UJoshuwa 1:1-18
1 Kwathi uMosi inceku kaJehova isifile, uJehova wakhuluma lenceku+ kaMosi, uJoshuwa*+ indodana kaNuni wathi:
2 “Inceku yami uMosi isifile.+ Ngakho lungiselela ukuchapha uJodani lesizwe sonke sako-Israyeli+ liye elizweni engizalinika lona.
3 Ngizalipha wonke umhlabathi elizanyathela kuwo njengoba nje ngathembisa uMosi.+
4 Ilizwe lenu lizasukela enkangala lize liyefika eLebhanoni, lisuke emfuleni omkhulu uYufrathe litshaye lize liyefika eLwandle Olukhulu* olusentshonalanga,+ lihlanganise lelizwe lonke lamaHithi.+
5 Akulamuntu ozakwehlula okwempilo yakho yonke.+ Ngizakuba lawe+ njengoba nje ngangiloMosi. Angisoze ngikutshiye njalo angisoze ngikulahle.+
6 Ngakho qina+ ube lesibindi ngoba nguwe ozakhokhela abantu laba ukuze bathathe ilizwe engathembisa okhokho babo ukuthi ngizabanika lona.+
7 “Qina ube lesibindi njalo wenze konke okuseMthethweni owawuphiwa nguMosi inceku yami. Ungaphambukeli kwesokudla kumbe kwesenxele+ ukuze konke okwenzayo+ ukwenze ngokuhlakanipha loba ngaphi lapho oya khona.
8 Ibhuku leli loMthetho akumelanga lisuke emlonyeni wakho+ futhi kumele ulibale ngelizwi eliphansi* ubusuku lemini ukuze wenze konke okubhalwe kulo.+ Ungenza njalo uzahlakanipha+ kuloba yini oyenzayo futhi konke okwenzayo kuzaphumelela.
9 Angikutshelanga yini ukuthi uqine ube lesibindi? Ungesabi njalo ungatshaywa luvalo ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uzakuba lawe loba ngaphi lapho oya khona.”+
10 UJoshuwa wasekhuluma labaphathi babantu wathi:
11 “Dabulani phakathi kwamatende litshele abantu lithi, ‘Lungisani imiphako ngoba ngemva kwensuku ezintathu lizachapha uJodani liyethatha ilizwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alinika lona.’”+
12 UJoshuwa wakhuluma labakoRubheni labakoGadi lengxenye yesizwana sakoManase wathi:
13 “Khumbulani ukuthi uMosi inceku kaJehova wathi kini:+ ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ulinike ilizwe leli ukuze lihlale kulo ngokuthula.
14 Izifuyo zenu labomkenu labantwabenu bazasala ngapha kukaJodani,*+ elizweni uMosi alinika lona. Kodwa amabutho+ enu wonke kumele achaphe phambi kwabafowenu+ ehlomele impi. Kumele lincedise abafowenu
15 baze balithathe ilizwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu abanika lona njalo bahlale ngokuthula, njengoba lani uJehova elenze lahlala ngokuthula. Ngemva kwalokho selingabuyela elizweni lenu elaliphiwayo ukuthi lihlale kulo, ilizwe elaliphiwa nguMosi inceku kaJehova elisempumalanga kukaJodani.’”+
16 Ngakho baphendula uJoshuwa bathi: “Konke ositshele khona sizakwenza futhi sizakuya loba ngaphi lapho othi siye khona.+
17 Sizalalela konke ositshela khona njengoba sasimlalela loMosi. UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho kabe lawe njengoba nje wayeloMosi.+
18 Loba ngubani okuhlamukelayo longakulaleliyo uzabulawa.+ Wena qina+ ube lesibindi.”
Amabala angaphansi
^ Kumbe, “uJehoshuwa.” Ibizo leli litsho ukuthi, “UJehova uyasindisa.”
^ Lapha kutshiwo uLwandle lweMedithera.
^ Kumbe, “ucabangisise ngokubhalwe kulo.”
^ Lapha kutshiwo empumalanga kukaJodani.
