U-Eksodusi 33
1 UThixo wasesithi kuMosi, “Suka kule indawo wena labantu owabakhupha elizweni laseGibhithe, uye elizweni engalithembisa u-Abhrahama lo-Isaka loJakhobe ngifunga ngisithi, ‘Ngizalinika inzalo yakho.’
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
2 Ngizathuma ingilosi ihambe phambi kwakho ixotshe amaKhenani, ama-Amori, amaHithi, amaPherizi, amaHivi lamaJebusi.
And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
3 Yana elizweni eligeleza uchago loluju. Kodwa mina angiyikuhamba lani ngoba lingabantu abantamo zilukhuni, hlezi ngilibhubhise endleleni.”
Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”
4 Kwathi lapho abantu sebezwe amazwi la adabukisayo baqalisa ukukhala, akwaze kwaba loyedwa owagqiza izigqizo zakhe.
When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry.
5 Phela uThixo wayethe kuMosi, “Tshela abako-Israyeli uthi, ‘Lina lingabantu abantamo zilukhuni. Nxa ngingahamba lani loba okomzuzwana nje, ngingalibhubhisa. Khathesi khululani izigqizo zenu; ngizakwenza isinqumo ukuthi ngenzeni ngani.’”
For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’”
6 Ngakho-ke abako-Israyeli bazikhipha izigqizo zabo entabeni yeHorebhi.
So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.
7 UMosi wayejwayele ukuthatha ithente ayelimisa ngaphandle bucwadlana lezihonqo. Walibiza ngokuthi “lithente lokuhlangana.” Ubani lobani owayedinga uThixo wayesiya ethenteni lokuhlangana ngaphandle kwezihonqo.
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
8 Kwakusithi-ke lapho uMosi ephuma esiya kulelothente abantu bonke babesukuma bame eminyango yamathente abo bakhangele uMosi aze angene ethenteni.
Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent.
9 Kwakusithi uMosi esengena ethenteni insika yeyezi yehlele phansi ime emnyango wethente lapho uThixo ekhuluma loMosi.
As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
10 Kwakusithi abantu bangabona insika yeyezi isimi emnyango wethente basukume bonke bakhonze; lowo lalowo emnyango wethente lakhe.
When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.
11 UThixo wayekhuluma loMosi ubuso ngobuso njengomuntu ekhuluma lomngane wakhe. Ngemva kwalokho uMosi wayebuyela ezihonqweni, kodwa umncedisi wakhe owayesesemncane, uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, wayengasuki ethenteni.
Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
12 UMosi wathi kuThixo, “Ubulokhu ungitshela usithi, ‘Khokhela abantu laba,’ kodwa kawungazisanga ukuthi ngubani ozamthuma ukuba ahambe lami. Utshilo wathi, ‘Ngiyakwazi ngebizo, njalo ufumene umusa kimi.’
Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’
13 Nxa uthokoza ngami, ngifundisa izindlela zakho ukuze ngikwazi, ngiqhubeke ngithola umusa kuwe. Khumbula futhi lokuthi isizwe lesi singabantu bakho.”
Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”
14 UThixo waphendula wathi, “NgoBukhona bami ngizahamba lawe ngikuphumuze.”
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 UMosi wathi kuye, “Nxa uBukhona bakho bungahambi lathi, ungasisusi lapha.
“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here.
16 Umuntu angakwazi njani ukuthi mina labantu bakho sifumene umusa kuwe ngaphandle kokuba uhamba lathi na? Kuyini okunye okungasiphawula, mina labantu bakho, kwabanye abantu bonke emhlabeni na?”
For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 UThixo wathi kuMosi, “Ngizakwenza khona kanye lokhu okucelileyo ngoba ngiyathokoza ngawe, njalo ngikwazi ngebizo.”
So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
18 UMosi wasesithi, “Ngicela ukuba ungitshengise inkazimulo yakho.”
Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
19 UThixo wasesithi, “Ngizakwenza ukulunga kwami kudlule phambi kwakho, njalo ngizamemezela ibizo lami, uThixo, phambi kwakho. Ngizakuba lesihawu kulowo engizakuba lesihawu kuye njalo ngibe lesisa kulowo engizakuba lesisa kuye.”
“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
20 UThixo waqhubeka wathi, “Kodwa, ubuso bami awungeke ububone, ngoba kakho ongangibona aphile.”
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
21 UThixo wabuya wathi, “Kulendawo phansi kwami lapho ongema khona phezu kwedwala.
The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,
22 Kuzakuthi lapho inkazimulo yami isedlula eduze, ngizakufaka emnkenkeni wedwala ngikusithe ngesandla sami ngize ngidlule.
and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23 Emva kwalokho ngizasusa isandla sami ubone umhlane wami; kodwa ubuso bami akumelanga ububone.”
Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”
