Joshua 23
1 A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years,
Kwasekusithi emva kwensuku ezinengi emva kokuthi iNkosi isimphumuzile uIsrayeli ezitheni zonke zabo inhlangothi zonke, loJoshuwa wayesemdala elensuku ezinengi,
2 he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said,
uJoshuwa wabiza uIsrayeli wonke, abadala babo, lenhloko zabo, labahluleli babo, lenduna zabo, wathi kubo: Mina sengimdala ngilensuku ezinengi.
3 “and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you.
Lina selibonile konke iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu ekwenzileyo kulezizizwe zonke ngenxa yenu, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu yiyo elilweleyo.
4 See, I have allotted as an inheritance to your tribes these remaining nations, including all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan westward to the Great Sea.
Bonani, ngilabele ngenkatho lezizizwe eziseleyo zibe yilifa lezizwe zenu, kusukela eJordani, lazo zonke izizwe engiziqumileyo, ngitsho kuze kube selwandle olukhulu lapho okutshona khona ilanga.
5 The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
INkosi uNkulunkulu wenu izazixotsha-ke phambi kwenu, izixotshe elifeni phambi kwenu, njalo lizakudla ilifa lelizwe, njengalokho iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu ikhulumile kini.
6 Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.
Ngakho qinani kakhulu ukugcina lokwenza konke okubhaliweyo egwalweni lomlayo kaMozisi, ukuze lingaphambuki kuwo liye ngakwesokunene loba ngakwesokhohlo,
7 So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
ukuze lingangeni kulezi izizwe, lezi ezisele lani, lingaphathi ibizo labonkulunkulu bazo, lingafungisi ngabo, lingabakhonzi, lingakhothami kubo,
8 Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
kodwa linamathele eNkosini uNkulunkulu wenu njengoba lenzile kuze kube lamuhla.
9 The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you.
Ngoba iNkosi ixotshile elifeni phambi kwenu izizwe ezinkulu lezilamandla; lina-ke kakulamuntu ome phambi kwenu kuze kube lamuhla.
10 One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.
Umuntu oyedwa kini uzaxotsha inkulungwane, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu yiyo elilwelayo, njengalokho ikhulumile kini.
11 Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.
Ngakho ziqaphelisiseni ukuthanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
12 For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,
Ngoba uba libuyela lokubuyela, linamathele kunsali yalezizizwe, lezi ezisele lani, lithathane lazo, lingene kuzo, lazo kini,
13 know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.
yazini lokwazi ukuthi iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu kayiyikuqhubeka ngokuzixotsha elifeni lezizizwe phambi kwenu; kodwa zizakuba yisifu lomjibila kini, zibe luswazi enhlangothini zenu, lameva emehlweni enu, lize libhubhe liphele kulelilizwe elihle, iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu elinike lona.
14 Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
Khangelani-ke, ngihamba lamuhla ngendlela yomhlaba wonke. Njalo liyazi enhliziyweni yenu yonke lemphefumulweni wenu wonke ukuthi akukho lelizwi elilodwa elehlulekayo kuwo wonke amazwi amahle iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu ewakhulumileyo phezu kwenu; wonke ezile kini, akukho lelizwi elilodwa elehlulekayo kuwo.
15 But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you.
Kuzakuthi-ke, njengalokhu zonke izinto ezinhle iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu eyazikhuluma kini sezilehlele, ngokunjalo iNkosi izalehlisela zonke izinto ezimbi, ize ilibhubhise liphele kulelilizwe elihle iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu elinike lona.
16 If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”
Uba liseqa isivumelwano seNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu eyalilaya sona, lisuke liyekhonza abanye onkulunkulu, likhothame kibo, khona ulaka lweNkosi luzalivuthela, libhubhe masinyane liphele kulelilizwe elihle elinike lona.
