Numeri 23:1-30
23 Ngemuva kwaloko, Bhalamu watsi kuBhalaki: “Yakha ema-al’thare langu-7 kulendzawo,+ ungilungisele netinkunzi letingu-7 kanye netimvu letindvuna letingu-7.”
2 Ngekushesha Bhalaki wenta njengobe Bhalamu ashito. Bobabili babese banikela ngenkunzi nangemvu lendvuna e-al’thare ngalinye.+
3 Bhalamu wabese utsi kuBhalaki: “Sala lapha eceleni kwalomnikelo wakho wekushiswa, mine ngisahamba, mhlawumbe Jehova utawuchumana nami. Ngitakutjela nobe ngabe yini latangembulela yona.” Ngako wahamba waya egcumeni lelite lutfo.
4 Nkulunkulu wachumana naBhalamu, futsi Bhalamu+ watsi kuYe: “Ngakhe ema-al’thare langu-7, ngawamisa alandzelana, ngase nginikela ngenkunzi nangemvu lendvuna e-al’thare ngalinye.”
5 Jehova wafaka emavi emlonyeni waBhalamu, watsi:+ “Buyela kuBhalaki, ufike usho loku.”
6 Ngako wabuyela emuva, wakhandza Bhalaki nato tonkhe tindvuna takaMowabi beme ngakulomnikelo wekushiswa.
7 Wabese usho nasi saga:+
“Bhalaki inkhosi yakaMowabi ungilandze e-Aramu,+Etintsabeni tasemphumalanga, watsi:
‘Wota utengicalekisela Jakobe.
Ute utewulahla Israyeli.’+
8 Ngingabacalekisa njani labo Nkulunkulu langakabacalekisi?
Futsi ngingabalahla njani labo labangakalahlwa nguJehova?+
9 Ngibabona ngisetulu emadvwaleni,Ngibabone ngisetikwemagcuma.
Bahleti bodvwa lapho njengesive;+Abatibali emkhatsini waletinye tive.+
10 Ngubani longabala bantfu baJakobe labangangelutfuli lwemhlabatsi+Nobe abale ngisho nekota yema-Israyeli?
Shengatsi ngingafa njengebantfu labacotfo,Nesiphetfo sami sibe njengesabo.”
11 Bhalaki wabese utsi kuBhalamu: “Yini lena longente yona? Ngikubitele kutsi utewucalekisa titsa tami, kepha esikhundleni saloko wena utibusisile.”+
12 Bhalamu waphendvula watsi: “Kantsi akukafaneli yini ngikhulume nome yini Jehova layifake emlonyeni wami?”+
13 Bhalaki watsi kuye: “Ngicela sihambe siye kulenye indzawo, lapho utawukhona kuwabona khona. Utawubona incenye yawo, ngeke uwabone onkhe. Ubongicalekisela wona ukuleyo ndzawo.”+
14 Ngako wahamba naye waya esigangeni saseSofimu, esicongweni sePhisga.+ Wafike wakha ema-al’thare langu-7, wanikela ngenkunzi nangemvu lendvuna e-al’thare ngalinye.+
15 Bhalamu watsi kuBhalaki: “Sala laceleni kwalomnikelo wakho wekushiswa, mine ngisaya lapha ngiyochumana naNkulunkulu.”
16 Jehova wachumana naBhalamu futsi wafaka emavi emlonyeni wakhe watsi:+ “Buyela kuBhalaki, ufike usho loku.”
17 Ngako waya kuBhalaki, wamkhandza eme eceleni kwemnikelo wakhe wekushiswa akanye netindvuna takaMowabi. Bhalaki wambuta watsi: “Utsiteni Jehova?”
18 Bhalamu washo nasi saga:+
“Bhalaki, vuka ulalele.
Ngilalele wena ndvodzana yaSiphori.
19 Nkulunkulu akasiye umuntfu locala emanga,+Futsi akasiyo indvodzana yemuntfu leshintja ingcondvo yayo.*+
Intfo nakayishito, angeke yini ayente?
Angeke yini akwente loko lakukhulumile?+
20 Ngitfunywe kutsi ngitewubusisa;NaNkulunkulu sewubusisile,+ futsi ngeke ngisakushintja loko.+
21 Akavumi kutsi lotsite amelane naJakobe ngekusebentisa umlingo,Akavumi nekutsi Israyeli ehlelwe yinhlekelele.
Jehova Nkulunkulu wakhe unabo,+Futsi bayamemeta bamdvumise kutsi uyinkhosi yabo.
22 Nkulunkulu uyabakhipha eGibhithe.+
Kubo ufana netimphondvo tenyatsi.+
23 Ngobe kute emashwa lehlela Jakobe,+Kute nalotsakatsa Israyeli.+
Kulesikhatsi, bantfu bangase bakhulume ngaJakobe nanga-Israyeli, batsi:
‘Asenibuke kutsi Nkulunkulu wenteni!’
24 Labantfu batawuvuka njengelibhubesi,Batawuphakama njengelibhubesi.+
Lona alilali lingakayidli inyamataneLiphindze linatse nengati yalabo lelibabulele.”
25 Bhalaki wabese utsi kuBhalamu: “Nangabe wehluleka kubacalekisa, kufanele ungababusisi-ke.”
26 Bhalamu wamphendvula watsi: “Angikakutjeli yini, ngatsi: ‘Ngitawukwenta konkhe Jehova lakushoko’?”+
27 Bhalaki watsi kuBhalamu: “Ngicela siphindze sihambe siye kulenye indzawo. Mhlawumbe nasewulapho Nkulunkulu weliciniso utawuvuma kutsi ungicalekisele lesive.”+
28 Ngako Bhalaki watsatsa Bhalamu waya naye esicongweni sePheyori, lebuke ngaseJeshimoni.*+
29 Bhalamu wabese utsi kuBhalaki: “Yakha ema-al’thare langu-7 kulendzawo, ungilungisele netinkunzi letingu-7 kanye netimvu letindvuna letingu-7.”+
30 Ngako-ke Bhalaki wenta njengobe Bhalamu abeshito, futsi wanikela ngenkunzi nangemvu lendvuna e-al’thare ngalinye.
