Joshua 3
1 Joshua [and all the other Israelis] got up early [the next] morning. They left [their camp at] Acacia and went [down] to the Jordan [River]. They camped there for two nights.
UJoshuwa wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu, basuka eShithimi, bafika eJordani, yena labo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli; basebelala khona bengakachaphi.
2 Then the leaders went throughout the camp,
Kwasekusithi ekupheleni kwensuku ezintathu induna zadabula phakathi kwenkamba;
3 telling the people, “You will see some of the priests, who are descendants of Levi, carrying the chest that contains the Ten Commandments that Yahweh our God gave us. When you see them, leave the places where you are camped and follow them.
zalaya abantu zisithi: Nxa libona umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu, labapristi, amaLevi, bewuthwele, lina-ke lisuke endaweni yenu liwulandele.
4 You have not been (here/along this road) before, [so you must follow the priests]. But do not walk close to the chest. Stay (1,000 yards/900 meters) from the chest. [The chest is sacred, so (God will punish you/you will be punished) if you come close to it].”
Kodwa kuzakuba khona ibanga phakathi kwenu lawo, phose ingalo eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili ngesilinganiso; lingasondeli kuwo; ukuze lazi indlela elizahamba ngayo, ngoba kalidlulanga ngalindlela mandulo.
5 Then Joshua told the people, “Perform the ceremonies needed to make yourselves acceptable to Yahweh, because tomorrow he is going to do things for you that will amaze you!”
UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwini: Zingcweliseni, ngoba kusasa iNkosi izakwenza izimangaliso phakathi kwenu.
6 Then Joshua said to the priests, “Carry the chest and go in front of the [rest of the] people.” So they lifted up the chest and went ahead.
UJoshuwa wasekhuluma kubapristi esithi: Phakamisani umtshokotsho wesivumelwano, ledlule phambi kwabantu. Basebewuphakamisa umtshokotsho wesivumelwano, bahamba phambi kwabantu.
7 Then Yahweh said to Joshua, “This is the day that I will begin to show all the Israeli people that you are a great leader. Then they will honor you, and know that I am with/helping you as I (was with/helped) Moses.
INkosi yasisithi kuJoshuwa: Lamuhla ngizaqala ukukukhulisa emehlweni kaIsrayeli wonke ukuze bazi ukuthi njengalokho ngangiloMozisi, ngizakuba lawe.
8 Tell the priests who are carrying the chest that contains the Ten Commandments, ‘When you come to the edge of the Jordan [River], stand in the water.’”
Wena-ke uzalaya abapristi abathwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano uthi: Nxa selifikile ekhunjini lwamanzi eJordani, lizakuma eJordani.
9 Then Joshua said to the Israeli people, “Come close to me in order that you can listen to what Yahweh, your God, is saying.”
UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli: Sondelani lapha, lizwe amazwi eNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
10 [When they came near], he said to them, “This is how you will know that God, who is all-powerful, is among you, and that he will expel for you the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Hiv, Periz, Girgash, Amor, and Jebus [who are now living in that land].
UJoshuwa wasesithi: Ngalokhu lizakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu, lokuthi uzawaxotsha lokuwaxotsha elifeni amaKhanani lamaHethi lamaHivi lamaPerizi lamaGirigashi lamaAmori lamaJebusi asuke ngaphambi kwenu.
11 Keep in mind that Yahweh is the one who rules over all the earth. The chest belongs to him, and it will be carried into the Jordan River ahead of you.
Khangelani, umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi yomhlaba wonke uzachapha phambi kwenu eJordani.
12 So choose twelve men, [one from each] of the tribes of Israel, [and I will tell you later what I want them to do].
Ngakho-ke zithatheleni amadoda alitshumi lambili ezizweni zakoIsrayeli, indoda ibenye kuleso lalesosizwe.
13 As for the priests who are carrying the chest, as soon as they put their feet into the Jordan [River], the water will stop flowing. It will pile up because I will cause it to be blocked upstream.”
Kuzakuthi-ke lapho ingaphansi yenyawo zabapristi abathwele umtshokotsho weNkosi, iNkosi yomhlaba wonke, zizakuma emanzini eJordani, amanzi eJordani azaqunywa, amanzi ehlayo evela phezulu; azakuma abe yinqwaba eyodwa.
14 So when the [Israeli] people packed up their tents in order to cross the river, the priests who were carrying the chest containing the Ten Commandments went in front of them.
Kwasekusithi abantu besuka emathenteni abo ukuchapha iJordani, abapristi bathwala umtshokotsho wesivumelwano phambi kwabantu.
15 [It was springtime], when people harvest their crops, [and] at that time the river floods over its banks. But as soon as the priests reached the edge of the river and stepped into the water,
Lalapho abathwele umtshokotsho befika eJordani, lenyawo zabapristi abathwele umtshokotsho zigxanyuzwa ephethelweni lamanzi (ngoba iJordani liyagcwala enkunjini zonke zalo zonke izinsuku zokuvuna),
16 the water stopped flowing. The water piled up far [upstream], at a town named Adam, near Zarethan. The water stopped flowing down to the Dead Sea. So the people were able to cross the river near Jericho.
amanzi ehlayo evela phezulu ema, aphakama aba yinqwaba eyodwa, khatshana kakhulu lomuzi iAdamu, oseceleni kweZarethani; lalawo ehlela elwandle lwamagceke, ulwandle lweTshwayi, aphela aqunywa. Labantu bachapha maqondana leJeriko.
17 The priests who were carrying the chest containing the Ten Commandments that Yahweh [had given them] stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan [riverbed], while the rest of the Israeli people crossed the river [as though they were crossing] dry ground.
Labapristi abathwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi bema emhlabathini owomileyo phakathi kweJordani beqinile, loIsrayeli wonke wachapha emhlabathini owomileyo, isizwe sonke saze saqeda ukuchapha iJordani.
