UJoshuwa 23:1-16
23 UJoshuwa wathi esemdala futhi eseluphele,+ sekwedlule iminyaka eminengi uJehova enqobe izitha zabako-Israyeli ezazibahanqile njalo sekulokuthula elizweni,+
2 wabiza bonke abako-Israyeli,+ abadala besizwe, abakhokheli labahluleli labaphathi,+ wathi kubo: “Mina sengimdala futhi sengiluphele.
3 Lazibonela ngawenu lokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akwenza kuzo zonke izizwe lezi esenzela lina. UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye owayelilwela.+
4 Ngazitshaya ngazibhuqa+ zonke izizwe kusukela kuJodani kuze kuyefika eLwandle Olukhulu* entshonalanga, ilizwe lazo ngasengilabela+ izizwana zenu+ ngenkatho ukuthi libe lilifa lenu. Lanxa zisesekhona ezinye izizwe eziseleyo, ilizwe lazo ngalabela lina.
5 UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye owaxotsha izitha zenu phambi kwenu+ wazisusa elizweni, lina laselilithatha njengoba nje uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wayelithembisile.+
6 “Kumele liqine libe lesibindi lilandele konke okubhalwe ebhukwini loMthetho+ kaMosi futhi likwenze, lingaphambukeli kwesokudla loba kwesenxele+
7 njalo lingabi lobudlelwano lezizwe lezi+ eziseleyo. Lingakhonzi onkulunkulu bazo futhi lingabakhothameli,+ njalo lingaqali lokukhuluma amabizo abo+ loba ukufunga ngabo.
8 Kufanele libambelele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu+ njengalokho ebelikwenza kuze kube lamuhla.
9 UJehova uzazixotsha phambi kwenu+ izizwe ezinkulu lezilamandla. Phela kuze kube lamuhla+ akulamuntu owenelise ukumelana lani.
10 Oyedwa wenu uzaxotshanisa abayinkulungwane+ ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyalilwela+ njengoba wayethembisile.+
11 Ngakho mthandeni uJehova uNkulunkulu+ wenu ngoba lingenza njalo lizahlala livikelekile.+
12 “Kodwa nxa lingaphambuka lilandele izizwe lezi eziseleyo,+ lendiselane lazo+ njalo libe lobudlelwano lazo,
13 lihle lazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kasoze aqhubeke ezixotsha phambi kwenu+ izizwe lezi. Zizakuba ngumjibila kini lomchilo wokulibhaxabula emhlane+ kanye lameva emehlweni enu, lize liphele lonke elizweni leli elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aliphe lona.
14 “Mina sengizakufa.* Kodwa lina likwazi kuhle* ukuthi akukho lokukodwa uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alithembisa khona okungazange kugcwaliseke. Konke kwenzakala, akula ngitsho lokukodwa akukhulumayo okungenzakalanga.+
15 Njengoba nje uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ezigcwalisile+ zonke izithembiso ezinhle alithembisa zona, kutsho ukuthi uJehova ngeke ehluleke ukulehlisela zonke inhlupho alitshela ngazo lokulisusa elizweni leli elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aliphe lona.+
16 Nxa lingephula isivumelwano uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alitshela ukuthi lisigcine, liyekhonza abanye onkulunkulu libakhothamele, uJehova uzalithukuthelela+ ahle alisuse lonke elizweni elihle aliphe lona.”+
Amabala angaphansi
^ Lapha kutshiwo uLwandle lweMedithera.
^ NgesiHebheru, “Lamuhla ngihamba ngendlela yomhlaba wonke.”
^ NgesiHebheru, “ngenhliziyo yonke langomphefumulo wonke.”
