilingiwe emaceleni amakhanda abo,

ngehlisele phezu kwabo

izingozi ezivela nxazonke,” usho uJehova.

₃₃“IHasori liyakuba yindawo yokuhlala kwamakhanka

nencithakalo kuze kube phakade;

akuyikuhlala muntu khona,

nendodana yomuntu ayiyikugogobala khona.”

“Bheka,

ngiyakwaphula umnsalo we-Elamu,

okokuqala kwamandla abo.

₃₆Ngiyakwehlisela phezu kwe-Elamu

imimoya emine emikhawulweni yomine yezulu,

ngibahlakazele kuyo yonke leyo mimoya,

kungabe kusabakho sizwe

lapho abaxoshiweyo base-Elamu bengayikufika khona.

₃₇Ngiyakwenza ukuba i-Elamu liphele amandla

ngaphambi kwezitha zalo

naphambi kwabafuna ukuphila kwabo,

ngibehlisele okubi,

ukufutheka kwentukuthelo yami,” usho uJehova,

“ngithume inkemba emva kwabo,

ngize ngibaqede.

₃₈Ngiyakubeka isihlalo sami sobukhosi e-Elamu,

ngichithe khona inkosi nezikhulu,” usho uJehova.

₃₉“Kepha kuyakuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina

ngibuyise ukuthunjwa kwe-Elamu,” usho uJehova.

₂“Memezani phakathi kwezizwe,

nikuzwakalise, nimise ibhanela,*

nikuzwakalise, ningakufihli, nithi:

‘IBabele linqotshiwe,

uBeli ujabhile,

uMerodaki uphelile amandla;

izithombe zalo zijabhile,

imifanekiso yalo iphelile amandla.’

₃Ngokuba kukhuphukela kulo isizwe sivela enyakatho,

esiyakwenza izwe lalo libe yincithakalo,

kungabikho ohlala kulo;

abantu nezilwane kuyakubaleka, kuhambe.

₄“Ngalezo zinsuku nangaleso sikhathi,” usho uJehova,

“bayakufika abantwana bakwa-Israyeli,

bona nabantwana bakwaJuda kanyekanye,

behamba bekhala,

befuna uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo.

₅Bayakubuza indlela yaseSiyoni,

ubuso babo bubhekene nalo, bethi:

Wozani nizihlanganise noJehova

ngesivumelwano esiphakade esingenakukhohlakala.

₆“Abantu bami babe yizimvu ezilahlekileyo;

abelusi babo babadukisile,

babazulazulisa ezintabeni,

basuka entabeni, baya egqumeni,

bakhohlwa indawo yabo yokuphumula.

₇Bonke ababafumanayo babaqeda;

abamelene nabo bathi:

‘Asitholi icala;

ngokuba bonile kuJehova,

ikhaya lokulunga,

ithemba lawoyise, uJehova.’

₈“Balekani eBabele,

niphume ezweni lamaKaledi,

nibe njengezimpongo phambi kwezimvu.

₉Ngokuba bheka, ngiyakuvusa,

ngenyusele eBabele ibandla lezizwe ezinkulu,

livela ezweni lasenyakatho,

lizihlelele lona, linqotshwe lapho;

imicibisholo yalo iyakuba njengeyeqhawe eliphumelelayo,

elingabuyi ze.

₁₀IKalideya liyakuba yimpango;

bonke abaliphangayo bayakusutha,” usho uJehova.

₁₁“Noma nithokoza,

noma nijabula nina baphangi befa lami,

noma nixhuma njengesithokazi etshanini obuluhlaza,

niyiyizela njengamahhashi anamandla,

₁₂unyoko uyakujabha kakhulu,

owangizalayo ayangaze;

bheka, uyakuba ngesokugcina sezizwe,

ihlane, nomhlabathi owomileyo, nogwadule.

₁₃Ngenxa yentukuthelo kaJehova aliyikuhlalwa muntu,

kepha liyakuba yincithakalo lonke;

bonke abadlula eBabele bayakumangala,

bancimfe ngenxa yazo zonke izinhlupheko zalo.

₁₄“Zihleleleni iBabele nxazonke

nina nonke eninsala umnsalo,

nicibishele kulo,

ninganqandi imicibisholo,

ngokuba lonile kuJehova.

₁₅Memezani kulo nxazonke;

lizinikele, izisekelo zalo ziwile,

izingange zalo zidiliziwe,

ngokuba kuyimpindiselo kaJehova;

phindiselani kulo,

nenze kulo njengokwenza kwalo.

₁₆Nqumani umhlwanyeli eBabele

nobamba isikela ngesikhathi sokuvuna;

ngenxa yenkemba ecindezelayo

yilowo nalowo uyakubheka abantu bakhe,

yilowo nalowo abalekele ezweni lakubo.

₁₇“U-Israyeli uyimvu ezingelwayo;

izingonyama zimxoshile.

Kuqala wadliwa yinkosi yase-Asiriya,

nangasemuva uNebukadinesari lo, inkosi yaseBabele,

ugedlile amathambo akhe.”

“Bheka,

ngiyakujezisa inkosi yaseBabele nezwe layo,

njengalokho ngijezisile inkosi yase-Asiriya.

₁₉Ngiyakumbuyisela u-Israyeli ekhaya lakhe,

aklabe eKarmeli naseBashani,

umphefumulo wakhe waneliswe ezintabeni

zakwa-Efrayimi nezakwaGileyadi.

₂₀Ngalezo zinsuku nangaleso sikhathi,” usho uJehova,

“kuyakufunwa ukona kuka-Israyeli,

akuyikubakho, nezono zakwaJuda,

kepha aziyikufunyanwa,

ngokuba ngiyakubathethelela

engibashiya ukuba babe yinsali.

₂₁“Khuphukela ezweni laseMeratayimi,*

kulona nakwabakhileyo ePhekodi,*

uchithe, uqede nya emva kwabo,” usho uJehova,

wenze konke engikuyale ngakho.

₂₂Kukhona umsindo wokulwa ezweni

nowencithakalo enkulu.

₂₃Yeka ukunqunywa nokuchithwa kwesando somhlaba wonke,

yeka ukwenziwa kweBabele

incithakalo phakathi kwezizwe!

₂₄Ngakucupha, wabanjwa, Babele, ungakwazi;

wafunyanwa, wabanjwa,

ngokuba ulwile noNkulunkulu.

₂₅UJehova uvulile indlu yakhe yezikhali,

ukhiphile izikhali zokufutheka kwakhe,

ngokuba iNkosi uJehova Sebawoti

inomsebenzi ezweni lamaKaledi.

₂₆Lifikeleni nivele emkhawulweni,

nivule izinqolobane zalo,

nilinqwabele libe yizinqwaba,

niliqede nya, kungasali lutho kulo.

₂₇Hlabani zonke izinkunzi zalo;

mazehlele ekuhlatshweni; wo kuzona!

Ngokuba usuku lwazo lufikile,

isikhathi sokuhanjelwa kwazo.

₂₈Yizwi lababalekayo nabaphunyuka ezweni laseBabele

ukuba bamemeze eSiyoni

impindiselo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,

impindiselo ngethempeli lakhe!

₂₉“Bizani abacibishelayo,

balwe neBabele,

bonke abansala umnsalo,

nimise nxazonke zalo,

lingabi nophunyukayo,

niliphindisele njengezenzo zalo,

nenze kulo njengakho konke elikwenzileyo,

ngokuba lizikhukhumezile kuJehova, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.

₃₀Ngalokho izinsizwa zalo

ziyakuwa ezitaladini zalo,

nawo onke amadoda alo empi

ayakunqunywa ngalolo suku,” usho uJehova.

₃₁“Bheka,

ngimelene nawe ozikhukhumezileyo,” isho iNkosi uJehova Sebawoti,

“ngokuba usuku lwakho lufikile,

isikhathi sokuhanjwelwa kwakho.

₃₂Ozikhukhumezayo uyakukhubeka, awe,

angabi naye omvusayo;

ngiyakuphemba umlilo emizini yakhe,

udle konke okumzungezayo.”

“Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli nabantwana bakwaJuda

bacindezelwe kanyekanye;

bonke ababathumbileyo bababamba,

abavumi ukuba bahambe.

₃₄Kepha umkhululi wabo unamandla,

nguJehova Sebawoti igama lakhe;

uyakumela nokumela indaba yabo

ukuba aphumuze umhlaba,

anyakazise abakhileyo eBabele.

₃₅“Makufike inkemba phezu kwamaKaledi,” usho uJehova,

naphezu kwabakhileyo eBabele,

naphezu kwezikhulu zalo,

naphezu kwezihlakaniphi zalo.

₃₆Inkemba ifike phezu kwabaprofethi bamanga,

babe yiziwula,

inkemba ifike phezu kwamaqhawe alo,

aphele amandla.

₃₇Inkemba ifike phezu kwamahhashi alo,

naphezu kwezinqola zalo,

naphezu kwayo yonke ingxubevange yabantu

ephakathi kwalo,

babe njengabesifazane;

inkemba ifike phezu kwengcebo yalo,

ize iphangwe.

₃₈Makufike ukusha phezu kwamanzi alo,

aze ome,

ngokuba yizwe elinezithombe ezibaziweyo,

bahlanya ngemifanekiso yabo.

₃₉“Ngalokho izilwane zasehlane

ziyakuhlala nezimpungushe,

kuhlale khona nezintshe;

alisayikuhlalwa kuze kube phakade,

lingabe lisakhiwa izizukulwane ngezizukulwane.

₄₀Njengalokho uNkulunkulu wachitha iSodoma neGomora

nemizi yawo eyakheleneyo,” usho uJehova,

“kanjalo akuyikuhlala muntu khona,

kungagogobali khona indodana yomuntu.

₄₁“Bheka, kuvela abantu enyakatho,

isizwe esikhulu namakhosi amaningi,

kuvuswe ekugcineni komhlaba.

₄₂Babamba umnsalo nomkhonto;

banonya, abanamusa;

izwi labo liduma njengolwandle;

bakhwele amahhashi,

behleliwe njengabantu abayakulwa nawe

ndodakazi yaseBabele.

₄₃Inkosi yaseBabele izwile udumo lwabo,

izandla zayo zaba buthakathaka;

usizi luyibambile, nemihelo njengeyobelethayo.

₄₄Bheka,

njengengonyama ekhuphuka ezihlahleni zaseJordani,

iye endaweni eyinqaba, ngiyakubazuma,

ngibagijimise, basuke kuyo;

nobani okhethwayo ngiyakumbeka phezu kwabo,

ngokuba ngubani onjengami,

ngubani onginqumelayo,

ngumuphi umalusi oyakuma phambi kwami, na?”

₄₅Ngalokho yizwani isiluleko sikaJehova

asinike ngeBabele namacebo

awacebe ngezwe lamaKaledi ukuthi:

Abancinyane bomhlambi bayakudonswa,

basuswe impela,

ikhaya labo limangale ngabo.

₄₆Ngomsindo wokuthathwa kweBabele

umhlaba uyazamazama,

ukukhala kuzwakale phakathi kwezizwe.

“Ngiyakuvusela iBabele

nabakhileyo eLebi Khamayi

umoya womchithi.

₂Ngiyakuthuma abelayo eBabele,

balele, balithulule,

ngokuba ngosuku lobubi bayakuba kulo nxazonke.

₃Ocibishelayo uyakunsala umnsalo

kogoba umnsalo khona,

nakuye oziphakamisa ngebhantshi lakhe lensimbi;

ningasindisi izinsizwa zalo,

niqede nya impi yalo yonke.

₄Bayakuwa bebulewe ezweni lamaKaledi,

begwaziwe ezitaladini zalo.

₅Ngokuba o-Israyeli noJuda

abashiywanga nguNkulunkulu wabo, uJehova Sebawoti,

noma izwe labo ligcwele icala

koNgcwele ka-Israyeli.

₆“Balekani eBabele,

yilowo nalowo akhulule ukuphila kwakhe,

ninganqunywa ngokona kwalo,

ngokuba kuyisikhathi sempindiselo kaJehova,

uyakuliphindisela.

₇IBabele beliyindebe yegolide esandleni sikaJehova

eyadakisa umhlaba wonke;

izizwe zaliphuza iwayini lalo,

ngalokho izizwe ziyahlanya.

₈IBabele seliwile ngokuzumayo,

lachithwa;

hhewulani ngalo,

nithathele ubuhlungu balo ibhalisamu;*

mhlawumbe lingaphiliswa.

₉“Besiyakuliphilisa iBabele,

kepha aliphiliswanga;

lishiyeni, masihambe siye,

kube yilowo nalowo ezweni lakubo,

ngokuba ukwahlulelwa kwalo kufinyelela ezulwini,

kuphakanyisiwe nasemafwini.

₁₀“UJehova uvezile imfanelo yethu;

wozani silande eSiyoni umsebenzi

kaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.

₁₁“Lolani imicibisholo,

nibambe izihlangu.

UJehova uvusile umoya wamakhosi aseMediya,

ngokuba icebo lakhe ngeBabele lingukuba alichithe,

ngokuba lokhu kuyimpindiselo kaJehova,

impindiselo ngethempeli lakhe.

₁₂Misani ibhanela* ngasezingangeni zaseBabele,

niqinise umlindo, nimise abalindi,

nihlele abaqamekeli,

ngokuba uJehova ukuhlosile,

futhi wakwenza lokho owakukhuluma

kwabakhileyo eBabele.

₁₃Wena ohlala ngasemanzini amakhulu,

nonengcebo eningi,

sekufikile ukugcina kwakho,

isilinganiso sokuhaha kwakho.

₁₄UJehova Sebawoti uzifungile wathi:

Noma ngikugcwalisile ngabantu njengangezinkumbi,

bayakuhalalisa nokho ngawe.

₁₅“Wawenza umhlaba ngamandla akhe,

walimisa izwe ngokuhlakanipha kwakhe,

ngokuqonda kwakhe waleneka izulu.

₁₆Lapho elizwakalisa izwi lakhe,

kungukuhlokoma kwamanzi ezulwini;

uzikhuphula izinkungu emikhawulweni yomhlaba,

enzele imvula unyazi,

awukhiphe umoya endlini yengcebo.

₁₇“Bonke abantu bayiziphukuphuku,

abanakwazi,

bonke abakhandi bajabhiswa nezithombe zabo ezibaziweyo,

ngokuba izithombe zabo ezibunjiweyo zingamanga,

nomoya awukho kuzo.

₁₈Ziyize, zingumsebenzi wenkohliso;

ngesikhathi sokuhanjelwa kwabo ziyakubhubha.

₁₉Oyisabelo sikaJakobe akanjengalezo,

ngokuba nguye obumbile konke,

yebo, nesizwe sefa lakhe;

nguJehova Sebawoti igama lakhe.

₂₀“Uyizembe lami nezikhali zokulwa;

ngiyaphahlaza izizwe ngawe,

ngawe ngiyachitha imibuso,

₂₁ngiphahlaze ngawe ihhashi nenkweli yalo,

ngiphahlaze ngawe inqola nohamba ngayo;

₂₂ngiphahlaze ngawe abesilisa nabesifazane,

ngiphahlaze ngawe abadala nabasha,

ngiphahlaze ngawe izinsizwa nezintombi;

₂₃ngiphahlaze ngawe umalusi nomhlambi wakhe,

ngiphahlaze ngawe umlimi namabhanga akhe,

ngiphahlaze ngawe izinduna nababusi.

₂₅“Bheka, ngimelene nawe ntaba echithayo,” usho uJehova,

“wena ochitha wonke umhlaba;

ngiyakwelulela isandla sami kuwe,

ngikugingqe emadwaleni,

ngikwenze intaba eshisiweyo.

₂₆Abayikuthatha kuwe

itshe legumbi netshe lesisekelo,

ngokuba uyakuba yincithakalo kuze kube phakade,” usho uJehova.

₂₇“Misani ibhanela* ezweni,

nibethe amacilongo phakathi kwezizwe,

ningcwelise izizwe ukuba zilwe nalo,

nilibizele imibuso yase-Ararati,

naseMini, nase-Ashikenaze,

nibeke phezu kwalo umphathi wempi,

nikhuphuke namahhashi anjengezinkumbi ezimahaye.

₂₈Lingcweliseleni izizwe,

amakhosi aseMediya,

nezinduna zalo, nababusi balo,

nalo lonke izwe elibuswa yibo.

₂₉Umhlaba uyathuthumela, uqhaqhazele,

ngokuba amacebo kaJehova ngeBabele emi

okuba enze izwe laseBabele libe yincithakalo,

kuze kungabikho ohlala khona.

₃₀Amaqhawe aseBabele ayekile ukulwa,

ahlala ezinqabeni zawo;

amandla awo aphelile, anjengabesifazane;

izindlu zalo zishisiwe,

imigoqo yalo yaphuliwe.

₃₁Isigijimi siyagijma,

sihlangane nesinye,

umbiki uhlangana nombiki

ukutshela inkosi yaseBabele

ukuthi umuzi wayo unqotshiwe nxazonke.

₃₂Amazibuko avinjiwe,

umhlanga ushisiwe ngomlilo,

amadoda empi ayesaba.”

“Indodakazi yaseBabele

injengesibuya

ngesikhathi sokunyathelwa kwaso;

kuse yisikhashana,

sizakufika kuyo isikhathi sokuvuna.”

₃₄UNebukadinesari,

inkosi yaseBabele

ungidlile wangiqeda;

ungenze isitsha esingenalutho,

wangigwinya njengodrako;*

ugcwalisile isisu sakhe ngokumnandi kwami,

wangixosha.

₃₅“Ubudlova engenzelwe bona mina nabayinyama yami

mabube phezu kweBabele,”

makasho njalo owakhileyo eSiyoni.

“Igazi lami malibe phezu kwabakhileyo eKalideya;”

malisho njalo iJerusalema.

“Bheka, ngiyakumela indaba yakho,

ngikuphindisele,

ngishise ulwandle lwalo,

ngomise umthombo walo.

₃₇IBabele liyakuba yizinqwaba,

nendawo yokuhlala kwamakhanka,

nencithakalo, nento encimfelwayo,

kungabikho ohlala khona.

₃₈Bayabhonga kanyekanye njengezingonyama,

bakhale njengamabhongo ezingonyama.

₃₉Sebevuthile, ngiyakubenzela idili,

ngibadakise ukuze baquleke,

balale ubuthongo obuphakade, bangavuki,” usho uJehova.

₄₀“Ngiyakubehlisela ekuhlatshweni njengamawundlu,

njengezinqama nezimpongo.

₄₁“Yeka ukunqotshwa kweSheshaki

nokubanjwa kwelaliludumo lwawo wonke umhlaba!

Yeka ukwenziwa kweBabele

isimangaliso phakathi kwezizwe!

₄₂Ulwandle lukhuphukele iBabele,

lisibekelwe ngamaza alo ahlokomayo.

₄₃Imizi yalo ichithekile;

yizwe elomileyo, nehlane,

izwe elingahlalwa muntu,

kungadluli kulo indodana yomuntu.

₄₄Ngiyakuhambela uBeli eBabele,

ngikhiphe emlonyeni wakhe lokhu akugwinyileyo;

izizwe azisayikugobhozela kuye,

ugange lwaseBabele luyakuwa.

₄₅“Phumani phakathi kwalo,

bantu bami,

nizikhulule, kube yilowo nalowo

ekufuthekeni kwentukuthelo kaJehova.

₄₆Izinhliziyo zenu mazingadangali,

ningesabi imibiko ezwakalayo ezweni,

lapho kufika umbiko othile ngomunye umnyaka,

bese kufika emva kwawo omunye

ngomnyaka olandelayo,

kube ngubudlova ezweni,

umbusi avukele umbusi.

₄₇Ngalokho bheka, izinsuku ziyeza,

lapho ngiyakujezisa izithombe ezibaziweyo zaseBabele,

izwe lonke lalo lijabhe,

bonke ababuleweyo balo bawe phakathi kwalo.

₄₈Bese kuqhumuka izulu nomhlaba,

nakho konke okukukho,

ngokuhlabelela ngeBabele,

ngokuba abachithi bayakumfikela

bevela enyakatho,” usho uJehova.

₄₉“Yebo, neBabele limelwe ukuwa,

nina babuleweyo bakwa-Israyeli,

njengalokho iBabele laliwelwa ngababuleweyo bomhlaba wonke.

₅₀Nina eniphunyukile enkembeni hambani,

ningemi;

khumbulani uJehova nisekude,

iJerusalema lingene ezinhliziyweni zenu.

₅₁“Sijabhile, ngokuba sizwe inhlamba;

amahloni asibekela ubuso bethu,

ngokuba abafokazi bangenile

ezindaweni ezingcwele endlini kaJehova.”

₅₂“Ngalokho bheka, izinsuku ziyeza,” usho uJehova,

“lapho ngiyakuzihambela izithombe zalo ezibaziweyo,

ababulawayo babubule ezweni lonke lalo.

₅₃Noma iBabele likhuphukela ezulwini,

yebo, noma liqinisa inqaba yalo enamandla,

kuyakuvela nokho kimi abachithi, balehlele,” usho uJehova.

₅₄“Ngumsindo wokukhala ovela eBabele,

nowencithakalo enkulu ophuma ezweni lamaKaledi,

₅₅ngokuba uJehova uyalichitha iBabele,

aqede phakathi kwalo umsindo omkhulu;

amaza alo ayahlokoma njengamanzi amakhulu,

nomsindo wokuhlokoma kwawo uyezwakala,

₅₆ngokuba umchithi uyalehlela,

alehlele iBabele,

amaqhawe alo ayabanjwa,

neminsalo yawo iyaphulwa,

ngokuba uJehova unguNkulunkulu wemivuzo,

uyakhokha nokukhokha.

₅₇Ngiyakudakisa izikhulu zalo

nezihlakaniphi zalo,

nezinduna zalo, nababusi balo,

namaqhawe alo;

bayakulala ubuthongo obuphakade,

bangavuki,”

isho iNkosi

egama layo linguJehova Sebawoti.

“Ugange olubanzi lwaseBabele

luyakubhidlizwa nokubhidlizwa,

namasango alo aphakemeyo ayakushiswa ngomlilo;

abantu bakhandlekela ize

nezizwe okomlilo, zikhathale.”

₂Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukusitha into,

kepha udumo lwamakhosi lungukuphenya indaba.

₃Njengezulu ngokuphakama nomhlaba ngokujula,

injalo inhliziyo yomuntu ngokuphenywa.

₄Susa amanyela esiliveni,

bese kuthi kuphumele umkhandi isitsha.

₅Susa omubi phambi kwenkosi,

bese kuthi isihlalo sayo sobukhosi siqiniswe ngokulunga.

₆Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi,

ungemi endaweni yabakhulu.

₇Ngokuba kungcono ukuba kuthiwe

kuwe: “Yenyuka lapha,”

kunokuba wehliswe phambi kwesikhulu asesibonile amehlo akho.

₈Ungasheshi ukuphuma ukuyophikisana

ukuba ungazi ukuthi uyakwenze njani ekugcineni,

lapho umakhelwane wakho ekuhlazisile.

₉Mela indaba yakho nomakhelwane wakho,

ungambuli imfihlakalo yomunye,

₁₀funa okuzwayo akuhlazise,

nodumo lwakho lungabuyi.

₁₁Izwi elikhulunywayo ngesikhathi esiyiso

linjengama-apula* asezitsheni zesiliva.

₁₂Njengecici legolide nesivunulo segolide elicwengekileyo,

unjalo umsoli ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni elalelayo.

₁₃Njengokubanda kweqhwa ngosuku lokuvuna,

sinjalo isithunywa esithembekileyo kosithumileyo,

ngokuba siyahlumelela inkosi yaso.

₁₄Njengamafu nomoya ngaphandle kwemvula kodwa,

unjalo umuntu ozidumisa ngesipho angasiphiyo.

₁₅Ngokubekezela kade isikhulu singavunyiswa,

nolimi oluthambileyo luyaphula amathambo.

₁₆Uma uthole izinyosi,

yidla okwanele wena,

funa udinwe, ubuye uhlanze.

₁₇Unyawo lwakho malungavami endlini yomakhelwane wakho,

funa adinwe nguwe, abuye akuzonde.

₁₈Umuntu ofakazela amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe

uyisando, nenkemba,

nomcibisholo obukhali.

₁₉Ukwethemba ombuluzayo ngosuku lokuhlupheka

kunjengezinyo elaphukileyo nonyawo olwenyeleyo.

₂₀Oyihlabelelela inhliziyo edabukileyo izihlabelelo

unjengokhumula ibhantshi ngosuku lwamakhaza, nanjengoviniga esilondeni.

₂₁Uma okuzondayo elambile,

mnike ukudla, adle;

uma omile, muphe amanzi, aphuze.

₂₂Ngokuba uyakubuthela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe,

besekuthi uJehova akuvuze.

₂₃Umoya wasenyakatho uyaletha imvula,

nolimi olunyenyayo ubuso obuthukutheleyo.

₂₄Kungcono ukuhlala egumbini lophahla

kunokuhlala nowesifazane oxabanayo endlini ehlanganyelweyo.

₂₅Njengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo,

unjalo umbiko omuhle ovela ezweni elikude.

₂₆Njengomthombo odungekileyo nesiphethu esonakaleyo,

unjalo olungileyo ozanyazanyiswa phambi komubi.

₂₇Ukudla izinyosi eziningi akukuhle,

nokuzifunela udumo kakusilo udumo.

₂₈Njengomuzi odiliziweyo ungenalugange,

unjalo umuntu omoya wakhe ungenakubanjwa.