Ndebele - I Kings

Chapter 1

1:1  Inkosi uDavida yayisindala ilensuku ezinengi; basebeyembesa ngezembatho, kodwa kayikhudumalanga.

1:2  Inceku zayo zasezisithi kuyo: Inkosi yami, inkosi, kayidingelwe intombazana emsulwa, ukuthi ime phambi kwenkosi, iyonge, ilale esifubeni sakho, ukuze inkosi yami, inkosi, ikhudumale.

1:3  Zasezidinga intombazana enhle emingceleni yonke yakoIsrayeli, zathola uAbishagi umShunami, zamletha enkosini.

1:4  Intombazana yayinhle kakhulu sibili, yaba ngumongi wenkosi, yayisebenzela; kodwa inkosi kayiyazanga.

1:5  UAdonija indodana kaHagithi waseziphakamisa esithi: Mina ngizakuba yinkosi. Wasezilungisela inqola labagadi bamabhiza, lamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ukugijima phambi kwakhe.

1:6  Uyise wayengazanga amdanise lakanye esithi: Wenzeleni kanje? Laye futhi wayelesimo esihle kakhulu, lonina wamzala emva kukaAbisalomu.

1:7  Lamazwi akhe ayeloJowabi indodana kaZeruya njalo loAbhiyatha umpristi, basebencedisa, bamlandela uAdonija.

1:8  Kodwa uZadoki umpristi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, loNathani umprofethi, loShimeyi, loReyi, lamaqhawe uDavida ayelawo, babengekho kuAdonija.

1:9  UAdonija wahlaba izimvu lezinkabi lokunonisiweyo elitsheni leZohelethi eliseceleni kweEni-Rogeli, wanxusa bonke abafowabo, amadodana enkosi, lawo wonke amadoda akoJuda, inceku zenkosi;

1:10  kodwa oNathani umprofethi loBhenaya lamaqhawe loSolomoni umfowabo kabanxusanga.

1:11  Ngakho uNathani wakhuluma kuBathisheba unina kaSolomoni esithi: Kawuzwanga yini ukuthi uAdonija indodana kaHagithi uyabusa, lenkosi yethu uDavida kayikwazi?

1:12  Ngakho-ke woza, ake ngikuphe iseluleko, ukuze usindise impilo yakho lempilo yendodana yakho uSolomoni.

1:13  Hamba ungene enkosini uDavida uthi kuyo: Wena nkosi yami, nkosi, kawufunganga yini kuncekukazi yakho usithi: Qotho, uSolomoni indodana yami uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi? Pho, kungani kubusa uAdonija?

1:14  Khangela, ulokhu usakhuluma lapho lenkosi, ngingene lami emva kwakho, ngiqinise amazwi akho.

1:15  UBathisheba wasengena enkosini ekamelweni. Inkosi yayisindala kakhulu, loAbishagi umShunami wayeyisebenzela inkosi.

1:16  UBathisheba waseguqa wakhothamela inkosi; inkosi yasisithi: Ulani?

1:17  Wasesithi kuyo: Nkosi yami, wena wafunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu wakho kuncekukazi yakho usithi: Qotho uSolomoni indodana yakho uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi.

1:18  Kodwa khathesi khangela, uAdonija uyabusa, khathesi-ke, nkosi yami, nkosi, kawukwazi.

1:19  Usehlabe izinkabi lokunonisiweyo lezimvu ezinengi, wanxusa wonke amadodana enkosi loAbhiyatha umpristi loJowabi induna yebutho; kodwa uSolomoni inceku yakho kamnxusanga.

1:20  Wena-ke, nkosi yami, nkosi, amehlo kaIsrayeli wonke aphezu kwakho ukuthi ubatshele ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi, emva kwayo,

1:21  hlezi kuzakuthi lapho inkosi yami, inkosi, izalala laboyise, mina lendodana yami uSolomoni sizakuba yizoni.

1:22  Khangela-ke, elokhu esakhuluma lenkosi, loNathani umprofethi wangena.

1:23  Basebeyibikela inkosi besithi: Khangela uNathani umprofethi. Esengene phambi kwenkosi wakhothama phambi kwenkosi ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini.

1:24  UNathani wasesithi: Nkosi yami, nkosi, wena utshilo yini ukuthi: UAdonija uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi?

1:25  Ngoba wehlile lamuhla, uhlabile izinkabi lokunonisiweyo lezimvu ezinengi, wanxusa wonke amadodana enkosi, lenduna zebutho, loAbhiyatha umpristi; khangela-ke, bayadla bayanatha phambi kwakhe, njalo bathi: Kayiphile inkosi uAdonija!

1:26  Kodwa mina, mina inceku yakho loZadoki umpristi loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada loSolomoni inceku yakho, kasinxusanga.

1:27  Lindaba yenziwe yinkosi yami, inkosi, yini? Njalo kawazisanga inceku yakho ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi, emva kwayo?

1:28  Inkosi uDavida yasiphendula yathi: Ngibizelani uBathisheba. Wasengena phambi kobuso benkosi, wema phambi kwenkosi.

1:29  Inkosi yasifunga yathi: Kuphila kukaJehova ohlenge umphefumulo wami kuzo zonke inhlupheko,

1:30  ngitsho, njengoba ngafunga kuwe ngeNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngisithi: Qotho, uSolomoni indodana yakho uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi esikhundleni sami; qotho ngizakwenza njalo lamuhla.

1:31  UBathisheba wasekhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, waguqela inkosi wathi: Kayiphile inkosi yami, inkosi uDavida kuze kube nininini!

1:32  Inkosi uDavida yasisithi: Ngibizelani uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada. Basebengena phambi kwenkosi.

1:33  Inkosi yasisithi kibo: Thathani kanye lani inceku zenkosi yenu, ligadise uSolomoni indodana yami imbongolo engeyami, limehlisele eGihoni.

1:34  Kakuthi-ke uZadoki umpristi loNathani umprofethi bamgcobe khona abe yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli; beselivuthela uphondo lithi: Kayiphile inkosi uSolomoni!

1:35  Beselisenyuka emva kwakhe, njalo uzakuza ahlale esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, ngoba uzakuba yinkosi esikhundleni sami, njalo yena ngimbekile ukuthi abe ngumbusi phezu kukaIsrayeli laphezu kukaJuda.

1:36  UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada waseyiphendula inkosi wathi: Ameni. Kayitsho njalo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami, inkosi!

1:37  Njengoba uJehova ubelenkosi yami, inkosi, kabe njalo loSolomoni, asenze isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi sibe sikhulu kulesihlalo sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi uDavida.

1:38  Ngakho uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKerethi, lamaPelethi behla bamgadisa uSolomoni imbongolo yenkosi uDavida, bamusa eGihoni.

1:39  UZadoki umpristi wasethatha uphondo lwamafutha ethenteni, wamgcoba uSolomoni. Basebevuthela uphondo, bonke abantu bathi: Kayiphile inkosi uSolomoni!

1:40  Bonke abantu basebesenyuka emva kwakhe, bonke abantu basebevuthela imihlanga bethokoza ngentokozo enkulu, waze waqhekezeka umhlaba ngomsindo wabo.

1:41  UAdonija labo bonke abanxusiweyo ababelaye basebewuzwa sebeqede ukudla. Lapho uJowabi esizwa ukukhala kophondo wathi: Ngowani umsindo womuzi oxokozelayo?

1:42  Lapho esakhuluma, khangela, kwafika uJonathani indodana kaAbhiyatha umpristi; uAdonija wathi: Ngena, ngoba uliqhawe, uletha imibiko emihle.

1:43  UJonathani wasephendula wathi kuAdonija: Qotho, inkosi yethu, inkosi uDavida, imbekile uSolomoni waba yinkosi;

1:44  njalo inkosi ithume kanye laye uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKerethi, lamaPelethi, bamgadisa imbongolo yenkosi.

1:45  Njalo uZadoki umpristi loNathani umprofethi bamgcobile waba yinkosi eGihoni, benyuka khona bethokoza; yikho umuzi uxokozela. Yiwo lowomsindo eliwuzwileyo.

1:46  Futhi uSolomoni usehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso.

1:47  Futhi lenceku zenkosi zifikile ukubusisa inkosi yethu, inkosi uDavida, zisithi: UNkulunkulu wakho kalenze ibizo likaSolomoni libe ngcono kulebizo lakho, enze isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi sibe sikhulu kulesihlalo sakho sobukhosi. Inkosi yasikhothama embhedeni.

1:48  Futhi-ke yatsho njalo inkosi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, enike lamuhla ohlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, amehlo ami ekubona.

1:49  Bonke abanxusiweyo ababeloAdonija basebethuthumela, basukuma, bahamba ngulowo lalowo ngendlela yakhe.

1:50  UAdonija wasesesaba ngenxa kaSolomoni, wasukuma wahamba, wabamba impondo zelathi.

1:51  Wasebikelwa uSolomoni ukuthi: Khangela, uAdonija uyayesaba inkosi uSolomoni; ngoba khangela, usebambe impondo zelathi esithi: Inkosi uSolomoni kayifunge kimi lamuhla ukuthi kayiyikuyibulala inceku yayo ngenkemba.

1:52  USolomoni wasesithi: Uba eyindoda uqobo, kakuyikuwa okonwele lwakhe emhlabathini. Kodwa uba ububi butholakala kuye, uzakufa.

1:53  Inkosi uSolomoni yasithuma, bamehlisa elathini. Wasesiza wakhothama enkosini uSolomoni; uSolomoni wasesithi kuye: Yana endlini yakho.

Chapter 2

2:1  Insuku zikaDavida zokuthi afe zasezisondela, waselaya uSolomoni indodana yakhe esithi:

2:2  Sengihamba indlela yomhlaba wonke. Ngakho qina, ube yindoda,

2:3  ugcine imfanelo yeNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho, ukuhamba ngezindlela zayo, ukugcina izimiso zayo, imithetho yayo, lezahlulelo zayo, lobufakazi bayo, njengokubhaliweyo emlayweni kaMozisi, ukuze uphumelele kukho konke okwenzayo, laloba ngaphi lapho ophendukela khona,

2:4  ukuze iNkosi iqinise ilizwi layo eyalikhuluma mayelana lami isithi: Uba amadodana akho eqaphelisa indlela yawo, ukuhamba ngobuqotho phambi kwami ngenhliziyo yonke yawo langomphefumulo wonke wawo, (isithi) kakuyikusweleka kuwe indoda esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli.

2:5  Futhi-ke wena uyakwazi ukuthi uJowabi indodana kaZeruya wenzani kimi, ukuthi wenzani kuzinduna ezimbili zamabutho akoIsrayeli, kuAbhineri indodana kaNeri, lakuAmasa indodana kaJetheri, owababulala wachitha igazi lempi ekuthuleni, wafaka igazi lempi ebhantini lakhe elalisekhalweni lwakhe lemanyathelweni asenyaweni zakhe.

2:6  Ngakho yenza njengenhlakanipho yakho, ungayekeli ikhanda lakhe elilezimvu lehlele engcwabeni ngokuthula.

2:7  Kodwa kumadodana kaBarizilayi umGileyadi wenze umusa, njalo kawabe phakathi kwabadla etafuleni lakho, ngoba ngokunjalo asondela kimi ekubalekeleni kwami ubuso bukaAbisalomu umfowenu.

2:8  Futhi khangela, kukhona kuwe uShimeyi indodana kaGera umBhenjamini weBahurimi, owangithuka ngesethuko esibuhlungu mhla ngisiya eMahanayimi; kodwa wehla ukungihlangabeza eJordani, ngasengifunga kuye ngeNkosi ngathi: Kangiyikukubulala ngenkemba.

2:9  Ngakho-ke ungamyekeli abe ngongelacala, ngoba ungumuntu ohlakaniphileyo, ngoba uyakwazi ozakwenza kuye, njalo uzakwehlisela ikhanda lakhe eliyimpunga lilegazi engcwabeni.

2:10  UDavida waselala laboyise, wangcwatshelwa emzini kaDavida.

2:11  Njalo insuku uDavida abusa ngazo phezu kukaIsrayeli zaziyiminyaka engamatshumi amane; eHebroni wabusa iminyaka eyisikhombisa, leJerusalema wabusa iminyaka engamatshumi amathathu lantathu.

2:12  USolomoni wasehlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaDavida uyise, lombuso wakhe waqiniswa kakhulu.

2:13  UAdonija indodana kaHagithi wasesiza kuBathisheba unina kaSolomoni; wasesithi: Ukuza kwakho kuyikuthula yini? Wasesithi: Ukuthula.

2:14  Wathi: Ngilelizwi kuwe. Wasesithi: Khuluma.

2:15  Wasesithi: Wena uyakwazi ukuthi umbuso wawungowami, lokuthi uIsrayeli wonke babebeke ubuso babo kimi ukuthi ngizabusa; kodwa umbuso waphendulwa, waba ngowomfowethu, ngoba waba ngowakhe uvela eNkosini.

2:16  Khathesi-ke, ngicela isicelo esisodwa kuwe, ungafulathelisi ubuso bami. Wasesithi kuye: Khuluma.

2:17  Wasesithi: Ake ukhulume loSolomoni inkosi (ngoba kayikufulathelisa ubuso bakho) ukuthi anginike uAbishagi umShunami abe ngumkami.

2:18  UBathisheba wasesithi: Kulungile; mina ngizakukhulumela enkosini.

2:19  Ngakho uBathisheba wasesiya enkosini uSolomoni ukukhulumela uAdonija kuyo. Inkosi yasisukuma ukumhlangabeza, yakhothama kuye, yahlala esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yathi kubekelwe unina wenkosi isihlalo sobukhosi; wasehlala ngakwesokunene sayo.

2:20  Wasesithi: Ngicela isicelo esisodwa esincinyane kuwe, ungafulathelisi ubuso bami. Inkosi yasisithi kuye: Cela, mama, ngoba kangiyikufulathelisa ubuso bakho.

2:21  Wasesithi: UAbishagi umShunami kanikwe uAdonija umfowenu abe ngumkakhe.

2:22  Inkosi uSolomoni yasiphendula yathi kunina: Usumcelelelani uAdonija uAbishagi umShunami? Umcelele lombuso, ngoba ungumfowethu omdala kulami, yebo yena loAbhiyatha umpristi loJowabi indodana kaZeruya.

2:23  Inkosi uSolomoni yasifunga ngeNkosi isithi: Kenze njalo uNkulunkulu kimi lokunjalo engezelele, uba uAdonija engakhulumanga lelilizwi emelene lempilo yakhe.

2:24  Ngakho-ke, kuphila kukaJehova ongimisileyo wangibeka esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaDavida ubaba, wangenzela indlu njengokukhuluma kwakhe, isibili lamuhla uAdonija uzabulawa.

2:25  Inkosi uSolomoni yasithuma ngesandla sikaBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, owamsukelayo, wasesifa.

2:26  LakuAbhiyatha umpristi inkosi yathi: Yana eAnathothi emasimini akho, ngoba ungumuntu wokufa; kodwa lamuhla kangiyikukubulala ngoba wawuthwala umtshokotsho weNkosi uJehova phambi kukaDavida ubaba, langoba wahlupheka kukho konke ubaba ahlupheka ngakho.

2:27  Ngakho uSolomoni wamxotsha uAbhiyatha ekubeni ngumpristi weNkosi, ukugcwalisa ilizwi leNkosi eyalikhuluma mayelana lendlu kaEli eShilo.

2:28  Kwathi umbiko ufika kuJowabi, ngoba uJowabi wayephenduke walandela uAdonija lanxa wayengaphendukanga walandela uAbisalomu, uJowabi wabalekela ethenteni leNkosi, wabamba impondo zelathi.

2:29  Kwasekubikelwa inkosi uSolomoni ukuthi uJowabi usebalekele ethenteni leNkosi, khangela-ke, useceleni kwelathi. USolomoni wasethuma uBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada esithi: Hamba umsukele.

2:30  Ngakho uBhenaya waya ethenteni leNkosi, wathi kuye: Itsho njalo inkosi: Phuma! Kodwa wathi: Hatshi, kodwa ngizafela lapha. UBhenaya wasebuyisela ilizwi enkosini, esithi: Utsho njalo uJowabi, ungiphendule njalo.

2:31  Inkosi yasisithi kuye: Yenza njengokutsho kwakhe, umsukele, umngcwabe; ukuze ususe kimi lendlini kababa igazi elingelacala uJowabi alichithayo.

2:32  Njalo iNkosi izabuyisela igazi lakhe ekhanda lakhe, owasukela amadoda amabili ayelungile engcono kulaye, wawabulala ngenkemba, ubaba uDavida engazi: UAbhineri indodana kaNeri induna yebutho lakoIsrayeli, loAmasa indodana kaJetheri induna yebutho lakoJuda.

2:33  Ngakho igazi labo lizabuyela ekhanda likaJowabi lekhanda lenzalo yakhe kuze kube nininini; kodwa kuDavida lenzalweni yakhe, lendlini yakhe, lembusweni wakhe, kuzakuba lokuthula kuze kube nininini okuvela eNkosini.

2:34  UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada wasesenyuka, wamsukela wambulala; wasengcwatshelwa endlini yakhe enkangala.

2:35  Inkosi yasibeka uBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada esikhundleni sakhe phezu kwebutho, loZadoki umpristi inkosi yambeka esikhundleni sikaAbhiyatha.

2:36  Inkosi yasithuma yabiza uShimeyi, yathi kuye: Zakhele indlu eJerusalema, uhlale khona, ungaphumi lapho uye ngaphi langaphi.

2:37  Ngoba kuzakuthi mhla uphumayo, uchaphe isifula iKidroni, yazi lokwazi ukuthi uzakufa lokufa; igazi lakho lizakuba phezu kwekhanda lakho.

2:38  UShimeyi wasesithi enkosini: Lelolizwi lihle; njengokutsho kwenkosi yami, inkosi, inceku yakho izakwenza njalo. UShimeyi wasehlala eJerusalema insuku ezinengi.

2:39  Kwasekusithi ekupheleni kweminyaka emithathu inceku ezimbili zikaShimeyi zabalekela kuAkishi indodana kaMahaka inkosi yeGathi. Basebebikela uShimeyi besithi: Khangela, inceku zakho ziseGathi.

2:40  Wasesukuma uShimeyi, wabophela isihlalo kubabhemi wakhe, waya eGathi kuAkishi ukudinga inceku zakhe; uShimeyi wahamba waletha inceku zakhe zivela eGathi.

2:41  Kwasekubikelwa uSolomoni ukuthi uShimeyi wayesukile eJerusalema waya eGathi, njalo wabuyela.

2:42  Inkosi yasithuma yabiza uShimeyi yathi kuye: Kangikufungisanga yini ngeNkosi, ngafakaza kuwe ngathi: Mhla uphumayo ukuya ngaphi langaphi yazi lokwazi ukuthi uzakufa lokufa? Wasusithi kimi: Lihle ilizwi engilizwileyo.

2:43  Pho, kungani ungasigcinanga isifungo seNkosi lomlayo engakulaya ngawo?

2:44  Inkosi yasisithi kuShimeyi: Wena uyazi bonke ububi inhliziyo yakho ebaziyo owabenza kuDavida ubaba; ngakho iNkosi izabuyisela ububi bakho phezu kwekhanda lakho.

2:45  Kodwa inkosi uSolomoni ibusisiwe, lesihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavida sizaqiniswa phambi kweNkosi kuze kube nininini.

2:46  Ngakho inkosi yalaya uBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, owaphuma wamsukela waze wafa. Ngakho umbuso waqiniswa esandleni sikaSolomoni.

Chapter 3

3:1  USolomoni wasehlangana ngomtshado loFaro inkosi yeGibhithe, wathatha indodakazi kaFaro, wayiletha emzini kaDavida waze waqeda ukwakha indlu yakhe lendlu yeNkosi lomduli weJerusalema ozingelezeleyo.

3:2  Kube kanti abantu babenikela umhlatshelo endaweni eziphakemeyo, ngoba kwakungakhelwanga ibizo leNkosi indlu kwaze kwaba yilezonsuku.

3:3  USolomoni wayithanda-ke iNkosi, ehamba ezimisweni zikaDavida uyise; kube kanti wanikela umhlatshelo watshisa impepha endaweni eziphakemeyo.

3:4  Inkosi yasisiya eGibeyoni ukuhlaba khona, ngoba leyo yayiyindawo ephakemeyo enkulu. Iminikelo yokutshiswa eyinkulungwane uSolomoni wayinikela phezu kwalelolathi.

3:5  EGibeyoni iNkosi yabonakala kuSolomoni ephutsheni ebusuku. UNkulunkulu wathi: Cela engingakunika khona.

3:6  USolomoni wasesithi: Wena wenzele inceku yakho uDavida ubaba umusa omkhulu, njengokuhamba kwakhe phambi kwakho eqinisweni lekulungeni lebuqothweni benhliziyo kuwe; wamgcinela lo umusa omkhulu ukuthi wamnika indodana ehlezi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi njengalamuhla.

3:7  Ngakho-ke, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, wena wenzile inceku yakho yaba yinkosi esikhundleni sikaDavida ubaba; ngingumntwanyana nje, angikwazi ukuphuma lokungena.

3:8  Lenceku yakho iphakathi kwabantu bakho obakhethileyo, abantu abanengi, abangelakubalwa labangelakunaniswa ngobunengi.

3:9  Ngakho nika inceku yakho inhliziyo eqedisisayo ukwahlulela abantu bakho, ukuze ngehlukanise phakathi kokuhle lokubi; ngoba ngubani olamandla ukwahlulela lesisizwe sakho esikhulu?

3:10  Laloludaba lwaba luhle emehlweni eNkosi ukuthi uSolomoni ucele lolulutho.

3:11  UNkulunkulu wasesithi kuye: Ngenxa yokuthi ucele lolulutho, ungazicelelanga insuku ezinengi, ungazicelelanga inotho, ungacelanga umphefumulo wezitha zakho, kodwa uzicelele ukuqedisisa ukuzwa ukwahlulela,

3:12  khangela, sengenze njengamazwi akho. Khangela, ngikunike inhliziyo ehlakaniphileyo leqedisisayo, ukuthi kungabi khona onjengawe ngaphambi kwakho, lemva kwakho kungaveli onjengawe.

3:13  Futhi longakucelanga ngikunikile, ngitsho inotho lodumo, ukuze kungabi khona umuntu onjengawe emakhosini zonke izinsuku zakho.

3:14  Njalo uba uzahamba endleleni zami, ukugcina izimiso zami lemilayo yami njengoDavida uyihlo wahamba, ngizakwelula insuku zakho.

3:15  USolomoni wasephaphama; khangela-ke kwakuliphupho. Wasesiza eJerusalema, wema phambi komtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi, wanikela iminikelo yokutshiswa, wanikela iminikelo yokuthula, wenzela inceku zakhe zonke idili.

3:16  Ngalesosikhathi kwafika abesifazana ababili, amawule, enkosini, bema phambi kwayo.

3:17  Omunye owesifazana wasesithi: Hawu nkosi yami, mina lalumfazi sihlala ndlunye; ngasengibeletha ngilaye endlini.

3:18  Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesithathu ngibelethile, laye lumfazi wabeletha; njalo sasindawonye, kungekho owemzini kanye lathi endlini, ngaphandle kwethu sobabili endlini.

3:19  Umntwana walumfazi wasesifa ebusuku, ngoba walala phezu kwakhe.

3:20  Wasevuka phakathi kobusuku, wathatha indodana yami eceleni kwami, incekukazi yakho isalele, wayilalisa esifubeni sakhe, lomntanakhe ofileyo wamlalisa esifubeni sami.

3:21  Lapho ngivuka ekuseni ukumunyisa umntanami, khangela-ke wayesefile; sengimkhangelisisa ekuseni, khangela-ke, kwakungeyisuye umntanami engamzalayo.

3:22  Kodwa lowo omunye owesifazana wathi: Hatshi, kodwa indodana yami ngephilayo, lendodana yakho ngefileyo. Lalowo wathi: Hatshi, kodwa indodana yakho ngefileyo, lendodana yami ngephilayo. Batsho njalo phambi kwenkosi.

3:23  Inkosi yasisithi: Lo uthi: Le yindodana yami ephilayo, lendodana yakho ngefileyo; lomunye uthi: Hatshi, kodwa indodana yakho ngefileyo, lendodana yami ngephilayo.

3:24  Inkosi yasisithi: Ngithathelani inkemba. Basebeyiletha inkemba phambi kwenkosi.

3:25  Inkosi yasisithi: Dabulani kabili umntwana ophilayo, linike omunye ingxenye, lomunye ingxenye.

3:26  Owesifazana okwakungowakhe umntwana ophilayo wakhuluma enkosini, ngoba imibilini yakhe yavutha ngendodana yakhe, wathi: Hawu nkosi yami, mnikeni yena umntwana ophilayo, lingambulali loba kunjani. Kodwa omunye wathi: Kangabi ngowami kumbe ngowakho, dabulani.

3:27  Inkosi yasiphendula yathi: Nikani yena umntwana ophilayo, lingambulali loba kunjani; nguye unina.

3:28  UIsrayeli wonke wasesizwa isahlulelo inkosi eyayisahlulele, besaba phambi kwenkosi, ngoba babona ukuthi inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu yayikuye ukwenza isahlulelo.

Chapter 4

4:1  Ngakho inkosi uSolomoni yaba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli wonke.

4:2  Lalezi yiziphathamandla ayelazo: UAzariya indodana kaZadoki wayengumpristi;

4:3  uElihorefi loAhiya amadodana kaShisha babengababhali; uJehoshafathi indodana kaAhiludi wayengumabhalane;

4:4  loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada wayephezu kwebutho; loZadoki loAbhiyatha babengabapristi;

4:5  loAzariya indodana kaNathani wayephezu kwabaphathi; uZabudi indodana kaNathani wayengumphathi omkhulu, umngane wenkosi;

4:6  loAhishari wayengumlawuli wendlu; loAdoniramu indodana kaAbida wayephezu kwemithelo.

4:7  USolomoni wayelabaphathi abalitshumi lambili phezu kukaIsrayeli wonke, ababedingela inkosi lendlu yayo ukudla, ngulowo lalowo ngenyanga yakhe ngomnyaka wadinga ukudla.

4:8  Lala ngamabizo abo: UBeni-Huri entabeni zakoEfrayimi.

4:9  UBeni-Dekeri eMakazi leShahalibimi leBeti-Shemeshi leEloni-Beti-Hanani.

4:10  UBeni-Hesedi eArubothi, eleSoko lelizwe lonke leHeferi.

4:11  UBeni-Abinadaba wayelelizwe lonke leDori; uTafathi indodakazi kaSolomoni wayengumkakhe.

4:12  UBahana indodana kaAhiludi wayeleThahanakhi leMegido layo yonke iBeti-Sheyani, eseceleni kweZarethani ngaphansi kweJizereyeli, kusukela eBeti-Sheyani kuze kube seAbeli-Mehola, kuze kube ngaphetsheya kweJokimeyama.

4:13  UBeni-Geberi eRamothi-Gileyadi wayelemizi kaJayiri indodana kaManase, eseGileyadi, wayelelizwe leArigobi, eliseBashani, imizi engamatshumi ayisithupha emikhulu elemiduli lemigoqo yethusi.

4:14  UAhinadaba indodana kaIdo eMahanayimi.

4:15  UAhimahazi wayekoNafithali; laye wathatha uBasemathi indodakazi kaSolomoni abe ngumkakhe.

4:16  UBahana indodana kaHushayi wayekoAsheri leAlothi.

4:17  UJehoshafathi indodana kaParuwa wayekoIsakari.

4:18  UShimeyi indodana kaEla wayekoBhenjamini.

4:19  UGeberi indodana kaUri wayeselizweni leGileyadi, ilizwe likaSihoni inkosi yamaAmori, lelikaOgi inkosi yeBashani. Njalo wayenguye yedwa umphathi kulelolizwe.

4:20  UJuda loIsrayeli babebanengi njengetshebetshebe elingaselwandle ngobunengi, besidla, benatha, bethokoza.

4:21  USolomoni wayesebusa phezu kwayo yonke imibuso kusukela emfuleni kuze kufike elizweni lamaFilisti kuze kufike emngceleni weGibhithe; babeletha izipho, babemsebenzela uSolomoni zonke izinsuku zempilo yakhe.

4:22  Njalo ukudla kukaSolomoni ngosuku olulodwa kwakungamakhori* angamatshumi amathathu empuphu ecolekileyo, lamakori angamatshumi ayisithupha empuphu,

4:23  inkabi ezilitshumi ezinonisiweyo, lenkabi ezingamatshumi amabili zemadlelweni, lezimvu ezilikhulu, ngaphandle kwendluzele, lemiziki, lemiziki elempondo ezilembaxambaxa, lenyoni ezinonisiweyo.

4:24  Ngoba wayebusa phezu kwalo lonke nganeno komfula, kusukela eTifisa kusiya eGaza, laphezu kwawo wonke amakhosi nganeno komfula, njalo wayelokuthula kuzo zonke inhlangothi zakhe ezizingelezeleyo.

4:25  UJuda loIsrayeli bahlala-ke bevikelekile, ngulowo lalowo ngaphansi kwesivini sakhe langaphansi komkhiwa wakhe, kusukela koDani kuze kufike eBherishebha, zonke izinsuku zikaSolomoni.

4:26  Njalo uSolomoni wayelezindlwana zamabhiza enqola zakhe ezizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane, labagadi bamabhiza abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi lambili.

4:27  Lalabobaphathi badingela inkosi uSolomoni ukudla, laye wonke osondela etafuleni lenkosi uSolomoni, ngulowo lalowo ngenyanga yakhe; kabatshiyanga kusweleke lutho.

4:28  Lebhali* lamahlanga awamabhiza lawamabhiza alejubane bakuletha endaweni lapho eyayifanele kube khona, ngulowo lalowo njengemfanelo yakhe.

4:29  UNkulunkulu wasemnika uSolomoni inhlakanipho lokuqedisisa okukhulu kakhulu, lobubanzi benhliziyo, njengetshebetshebe elisekhunjini lolwandle.

4:30  Lenhlakanipho kaSolomoni yayinkulu kulenhlakanipho yawo wonke amadodana empumalanga, lakulenhlakanipho yonke yeGibhithe.

4:31  Ngoba wayehlakaniphile kulabo bonke abantu, okwedlula uEthani umEzira loHemani loKalikoli loDarida amadodana kaMaholi; lebizo lakhe lalisezizweni zonke inhlangothi zonke.

4:32  Waseqamba izaga ezizinkulungwane ezintathu, lengoma zakhe zaziyinkulungwane lanhlanu.

4:33  Wasekhuluma ngezihlahla, kusukela esihlahleni somsedari oseLebhanoni kuze kufike kuhisope* emila iphuma emdulini; wakhuluma langezinyamazana langezinyoni langezihuquzelayo langezinhlanzi.

4:34  Kwasekufika abavela ezizweni zonke ukuzwa inhlakanipho kaSolomoni, bevela emakhosini wonke omhlaba ayezwe ngenhlakanipho yakhe.

Chapter 5

5:1  UHiramu inkosi yeTire wasethuma inceku zakhe kuSolomoni, ngoba wayezwile ukuthi bamgcobile ukuthi abe yinkosi esikhundleni sikayise, ngoba uHiramu wayemthanda uDavida insuku zonke.

5:2  USolomoni wasethumela kuHiramu esithi:

5:3  Wena uyazi ukuthi uDavida ubaba wayengelakwakhela ibizo leNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhe indlu ngenxa yezimpi ezazimzingelezele, iNkosi yaze yazifaka ngaphansi kwengaphansi yenyawo zakhe.

5:4  Kodwa khathesi iNkosi uNkulunkulu inginikile ukuphumula inhlangothi zonke; kakulasitha, njalo kakulabubi obenzakalayo.

5:5  Khangela-ke, ngizimisele ukwakhela ibizo leNkosi uNkulunkulu wami indlu njengokutsho kweNkosi kuDavida ubaba isithi: Indodana yakho engizayibeka esihlalweni sakho sobukhosi esikhundleni sakho, yona izakwakhela ibizo lami indlu.

5:6  Ngakho-ke laya ukuthi bangigamulele imisedari eLebhanoni, lenceku zami zizakuba lenceku zakho; leholo lenceku zakho ngizakunika njengakho konke okutshoyo. Ngoba wena uyakwazi ukuthi kakho phakathi kwethu okwaziyo ukugamula izihlahla njengabeSidoni.

5:7  Kwasekusithi uHiramu esizwa amazwi kaSolomoni wathokoza kakhulu wathi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi lamuhla emnikileyo uDavida indodana ehlakaniphileyo phezu kwalesisizwe esikhulu.

5:8  UHiramu wasethumela kuSolomoni esithi: Ngizwile lokho ongithumele ngakho; mina ngizakwenza zonke iziloyiso zakho mayelana lezigodo zemisedari lamayelana lezigodo zamafiri*.

5:9  Inceku zami zizazehlisa zisuka eLebhanoni zisiya elwandle; mina-ke ngizazenza okundendayo olwandle ukuya endaweni ozayiqamba kimi, ngizithukulule lapho; wena-ke uzazithathela khona, wena uzakwenza isifiso sami ngokupha abendlu yami ukudla.

5:10  Ngakho uHiramu wamnika uSolomoni izigodo zemisedari lezigodo zamafiri njengokwezifiso zakhe zonke.

5:11  LoSolomoni wanika uHiramu amakhori* engqoloyi azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu lambili, ukudla kwabendlu yakhe, lamakhori* angamatshumi amabili amafutha akhanyiweyo. Ngokunjalo uSolomoni wamupha uHiramu iminyaka ngeminyaka.

5:12  INkosi yasimnika uSolomoni inhlakanipho njengokutsho kwayo kuye. Kwasekusiba khona ukuthula phakathi kukaHiramu loSolomoni; benza isivumelwano bobabili.

5:13  Inkosi uSolomoni yabutha izibhalwa kuIsrayeli wonke; lezibhalwa zazingabantu abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu.

5:14  Yasibathuma eLebhanoni, abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi ngenyanga ngamazopho, inyanga beseLebhanoni, inyanga ezimbili besekhaya. LoAdoniramu wayephezu kwezibhalwa.

5:15  Futhi uSolomoni wayelabayizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi ayisikhombisa abathwala imithwalo, lababazi abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi ayisificaminwembili ezintabeni,

5:16  ngaphandle kwezinduna zabaphathi bakaSolomoni, ababephethe umsebenzi, izinkulungwane ezintathu lamakhulu amathathu, ezazibusa abantu ababesenza umsebenzi.

5:17  Inkosi yasilaya, baletha amatshe amakhulu, amatshe aligugu, okubeka isisekelo sendlu, amatshe abaziweyo.

5:18  Abakhi bakaSolomoni labakhi bakaHiramu lamaGebhali basebebaza, balungisa izigodo lamatshe ukwakha indlu.

Chapter 6

6:1  Kwasekusithi ngomnyaka wamakhulu amane lamatshumi ayisificaminwembili emva kokuphuma kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli elizweni leGibhithe, ngomnyaka wesine wokubusa kukaSolomoni koIsrayeli, ngenyanga kaZivi, eyinyanga yesibili, waqala ukwakha indlu yeNkosi.

6:2  Njalo indlu inkosi uSolomoni eyayakhela uJehova, ubude bayo babuzingalo ezingamatshumi ayisithupha, lobubanzi bayo babungamatshumi amabili, lokuphakama kwayo kwakuzingalo ezingamatshumi amathathu.

6:3  Lekhulusi phambi kwethempeli lendlu, ubude balo babuzingalo ezingamatshumi amabili, njengobubanzi bendlu, ububanzi balo babuzingalo ezilitshumi phambi kwendlu.

6:4  Njalo wayenzela indlu amawindi abanzi ngaphandle kulangaphakathi.

6:5  Futhi emdulini wendlu wakha amakamelo inhlangothi zonke, imiduli yendlu inhlangothi zonke, esenzela ithempeli lendawo yelizwi. Wenza lezindlwana eziseceleni inhlangothi zonke.

6:6  Ikamelo elingaphansi kwawo wonke, ububanzi balo babuzingalo ezinhlanu, leliphakathi, ububanzi balo buzingalo eziyisithupha, lelesithathu, ububanzi balo buzingalo eziyisikhombisa. Ngoba ngaphandle kwendlu wenza izinciphiso inhlangothi zonke, ukuze imijabo ingagxunyekwa emidulwini yendlu.

6:7  Njalo indlu, isakhiwa, yakhiwa ngamatshe ayepheleliswe enkwalini, ukuze kungezwakali isando lehloka, loba yisiphi isikhali sensimbi endlini nxa isakhiwa.

6:8  Umnyango wendlwana eseceleni ephakathi wawusehlangothini lwesokunene lwendlu; njalo bakhwela ngesikhwelo esibhodayo ukuya kwengaphakathi, lokusuka kwengaphakathi kusiya kweyesithathu.

6:9  Wayakha-ke indlu, wayiqeda; wagubuzela indlu ngentungo lamapulanka emisedari.

6:10  Wasesakha izindlwana eceleni kwendlu yonke, ubude bazo buzingalo ezinhlanu, wakuxhuma endlini ngezigodo zemisedari.

6:11  Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kuSolomoni lathi:

6:12  Mayelana lale indlu oyakhayo, uba uhamba ngezimiso zami, usenza izahlulelo zami, njalo ugcina yonke imilayo yami ukuhamba ngayo, ngizakwenza ilizwi lami kuwe engalikhuluma kuDavida uyihlo;

6:13  ngizahlala phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli, ngingabatshiyi abantu bami uIsrayeli.

6:14  Wayakha-ke uSolomoni indlu, wayiqeda.

6:15  Wasesakha imiduli yendlu ngaphakathi ngamapulanka emisedari, kusukela kuphansi lendlu kuze kufike emidulwini yophahla, wayembesa ngaphakathi ngezigodo, wendlala iphansi lendlu ngamapulanka amafiri.

6:16  Wasesakha izingalo ezingamatshumi amabili emaceleni endlu, ngamapulanka emisedari, kusukela kuphansi kwaze kwafika emidulwini; wayakhela ngaphakathi, esenzela indawo yelizwi, esenzela ingcwele yezingcwele.

6:17  Lendlu, elithempeli, ngaphambili, yayizingalo ezingamatshumi amane.

6:18  Njalo umsedari wendlu ngaphakathi wawubazwe waba zinduku lamaluba avulekileyo; konke kwakungumsedari, kungabonakali litshe.

6:19  Waselungisa indawo yelizwi phakathi endlini ukubeka khona umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi.

6:20  Lendawo yelizwi ephambili, ubude babuzingalo ezingamatshumi amabili, lobubanzi buzingalo ezingamatshumi amabili, lokuphakama kwayo kuzingalo ezingamatshumi amabili; wayihuqa ngegolide elicwengekileyo; wasesembesa ilathi ngomsedari.

6:21  USolomoni waseyihuqa indlu ngaphakathi ngegolide elicwengekileyo, wenza isehlukaniso ngamaketane egolide phambi kwendawo yelizwi, wasesihuqa ngegolide.

6:22  Lendlu yonke wayihuqa ngegolide yaze yaphelela yonke indlu; lelathi lonke elisendaweni yelizwi walihuqa ngegolide.

6:23  Endaweni yelizwi wasesenza amakherubhi* amabili ngesihlahla somhlwathi, ukuphakama kwakuzingalo ezilitshumi ngalinye.

6:24  Olunye uphiko lwekherubhi lwaluzingalo ezinhlanu, lolunye uphiko lwekherubhi lwaluzingalo ezinhlanu; kusukela ekucineni kolunye uphiko kusiya ekucineni kolunye uphiko kwakuzingalo ezilitshumi.

6:25  Lelinye ikherubhi lalizingalo ezilitshumi; womabili amakherubhi ayeyisilinganiso sinye lesimo sinye.

6:26  Ukuphakama kwelinye ikherubhi kwakuzingalo ezilitshumi, lelinye ikherubhi lalinjalo.

6:27  Wasewabeka amakherubhi phakathi kwendlu engaphakathi; njalo amakherubhi elula impiko, kuze kuthi olunye uphiko lwathinta umduli, lophiko lwelinye ikherubhi lwathinta omunye umduli, lempiko zawo zathintana uphiko lophiko ngaphakathi kwendlu.

6:28  Wasewahuqa amakherubhi ngegolide.

6:29  Wabaza imiduli yonke yendlu inhlangothi zonke ngemifanekiso ebaziweyo yamakherubhi lezihlahla zamalala lamaluba avulekileyo ngaphakathi langaphandle.

6:30  Iphansi lendlu waselihuqa ngegolide ngaphakathi langaphandle.

6:31  Emnyango wendawo yelizwi wenza izivalo zesihlahla somhlwathi, ikhothamo lemigubazi kulezinhlangothi ezinhlanu.

6:32  Lezivalo zombili zazingezesihlahla somhlwathi, wabaza kuzo imibazo yamakherubhi lezihlahla zamalala lamaluba avulekileyo, wazihuqa ngegolide, wakhandela igolide phezu kwamakherubhi lezihlahla zamalala.

6:33  Ngokunjalo wasesenzela umnyango wethempeli imigubazi yesihlahla somhlwathi, ezinhlangothini ezine.

6:34  Lezivalo ezimbili zazingezezihlahla zamafiri; impiko zombili zesivalo esisodwa zazigoqeka, lezilenge ezimbili zesivalo sesibili zazigoqeka.

6:35  Wasebaza kuzo amakherubhi lezihlahla zamalala lamaluba avulekileyo, wakuhuqa ngegolide elendlala kuhle phezu kokubaziweyo.

6:36  Wasesakha iguma elingaphakathi ngemizila emithathu yamatshe abaziweyo, lomzila wemijabo yemisedari.

6:37  Ngomnyaka wesine isisekelo sendlu yeNkosi sabekwa, ngenyanga kaZivi.

6:38  Kwathi ngomnyaka wetshumi lanye, enyangeni kaBuli, okuyinyanga yesificaminwembili, yaphela indlu ezintweni zayo zonke lanjengakho konke ukumiswa kwayo. Ngakho wayakha iminyaka eyisikhombisa.

Chapter 7

7:1  Kodwa indlu yakhe uSolomoni wayakha iminyaka elitshumi lantathu, wayiqeda yonke indlu yakhe.

7:2  Wasesakha indlu yegusu leLebhanoni; ubude bayo babuzingalo ezilikhulu, lobubanzi bayo buzingalo ezingamatshumi amahlanu, lokuphakama kwayo kuzingalo ezingamatshumi amathathu, phezu kwemizila emine yensika zemisedari, lemijabo yemisedari phezu kwezinsika.

7:3  Yayifulelwe ngemisedari phezulu, phezu kwemijabo, eyayiphezu kwensika ezingamatshumi amane lanhlanu, ezilitshumi lanhlanu emzileni.

7:4  Njalo kwakulemizila emithathu yamawindi, ukukhanya kuqondene lokukhanya, kathathu.

7:5  Layo yonke iminyango lemigubazi yayilingana inhlangothi zozine, lamawindi, njalo ukukhanya kuqondene lokukhanya, kathathu.

7:6  Wasesenza ikhulusi lezinsika, ubude balo babuzingalo ezingamatshumi amahlanu, lobubanzi balo buzingalo ezingamatshumi amathathu; lekhulusi laliphambi kwazo, lezinsika lombundu phambi kwazo.

7:7  Wasesenza ikhulusi elesihlalo sobukhosi lapho ahlulela khona, ikhulusi lesahlulelo, lalembeswe ngemisedari kusukela kuphansi kusiya kuphansi.

7:8  Lendlu yakhe lapho ayehlala khona yayilelinye iguma ngaphakathi kwekhulusi, esetshenzwe ngokufananayo. Wenzela njalo indodakazi kaFaro, uSolomoni ayeyithethe, indlu, njengalelikhulusi.

7:9  Zonke lezi zazingezamatshe aligugu abazwe ngokwesilinganiso, asahwe ngesaha ngaphakathi langaphandle, ngitsho kusukela esisekelweni kusiya ematsheni aphezulu, njalo ngaphandle kuze kube segumeni elikhulu.

7:10  Njalo yayisekelwe ngamatshe aligugu, amatshe amakhulu, amatshe engalo ezilitshumi, lamatshe engalo eziyisificaminwembili;

7:11  langaphezulu kwakulamatshe aligugu, abazwe ngokwesilinganiso, lemisedari.

7:12  Leguma elikhulu inhlangothi zonke lalilemizila emithathu yamatshe abaziweyo, lomzila wemijabo yemisedari. Kwakunjalo ngeguma elingaphakathi lendlu yeNkosi, langekhulusi lendlu.

7:13  Inkosi uSolomoni yasithuma yathatha uHiramu evela eTire.

7:14  Yena wayeyindodana yowesifazana umfelokazi, wesizwe sakoNafithali, loyise wayengumuntu weTire, ingcitshi ekubazeni ithusi; njalo wayegcwele inhlakanipho lokuqedisisa elolwazi ukwenza wonke umsebenzi ngethusi; weza enkosini uSolomoni, wenza wonke umsebenzi wakhe.

7:15  Wasebumba insika ezimbili zethusi; ubude benye insika babuzingalo ezilitshumi lesificaminwembili, lentambo ezingalo ezilitshumi lambili yagombolozela insika yesibili.

7:16  Wenza futhi iziduku ezimbili zethusi elincibilikisiweyo ukubeka phezu kwezihloko zezinsika; ukuphakama kwesiduku esisodwa kwakuzingalo ezinhlanu, lokuphakama kwesinye isiduku kwakuzingalo ezinhlanu.

7:17  Amambule angumsebenzi oyisixhobexhobe, intambo eziphothiweyo zazingumsebenzi wamaketane, kusenzela iziduku eziphezu kwezihloko zezinsika; eziyisikhombisa esidukwini esisodwa, leziyisikhombisa kwesinye isiduku.

7:18  Wenza-ke insika zombili, imizila emibili izingelezela phezu kwembule eyodwa, ukwembesa iziduku ezisesihlokweni samapomegranati*; wenza njalo lakwesinye isiduku.

7:19  Leziduku ezazisesihlokweni sensika zazingumsebenzi womduze ekhulusini, ingalo ezine.

7:20  Njalo iziduku zazisezinsikeni ezimbili, langaphezulu maqondana lesisu, esingasemambuleni; lamapomegranati angamakhulu amabili ayesemizileni ezingelezeleyo, phezu kwesinye isiduku.

7:21  Wasemisa izinsika ekhulusini lethempeli; esemise insika yangakwesokunene wabiza ibizo layo ngokuthi nguJakini; esemise insika yangakwesokhohlo wabiza ibizo layo ngokuthi nguBhowazi.

7:22  Laphezu kwesihloko sezinsika kwakulomsebenzi womduze. Waphela-ke umsebenzi wezinsika.

7:23  Wasesenza ulwandle oluncibilikisiweyo, luzingalo ezilitshumi kusukela emphethweni kusiya emphethweni, luzingelezele luyisigombolozi, lokuphakama kwalo luzingalo ezinhlanu, lomzila ozingalo ezingamatshumi amathathu waluzingelezela ulugombolozela.

7:24  Ngaphansi komphetho walo kwakukhona amaqhaga eluzingelezele alugombolozela, alitshumi engalweni, ezingelezele ulwandle alugombolozela; imizila emibili yamaqhaga yabunjwa ngokuncibilikisa ekubunjweni kwalo ngokuncibilikisa.

7:25  Lwema phezu kwenkabi ezilitshumi lambili; ezintathu zikhangele enyakatho, lezintathu zikhangele entshonalanga, lezintathu zikhangele eningizimu, lezintathu zikhangele empumalanga, lolwandle lwaluphezu kwazo phezulu, lazo zonke ingemuva zazo zazingaphakathi.

7:26  Njalo ububanzi balo babuyibubanzi besandla, lomphetho walo wawunjengomphetho wenkezo, njengeluba lomduze; lwalumumethe amabhathi* azinkulungwane ezimbili.

7:27  Wenza lezisekelo ezilitshumi zethusi; ubude besisekelo esisodwa babuzingalo ezine, lobubanzi baso buzingalo ezine, lokuphakama kwaso kuzingalo ezintathu.

7:28  Lalokhu kwakungumsebenzi wesisekelo: Zazilemiphetho, njalo imiphetho yayiphakathi kwezinhlanganiso;

7:29  lemiphethweni ephakathi kwezinhlanganiso kwakulezilwane, izinkabi, lamakherubhi*. Laphezu kwezinhlanganiso kwakulesisekelo ngaphezulu, njalo ngaphansi kwezilwane lezinkabi kwakulezinkatha zomsebenzi okhandiweyo.

7:30  Lesisekelo sinye sasilamavili ethusi amane lamaphini ethusi; lamagumbi aso amane ayelamahlombe; ngaphansi kwenditshi yokugezela kwakulamahlombe abunjwe ngokuncibilikisa, eceleni kwaleyo laleyo inkatha.

7:31  Lomlomo waso phakathi kwesiduku langaphezulu wawuyingalo, lomlomo wawo wawuyisigombolozi, njengomsebenzi wesisekelo, uyingalo lengxenye; futhi laphezu komlomo wawo kwakulokubaziweyo; njalo imiphetho yayo yayizinhlangothi ezine ezilinganayo, hatshi isigombolozi.

7:32  Lamavili amane ayengaphansi kwemiphetho, lama-ekseli amavili ayesesisekelweni; lokuphakama kwevili elilodwa kwakuyingalo lengxenye yengalo.

7:33  Njalo umsebenzi wamavili wawunjengomsebenzi wevili lenqola: Ama-ekseli awo lamasongo awo lezipokisi zawo lamahabha awo kwakubunjwe ngokuncibilikisa.

7:34  Njalo kwakulamahlombe amane emagumbini womane esisekelo esisodwa; amahlombe aso avela esisekelweni.

7:35  Laphezu kwesihloko sesisekelo kwakulokuphakama okuyisigombolozi okuyingxenye yengalo inhlangothi zonke; laphezu kwesihloko sesisekelo kwakulezisekelo zaso lemiphetho yaso, kuvela kuso.

7:36  Laphezu kwezibhebhe zezisekelo zaso laphezu kwemiphetho yaso wabaza amakherubhi lezilwane lezihlahla zamalala, njengendawo yakho yonke engelalutho, lezinkatha inhlangothi zonke.

7:37  Wazenza ngokunjalo izisekelo ezilitshumi; zonke zazilokubunjwa kunye, isilinganiso sinye, isimo sinye.

7:38  Wasesenza inditshi zokugezela zethusi ezilitshumi; inditshi yokugezela eyodwa yayimumethe amabhathi angamatshumi amane; inditshi yokugezela eyodwa yayizingalo ezine; inditshi yokugezela eyodwa yayiphezu kwesisekelo ngasinye sezisekelo ezilitshumi.

7:39  Wasebeka izisekelo ezinhlanu eceleni lokunene lendlu, lezinhlanu eceleni lokhohlo lendlu; lolwandle walubeka eceleni lokunene lendlu, ngasempumalanga maqondana leningizimu.

7:40  UHiramu wasesenza inditshi zokugezela lamafotsholo lemiganu yokufafaza. UHiramu waseqeda ukwenza umsebenzi wonke ayewenzela inkosi uSolomoni endlini kaJehova:

7:41  Insika zombili, lenditshi zeziduku ezaziphezu kwezinsika zombili, lamambule amabili okwembesa inditshi ezimbili zeziduku eziphezu kwezinsika,

7:42  lamapomegranati* angamakhulu amane awamambule womabili, imizila emibili yamapomegranati yembule elilodwa, okwembesa inditshi ezimbili zeziduku ezaziphezu kwezinsika,

7:43  lezisekelo ezilitshumi, lenditshi zokugezela ezilitshumi phezu kwezisekelo,

7:44  lolwandle olulodwa, lenkabi ezilitshumi lambili ngaphansi kolwandle;

7:45  lezimbiza lamafotsholo lemiganu yokufafaza, lazo zonke lezizitsha uHiramu azenzela inkosi uSolomoni endlini kaJehova, zazingezethusi elikhazimulisiweyo.

7:46  Inkosi yazibumbela ngokuncibilikisa emagcekeni eJordani, emhlabathini webumba phakathi kweSukothi leZarethani.

7:47  USolomoni wasetshiya zonke lezizitsha zingalinganiswanga, ngenxa yobunengi obukhulukazi; isisindo sethusi kasihlolwanga.

7:48  USolomoni wenza-ke zonke izitsha ezazingezendlu yeNkosi; ilathi legolide, letafula legolide, okwakuphezu kwalo izinkwa zokubukiswa,

7:49  lezinti zezibane zegolide elicwengekileyo, ezinhlanu ngakwesokunene, lezinhlanu ngakwesokhohlo, phambi kwendawo yelizwi, lamaluba, lezibane, lezindlawu, kwegolide;

7:50  lemiganu, lezindlawu, lemiganu yokufafaza, lezinkezo, lezitsha zokuthwala umlilo, kwegolide elicwengekileyo; lamabhanti egolide ezivalo zendlu engaphakathi, zengcwele yezingcwele, ezivalo zendlu yethempeli.

7:51  Waphela njalo umsebenzi wonke inkosi uSolomoni eyawenza endlini yeNkosi. USolomoni wasengenisa izinto ezingcwelisiweyo zikaDavida uyise; isiliva legolide lezitsha wakubeka enothweni yendlu yeNkosi.

Chapter 8

8:1  Khona uSolomoni wabuthanisa abadala bakoIsrayeli, zonke inhloko zezizwe, iziphathamandla zaboyise babantwana bakoIsrayeli, ukuya enkosini uSolomoni eJerusalema, ukuze benyuse umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaJehova bewukhupha emzini kaDavida, oyiZiyoni.

8:2  Wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli asebuthana enkosini uSolomoni emkhosini enyangeni kaEthanimi eyinyanga yesikhombisa.

8:3  Labo bonke abadala bakoIsrayeli beza, abapristi bawuphakamisa umtshokotsho wesivumelwano,

8:4  bawenyusa umtshokotsho weNkosi lethente lenhlangano, lazo zonke izitsha ezingcwele ezazisethenteni; abapristi lamaLevi bakwenyusa-ke.

8:5  Njalo inkosi uSolomoni lenhlangano yonke yakoIsrayeli eyayibuthene babelayo phambi komtshokotsho behlaba izimvu lezinkabi ezingelanani lezingelakubalwa ngobunengi.

8:6  Abapristi basebewungenisa umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi endaweni yawo endaweni yelizwi yendlu, engcweleni yezingcwele, ngaphansi kwempiko zamakherubhi*.

8:7  Ngoba amakherubhi elulela impiko zawo phezu kwendawo yomtshokotsho, amakherubhi embesa umtshokotsho lemijabo yawo, kuvela phezulu.

8:8  Basebeselula imijabo ukuze izihloko zemijabo zibonakale endaweni engcwele phambi kwendawo yelizwi, kodwa yayingabonakali ngaphandle; njalo ikhona lapho kuze kube lamuhla.

8:9  Kwakungelalutho emtshokotshweni, ngaphandle kwezibhebhe zamatshe ezimbili uMozisi azifaka khona eHorebe mhla iNkosi isenza khona isivumelwano labantwana bakoIsrayeli ekuphumeni kwabo elizweni leGibhithe.

8:10  Kwasekusithi ekuphumeni kwabapristi endaweni engcwele iyezi layigcwalisa indlu yeNkosi;

8:11  ngakho abapristi babengelakho ukuma ukuthi bakhonze ngenxa yeyezi, ngoba inkazimulo yeNkosi yayigcwalise indlu yeNkosi.

8:12  Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni wathi: INkosi yathi izahlala emnyameni onzima.

8:13  Ngikwakhele lokukwakhela indlu, indawo yokuhlala, indawo emisiweyo yokuhlala kwakho laphakade.

8:14  Inkosi yasitshibilikisa ubuso bayo, yalibusisa ibandla lonke lakoIsrayeli; lebandla lonke lakoIsrayeli lalimi.

8:15  Yasisithi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, eyakhuluma ngomlomo wayo kuDavida ubaba, njalo yagcwalisa ngesandla sayo, isithi:

8:16  Kusukela ngosuku engakhupha ngalo abantu bami uIsrayeli elizweni leGibhithe kangikhethanga muzi ezizweni zonke zakoIsrayeli ukwakha indlu, ukuthi ibizo lami libe lapho, kodwa ngakhetha uDavida ukuthi abe phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli.

8:17  Njalo kwakusenhliziyweni kaDavida ubaba ukwakhela ibizo leNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli indlu.

8:18  Kodwa iNkosi yathi kuDavida ubaba: Njengoba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho ukwakhela ibizo lami indlu, wenze kuhle ukuthi kwakusenhliziyweni yakho;

8:19  loba kunjalo kawuyikuyakha indlu wena, kodwa indodana yakho ezaphuma ekhalweni lwakho, yona izalakhela ibizo lami indlu.

8:20  INkosi isiqinisile ilizwi layo eyalikhulumayo, ngoba ngivukile esikhundleni sikaDavida ubaba, ngihlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli njengokuba iNkosi ikhulumile, sengilakhele ibizo leNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli indlu.

8:21  Njalo ngimisile lapho indawo yomtshokotsho, lapho okulesivumelwano seNkosi khona, eyasenza labobaba ekubakhupheni kwayo elizweni leGibhithe.

8:22  USolomoni wasesima phambi kwelathi leNkosi maqondana lebandla lonke lakoIsrayeli, welulela izandla zakhe emazulwini,

8:23  wathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, kakho unkulunkulu onjengawe emazulwini phezulu lemhlabeni phansi ogcina isivumelwano lomusa ezincekwini zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngenhliziyo yazo yonke.

8:24  Ogcinele inceku yakho uDavida ubaba lokho owakutsho kuye; njalo wakhuluma ngomlomo wakho, wakugcwalisa ngesandla sakho, njengalamuhla.

8:25  Ngakho-ke, Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, gcinela inceku yakho uDavida ubaba owakukhuluma kuye, usithi: Kakuyikusweleka muntu kuwe phambi kwami ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli, kuphela uba amadodana akho egcina indlela yawo ukuhamba phambi kwami njengoba uhambile phambi kwami.

8:26  Khathesi-ke, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ake liqiniseke ilizwi lakho owalikhuluma encekwini yakho uDavida ubaba.

8:27  Kodwa isibili uNkulunkulu uzahlala yini emhlabeni? Khangela, amazulu, lamazulu amazulu angekwanele; incinyane kangakanani-ke lindlu engiyakhileyo?

8:28  Kube kanti phendukela emkhulekweni wenceku yakho lekuncengeni kwayo, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ukuze uzwe ukukhala lomkhuleko inceku yakho ewukhulekayo phambi kwakho lamuhla.

8:29  Ukuthi amehlo akho avulekele lindlu ebusuku lemini, indawo owatsho ngayo ukuthi: Ibizo lami lizakuba lapho; ukuze uzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho ezawukhuleka kulindawo.

8:30  Zwana-ke ukuncenga kwenceku yakho lokwabantu bakho uIsrayeli lapho bezakhuleka kulindawo; yebo, uzwe wena, usendaweni yakho yokuhlala emazulwini; lapho usizwa, uthethelele.

8:31  Uba loba nguwuphi umuntu one umakhelwane wakhe, abeke phezu kwakhe isifungo, amenze afunge, lesifungo size phambi kwelathi lakho kulindlu,

8:32  zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, wenze wahlulele inceku zakho, ulahle omubi, ukunikela indlela yakhe ekhanda lakhe, ukulungisisa olungileyo, ukumnika njengokulunga kwakhe.

8:33  Lapho abantu bakho uIsrayeli betshaywe phambi kwesitha ngoba bonile kuwe, babesebephendukela kuwe, balivume ibizo lakho, bakhuleke bancenge kuwe kulindlu,

8:34  zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, uthethelele isono sabantu bakho uIsrayeli, ubabuyisele elizweni owalinika oyise.

8:35  Lapho amazulu evaliwe, kungelazulu ngoba bonile kuwe, uba bekhuleka kulindawo belivuma ibizo lakho, baphenduke esonweni sabo lapho ubahluphile,

8:36  zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, uthethelele isono senceku zakho lesabantu bakho uIsrayeli, lapho usubafundisile indlela elungileyo abangahamba ngayo, unike izulu elizweni lakho owalinika abantu bakho libe yilifa.

8:37  Uba kukhona indlala elizweni, uba kukhona umatshayabhuqe wesifo, ukutshisa, ingumane, isikhonyane, uba kulemihogoyi; uba isitha sabo sibavimbezele elizweni lemizi yabo, loba yiyiphi inhlupheko, loba yiwuphi umkhuhlane,

8:38  wonke umkhuleko, konke ukuncenga, okwenziwa yiloba nguwuphi umuntu, ngabantu bakho bonke bakoIsrayeli, abazakwazi ngulowo inhlupheko yenhliziyo yakhe, eselula izandla zakhe kulindlu,

8:39  zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala emisiweyo, uthethelele, wenze, unike ngulowo njengezindlela zakhe zonke, onhliziyo yakhe uyayazi, ngoba nguwe wedwa owaziyo inhliziyo yabo bonke abantwana babantu,

8:40  ukuze bakwesabe zonke izinsuku abaziphila ebusweni belizwe owalinika obaba.

8:41  Futhi-ke mayelana lowezizweni ongesuye wabantu bakho uIsrayeli kodwa evela elizweni elikhatshana ngenxa yebizo lakho,

8:42  (ngoba bazakuzwa ngebizo lakho elikhulu langesandla sakho esilamandla langengalo yakho eyeluliweyo) uba esiza akhuleke kulindlu,

8:43  zwana wena usemazulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala emisiweyo, wenze njengakho konke owezizweni akubizela khona, ukuze izizwe zonke zomhlaba zazi ibizo lakho, zikwesabe, njengabantu bakho uIsrayeli, ukuze zazi ukuthi ibizo lakho libiziwe phezu kwale indlu engiyakhileyo.

8:44  Uba abantu bakho bephuma impi bemelene lesitha sabo ngendlela obathuma ngayo, babesebekhuleka eNkosini bekhangele emzini owukhethileyo lendlini engiyakhele ibizo lakho,

8:45  zwana-ke usemazulwini umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, wenze udaba lwabo.

8:46  Uba besona kuwe, ngoba kakulamuntu ongoniyo, ubusubathukuthelela, ubanikele esitheni, ukuze abathumbi babo babathumbele elizweni lesitha, khatshana kumbe eduze,

8:47  kodwa babuye enhliziyweni yabo elizweni abathunjelwe kilo, baphenduke, bancenge kuwe elizweni lababathumbileyo, besithi: Sonile, saphambeka, senza okubi;

8:48  babuyele kuwe ngenhliziyo yonke yabo langomphefumulo wonke wabo elizweni lezitha zabo ezibathumbileyo, bakhuleke kuwe bekhangele elizweni labo owalinika oyise, umuzi owawukhethayo, lendlu engiyakhele ibizo lakho,

8:49  zwana-ke usemazulwini umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, endaweni yakho yokuhlala, ubamele.

8:50  Uthethelele abantu bakho abone kuwe, leziphambeko zabo zonke, abaphambeke ngazo kuwe, ubaphe isihawu phambi kwababathumbileyo, ukuthi babe lesihawu kibo,

8:51  ngoba bayisizwe sakho, lelifa lakho owabakhupha eGibhithe, phakathi kwesithando sensimbi.

8:52  Ukuze amehlo akho avulekele ukuncenga kwenceku yakho lokuncenga kwabantu bakho uIsrayeli, ukubezwa kukho konke ukukhala kwabo kuwe.

8:53  Ngoba wena wazehlukanisela bona babe yilifa bevela kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba, njengokukhuluma kwakho ngesandla sikaMozisi, inceku yakho, ekukhupheni kwakho obaba eGibhithe, Nkosi Jehova.

8:54  Kwasekusithi eseqedile uSolomoni ukukhuleka wonke lo umkhuleko lokuncenga eNkosini, wasukuma esuka ngaphambi kwelathi leNkosi ekuguqeni ngamadolo akhe lezandla zakhe zelulekele emazulwini,

8:55  wasesima wabusisa ibandla lonke lakoIsrayeli ngelizwi elikhulu esithi:

8:56  Kayibusiswe iNkosi enike abantu bayo uIsrayeli ukuphumula njengakho konke eyakukhulumayo; kakuwanga lelilodwa ilizwi kuwo wonke amazwi ayo eyawakhuluma ngesandla sikaMozisi inceku yayo.

8:57  INkosi uNkulunkulu wethu kayibe lathi njengalokhu yayilabobaba, ingasitshiyi ingasideli,

8:58  ukuze ithobele inhliziyo yethu kuyo, ukuhamba ngazo zonke indlela zayo, lokugcina imilayo yayo lezimiso zayo lezahlulelo zayo, eyakulaya obaba.

8:59  Lala amazwi ami, engincenga ngawo phambi kweNkosi, abe seduzane leNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu emini lebusuku, ukuze imele udaba lwenceku yayo lodaba lwabantu bayo uIsrayeli, udaba losuku ngosuku lwalo,

8:60  ukuze izizwe zonke zomhlaba zazi ukuthi iNkosi inguNkulunkulu, kakho omunye.

8:61  Ngakho inhliziyo yenu kayibe ngepheleleyo kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, ukuhamba ezimisweni zayo, lokugcina imilayo yayo njengalamuhla.

8:62  Inkosi loIsrayeli wonke elayo basebehlaba umhlatshelo phambi kukaJehova.

8:63  USolomoni wasehlaba umhlatshelo weminikelo yokuthula awuhlabela uJehova, inkabi ezizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lambili, lezimvu ezizinkulungwane ezilikhulu lamatshumi amabili. Ngokunjalo inkosi labo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli bayehlukanisa indlu kaJehova.

8:64  Ngalona lolosuku inkosi yangcwelisa iphakathi leguma elalingaphambi kwendlu kaJehova, ngoba lapho yanikela umnikelo wokutshiswa lomnikelo wokudla, lamahwahwa eminikelo yokuthula, ngoba ilathi lethusi elaliphambi kukaJehova lalilincinyane kakhulu ukwanela umnikelo wokutshiswa lomnikelo wokudla lamahwahwa eminikelo yokuthula.

8:65  Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni wasesenza idili, loIsrayeli wonke laye, ibandla elikhulu, kusukela ekungeneni kweHamathi kusiya esifuleni seGibhithe, phambi kweNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, insuku eziyisikhombisa lensuku eziyisikhombisa, insuku ezilitshumi lane.

8:66  Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili wabayekela abantu bahamba; bayibusisa inkosi, baya emathenteni abo bethokoza bejabula enhliziyweni ngakho konke okuhle iNkosi eyayikwenzele uDavida inceku yayo loIsrayeli abantu bayo.

Chapter 9

9:1  Kwasekusithi uSolomoni eseqedile ukwakha indlu kaJehova lendlu yenkosi laso sonke isifiso sikaSolomoni ayethokoza ukusenza,

9:2  iNkosi yabonakala kuSolomoni ngokwesibili njengokubonakala kwayo kuye eGibeyoni.

9:3  INkosi yathi kuye: Ngizwile umkhuleko wakho lokuncenga kwakho okuncenge phambi kwami. Ngiyingcwelisile lindlu oyakhileyo ukubeka ibizo lami lapho kuze kube nininini; lamehlo ami lenhliziyo yami kuzakuba lapho zonke izinsuku.

9:4  Wena-ke, uba uhamba phambi kwami, njengoDavida uyihlo wahamba, ngokuphelela kwenhliziyo langokuqonda, ukwenza njengakho konke engikulaye khona, ugcine izimiso zami lezahlulelo zami,

9:5  khona ngizamisa isihlalo sobukhosi sombuso wakho phezu kukaIsrayeli kuze kube nininini, njengokukhuluma kwami kuDavida uyihlo, ngisithi: Kakuyikusweleka kuwe umuntu phezu kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli.

9:6  Uba lizaphenduka lokuphenduka, lina labantwana benu, ekungilandeleni, lingayigcini imilayo yami, izimiso zami, engikubeke phambi kwenu, kodwa liyekhonza abanye onkulunkulu, libakhothamele,

9:7  khona ngizaquma uIsrayeli ebusweni belizwe engibanike lona, lendlu engiyingcwelisele ibizo lami ngizayilahla phambi kwami; loIsrayeli uzakuba yisaga lento yokuhozwa phakathi kwezizwe zonke.

9:8  Lalindlu, ephakemeyo, wonke oyedlulayo uzamangala kakhulu ancife, bathi: INkosi ikwenzeleni okunje kulelilizwe lakulindlu?

9:9  Njalo bazakuthi: Ngenxa yokuthi bayitshiyile iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo eyakhupha oyise elizweni leGibhithe, babambelela kwabanye onkulunkulu, babakhonza babasebenzela; ngalokho iNkosi ibehlisele bonke lobububi.

9:10  Kwasekusithi ekupheleni kweminyaka engamatshumi amabili uSolomoni esakhile izindlu zombili, indlu kaJehova lendlu yenkosi,

9:11  (uHiramu inkosi yeTire wayemsekele uSolomoni ngezigodo zemisedari langezigodo zamafiri langegolide, njengesiloyiso sakhe sonke) ngalesosikhathi inkosi uSolomoni yamnika uHiramu imizi engamatshumi amabili elizweni leGalili.

9:12  UHiramu wasephuma eTire ukubona imizi uSolomoni ayemnike yona, kodwa yayingalunganga emehlweni akhe.

9:13  Wasesithi: Yimizi bani le onginike yona, mfowethu? Waseyibiza ngokuthi ilizwe leKabuli, kuze kube lamuhla.

9:14  UHiramu wayethumele enkosini amathalenta* alikhulu lamatshumi amabili egolide.

9:15  Nantu-ke udaba lwezibhalwa inkosi uSolomoni eyazibuthela ukwakha indlu yeNkosi, lendlu yayo, leMilo, lomduli weJerusalema, leHazori, leMegido, leGezeri:

9:16  UFaro inkosi yeGibhithe wayenyukile wathumba iGezeri wayitshisa ngomlilo, wabulala amaKhanani ayehlala emzini, wakhunga ngayo indodakazi yakhe, umkaSolomoni.

9:17  USolomoni wasesakha iGezeri, leBhethi-Horoni engaphansi,

9:18  leBahalathi, leTamari enkangala elizweni,

9:19  lemizi yonke yokugcinela impahla uSolomoni ayelayo, lemizi yezinqola, lemizi yabagadi bamabhiza, lesiloyiso sikaSolomoni ayeloyisa ngaso ukwakha eJerusalema leLebhanoni lelizweni lonke lombuso wakhe.

9:20  Bonke abantu ababesele kumaAmori, amaHethi, amaPerizi, amaHivi, lamaJebusi, ababengeyisibo babantwana bakoIsrayeli,

9:21  abantwana babo ababesele emva kwabo elizweni, abantwana bakoIsrayeli abangenelisanga ukubatshabalalisa, uSolomoni wababutha izibhalwa eziyizigqili, kuze kube lamuhla.

9:22  Kodwa ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli uSolomoni kenzanga sigqili, kodwa babengamadoda empi, lenceku zakhe, leziphathamandla zakhe, lezinduna zakhe, labaphathi bezinqola zakhe, labagadi bakhe bamabhiza.

9:23  Laba babezinduna zabaphathi abaphezu komsebenzi kaSolomoni, amakhulu amahlanu lamatshumi amahlanu, ababebusa abantu ababesebenza emsebenzini.

9:24  Kodwa indodakazi kaFaro yenyuka iphuma emzini kaDavida isiya endlini yayo ayeyakhele yona. Ngalesosikhathi wakha iMilo.

9:25  Njalo kathathu ngomnyaka uSolomoni wanikela iminikelo yokutshiswa leminikelo yokuthula phezu kwelathi ayelakhele iNkosi, watshisa impepha kulelo elaliphambi kweNkosi. Waqeda njalo indlu.

9:26  Inkosi uSolomoni yasisenza imikhumbi eEziyoni-Geberi eseElothi ekhunjini loLwandle oluBomvu elizweni leEdoma.

9:27  UHiramu wasethuma emikhunjini inceku zakhe, amadoda emikhumbi, abazi ulwandle, kanye lenceku zikaSolomoni.

9:28  Bafika eOfiri, bathatha khona igolide, amathalenta* angamakhulu amane lamatshumi amabili, baliletha enkosini uSolomoni.

Chapter 10

10:1  Kwathi indlovukazi yeShebha isizwile udumo lukaSolomoni ngebizo leNkosi yeza ukumhlola ngemibuzo enzima.

10:2  Yasifika eJerusalema lodwendwe olukhulu kakhulu, lamakamela ethwele amakha legolide elinengi kakhulu lamatshe aligugu; isifikile kuSolomoni yamtshela konke okwakusenhliziyweni yayo.

10:3  USolomoni waseyichasisela zonke indaba zayo; kwakungelalutho olwayicatshelayo inkosi engayichasiselanga lona.

10:4  Indlovukazi yeShebha isibonile yonke inhlakanipho kaSolomoni, lendlu ayeyakhile,

10:5  lokudla kwetafula lakhe, lokuhlala kwezinceku zakhe, lokuma kwezisebenzi zakhe, lezigqoko zazo, labaphathinkezo bakhe, lokwenyuka kwakhe enyuka ngakho endlini yeNkosi, kakusabanga lamoya kuyo.

10:6  Yasisithi enkosini: Umbiko wawuliqiniso engawuzwa elizweni lami ngamazwi akho langenhlakanipho yakho.

10:7  Kodwa kangiyikholwanga leyomibiko ngaze ngafika lamehlo ami abona. Khangela, bengingatshelwanga ingxenye; wengezelele inhlakanipho lokulunga embikweni engiwuzwileyo.

10:8  Bayathokoza abantu bakho, ziyathokoza lezizinceku zakho ezimi njalo phambi kwakho zisizwa inhlakanipho yakho!

10:9  Kayibusiswe iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho eyathokoza ngawe, ukukubeka phezu kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli. Ngoba iNkosi yamthanda uIsrayeli kuze kube phakade, ngakho ikubekile waba yinkosi ukuze wenze isahlulelo lokulunga.

10:10  Yasinika inkosi amathalenta* alikhulu lamatshumi amabili egolide, lamakha amanengi kakhulu, lamatshe aligugu. Kakuzange kusabuya amakha ngobunengi njengalawo indlovukazi yeShebha eyawanika inkosi uSolomoni.

10:11  Futhi lemikhumbi kaHiramu eyayithwala igolide livela eOfiri yaletha izigodo ezinengi kakhulu zomkampa, lamatshe aligugu, kuvela eOfiri.

10:12  Ngezigodo zomkampa inkosi yasisenza insika zendlu kaJehova lezendlu yenkosi, lamachacho lezigubhu zezintambo kwabahlabeleli; kakuzanga kulethwe kumbe kubonwe ngokunjalo izigodo zomkampa kuze kube lamuhla.

10:13  Inkosi uSolomoni yasinika indlovukazi yeShebha sonke isiloyiso sayo, eyakucelayo, ngaphandle kwalokho eyayinika khona njengokuphana kwenkosi uSolomoni. Yasiphenduka yaya elizweni layo, yona lenceku zayo.

10:14  Njalo isisindo segolide elalifika kuSolomoni ngomnyaka owodwa sasingamathalenta* angamakhulu ayisithupha lamatshumi ayisithupha lesithupha,

10:15  ngaphandle kokuvela kubathengisi, lempahleni zabathengisi bezinongo, lemakhosini wonke eArabhiya, lakubabusi belizwe.

10:16  Inkosi uSolomoni yasisenza izihlangu ezinkulu ezingamakhulu amabili ngegolide elikhandiweyo, amashekeli angamakhulu ayisithupha egolide esihlangwini esisodwa esikhulu.

10:17  Lamahawu angamakhulu amathathu egolide elikhandiweyo; amamane* amathathu egolide ehawini elilodwa. Inkosi yasiwafaka endlini yegusu leLebhanoni.

10:18  Inkosi yenza lesihlalo sobukhosi esikhulu ngempondo zendlovu, yasihuqa ngegolide elicwengekileyo.

10:19  Isihlalo sobukhosi sasilezikhwelo eziyisithupha, lesihloko sesihlalo sobukhosi sasiyisigombolozi emuva, lezeyamelo zengalo ngapha langapha kuze kube sendaweni yokuhlala, lezilwane ezimbili zimi eceleni kwezeyamelo zezingalo.

10:20  Lezilwane ezilitshumi lambili zazimi lapho ezikhwelweni eziyisithupha, ngapha langapha. Kakwenziwanga okunjalo kuwo wonke umbuso.

10:21  Lazo zonke inkezo zokunatha zenkosi uSolomoni zazingezegolide, lazo zonke izitsha zendlu yegusu leLebhanoni zazingezegolide elicwengekileyo; kwakungelasiliva, lalingabalwa santo ensukwini zikaSolomoni.

10:22  Ngoba inkosi yayilemikhumbi yeThashishi olwandle kanye lemikhumbi kaHiramu; kanye ngeminyaka emithathu limikhumbi yeThashishi yeza ithwele igolide lesiliva, impondo zezindlovu lezinkawu lamaphigaga.

10:23  Ngakho inkosi uSolomoni yaba nkulu kulawo wonke amakhosi omhlaba enothweni lenhlakanipheni.

10:24  Umhlaba wonke wasudinga ubuso bukaSolomoni ukuzwa inhlakanipho yakhe uNkulunkulu ayeyinike enhliziyweni yakhe.

10:25  Basebeletha, ngulowo isipho sakhe, izitsha zesiliva, lezitsha zegolide, lezembatho, lezikhali, lamakha, amabhiza, lezimbongolo; into yomnyaka ngomnyaka wayo.

10:26  USolomoni wasebuthanisa izinqola labagadi bamabhiza; wayelezinqola ezingamakhulu alitshumi lane, labagadi bamabhiza abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi lambili; wakubeka emizini yezinqola njalo kulenkosi eJerusalema.

10:27  Inkosi yasisenza isiliva eJerusalema laba njengamatshe, lemisedari wayenza yaba njengemikhiwa yesikhamore esesihotsheni, ngobunengi.

10:28  Wasengenisa ngokuthenga amabhiza avela eGibhithe, ayengekaSolomoni, lelembu elicolekileyo; labathengi benkosi babelithatha ilembu elicolekileyo ngentengo.

10:29  Inqola yasisenyuka yaphuma eGibhithe ngamashekeli esiliva angamakhulu ayisithupha, lebhiza ngekhulu lamatshumi amahlanu. Langokunjalo bawakhuphela wonke amakhosi amaHethi lamakhosi eSiriya ngesandla sabo.

Chapter 11

11:1  Inkosi uSolomoni yayithanda-ke abafazi abanengi bezizweni, kanye lendodakazi kaFaro, amaMowabikazi, amaAmonikazi, amaEdomikazi, amaSidonikazi, amaHethikazi,

11:2  ababevela ezizweni iNkosi eyayithe ngazo kubantwana bakoIsrayeli: Kaliyikungena kibo, labo kabayikungena kini; isibili bazaphendula inhliziyo yenu ilandele onkulunkulu babo. Bona uSolomoni wabanamathela ngothando.

11:3  Wayelabafazi abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa, amakhosazana, labafazi abancane abangamakhulu amathathu; abafazi bakhe basebephambula inhliziyo yakhe.

11:4  Ngoba kwathi esikhathini sokuluphala kukaSolomoni, abafazi bakhe baphambulela inhliziyo yakhe ekulandeleni abanye onkulunkulu, lenhliziyo yakhe yayingaphelelanga kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe, njengenhliziyo kaDavida uyise.

11:5  Ngoba uSolomoni wahamba emva kukaAshitarothi unkulunkulu wamaSidoni lemva kukaMilkomu isinengiso samaAmoni.

11:6  USolomoni wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi, kayilandelanga ngokupheleleyo iNkosi njengoDavida uyise.

11:7  Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni wakhela uKemoshi isinengiso sakoMowabi indawo ephakemeyo entabeni ephambi kweJerusalema, loMoleki isinengiso sabantwana bakoAmoni.

11:8  Langokunjalo wabenzela bonke abafazi bakhe bezizweni abatshisa impepha bahlabela onkulunkulu babo.

11:9  INkosi yasimthukuthelela uSolomoni, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe yayiphambukile eNkosini, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, eyayibonakele kuye kabili,

11:10  yamlaya mayelana lalinto, ukuthi angalandeli abanye onkulunkulu; kodwa kagcinanga lokho iNkosi eyamlaya khona.

11:11  Ngakho iNkosi yathi kuSolomoni: Ngenxa yokuthi lokhu kwenziwe nguwe, ungagcinanga isivumelwano sami lezimiso zami, engakulaya khona, ngizawudabula lokuwudabula umbuso kuwe, ngiwunike inceku yakho.

11:12  Kanti kangiyikukwenza ensukwini zakho ngenxa kaDavida uyihlo; ngizawudabula usuke esandleni sendodana yakho.

11:13  Loba kunjalo kangiyikudabula wonke umbuso; ngizanika indodana yakho isizwe esisodwa ngenxa kaDavida inceku yami langenxa yeJerusalema engiyikhethileyo.

11:14  INkosi yasimvusela uSolomoni isitha, uHadadi umEdoma; wayengowenzalo yenkosi eEdoma.

11:15  Ngoba kwathi uDavida eseEdoma, uJowabi induna yebutho wayenyukele ukungcwaba ababuleweyo, watshaya wonke owesilisa eEdoma.

11:16  Ngoba uJowabi wahlala lapho inyanga eziyisithupha, loIsrayeli wonke, waze waquma wonke owesilisa eEdoma.

11:17  Kodwa uHadadi wabaleka, yena lamaEdoma athile avela encekwini zikayise kanye laye, ukungena eGibhithe; njalo uHadadi wayengumfanyana.

11:18  Basebesuka eMidiyani, bafika eParani, bathatha amadoda labo eParani, bafika eGibhithe, kuFaro inkosi yeGibhithe, owamnika indlu, wammisela ukudla, wamnika umhlabathi.

11:19  UHadadi wasethola umusa omkhulu emehlweni kaFaro, waze wamendisela udadewabo womkakhe, udadewabo kaTapenesi indlovukazi.

11:20  Udadewabo kaTapenesi wasemzalela uGenubathi indodana yakhe, uTapenesi amlumulela phakathi kwendlu kaFaro; njalo uGenubathi wayesendlini kaFaro phakathi kwabantwana bakaFaro.

11:21  Kwathi uHadadi esezwile eseGibhithe ukuthi uDavida ulele laboyise lokuthi uJowabi induna yebutho usefile, uHadadi wathi kuFaro: Ngivumela ngisuke ukuthi ngiye elizweni lakithi.

11:22  UFaro wasesithi kuye: Kodwa usweleni ulami ukuthi, khangela, udinge ukuya elizweni lakini? Wasesithi: Akulalutho, loba kunjalo ngivumela lokungivumela ngihambe.

11:23  UNkulunkulu wasemvusela isitha, uRezoni indodana kaEliyada owayebalekile enkosini yakhe uHadadezeri inkosi yeZoba.

11:24  Wasezibuthela amadoda, waba ngumkhokheli weviyo, lapho uDavida ebabulala; basebesiya eDamaseko, bahlala kuyo, babusa eDamaseko.

11:25  Wasesiba yisitha kuIsrayeli insuku zonke zikaSolomoni, phezu kobubi uHadadi abenzayo; njalo wanengwa nguIsrayeli, wabusa phezu kukaSiriya.

11:26  LoJerobhowamu, indodana kaNebati, umEfrayimi weZereda, inceku kaSolomoni, obizo likanina lalinguZeruwa, owesifazana ongumfelokazi, laye waphakamisa isandla emelene lenkosi.

11:27  Yilolu-ke udaba lokuthi aphakamise isandla emelene lenkosi. USolomoni wakha iMilo, wavala isikhala somuzi kaDavida uyise.

11:28  UJerobhowamu wayeliqhawe elilamandla. Kwathi uSolomoni ebona lelijaha ukuthi likhuthele emsebenzini, walibeka phezu kwawo wonke umthwalo wendlu kaJosefa.

11:29  Kwasekusithi ngalesosikhathi lapho uJerobhowamu ephuma eJerusalema, uAhiya umShilo umprofethi wamfica endleleni. Njalo wayezigqokise isigqoko esitsha; bobabili babebodwa egangeni.

11:30  UAhiya wasesibamba isigqoko esitsha esasikuye, wasidabula iziqa ezilitshumi lambili,

11:31  wathi kuJerobhowamu: Zithathele iziqa ezilitshumi, ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Khangela, ngizadabula umbuso usuke esandleni sikaSolomoni, ngikunike izizwe ezilitshumi.

11:32  Kodwa yena uzakuba lesizwe esisodwa ngenxa yenceku yami uDavida langenxa yeJerusalema, umuzi engiwukhethileyo ezizweni zonke zakoIsrayeli.

11:33  Ngenxa yokuthi bangitshiyile, bakhonza uAshitarothi unkulunkulu wamaSidoni, uKemoshi unkulunkulu wamaMowabi, loMilkomu unkulunkulu wabantwana bakoAmoni, kabahambanga ngendlela zami, ukwenza okulungileyo emehlweni ami, lokulondoloza izimiso zami lezahlulelo zami, njengoDavida uyise.

11:34  Loba kunjalo kangiyikuwususa umbuso wonke esandleni sakhe; kodwa ngizamenza abe ngumbusi zonke izinsuku zempilo yakhe ngenxa kaDavida inceku yami, engamkhethayo, owagcina imilayo yami lezimiso zami.

11:35  Kodwa ngizawususa umbuso esandleni sendodana yakhe, ngiwunike wena, izizwe ezilitshumi.

11:36  Lendodana yakhe ngizayinika isizwe sibe sinye ukuze uDavida inceku yami abe lesibane zonke izinsuku phambi kwami eJerusalema, umuzi engizikhethele wona ukuze ngibeke ibizo lami khona.

11:37  Wena-ke ngizakuthatha, uzabusa phezu kwakho konke umphefumulo wakho okuloyisayo, ube yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli.

11:38  Kuzakuthi-ke, uba ulalela konke engikulaya khona, uhambe ngezindlela zami, wenze okulungileyo emehlweni ami, ukugcina izimiso zami lemilayo yami, njengokwenza kukaDavida inceku yami, ngizakuba lawe, ngikwakhele indlu eqinileyo, njengengayakhela uDavida, ngizakunika uIsrayeli,

11:39  njalo ngihluphe inzalo kaDavida ngenxa yalokhu, kodwa kungabi kokuphela.

11:40  Ngakho uSolomoni wadinga ukumbulala uJerobhowamu, kodwa uJerobhowamu wasuka wabalekela eGibhithe, kuShishaki inkosi yeGibhithe, wayeseGibhithe waze wafa uSolomoni.

11:41  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaSolomoni, lakho konke akwenzayo, lenhlakanipho yakhe, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwendaba zikaSolomoni?

11:42  Isikhathi-ke uSolomoni abusa ngaso eJerusalema phezu kukaIsrayeli wonke saba yiminyaka engamatshumi amane.

11:43  USolomoni waselala laboyise, wangcwatshelwa emzini kaDavida uyise. URehobhowamu indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

Chapter 12

12:1  URehobhowamu wasesiya eShekema ngoba uIsrayeli wonke wayefike eShekema ukumbeka abe yinkosi.

12:2  Kwasekusithi uJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati, owayelokhu eseGibhithe, ekuzwa lokhu (ngoba wayebaleke esuka phambi kukaSolomoni inkosi, uJerobhowamu wahlala eGibhithe),

12:3  bathuma bambiza. UJerobhowamu lebandla lonke lakoIsrayeli basebesiza bakhuluma loRehobhowamu besithi:

12:4  Uyihlo wenza ijogwe lethu laba lukhuni; ngakho-ke wena yenza kube lula umsebenzi olukhuni kayihlo, lejogwe lakhe elinzima abesithwalise lona, njalo sizakukhonza.

12:5  Wasesithi kibo: Hambani futhi okwensuku ezintathu, libe selibuya kimi. Basebehamba abantu.

12:6  Inkosi uRehobhowamu yasicebisana labadala ababesima phambi kukaSolomoni uyise esaphila, isithi: Licebisa njani ukubuyisela impendulo kulababantu?

12:7  Basebekhuluma kuyo besithi: Uba uzakuba yinceku yalababantu lamuhla ubasebenzele, ubaphendule, ukhulume kibo amazwi amahle, khona bezakuba zinceku zakho zonke izinsuku.

12:8  Kodwa wasitshiya iseluleko sabadala ababemeluleke ngaso, wacebisana lamajaha ayeyintanga yakhe, ayemi phambi kwakhe.

12:9  Wasesithi kuwo: Lipha seluleko bani ukuthi sibuyisele impendulo kulababantu abakhulume lami besithi: Yenza libe lulanyana ijogwe uyihlo alibeka phezu kwethu?

12:10  Amajaha ayeyintanga yakhe asekhuluma kuye esithi: Uzakutsho njalo kulababantu abakhuluma kuwe besithi: Uyihlo wenza ijogwe lethu laba nzima, kodwa wena yenza libe lulanyana kithi; uzakutsho njalo kibo: Ucikilicane wami uqatha kulokhalo lukababa.

12:11  Uba-ke ubaba walethwesa ijogwe elinzima, mina-ke ngizakwengezelela ejogweni lenu. Ubaba walijezisa ngeziswepu, kodwa mina ngizalijezisa ngabofezela.

12:12  Ngakho uJerobhowamu labo bonke abantu beza kuRehobhowamu ngosuku lwesithathu njengokutsho kwenkosi isithi: Libuye kimi futhi ngosuku lwesithathu.

12:13  Inkosi yasibaphendula abantu kalukhuni, yatshiya iseluleko sabadala ababeyeluleke ngaso.

12:14  Yakhuluma kubo njengokweseluleko samajaha isithi: Ubaba wenza ijogwe lenu laba nzima, kodwa mina ngizakwengezelela ejogweni lenu; ubaba walijezisa ngeziswepu, kodwa mina ngizalijezisa ngabofezela.

12:15  Ngalokho inkosi kayibalalelanga abantu; ngoba inguquko yayivela eNkosini ukuze iqinise ilizwi layo, iNkosi eyayilikhulume ngesandla sikaAhiya umShilo kuJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati.

12:16  Lapho uIsrayeli wonke ebona ukuthi inkosi kayibalalelanga, abantu babuyisela impendulo enkosini besithi: Silesabelo bani kuDavida? Yebo, kasilalifa endodaneni kaJese. Emathenteni akho, Israyeli! Khathesi, zibonele indlu yakho, Davida. Ngakho uIsrayeli waya emathenteni akhe.

12:17  Mayelana labantwana bakoIsrayeli ababehlala emizini yakoJuda, uRehobhowamu wabusa phezu kwabo.

12:18  Khona inkosi uRehobhowamu yathuma uAdoniramu owayephezu kwezibhalwa; uIsrayeli wonke wasemkhanda ngamatshe waze wafa. Ngakho inkosi uRehobhowamu yakhwela masinyane inqola yayo, ukubalekela eJerusalema.

12:19  Ngokunjalo uIsrayeli wayihlamukela indlu kaDavida kuze kube lamuhla.

12:20  Kwasekusithi uIsrayeli wonke esezwile ukuthi uJerobhowamu ubuyile, bathuma bambizela enhlanganweni, bamenza inkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli wonke; kakubanga khona olandela indlu kaDavida ngaphandle kwesizwe sakoJuda sodwa.

12:21  Kwathi uRehobhowamu esefikile eJerusalema wabuthanisa yonke indlu yakoJuda lesizwe sakoBhenjamini, abakhethiweyo abayizinkulungwane ezilikhulu lamatshumi ayisificaminwembili, abalwa impi, ukulwa lendlu yakoIsrayeli, ukubuyisela umbuso kuRehobhowamu indodana kaSolomoni.

12:22  Kodwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lafika kuShemaya umuntu kaNkulunkulu lisithi:

12:23  Khuluma kuRehobhowamu indodana kaSolomoni, inkosi yakoJuda, lakuyo yonke indlu yakoJuda leyakoBhenjamini, lensali yabantu, uthi:

12:24  Itsho njalo iNkosi: Lingenyuki njalo lingalwi labafowenu, abantwana bakoIsrayeli. Buyelani, ngulowo lalowo endlini yakhe; ngoba linto ivela kimi. Basebelilalela ilizwi leNkosi, babuyela ukuhamba, njengokwelizwi leNkosi.

12:25  UJerobhowamu wasesakha iShekema entabeni yakoEfrayimi, wahlala kuyo; wasephuma lapho wakha iPenuweli.

12:26  UJerobhowamu wasesithi enhliziyweni yakhe: Khathesi umbuso uzabuyela endlini kaDavida.

12:27  Uba lesisizwe sisenyukela ukwenza imihlatshelo endlini yeNkosi eJerusalema, khona inhliziyo yalesisizwe izabuyela enkosini yabo, kuRehobhowamu inkosi yakoJuda, njalo bazangibulala babuyele kuRehobhowamu inkosi yakoJuda.

12:28  Ngakho inkosi yathatha icebo, yenza amathole amabili egolide, yathi kubo: Kunzima kakhulu kini ukwenyukela eJerusalema; khangela, onkulunkulu bakho, Israyeli, abakukhuphula elizweni leGibhithe.

12:29  Wasemisa elinye eBhetheli, lelinye walifaka eDani.

12:30  Loludaba lwaselusiba yisono; ngoba abantu baya phambi kwelinye kuze kube seDani ukuyakhonza.

12:31  Wasesenza indlu yezindawo eziphakemeyo, wenza abapristi ngabaphansi kakhulu babantu, ababengeyisiwo bamadodana amaLevi.

12:32  UJerobhowamu wasesenza umkhosi ngenyanga yesificaminwembili ngosuku lwetshumi lanhlanu lwenyanga njengomkhosi owawukoJuda, wanikela phezu kwelathi. Wenza njalo eBhetheli, ehlabela amathole ayewenzile. Wabeka eBhetheli abapristi bezindawo eziphakemeyo ayezenzile.

12:33  Wasenikela phezu kwelathi ayelenzile eBhetheli ngosuku lwetshumi lanhlanu enyangeni yesificaminwembili, enyangeni ayeyiqambile evela enhliziyweni yakhe. Wenzela abantwana bakoIsrayeli umkhosi, wanikela phezu kwelathi etshisa impepha.

Chapter 13

13:1  Khangela-ke, kwafika umuntu kaNkulunkulu evela koJuda ngelizwi leNkosi waya eBhetheli, njalo uJerobhowamu wayemi eduze lelathi ukutshisa impepha.

13:2  Wasememeza emelene lelathi ngelizwi leNkosi wathi: Lathi, lathi, itsho njalo iNkosi: Khangela, indodana izazalelwa indlu kaDavida, nguJosiya ibizo layo; izahlabela phezu kwakho abapristi bezindawo eziphakemeyo abatshisa impepha phezu kwakho, lamathambo abantu azatshiselwa phezu kwakho.

13:3  Wasenika isibonakaliso ngalolosuku esithi: Lesi yisibonakaliso iNkosi esikhulumileyo yathi: Khangela, ilathi lizadatshulwa lomlotha ophezu kwalo uzachithwa.

13:4  Kwasekusithi inkosi isizwile ilizwi lomuntu kaNkulunkulu owamemeza emelene lelathi eBhetheli, uJerobhowamu welula isandla sakhe wasisusa elathini, esithi: Mbambeni! Isandla sakhe-ke ayeselulele kuye soma, waze wehluleka ukusibuyisela kuye.

13:5  Lelathi ladatshulwa, lomlotha wachitheka elathini, njengokwesibonakaliso umuntu kaNkulunkulu ayesinikile ngelizwi leNkosi.

13:6  Inkosi yasiphendula yathi emuntwini kaNkulunkulu: Ake uncenge ubuso bukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ungikhulekele, ukuthi isandla sami sibuyele kimi. Umuntu kaNkulunkulu wasencenga ubuso bukaJehova, lesandla senkosi sabuyela kuyo, saba njengakuqala.

13:7  Inkosi yasisithi emuntwini kaNkulunkulu: Woza lami siye ekhaya, uzivuselele, ngizakunika umvuzo.

13:8  Kodwa umuntu kaNkulunkulu wathi enkosini: Loba unganginika ingxenye yendlu yakho, kangiyikuhamba lawe; kangiyikudla isinkwa, njalo kangiyikunatha amanzi kulindawo;

13:9  ngoba ngokunjalo yangilaya ngelizwi leNkosi isithi: Ungadli isinkwa, njalo unganathi amanzi, njalo ungabuyeli ngendlela oze ngayo.

13:10  Ngakho wahamba ngenye indlela, kabuyelanga ngendlela oweza ngayo eBhetheli.

13:11  Kwakuhlala-ke umprofethi othile omdala eBhetheli. Amadodana akhe eza amtshela sonke isenzo umuntu kaNkulunkulu ayesenzile mhlalokho eBhetheli; amazwi ayewakhulume enkosini, lawo awatshela uyise.

13:12  Uyise wasesithi kiwo: Uhambe ngayiphi indlela? Ngoba amadodana akhe ayebonile indlela umuntu kaNkulunkulu owayevele koJuda ahambe ngayo.

13:13  Wasesithi emadodaneni akhe: Ngibophelelani isihlalo kubabhemi. Basebembophelela isihlalo kubabhemi, wasegada kuye.

13:14  Wasemlandela umuntu kaNkulunkulu, wamfica ehlezi ngaphansi kwesihlahla se-okhi, wathi kuye: Nguwe umuntu kaNkulunkulu ovele koJuda yini? Wasesithi: Yimi.

13:15  Wasesithi kuye: Woza lami siye ekhaya, udle isinkwa.

13:16  Wasesithi: Ngingeke ngibuyele lawe, kumbe ngingene lawe, angiyikudla isinkwa, njalo angiyikunatha lawe amanzi kulindawo,

13:17  ngoba ilizwi lathi kimi ngelizwi leNkosi: Kawuyikudla isinkwa, unganathi amanzi khona, ungabuyeli uhambe ngendlela oze ngayo.

13:18  Wasesithi kuye: Lami ngingumprofethi njengawe, njalo ingilosi ikhulume kimi ngelizwi leNkosi isithi: Umbuyise endlini yakho lawe ukuze adle isinkwa anathe amanzi. Kodwa waqamba amanga kuye.

13:19  Wasebuyela laye, wadla isinkwa endlini yakhe, wanatha amanzi.

13:20  Kwasekusithi behlezi etafuleni, ilizwi leNkosi lafika kumprofethi owayembuyisile;

13:21  wasememeza kulowomuntu kaNkulunkulu owayevela koJuda, esithi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yokuthi kawulalelanga umlomo weNkosi, ungagcinanga umlayo iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho eyakulaya wona,

13:22  kodwa ubuyile, wadla isinkwa, wanatha amanzi endaweni eyathi ngayo kuwe: Ungadli isinkwa, njalo unganathi amanzi; isidumbu sakho kasiyikuya engcwabeni laboyihlo.

13:23  Kwasekusithi emva kokudla kwakhe isinkwa lemva kokunatha kwakhe, wasembophelela isihlalo kubabhemi lowomprofethi ayembuyisile.

13:24  Kwathi esehambile, isilwane samfica endleleni, sambulala; isidumbu sakhe sasesiphoselwa endleleni, ubabhemi wema eceleni kwaso, isilwane laso sema eceleni kwesidumbu.

13:25  Khangela-ke, abantu bedlula babona isidumbu siphoselwe endleleni lesilwane simi eceleni kwesidumbu; bafika bakubika emzini lapho lowomprofethi omdala ayehlala khona.

13:26  Kwathi lowomprofethi owayembuyisile esizwa wathi: Ngumuntu kaNkulunkulu ongalalelanga umlomo weNkosi; ngakho iNkosi imnikele esilwaneni esimphoqoze sambulala, njengokwelizwi leNkosi elakhuluma kuye.

13:27  Wasekhuluma emadodaneni akhe esithi: Ngibophelelani isihlalo kubabhemi. Basebebophela isihlalo.

13:28  Wasehamba wathola isidumbu sakhe siphoselwe endleleni, lobabhemi lesilwane kumi eceleni kwesidumbu. Isilwane sasingasidlanga isidumbu, singephulanga ubabhemi.

13:29  Umprofethi wasesiphakamisa isidumbu somuntu kaNkulunkulu, wasiphanyeka kubabhemi, wasibuyisa; umprofethi omdala wafika emzini ukulila lokumngcwaba.

13:30  Wasilalisa isidumbu engcwabeni lakhe, bamlilela bathi: Maye mfowethu!

13:31  Kwasekusithi emva kokumngcwaba kwakhe wakhuluma emadodaneni akhe esithi: Ekufeni kwami lingingcwabe engcwabeni okungcwatshelwe khona umuntu kaNkulunkulu; lilalise amathambo ami eceleni kwamathambo akhe.

13:32  Ngoba udaba luzakwenzeka sibili, alumemeza ngelizwi leNkosi emelene lelathi eliseBhetheli, njalo emelene lezindlu zonke zezindawo eziphakemeyo ezisemizini yeSamariya.

13:33  Emva kwaloludaba uJerobhowamu kaphendukanga endleleni yakhe embi, kodwa wabuya wenza abapristi bezindawo eziphakemeyo ebantwini abaphansi kakhulu; ofunayo wamehlukanisa waba ngowabapristi bendawo eziphakemeyo.

13:34  Langale into kwaba lesono kuyo indlu kaJerobhowamu, ngitsho ukuyiquma lokuyichitha isuke ebusweni bomhlaba.

Chapter 14

14:1  Ngalesosikhathi uAbhiya indodana kaJerobhowamu wagula.

14:2  UJerobhowamu wasesithi kumkakhe: Akusuke uzifihle isimo ukuze bangakwazi ukuthi ungumkaJerobhowamu, uye eShilo; khangela, kukhona lapho uAhiya umprofethi owangitshela ukuthi ngizakuba yinkosi phezu kwalababantu.

14:3  Uthathe izinkwa ezilitshumi esandleni sakho lamaqebelengwana alukhuni lodiwo loluju, uye kuye, yena uzakutshela okuzakwenzeka kulumntwana.

14:4  UmkaJerobhowamu wasesenza njalo, wasuka waya eShilo, wafika emzini kaAhiya. Kodwa uAhiya wayengelakubona ngoba amehlo akhe ayesenqundekile ngenxa yobudala bakhe.

14:5  INkosi yasisithi kuAhiya: Khangela, umkaJerobhowamu uyeza ukubuza ulutho kuwe ngendodana yakhe, ngoba iyagula. Uzamtshela ukuthi lokuthi. Ngoba kuzakuthi ekungeneni kwakhe, uzazitshaya omunye.

14:6  Kwasekusithi uAhiya esizwa izisinde zenyawo zakhe lapho engena emnyango wathi: Ngena mkaJerobhowamu; uzitshayelani omunye? Ngoba ngithunywe kuwe ngento enzima.

14:7  Hamba uthi kuJerobhowamu: Itsho njalo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ithi: Njengoba ngakuphakamisa uphakathi kwabantu, ngakwenza umbusi phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli,

14:8  ngadabula umbuso ngawususa endlini kaDavida, ngawunika wena; kodwa kawubanga njengenceku yami uDavida, owagcina imilayo yami, lowangilandela ngenhliziyo yakhe yonke, ukwenza okuhle kuphela emehlweni ami;

14:9  kodwa wenzile ububi okwedlula bonke ababekhona phambi kwakho, kodwa uhambe wazenzela abanye onkulunkulu lezithombe ezibunjwe ngokuncibilikisa, ukuze ungithukuthelise, wangilahla emva komhlana wakho.

14:10  Ngakho, khangela, ngizakwehlisela ububi endlini kaJerobhowamu, ngiqume asuke kuJerobhowamu ochamela emdulini, ovalelweyo lokhululekileyo koIsrayeli, ngihugule okulandelayo kwendlu kaJerobhowamu, njengomuntu ehugula umquba uze uphele.

14:11  OkaJerobhowamu ofela phakathi komuzi zizamudla izinja, lofela egangeni zizamudla inyoni zamazulu; ngoba iNkosi ikhulumile.

14:12  Ngakho wena suka, uye endlini yakho; ekungeneni kwenyawo zakho emzini umntwana uzakufa.

14:13  Njalo uIsrayeli wonke uzamlilela amngcwabe; ngoba nguye kuphela koJerobhowamu ozakuza engcwabeni, ngoba kutholakala kuye into elungileyo ngaseNkosini uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli endlini kaJerobhowamu.

14:14  Futhi uJehova uzazivusela inkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, ezaquma indlu kaJerobhowamu ngalolosuku. Kodwa kuyini? Lakhathesi.

14:15  Njalo iNkosi izamtshaya uIsrayeli njengomhlanga uzunguzeka emanzini, iquphule uIsrayeli elizweni leli elihle, eyalinika oyise, ibachithachithe ngaphetsheya komfula, ngenxa yokuthi bazenzela izixuku, bayithukuthelisa iNkosi.

14:16  Njalo izanikela uIsrayeli ngenxa yezono zikaJerobhowamu, owonayo, wenza uIsrayeli one.

14:17  UmkaJerobhowamu wasesuka wahamba, wafika eTiriza. Lapho efika embundwini wendlu, umfana wafa.

14:18  Basebemngcwaba; loIsrayeli wonke wamlilela, njengokwelizwi leNkosi eyalikhuluma ngesandla senceku yayo uAhiya umprofethi.

14:19  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaJerobhowamu, ukuthi walwa njani, lokuthi wabusa njani, khangela, zibhaliwe egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoIsrayeli.

14:20  Lensuku uJerobhowamu abusa ngazo zaziyiminyaka engamatshumi amabili lambili, walala laboyise, njalo uNadabi indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

14:21  URehobhowamu indodana kaSolomoni wabusa-ke koJuda. URehobhowamu wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amane lanye lapho esiba yinkosi, wabusa iminyaka elitshumi lesikhombisa eJerusalema, umuzi iNkosi eyayiwukhethile kuzo zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli, ukubeka khona ibizo layo. Lebizo likanina lalinguNahama umAmonikazi.

14:22  UJuda wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi; bayivusa ubukhwele, ngezono zabo abazonayo, okwedlula konke oyise ababekwenzile, ngezono zabo abazonayo.

14:23  Ngoba labo bazakhela izindawo eziphakemeyo, lezinsika eziyizithombe, lezixuku, phezu kwalo lonke uqaqa oluphakemeyo, langaphansi kwaso sonke isihlahla esiluhlaza.

14:24  Kwakukhona-ke elizweni lezinkotshana. Benza njengokwezinengiso zezizwe iNkosi eyayizixotshile elifeni phambi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli.

14:25  Kwasekusithi ngomnyaka wesihlanu wenkosi uRehobhowamu uShishaki inkosi yeGibhithe wenyuka wamelana leJerusalema.

14:26  Wathatha amagugu endlu kaJehova lamagugu endlu yenkosi, yebo wakuthatha konke, wathatha zonke izihlangu zegolide uSolomoni ayezenzile.

14:27  Inkosi uRehobhowamu yasisenza endaweni yazo izihlangu zethusi, yazinikela esandleni senduna yabalindi ababegcina umnyango wendlu yenkosi.

14:28  Njalo kwakusithi lapho inkosi ingena endlini kaJehova abalindi babezithwala, bazibuyisele endlini yabalindi.

14:29  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaRehobhowamu, lakho konke akwenzayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoJuda?

14:30  Kwakukhona-ke impi phakathi kukaRehobhowamu loJerobhowamu zonke izinsuku.

14:31  URehobhowamu waselala laboyise, wangcwatshelwa kuboyise emzini kaDavida. Lebizo likanina lalinguNahama umAmonikazi. UAbhiyamu indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

Chapter 15

15:1  Ngomnyaka wetshumi lesificaminwembili wenkosi uJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati uAbhiyamu wasesiba yinkosi phezu kukaJuda.

15:2  Wabusa iminyaka emithathu eJerusalema. Lebizo likanina lalinguMahaka indodakazi kaAbishalomu.

15:3  Wasehamba ezonweni zonke zikayise ayezenze phambi kwakhe, lenhliziyo yakhe yayingaphelelanga kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe, njengenhliziyo kaDavida uyise.

15:4  Kodwa ngenxa kaDavida iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhe yamnika isibane eJerusalema, ngokubeka indodana yakhe emva kwakhe, langokuqinisa iJerusalema.

15:5  Ngoba uDavida wenza okulungileyo emehlweni eNkosi, kaphambukanga kukho konke eyamlaya khona insuku zonke zempilo yakhe, ngaphandle kwedabeni lukaUriya umHethi.

15:6  Kwakukhona-ke impi phakathi kukaRehobhowamu loJerobhowamu zonke izinsuku zempilo yakhe.

15:7  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaAbhiyamu, lakho konke akwenzayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoJuda? Njalo kwaba lempi phakathi kukaAbhiyamu loJerobhowamu.

15:8  UAbhiyamu waselala laboyise, bamngcwabela emzini kaDavida. UAsa indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

15:9  Ngomnyaka wamatshumi amabili kaJerobhowamu inkosi yakoIsrayeli uAsa wasesiba yinkosi yakoJuda.

15:10  Wasebusa iminyaka engamatshumi amane lanye eJerusalema. Lebizo likanina lalinguMahaka indodakazi kaAbishalomu.

15:11  UAsa wasesenza okulungileyo emehlweni eNkosi njengoDavida uyise.

15:12  Wasusa izinkotshana elizweni, wasusa zonke izithombe oyise ababezenzile.

15:13  Laye-ke uMahaka unina wamsusa ekubeni yindlovukazi, ngoba wayenze into enengekayo ibe yiAshera; uAsa waseyigamula into yakhe enengekayo, wayitshisela esifuleni iKidroni.

15:14  Kanti indawo eziphakemeyo kazisuswanga; lanxa kunjalo inhliziyo kaAsa yayiphelele kuJehova insuku zakhe zonke.

15:15  Wasengenisa izinto ezehlukanisiweyo zikayise kanye lezakhe izinto ezehlukanisiweyo endlini yeNkosi, isiliva legolide lezitsha.

15:16  Kwakukhona-ke impi phakathi kukaAsa loBahasha inkosi yakoIsrayeli zonke izinsuku zabo.

15:17  UBahasha inkosi yakoIsrayeli wasesenyuka wamelana loJuda, wakha iRama, ukuze angavumeli muntu ukuphuma lokungena kuAsa inkosi yakoJuda.

15:18  UAsa wasethatha sonke isiliva legolide okwakusele emagugwini endlu kaJehova lamagugu endlu yenkosi, wakunikela esandleni senceku zakhe; inkosi uAsa yakuthumela kuBenihadadi indodana kaTabirimoni indodana kaHeziyoni, inkosi yeSiriya, owayehlala eDamaseko, esithi:

15:19  Kulesivumelwano phakathi kwami lawe, phakathi kukababa loyihlo; khangela, ngikuthumezela isipho, isiliva legolide. Hamba, yephula isivumelwano sakho loBahasha inkosi yakoIsrayeli, ukuze enyuke asuke kimi.

15:20  UBenihadadi waseyilalela inkosi uAsa, wathuma induna zamabutho ayelawo emelene lemizi yakoIsrayeli, watshaya iIjoni leDani leAbeli-Beti-Mahaka layo yonke iKinerothi lelizwe lonke lakoNafithali.

15:21  Kwasekusithi uBahasha ekuzwa wayekela ukwakha iRama, wahlala eTiriza.

15:22  Inkosi uAsa yasisenza isimemezelo kuyo yonke iJuda; kakho owayetshiywe ngaphandle; ukuze basuse amatshe eRama lezigodo zayo, uBahasha ayesakha ngakho. Inkosi uAsa wasesakha ngakho iGeba yakoBhenjamini leMizipa.

15:23  Ezinye-ke zazo zonke indaba zikaAsa, lawo wonke amandla akhe, lakho konke akwenzayo, lemizi ayakhayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoJuda? Kodwa esikhathini sobudala bakhe wayelomkhuhlane ezinyaweni.

15:24  UAsa waselala laboyise, wangcwatshelwa kuboyise emzini kaDavida uyise. UJehoshafathi indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

15:25  UNadabi indodana kaJerobhowamu wasesiba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli ngomnyaka wesibili kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda; wabusa phezu kukaIsrayeli iminyaka emibili.

15:26  Wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi, wahamba ngendlela kayise, lesonweni sakhe, enza uIsrayeli one ngaso.

15:27  UBahasha indodana kaAhiya, owendlu kaIsakari, wasemenzela ugobe; uBahasha wamtshaya eGibethoni engeyamaFilisti, lapho uNadabi loIsrayeli wonke bevimbezele iGibethoni.

15:28  UBahasha wambulala-ke ngomnyaka wesithathu kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda, wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

15:29  Kwasekusithi ekubuseni kwakhe watshaya yonke indlu kaJerobhowamu, katshiyanga loyedwa ophefumulayo kuJerobhowamu, waze wamqeda, njengelizwi leNkosi eyalikhuluma ngesandla senceku yayo uAhiya umShilo.

15:30  Ngenxa yezono zikaJerobhowamu azonayo, lowenza uIsrayeli azone, ngentukuthelo yakhe athukuthelisa ngayo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli.

15:31  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaNadabi, lakho konke akwenzayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoIsrayeli?

15:32  Njalo kwakulempi phakathi kukaAsa loBahasha inkosi yakoIsrayeli insuku zabo zonke.

15:33  Ngomnyaka wesithathu kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda uBahasha indodana kaAhiya waba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli wonke eTiriza; iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lane.

15:34  Wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi, wahamba ngendlela kaJerobhowamu, lesonweni sakhe, enza uIsrayeli one ngaso.

Chapter 16

16:1  Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kuJehu indodana kaHanani limelene loBahasha lisithi:

16:2  Ngenxa yokuthi ngakuphakamisa ethulini, ngakwenza umphathi phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli, kodwa uhambe ngendlela zikaJerobhowamu, wenza ukuthi abantu bami uIsrayeli bone, ukungithukuthelisa ngezono zabo;

16:3  khangela, ngizaqothula inzalo kaBahasha lenzalo yendlu yakhe, ngenze indlu yakho njengendlu kaJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati.

16:4  Ofayo kaBahasha phakathi komuzi izinja zizamudla, lowakhe ofela egangeni inyoni zamazulu zizamudla.

16:5  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaBahasha lakwenzayo lamandla akhe, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoIsrayeli?

16:6  UBahasha waselala laboyise, wangcwatshelwa eTiriza. UEla indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

16:7  Njalo ngesandla sikaJehu umprofethi indodana kaHanani ilizwi leNkosi lafika limelene loBahasha njalo limelelene lendlu yakhe, langenxa yabo bonke ububi abenza emehlweni eNkosi, ukuyithukuthelisa ngomsebenzi wezandla zakhe, ukuba njengendlu kaJerobhowamu, langenxa yokuthi wambulala.

16:8  Ngomnyaka wamatshumi amabili lesithupha kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda uEla indodana kaBahasha waba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli eTiriza, iminyaka emibili.

16:9  Kodwa inceku yakhe uZimri, induna yengxenye yezinqola, yamenzela ugobe, eseTiriza enathe wadakwa endlini kaAriza, umphathi wendlu eTiriza.

16:10  UZimri wasengena wamtshaya wambulala ngomnyaka wamatshumi amabili lesikhombisa kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda, waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

16:11  Kwasekusithi esebe yinkosi ekuhlaleni kwakhe esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi wayitshaya indlu yonke kaBahasha; kamtshiyelanga ochamela emdulini, loba izihlobo zakhe, kumbe abangane bakhe.

16:12  Ngakho uZimri wayichitha indlu yonke kaBahasha, njengokwelizwi leNkosi eyalikhuluma imelene loBahasha ngesandla sikaJehu umprofethi,

16:13  ngenxa yazo zonke izono zikaBahasha lezono zikaEla indodana yakhe, abona ngazo, labenza ngazo uIsrayeli ukuthi one, ukuthukuthelisa iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli ngezinto zabo eziyize.

16:14  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaEla, lakho konke akwenzayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoIsrayeli?

16:15  Ngomnyaka wamatshumi amabili lesikhombisa kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda uZimri wabusa insuku eziyisikhombisa eTiriza. Abantu babemise-ke inkamba bemelene leGibethoni eyayingeyamaFilisti.

16:16  Abantu-ke ababemise inkamba bezwa ukuthi: UZimri wenzile ugobe futhi watshaya inkosi. Ngakho uIsrayeli wonke wabeka uOmri induna yebutho ukuba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli mhlalokho enkambeni.

16:17  U-Omri loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye basebesenyuka besuka eGibethoni, bavimbezela iTiriza.

16:18  Kwasekusithi uZimri esebonile ukuthi umuzi usuthunjiwe, wangena esigodlweni sendlu yenkosi, watshisa indlu yenkosi phezu kwakhe ngomlilo, wafa.

16:19  Ngenxa yezono zakhe azonayo, ngokwenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi, ngokuhamba ngendlela kaJerobhowamu lesonweni sakhe asenzayo, ukwenza uIsrayeli ukuthi one.

16:20  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaZimri, logobe lwakhe alwenzayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoIsrayeli?

16:21  Khona abantu bakoIsrayeli badabukana baba zingxenye ezimbili; ingxenye yabantu yalandela uTibini indodana kaGinathi ukuze bamenze inkosi, lengxenye yalandela uOmri.

16:22  Kodwa abantu abalandela uOmri babehlula abantu abalandela uTibini indodana kaGinathi; ngakho uTibini wafa, uOmri wasebusa.

16:23  Ngomnyaka wamatshumi amathathu lanye kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda uOmri wabusa phezu kukaIsrayeli, iminyaka elitshumi lambili; eTiriza wabusa iminyaka eyisithupha.

16:24  Wathenga intaba yeSamariya kuShemeri ngamathalenta* esiliva amabili, wakha entabeni, wabiza ibizo lomuzi awakhayo ngebizo likaShemeri umnikazi wentaba, wathi yiSamariya.

16:25  Kodwa uOmri wenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi, wenza okubi okwedlula bonke ababengaphambi kwakhe.

16:26  Ngoba wahamba ngayo yonke indlela kaJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati, lesonweni sakhe, enza ngaso ukuthi uIsrayeli one, ukuyithukuthelisa iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli ngezinto zabo eziyize.

16:27  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaOmri azenzayo lamandla akhe awenzayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoIsrayeli?

16:28  U-Omri waselala laboyise, wangcwatshelwa eSamariya. UAhabi indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

16:29  UAhabi indodana kaOmri wasesiba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli ngomnyaka wamatshumi amathathu lesificaminwembili kaAsa inkosi yakoJuda; uAhabi indodana kaOmri wabusa phezu kukaIsrayeli eSamariya iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lambili.

16:30  UAhabi indodana kaOmri wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi okwedlula bonke ababekhona phambi kwakhe.

16:31  Kwasekusithi, njengokungathi kuyinto elula ukuhamba ezonweni zikaJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati, wathatha uJezebeli indodakazi kaEthibali inkosi yamaSidoni waba ngumkakhe. Wasehamba wakhonza uBhali, wamkhothamela.

16:32  Wasemisela uBhali ilathi endlini kaBhali ayeyakhile eSamariya.

16:33  UAhabi wasesenza isixuku. UAhabi wenza okwengezelelweyo ukuyithukuthelisa iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, kulawo wonke amakhosi akoIsrayeli ayengaphambi kwakhe.

16:34  Ensukwini zakhe uHiyeli umBhetheli wakha iJeriko; wabeka isisekelo sayo ngoAbiramu izibulo lakhe, wamisa amasango ayo ngoSegubi icinathunjana lakhe, njengokwelizwi leNkosi eyalikhuluma ngesandla sikaJoshuwa indodana kaNuni.

Chapter 17

17:1  UElija umTishibi wabahlali beGileyadi wasesithi kuAhabi: Kuphila kukaJehova, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, engimi phambi kwakhe, kakuyikuba khona lamazolo lezulu kuliminyaka, kuphela njengokwelizwi lami.

17:2  Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kuye lisithi:

17:3  Suka lapha, wena uphendukele empumalanga, uzicatshise esifuleni iKerithi, esiphambi kweJordani.

17:4  Kuzakuthi-ke unathe esifuleni; sengilaye amawabayi ukuthi akondle khona.

17:5  Wasehamba wenza njengokwelizwi leNkosi, ngoba wayahlala esifuleni iKerithi esiphambi kweJordani.

17:6  Amawabayi asemlethela isinkwa lenyama ekuseni, lesinkwa lenyama ntambama; wanatha esifuleni.

17:7  Kwasekusithi emva kwesikhathi isifula satsha, ngoba kwakungelazulu elizweni.

17:8  Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kuye lisithi:

17:9  Sukuma uye eZarefathi engeyeSidoni, uhlale khona. Khangela, ngilayile owesifazana ongumfelokazi khona ukuthi akondle.

17:10  Wasukuma-ke waya eZarefathi. Lapho efika esangweni lomuzi, khangela, owesifazana ongumfelokazi wayelapho etheza inkuni; wasembiza wathi: Ake ungikhele amanzi amalutshwana ngenkezo ukuze nginathe.

17:11  Kwathi esahamba ukuyawathatha, wambiza wathi: Ake ungiphathele ucezu lwesinkwa esandleni sakho.

17:12  Wasesithi: Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, kangilaqebelengwana, kuphela impuphu egcwala isandla embizeni lamafutha ayingcosana esiphisweni; khangela-ke ngitheza izinkuni ezimbili ukuze ngingene ngizilungisele khona mina lendodana yami, ukuze sidle sife.

17:13  UElija wasesithi kuye: Ungesabi; hamba wenze njengokwelizwi lakho, kodwa ngenzela kuqala iqebelengwana elincinyane ngakho, ulilethe lapha kimi, ngemva kwalokho-ke wenzele wena lendodana yakho.

17:14  Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli: Imbiza yempuphu kayiyikuphela, lesiphiso samafutha kasiyikuswela, kuze kube lusuku iNkosi ezanisa ngalo izulu ebusweni bomhlaba.

17:15  Wasehamba wenza njengokwelizwi likaElija. Njalo yena kanye laye lendlu yakhe badla okwensuku ezinengi.

17:16  Imbiza yempuphu kayiphelanga lesiphiso samafutha kasiswelanga, njengokwelizwi leNkosi eyalikhuluma ngesandla sikaElija.

17:17  Kwasekusithi emva kwalezizinto, indodana yowesifazana, inkosikazi yendlu, yagula; lomkhuhlane wayo wawulamandla kangangokuthi akwaze kwasala umphefumulo kuyo.

17:18  Wasesithi kuElija: Ngilani lawe, muntu kaNkulunkulu? Uze kimi ukuze kukhumbuleke isono sami lokubulala indodana yami na?

17:19  Wasesithi kuye: Nginika indodana yakho. Waseyithatha esifubeni sakhe, wayenyusela endlini ephezulu lapho ayehlala khona, wayilalisa embhedeni wakhe.

17:20  Wasekhala eNkosini wathi: Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, umehlisele ububi lalo umfelokazi engingenise kwakhe ngokubulala indodana yakhe na?

17:21  Wasezelulela phezu komntwana kathathu, wakhala eNkosini wathi: Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ake ubuyele umphefumulo walumntwana phakathi kwakhe.

17:22  INkosi yasilizwa ilizwi likaElija, umphefumulo womntwana wasubuyela phakathi kwakhe, wasebuya ephila.

17:23  UElija wasemthatha umntwana, wamehlisa esuka endlini ephezulu waya endlini, wamnika unina; uElija wasesithi: Bona, indodana yakho iyaphila.

17:24  Owesifazana wasesithi kuElija: Khathesi sengisazi lokhu, ukuthi ungumuntu kaNkulunkulu, ukuthi ilizwi leNkosi elisemlonyeni wakho liliqiniso.

Chapter 18

18:1  Kwasekusithi emva kwensuku ezinengi ilizwi leNkosi lafika kuElija ngomnyaka wesithathu lisithi: Hamba, uziveze kuAhabi, sengizanisa izulu ebusweni bomhlaba.

18:2  UElija wasesiya ukuziveza kuAhabi. Njalo indlala yayilamandla eSamariya.

18:3  UAhabi wasebiza uObhadiya owayephezu kwendlu yakhe. UObhadiya wayeyesaba-ke kakhulu iNkosi.

18:4  Ngoba kwathi lapho uJezebeli ebhubhisa abaprofethi beNkosi, uObhadiya wathatha abaprofethi abalikhulu, wabafihla ngamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini, wabondla ngesinkwa langamanzi.

18:5  UAhabi wasesithi kuObhadiya: Hamba elizweni uye emithonjeni yonke yamanzi lezifuleni zonke; mhlawumbe singathola utshani, silondoloze amabhiza lezimbongolo kuphila, ukuze singabhubhisi okwezifuyo.

18:6  Basebesehlukaniselana ilizwe ukuthi badabule phakathi kwalo; uAhabi wahamba ngenye indlela yedwa, uObhadiya laye wahamba ngenye indlela yedwa.

18:7  Kwasekusithi uObhadiya esendleleni, khangela-ke, uElija wamhlangabeza; wamnanzelela, wawa ngobuso bakhe wathi: Nguwe yini, nkosi yami, Elija?

18:8  Wasesithi kuye: Yimi. Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi: Khangela, uElija ulapha.

18:9  Wasesithi: Ngoneni ukuthi unikele inceku yakho esandleni sikaAhabi ukuthi angibulale?

18:10  Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, kakulasizwe lombuso inkosi yami engathumelanga kukho ukukudinga. Lapho besithi: Kakho; yafungisa lowombuso lalesosizwe ukuthi kabakutholanga.

18:11  Khathesi-ke uthi: Hamba utshele inkosi yakho ukuthi: Khangela, uElija ulapha.

18:12  Kuzakuthi-ke sengisukile kuwe, uMoya weNkosi akuthwale akuse lapho engingazi khona; lapho sengifike ngatshela uAhabi, angakutholi, uzangibulala; kodwa mina inceku yakho ngiyayesaba iNkosi kusukela ebutsheni bami.

18:13  Kakutshelwanga inkosi yami yini engakwenzayo lapho uJezebeli ebulala abaprofethi beNkosi, ukuthi ngafihla amadoda alikhulu kubaprofethi beNkosi, ngamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini, ngabondla ngesinkwa langamanzi?

18:14  Khathesi-ke uthi: Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi: Khangela uElija ulapha. Abesengibulala.

18:15  UElija wasesithi: Kuphila kukaJehova wamabandla engimi phambi kwakhe, oqotho lamuhla ngizaziveza kuye.

18:16  Ngakho uObhadiya wahamba ukuhlangabeza uAhabi, wamtshela; loAhabi wayahlangabeza uElija.

18:17  Kwasekusithi uAhabi ebona uElija, uAhabi wathi kuye: Nguwe yini ongumhluphi kaIsrayeli?

18:18  Wasesithi: Kangimhluphanga uIsrayeli, kodwa nguwe lendlu kayihlo, ngokuyitshiya kwenu imilayo yeNkosi, lalandela oBhali.

18:19  Ngakho-ke thuma, ubuthanisele kimi uIsrayeli wonke entabeni iKharmeli, labaprofethi bakaBhali abangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu labaprofethi bezixuku abangamakhulu amane abadla etafuleni likaJezebeli.

18:20  Ngakho uAhabi wathuma phakathi kwabo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli, wabuthanisa abaprofethi entabeni iKharmeli.

18:21  UElija wasesondela ebantwini bonke wathi: Koze kube nini liqhula emicabangweni emibili? Uba iNkosi inguNkulunkulu, landelani yona; kodwa uba kunguBhali, mlandeleni. Kodwa abantu kabamphendulanga ngalizwi.

18:22  UElija wasesithi ebantwini: Mina ngedwa ngingumprofethi weNkosi oseleyo; kodwa abaprofethi bakaBhali ngamadoda angamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu.

18:23  Ngakho kabasinike amajongosi amabili, bazikhethele ijongosi elilodwa, baliqume iziqa, bazibeke phezu kwenkuni, bangafaki mlilo; lami ngizalungisa elinye ijongosi, ngilibeke phezu kwenkuni, ngingafaki mlilo.

18:24  Njalo bizani ibizo likankulunkulu wenu, lami ngizabiza ibizo leNkosi; uNkulunkulu ozaphendula ngomlilo nguye uNkulunkulu. Bonke abantu basebephendula bathi: Lelilizwi lilungile.

18:25  UElija wasesithi kubaprofethi bakaBhali: Zikhetheleni ijongosi elilodwa, lililungise kuqala, ngoba libanengi, libize ibizo likankulunkulu wenu, kodwa lingafaki mlilo.

18:26  Basebethatha ijongosi ababelinikiwe, balilungisa, babiza ibizo likaBhali kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwaba semini, besithi: Bhali, siphendule! Kodwa kakubanga lalizwi, kakubanga lophendulayo. Basebeseqa phezu kwelathi elalenziwe.

18:27  Kwasekusithi emini uElija wadlala ngabo wathi: Memezani ngelizwi elikhulu, ngoba ungunkulunkulu; ngoba uyanakana, loba umonyukile, kumbe usekuhambeni, mhlawumbe ulele, njalo kudingeka ukuthi avuswe.

18:28  Basebememeza ngelizwi elikhulu, bazisika njengokomkhuba wabo ngezinkemba langemikhonto, kwaze kwantshaza igazi kubo.

18:29  Kwasekusithi sekwedlulile imini, baprofetha kwaze kwaba sekunikelweni komnikelo, kakubanga lelizwi, njalo kakubanga lophendulayo, njalo kakubanga lonakekelayo.

18:30  UElija wasesithi ebantwini bonke: Sondelani kimi. Bonke abantu basebesondela kuye. Waselungisa ilathi leNkosi elaselidilikile.

18:31  UElija wasethatha amatshe alitshumi lambili, ngokwenani lezizwe zamadodana kaJakobe, okwafika kuye ilizwi leNkosi lisithi: Ibizo lakho lizakuba nguIsrayeli.

18:32  Ngalawomatshe wasesakha ilathi ebizweni leNkosi, wenza umgelo ozingelezela ilathi, ngokwesilinganiso samaseya* amabili enhlanyelo.

18:33  Waselungisa inkuni, waliquma iziqa ijongosi, walibeka phezu kwenkuni, wasesithi: Gcwalisani izimbiza ezine ngamanzi, liwathele phezu komnikelo wokutshiswa laphezu kwenkuni.

18:34  Wasesithi: Kwenzeni okwesibili. Bakwenza okwesibili. Wathi: Kwenzeni okwesithathu. Basebekwenza okwesithathu.

18:35  Amanzi asehamba azingelezela ilathi, lomgelo lawo wawugcwalisa ngamanzi.

18:36  Kwasekusithi ekunikelweni komnikelo uElija umprofethi wasondela wathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaAbrahama, uIsaka, loIsrayeli, kakwaziwe lamuhla ukuthi unguNkulunkulu koIsrayeli, lami ngiyinceku yakho, lokuthi ngizenzile zonke lezizinto njengokwelizwi lakho.

18:37  Ngiphendule, Nkosi, ungiphendule, ukuze lababantu bazi ukuthi wena uyiNkosi uNkulunkulu, lokuthi uyiphendulile futhi inhliziyo yabo.

18:38  Wasusehla umlilo weNkosi, waqothula umnikelo wokutshiswa lenkuni lamatshe lothuli, wakhotha lamanzi asemgelweni.

18:39  Kwathi abantu bonke bekubona bathi mbo ngobuso babo, bathi: UJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu; uJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu.

18:40  UElija wasesithi kibo: Babambeni abaprofethi bakaBhali, kungaphunyuki lamunye wabo. Basebebabamba. UElija wasebehlisela esifuleni iKishoni, wababulalela khona.

18:41  UElija wasesithi kuAhabi: Yenyuka, udle unathe, ngoba kulomsindo wobunengi bezulu.

18:42  UAhabi wasesenyuka ukuyakudla lokunatha. UElija wasesenyukela engqongeni yeKharmeli; wakhothamela phansi emhlabathini, wafaka ubuso bakhe phakathi kwamadolo akhe.

18:43  Wasesithi encekwini yakhe: Yenyuka khathesi, ukhangele ngaselwandle. Yasisenyuka, yakhangela, yathi: Kakulalutho. Wasesithi: Buyela, kasikhombisa.

18:44  Kwasekusithi ngesikhathi sesikhombisa yathi: Khangela, iyezana elingangesandla somuntu lisenyuka olwandle. Wasesithi: Yenyuka uyetshela uAhabi: Bophela inqola, wehle, hlezi izulu likuvalele.

18:45  Kwasekusithi kungakafiki lesosikhathi isibhakabhaka sasesisiba mnyama ngamayezi langomoya, kwaba lezulu elikhulu. UAhabi wasegada, waya eJizereyeli.

18:46  Lesandla seNkosi sasiphezu kukaElija; wabopha ukhalo lwakhe, wagijima phambi kukaAhabi, uze ufike eJizereyeli.

Chapter 19

19:1  UAhabi wasetshela uJezebeli konke uElija ayekwenzile, labo bonke ababulalayo, bonke abaprofethi, ngenkemba.

19:2  Khona uJezebeli wathuma isithunywa kuElija esithi: Kabenze njalo onkulunkulu, bengezelele njalo, uba ngalesisikhathi kusasa ngingenzi impilo yakho ibe njengempilo yomunye wabo.

19:3  Esekubonile, wasukuma, wahamba ngenxa yempilo yakhe, wafika eBherishebha engeyakoJuda, watshiya khona inceku yakhe.

19:4  Kodwa yena wahamba uhambo losuku enkangala, wafika wahlala ngaphansi kwesihlahla serotemu*, wacela ukuthi umphefumulo wakhe ufe, wathi: Kwanele, khathesi, Nkosi, thatha impilo yami, ngoba kangingcono kulabobaba.

19:5  Esecambalele elele ngaphansi kwesihlahla esithile serotemu, khangela-ke, khonokho ingilosi yamthinta, yathi kuye: Vuka udle.

19:6  Wasethalaza, khangela-ke, ekhanda lakhe iqebelengwana losiwe emalahleni, lesigxingi samanzi; wasesidla wanatha, waphinda walala.

19:7  Ingilosi yeNkosi yasifika ngokwesibili, yamthinta yathi: Vuka udle; ngoba uhambo lwakho lukhulu kakhulu kuwe.

19:8  Wasevuka wadla wanatha, wahamba ngamandla alokhokudla insuku ezingamatshumi amane lobusuku obungamatshumi amane, waze wafika eHorebe intaba kaNkulunkulu.

19:9  Wasengena lapho ebhalwini, walala khona ubusuku. Khangela-ke, ilizwi leNkosi lafika kuye lathi kuye: Wenzani lapha, Elija?

19:10  Wathi: Bengitshiseka lokutshisekela iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wamabandla, ngoba abantwana bakoIsrayeli basitshiyile isivumelwano sakho, badiliza amalathi akho, babulala abaprofethi bakho ngenkemba; yimi ngedwa engiseleyo, njalo badinga impilo yami ukuyisusa.

19:11  Wasesithi: Phuma ume entabeni phambi kweNkosi. Khangela-ke, iNkosi yadlula. Umoya omkhulu olamandla wasudabula izintaba, waqhekeza amadwala phambi kweNkosi; kodwa iNkosi yayingekho emoyeni. Lemva komoya ukunyikinyeka komhlaba; kodwa iNkosi yayingekho ekunyikinyekeni komhlaba.

19:12  Lemva kokunyikinyeka komhlaba umlilo; kodwa iNkosi yayingekho emlilweni. Njalo emva komlilo ilizwi elincinyane elinyenyezayo.

19:13  Kwasekuthi uElija elizwa, wathandela ubuso bakhe ngesembatho sakhe, waphuma wema emlonyeni wobhalu. Khangela-ke, leza kuye ilizwi lathi: Wenzani lapha, Elija?

19:14  Wathi: Bengitshisekela lokutshisekela iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wamabandla, ngoba abantwana bakoIsrayeli basitshiyile isivumelwano sakho, badiliza amalathi akho, babulala abaprofethi bakho ngenkemba; yimi ngedwa engiseleyo, njalo badinga impilo yami ukuyisusa.

19:15  INkosi yasisithi kuye: Hamba, ubuyele ngendlela yakho uye enkangala yeDamaseko; lapho usufikile ugcobe uHazayeli abe yinkosi phezu kweSiriya,

19:16  loJehu indodana kaNimshi umgcobe abe yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, loElisha indodana kaShafati weAbeli-Mehola umgcobe abe ngumprofethi esikhundleni sakho.

19:17  Kuzakuthi-ke ozaphepha enkembeni kaHazayeli uJehu uzambulala, lozaphepha enkembeni kaJehu uElisha uzambulala.

19:18  Kodwa ngitshiyile koIsrayeli abazinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa, wonke amadolo angazanga aguqe kuBhali, lawo wonke umlomo ongazanga umange.

19:19  Wasesuka lapho, wafica uElisha indodana kaShafati; wayelima ngezipani zenkabi zamajogwe alitshumi lambili phambi kwakhe, yena wayelesetshumi lambili. UElija wesesedlula eceleni kwakhe, waphosela isembatho sakhe phezu kwakhe.

19:20  Wasetshiya izinkabi, wagijima elandela uElija, wathi: Ake ngange ubaba lomama, besengikulandela. Wasesithi kuye: Hamba ubuyele, ngoba ngenzeni kuwe?

19:21  Wasebuyela ekumlandeleni, wathatha isipani senkabi, wasihlaba, langezikhali zenkabi wapheka inyama yazo, wayinika abantu, bayidla. Wasesuka elandela uElija, wamsebenzela.

Chapter 20

20:1  UBenihadadi inkosi yeSiriya wasebutha ibutho lakhe lonke, elamakhosi angamatshumi amathathu lambili, lamabhiza lezinqola. Wenyuka wayavimbezela iSamariya, walwa layo.

20:2  Wathuma izithunywa kuAhabi inkosi yakoIsrayeli, emzini, wathi kuye: Utsho njalo uBenihadadi:

20:3  Isiliva sakho legolide lakho ngokwami, labafazi bakho labantwana bakho abahle ngabami.

20:4  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasiphendula yathi: Njengokwelizwi lakho, nkosi yami, nkosi, ngingowakho, lakho konke engilakho.

20:5  Izithunywa zasezibuyela zathi: Utsho njalo uBenihadadi uthi: Lanxa ngithumele kuwe ngisithi: Isiliva sakho legolide lakho labafazi bakho labantwana bakho, kunike mina;

20:6  kube kanti phose ngalesisikhathi kusasa ngizathuma kuwe izinceku zami, zizaguduza indlu yakho lezindlu zezinceku zakho; kuzakuthi-ke, yonke into ethandekayo emehlweni akho, zizayifaka esandleni sazo ziyithathe.

20:7  Ngakho inkosi yakoIsrayeli yabiza bonke abadala belizwe yathi: Ake linanzelele libone ukuthi lo udinga ububi, ngoba uthumele kimi ngabafazi bami langabantwana bami langesiliva sami langegolide lami, njalo kangimalelanga.

20:8  Bonke abadala labo bonke abantu basebesithi kuyo: Ungalaleli, njalo ungavumi.

20:9  Wasesithi kuzo izithunywa zikaBenihadadi: Tshelani inkosi yami, inkosi ukuthi: Konke eyakuthumela encekwini yayo kuqala ngizakwenza; kodwa linto kangilamandla okuyenza. Izithunywa zasezihamba, zayibuyisela ilizwi.

20:10  UBenihadadi wasethumela kuye wathi: Kabenze njalo onkulunkulu kimi, bengezelele njalo, uba ubhuqu lweSamariya lungenela izandla ezigcweleyo zabo bonke abantu abangilandelayo.

20:11  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasiphendula yathi: Mtsheleni: Lowo obhinca izikhali kangaziqakisi njengozikhululayo.

20:12  Kwasekusithi esizwa lelilizwi esanatha, yena lamakhosi emadumbeni, wathi ezincekwini zakhe: Zimiseni! Zasezizimisa ukumelana lomuzi.

20:13  Khangela-ke, umprofethi othile wasondela kuAhabi inkosi yakoIsrayeli, wathi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Uyalibona lelixuku lonke elikhulu yini? Khangela, ngizalinikela esandleni sakho lamuhla, njalo uzakwazi ukuthi mina ngiyiNkosi.

20:14  UAhabi wasesithi: Ngobani? Wasesithi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngamajaha abaphathi bezabelo. Wasesithi: Ngubani ozaqalisa impi? Wasesithi: Wena.

20:15  Wasebala amajaha abaphathi bezabelo, ayengamakhulu amabili lamatshumi amathathu lambili; lemva kwawo wabala bonke abantu, bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli, izinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa.

20:16  Basebephuma emini, uBenihadadi esenathe wadakwa emadumbeni, yena lamakhosi, amakhosi angamatshumi amathathu lambili ayemsiza.

20:17  Amajaha abaphathi bezabelo asephuma kuqala. UBenihadadi wasethuma, basebemtshela besithi: Kuphume amadoda eSamariya.

20:18  Wasesithi: Loba ephumele ukuthula, abambeni ephila; loba-ke ephumele impi, abambeni ephila.

20:19  Lala aphuma emzini, amajaha abaphathi bezabelo, lebutho elawalandelayo.

20:20  Babulala, ngulowo lalowo umuntu wakhe. AmaSamariya asebaleka, uIsrayeli wasexotshana lawo, kodwa uBenihadadi inkosi yeSiriya waphunyuka ngebhiza kanye labagadi bamabhiza.

20:21  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasiphuma, yatshaya amabhiza lenqola, yatshaya phakathi kwamaSiriya ngokubulala okukhulu.

20:22  Lowomprofethi wasesondela enkosini yakoIsrayeli wathi kuyo: Hamba, uziqinise, unanzelele njalo ubone okwenzayo; ngoba ekuthwaseni komnyaka inkosi yeSiriya izakwenyuka imelane lawe.

20:23  Lezinceku zenkosi yeSiriya zathi kuyo: Onkulunkulu babo bangonkulunkulu bezintaba, yikho belamandla kulathi; kube kanti asilwe labo emagcekeni, sibili sizabehlula.

20:24  Ngakho yenza linto: Susa amakhosi, ngulowo lalowo endaweni yakhe, ubeke izinduna esikhundleni sawo;

20:25  njalo wena zibalele ibutho njengebutho eliwileyo kuwe, lebhiza njengebhiza, lenqola njengenqola; njalo sizakulwa labo emagcekeni, isibili sizabehlula. Yasilalela ilizwi labo, yenza njalo.

20:26  Kwasekusithi ekuthwaseni komnyaka uBenihadadi wabala amaSiriya, wenyukela eAfeki ekulweni loIsrayeli.

20:27  Abantwana bakoIsrayeli babalwa-ke, banikwa imiphako, basebephuma ukumelana lawo; abantwana bakoIsrayeli bamisa inkamba phambi kwawo njengemihlanjana yembuzi emibili, kodwa amaSiriya agcwala ilizwe.

20:28  Kwasekusondela umuntu kaNkulunkulu, wakhuluma enkosini yakoIsrayeli wathi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yokuthi amaSiriya athe: INkosi inguNkulunkulu wezintaba, kodwa kayisuye uNkulunkulu wezihotsha, ngakho ngizanikela esandleni sakho lelixuku lonke elikhulu, njalo lizakwazi ukuthi mina ngiyiNkosi.

20:29  Basebemisa inkamba, enye iqondene lenye, insuku eziyisikhombisa. Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesikhombisa impi yadibana; abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebetshaya ngosuku lunye amaSiriya azinkulungwane ezilikhulu ahamba ngenyawo.

20:30  Labaseleyo babalekela eAfeki emzini; lomduli wawela phezu kwamadoda ayizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lesikhombisa ayesele. UBenihadadi laye wabaleka, wangena emzini ekamelweni elingaphakathi.

20:31  Lezinceku zakhe zathi kuye: Khangela-ke, sizwile ukuthi amakhosi endlu yakoIsrayeli angamakhosi alesihawu; ake sifake amasaka enkalweni zethu, lamagoda emakhanda ethu, siphumele enkosini yakoIsrayeli; mhlawumbe izagcina umphefumulo wakho uphile.

20:32  Basebethandela amasaka enkalweni zabo, lamagoda emakhanda abo, bafika enkosini yakoIsrayeli, bathi: Inceku yakho uBenihadadi ithi: Ake ungiyekele ngiphile. Yasisithi: Usaphila yini? Ungumfowethu.

20:33  Lamadoda aqaphela ngokukhuthala aphangisa ukukuhluthuna kuyo, athi: Umfowenu uBenihadadi. Yasisithi: Hambani liyemthatha. UBenihadadi wasephumela kuyo, yamkhweza enqoleni.

20:34  Wasesithi kuyo: Imizi ubaba ayithatha kuyihlo ngizayibuyisela; futhi ungazenzela izitalada eDamaseko njengokwenza kukababa eSamariya. Khona uAhabi wathi: Mina ngizakuyekela uhambe ngalesisivumelwano. Yasisenza laye isivumelwano yamyekela ehamba.

20:35  Umuntu othile wamadodana abaprofethi wasesithi kumakhelwane wakhe ngelizwi leNkosi uNkulunkulu: Ake ungitshaye. Kodwa lowomuntu wala ukumtshaya.

20:36  Wasesithi kuye: Ngenxa yokuthi ungalilalelanga ilizwi leNkosi, khangela, ekusukeni kwakho kimi isilwane sizakutshaya. Wasesuka kuye, lesilwane samfica, sambulala.

20:37  Wasethola omunye umuntu wathi: Ake ungitshaye. Lalowomuntu wamtshaya lokumtshaya emlimaza.

20:38  Ngakho umprofethi wasuka, wamelela inkosi endleleni, ezifihle isimo ngelembu emehlweni.

20:39  Kwasekusithi inkosi idlula, yena wamemeza enkosini wathi: Inceku yakho yaphuma phakathi kwempi; khangela-ke, umuntu waphambuka, waletha umuntu kimi, wathi: Londoloza lumuntu; uba elahleka lokulahleka, khona impilo yakho izakuba sesikhundleni sempilo yakhe, kumbe uhlawule ngethalenta* lesiliva.

20:40  Kwasekusithi inceku yakho isaphathekile lapha lalaphaya, yena wayengekho. Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasisithi kuye: Sinjalo isahlulelo sakho, ususiqumile wena.

20:41  Wasephangisa walisusa ilembu emehlweni akhe. Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasimazi ukuthi ungowabaprofethi.

20:42  Wasesithi kuyo: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngoba umyekele ukuthi aphume esandleni umuntu engimmisele ukumtshabalalisa, ngakho impilo yakho izakuba sesikhundleni sempilo yakhe, labantu bakho esikhundleni sabantu bakhe.

20:43  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasisiya endlini yayo inyukumele, ithukuthele, yafika eSamariya.

Chapter 21

21:1  Kwasekusithi emva kwalezizinto uNabothi umJizereyeli wayelesivini esasiseJizereyeli phansi kwesigodlo sikaAhabi inkosi yeSamariya.

21:2  UAhabi wasekhuluma loNabothi esithi: Ngipha isivini sakho ukuze sibe kimi yisivande semibhida, ngoba siseduze phansi kwendlu yami; ngizakunika isivini esingcono kulaso esikhundleni saso; uba kukuhle emehlweni akho, ngizakunika imali ngentengo yaso.

21:3  Kodwa uNabothi wathi kuAhabi: Kakube khatshana lami ngeNkosi ukuthi ngikunike ilifa labobaba.

21:4  UAhabi wasengena endlini yakhe enyukumele ethukuthele ngenxa yelizwi uNabothi umJizereyeli ayelikhulume kuye, ngoba wayethe: Kangiyikukunika ilifa labobaba. Wasecambalala embhedeni wakhe, waphendula ubuso bakhe, kadlanga ukudla.

21:5  UJezebeli umkakhe wasesiza kuye wathi kuye: Kungani umoya wakho usineme ukuze ungadli ukudla?

21:6  Wasesithi kuye: Ngoba ngikhulume loNabothi umJizereyeli ngithe kuye: Nginike isivini sakho ngemali, loba uba uthanda ngizakunika isivini esikhundleni saso; wasesithi: Kangiyikukunika isivini sami.

21:7  UJezebeli umkakhe wasesithi kuye: Khathesi nguwe obusa umbuso wakoIsrayeli? Vuka udle isinkwa, lenhliziyo yakho ithokoze; ngizakunika mina isivini sikaNabothi umJizereyeli.

21:8  Wasebhala izincwadi ngebizo likaAhabi, wazidinda ngophawu lwakhe, wazithumela izincwadi ebadaleni lakuzikhulu, ababesemzini wakhe, behlala loNabothi.

21:9  Wasebhala ezincwadini esithi: Memezelani izilo lokudla, limhlalise uNabothi ngaphezulu kwabantu;

21:10  beselihlalisa amadoda amabili, amadodana kaBheliyali, maqondana laye ukuthi afakaze emelene laye esithi: Uthuke uNkulunkulu lenkosi. Beselimkhuphela phandle limkhande ngamatshe aze afe.

21:11  Lamadoda alumuzi wakhe, abadala lezikhulu ababehlala emzini wakhe, benza njengokuthumela kukaJezebeli kuwo, njengokubhalwe ezincwadini ayewathumele zona.

21:12  Amemezela izilo lokudla, ahlalisa uNabothi phezulu kwabantu.

21:13  Asengena amadoda amabili, amadodana kaBheliyali, ahlala maqondana laye; lamadoda kaBheliyali afakaza emelene laye, emelene loNabothi, phambi kwabantu, esithi: UNabothi uthuke uNkulunkulu lenkosi. Basebemkhuphela ngaphandle komuzi, bamkhanda ngamatshe waze wafa.

21:14  Basebethumela kuJezebeli besithi: UNabothi usekhandwe ngamatshe wafa.

21:15  Kwasekusithi uJezebeli esezwile ukuthi uNabothi usekhandwe ngamatshe wafa, uJezebeli wathi kuAhabi: Vuka uthathe isivini sikaNabothi umJizereyeli sibe ngesakho, ala ukukunika sona ngemali, ngoba uNabothi kaphili, kodwa ufile.

21:16  Kwasekusithi uAhabi esezwile ukuthi uNabothi ufile, uAhabi wasukuma ukwehlela esivinini sikaNabothi umJizereyeli, ukusithatha sibe ngesakhe.

21:17  Kwasekufika ilizwi leNkosi kuElija umTishibi lisithi:

21:18  Sukuma wehle ukuhlangabeza uAhabi inkosi yakoIsrayeli, oseSamariya; khangela, usesivinini sikaNabothi, ehlele khona ukuze asithathe sibe ngesakhe.

21:19  Uzakhuluma kuye uthi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ubulele futhi wathatha yini kwaba ngokwakho? Njalo uzakhuluma kuye uthi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Endaweni lapho izinja ezikhothe khona igazi likaNabothi, izinja zizakhotha igazi lakho, ngitsho elakho.

21:20  UAhabi wasesithi kuElija: Ungificile yini, sitha sami? Wasesithi: Ngikutholile, ngoba uzithengisile ukwenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi.

21:21  Khangela, ngizakwehlisela ububi, ngiqothule inzalo yakho, ngiqume asuke kuAhabi ochamela emdulini, lovalelweyo lokhululekileyo koIsrayeli.

21:22  Njalo ngizakwenza indlu yakho ibe njengendlu kaJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati lanjengendlu kaBahasha indodana kaAhiya, ngenxa yesicunulo ongicunule ngaso, wenza uIsrayeli one.

21:23  LangoJezebeli laye iNkosi yakhuluma isithi: Izinja zizamudla uJezebeli emthangaleni weJizereyeli.

21:24  OkaAhabi ofela phakathi komuzi zizamudla izinja, lofela egangeni zizamudla inyoni zamazulu.

21:25  Kodwa kakubanga khona onjengoAhabi owazithengisa ukwenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi, uJezebeli umkakhe amkhuthazayo.

21:26  Wenza amanyala kakhulu ngokulandela izithombe, njengakho konke amaAmori akwenzayo, iNkosi eyawaxotsha elifeni phambi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli.

21:27  Kwasekusithi uAhabi esizwa lamazwi wadabula izigqoko zakhe, wafaka isaka phezu komzimba wakhe, wazila ukudla, walala ngesaka, wahamba buthakathaka.

21:28  Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kuElija umTishibi lisithi:

21:29  Ubonile yini ukuthi uAhabi uzithobe phambi kwami? Ngenxa yokuthi ezithobile phambi kwami kangiyikuletha ububi ensukwini zakhe; ensukwini zendodana yakhe ngizaletha lobububi endlini yakhe.

Chapter 22

22:1  Bahlala-ke iminyaka emithathu kungekho impi phakathi kweSiriya loIsrayeli.

22:2  Kwasekusithi ngomnyaka wesithathu uJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda wehlela enkosini yakoIsrayeli.

22:3  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasisithi encekwini zayo: Liyazi yini ukuthi iRamothi-Gileyadi ingeyethu? Kodwa sithule, singayithathi esandleni senkosi yeSiriya.

22:4  Yasisithi kuJehoshafathi: Uzahamba lami empini eRamothi-Gileyadi yini? UJehoshafathi wasesithi enkosini yakoIsrayeli: Nginjengawe, njengabantu bami banjalo abantu bakho, njengamabhiza ami anjalo amabhiza akho.

22:5  UJehoshafathi wasesithi enkosini yakoIsrayeli: Akubuze lamuhla ilizwi leNkosi.

22:6  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasibuthanisa abaprofethi abangaba ngamadoda angamakhulu amane, yathi kubo: Ngihambe yini ukuyamelana leRamothi-Gileyadi empini kumbe ngiyekele? Basebesithi: Yenyuka, ngoba iNkosi izayinikela esandleni senkosi.

22:7  UJehoshafathi wasesithi: Kakusekho yini lapha umprofethi weNkosi esingambuza?

22:8  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasisithi kuJehoshafathi: Kusekhona indoda eyodwa, uMikhaya indodana kaImla, esingabuza ngaye eNkosini, kodwa mina ngiyamzonda, ngoba kaprofethi okuhle ngami, kodwa okubi. UJehoshafathi wasesithi: Inkosi ingatsho njalo.

22:9  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasibiza induna yathi: Landa masinyane uMikhaya indodana kaImla.

22:10  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli loJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda babehlezi, ngulowo lalowo esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, begqoke izembatho zabo, besebaleni lokubhulela ekungeneni kwesango leSamariya, njalo bonke abaprofethi babeprofetha phambi kwabo.

22:11  UZedekhiya indodana kaKhenahana wasezenzela izimpondo zensimbi, wathi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngalezi uzahlaba amaSiriya uze uwaqede.

22:12  Labo bonke abaprofethi baprofetha njalo, besithi: Yenyukela eRamothi-Gileyadi, uphumelele; ngoba uJehova uzayinikela esandleni senkosi.

22:13  Isithunywa esasiyebiza uMikhaya sakhuluma laye sathi: Khangela-ke, amazwi abaprofethi ngamlomo munye mahle enkosini; ake ilizwi lakho lifanane lelizwi lomunye wabo, ukhulume okuhle.

22:14  Kodwa uMikhaya wathi: Kuphila kukaJehova, lokho iNkosi ekutshoyo kimi lokho ngizakukhuluma.

22:15  Esefikile enkosini, inkosi yathi kuye: Mikhaya, siye eRamothi-Gileyadi empini kumbe siyekele? Wasesithi kuyo: Yenyuka, uphumelele; ngoba uJehova uzayinikela esandleni senkosi.

22:16  Inkosi yasisithi kuye: Ngizakufungisa kuze kube kangaki ukuthi ungangitsheli lutho ngaphandle kweqiniso ebizweni leNkosi?

22:17  Wasesithi: Ngabona uIsrayeli wonke ehlakazekile phezu kwezintaba njengezimvu ezingelamelusi; uJehova wathi: Laba kabalankosi, kababuyele, ngulowo lalowo endlini yakhe ngokuthula.

22:18  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasisithi kuJehoshafathi: Kangikutshelanga yini ukuthi kayikuprofetha okuhle ngami kodwa okubi?

22:19  Wasesithi: Ngakho zwana ilizwi leNkosi: Ngibone iNkosi ihlezi esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, lamabutho wonke amazulu emi phansi kwayo ngakwesokunene sayo langakwesokhohlo sayo.

22:20  INkosi yasisithi: Ngubani ozahuga uAhabi ukuthi enyuke ayewela eRamothi-Gileyadi? Omunye-ke watsho njalo, lomunye watsho njalo.

22:21  Kwasekuphuma umoya, wema phambi kweNkosi wathi: Mina ngizamhuga.

22:22  INkosi yasisithi kuye: Ngani? Wasesithi: Ngizaphuma ngibe ngumoya wamanga emlonyeni wabo bonke abaprofethi bakhe. Yasisithi: Uzamhuga, njalo uzaphumelela; phuma wenze njalo.

22:23  Ngakho-ke, khangela, iNkosi ifake umoya wamanga emlonyeni walababaprofethi bakho bonke, njalo iNkosi ikhulume okubi ngawe.

22:24  UZedekhiya indodana kaKhenahana wasesondela, watshaya uMikhaya esihlathini, wathi: UMoya weNkosi wedlula ngani esuka kimi ukuyakhuluma lawe?

22:25  UMikhaya wasesithi: Khangela, uzakubona mhlalokho lapho uzangena ekamelweni elingaphakathi ukuyacatsha.

22:26  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasisithi: Thatha uMikhaya, mbuyisele kuAmoni umbusi womuzi lakuJowashi indodana yenkosi,

22:27  uthi: Itsho njalo inkosi: Fakani lo entolongweni, limdlise isinkwa sohlupho lamanzi ohlupho ngize ngibuye ngokuthula.

22:28  UMikhaya wasesithi: Uba uphenduka isibili ngokuthula, iNkosi kayikhulumanga ngami. Wasesithi: Zwanini, bantu, lina lonke.

22:29  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli loJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda basebesenyukela eRamothi-Gileyadi.

22:30  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasisithi kuJehoshafathi: Ngizazifihla isimo, ngingene empini, kodwa wena gqoka izembatho zakho. Inkosi yakoIsrayeli yasizifihla isimo, yangena empini.

22:31  Inkosi yeSiriya yayilaye induna zezinqola ezingamatshumi amathathu lambili ayelazo, esithi: Lingalwi lomncinyane loba lomkhulu, kodwa lenkosi yakoIsrayeli kuphela.

22:32  Kwasekusithi induna zezinqola zibona uJehoshafathi zona zathi: Isibili yiyo inkosi yakoIsrayeli. Zaseziphambuka ukulwa zimelene layo; uJehoshafathi waseklabalala.

22:33  Kwasekusithi induna zezinqola zibona ukuthi kwakungeyisiyo inkosi yakoIsrayeli, zaphenduka ekuyilandeleni.

22:34  Umuntu othile wasedonsa idandili lakhe engananzeleli, wahlaba inkosi yakoIsrayeli phakathi kwenhlangano lebhatshi lensimbi; yasisithi kumtshayeli wenqola yayo: Phendula isandla sakho, ungikhuphe phakathi kwebutho, ngoba ngilimele kakhulu.

22:35  Impi yasikhula mhlalokho; njalo inkosi yayisekelwe enqoleni yayo iqondene lamaSiriya, yafa ntambama; igazi lenxeba lagelezela ngaphansi kwenqola.

22:36  Ekutshoneni kwelanga kwadabula isimemezelo ebuthweni sisithi: Wonke kaye emzini wakibo, laye wonke elizweni lakibo.

22:37  Ngakho inkosi yafa, yalethwa eSamariya; basebeyingcwaba inkosi eSamariya.

22:38  Omunye wasegezisa inqola echibini leSamariya, lezinja zakhotha igazi layo, lapho amawule ayegeza khona, njengokwelizwi leNkosi eyalikhulumayo.

22:39  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaAhabi, lakho konke akwenzayo, lendlu yempondo zendlovu ayakhayo, lemizi yonke ayakhayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoIsrayeli?

22:40  UAhabi waselala laboyise. UAhaziya indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

22:41  UJehoshafathi indodana kaAsa waba-ke yinkosi phezu kukaJuda ngomnyaka wesine kaAhabi inkosi yakoIsrayeli.

22:42  Njalo uJehoshafathi wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amathathu lanhlanu lapho esiba yinkosi; wabusa eJerusalema iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lanhlanu. Lebizo likanina lalinguAzuba indodakazi kaShilehi.

22:43  Njalo wahamba ngayo yonke indlela kaAsa uyise, kaphambukanga kuyo, ukwenza okulungileyo emehlweni eNkosi. Loba kunjalo indawo eziphakemeyo kazisuswanga; abantu babelokhu benikela imihlatshelo, betshisa impepha endaweni eziphakemeyo.

22:44  UJehoshafathi wasesenza ukuthula lenkosi yakoIsrayeli.

22:45  Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaJehoshafathi, lobuqhawe abenzayo, lokuthi walwa njani, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoJuda?

22:46  Lensali yezinkotshana ezazisele ensukwini zikaAsa uyise wayikhupha elizweni.

22:47  Njalo eEdoma kwakungelankosi, umbambeli wayeyinkosi.

22:48  UJehoshafathi wenza imikhumbi yeThashishi ukuya eOfiri ukulanda igolide; kodwa kayiyanga, ngoba imikhumbi yephukela eEziyoni-Geberi.

22:49  Ngalesosikhathi uAhaziya indodana kaAhabi wathi kuJehoshafathi: Inceku zami kazihambe lenceku zakho emikhunjini. Kodwa uJehoshafathi kafunanga.

22:50  UJehoshafathi waselala laboyise, wangcwatshelwa kuboyise emzini kaDavida uyise. UJoramu indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

22:51  UAhaziya indodana kaAhabi waba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli eSamariya ngomnyaka wetshumi lesikhombisa kaJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda; wabusa phezu kukaIsrayeli iminyaka emibili.

22:52  Wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi, wahamba ngendlela kayise, langendlela kanina, langendlela kaJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati owenza uIsrayeli one.

22:53  Wasekhonza uBhali, wakhothamela kuye, wayithukuthelisa iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, njengakho konke ayekwenzile uyise.