Isaya 36:1-22
36 Ngomnyaka we-14 wokubusa kweKosi uHezekiya, uSanirheribu ikosi ye-Asiriya+ weza bona azokulwa nawo woke amadorobho avikelekileko wakwaJuda begodu wawathumba.+
2 Ngemva kwalokho, ikosi ye-Asiriya yathumela uRabitjhaki*+ nebutho elikhulu basuka eLakitjhi+ baya eKosini uHezekiya eJerusalema. Bajama ngemseleni wesiziba esiphezulu,+ esisendleleni ekulu yesimu yomhlanzi wezambatho.+
3 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Eliyakhimu+ indodana kaRhilikhiya obekamphathi wesigodlo, uTjhebhina+ unobhala noJowarhi indodana ka-Asafa umtloli wezenzakalo baphuma baya kuye.
4 Nje-ke uRabitjhaki wathi kibo: “Ngibawa nithi kuHezekiya, ‘Ikosi ekulu, ikosi ye-Asiriya, ithi: “Khuyini ekwenza uzithembe kangaka?+
5 Uthi, ‘Ngineqhinga begodu nginamandla wokulwa ipi’ kodwana mamezwi angatjho litho lawo. Uthembele kubani, bona ungaba nesibindi sokuphikisana nami?+
6 Qala! Uthembele emhlangeni ophukileko lo, iGibhide, umuntu nakangazisekela ngawo ungangena esandleni sakhe umhlabe. Unjalo-ke uFaro, ikosi yeGibhide, kibo boke abathembela kuye.+
7 Naningathi kimi, ‘Sithembele kuJehova uZimethu,’ kghani akusinguye na loyo uHezekiya asuse iindawo zakhe eziphakemeko nama-aldarakhe,+ khisibe ngapha uthi kuJuda neJerusalema, ‘Khothamani phambi kwe-aldareli’?”’+
8 Nje-ke ngibawa nibheje nekosami, ikosi ye-Asiriya:+ Ngizoninikela iinjomani ezizii-2 000 nange nizokukghona ukufumana abakhweli beenjomani abaneleko.
9 Alo-ke, ningamhlula njani ngitjho nombusi munye ongomncani eensebenzini zekosami, kukulapho nithembela eGibhide bona nifumane iinkarana nabakhweli beenjomani?
10 Inga-kghani ngizizele ngaphandle kwemvumo kaJehova bona ngikhuphuke ngizokujamelana nenarha le bona ngiyitjhabalalise? UJehova ngokwakhe uthe kimi, ‘Khuphuka bona ujamelane nenarha le begodu uyitjhabalalise.’”
11 Khonokho u-Eliyakhimu, uTjhebhina+ noJowarhi bathi kuRabitjhaki:+ “Sibawa ukhulume neensebenzi zakho ngesi-Aramu*+ ngombana siyasizwisisa; ungakhulumi nathi ngelimi lamaJuda kulalele abantu abasebodeni.”+
12 Kodwana uRabitjhaki wathi: “Kghani ikosami ingithume ekosinenu nakini kwaphela bona ngikhulume amezwi la? Kghani ayikangithumeli nebantwini abahlezi ebodeni, abazokudla ubuthuvi babo begodu basele nomhlambulukwabo kunye nani na?”
13 Ngemva kwalokho, uRabitjhaki wasikima bewarhuwelela ngelimi lesiJuda,+ wathi: “Lalelani ilizwi lekosi ekulu, ikosi ye-Asiriya.+
14 Nakhu ikosi ekutjhoko, ‘Ningamvumeli uHezekiya anikhohlise, ngombana angekhe akghone ukunisindisa.+
15 Godu ningamvumeli uHezekiya anenze bona nithembe uJehova+ ngokuthi: “Nakanjani uJehova uzosisindisa begodu idorobheli angekhe linikelwe esandleni sekosi ye-Asiriya.”
16 Ningamlaleli uHezekiya, ngombana ikosi ye-Asiriya ithi: “Yenzani ukuthula nami, nizinikele kimi, ngamunye wenu uzokudla emthinakhe wamadiribe nemthinakhe wamafeyi begodu uzokusela amanzi epetsinakhe,
17 bekube kulapho ngiza, nginisa enarheni enjengeyenu,+ inarha yeenthoro neyewayini elitjha, inarha yoburotho namasimu wamadiribe.
18 Ningavumeli uHezekiya anikhohlise athi, ‘UJehova uzosisindisa.’ Abozimu bezinye iintjhaba bazisindisile na iinarha zabo esandleni sekosi ye-Asiriya?+
19 Baphi abozimu beRhamathi ne-Ariphadi?+ Baphi abozimu beSefarivayimu?+ Bayisindisile na iSamariya esandleni sami?+
20 Ngimuphi uzimu, kibozimu boke beenarhezi osindise inarhakhe esandleni sami, okunenza nicabange ukuthi uJehova angasindisa iJerusalema esandleni sami?”’”+
21 Kodwana bathula azange bamphendule ngombana umyalo wekosi bewuthi, “Ningamphenduli.”+
22 Kodwana u-Eliyakhimu indodana kaRhilikhiya, obekamphathi wesigodlo, uTjhebhina+ unobhala noJowarhi indodana ka-Asafa umtloli wezenzakalo bafika kuHezekiya izambatho zabo zidabukile bambikela amezwi kaRabitjhaki.
