KUMAHEBHERU

1 Endulo uNkulunkulu wakhuluma labokhokho bethu kanengi langezindlela ezinengi esebenzisa abaphrofethi.+ 2 Kodwa ekucineni kwensuku lezi ukhulume lathi esebenzisa iNdodana+ ayibeka ukuthi ibe yindlalifa yezinto zonke+ futhi wayisebenzisa ukwenza konke okukhona.*+ 3 Iveza inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu+ njalo ingumfanekiso wakhe uqobo+ futhi iphethe izinto zonke ngelizwi lakhe elilamandla. Yathi isihlambulule izono zethu+ yahlala esandleni sokudla sikaNkulunkulu Omkhulu, khonale phezulu.+ 4 Ngakho isiphakeme kakhulu kulezingilosi+ okokuthi isize yathola ilifa, elilibizo elihle kakhulu kulelazo.+

5 Ngokwesibonelo yiphi ingilosi uNkulunkulu ake wathi kuyo: “Wena uyindodana yami, lamuhla sengibe nguyihlo”?+ Wake wakhuluma yini ngengilosi wathi: “Ngizakuba nguyise yena abe yindodana yami”?+ 6 Kodwa nxa ekhuluma ngesikhathi lapho azaphinda alethe khona iZibulo+ lakhe emhlabeni uthi: “Zonke izingilosi zikaNkulunkulu kazimkhothamele.”

7 Uphinda akhulume ngezingilosi athi: “Wenza izingilosi zakhe zibe lamandla,* lezinceku zakhe*+ zibe lilangabi lomlilo.”+ 8 Kodwa nxa ekhuluma ngeNdodana uthi: “UNkulunkulu uyisihlalo sakho sobukhosi+ kuze kube nini lanini, lentonga yoMbuso wakho yintonga yokulunga.* 9 Wathanda ukulunga wazonda ukungabi lamthetho. Yikho uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakho, wakugcoba+ ngamafutha wakwenza wathokoza ukwedlula abanye bakho.”+ 10 Kuphinda kuthiwe: “Ekuqaleni wena Nkosi wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba njalo amazulu ayimisebenzi yezandla zakho. 11 Konke lokhu kuzatshabalala kodwa wena uzahlala ukhona. Kuzaguga njengesigqoko 12 futhi uzakugoqa njengejazi, ukugoqe njengesembatho. Kuzatshintshwa kodwa wena awutshintshi, leminyaka yakho ayisoze iphele.”+

13 Lanxa kunjalo yiphi ingilosi ake athi kuyo: “Hlala esandleni sami sokudla ngize ngenze izitha zakho zibe yisenabelo* senyawo zakho”?+ 14 Kanti izingilosi zonke kazisizo zidalwa zomoya ezenza inkonzo engcwele?*+ Kayisizo yini uNkulunkulu azithuma ukuthi ziyencedisa labo abazathola ilifa lensindiso?

2 Yikho kuqakathekile ukuthi sicabangisise kakhulu ngezinto esesizizwile+ ukuze singakhukhuleki.+ 2 Nxa ilizwi uNkulunkulu athuma izingilosi ukuthi zilikhulume+ laba liqiniso, futhi nxa wonke umuntu owayephambuka lowayengalaleli wathola isijeziso esihambelana lokwahlulela okuhle,+ 3 pho thina singaphunyuka njani nxa singazange sibe lendaba lensindiso enkulu kangaka?+ INkosi yethu yiyo eyaqala ukukhuluma ngayo,+ eyakutshoyo kwasekuqiniswa yilabo abayizwayo. 4 UNkulunkulu laye wakufakazela lokhu ngezibonakaliso, langezimangaliso, langemisebenzi yamandla etshiyeneyo+ langomoya ongcwele awunika izinceku zakhe ngentando yakhe.+

5 Phela umhlaba ozayo+ esikhuluma ngawo kawubekanga ngaphansi kwezingilosi. 6 Kodwa omunye ufakazi wake wabhala wathi: “Kambe umuntu uyini ukuthi usungaze umkhumbule, lendodana yomuntu iyini ukuthi usungaze uyinakekele?+ 7 Wamenza waba ngaphansana kwezingilosi, wamnika udumo lenkazimulo njalo wamenza wabusa phezu kwemisebenzi yezandla zakho. 8 Izinto zonke wazibeka ngaphansi kwenyawo zakhe.”+ Ngokubeka zonke izinto ngaphansi kwakhe,+ akulalutho uNkulunkulu alutshiya lungekho ngaphansi kwakhe.+ Lanxa kunjalo, khathesi asikakuboni ukuthi zonke izinto zingaphansi kwakhe.+ 9 Kodwa uJesu owenziwa waba ngaphansana kwezingilosi+ simbona esephiwe umqhele wenkazimulo lodumo ngoba wahlupheka waze wafa+ ukuze ngomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu azwe ukufa efela abantu bonke.+

10 Wathi eletha amadodana amanengi enkazimulweni,+ kwakuqondile ukuthi lowo izinto zonke ezikhona ngaye langenxa yakhe avumele uMmeli Omkhulu wensindiso yawo+ ahlupheke ukuze amenze aphelele.+ 11 Ongcwelisayo lalabo abangcweliswayo+ bavela koyedwa.+ Ngenxa yalokho, kalanhloni zokubabiza ngokuthi ngabafowabo.+ 12 Uthi: “Ngizamemezela ibizo lakho kubafowethu, ngikudumise ngezingoma phakathi kwebandla.”+ 13 Uphinda athi: “Ngizabeka ithemba lami kuye,”+ aphinde athi: “Khangela! Mina labantwabami engabaphiwa nguJehova.”*+

14 Ngakho-ke njengoba ‘abantwana’ laba bengabenyama legazi, laye waba ngowenyama legazi+ ukuze ngokufa kwakhe atshabalalise lowo olamandla okubangela ukufa,+ uDeveli,+ 15 aphinde akhulule bonke ababesebugqilini okwempilo yabo yonke ngenxa yokwesaba ukufa.+ 16 Phela yena kancedi zingilosi, unceda inzalo ka-Abrahama.+ 17 Ngakho kwakumele abe ‘njengabafowabo’ kukho konke+ ukuze abe ngumphristi omkhulu olesihawu lothembekileyo nxa esenza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, abesenikela umhlatshelo wezono zabantu+ owenza babuyisane+ loNkulunkulu. 18 Yena uyenelisa ukunceda abalingwayo+ ngoba laye wahlupheka ngesikhathi elingwa.+

3 Yikho-ke bafowethu abangcwele ababizelwe* ukuyaphila ezulwini,+ cabangisisani ngomphostoli langomphristi omkhulu esimvumayo, uJesu.+ 2 Wayethembekile kulowo owambekayo,+ njengoba nje loMosi wayethembekile lapho esebenza kuyo yonke indlu kaNkulunkulu.+ 3 Yena* kuthiwa ufanelwe yinkazimulo enkulu+ kulekaMosi, njengoba umakhi wendlu edunyiswa ukwedlula indlu ayakhileyo. 4 Phela indlu ngayinye ilomakhi wayo kodwa umakhi wezinto zonke nguNkulunkulu. 5 UMosi wayethembekile ngesikhathi eyinceku kuyo yonke indlu kaNkulunkulu futhi inkonzo yakhe yayifakazela izinto ezazizakhulunywa ngesikhathi esizayo, 6 kodwa uKhristu yena wayethembekile ngesikhathi eyindodana+ ephethe indlu kaNkulunkulu. Thina siyindlu kaNkulunkulu+ nxa siyibambe sayigagadlela inkululeko yethu yokukhuluma lethemba esizazigqaja ngalo kuze kube sekucineni.

7 Ngakho njengoba nje umoya ongcwele usithi,+ “Kwangathi lingalalela ilizwi lakhe lamuhla, 8 lingazenzi zibe lukhuni inhliziyo zenu njengalapho okhokho benu bengithukuthelisa kakhulu mhla bengilinga enkangala,+ 9 lapho abangilinga khona lanxa babeyibonile imisebenzi yami okweminyaka engu-40.+ 10 Ngenxa yalokho, ngasenyanya isizukulwane leso ngathi: ‘Inhliziyo zabo zihlala ziphambuka njalo abakazazi izindlela zami.’ 11 Ngakho ngafunga ngithukuthele ngathi: ‘Abasoze bangene ekuphumuleni kwami.’”+

12 Nanzelelani bafowethu ukuze angabi khona phakathi kwenu ocina esiba lenhliziyo embi engelakholo ngenxa yokuphambuka kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.+ 13 Kodwa qhubekani likhuthazana nsuku zonke nxa nje kusathiwa “Lamuhla,”+ ukuze angabi khona kini oba lukhuni ngenxa yamandla esono ayengayo. 14 Sizakuthola sibili lokho uKhristu asekutholile, nxa nje singaligagadlela kuze kube sekucineni ithemba esasilalo ekuqaleni.+ 15 Kunjengoba nje kuthiwa: “Kwangathi lingalalela ilizwi lakhe lamuhla, lingazenzi zibe lukhuni inhliziyo zenu njengalapho bengithukuthelisa kakhulu.”+

16 Kanti ngobani abamthukuthelisa kakhulu? Ayisibo bonke yini abaphuma eGibhithe bekhokhelwa nguMosi?+ 17 Kanti njalo ngobani uNkulunkulu ayebenyanya okweminyaka engu-40?+ Ayisibo yini ababesona, labo abafela enkangala?+ 18 Ngobani afunga kubo esithi kabasoze bangene ekuphumuleni kwakhe? Ayisibo yini labo ababengalaleli? 19 Siyabona-ke ukuthi behluleka ukungena ngenxa yokungabi lokholo.+

4 Ngakho njengoba sisesekhona isithembiso sokungena ekuphumuleni kwakhe, asinanzeleleni* kungabi lomunye wenu ongakhanya esesilela kuso+ 2 ngoba izindaba ezinhle sezitshunyayelwe lakithi+ njengoba nje zatshunyayelwa kubo. Kodwa ilizwi abalizwayo alibancedanga ngenxa yokuthi babengelakholo lunye lalabo abalalelayo. 3 Thina esitshengise ukuthi silokholo siyangena kulokho kuphumula njengoba wathi: “Ngakho ngafunga ngithukuthele ngathi, ‘Abasoze bangene ekuphumuleni kwami,’”+ lanxa imisebenzi yakhe yayisiphelile kusukela ekusungulweni komhlaba.+ 4 Phela komunye umbhalo wakhuluma ngosuku lwesikhombisa wathi: “UNkulunkulu waphumula emisebenzini yakhe yonke ngosuku lwesikhombisa,”+ 5 wasephinda wathi: “Abasoze bangene ekuphumuleni kwami.”+

6 Labo izindaba ezinhle ezatshunyayelwa kubo kuqala behluleka ukungena ekuphumuleni ngenxa yokungalaleli.+ Kodwa kuseselabanye abazangena ekuphumuleni lokho. 7 Yikho uNkulunkulu waphinda wakhetha elinye ilanga ngokukhuluma sekwedlule isikhathi eside kuhubo likaDavida esithi, “Lamuhla,” njengoba nje sekutshiwo phezulu, “Kwangathi lingalalela ilizwi lakhe lamuhla, lingazenzi zibe lukhuni inhliziyo zenu.”+ 8 Aluba uJoshuwa+ wayebakhokhele wabasa endaweni yokuphumula, uNkulunkulu wayengeke akhulume ngelinye ilanga ngemva kwalokho. 9 Ngakho abantu bakaNkulunkulu basalelwe yikuphumula kwesabatha+ 10 ngoba umuntu osengene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu, laye usephumule kweyakhe imisebenzi njengoba nje loNkulunkulu waphumula kweyakhe.+

11 Yikho-ke kasenzeni konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi singene kulokho kuphumula ukuze kungabi lomuntu olingisela labobantu ababengalaleli.+ 12 Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu liyaphila njalo lilamandla,+ libukhali ukwedlula loba yiphi inkemba esika inxa zombili+ futhi lihlaba lize lehlukanise umphefumulo* lomoya,* amathambo* lomnkantsho njalo liyenelisa ukuveza imicabango lenhloso zenhliziyo. 13 Kanti njalo akulanto edaliweyo efihlakeleyo phambi kwakhe,+ kodwa zonke izinto ziyakhanya futhi zisegcekeni emehlweni alowo okumele silandise kuye.+

14 Njengoba silomphristi omkhulu kakhulu ongene emazulwini, uJesu iNdodana kaNkulunkulu,+ asibambeleleni kulokho kumvuma kwethu ebantwini.+ 15 Umphristi omkhulu esilaye uyasizwela ebuthakathakeni bethu+ ngenxa yokuthi laye walingwa kukho konke njengathi, kodwa yena kalasono.+ 16 Ngakho kasisondeleni esihlalweni sobukhosi somusa omkhulu silenkululeko yokukhuluma+ ukuze samukele isihawu lomusa omkhulu, okuzasinceda ngesikhathi esifaneleyo.

5 Loba nguphi umphristi omkhulu othethwe ebantwini ubekwa ukuthi ancede abantu ezintweni eziphathelane loNkulunkulu+ ukuze anikele izipho lemihlatshelo yezono.+ 2 Uyenelisa ukubaphatha ngozwelo* abangelalwazi labonayo* ngoba laye ulobuthakathaka bakhe. 3 Ngenxa yalokho, laye kumele enze iminikelo yezono zakhe njengoba nje enikela eyezono zabantu.+

4 Umuntu kazifaki ngokuthanda kwakhe emsebenzini lo ohloniphekayo kodwa uwuthola kuphela nxa ebizwe nguNkulunkulu, njengoba kwaba njalo ngo-Aroni.+ 5 Ngakho loKhristu kazange azikhazimulise+ ngokuba ngumphristi omkhulu kodwa wakhazinyuliswa ngulowo owathi kuye: “Wena uyindodana yami, lamuhla sengibe nguyihlo.”+ 6 Uyatsho futhi kwenye indawo ukuthi: “Wena ungumphristi kuze kube nini lanini ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi.”+

7 Ngesikhathi uKhristu esaphila emhlabeni wathandaza kanengi ecela futhi encenga ngokukhala kakhulu langezinyembezi,+ ethandaza kulowo owayesenelisa ukumsindisa ekufeni, njalo imithandazo yakhe yezwakala yemukelwa ngoba wayemesaba uNkulunkulu. 8 Lanxa wayeyindodana wafunda ukulalela ngokudlula phakathi kwenhlupho.+ 9 Wathi esephelelisiwe,+ waba yindlela yokuthi bonke abantu abamlalelayo bathole insindiso engapheliyo+ 10 ngoba ubekwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi abe ngumphristi omkhulu ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi.+

11 Kunengi esingakukhuluma ngaye njalo kunzima ukukuchasisa ngoba selibe buthundu ekuzweni kwenu. 12 Lanxa bekumele ukuthi ngabe selifundisa, sekufunakala ukuthi omunye aqale phansi ukulifundisa+ izinto eziphathelane lamazwi kaNkulunkulu angcwele elazifunda ekuqaleni. Sekumele liphiwe uchago futhi, hatshi ukudla okuqinileyo. 13 Phela wonke umuntu oqhubeka ephila ngochago kalijayelanga ilizwi lokulunga ngoba ungumntwana omncane.+ 14 Kodwa ukudla okuqinileyo ngokwabantu abalokholo oluqinileyo,* asebazifundisa* ukwehlukanisa okuhle lokubi besebenzisa amandla abo okuqedisisa.*

6 Yikho-ke njengoba sesidlulile emfundisweni yokuqala+ emayelana loKhristu, asikusebenzeleni nzima ukuba lokholo oluqinileyo,*+ singaphindi sibeke isisekelo, okutsho ukuphenduka emisebenzini engancediyo* lokuba lokholo kuNkulunkulu, 2 lezimfundiso zemihlobo etshiyeneyo yobhabhathizo, lokubekwa izandla,+ lokuvuswa kwabafileyo+ kanye lokwahlulelwa kwaphakade. 3 Lokho sizakwenza nxa uNkulunkulu evuma.

4 Bakhona abake bakhanyiselwa+ futhi banambitha isipho samahala sasezulwini, bemukela lomoya ongcwele, 5 banambitha lelizwi likaNkulunkulu elihle kanye lamandla omumo wezinto* ozayo, 6 kodwa sebawa.+ Labobantu ngeke baphinde bancediswe ukuthi baphenduke ngoba bayibethela kutsha iNdodana kaNkulunkulu esigodweni njalo bayenza ihlazo phambi kwabantu.+ 7 Umhlabathi uthola isibusiso esivela kuNkulunkulu nxa umunya amanzi ezulu elihlala lisina phezu kwawo njalo uveza izilimo ezinceda abawulimayo. 8 Kodwa nxa ungamila ameva lokhula uyatshiywa futhi uyabe usuzaqalekiswa, ekucineni ubusutshiswa.

9 Kodwa lanxa sikhuluma kanje bathandekayo, siyaqiniseka ukuthi lina lisesimeni esingcono, lenza izinto ezizakwenza lisindiswe. 10 UNkulunkulu kayisuye ongalunganga ukuthi usengaze awukhohlwe umsebenzi wenu lothando elalutshengisa ebizweni lakhe+ ngokusiza abangcwele langokuqhubeka libasiza. 11 Loba kunjalo, sifisa ukuthi ngamunye wenu akhuthale njengasekuqaleni ukuze angalithandabuzi lakancane ithemba lakhe+ kuze kube sekucineni.+ 12 Lokhu kuzalinceda ukuthi lingabi ngamavila,+ kodwa lilingisele labo abathola ilifa lezithembiso ngokuba lokholo langokubekezela.

13 UNkulunkulu wathi ethembisa u-Abrahama, kakho omkhulu ayengafunga ngaye, yikho wafunga ngaye yena ngokwakhe+ 14 wathi: “Ngizakubusisa sibili njalo ngizakwandisa loba sekutheni.”+ 15 Ngakho u-Abrahama wathi esebekezele, wasithola isithembiso leso. 16 Abantu bafunga ngomuntu omkhulu kulabo futhi isifungo sabo siqeda konke ukuphikisana njengoba siyisiqinisekiso esisemthethweni kubo.+ 17 LoNkulunkulu wenza njalo. Wathi ekhetha ukucacisela izindlalifa zesithembiso+ ukuthi inhloso yakhe ayitshintshi,* wakuqinisa lokho ngesifungo 18 ukuze ngezinto ezimbili ezingeke zitshintshwe, lezo uNkulunkulu angeke aqambe amanga ngazo,+ thina esesibalekele endaweni yokuphephela sikhuthazwe kakhulu ukuthi silibambe siligagadlele ithemba eliphambi kwethu. 19 Ithemba leli+ liyisikhonkwane semiphefumulo* yethu, lisinceda ukuthi singathandabuzi lokuthi siqine njalo lingena liye ngale kwekhetheni+ 20 lapho uJesu, lowo owahamba phambi kwethu, asengene khona+ esenzela thina futhi usebe ngumphristi omkhulu ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi kuze kube nini lanini.+

7 UMelikhizedekhi lo owayeyinkosi yeSalema futhi engumphristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, wahlangabeza u-Abrahama owayevela nqoba amakhosi, wasembusisa.+ 2 U-Abrahama wamnika* okwetshumi kwakho konke ayekuthumbile. Okokuqala, ibizo lakhe litsho ukuthi “iNkosi yokulunga,” njalo uyinkosi yeSalema, okutsho ukuthi, “iNkosi yokuthula.” 3 Wayengelababa, engelamama njalo usendo lwakhe kalwaziwa kanye lelanga azalwa ngalo lalelo afa ngalo. Kodwa wenziwa waba njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu, yikho engumphristi kuze kube nini lanini.+

4 Liyabona-ke ukuthi wayemkhulu kangakanani umuntu lo, owaphiwa yinhloko yemuli u-Abrahama okwetshumi okwakuvela ezintweni ezinhle kakhulu ayezithole empini.+ 5 UMthetho uyatsho sibili ukuthi abangamadodana kaLevi,+ abaphiwa umsebenzi wokuba ngabaphristi balaywa ukuthi baqoqe okwetshumi ebantwini,+ kulabo abangabafowabo, lanxa beyizizukulwane zika-Abrahama.* 6 Kodwa umuntu lo owayengasiwosendo lwabo wathatha okwetshumi ku-Abrahama njalo wabusisa lowo owayelezithembiso.+ 7 Akula ongaphika ukuthi omncane ubusiswa ngomkhulu. 8 Kwelinye icele, okwetshumi kwamukelwa ngabantu abangafa kodwa kwelinye kwamukelwa ngulowo okufakazwa ngaye ukuthi uyaphila.+ 9 Kungatshiwo lokuthi loLevi okwamukelayo okwetshumi wabhadala okwetshumi ngo-Abrahama 10 ngoba ngesikhathi u-Abrahama ehlangabezwa nguMelikhizedekhi,+ uLevi wayeseseyisizukulwane sakhe esingakazalwa.

11 Manje nxa kuyikuthi ubuphristi bamaLevi, njengoba babukhona eMthethweni owanikwa abantu, babungenza umuntu abe ngopheleleyo,+ kwakungadingakala yini ukuthi kube lomunye umphristi, ongumphristi ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi+ hatshi eka-Aroni? 12 Phela njengoba ubuphristi sebutshintshwa, loMthetho lawo kufanele utshintshwe+ 13 ngoba umuntu okukhulunywa ngaye izinto lezi wayevela kwesinye isizwana futhi kulesosizwana akula owake wasebenza e-alithareni.+ 14 Kuyacaca ukuthi iNkosi yethu ivela koJuda+ kodwa uMosi kazange ake akhulume ngokuthi kwakuzaba labaphristi abavela kulesosizwana.

15 Lokhu kucaca kakhulu nxa sekusiba lomunye umphristi+ onjengoMelikhizedekhi,+ 16 oba ngumphristi ngenxa yamandla okuphila okungatshabalaliyo+ hatshi ngenxa yalokho okufunwa ngumthetho okusekelwe kusendo lwabantu. 17 Phela kwafakazwa ngaye kwathiwa: “Wena ungumphristi kuze kube nini lanini ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi.”+

18 Ngakho umlayo wakuqala ubekwa eceleni ngoba ubuthakathaka futhi awuncedi.+ 19 UMthetho awuzange wenze ukuthi kube lolutho olupheleleyo+ kodwa ithemba elingcono esiliphiwa nguNkulunkulu+ lakwenza lokho. Ithemba lelo yilo esisondela ngalo kuNkulunkulu.+ 20 Lokho akuzange kwenziwe kungelasifungo, 21 (ngoba phela kulabantu ababa ngabaphristi kungenziwanga isifungo, kodwa lo yena usebe ngumphristi ngesifungo esiphathelane laye esenziwa ngulowo owathi: “UJehova* ufungile, kasoze atshintshe ingqondo,* ‘Wena ungumphristi kuze kube nini lanini’”).+ 22 Yikho uJesu esebe yisiqinisekiso sesivumelwano esingcono.+ 23 Phezu kwalokho, abanengi kwakumele babe ngabaphristi belandelana+ ngoba ukufa kwakubavimbela ukuthi baqhubeke bengabaphristi. 24 Kodwa obakhe ubuphristi abutshiyelwana ngenxa yokuthi uzaqhubeka ephila kuze kube phakade.+ 25 Yikho uyenelisa ukubasindisa ngokupheleleyo labo abasondela kuNkulunkulu ngaye ngoba uzahlala ekhona ebancengela kuye.+

26 Kufanele sibili ukuthi sibe lomphristi omkhulu onjalo, oqotho, ongelacala, ongangcoliswanga,+ owehlukaniswe lezoni futhi ophakanyiselwe phezu kwamazulu.+ 27 Yena utshiyene labanye abaphristi abakhulu ngoba akudingakali ukuthi anikele imihlatshelo nsuku zonke,+ eqalisa ngowezono zakhe besekulandela owezono zabantu,+ ngenxa yokuthi lokho wakwenza kwaba kanye kuphela lapho enikela ngempilo yakhe.+ 28 Phela uMthetho ubeka abantu abalesono+ ukuthi babe ngabaphristi abakhulu kodwa ilizwi lesifungo+ esenziwa ngemva koMthetho lona libeka iNdodana eyenziwe yaba ngepheleleyo+ kuze kube nini lanini.

8 Nanku umcijo oqakathekileyo endabeni esikhuluma ngayo: Umphristi omkhulu esilaye unjalo,+ futhi usehlezi ngakwesokudla sesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu Omkhulu osemazulwini.+ 2 Uyisikhonzi* sendawo engcwele+ lesetende leqiniso elingamiswanga ngabantu kodwa elamiswa nguJehova.* 3 Loba nguphi umphristi omkhulu ubekwa ukuthi anikele ngezipho lemihlatshelo. Ngakho laye kwakumele abe lakho anganikela ngakho.+ 4 Aluba ubesemhlabeni ubengasoze abe ngumphristi+ njengoba bekhona abantu abavele benikela ngezipho belandela uMthetho. 5 Abantu laba benza inkonzo engcwele engumfanekiso lesithunzi+ sezinto ezisezulwini+ njengoba nje loMosi wathi esezamisa itende, uNkulunkulu wamupha umlayo wathi: “Woba leqiniso lokuthi zonke izinto uzenza ngendlela yazo ulandela lokho owakutshengiswa entabeni.”+ 6 Kodwa khathesi uJesu usethole inkonzo* engcono kakhulu ngoba uphinda abe ngumlamuli+ esivumelwaneni esingcono kakhulu,+ esesimiswe ngokusemthethweni phezu kwezithembiso ezingcono.+

7 Ngabe isivumelwano sokuqala sasingelasici, kwakungasoze kube lesizatho sokuthi kube lesesibili.+ 8 Kodwa yena uyasithola isici ebantwini bakhe lapho esithi: “‘Khangelani! Ziyeza insuku,’ kutsho uJehova,* ‘lapho engizakwenza khona isivumelwano esitsha lendlu yako-Israyeli lendlu yakoJuda. 9 Isivumelwano lesi asisoze sifanane laleso engasenza labokhokho babo ngelanga engababamba ngesandla ngibakhipha elizweni laseGibhithe+ ngoba abazange bahlale besesivumelwaneni sami, yikho ngayekela ukubanakekela,’ kutsho uJehova.*

10 “‘Nansi isivumelwano engizasenza labendlu ka-Israyeli ngemva kwensuku lezo,’ kutsho uJehova.* ‘Ngizafaka imithetho yami ezingqondweni zabo, ngiyibhale ezinhliziyweni zabo+ njalo ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo bona babe ngabantu bami.+

11 “‘Ngamunye wabo kasoze aphinde afundise umakhelwane wakhe loba umfowabo esithi: “Mazi uJehova!”* ngoba bonke bazangazi kusukela komncane kusiya komkhulu. 12 Ngizakuba lesihawu ngibathethelele izenzo zabo ezingalunganga njalo angisoze ngibe ngisazikhumbula izono zabo.’”+

13 Nxa esithi “isivumelwano esitsha,” useyenze esakuqala sangasebenzi.+ Sekuseduze ukuthi okungasasebenziyo lokugugileyo kunyamalale.+

9 Isivumelwano sakuqala sona sasilemithetho yenkonzo engcwele kanye lendawo yaso engcwele+ esemhlabeni. 2 Etendeni kwakhiwa indawo yokuqala lapho okwakuloluthi lwesibane+ letafula kanye lezinkwa zokubukiswa.+ Indawo le ibizwa ngokuthi yiNdawo Engcwele.+ 3 Kodwa ngemva kwekhetheni lesibili+ kulelotende kwakulendawo eyayibizwa ngokuthi yiNgcwelengcwele.+ 4 Endaweni le kwakulesitsha segolide sokutshisela impepha,+ lebhokisi lesivumelwano+ elalihuqwe lonke ngegolide+ njalo phakathi kwalo kwakulembiza yegolide eyayilemana+ lentonga ka-Aroni eyayihlumile+ kanye lezibhebhedu+ zesivumelwano. 5 Phezu kwalo kwakulamakherubhi akhazimulayo ayevale isivalo sebhokisi*+ ngesithunzi sawo. Kodwa khathesi ayisiso isikhathi sokukhuluma konke okumayelana lezinto lezi.

6 Izinto lezi zathi sezenziwe ngendlela le, abaphristi babengena zikhathi zonke endaweni yokuqala yetende besenza imisebenzi yenkonzo engcwele.+ 7 Kodwa kanye ngomnyaka umphristi omkhulu wayengena yedwa endaweni yesibili yetende,+ njalo kwakumele abe ephethe igazi+ ayezanikela ngalo ngenxa yakhe+ langenxa yezono abantu+ abayabe bezenze bengazi. 8 Yikho umoya ongcwele uyakucacisa ukuthi indlela eya endaweni engcwele yayingakavezwa ngesikhathi itende lokuqala lisesekhona.+ 9 Itende leli liyisifanekiso sezinto zakhathesi+ futhi izipho lemihlatshelo kuyanikelwa ngokuvumelana lohlelo lolu.+ Loba kunjalo, lokhu akwenelisi ukuwenza uphelele umzwangedwa womuntu owenza inkonzo engcwele.+ 10 Izipho lezi leminikelo le kuphathelane lokudla lokunathwayo kanye lokuhlanjululwa+ kulandelwa uMthetho kaMosi.* Konke lokhu kwakuyimithetho yezinto zasemhlabeni*+ eyafakwa ukuthi ibe khona kuze kube yisikhathi esibekiweyo sokuqondisa izinto.

11 Kodwa uKhristu wathi efika engumphristi omkhulu wezinto ezinhle esezenzakele, wadabula phakathi kwetende elingcono lelipheleleyo kulelakuqala njalo elingenziwanga ngezandla, elingayisilo ngxenye yezinto lezi ezidaliweyo. 12 Wangena endaweni engcwele kwaba kanye kuphela elegazi lakhe+ hatshi igazi lembuzi lelamajongosi, wenza ukuthi sikhululwe* kuze kube nini lanini.+ 13 Nxa igazi lembuzi lelezinkunzi+ kanye lomlotha wethokazi ofafazwa phezu kwalabo abangcolisiweyo kusenza umzimba uhlambuluke ube ngcwele,+ 14 ngeke yini igazi likaKhristu+ owazinikela kuNkulunkulu ngomoya waphakade engelasici, liyihlambulule kakhulu imizwangedwa yethu emisebenzini engancediyo*+ ukuze senzele uNkulunkulu ophilayo inkonzo engcwele?+

15 Yikho yena engumlamuli esivumelwaneni esitsha+ ukuze ababiziweyo bathole isithembiso selifa elingapheliyo+ ngoba wafela ukuthi bakhululwe ngenhlawulo+ eziphambekweni ezenziwa ngaphansi kwesivumelwano sakuqala. 16 Phela nxa umuntu esenza isivumelwano loNkulunkulu, lowomuntu kumele afe 17 ngoba isivumelwano sisebenza nxa kungafa umuntu, asisebenzi nxa owenza isivumelwano leso esaphila. 18 Yikho lesivumelwano sakuqala singazange siqalise ukusebenza* kungelagazi 19 ngoba uMosi wathi esetshele bonke abantu yonke imilayo eseMthethweni, wathatha igazi lamajongosi lelembuzi, lamanzi, lewulu ebomvu gebhu, lehisophi,* wachela ibhuku* kanye labantu bonke 20 esithi: “Leli ligazi lesivumelwano uNkulunkulu athe lisigcine.”+ 21 Waphinda wachela itende kanye lezitsha zonke zenkonzo engcwele* ngegazi lelo.+ 22 Phose zonke izinto eMthethweni zihlanjululwa ngegazi+ njalo ngaphandle kokuthi kuthululwe igazi ngeke kube lokuthethelelwa.+

23 Ngakho kwakuqakathekile ukuthi lokho okuyimifanekiso+ yezinto ezisezulwini kuhlanjululwe ngaleyondlela,+ kodwa izinto zasezulwini zona zifuna imihlatshelo engcono kakhulu. 24 Phela uKhristu kangenanga endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla,+ engumfanekiso wendawo yoqobo,+ kodwa khathesi ungene ezulwini ngokwalo+ ukuze abonakale phambi kukaNkulunkulu* emele thina.+ 25 Lokhu kakwenzelanga ukuthi azinikele kanengi njengalapho umphristi omkhulu engena endaweni engcwele umnyaka ngomnyaka+ elegazi elingayisilo lakhe. 26 Aluba bekunjalo, bekuzamele ahlupheke kanengi kusukela ekusungulweni komhlaba. Kodwa khathesi usezibonakalise kwaba kanye kuphela esiphethweni somumo lo wezinto* ukuze asuse isono ngomhlatshelo wakhe.+ 27 Njengoba nje kulindelwe ukuthi abantu bafe kube kanye kuphela kodwa ngemva kwalokho kube lokwahlulelwa, 28 uKhristu laye wanikelwa kwaba kanye kuphela ukuze athwale izono zabanengi.+ Lapho esebonakala okwesibili, uyabe engalandanga ukuzosusa isono njalo uzabonwa yilabo abamdinga ngenhliziyo yonke ukuze basindiswe.+

10 Njengoba uMthetho uyisithunzi+ sezinto ezinhle ezizayo,+ ungayisizo lezozinto sibisibili, ngeke wenze abantu abasondela kuNkulunkulu baphelele+ ngemihlatshelo efananayo eqhubeka inikelwa minyaka yonke. 2 Aluba wawusenelisa ukubenza baphelele, ukunikelwa kwemihlatshelo kwakungasoze kuphele yini? Phela imizwangedwa yalabo abenza inkonzo engcwele yayingasoze iphinde ibathonisele izono nxa sebehlanjululiwe. 3 Kodwa imihlatshelo le ikhumbuza abantu minyaka yonke ukuthi bayizoni+ 4 ngoba ngeke kwenzakale ukuthi igazi lezinkunzi lelezimbuzi lisuse izono.

5 Ngakho wathi esiza emhlabeni wathi: “‘Awuzange ufune imihlatshelo leminikelo kodwa wangilungisela umzimba. 6 Awuyamukelanga iminikelo yokutshiswa egcweleyo leminikelo yezono.’+ 7 Ngasengisithi: ‘Khangela, sengibuyile. Kubhaliwe ngami encwadinimgoqwa, sengibuyile ukuzokwenza intando yakho Nkulunkulu.’”+ 8 Waqalisa ngokuthi: “Awuzange uyifune imihlatshelo leminikelo futhi awuyamukelanga iminikelo yokutshiswa egcweleyo leminikelo yezono,” imihlatshelo enikelwa kulandelwa uMthetho, 9 wasesithi: “Khangela, sengibuyile ukuzokwenza intando yakho.”+ Ususa okokuqala ukuze afake okwesibili. 10 Ngayo “intando” le+ sesingcwelisiwe ngokunikelwa komzimba kaJesu Khristu okwenziwa kanye kuphela.+

11 Kanti njalo wonke umphristi uba sendaweni yakhe usuku ngosuku ukuze enze inkonzo engcwele*+ futhi anikele kanengi ngemihlatshelo efananayo,+ lanxa lokho kungeke kuzisuse ngokupheleleyo izono.+ 12 Kodwa umuntu lo yena wanikela ngomhlatshelo wezono owodwa osebenza kuze kube nini lanini, wasehlala esandleni sokudla sikaNkulunkulu.+ 13 Kusukela lapho ulindele isikhathi sokuthi izitha zakhe zenziwe isenabelo* senyawo zakhe.+ 14 Ngokunikela ngomhlatshelo owodwa wenza ukuthi abangcweliswayo baphelele+ kuze kube nini lanini. 15 Phezu kwalokho, umoya ongcwele lawo uyafakaza kithi ngoba uqala uthi: 16 “‘Nansi isivumelwano engizasenza labo ngemva kwensuku lezo,’ kutsho uJehova.* ‘Ngizafaka imithetho yami ezinhliziyweni zabo, ngiyibhale ezingqondweni zabo.’”+ 17 Uqhubeka usithi: “Angisoze ngibe ngisazikhumbula izono zabo lezenzo zabo zokwephula umthetho.”+ 18 Manje nxa izono lezi sezithethelelwe kawusekho umnikelo wesono.

19 Ngakho-ke bafowethu, njengoba silesibindi sokusebenzisa indlela yokungena endaweni engcwele+ ngegazi likaJesu, 20 indlela asivulele* yona yaba yindlela entsha lephilayo esebenzisa ikhetheni,+ okutsho umzimba wakhe, 21 futhi njengoba silomphristi omkhulu ophethe indlu kaNkulunkulu,+ 22 asisondeleni kuNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo eziqotho langokholo olupheleleyo. Lokhu asikwenzeni ngenhliziyo ezichelwe zahlanzeka ukuze singabi lomzwangedwa ongahlanzekanga,*+ sikwenze langemizimba egeziswe ngamanzi ahlanzekileyo.+ 23 Asiqhubekeni sikhuluma ngethemba lethu ebantwini, siqine singanyikinyeki+ ngoba lowo owathembisayo uthembekile. 24 Asicabanganeni* ukuze sivuselelane* ethandweni lasemisebenzini emihle,+ 25 singayekeli ukuhlangana ndawonye+ njengabanye abalomkhuba wokwenza njalo. Kodwa asikhuthazaneni+ ikakhulu njengoba libona usuku lusondela.+

26 Nxa siqhubeka sisenza isono ngabomo thina sesilwamukele ulwazi oluqondileyo lweqiniso,+ awusekho omunye umhlatshelo wezono,+ 27 kodwa sizakwesaba kakhulu silindele ukujeziswa kanye lentukuthelo evuthayo ezatshabalalisa abaphikisayo.+ 28 Loba ngubani ongawulandelanga uMthetho kaMosi uyabulawa engazange azwelwe isihawu nxa kulobufakazi babantu ababili kumbe abathathu.+ 29 Pho libona angathi kufanele ajeziswe kakhulu kangakanani umuntu onyathenyathele iNdodana kaNkulunkulu wathuka lomoya womusa omkhulu waweyisa,+ waphinda waliphatha njengento engelancedo igazi lesivumelwano,+ lelo yena angcweliswa ngalo? 30 Siyamazi lowo owathi: “Ukuphindisela ngokwami, yimi engizabuyisela.” Waphinda wathi: “UJehova* uzakwahlulela abantu bakhe.”+ 31 Kuyinto eyesabekayo ukuwela ezandleni zikaNkulunkulu ophilayo.

32 Lanxa kunjalo qhubekani likhumbula insuku zakuqala, lapho elathi selikhanyiselwe+ laqinisela ekuhluphekeni lasebunzimeni obukhulu. 33 Kwezinye izikhathi laliphathwa kubi phambi kwabantu* njalo lihlukuluzwa futhi kwezinye izikhathi lalibancedisa labo ababephathwa njalo. 34 Kanti njalo latshengisa ukuthi liyabazwela abasemajele, lakwamukela ngentokozo ukuthathelwa impahla yenu,+ lisazi ukuthi lina ngokwenu lilempahla engcono lengapheliyo.+

35 Yikho-ke lingayekeli ukukhuluma ngesibindi* ngoba lizaphiwa umvuzo omkhulu ngenxa yalokho.+ 36 Kumele liqinisele+ ukuze nxa seliyenzile intando kaNkulunkulu, lamukele lokho elakuthenjiswayo 37 ngoba “ngesikhatshana nje,”+ “lowo ozayo uzafika, kasoze aphuze.”+ 38 “Kodwa olungileyo wami uzaphila ngenxa yokholo,”+ futhi “nxa ebuyela emuva angithokozi* ngaye.”+ 39 Thina kasisibo bantu ababuyela emuva+ ekubhujisweni kodwa singabantu abalokholo ukuze silondoloze ukuphila kwethu.*

11 Ukholo yikuqiniseka ngalokho esikulindeleyo+ esithemba ukuthi kuzakwenzakala futhi yikuba lobufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi* okungabonakaliyo kukhona sibili. 2 Ngalo kwafakazwa ebantwini bendulo.*

3 Ngokholo siyazwisisa ukuthi konke okukhona kwahlelwa* ngelizwi likaNkulunkulu, ngakho okubonakalayo kwaba khona kuvela ezintweni ezingabonakaliyo.

4 Ngokholo u-Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo owawuligugu kulokaKhayini,+ njalo ngokholo lolu waphiwa ubufakazi bokuthi wayelungile ngoba uNkulunkulu wazamukela izipho zakhe.+ Lanxa wafa, ngokholo lwakhe ulokhu esakhuluma.+

5 Ngokholo u-Inokhi+ wasuswa ukuze angakuboni ukufa njalo kasatholakalanga loba ngaphi ngoba uNkulunkulu wayesemsusile.+ Engakasuswa wathola ubufakazi bokuthi wayemthokozise kakhulu uNkulunkulu. 6 Phela nxa umuntu engelakholo, akwenzakali ukuthi amthokozise uNkulunkulu ngoba loba ngubani osondela kuNkulunkulu kumele akholwe ukuthi ukhona lokuthi uyabapha umvuzo labo abamdinga ngeqiniso.+

7 Ngokholo uNowa+ wathi esethole isixwayiso esivela kuNkulunkulu ngezinto ayengakaziboni,+ watshengisa ukuthi uyamesaba uNkulunkulu, wakha umkhumbi+ ukuze asindise abomuzi wakhe. Ngokholo lolu wawahlulela umhlaba,+ waba yindlalifa yokulunga okuba khona ngokukholwa.

8 Ngokholo u-Abrahama+ wathi ebizwa walalela, waphuma waya endaweni ayezayiphiwa ukuthi ibe yilifa lakhe. Wahamba lanxa wayengakwazi ukuthi uya ngaphi.+ 9 Ngokholo wahlala elizweni lesithembiso engumuntu wezizweni kulelolizwe elingayisilo lakibo,+ ehlala ematendeni+ lo-Isaka loJakhobe, labo ababezindlalifa zesithembiso sinye,+ 10 ngoba wayelindele idolobho elilezisekelo eziqinileyo, elicandwe njalo lakhiwa nguNkulunkulu.+

11 Ngokholo uSara wathola amandla okuzithwala lanxa wayesedlulelwe yisikhathi+ ngoba wayembona ethembekile lowo owayethembisile. 12 Ngenxa yalokho, umuntu oyedwa okwasekufanana lokuthi usefile+ wazala abantwana+ abanengi njengezinkanyezi zezulu futhi ababengeke babalwe njengetshebetshebe eseceleni kolwandle.+

13 Bonke laba bafa belokhu belokholo lanxa bengakutholanga ukugcwaliseka kwezinto ezazithenjisiwe.+ Kodwa bazibona zisesekhatshana+ bazamukela njalo benza kwaziwa ukuthi bona bangabezizweni lokuthi bayizakhamizi zesikhatshana elizweni ababekulo. 14 Abantu abakhuluma ngezinto lezi bakuveza egcekeni ukuthi bayifuna ngenhliziyo yonke indawo engeyabo. 15 Kodwa aluba babehlala bekhumbula indawo ababesuke kuyo,+ babezalithola ithuba lokubuyela. 16 Kodwa khathesi balalamela indawo engcono yasezulwini. Yikho akumyangisi uNkulunkulu ukubizwa ngokuthi unguNkulunkulu wabo+ ngoba usebalungisele idolobho.+

17 Ngokholo u-Abrahama wathi elingwa,+ kwaba angathi usenikele ngo-Isaka. (Indoda le eyayizamukele ithokoza izithembiso yazama ukunikela ngendodana yayo ezelwe yodwa.)+ 18 U-Abrahama wenza njalo lanxa wayetshelwe ukuthi: “Okuzathiwa yinzalo yakho kuzavela ku-Isaka.”+ 19 Kodwa yena wazitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyenelisa ukuyivusa indodana yakhe lanxa ingafa, waseyamukela ivela kwabafileyo ngendlela engumfanekiso.+

20 Ngokholo u-Isaka wabusisa uJakhobe+ lo-Esawu+ ebatshela ngezinto ezazizakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo.

21 Ngokholo uJakhobe wathi esezakufa+ wabusisa amadodana kaJosefa+ futhi wakhothama phambi kukaNkulunkulu* ebambelele edondolweni lwakhe.+

22 Ngokholo uJosefa wathi esezakufa wakhuluma ngokusuka kwama-Israyeli eGibhithe, walayezela ukuthi kwenziweni ngamathambo akhe.*+

23 Ngokholo uMosi wathi esezelwe wafihlwa ngabazali bakhe okwenyanga ezintathu+ ngoba babona ukuthi usane lwabo lwaluluhle+ futhi babengawesabi umlayo wenkosi.+ 24 Ngokholo uMosi wathi esekhulile+ wala ukubizwa ngokuthi uyindodana yendodakazi kaFaro,+ 25 wakhetha ukuphathwa kubi labantu bakaNkulunkulu kulokuthi athole injabulo esonweni okwesikhatshana 26 ngoba wabona ukuhlukuluzwa kukaKhristu kuyinotho enkulu ukwedlula amagugu aseGibhithe, njengoba wayethe nhlo emvuzweni ayezawuphiwa. 27 Ngokholo wasuka eGibhithe+ engalwesabi ulaka lwenkosi+ ngoba waqhubeka ebambelele angathi uyambona lowo ongabonakaliyo.+ 28 Ngokholo wagcina iPhasika wachela legazi ukuze umbhubhisi angawabulali* amazibulo abo.+

29 Ngokholo badabula phakathi koLwandle Olubomvu angathi bahamba emhlabathini owomileyo+ kodwa amaGibhithe athi ekuzama lokho agalula.+

30 Ngokholo imiduli yeJerikho yadilikela phansi ngemva kokumatsha kwabantu beyibhoda okwamalanga ayisikhombisa.+ 31 Ngokholo uRahabi owayeyisifebe kazange atshabalale lalabo abangalalelanga ngoba wazamukela kuhle izinhloli.+

32 Kuyini okunye engingakutsho? Phela isikhathi singangitshiya nxa ngingaqalisa ukulandisa ngoGidiyoni,+ loBharakhi,+ loSamsoni,+ loJeftha,+ loDavida+ kanye loSamuyeli+ labanye abaphrofethi. 33 Ngokholo banqoba imibuso,+ baletha ukulunga, bemukela izithembiso,+ bavala imilomo yezilwane,+ 34 bacitsha amandla omlilo,+ baphunyuka ekubulaweni ngenkemba,+ baqiniswa ngesikhathi bebuthakathaka,+ baba lamandla empini+ njalo baxotsha amabutho ayebahlasela.+ 35 Abesifazana bemukela abafileyo babo sebevusiwe.+ Abanye bahlukuluzwa ngoba abavumanga ukukhululwa ngokuhlawulelwa ukuze bathole ukuvuswa kwabafileyo okungcono kakhulu. 36 Abanye babelingwa ngokwenziwa inhlekisa langokubhaxabulwa, abanye benziwa okwedlula lapho, babotshwa ngamaketane+ njalo baphoselwa emajele.+ 37 Bakhandwa ngamatshe,+ balingwa, baqunywa ngamasaha, babulawa ngenkemba,+ bahamba begqoke izikhumba zezimvu lezembuzi+ ngapha beswela, behlupheka+ futhi bephethwe kubi.+ 38 Umhlaba awuzange ubafanele. Bazulazula ezinkangala lasezintabeni, bacatsha ezimbalwini+ lasemigodini yomhlaba.

39 Loba kunjalo, bonke laba abazange bakuthole lokho ababekuthenjisiwe lanxa bathola ubufakazi obuhle ngenxa yokholo lwabo, 40 ngoba uNkulunkulu wayevele esesibonele okungcono+ ukuze bangapheleliswa thina singekho.

12 Njengoba sigonjolozelwe liyezi labofakazi elikhulu kangaka, kasilahleni konke okusindayo lesono esisithandela lula+ njalo asiwugijimeni siqinisela umncintiswano ofakwe phambi kwethu,+ 2 amehlo ethu siwathe nhlo kuMmeli Omkhulu loMphelelisi wokholo lwethu, uJesu.+ Ngenxa yentokozo eyayibekwe phambi kwakhe, waqinisela esigodweni sokuhlutshwa* engelandaba lokuyangiswa futhi usehlezi ngakwesokudla kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu.+ 3 Ngakho cabangisisani ngalowo owaqiniselayo ngesikhathi izoni zikhuluma amazwi amabi+ alimaza zona, ukuze lingadinwa njalo lingalahli ithemba.*+

4 Lanxa lilwisana lesono leso, alikaze lihlupheke kuze kube sebangeni lokuchitheka kwegazi lenu. 5 Selikhohlwe nya ukuthi lina elingamadodana lacetshiswa kwathiwa: “Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya okuvela kuJehova* futhi ungakhalali nxa ekuqondisa 6 ngoba uJehova* uyabalaya abathandayo njalo uyamjezisa* loba ngubani amamukela ukuthi abe yindodana yakhe.”+

7 Kumele liqinisele ebunzimeni, likubone kungenye indlela yokulilaya.* UNkulunkulu uliphatha njengamadodana akhe.+ Kambe ikhona indodana eloyise ongayilayiyo?+ 8 Kodwa nxa lingazange lilaywe, lingabantwana abazelwe ngokungekho emthethweni hatshi amadodana akhe. 9 Phezu kwalokho, obaba bethu babesilaya futhi sasibahlonipha. Pho akufanelanga yini sizehlise kakhulu kuBaba oqondisa ukuphila kwethu ngomoya wakhe ongcwele, besesiphila?+ 10 Phela bona basilaya okwesikhatshana ngalokho okwakukhanya kukuhle kubo, kodwa yena usilaya ngalokho okusincedayo ukuze sibe ngcwele njengoba laye engcwele.+ 11 Akukho sibili ukulaywa okukhanya kumnandi nxa ukuthola, kodwa kubuhlungu. Lanxa kunjalo, ekucineni kuthela isithelo sokuthula esiyikuphila okulungileyo kulabo abaqeqetshwe yikho.

12 Ngakho qinisani izandla ezilengayo lamadolo axegayo,+ 13 liqhubeke lisenzela inyawo zenu izindlela eziqondileyo+ ukuze unyawo oluqhulayo lungakhumuki kodwa lusile. 14 Zamani ngamandla wonke ukuba lokuthula labantu bonke+ kanye lokuba ngcwele.+ Nxa umuntu engangcwele kasoze ayibone iNkosi. 15 Qaphelisisani kungabi lomuntu owehluleka ukuthola umusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu ukuze kungamili impande eletshefu, ibisidala uhlupho njalo ingcolise abanengi.+ 16 Nanzelelani kungabi lomuntu ofebayo* phakathi kwenu loba ongaziqakathekisiyo izinto ezingcwele njengo-Esawu owadela amalungelo akhe okuba lizibulo ngenxa yokudla okukodwa nje kuphela.+ 17 Liyakwazi ukuthi ngemva kwalokho waliwa esefuna ukuthola ilifa lelo eliyisibusiso. Lanxa wazama ngamandla wonke langezinyembezi+ ukwenza ukuthi uyise atshintshe ingqondo, wehluleka.

18 Lina alisondelanga entabeni elingayithinta,+ evutha amalangabi omlilo+ leleyezi elimnyama kanye lobumnyama obujiyileyo, lesiphepho,+ 19 lokukhala kwecilongo,+ lelizwi elikhulumayo,+ lelo abantu abathi belizwa bancenga ukuthi kungabi lokunye okukhulunywa kubo futhi.+ 20 Wawubasinda umlayo othi: “Ngitsho lenyamazana ethinte intaba leyo kumele ikhandwe ngamatshe.”+ 21 LoMosi kwamethusa kakhulu ayekubona waze wathi: “Ngiyesaba futhi ngiyaqhuqha.”+ 22 Kodwa lina selisondele entabeni iZiyoni,+ edolobheni likaNkulunkulu ophilayo, kuyo kanye iJerusalema yasezulwini.+ Selisondele lasezingilosini ezingamatshumi ezinkulungwane 23 ezibuthene ndawonye,+ lasebandleni lamazibulo abhalwe emazulwini, lakuNkulunkulu onguMahluleli wabo bonke,+ lakwabalungileyo abaphila ngokuvumelana lomoya ongcwele+ futhi asebenziwe baphelela,+ 24 lakuJesu umlamuli+ wesivumelwano esitsha+ kanye lasegazini elachelwayo elikhuluma ngendlela engcono kulegazi lika-Abela.+

25 Nanzelelani lingayekeli ukumlalela* lowo okhulumayo ngoba nxa bengaphunyukanga labo abayekela ukumlalela lowo owayenika abasemhlabeni isixwayiso esingcwele, pho thina-ke? Ngeke siphunyuke nxa singamfulathela lowo okhuluma lathi esemazulwini!+ 26 Ngalesosikhathi ilizwi lakhe lanyikinya umhlaba,+ kodwa khathesi uthembisile wathi: “Ngizaphinda futhi nginyikinye umhlaba, ngize nginyikinye lezulu.”+ 27 Amazwi athi “ngizaphinda futhi” atshengisa ukuthi kuzakhitshwa izinto ezinyikinyekayo ezenziweyo ukuze kusale lezo ezinganyikinyekiyo. 28 Njengoba sizakwamukela uMbuso ongeke unyikinywe, kasiqhubekeni sithola umusa omkhulu ongenza senzele uNkulunkulu inkonzo engcwele ayamukelayo, siyenza ngokumesaba langenhlonipho enkulu. 29 Phela uNkulunkulu wethu ungumlilo otshabalalisayo.+

13 Qhubekani litshengisa ukuthi lilothando lobuzalwane.+ 2 Lingakhohlwa ukwamukela abantu bemzini*+ ngoba abanye ababekwenza lokho bamukela izingilosi bengazi.+ 3 Hlalani likhumbula abasemajele,+ kube angathi libotshwe labo+ futhi likhumbule labaphathwa kubi njengoba lani lingabantu.* 4 Umtshado kumele uhlonitshwe yibo bonke njalo umbheda womtshado akumelanga ungcoliswe+ ngoba uNkulunkulu uzakwahlulela abantu abaziphatha kubi* kanye labafebayo.+ 5 Ekuphileni kwenu lingabi ngabantu abathanda imali+ kodwa suthisekani ngalokho elilakho+ ngoba yena uthe: “Angisoze ngikutshiye loba sekutheni, angisoze ngikulahle loba sekutheni.”+ 6 Lokhu kwenza sibe lesibindi sokuthi: “UJehova* ungumsizi wami, angisoze ngesabe. Umuntu angangenzani?”+

7 Khumbulani abakhokhelayo phakathi kwenu+ abakhuluma ilizwi likaNkulunkulu kini njalo likhangelisise impumela yokuziphatha kwabo okuhle, beselilingisela ukholo lwabo.+

8 UJesu Khristu ulokhu enguye izolo lalamuhla futhi uzahlala enguye kuze kube nini lanini.

9 Lingadukiswa zimfundiso ezitshiyeneyo ezingaziwayo ngoba kungcono ukuthi inhliziyo iqiniswe ngomusa omkhulu kulokuthi iqiniswe yikudla* okungabancediyo labo abakuqakathekisa kakhulu.+

10 Silalo i-alithare njalo abenza inkonzo engcwele etendeni abalalungelo lokudla okukulo.+ 11 Phela izidumbu zezifuyo zazitshiselwa phandle kwezihonqo, besekusithi igazi lazo lithathwe ngumphristi omkhulu angene lalo endaweni engcwele libe ngumnikelo wesono.+ 12 Yikho-ke loJesu wahlutshwa ngaphandle kwegedi ledolobho+ ukuze angcwelise abantu ngegazi lakhe.+ 13 Ngakho kasiyeni kuye phandle kwezihonqo sithwele ihlazo lelo yena alithwalayo.+ 14 Phela lapha asilalo idolobho elihlala kokuphela kodwa silindele ngabomvu idolobho elizayo.+ 15 Ngaye asiqhubekeni sinikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokudumisa,+ okutsho amazwi aphuma emilonyeni yethu*+ simemezela ibizo lakhe obala.+ 16 Kanti njalo lingakhohlwa ukwenza okuhle lokunika abanye lokho elilakho+ ngoba imihlatshelo enjalo iyamthokozisa kakhulu uNkulunkulu.+

17 Lalelani abakhokhelayo phakathi kwenu,+ lizehlise kubo+ ngoba bayalilinda* futhi bazalandisa kuNkulunkulu.+ Lingenza njalo bazakwenza umsebenzi wabo bethokoza hatshi bekhonona ngoba lokho kungalilimaza.

18 Qhubekani lisithandazela ngoba sithemba ukuthi silomzwangedwa omsulwa* njengoba sifisa ukuthembeka kukho konke.+ 19 Engilikhuthaza khona kakhulu yikuthi lithandazele ukuthi ngibuyiselwe kini masinyane.

20 Sengathi uNkulunkulu wokuthula owayivusa kwabafileyo iNkosi yethu uJesu engumelusi omkhulu+ wezimvu, ilegazi lesivumelwano esingapheliyo, 21 angalipha konke okuhle ukuze lenze intando yakhe. Kwangathi angasebenza kithi ngoJesu Khristu ukuze senze okumthokozisayo. Yena kakhazinyuliswe kuze kube nini lanini. Ameni.

22 Khathesi ngiyalicela bafowethu ukuthi lililalele ngesineke ilizwi leli engilikhuthaza ngalo ngoba ngilibhalele incwadi emfitshane. 23 Ngifuna likwazi ukuthi umfowethu uThimothi usekhululiwe. Nxa angafika masinyane ngizabuya laye sengizolibona.

24 Bingelelani bonke abakhokhelayo phakathi kwenu kanye labo bonke abangcwele. Abase-Ithali+ bayalibingelela.

25 Umusa omkhulu kawube lani lonke.