ABahluleli 2:1-23
2 Ingilosi kaJehova+ yasuka eGiligali+ yaya eBhokhimi, yafika yathi kwabako-Israyeli: “Ngalikhipha eGibhithe ngaliletha elizweni engafunga ukuthi ngizalipha okhokho benu.+ Ngaphinda ngathi, ‘Kangisoze ngisephule isivumelwano engasenza lani.+
2 Ngakho lani lingenzi isivumelwano labantu abahlala elizweni leli+ futhi kumele lidilize ama-alithare abo.’+ Kodwa lina kalingilalelanga.+ Kungani lingangilalelanga?
3 Yikho lami ngathi, ‘Kangisoze ngibasuse phakathi kwenu.+ Bazakuba ngumjibila kini+ njalo onkulunkulu babo bazalidukisa.’”+
4 Abantu bako-Israyeli bakhala kakhulu besizwa amazwi ayekhulunywa yingilosi kaJehova.
5 Yikho babiza indawo leyo ngokuthi yiBhokhimi* basebenikela imihlatshelo kuJehova.
6 UJoshuwa wasesithi abantu babuyele emizini yabo. Ngakho wonke ama-Israyeli ahamba ezindaweni zawo ukuze ayethatha ilizwe ayeliphiwe.+
7 Abantu baqhubeka bekhonza uJehova ngesikhathi uJoshuwa esaphila langesikhathi kuseselabadala abasala bephila uJoshuwa esefile. Abadala laba babezibonile zonke izimanga uJehova ayezenzele ama-Israyeli.+
8 UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eseleminyaka engu-110.+
9 Ngakho bamngcwaba endaweni eyayililifa lakhe eThiminathi-heresi+ ezintabeni zako-Efrayimi, enyakatho kwentaba iGahashi.+
10 Sonke isizukulwane leso saphela kwasekulandela esinye isizukulwane esasingamazi uJehova kanye lalokho ayekwenzele abako-Israyeli.
11 Yikho abako-Israyeli benza okubi phambi kukaJehova,* bakhonza oBhali.+
12 Bamfulathela uJehova uNkulunkulu waboyise owabakhipha elizweni laseGibhithe,+ balandela onkulunkulu bezizwe ezazingomakhelwane+ njalo babakhothamela. Lokhu kwamthukuthelisa uJehova.+
13 Bamtshiya uJehova bakhonza uBhali lezithombe zika-Ashithorethi.+
14 UJehova wathi ekubona lokhu wabathukuthelela kakhulu abako-Israyeli, wasebanikela ezitheni zabo ezabahlaselayo, zatshaya zabhuqa impahla yabo.+ Wabanikela ezitheni zabo ezazibahanqile+ futhi babengasenelisi ukumelana lazo.+
15 UJehova wamelana labo kukho konke ababekwenza njalo wabehlisela inhlupho.+ Phela uJehova wayevele etshilo futhi uJehova wayefungile ukuthi lokho yikho okwakuzakwenzakala.+ Ngakho bathwala nzima kakhulu.+
16 Kodwa uJehova wabeka abahluleli ukuze babakhulule ezandleni zezitha zabo ezazibahlasela.+
17 Lanxa kunjalo kabazange babalalele abahluleli laba kodwa bakhonza abanye* onkulunkulu futhi babakhothamela. Baphambuka masinyane endleleni eyayilandelwa ngokhokho babo ababelalela imilayo kaJehova,+ behluleka ukwenza njengabo.
18 UJehova wayesithi angabeka umahluleli+ amsekele umahluleli lowo, njalo uJehova wayebakhulula ezitheni zabo ngesikhathi umahluleli esaphila, ngoba uJehova wayebazwela*+ nxa bebubula ngenxa yokucindezelwa+ lokuhlutshwa yizitha zabo.
19 Kodwa kwakusithi nxa umahluleli angafa baphinde baqalise ukwenza okubi ukwedlula lokho okwakusenziwa ngoyise. Babelandela abanye onkulunkulu, bebakhonza futhi bebakhothamela.+ Kabazange batshiye izenzo zabo lobuqholo babo.
20 Ekucineni uJehova wabathukuthelela kakhulu abako-Israyeli+ wathi: “Ngenxa yokuthi isizwe lesi sephule isivumelwano+ engasenza labokhokho baso njalo kasingilalelanga,+
21 lami kangisoze ngixotshe loba yisiphi isizwe phakathi kwalezo ezatshiywa nguJoshuwa ngesikhathi esifa,+
22 ukuze ngibahlole abako-Israyeli, ngibone ukuthi bazazilandela yini izindlela zikaJehova+ njengaboyise.”
23 Ngakho uJehova wazivumela izizwe lezi ukuthi zisale. Kazange ahle azixotshe njalo kazange azinikele esandleni sikaJoshuwa.
Amabala angaphansi
^ Ibizo leli litsho ukuthi, “Abalilayo.”
^ Kumbe, “emehlweni kaJehova.”
^ Kumbe, “kodwa bafeba labanye.”
^ Kumbe, “wayezisola.”
