ABagwebi 2:1-23
2 Ingelosi kaYehova+ yasuka eGiligali,+ yaya eBhokim yaza yathi: “Ndaninyusa ndanikhupha eYiputa ndanizisa kwilizwe endafunga ngalo kookhokho benu.+ Ndathi, ‘Andisoze ndisaphule isivumelwano endisenze nani.+
2 Nina ke, ze ningenzi sivumelwano nabemi beli lizwe,+ yaye nifanele nizidilize izibingelelo zabo.’+ Kodwa anikhange nilimamele ilizwi lam.+ Niyenzele ntoni loo nto?
3 Kungenxa yoko le nto ndithe, ‘Andizukubagxotha phambi kwenu,+ yaye baza kuba ngumgibe kuni,+ noothixo babo babe sisirhintyelo kuni.’”+
4 Yathi yakuthetha la mazwi ingelosi kaYehova kuwo onke amaSirayeli, akhala kakhulu.
5 Ngoko loo ndawo ayibiza ngokuba yiBhokim,* aza abingelela kuYehova apho.
6 UYoshuwa wathi mawemke amaSirayeli apho, waza ngamnye waya kwisabelo somhlaba esililifa lakhe.+
7 Abantu baqhubeka bekhonza uYehova yonke imihla kaYoshuwa nayo yonke imihla yabadala ababesaphila emva koYoshuwa, ababezibonile zonke izinto ezinkulu uYehova awayezenzele uSirayeli.+
8 UYoshuwa unyana kaNun, umkhonzi kaYehova, wafa eneminyaka eyi-110.+
9 Bamngcwaba kumhlaba olilifa lakhe eTimnati-heres,+ kummandla weentaba wakwaEfrayim, emntla weNtaba IGahashe.+
10 Sonke eso sizukulwana sahlanganiselwa kookhokho baso,* kwaza kwavela esinye isizukulwana emva kwaso esasingamazi uYehova okanye izinto awayezenzele uSirayeli.
11 AmaSirayeli enza izinto ezimbi emehlweni kaYehova, akhonza ooBhahali.+
12 Ngaloo ndlela amshiya uYehova, uThixo wootata bawo, owayewakhuphe kwilizwe laseYiputa.+ Alandela abanye oothixo, oothixo bezizwana ezaziwajikelezile,+ aqubuda kubo aza amcaphukisa uYehova.+
13 Amshiya uYehova, akhonza uBhahali nemifanekiso ka-Ashtoreti.+
14 Amcaphukisa kakhulu uYehova, waza wawanikela kubaphangi.+ Wawanikela* kwiintshaba ezaziwajikelezile,+ yaye awazange akwazi ukumelana neentshaba zawo.+
15 Ayeba ngatshona ngapha, siwafumane isandla sikaYehova, siwazisele intlekele,+ kanye njengokuba uYehova wayetshilo nanjengokuba uYehova wayefungile kuwo,+ yaye atsala nzima kakhulu.+
16 Ngoko uYehova wawanika abagwebi ababewasindisa esandleni sabaphangi.+
17 Kodwa awazange abamamele kwanabo bagwebi, suka azenza abafazi abathengisa ngomzimba kwabanye oothixo aza aqubuda kubo. Akhawuleza ayishiya indlela ababehamba kuyo ookhokho bawo ababeyithobela imiyalelo kaYehova.+ Wona amaSirayeli awazange ayithobele.
18 Nanini na uYehova ewanika umgwebi,+ uYehova wayemxhasa loo mgwebi, aze awasindise kwiintshaba zawo yonke imihla yaloo mgwebi; kuba uYehova wayesiba nosizi*+ ngokugcuma kwawo xa ecinezelwa+ yaye exhatshazwa.
19 Kodwa wayesithi akufa umgwebi, aphinde amaSirayeli enze izinto ezimbi ukodlula ootata bawo ngokulandela abanye oothixo, abakhonze aze aqubude kubo.+ Awazange ahlukane nezenzo zawo kunye nenkani yawo.
20 Ekugqibeleni uYehova waba nomsindo+ waza wathi: “Ngenxa yokuba olu hlanga luye lwasaphula isivumelwano+ endasenza nookhokho balo, lwaza alwandithobela,+
21 nam andizukuzigxotha phambi kwalo iintlanga awazishiyayo uYoshuwa ukufa kwakhe.+
22 Ndiza kuwavavanya ngazo amaSirayeli,+ ukuze ndibone ukuba aza kuhamba ngeendlela zikaYehova na njengootata bawo.”
23 Ngoko uYehova waziyeka ezi ntlanga zahlala. Akazange akhawuleze azigxothe, engazange azinikele nasesandleni sikaYoshuwa.
Umbhalo osemazantsi
^ Ethetha ukuthi “Abalilayo.”
^ Esi sisaci esithetha ukufa.
^ Ngokoqobo, “Wawathengisa.”
^ Okanye “wayezisola.”
