1, 2. (a) Ni mbinduka syahi esya Yozefu n’eka yiwe babana? (b) Ni mwatsi mubi wahi owa Yozefu abwira mukali wiwe?

YOZEFU mwasumbira ekindi kighusika okwa punda. Thathera akasasani iniane muyikeba-keba omo mwirima omwa kalu ke Betelehemu iniane muhamba-hamba okwa punda. Angabya iniabya iniane mulengekania kutsibu okwa lhughendo lhuuli olhw’eriya e Misiri, eriyikalha omwa bandu bayu, ab’owundi mubughe n’eyindi mibere, n’eriyibulya ab’eka yiwe nga bakendi beghera bathi embinduka eyi!

² Sikyabya kyolho eribwira mukali wiwe omwanze, Maria, omwatsi mubi ow’abya iniabiribana. Aliriryo Yozefu mwasika amathwamu erimubwira. Mwamubwira okwa nzoli esy’omulaika amubwirira mw’omwatsi erilhua oku Nyamuhanga: Omwami Herode abya iniabirihamulha athi Yesu ithawe! Babya batholere ibaghenda aho n’aho. (Soma Matayo 2:13, 14.) Ekyo mukyahamba oku Maria kwa kutsibu. Omundu anga thoka athi eribugha athi akend’itha omwana wiwe oyuthawithe lhubanza? Eki mukyabakalira eriyitheghererya. Aliriryo mubayikethera Yehova, neryo bamayitheghekera erihongoka.

3. Yozefu n’eka yiwe mubalhua bathi e Betelehemu? (Lebaya n’ekisasani.)

³ Abandu bosi e Betelehemu ibabirighotsera, isibasi ekiriho, Yozefu, Maria na Yesu mubaghenda bubiso-biso omwa kiro erilhua omwa kyalu ekyo. Babere banemughenda, ibunemughenda bukakya, Yozefu angabya imwalengekania kutsibu okwa lhukwamirwa lhwiwe. Omulhume omubatsi buyira oyu angathokire athi eritheya eka yiwe okwa syonzighu esikalire? Angana thokire eribya iniane muwathikya eka yiwe? Angana thokire eriyitsingirira omw’iberererya olhukwamirwa olhulithohire olhwa Yehova amuha, olhw’eritsomana n’erilembera omwana w’embaghane oyu? Yozefu mwalhaba omwa bitsibu binene. Thune mulebya ngoku abya akaghumira obuli kitsibu, thukendi lebya ngoku abathatha abamunabwire, n’obuli mundu wosi ngoku atholere erigherererya erikirirya lya Yozefu.

4, 5. (a) Yozefu mwatsuka athi eyindi ngebe? (b) Malaika mwahira athi omu Yozefu mw’omuhwa w’eriligha olhukwamirwa olhulithohire?

⁴ Omwaka nga mughuma enyuma, ewabu e Nazareti, Yozefu  mwatsuka eyindi ngebe abirisunga mwali wa Heli. Yozefu aby’asi Maria ng’omumbesa omuthaleghulha, oyuthawithe butsibu. Aliwe abere akathasyaminya ini mukule! Mwanza erimughana bubiso-biso nuku sikihire Maria y’omwa bitsibu. * Aliriryo, omumalaika mwakania nayu omwa nzoli, n’erimusoborera ngoku Maria ahekire obukule bw’omulimu abuyirire wa Yehova. Kandi athi omwana oyo akendi ‘syalhamya abandu biwe okwa bibi byabu.’ Mwongera erighumya Yozefu athi: ‘Siwubahe eriherukya Maria mo mukali wawu.’​—Mt. 1:18-21.

⁵ Ekyo kya Yozefu, omulhume omuthunganene kandi omw’owa abya akolire. Mwaligha olhukwamirwa olhulithohire olhw’erilembera n’erikulya omwana oyuthabya wiwe, aliwe oyuwabya w’omughaso munene embere sya Nyamuhanga. Enyuma waho, busana n’ekihamulho kya Kaisari, Yozefu na mukali wiwe omukule mubaya e Betelehemu eriyahandikwa. Eyo y’omwana abuthirawa.

6-8. (a) Ni kyahi ekyaletha eyindi mbinduka omwa ngebe ya Yozefu n’eka yiwe? (b) Thukaminya thuthi engununu ku yabya ya Sitani? (Lebaya n’omwatsi ahikwa.)

⁶ Yozefu n’eka yiwe mubatha suba e Nazareti. Mub’ikalha e Betelehemu, kilomita nga 10 erilhua e Yerusalemu. Nomwakine indi babya bera, Yozefu mwakolha ekyosi-kyosi eky’angathoka eritsomana n’eritheya Maria na Yesu. Mukithabathwalira buthuku bathe babana enyumba nyike ey’er’ikalhamu. Yesu abere isyakiri lhumekeke, ini w’omwaka nga mughuma, muhabya eyindi mbinduka omwa ngebe yabu.

⁷ Abalhume ababya balhaghuli b’esyongununu mubasa, bakalhua Ebulhua-lyuba, obundi erilhua hali e Babeli. Babya bakwamire engununu eyabaletha ewa Yozefu na Maria, bakasondya omwana oyuwabya iniakendi syabya Mwami w’Abayuda. Abalhume aba mubakangania ngoku basikirye Yesu.

⁸ Mbulha babya ibanasi kutse isibasi, abalhume aba babya ibamabiri hira Yesu y’omwa kabi. Engununu muyatsuka eribahikya e Yerusalemu yithe yabathwalha e Betelehemu. * Bane e Yerusalemu, mubabwira omwami mubi Herode bathi bakasondaya omwana oyukendi syabya mwami w’Abayuda. Eki mukyaleka iniahithana kutsibu busana n’obuha.

9-11. (a) Amaaka awalengire Herode kutse Sitani mwawathikya athi? (b) Olhughendo lhwe Misiri lhwabya lhwa mbaghane lhuthi okwa lhukakanibawako omwa bitabu birebe?

⁹ Aliriryo ekibuya, habya ihane awandi maaka awalengire Herode kutse Sitani. Ekyo mukyalhangirika kithi? Abalhume babere bahika  omwa nyumba n’erilhangira Yesu iniane na mama wiwe, mubabaha ebihembo. Ka kyangabya imukyaswekya kutsibu Yozefu na Maria erilhangira ku bamabiri thathunga ebindu by’obughuli bunene​—ehoro n’obukwa n’emanemane! Abalhume aba babya b’erisuba eyiri Omwami Herode erimubwira aho bameya omwana. Aliwe Yehova mwabathanga. Omwa kilhotho, mwababwira athi balhabe omwa yindi nzira bakasuba ewabu.​—Soma Matayo 2:1-12.

¹⁰ Abalhaghuli b’esyongununu aba babere babirighenda, Yozefu mwowa malaika wa Yehova akamubwira athi: ‘Hangana, wimaye omwana na nyinya wiwe, musaghire e Misiri, wubyeyo erihika aho nasyakubwirira. Herode akendi sonda-sonda omwana erimwitha.’ (Mt. 2:13) Neryo ngoku thwabirilhangira, Yozefu mwowa lhuba. Mwalhangira eritheya omwana wiwe ikirengire ebindi byosi, neryo amamuthibithya e Misiri. Kundi abalhume abakafiri abo babya ibabiribalethera ebihembo by’obughuli, mukyaleka Yozefu iniabana ebyanga wathikya eka yiwe bakaghenda e Misiri.

¹¹ Hane ebitabu ebikabugha emyatsi eyithahikire okwa lhughendo olhu. Bikabugha bithi omwa mibere y’ekithiko-thiko, omwana mulere Yesu mwakuhihya olhughendo olhu, amalemesya abibi b’omwa nzira eribakolha kw’akabi, n’erileka emithi miri-miri y’ebighuma iyakondoma nuku mama wiwe angakothongolha kubyo. * Aliwe ekwenene yiri yithi, mubaghenda lhughendo lhuuli olhukalhuhaya.

12. Ababuthi munabwire bang’ighaki oku Yozefu?

¹² Ababuthi bangan’ighira bingyi oku Yozefu. Mwaligha erisigha emibiiri yiwe n’eriyihayo eritheya eka yiwe okwa kabi. Mwalhangira eka yiwe ng’olhusunzo olhukalhua oku Yehova. Ababuthi munabwire nabu bakalemberera abaana babu omwa kihugho ekitsandire ekiri mw’ebindu ebyanga batsandya, kutse nibya eribahwerekererya. Ka kikatsemesaya omughulhu abathatha n’abamama bakagherereraya Yozefu omw’ikolha omwa byalhuba n’erikolha ekyosi-kyosi ekya banga thoka eritheya abaana babu okwa byanga batsandya ebi!

13, 14. Ni kyahi ekyaleka Yozefu na Maria ibasubya eka yabu ye Nazareti?

¹³ Eka ya Yozefu yikabya nga muyithaghunza buthuku buuli e Misiri, kundi hathe halhaba buthuku buuli, malaika mwabwira Yozefu athi Herode abiriholha. Neryo Yozefu mwasubya eka yiwe y’ewabu. Obuminyereri bwabya ibwabirikangania buthi Yehova  akendi syabirikira Mughalha wiwe ‘erilhua e Misiri.’ (Mt. 2:15) Yozefu mwawathikya omw’iberererya obuminyereri obu, aliwe eka yiwe angalholirye yahi?

¹⁴ Yozefu abya mulhume oyukayitheghaya. Kundi abya ngengyi, mwasagha Arkelayo oyuwasuba omwa bwa Herode, kundi nayu abya mubi kandi mwithi. Omw’isondolhwa na Nyamuhanga, Yozefu mwalholya eka yiwe ewabu e Nazareti omwa Galilaya, hali oku Yerusalemu, eritheya eka yiwe okwa bandu babi. Neryo eyo ya balemberera eka yabu, iyo bana Maria.​—Soma Matayo 2:19-23.

15, 16. Omubiiri wa Yozefu abya athi, kandi angabya imwakolesyaki?

¹⁵ Engebe eya babyamu yabya yikalire. E Biblia yikakanaya oku Yozefu ng’omubatsi, erikangania indi obo iniakakonda emithi, erikurayo, n’erihaka kw’ebikaleka iyithalhunda nuku yanga kolesibwa okw’ihimba amanyumba, amathu, ehilhalho, ebiggali, ebiringo, esyongomo sy’erihira okwa syonde esikalima, n’ebindi bindu eby’erikolesya okwa bulime. (Mt. 13:55) Oyu abya mubiiri ow’akayithagha akaghalha kanene. Kera, omubatsi iniakakolera omwa bbalaza yiwe kutse iniahimba ekibbanda hakuhi.

¹⁶ Yozefu iniakakolesaya ebindu muthina-muthina, ebindi obundi thatha wiwe amusighirabyo. Angabya imwakolesya ebbiriji, omuhuha, embatsu, omusumeni, embasa, enyondo, embumu, omuthwero, esyogamu muthina-muthina, obundi n’emisumali, nomuyanabya yikaghulha sente nene.

17, 18. (a) Ni byahi ebya Yesu ighira oku thatha wiwe oyuthamubutha? (b) Busana naki Yozefu mwongera erikolha kutsibu omubiiri wiwe?

¹⁷ Thathera akasasani Yesu iniane mwana mulere iniana thungerere thatha wiwe oyuthamubuthire akakolha obuli kindu. Angabya imwatsemera akaghalha ka thatha wiwe, n’emibere ey’akolera mw’ebindu ndeke. Obundi Yozefu angabya imwatsuka erikangirirya omwana wiwe oyu erikolesya engobi eyumire ey’eyiswe erithendererya ebiryabatsawa. Angabya imwakangania Yesu emithi muthina-muthina eyikakolesibawa, ng’emikuyu, omwelo, kutse omuzaituni.

¹⁸ Kandi Yesu mwaminya ngoku ebyalha by’akaghalha ebyo ebyabya bikakonda emithi, eritsutsangayo, n’erikongomerera akakolha ekindu by’anabya akakolesya akabahambako eribakangania olhwanzo, iyo, mama wiwe, n’abandi baana babu. Erighunzerera, Yozefu  na Maria mubathunga eka nene omuli abaana nga mukagha abasuba oku Yesu. (Mt. 13:55, 56) Erithoka erilembera abosi aba Yozefu mwayongera erikolha kutsibu.

19. Yozefu mwatsomana athi obunyakirimu bw’eka yiwe?

¹⁹ Nomwabine, Yozefu mwalhangira eritsomana eka yiwe bunyakirimu ikya kikulhu kutsibu. Neryo mwabana obuthuku obw’eribya iniane mukangirirya abaana biwe oku Nyamuhanga n’ebihano Biwe. Iyo na Maria ibakabya ibane mubathwalha omwa nyumba y’erihindaniramu, eya Mighambo yabya yikasomerwa n’erisoborerwa. Obundi enyuma waho, Yesu iniakabulhaya ebibulyo bingyi, neryo Yozefu iniakalengaho kutsibu erisubirya ebibulyo by’omulhwana oyu ebihambire oku Yehova n’ebihano biwe. Yozefu kandi iniakathwalha eka yiwe okwa mikonga ey’obunyakirimu e Yerusalemu. Ng’okwa kiro ky’Erikyuruka eky’obuli mwaka, ibakayithagha esyoyenga ibiri erighenda n’erisubulha olhughendo lhw’esyokilomita 120.

20. Abalhume Abakrisitayo banga gherererya bathi Yozefu?

²⁰ Abalhume Abakrisitayo abawithe amaka munabwire nabu bakakwama eky’erileberyako eki. Nomubakanaha abaana babu eby’ekinyamubiri, bakayihayo kutsibu erilhangira bathi eribakangirirya eby’obunyakirimu ly’erikabya embere okwa bindi byosi. Bakalengaho kutsibu erisondolha eriramya ly’eka n’eribathwalha okwa mihindano yosi ey’Ekikrisitayo, emike-mike n’eminene-minene. Nga Yozefu, bakaminya ngoku sihali ekindi ekya bangaha abaana babu ekilengire eribakangirirya eby’obunyakirimu.

21. Yozefu n’eka yiwe, ekiro ky’Erikyuruka mukyabaghendera kithi, kandi Yozefu na Maria baminya mughulhu wahi ngoku sibali na Yesu?

²¹ Omughulhu Yesu abya n’emyaka 12, nga buli kiro, Yozefu mwathwalha eka yiwe ye Yerusalemu. Bwabya buthuku bw’ekiro ky’Erikyuruka, neryo abandu banene n’amaka wabu babya ibakaghenda okwa kiro kikulhu ekyo. Ibakabya bakahethukira e Yerusalemu, abangyi ibakimba esyonyimbo esya basi esikahulhawa mw’esyonyimbo sy’erihethuka. (Esy. 120-134) Obundi omuyi iniakasulha mw’abandu banene okwa buthuku obo. Ekiro ekyo ikikabya kikahwa, abandu ibakasuba ewabu. Yozefu na Maria, obundi ibanawithe bingyi by’erikolha, mubalengekania bathi Yesu ane musuba eka n’abandi. Babere babirighenda olhughendo lhw’ekiro kighuma erilhua e Yerusalemu, mubabya baminyire ngoku bathe na Yesu, ekindu ekya bitha engitsi!​—Lk. 2:41-44.

22, 23. Yozefu na Maria mubakolhaki omwana wabu abiribulha, kandi Maria mwabugha athiki bakabana omwana?

 ²² Omwa ngitsi nene, mubasuba enyuma bakamusondya, erihika e Yerusalemu. Thathera akasasani bakahika e Yerusalemu iyabiryumirirya ibanemubirikira omwana wabu y’okwa lina. Omwana oyu abya hayi? Okwa kiro kyakasathu ibanemusondya, Yozefu mwanatsuka erilengekania athi abirilemerwa ighuma olhukwamirwa olhwa Yehova amuha? Erighunzerera, mubaya omwa hekalu. Banemusondya kutsibu omwa hekalu, mubatsubukira okwa kyumba ekyabya mw’abalhume bangyi abasomire kutsibu Emighambo, Yesu iniane nabu! Thalengekania okw’ihumulikana erya Yozefu na Maria bathunga!​—Lk. 2:45, 46.

²³ Yesu abya inianemuhulikirira ndeke abalhume b’amenge abo  n’eribulya ebibulyo. Abalhume mubasweka kutsibu busana n’eriyitheghererya ery’omwana abya awithe n’erisubirya liwe. Maria na Yozefu nabu mubasweka kutsibu. Omwa Biblia simuli ebinywe byosi-byosi ebya Yozefu abugha. Aliriryo ebinywe bya Maria bikakanganaya n’eriyowa lya mwira wiwe. Nga hano mwabugha athi: ‘Iwe mwana, wamathuyira wuthya busana naki kwehi? Thalebya, thatha wawu naghe thwabirikusonda-sonda n’engitsi nene.’​—Lk. 2:47, 48.

24. E Biblia yikakanganaya yithi ndeke ngoku si kyolho erilembera omwana?

²⁴ Omwatsi owali omwa Biblia oyu akakanganaya ndeke ngoku sikyolho erilembera omwana n’omwangabya iniahikene! Erilembera abaana omwa kihugho kibi kino lyangana letha “engitsi” kutse emilyambo minene, aliriryo ababuthi batholere ibasika kundi ebya bakalhabamu binasibwe omwa Biblia.

25, 26. Yesu mwasubirya athi ababuthi biwe, kandi Yozefu angabya imwayowa athi busana n’eby’omwana wiwe asubiraya?

 ²⁵ Yesu mwayowa iniabirihika aho ayowira iniabiribya hakuhi ndeke na Thatha wiwe w’elhubulha, Yehova, kandi inianemuhulikirira ndeke obuli kindu eky’ak’eghesibawa. Omwa bwolho-bwolho mwabasubirya athi: ‘Busana naki mulhwe mukanyisondya kwehi? Simwasi ngoku lyabya litholere inabya omwa nyumba ya Thatha waghe kwehi?’​—Lk. 2:49.

²⁶ Omwa kwenene, Yozefu angabya imwalengekania mirundi mingyi okwa binywe ebi. Obundi byangabya imubyaleka Yozefu iniayisyetha. Kundi nibya abya iniabirikolha kutsibu erikangirirya omwana oyu eriyowa athya oku Nyamuhanga. Yesu nomwanabya mulere, omwa myaka eyabya iniamabiri ghunza na Yozefu, abya iniabiriminya ndeke “Thatha” w’olhwanzo ng’akabya athi.

27. Iwe nga thatha, wuwithe lhusunzoki, kandi busana naki wutholere iw’ibuka eky’erileberyako kya Yozefu?

²⁷ Wamabya iwuli thatha, wanamalhangira ngoku wuwithe olhusunzo olhw’erileka abaana bawu balhangire thatha w’olhwanzo kandi oyukatheghaya ng’akabya athi? Kuthya, wamabya iwunemulembera abaana abawuthabuthire, wutholere iw’ibuka Yozefu n’erilhangira obuli mwana mwa w’omughaso. Wathikaya abaana abo eriyithunda hakuhi na Thatha wabu w’elhubulha, Nyamuhanga Yehova.​—Soma Abanya Efeso 6:4.

28, 29. (a) Ebinywe ebiri omu Luka 2:51, 52 bikakanganayaki oku Yozefu? (b) Yozefu mwawathikya athi omwana wiwe erikulha omwa menge?

²⁸ E Biblia yikathubwira bike okwa ngebe ya Yozefu, aliriryo n’ebike ebyo ni by’erilengekaniako kutsibu. E Biblia yikabugha yithi Yesu “mwabya akowa” ababuthi biwe. Kandi yithi “Yesu musuka, oko mubiri n’omo menge, iniakasimawa na Nyamuhanga n’abandu.” (Soma Luka 2:51, 52.) Ebinywe ebi bikanza  erithubwiraki oku Yozefu? Thukaminya bingyi. Kikaleka ithwaminya ngoku Yozefu mwalholha embere erisondolha eka yiwe, kundi omwana wiwe oyuhikene oyu mwasikya obusondoli bwiwe n’erimughondera.

²⁹ Kandi e Biblia eribugha yithi Yesu musuka kutse erikulha omo menge, kikakanganaya ndeke ngoku Yozefu mwakolha kutsibu eriwathikya omwana wiwe eribya n’amenge aya. Okwa buthuku obo, Abayuda babya bawithe omusyo owa babya basikirye erilhua kera. Na munabwire anahandikire. Omusyo akabugha athi abalhume b’ebindu abakayitsemesaya basa ba bangabya n’amenge, aliwe abandu, ng’ababatsi, abalimi, n’abahesi, “sibanga minya erikolha ekithunganene n’obulingirirania; kandi sibangabya ahakabughirawa emisyo.” Aliriryo, amenge wa Yesu mwakangania ngoku omusyo oyu syahikire. Iniane mulhwana, mwowa thatha wiwe oyuwamukulhaya, akakangirirya ndeke “erithunganene n’obulingirirania” bwa Yehova, nomwanabya mubatsi omwera! Angabya imwakilhangira eki mirundi mingyi.

30. Yozefu mwahiraho athi eky’erileberyako kibuya okwa balhume b’amaka?

³⁰ Kandi n’emikulire ya Yesu kinyamubiri yikaleka ithwaminya akaghalha ako Yozefu ahiraho. Yesu mwakulha amabya mulhume w’akaghalha, erikangania ngoku mwalemberwa ndeke. Eryongera okw’ekyo, Yozefu mwakangirirya omwana wiwe oyu erikolha emibiiri yiwe ya ndeke. Yesu mwathaminywa mwa mughalha w’omubatsi lisa, aliwe nayu mwaminywa mwa “mubatsi.” (Mk. 6:3) Neryo kwesi Yozefu mwamuthendeka ndeke. N’abalhume b’amaka bakakolha ndeke erigherererya Yozefu omw’ithendeka abaana babu eriyikolera.

31. (a) Ni bwema bwahi obukakanganaya omughulhu owa Yozefu angabya iniaholeramu? (Lebaya  n’akasanduko.) (b) Yozefu mwathuhiriraho eky’erileberyako kyahi?

³¹ Ahathukahikira okw’ibatizibwa lya Yesu omwa Biblia, inianawithe myaka nga 30, Yozefu akabya isyakikanibawako. Kikakanganibawa indi Maria abya iniabiribya mukwakali Yesu akatsuka omubiiri wiwe w’erithulira. (Lebaya akasanduku “ Yozefu Aholha Mughulhu Wahi?”) Nomwabine, Yozefu mwasigha erina eryuwene​—eky’erileberyako kibuya nga thatha oyuwatheghaya ab’eka yiwe, amabatsomana, n’eriyitsingirira buthaleghulha erihika okwa lhuholho. Kwesi ikikendibya kibuya thatha wosi-wosi, omulhume wosi-wosi, kutse Omukrisitayo wosi-wosi erigherererya erikirirya lya Yozefu.