To The Word – Day 8

₁U-Abrahama waphinda wathatha umfazi ogama lakhe linguKetura. ₂Wamzalela oZimrani, noJokishani, noMedani, noMidiyani, no-Ishibaki, noShuwa. ₃UJokishani wazala oSheba noDedani. Amadodana kaDedani ayengama-Ashuri, namaLetushi, namaLewumi. ₄Amadodana kaMidiyani ayengo-Efa, no-Eferi, noHanoki, no-Abida, no-Elidaha. Bonke labo babengamadodana kaKetura.

₅U-Abrahama wamnika u-Isaka konke anakho. ₆Kepha amadodana ezancinza zika-Abrahama u-Abrahama wawanika izipho nje, wawamukisa ku-Isaka indodana yakhe esekhona, aye ngasempumalanga ezweni lasempumalanga.

₇Lezi ziyizinsuku zeminyaka yokuhamba kuka-Abrahama azihambayo: iminyaka eyikhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa nanhlanu. ₈U-Abrahama wagqibuka wafa, esemdala egugile, esanelisiwe yizinsuku, wabuthelwa kubantu bakhe. ₉O-Isaka no-Ishmayeli amadodana akhe bammbela emhumeni waseMakaphela, ensimini ka-Efroni indodana kaSowari umHeti engaphambi kweMamre, ₁₀insimu ayithenga u-Abrahama kubo abantwana bakwaHeti; khona wembelwa u-Abrahama noSara umkakhe. ₁₁Kwathi emva kokufa kuka-Abrahama uNkulunkulu wambusisa u-Isaka indodana yakhe; u-Isaka wahlala eBeri Lahayi Royi.

₁₂Lezi ziyizizukulwane zika-Ishmayeli indodana ka-Abrahama, uHagari waseGibithe incekukazi kaSara amzalela zona u-Abrahama.

₁₃Lawa angamagama amadodana ka-Ishmayeli ngamagama awo nangokuzalwa kwawo: izibulo lika-Ishmayeli nguNebayoti, kanye noKedari, no-Adibeli, noMibisamu, ₁₄noMishima, noDuma, noMasa, ₁₅noHadadi, noThema, noJeturu, noNafishi, noKhedema; ₁₆yilawo angamadodana ka-Ishmayeli, yilawo angamagama awo ngemizi yawo nangezikaniso zawo, izikhulu eziyishumi nambili ngezizwe zawo. ₁₇Le iyiminyaka yokuhamba kuka-Ishmayeli: iminyaka eyikhulu namashumi amathathu nesikhombisa; wagqibuka wafa, wabuthelwa kubantu bakhe. ₁₈Bahlala-ke kwasukela eHavila kwaze kwaba seShuri elingaphambi kwaseGibithe ekuhambeni ukuya e-Asiriya; wakha ngasempumalanga kwabafowabo.

₁₉Lezi ziyizizukulwane zika-Isaka indodana ka-Abrahama: u-Abrahama wazala u-Isaka; ₂₀u-Isaka wayeneminyaka engamashumi amane mhla emthatha uRebeka indodakazi kaBetuweli, umAramu wasePhadani Aramu, udadewabo kaLabani umAramu, abe ngumkakhe.

₂₁U-Isaka wamkhulekela umkakhe kuJehova, ngokuba wayeyinyumba; uJehova wamzwela; uRebeka umkakhe wakhulelwa. ₂₂Abantwana baqhubukushana phakathi kwakhe; wathi: “Uma kunje, ngisekhona ngani na?” Waya wabuza kuJehova.

₂₃UJehova wathi kuye:

₂₄Kwathi seziphelele izinsuku zakhe zokubeletha, bheka, kwakukhona amawele esiswini sakhe.

₂₅Waphuma owokuqala, ebomvana wonke umzimba, enjengengubo yoboya; baqamba igama lakhe ngokuthi u-Esawu. ₂₆Emva kwalokho kwaphuma umfowabo, isandla sakhe sibambelele esithendeni sika-Esawu; igama lakhe labizwa ngokuthi uJakobe;* u-Isaka wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisithupha ekuzalweni kwabo.

₂₇Abafana bakhula; u-Esawu waba yiphisi, umuntu wasendle; uJakobe waba yibeka, ehlala ematendeni. ₂₈U-Isaka wamthanda u-Esawu, ngokuba wayedla inyama yenyamazane yakhe; uRebeka wamthanda uJakobe.

₂₉Kwathi uJakobe wapheka ukudla, kwafika u-Esawu evela endle, ediniwe. ₃₀U-Esawu wathi kuJakobe: “Ake ungiphe ukuba ngidle kokubomvu, kulokho okubomvu, ngokuba sengidiniwe,” ngalokho igama lakhe lathiwa u-Edomi.*

₃₁Wayesethi uJakobe: “Thengisa kimi namuhla ngefa lobuzibulo bakho.”

₃₂Wathi u-Esawu: “Bheka, sengizakufa; linosizo luni kimi ifa lobuzibulo bami na?”

₃₃UJakobe wathi: “Funga kimi namuhla.” Wayesefunga kuye, wathengisa ngefa lobuzibulo bakhe kuJakobe.

₃₄UJakobe wamupha u-Esawu isinkwa nokudla kwembumba; wadla, waphuza, wavuka, wahamba; wadelela kanjalo u-Esawu ubuzibulo bakhe.

₁Kwaba khona indlala ezweni ngaphandle kwendlala yokuqala eyayikhona emihleni ka-Abrahama; u-Isaka waya eGerari ku-Abimeleki inkosi yamaFilisti. ₂UJehova wabonakala kuye, wathi: “Ungehleli eGibithe; hlala ezweni engizakukutshela lona, ₃ugogobale kuleli zwe; ngizakuba nawe, ngikubusise, ngokuba ngiyakunika wena nenzalo yakho onke lawa mazwe, ngigcwalise isifungo engasifunga ku-Abrahama uyihlo. ₄Ngiyakwandisa inzalo yakho, ibe ngangezinkanyezi zezulu, ngiyiphe inzalo yakho onke lawa mazwe; ngenzalo yakho ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zomhlaba, ₅ngokuba u-Abrahama walalela izwi lami, wagcina ukusho kwami, nemiyalo yami, nezimiso zami, nemithetho yami.” ₆U-Isaka wahlala-ke eGarari.

₇Amadoda aleyo ndawo ambuza ngomkakhe; wathi: “Ungudadewethu,” ngokuba wesaba ukusho ukuthi: “Ungumkami,” ethi: “Funa amadoda aleyo ndawo angibulale ngenxa kaRebeka, lokhu ebukeka kahle.”

₈Kwathi esehlale khona isikhathi eside, u-Abimeleki inkosi yamaFilisti walunguza efasiteleni, wabona; bheka, u-Isaka wayetekula noRebeka umkakhe. ₉U-Abimeleki wambiza u-Isaka, wathi: “Bheka, impela yena ungumkakho; usholoni ukuthi: ‘Ungudadewethu,’ na?”

U-Isaka wathi: “Ngokuba ngathi: Funa ngife ngenxa yakhe.”

₁₀U-Abimeleki wayesethi: “Kuyini okwenzile kithina na? Bekulula ukuba kufike omunye wabantu, alale nomkakho; ubususibangele icala.”

₁₁U-Abimeleki wayala bonke abantu, wathi: “Othinta lo muntu nomkakhe uzakubulawa nokubulawa.”

₁₂U-Isaka watshala kulelo zwe, wathola ngawona lowo mnyaka okuphindwe kayikhulu, ngokuba uJehova wambusisa. ₁₃Lowo muntu waba mkhulu; kwayilokhu eqhubeka ukukhula njalo, waze waba mkhulu kakhulu. ₁₄Wayenemfuyo yezimvu, nemfuyo yezinkomo, nezinceku eziningi; amaFilisti ayenomhawu ngaye. ₁₅Yonke imithombo ezaziyimbile izinceku zikayise ezinsukwini zika-Abrahama uyise, amaFilisti ayeyivalile, ayigcwalisa ngomhlabathi.

₁₆U-Abimeleki wathi ku-Isaka: “Suka kithina, ngokuba unamandla kakhulu kunathi.”

₁₇U-Isaka wayesesuka khona, wakha esigodini saseGerari, wahlala lapho. ₁₈U-Isaka wabuye wemba imithombo yamanzi ababeyimbile ezinsukwini zika-Abrahama uyise, ngokuba amaFilisti ayeyivalile emva kokufa kuka-Abrahama; wayibiza ngamagama ayiqamba ngawo uyise.

₁₉Izinceku zika-Isaka zemba esigodini, zafumana umthombo wamanzi aphethuzayo. ₂₀Abelusi baseGerari baphikisana nabelusi baka-Isaka, bathi: “Amanzi angawethu.” Wabiza igama lomthombo ngokuthi i-Eseke,* ngokuba baphikisana naye. ₂₁Bemba omunye umthombo, baphikisana nangawo. Waqamba igama lawo ngokuthi iSitina.* ₂₂Wasuka lapho, wemba omunye umthombo; abaphikisananga ngawo; wabiza igama lawo ngokuthi iRehoboti,* wathi: “Ngokuba uJehova usenzele indawo; siyakwanda ezweni.”

₂₃Wasuka lapho, wakhuphuka waya eBeri Sheba. ₂₄UJehova wabonakala kuye ngabona lobo busuku, wathi: “NginguNkulunkulu kayihlo u-Abrahama; ungesabi, ngokuba nginawe; ngizakukubusisa, ngiyandise inzalo yakho ngenxa yenceku yami u-Abrahama.”

₂₅Wakha khona i-altare, wakhuleka egameni likaJehova, wamisa lapho itende lakhe; izinceku zika-Isaka zemba umthombo khona.

₂₆U-Abimeleki wayeseya kuye evela eGerari, eno-Ahuzati umngane wakhe noPikoli induna yempi yakhe. ₂₇U-Isaka wathi kubo: “Nizeleni kimi, lokhu niyangizonda, ningixoshile kini, na?”

₂₈Bathi: “Sesibone nokubona ukuthi uJehova unawe. Sathi: ‘Akube khona manje phakathi kwethu isifungo,’ phakathi kwethu nawe, senze isivumelwano nawe ₂₉sokuthi awuyikusenzela okubi, njengokuba singakuthintanga, sikwenzele okuhle kodwa, sakumukisa ngokuthula; wena usubusiswe nguJehova.”

₃₀Wabenzela idili, badla, baphuza. ₃₁Bavuka ekuseni, bafungisana omunye nomunye; u-Isaka wayesebamukisa, basuka kuye ngokuthula.

₃₂Kwathi ngalolo suku zafika izinceku zika-Isaka, zamtshela ngomthombo ezaziwumbile, zathi kuye: “Sitholile amanzi.” ₃₃Wayesewubiza ngokuthi iSheba; ngalokho igama lomuzi lithi iBeri Sheba kuze kube namuhla.

₃₄Kwathi u-Esawu eseneminyaka engamashumi amane, wathatha umfazi uJuditi indodakazi kaBeri umHeti noBasemati indodakazi ka-Eloni umHeti. ₃₅Baba lusizi enhliziyweni ka-Isaka noRebeka.

₁Kwathi u-Isaka esemdala namehlo akhe efiphele engasaboni, wabiza u-Esawu indodana yakhe enkulu, wathi kuye: “Ndodana yami!”

Wathi kuye: “Ngilapha.”

₂Wayesethi: “Bheka, sengimdala, angilwazi usuku lokufa kwami. ₃Ngalokho awuthathe manje izikhali zakho, umgodla wakho nomnsalo wakho, uye endle, ungizingelele inyamazane, ₄ungilungisele isilovela engisithandayo, usilethe kimi ukuba ngidle, umphefumulo wami ukubusise ngingakafi.”

₅URebeka wezwa u-Isaka ekhuluma no-Esawu indodana yakhe. U-Esawu waya endle ukuyozingela inyamazane, abuye nayo. ₆URebeka wakhuluma kuJakobe indodana yakhe, wathi: “Bheka, ngizwe uyihlo ekhuluma no-Esawu umnewenu, ethi: ₇‘Ngilethele inyamazane, ungilungisele isilovela, ukuze ngidle, ngikubusise ebusweni bukaJehova ngingakafi.’ ₈Ngalokho, ndodana yami, lalela izwi lami kulokhu engikuyala ngakho. ₉Yana emhlambini, ungithathele khona amazinyane amabili amahle ezimbuzi, ngilungisele uyihlo isilovela njengalokho akuthandayo, ₁₀wena usiyise kuyihlo, aze adle, akubusise engakafi.”

₁₁UJakobe wathi kuRebeka unina: “Bheka, umnewethu ungumuntu oyinundu, mina ngiluqwatha. ₁₂Mhlawumbe ubaba uyakungiphatha, ngibe ngokhohlisayo emehlweni akhe, ngizilethele isiqalekiso, kungabi yisibusiso.”

₁₃Unina wayesethi kuye: “Isiqalekiso sakho, ndodana yami, masibe phezu kwami; lalela izwi lami, uhambe ukungithathela wona.”

₁₄Wayesehamba-ke, wawathatha, wawayisa kunina; unina walungisa isilovela njengalokho akuthandayo uyise. ₁₅URebeka wayesethatha izingubo ezinhle zika-Esawu indodana yakhe enkulu ezazikuye endlini, wamembathisa zona uJakobe indodana yakhe encane. ₁₆Wamnqwambisa izikhumba zamazinyane ezimbuzi ezandleni zakhe nasocwatheni lwentamo. ₁₇Wanikela esandleni sikaJakobe indodana yakhe isilovela nesinkwa akulungisileyo.

₁₈Yena waya kuyise, wathi: “Baba!”

Wathi yena: “Ngilapha; ungubani wena ndodana yami na?”

₁₉UJakobe wathi kuyise: “Ngingu-Esawu izibulo lakho; ngenze njengalokho ungitshelile; mawuvuke, uhlale, udle ukuba umphefumulo wakho ungibusise.”

₂₀U-Isaka wathi kuyo indodana yakhe: “Kwenzeke kanjani ukuba usheshe kangaka ukuyithola, ndodana yami, na?”

Wathi: “Ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uyenze ukuba ize phambi kwami.”

₂₁U-Isaka wayesethi kuJakobe: “Ake usondele, ngikuphathe, ndodana yami, uma uyindodana yami u-Esawu uqobo noma ungesiyo na?”

₂₂UJakobe wasondela ku-Isaka uyise; wamphatha, wathi: “Izwi liyizwi likaJakobe, kepha izandla ziyizandla zika-Esawu.” ₂₃Akamazanga, ngokuba izandla zakhe zazinoboya njengezandla zomnewabo u-Esawu; wayeseyakumbusisa. ₂₄Kepha wayesethi: “Uyindodana yami u-Esawu uqobo na?”

Wathi: “Nginguye.”

₂₅Wayesethi: “Sondeza kimi, ngidle inyamazane yendodana yami ukuba umphefumulo wami ukubusise.” Wayeseyisondeza kuye, wadla; wayisa kuye iwayini, waphuza. ₂₆Uyise u-Isaka wathi kuye: “Ake usondele ungange, ndodana yami.”

₂₇Wasondela wamanga, wahogela iphunga lezingubo zakhe, wambusisa wathi:

₃₀Kwathi u-Isaka eseqede ukumbusisa uJakobe, uJakobe esand' ukuphuma ebusweni buka-Isaka uyise, wafika u-Esawu umnewabo evela ekuzingeleni kwakhe. ₃₁Naye wenza isilovela, wasiyisa kuyise; wathi kuyise: “Ubaba makavuke, adle inyamazane yendodana yakhe ukuba umphefumulo wakho ungibusise.”

₃₂U-Isaka uyise wathi kuye: “Ungubani wena na?”

Wathi: “Ngiyindodana yakho, izibulo lakho, u-Esawu.”

₃₃U-Isaka wayesethuthumela nokuthuthumela kakhulu impela, wathi: “Ngubani, pho, othathe inyamazane, wayiletha kimi, ngayidla yonke ungakafiki, ngambusisa, na? Yena uyakuba ngobusisiweyo.”

₃₄U-Esawu esezwa amazwi kayise wakhala nokukhala kamunyu impela, wathi kuyise: “Ngibusise nami, baba!”

₃₅Wayesethi: “Umfowenu ufike ngenkohliso, wathatha isibusiso sakho.”

₃₆Wathi: “Aliqanjwanga kahle igama lakhe ngokuthi uJakobe na? Ngokuba sekukabili engiqinela; wathatha ubuzibulo bami; bheka, manje usethathe isibusiso sami.” Wathi: “Mina, awungigodlelanga sibusiso na?”

₃₇U-Isaka waphendula, wathi ku-Esawu: “Bheka, ngimmisile abe yinkosi yakho, nabafowabo bonke ngimnike bona babe yizinceku zakhe; ngimphasile ngamabele nangewayini; ngingase ngikwenzeleni wena ndodana yami na?”

₃₈Wayesethi u-Esawu kuyise: “Baba, sinye nje isibusiso sakho na? Ngibusise nami, baba!” U-Esawu wadazuluka, wakhala.

₃₉U-Isaka uyise waphendula, wathi kuye:

₄₁U-Esawu wayesemzonda uJakobe ngenxa yesibusiso uyise ambusise ngaso; u-Esawu wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Izinsuku zokulilela ubaba sezisondele; khona ngiyakumbulala umfowethu uJakobe.”

₄₂URebeka watshelwa amazwi ka-Esawu indodana yakhe enkulu; wathuma wambiza uJakobe indodana yakhe encane, wathi kuye: “Bheka, umnewenu u-Esawu uyaziduduza ngawe ngokuthi uyakukubulala. ₄₃Ngalokho, ndodana yami, lalela izwi lami: vuka ubalekele kuLabani umfowethu eHarana, ₄₄uhlale kuye izinsukwana ezithile, kuze kubohle ukufutheka komfowenu, ₄₅kusuke kuwe ukuthukuthela komnewenu, akhohlwe lokho okwenze kuye, bese ngithuma ngikulande khona; ngizakwaphucwa ngani nina nobabili ngalusuku lunye na?”

₄₆URebeka wayesethi ku-Isaka: “Ngidiniwe ukuphila ngenxa yamadodakazi kaHeti; uma uJakobe ethatha umfazi kuwo amadodakazi kaHeti onjengalawa, kuwo amadodakazi aleli zwe, kuyakungisiza ngani ukuphila na?”

₁U-Isaka wambiza uJakobe, wambusisa, wamyala, wathi kuye: “Awuyikuthatha umfazi kuwo amadodakazi aseKhanani. ₂Vuka uye ePhadani Aramu endlini kaBetuweli uyise kanyoko, uzithathele khona umfazi kuwo amadodakazi kaLabani unyokolume. ₃UNkulunkulu uSomandla makakubusise, akuchumise, akwandise, ube yizizwe eziningi, ₄akuphe isibusiso sika-Abrahama, wena nenzalo yakho kanye nawe, udle ifa lezwe lokugogobala kwakho uNkulunkulu amnika lona u-Abrahama.” ₅U-Isaka wayesemmukisa uJakobe, waya ePhadani Aramu kuye uLabani indodana kaBetuweli umAramu, umfowabo kaRebeka unina kaJakobe no-Esawu.

₆U-Esawu ebona ukuthi u-Isaka umbusisile uJakobe, wamthuma ePhadani Aramu ukuyothatha khona umfazi, nokuthi lapho embusisa wamyala wathi: “Awuyikuthatha umfazi kuwo amadodakazi aseKhanani,” ₇nokuthi uJakobe walalela uyise nonina, waya ePhadani Aramu, ₈khona u-Esawu wabona ukuthi amadodakazi aseKhanani mabi emehlweni ka-Isaka uyise, ₉waya ku-Ishmayeli, wathatha uMahalati indodakazi ka-Ishmayeli indodana ka-Abrahama, udadewabo kaNebayoti, abe ngumkakhe kanye nabafazi ayesenabo.

₁₀UJakobe wayesemuka eBeri Sheba, waya eHarana. ₁₁Wafika endaweni ethile, wahlala khona ubusuku bonke, ngokuba ilanga lase lishonile; wathatha elinye lamatshe aleyondawo, walibeka phansi kwekhanda lakhe, walala kuleyo ndawo. ₁₂Waphupha, bheka, nanko umkhwelo umiswe emhlabathini, isihloko sawo sifinyelela ezulwini; nezingelosi zikaNkulunkulu zenyuka, zehla kuwo. ₁₃Bheka, uJehova wayemi ngaphezu kwawo, wathi: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama uyihlo, noNkulunkulu ka-Isaka; leli zwe olele kulo ngizakulinika wena nenzalo yakho. ₁₄Inzalo yakho iyakuba ngangothuli lomhlabathi, wena usabalalele ngasentshonalanga, nasempumalanga, nasenyakatho, naseningizimu; ngawe nangenzalo yakho iyakubusiswa imindeni yonke yomhlaba. ₁₅Bheka, nginawe; ngiyakukulondoloza nakuphi lapho uya khona, ngikubuyisele kuleli zwe, ngokuba angiyikukushiya, ngingakakwenzi lokho engikushilo kuwe.”

₁₆Wayesephaphama uJakobe ebuthongweni bakhe, wathi: “Imbala uJehova ukule ndawo, mina-ke bengingakwazi.” ₁₇Washaywa luvalo, wathi: “Yeka ukwesabeka kwale ndawo! Akusikho okunye, yindlu kaNkulunkulu kuphela, yisango lezulu.”

₁₈UJakobe wavuka ekuseni, walithatha itshe abelibeke phansi kwekhanda lakhe, walimisa laba yinsika, wathela amafutha esihlokweni salo. ₁₉Waqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iBethele; kuqala igama lomuzi laliyiLuze.

₂₀UJakobe wenza isithembiso, wathi: “Uma uNkulunkulu eyakuba nami, angilondoloze kule ndlela engihamba ngayo, angiphe isinkwa sokudliwa nezingubo zokwembatha, ₂₁ukuze ngibuyele endlini kababa ngokuthula, khona uJehova uyakuba nguNkulunkulu wami, ₂₂naleli tshe engilimise libe yinsika liyakuba yindlu kaNkulunkulu, nakukho konke oyakungipha khona ngiyakukunika okweshumi.”

₁“Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki. Kholwani nguNkulunkulu, nikholwe nayimi. ₂Ekhaya likaBaba kukhona izindlu eziningi; uma bekungenjalo, bengiyakunitshela ukuthi ngiya ukunilungisela indawo. ₃Nanxa ngiya nginilungisela indawo, ngobuye ngize, nginibuyisele kimi ukuba lapho ngikhona nibe khona nani. ₄Nalapho ngiya khona niyayazi indlela.”

₅UTomase wathi kuye: “Nkosi, asazi lapho uya khona; siyazi kanjani indlela na?”

₆UJesu wathi kuye: “Mina ngiyindlela, neqiniso, nokuphila; akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kwami. ₇Uma beningazi mina, beniyakumazi noBaba; kusukela manje niyamazi, nimbonile.”

₈UFiliphu wathi kuye: “Nkosi, sikhombise uYihlo, kusanele.”

₉UJesu wathi kuye: “Isikhathi esingaka nginani, awukangazi, Filiphu, na? Ongibonile mina ubonile uBaba; usho kanjani ukuthi: ‘Sikhombise uYihlo,’ na? ₁₀Awukholwa ukuthi ngikuBaba, noBaba ukimi, na? Amazwi engiwakhulumayo mina kini angiwakhulumi ngokwami; kepha uBaba ohlezi kimi wenza imisebenzi yakhe. ₁₁Kholwani yimi ukuthi ngikuBaba, noBaba ukimi; uma kungenjalo, kholwani ngenxa yale misebenzi. ₁₂Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Okholwa yimi, imisebenzi engiyenzayo mina naye uyakuyenza, nemikhulu kunale uyakuyenza; ngokuba mina ngiya kuBaba. ₁₃Noma yini eniyakukucela egameni lami ngiyakukwenza ukuba uBaba akhazimuliswe eNdodaneni. ₁₄Uma nicela utho kimi egameni lami, ngolwenza.

₁₅“Uma ningithanda, niyakugcina imiyalo yami. ₁₆Ngiyakucela kuBaba aniphe omunye uMduduzi wokuba ahlale kini phakade, ₁₇uMoya weqiniso, izwe elingemamukele, ngokuba lingamboni, lingamazi; nina niyamazi yena, ngokuba uhlala nani, uyakuba kini. ₁₈Angiyikunishiya niyizintandane; ngiyeza kini. ₁₉Kuseyisikhashana izwe lingasangiboni, kepha niyangibona nina, ngokuba ngiphila mina, nani nizakuphila. ₂₀Ngalolo suku niyakukwazi nina ukuba ngikuBaba, nani nikimi, nami ngikini. ₂₁Onemiyalo yami ayigcine, nguyena ongithandayo; ongithandayo uyakuthandwa nguBaba, nami ngiyakumthanda, ngizibonakalise kuye.”

₂₂UJuda, ongesiye u-Iskariyothe, wathi kuye: “Nkosi, kwenziwa yini ukuba uyakuzibonakalisa kithina, ungazibonakalisi kulo izwe, na?”

₂₃UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Uma umuntu engithanda, uyakugcina izwi lami; uBaba uyakumthanda; siyakuza kuye, sihlale naye. ₂₄Ongangithandiyo kagcini amazwi ami, nezwi enilizwayo akusilo elami kepha ngelikaBaba ongithumileyo.

₂₅“Ngikhulume lokho kini ngisahlezi nani. ₂₆Kepha uMduduzi, uMoya oNgcwele, uBaba ayakumthumela egameni lami uyakunifundisa konke, anikhumbuze konke enginitshele khona. ₂₇Ukuthula ngikushiya kinina, ukuthula kwami nginipha khona. Akunjengokupha kwezwe ukunipha kwami. Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki, ingesabi.

₂₈“Nizwile ukuthi nganitshela ngathi: Ngiyamuka, kepha ngiyabuyela kini. Uma beningithanda, beniyakujabula, ngokuba ngiya kuBaba, lokhu uBaba mkhulu kunami. ₂₉Manje senginitshelile kungakenzeki, ukuze nikholwe, nxa sekwenzekile. ₃₀Angisayikukhuluma okuningi nani, ngokuba uyeza umbusi wezwe, kepha akanalutho kimi, ₃₁kodwa kungukuba izwe lazi ukuthi ngiyamthanda uBaba nokuthi ngenza njengokuba uBaba engiyalile.

“Sukumani simuke lapha.

₁“Mina ngingumvini owonawona, uBaba ungumlimi. ₂Yilelo nalelo gatsha elikimi, elingatheli izithelo, uyalisusa. Yilelo nalelo elithela izithelo uyalihlunga ukuba lithele kakhulu. ₃Nina senihlanzekile ngezwi engilikhulume kinina. ₄Hlalani kimi, nami kini. Njengalokhu igatsha lingethele izithelo ngokwalo, kuphela uma lihlala emvinini, kunjalo nani, kuphela uma nihlala kimi.

₅“Mina ngingumvini, nina ningamagatsha; ohlala kimi, nami kuye, lowo uthela izithelo eziningi; ngokuba ngaphandle kwami ningenze lutho. ₆Uma umuntu engahlali kimi, ulahlwa ngaphandle njengegatsha, abune; bawabuthe, bawaphonse emlilweni, ashe. ₇Uma nihlala kimi, namazwi ami ehlala kini, niyakucela enikuthandayo, nikwenzelwe. ₈UBaba uyakhazimuliswa ngalokhu ukuba nithele izithelo eziningi, nibe ngabafundi bami.

₉“Njengalokho uBaba engithandile, nami nginithandile; hlalani othandweni lwami. ₁₀Uma nigcina imiyalo yami, niyakuhlala othandweni lwami, njengalokho mina ngigcinile imiyalo kaBaba ngihlala othandweni lwakhe. ₁₁Nginitshelile lokho ukuba ukuthokoza kwami kube kini, nokuthokoza kwenu kugcwale.

₁₂“Yilo umyalo wami wokuba nithandane, njengalokho nginithandile. ₁₃Akakho onothando olukhulu kunalolo lokuba adele ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabahlobo bakhe. ₁₄Ningabahlobo bami, uma nenza lokhu enginiyala ngakho. ₁₅Angisasho ukuthi niyizinceku, ngokuba inceku ayikwazi ukuthi inkosi yayo yenzani, kepha ngithe ningabahlobo nina, ngokuba konke engikuzwile kuBaba nginazisile khona. ₁₆Aningikhethanga nina, kodwa mina nginikhethile nina, nganibeka ukuba niphume, nithele izithelo, nezithelo zenu zihlale ukuba noma yini eniyakukucela kuBaba egameni lami aninike khona. ₁₇Nginiyala ngalezo zinto, ukuze nithandane.

₁₈“Uma izwe linizonda, niyazi ukuthi langizonda mina ngaphambi kwenu. ₁₉Uma beningabezwe, izwe belizakuthanda okwalo, kepha lokhu ningesibo abezwe kodwa nganikhetha mina ezweni, kungalokho izwe linizonda. ₂₀Khumbulani izwi enganitshela lona mina lokuthi: ‘Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo.’ Uma bengizingele mina, nani bayakunizingela; uma begcina izwi lami, nelenu bayakuligcina. ₂₁Kepha konke lokho bayakukwenza kini ngenxa yegama lami, ngokuba bengamazi ongithumileyo. ₂₂Uma bengingafikile, ngakhuluma kubo, ngabe abanasono; kepha kalokhu kabanazaba ngesono sabo. ₂₃Ozonda mina uzonda noBaba. ₂₄Uma bengingenzanga phakathi kwabo imisebenzi engenziwanga ngomunye, ngabe abanasono, kepha kalokhu babonile, bangizonda nami noBaba. ₂₅Kodwa kunjalo ukuba kugcwaliseke izwi elilotshiweyo emthethweni wakubo lokuthi: ‘Bangizonda ngeze.’

₂₆“Nxa esefikile uMduduzi engiyakumthumela kini evela kuBaba, uMoya weqiniso, ophuma kuBaba, nguyena oyakufakaza ngami. ₂₇Nani niyafakaza, ngokuba beninami kwasekuqaleni.

₁“Lokho ngikukhulume kini ukuba ningakhubeki. ₂Bayakunikhipha emasinagogeni,* yebo, siyeza isikhathi sokuba lowo onibulalayo uyakuthi ukhonza uNkulunkulu. ₃Lokhu-ke bayakukwenza ngokuba bengamazanga uBaba nami; ₄kepha lokho ngikukhulume kini, ukuze kuthi, nxa kufika leso sikhathi, nikhumbule ukuthi nganitshela khona; anginitshelanga lokho kwasekuqaleni, ngokuba benginani.

₅“Manje ngiyamuka, ngiya kongithumileyo; akakho kinina ongibuza ukuthi: ‘Uya ngaphi na?’ ₆Kepha ngokuba ngikhulume lokho kini, inhliziyo yenu igcwele usizi. ₇Kodwa mina nginitshela iqiniso lokuthi kunilungele ukuba ngimuke; ngokuba uma ngingamuki, uMduduzi kayikuza kini; kepha uma ngimuka, ngiyakumthumela kini. ₈Lapho esefikile yena, uyakuqondisa izwe ngesono, nangokulunga, nangokwahlulela: ₉ngesono, ngokuba bengakholwa yimi; ₁₀ngokulunga, ngokuba ngiya kuBaba, ningabe nisangibona; ₁₁ngokwahlulela, ngokuba umbusi waleli zwe wahlulelwe.

₁₂“Ngise nokuningi okokunitshela, kodwa ningekuthwale manje. ₁₃Kepha nxa esefikile yena, uMoya weqiniso, uzakuniholela kulo lonke iqiniso; ngokuba akayikukhuluma ngokwakhe, kodwa lokho akuzwayo uyakukukhuluma, anibikele okuzayo. ₁₄Uyakungikhazimulisa, ngokuba uyakuthatha kokwami anibikele khona. ₁₅Konke uBaba anakho kungokwami; ngalokho-ke ngithe uyakuthatha kokwami, anibikele.

₁₆“Kusezakuba yisikhashana ningabe nisangibona, kubuye kube yisikhashana ningibone, ngokuba ngiya kuBaba.”

₁₇Ngakho abanye kubo abafundi bakhe base bekhuluma bodwa, bethi: “Kuyini lokho akushoyo kithi ukuthi: ‘Kusezakuba yisikhashana ningabe nisangibona, kubuye kube yisikhashana ningibone,’ nokuthi: ‘Ngokuba ngiya kuBaba,’ na?” ₁₈Bathi: “Kuyini lokho akushoyo ukuthi: ‘Yisikhashana,’ na? Asazi ukuba uthini.”

₁₉UJesu wazi ukuthi bebethanda ukumbuza, wathi kubo: “Niyabuzana ngalokho engikushiloyo ukuthi: ‘Kusezakuba yisikhashana ningabe nisangibona kubuye kube yisikhashana ningibone,’ na? ₂₀Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Niyakukhala nilile nina, kepha izwe liyakujabula; niyakuba lusizi nina, kepha usizi lwenu luyakuphendulwa lube ngukuthokoza. ₂₁Owesifazane, nxa esabeletha, ulusizi, ngokuba sifikile isikhathi sakhe; kepha nxa esembelethile umntwana, akabe esakhumbula ubuhlungu ngenxa yentokozo yokuba kuzelwe umuntu ezweni. ₂₂Nani-ke nilusizi manje, kepha ngiyakubuye nginibone, inhliziyo yenu ithokoze; intokozo yenu akakho onganamuka yona. ₂₃Ngalolo suku aniyikubuza lutho kimi. Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lokhu eniyakukucela kuBaba egameni lami uyakuninika khona. ₂₄Kuze kube kalokhu anicelanga lutho egameni lami. Celani, niyakwamukeliswa ukuba intokozo yenu igcwale.

₂₅“Ngikhulume lokho kini ngemifanekiso; isikhathi siyeza, lapho ngingasayikukhuluma ngemifanekiso; kodwa ngiyakunitshela ngoBaba ngokusobala. ₂₆Ngalelo langa niyakucela egameni lami; angisho kini ukuthi ngiyakunicelela mina kuBaba; ₂₇ngokuba uBaba uqobo uyanithanda, ngokuba ningithandile nina, nakholwa ukuthi mina ngavela kuNkulunkulu. ₂₈Ngavela kuBaba, ngeza ezweni; ngiyalishiya futhi izwe, ngibuyela kuBaba.”

₂₉Abafundi bakhe bathi kuye: “Bheka, manje usukhuluma ngokusobala, awusakhulumi mfanekiso. ₃₀Kalokhu siyazi ukuthi wazi konke, awudingi ukuba umuntu akubuze; ngalokho siyakholwa ukuba wavela kuNkulunkulu.”

₃₁UJesu waphendula wathi: “Seniyakholwa manje na? ₃₂Bhekani, isikhathi siyeza, yebo, sesifikile sokuba nihlakazeke, yilowo nalowo aye kokwakhe, ningishiye ngingedwa; nokho angingedwa, lokhu uBaba unami.

₃₃“Lokho ngikukhulume kini ukuba nibe nokuthula kimi. Ezweni niyakuba lusizi, kepha yimani isibindi, mina ngilinqobile izwe.”