< UJoshuwa 1 >

1 Ngemva kokufa kukaMosi inceku kaThixo, uThixo wathi kuJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, umsekeli kaMosi:
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 “UMosi inceku yami usefile. Ngakho-ke, wena labantu bonke laba, lungiselelani ukuchapha umfula uJodani liye elizweni esengizalinika lona, abako-Israyeli.
“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Ngizalinika zonke izindawo lapho elizanyathela khona ngezinyawo zenu njengokuthembisa engakwenza kuMosi.
I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses.
4 Ilizwe lenu lizasukela enkangala yeLebhanoni lasemfuleni omkhulu uYufrathe, ilizwe lonke lamaHithi, lize liyekhawula olwandle olukhulu entshonalanga.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea towards the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
5 Kakulamuntu ozenelisa ukumelana lani zonke insuku zokuphila kwenu. Njengoba ngangiloMosi, ngizakuba lawe; kangisoze ngikutshiye, kangisoze ngikudele.
No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.
6 Qina ube lesibindi ngenxa yokuthi uzakhokhela abantu laba ukuze bayethatha ilizwe elilifa labo engafunga kubokhokho babo ukuthi ngizabanika lona.
“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Qina ube lesibindi. Ugcine yonke imithetho owayiphiwa nguMosi inceku yami, ungaze waphambuka kuyo uye kwesokunene kumbe kwesokhohlo ukuze uphumelele kuzozonke izindawo ozakuya kuzo.
Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
8 INcwadi yoMthetho le kayingasuki emlonyeni wakho, cabanga ngayo emini lebusuku ukuze unanzelele ukugcina konke okulotshwe kuyo. Ngokwena njalo uzaphumelela.
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
9 Angikulayanga na? Qina ube lesibindi, ungethuki njalo ungalahli ithemba, ngoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho uzakuba lawe loba kungaphi lapho oya khona.”
Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
10 Ngakho-ke uJoshuwa walaya iziphathamandla zabantu wathi:
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 “Dabulani phakathi kwezihonqo litshele abantu ukuthi, ‘Lungisani imiphako yenu. Ensukwini ezintathu kusukela lamhla lizachapha uJodani lapha ukuze lingene liyethatha ilizwe uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu alinika lona ukuba libe ngelenu!’”
“Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess.’”
12 UJoshuwa wathi kwabakoRubheni, labakoGadi lengxenye yesizwana sikaManase,
Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,
13 “Khumbulani umlayo uMosi inceku kaThixo alinika wona owokuthi: ‘UThixo uNkulunkulu wenu uzaliphumuza ngokulinika ilizwe leli.’
“Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land.
14 Amakhosikazi enu, abantwabenu lezifuyo zenu zingahlala elizweni elalinikwa nguMosi empumalanga yeJodani, kodwa ibutho lenu lonke, lihlome liphelele, kumele lichaphe ngaphambi kwabafowenu. Kuzamele lincedise abafowenu,
Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valour, and shall help them
15 uThixo aze abaphumuze, njengalokho alenzele khona lina, labo baze bathathe ilizwe lelo uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu abanika lona. Ngemva kwalokho selingabuyela liyehlala elizweni lenu, uMosi inceku kaThixo alinika lona ngempumalanga yeJodani.”
until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan towards the sunrise.’”
16 Baphendula uJoshuwa bathi, “Konke osilaya khona sizakwenza, lalapho osithuma khona sizahamba.
They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 Njengalokhu salalela uMosi ngokupheleleyo, lawe sizakulalela. Sifisa ukuthi uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho abe lawe njengoba wayeloMosi.
Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses.
18 Yiloba ngubani ohlamukela ilizwi lakho njalo engalaleli lokho okutshoyo, lalokho oyabe ukulaya, kumele abulawe. Kumele uqine ube lesibindi!”
Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

< UJoshuwa 1 >