To The Word – Day 2

₁Ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu wadala izulu nomhlaba. ₂Umhlaba wawuyihlane elingenalutho; kwakungubumnyama phezu kotwa, kepha uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehla wenyuka phezu kwamanzi.

₃UNkulunkulu wathi: “Makube khona ukukhanya,” kwaba khona ukukhanya. ₄UNkulunkulu wabona ukukhanya ukuthi kuhle; uNkulunkulu wahlukanisa ukukhanya nobumnyama. ₅UNkulunkulu wabiza ukukhanya ngokuthi imini; ubumnyama wabubiza ngokuthi ubusuku. Kwaba ngukuhlwa, kwaba ngukusa, usuku lokuqala.

₆UNkulunkulu wathi: “Makube khona umkhathi phakathi kwamanzi, kwahlukaniswe amanzi namanzi.” ₇UNkulunkulu wenza umkhathi, wahlukanisa amanzi aphansi komkhathi namanzi aphezu komkhathi; kwaba njalo. ₈UNkulunkulu wabiza umkhathi ngokuthi izulu. Kwaba ngukuhlwa, kwaba ngukusa, usuku lwesibili.

₉UNkulunkulu wathi: “Amanzi aphansi kwezulu mawaqoqekele ndawonye, kubonakale umhlabathi owomileyo,” kwaba njalo. ₁₀Okomileyo uNkulunkulu wakubiza ngokuthi umhlaba, nokuqoqeka kwamanzi wakubiza ngokuthi ulwandle; uNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi kuhle. ₁₁UNkulunkulu wathi: “Umhlaba mawuveze utshani, nemifino ethela imbewu, nemithi yezithelo ethela izithelo ngezinhlobo zayo, ekuyo imbewu yayo, emhlabeni,” kwaba njalo. ₁₂Umhlaba wawusuveza utshani nemifino ethela imbewu ngezinhlobo zayo, nemithi ethela izithelo ngezinhlobo zayo, ekuyo imbewu yayo; uNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi kuhle. ₁₃Kwaba ngukuhlwa, kwaba ngukusa, usuku lwesithathu.

₁₄UNkulunkulu wathi: “Makube khona emkhathini wezulu izinkanyiso ezahlukanisa imini nobusuku, zibe yizibonakaliso zezinkathi, nezezinsuku, nezeminyaka, ₁₅zibe yizinkanyiso emkhathini wezulu zokukhanyisa emhlabeni,” kwaba njalo. ₁₆UNkulunkulu wazenza izinkanyiso ezimbili ezinkulu, inkanyiso enkulu ukuba ibuse imini, nenkanyiso encane ukuba ibuse ubusuku, kanye nezinkanyezi. ₁₇UNkulunkulu wazifaka emkhathini wezulu ukuba zikhanyise emhlabeni, ₁₈zibuse imini nobusuku, zahlukanise ukukhanya nobumnyama. UNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi kuhle. ₁₉Kwaba ngukuhlwa, kwaba ngukusa, usuku lwesine.

₂₀UNkulunkulu wathi: “Amanzi mawagcwale uswebezane lwezilwane eziphilayo, kundize izinyoni phezu komhlaba emkhathini wezulu.” ₂₁UNkulunkulu wadala imikhomo emikhulu nezilwane zonke eziphilayo ezihambayo, amanzi agcwala zona ngezinhlobo zazo, nezinyoni zonke ezinamaphiko ngezinhlobo zazo. UNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi kuhle. ₂₂UNkulunkulu wazibusisa, wathi: “Zalani, nande, nigcwalise amanzi aselwandle, nezinyoni zande emhlabeni.” ₂₃Kwaba ngukuhlwa, kwaba ngukusa, usuku lwesihlanu.

₂₄UNkulunkulu wathi: “Umhlaba mawuveze izilwane eziphilayo ngezinhlobo zazo, izinkomo, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo, nezilo zomhlaba ngezinhlobo zazo,” kwaba njalo. ₂₅UNkulunkulu wazenza izilo zomhlaba ngezinhlobo zazo, nezinkomo ngezinhlobo zazo, nezilwanyana zonke ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni ngezinhlobo zazo. UNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi kuhle. ₂₆UNkulunkulu wathi: “Masenze abantu ngomfanekiso wethu, basifuze, babuse phezu kwezinhlanzi zolwandle, nezinyoni zezulu, nezinkomo, nomhlaba wonke, nezilwanyana zonke ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni.”

₂₇UNkulunkulu wamdala umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe; wamdala ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu; wabadala owesilisa nowesifazane.

₂₈UNkulunkulu wababusisa; uNkulunkulu wathi kubo: “Zalani, nande, nigcwalise umhlaba, niwunqobe, nibuse phezu kwezinhlanzi zolwandle, nezinyoni zezulu, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni.” ₂₉UNkulunkulu wathi: “Bhekani, ngiyaninika yonke imifino ethela imbewu, esemhlabeni wonke, nemithi yonke okukuyo izithelo zomuthi oveza imbewu, kube ngukudla kwenu. ₃₀Kepha zonke izilwane zomhlaba, nezinyoni zonke zezulu, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni, eziphefumulayo, zona nginike yonke imifino eluhlaza ibe ngukudla,” kwaba njalo. ₃₁UNkulunkulu wabona konke akwenzileyo; bheka, kwakukuhle kakhulu. Kwaba ngukuhlwa, kwaba ngukusa, usuku lwesithupha.

₁Kwase kupheleliswa izulu nomhlaba kanye nombuthano wakho wonke.

₂UNkulunkulu waqeda ngosuku lwesikhombisa imisebenzi yakhe abeyenzile; waphumula ngosuku lwesikhombisa emisebenzini yakhe yonke abeyenzile. ₃UNkulunkulu wabusisa usuku lwesikhombisa, walungcwelisa, ngokuba ngalolo suku waphumula emisebenzini yonke abeyidalile uNkulunkulu, wayenza.

₄Lokhu kungumlando wokudalwa kwezulu nomhlaba ekudalweni kwakho mhla uJehova uNkulunkulu ewenza umhlaba nezulu. ₅Kwakungakabikho sihlahla endle, namifino yayingakamili emhlabathini, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wayengakanisi imvula emhlabeni, kungakabikho muntu wokulima umhlabathi. ₆Kepha kwenyuka inkungu ivela emhlabathini, yanisela ubuso bonke bomhlaba. ₇UJehova uNkulunkulu wambumba umuntu ngomhlabathi, waphefumulela emakhaleni akhe umoya wokuphila; kanjalo umuntu waba umphefumulo ophilayo.

₈UJehova uNkulunkulu watshala insimu e-Edene ngasempumalanga; wambeka khona umuntu amenzileyo. ₉UJehova uNkulunkulu wahlumisa emhlabathini imithi yonke ebukekayo, emihle, edliwayo, nomuthi wokuphila phakathi nensimu, nomuthi wokwazi okuhle nokubi.

₁₀E-Edene kwavela umfula owamanzisa insimu; wahlukana khona, waba yizimbaxa ezine. ₁₁Eyokuqala inegama lokuthi iPishoni; yiyo ezungeza izwe lonke laseHavila, lapho kukhona igolide. ₁₂Lihle igolide lalelo zwe. Kukhona nenhlaka yebedola* netshe leshohamu* lapho. ₁₃Igama leyesibili linguGihoni; yiyo ezungeza lonke izwe laseKushe. ₁₄Igama leyesithathu linguHidekeli; yiyo egobhoza ngasempumalanga kwase-Asiriya. Eyesine ingu-Ewufrathe.

₁₅UJehova uNkulunkulu wayesemthatha umuntu, wambeka ensimini yase-Edene ukuba ayilime, ayigcine. ₁₆UJehova uNkulunkulu wamyala umuntu, wathi: “Ungadla kuyo yonke imithi yensimu ngokuthanda kwakho, ₁₇kepha ungadli kuwo umuthi wokwazi okuhle nokubi, ngokuba mhla udla kuwo uyakufa nokufa.”

₁₈UJehova uNkulunkulu wathi: “Akukuhle ukuba umuntu ahlale yedwa. Ngizakumenzela umsizi onjengaye.”

₁₉UJehova uNkulunkulu wabumba ngomhlabathi zonke izilwane zasendle nezinyoni zonke zezulu, waziyisa kumuntu ukuba abone ukuthi umuntu angaziqamba ngokuthini, ukuze kuthi, njengalokhu umuntu eziqamba zonke izilwane eziphilayo, lokhu kube ngamagama azo. ₂₀Umuntu waziqamba amagama zonke izinkomo, nezinyoni zezulu, nezilwane zasendle. Kepha umuntu akatholelwanga umsizi onjengaye. ₂₁UJehova uNkulunkulu wamehlisela umuntu ubuthongo obunzima, walala; wayesethatha olunye lwezimbambo zakhe, wavala indawo ngenyama. ₂₂UJehova uNkulunkulu wakha owesifazane ngobambo abeluthathile kumuntu, wamyisa kumuntu.

₂₃Wayesethi umuntu: “Lo useyithambo lamathambo ami nenyama yenyama yami; uyakubizwa ngokuthi indodakazi, ngokuba uthathwe endodeni.” ₂₄Ngalokho indoda iyakushiya uyise nonina, inamathele kumkayo; bayakuba nyamanye.

₂₅Babehamba ze bobabili, u-Adamu* nomkakhe, bengenamahloni.

₁Inyoka yayinobuqili kunazo zonke izilwane zasendle abezenzile uJehova uNkulunkulu. Yathi kowesifazane: “Ngempela uNkulunkulu ushilo yini ukuthi: ‘Ningadli emithini yasensimini,’ na?”

₂Owesifazane wathi enyokeni: “Singadla izithelo zemithi yasensimini, ₃kepha ngezithelo zomuthi ophakathi nensimu uNkulunkulu ushilo ukuthi: ‘Ningazidli, ningazithinti ukuba ningafi.’ ”

₄Inyoka yathi kowesifazane: “Aniyikufa nokufa; ₅kepha uNkulunkulu uyazi ukuthi mhla nizidla, kuyakuvuleka amehlo enu, nibe njengoNkulunkulu, nikwazi okuhle nokubi.”

₆Owesifazane ebona ukuthi umuthi ulungele ukudliwa, nokuthi uyabukeka emehlweni, nokuthi umuthi unxanelekile ekuhlakaniphiseni, wathatha izithelo zawo, wadla, wanika nendoda yakhe kanye naye, nayo yadla. ₇Ayesevuleka amehlo abo bobabili, babona ukuthi bahamba ze; bathunga amaqabunga omkhiwane, bazenzela izibhinco.

₈Base bezwa izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu ehamba ensimini kusihlwa ngokuphola kwelanga; u-Adamu nomkakhe bacasha ebusweni bukaJehova uNkulunkulu phakathi kwemithi yensimu. ₉Kepha uJehova uNkulunkulu wambiza u-Adamu, wathi kuye: “Uphi na?”

₁₀Wathi: “Ngizwe izwi lakho ensimini, ngesaba ngokuba ngihamba ze; ngalokho ngacasha.”

₁₁Khona wathi: “Ngubani owakutshela ukuthi uhamba ze na? Udlile kulowo muthi engakuyala ngawo ukuthi ungadli kuwo na?”

₁₂U-Adamu wathi: “Owesifazane, owangipha yena ukuba abe nami, unginikile kuwo umuthi, ngadla.”

₁₃UJehova uNkulunkulu wathi kowesifazane: “Yini lokhu okwenzileyo na?”

Owesifazane wathi: “Inyoka ingikhohlisile, ngadla.”

₁₄UJehova uNkulunkulu wathi enyokeni: “Njengokuba usukwenzile lokho, uqalekisiwe phakathi kwezilwane zonke naphakathi kwazo zonke izilwane zasendle; uzakuhamba ngesisu sakho, udle uthuli izinsuku zonke zokuhamba kwakho. ₁₅Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” ₁₆Wathi kowesifazane: “Ngizakukubangela ubuhlungu obukhulu ekukhulelweni kwakho; uyakubeletha abantwana ngobuhlungu. Ukunxanela kwakho kuyakuba sendodeni yakho; yona iyakukubusa.”

₁₇Wayesethi ku-Adamu: “Njengokuba ulalele izwi lomkakho, wadla kulowo muthi engakuyala ngawo ukuthi ungadli kuwo, ngalokho umhlabathi uqalekisiwe ngenxa yakho. Uyakudla kuwo ngokukhathazeka zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakho. ₁₈Uyakukuvezela ameva namakhakhasi, wena udle imifino yasendle. ₁₉Ngesithukuthuku sobuso bakho uyakudla isinkwa sakho, uze ubuyele emhlabathini, lokhu wathathwa kuwo; ngokuba ungumhlabathi, uyakuphenduka umhlabathi.”

₂₀U-Adamu wamqamba umkakhe igama lokuthi u-Eva,* ngokuba waba ngunina wabo bonke abaphilayo.

₂₁UJehova uNkulunkulu wabenzela u-Adamu nomkakhe iziphuku, wabembathisa.

₂₂UJehova uNkulunkulu wathi: “Bheka, u-Adamu usenjengomunye wethu, uyakwazi okuhle nokubi; kepha manje makangeluli isandla sakhe, athathe nakuwo umuthi wokuphila, adle, aphile kuze kube phakade.” ₂₃UJehova uNkulunkulu wammukisa ensimini yase-Edene ukuba alime umhlabathi athathwe kuwo. ₂₄Wamxosha u-Adamu, wabeka ngasempumalanga kwensimu yase-Edene amakherubi* kanye nenkemba yelangabi ephenduphendukayo, ilinde indlela eya emthini wokuphila.

₁Ekuqaleni wayekhona uLizwi, uLizwi wayekuNkulunkulu, uLizwi wayenguNkulunkulu. ₂Yena lowo wayekhona ekuqaleni kuNkulunkulu.

₃Konke kwavela ngaye; ngaphandle kwakhe akuvelanga lutho kukho konke okuvelileyo. ₄Ukuphila kwakukuye, ukuphila kwakungukukhanya kwabantu; ₅ukukhanya kukhanya ebumnyameni, kepha ubumnyama abukwamukelanga.

₆Kwavela umuntu ethunyiwe nguNkulunkulu, igama lakhe linguJohane. ₇Lowo wezela ubufakazi ukuba afakaze ngokukhanya, ukuze bonke bakholwe ngaye. ₈Yena wayengesikho ukukhanya, kepha wayengozofakaza ngokukhanya. ₉Kwakungukukhanya okuqinisileyo okukhanyisa wonke umuntu, okwase kuza ezweni.

₁₀Wayekhona ezweni, izwe lavela ngaye; kepha izwe alimazanga. ₁₁Weza kokwakhe, abakhe abamamukelanga. ₁₂Kepha bonke abamamukelayo wabapha amandla okuba babe ngabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, labo abakholwa egameni lakhe, ₁₃abangazalwanga ngagazi, nantando yenyama, nantando yendoda, kodwa bazalwa nguNkulunkulu.

₁₄ULizwi waba yinyama, wakha phakathi kwethu, sabona inkazimulo yakhe, inkazimulo njengeyozelwe yedwa kuYise, egcwele umusa neqiniso.

₁₅UJohane wafakaza ngaye, wamemeza wathi: “Nguyena lo ebengisho ngaye ukuthi: ‘Lowo ozayo emva kwami uvelile ngaphambi kwami, ngokuba wayekhona kuqala kunami.’ ” ₁₆Ngokuba ekugcwaleni kwakhe samukele sonke umusa phezu komusa. ₁₇Ngokuba umthetho wanikezwa ngoMose, umusa neqiniso kwavela ngoJesu Kristu. ₁₈Akakho oke wabona uNkulunkulu; iNdodana ezelwe yodwa esesifubeni sikaYise yiyona embonakalisile.

₁₉Lokhu kungubufakazi bukaJohane mhla abaJuda bethuma abapristi namaLevi bephuma eJerusalema ukuba bambuze ukuthi: “Wena ungubani na?” ₂₀Wavuma, kaphikanga, wavuma wathi: “Angisiye uKristu mina.”

₂₁Bambuza bathi: “Uyini pho? Ungu-Eliya na?”

Wathi: “Angisiye.”

“UngumProfethi na?”

Waphendula wathi: “Qha.”

₂₂Base bethi kuye: “Ungubani na? ukuze sibaphendule abasithumileyo; uzisho ukuthi ungubani na?”

₂₃Wathi: “Ngiyizwi lomemeza ehlane, ethi: ‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi,’ ” njengalokho washo u-Isaya umprofethi.

₂₄Labo ababethunyiwe babevela kubaFarisi. ₂₅Bambuza-ke, bathi kuye: “Pho, ubhapathizelani, uma ungesiye uKristu, no-Eliya, nomProfethi, na?”

₂₆UJohane wabaphendula wathi: “Mina ngibhapathiza ngamanzi; umi phakathi kwenu eningamaziyo: ₂₇yena ozayo emva kwami, omchilo wesicathulo sakhe ngingafanele ukuwuthukulula.”

₂₈Lokho kwenzeka eBethabara ngaphesheya kweJordani, lapho uJohane wayebhapathiza khona.

₂₉Ngangomuso wabona uJesu eza kuye, wathi: “Bheka, iWundlu likaNkulunkulu elisusa izono zezwe. ₃₀Nguye ebengisho ngaye, ngithi: ‘Emva kwami kuza umuntu owavela ngaphambi kwami, ngokuba wayekhona kuqala kunami.’ ₃₁Nami bengingamazi; kodwa ukuze abonakaliswe ku-Israyeli, ngalokho ngizile ngibhapathiza ngamanzi.”

₃₂UJohane wafakaza wathi: “Ngibonile uMoya ehla ezulwini njengejuba, wahlala phezu kwakhe. ₃₃Nami bengingamazi, kodwa owangithuma ukubhapathiza ngamanzi wathi kimi: ‘Lowo oyakubona uMoya ehla ahlale phezu kwakhe, nguyena obhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele.’ ₃₄Mina ngibonile, ngafakaza ukuthi: Lo uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.”

₃₅Ngangomuso futhi wayemi uJohane nababili kubafundi bakhe. ₃₆Ebona uJesu ehamba, wathi: “Bheka, nanto iWundlu likaNkulunkulu.”

₃₇Abafundi ababili bezwa ekhuluma, bamlandela uJesu. ₃₈Khona uJesu waphenduka, wababona belandela, wathi kubo: “Nifunani na?”

Bathi kuye: “Rabi,” okungukuthi ngokuhunyushwa: Mfundisi, “uhlalaphi na?”

₃₉Wathi kubo: “Wozani nibone.” Ngakho-ke beza babona lapho ehlala khona; bahlala naye ngalolo suku; kwakungaba yihora leshumi.

₄₀Omunye walabo ababili abamuzwa uJohane balandela uJesu wayengu-Andreya umfowabo kaSimoni Petru; ₄₁yena wafumana kuqala umfowabo uSimoni, wathi kuye: “Simfumene uMesiya,” okungukuthi ngokuhunyushwa uKristu.

₄₂Wamyisa kuJesu; uJesu wambheka wathi: “Wena unguSimoni kaJona; uzakubizwa ngokuthi uKhefase,” okuhunyushwa ngokuthi uPetru.

₄₃Ngangomuso wayefuna ukuya eGalile, wafumana uFiliphu; uJesu wathi kuye: “Ngilandele.”

₄₄UFiliphu wayengowaseBetsayida, umuzi ka-Andreya noPetru. ₄₅UFiliphu wafumana uNathanayeli, wathi kuye: “Simfumene lowo aloba ngaye emthethweni uMose kanye nabaprofethi, uJesu waseNazaretha, indodana kaJosefa.”

₄₆UNathanayeli wathi kuye: “Kungase kuvele okuhle eNazaretha na?”

UFiliphu wathi kuye: “Woza ubone.”

₄₇UJesu wabona uNathanayeli eza kuye, wathi ngaye: “Bheka, umIsrayeli uqobo okungekho nkohliso kuye.”

₄₈UNathanayeli wathi kuye: “Ungazelaphi na?”

UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Ungakabizwa nguFiliphu, uphansi komkhiwane, ngakubona.”

₄₉UNathanayeli wamphendula wathi: “Rabi, uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uyiNkosi ka-Israyeli.”

₅₀UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Ukholwa ngokuba ngithe kuwe ngakubona uphansi komkhiwane na? Uzakubona okukhulu kunalokho.” ₅₁Wathi kuye: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Nizakubona izulu livuliwe nezingelosi zikaNkulunkulu zenyuka, zehla phezu kweNdodana yomuntu.”

₁Kwathi ngosuku lwesithathu kwakukhona umshado eKhana laseGalile; wayekhona lapho unina kaJesu. ₂NoJesu nabafundi bakhe babemenyiwe emshadweni. ₃Kwathi ukuba lisweleke iwayini, unina kaJesu wathi kuye: “Kabanalo iwayini.”

₄UJesu wathi kuye: “Mame, ungene ngani kokwami na? Isikhathi sami asikafiki.”

₅Wathi unina ezincekwini: “Nayikuphi akusho kini anokwenza.”

₆Kwakukhona lapho izimbiza zamatshe eziyisithupha zibekwe ngesiko lokuhlamba labaJuda, ziphethe yileso naleso izilinganiso ezimbili noma ezintathu.

₇UJesu wathi ezincekwini: “Gcwalisani izimbiza ngamanzi;” zazigcwalisa-ke.

₈Wayesethi kuzo: “Yikhani manje, niyise kumphathi wokudla;” zayisa-ke. ₉Umphathi wokudla ezwa amanzi aphenduke iwayini, engazi ukuthi livelaphi, kepha izinceku ezaziwakhile amanzi bezazi, umphathi wokudla wabiza umyeni, wathi kuye: ₁₀“Wonke umuntu ubeka iwayini elimnandi kuqala, kuthi lapha sebephuze kakhulu, akhiphe elibi kunalo; wena ugcinile elimnandi kuze kube manje.”

₁₁Lokho ukuqala kwezibonakaliso wakwenza uJesu eKhana laseGalile ebonakalisa inkazimulo yakhe; abafundi bakhe bakholwa nguye.

₁₂Ngasemva kwalokho wehlela eKapernawume, yena, nonina, nabafowabo, nabafundi bakhe, bahlala khona izinsuku ezingeziningi.

₁₃Lalisondele iPhasika labaJuda; uJesu wakhuphukela eJerusalema. ₁₄Wafumana ethempelini abathengisa ngezinkomo nangezimvu nangamajuba, nabahlezi beshintsha imali. ₁₅Wayesenza inkalivasi* ngezintambo, waxosha bonke ethempelini, nezimvu nezinkomo, wachitha imali yabashintshayo, wagumbuqela amatafula, ₁₆wathi kwabathengisa ngamajuba: “Susani lokhu lapha, ningayenzi indlu kaBaba indlu yokuthengelana.”

₁₇Abafundi bakhe bakhumbula ukuba kulotshwe ukuthi: “Ukushisekela indlu yakho kuyangidla.”

₁₈Ngakho-ke abaJuda baphendula, bathi kuye: “Usitshengisa isibonakaliso sini ukuba wenze lokhu na?”

₁₉UJesu waphendula, wathi kubo: “Bhidlizani leli thempeli, ngizakulivusa ngezinsuku ezintathu.”

₂₀Ngakho bathi abaJuda: “Leli thempeli kwaba yiminyaka engamashumi amane nesithupha lakhiwa, wena-ke uzakulivusa ngezinsuku ezintathu na?” ₂₁Kepha wayekhuluma ngethempeli lomzimba wakhe. ₂₂Kuthe esevukile kwabafileyo, abafundi bakhe bakhumbula ukuthi washo njalo kubo; bakholwa ngumbhalo nezwi abelishilo uJesu.

₂₃Kwathi eseJerusalema ngePhasika emkhosini, abaningi bakholwa egameni lakhe bebona izibonakaliso zakhe azenzayo; ₂₄kepha uJesu yena kabethembanga ukuba abhobokelane nabo, ngokuba wayebazi bonke, ₂₅nangokuba engaswele nobani amfakazele ngomuntu; wayekwazi yena okuphakathi komuntu.

₁Kwakukhona umuntu wakubaFarisi, nguNikodemu igama lakhe, isikhulu sabaJuda. ₂Lowo-ke weza kuye ebusuku, wathi kuye: “Rabi, siyazi ukuthi ungumfundisi ovele kuNkulunkulu, ngokuba akakho ongenza lezi zibonakaliso ozenzayo, uma uNkulunkulu engenaye.”

₃UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Uma umuntu engazalwa ngokusha, angewubone umbuso kaNkulunkulu.”

₄UNikodemu wathi kuye: “Umuntu angazalwa kanjani esemdala na? Angangena ngokwesibili esiswini sikanina, azalwe, na?”

₅Waphendula uJesu, wathi: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Uma umuntu engazalwa ngamanzi nangoMoya, angengene embusweni kaNkulunkulu. ₆Lokho okuzelwe yinyama kuyinyama; nalokho okuzelwe nguMoya kungumoya. ₇Ungamangali ngokuba ngithe kuwe: ‘Nimelwe ukuzalwa ngokusha.’ ₈Umoya uphephetha lapha uthanda khona; uyaluzwa udumo lwawo, kodwa kawazi lapho uvela khona nalapho uya khona; banjalo bonke abazelwe nguMoya.”

₉UNikodemu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Lokhu kungenzeka kanjani na?”

₁₀UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Wena ungumfundisi ka-Israyeli, awukwazi lokhu na? ₁₁Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Sikhuluma esikwaziyo, sifakaza ngesikubonileyo; kepha anibamukeli ubufakazi bethu. ₁₂Nxa nginitshelile okomhlaba, kanakholwa; ningakholwa kanjani, uma nginitshela okwasezulwini na? ₁₃Akakho owenyukele ezulwini, kuphela yena owehla ezulwini, iNdodana yomuntu. ₁₄Njengokuba uMose waphakamisa inyoka ehlane, kanjalo iNdodana yomuntu imelwe ukuphakanyiswa ₁₅ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo abe nokuphila okuphakade.

₁₆“Ngokuba uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe nokuphila okuphakade. ₁₇Ngokuba uNkulunkulu kayithumelanga iNdodana ezweni ukuba yahlulele izwe, kodwa ukuba izwe lisindiswe ngayo. ₁₈Okholwa yiyo kahlulelwa; ongakholwa usahlulelwe, lokhu engakholwanga egameni leNdodana ezelwe yodwa kaNkulunkulu. ₁₉Ukwahlulela kuyilokhu ukuba ukukhanya kufikile ezweni, kepha abantu bathanda ubumnyama kunokukhanya, ngokuba imisebenzi yabo ibimibi. ₂₀Ngokuba yilowo nalowo owenza okubi uzonda ukukhanya, akezi ekukhanyeni ukuba imisebenzi yakhe ingasolwa. ₂₁Kepha owenza iqiniso uyeza ekukhanyeni, ukuze imisebenzi yakhe ibonakaliswe ukuthi yenziwe kuNkulunkulu.”

₂₂Ngasemva kwalokho uJesu weza nabafundi bakhe ezweni laseJudiya; wahlala khona nabo, wabhapathiza. ₂₃Naye uJohane wayebhapathiza e-Enoni eduze neSalimi, ngokuba amanzi ayemaningi lapho; beza babhapathizwa. ₂₄Ngokuba uJohane wayengakafakwa etilongweni. ₂₅Kwase kuvela ukuphikisana phakathi kwabafundi bakaJohane nabaJuda ngokuhlambulula. ₂₆Base beza kuJohane, bathi kuye: “Rabi, lowo owayenawe phesheya kweJordani, owamfakazelayo, bheka, uyabhapathiza, bonke beza kuye.”

₂₇UJohane waphendula wathi: “Umuntu angelwamukele utho, uma engaluphiwanga luvela ezulwini. ₂₈Nina ngokwenu niyangifakazela ukuba ngathi: ‘Angisiye uKristu mina, kodwa ngithunyiwe ngaphambi kwakhe.’ ₂₉Onomlobokazi ungumyeni, kepha umhlobo womyeni omiyo emuzwa uthokoza nokuthokoza ngezwi lomyeni. Le ntokozo yami isiphelele. ₃₀Umelwe ukukhula yena, nginciphe mina.

₃₁“Ovela phezulu uphezu kwakho konke; ovela emhlabeni ungowomhlaba, ukhuluma okomhlaba. Ovela ezulwini uphezu kwakho konke. ₃₂Akubonileyo nakuzwileyo lokho ufakaza ngakho; kepha akakho owamukela ubufakazi bakhe. ₃₃Owamukele ubufakazi bakhe ulubekile uphawu lokuthi uNkulunkulu uqinisile. ₃₄Ngokuba lowo uNkulunkulu amthumileyo ukhuluma amazwi kaNkulunkulu; ngokuba akaniki uMoya ngokulinganisela. ₃₅UYise uyayithanda iNdodana, wanikela konke esandleni sayo. ₃₆Okholwa yiNdodana unokuphila okuphakade; kepha ongakholwa yiNdodana kayikubona ukuphila, kodwa intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu ihlezi phezu kwakhe.”