< UJoshuwa 3 >

1 Ekuseni kakhulu uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli basuka eShithima baqonda eJodani lapho abamisa khona izihonqo zabo bengakachaphi.
Mu makya ennyo Yoswa n’Abayisirayiri bonna ne bagolokoka okuva e Sittimu, bwe baatuuka ku mugga Yoludaani ne basooka balindirira awo nga tebannagusomoka.
2 Ngemva kwensuku ezintathu iziphathamandla zangena phakathi kwezihonqo,
Bwe waayitawo ennaku ssatu abakulembeze baabwe ne babayitaayitamu
3 zinika imilayo ebantwini zisithi, “Lapho libona umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo uNkulunkulu wenu labaphristi abangabaLevi belithwele kuzamele litshiye izindawo zenu lililandele.
nga bwe babalagira nti, “Bwe munaalaba Essanduuko ey’Endagaano ya Mukama Katonda wammwe, bakabona Abaleevi nga bagisitudde ne mulyoka muva mu kifo kino ne mugigoberera,
4 Ngakho lizakwazi ukuthi lilandele yiphi indlela, njengoba lingakaze libe kuwonalo umango. Kodwa kumele ligcine ibanga elingaba yizingalo eziyinkulungwane ezimbili phakathi kwenu lomtshokotsho; lingasondeli phansi kwalo.”
kubanga lino ekkubo temuliyitangamu. Naye wakati wammwe nayo, mulekawo ebbanga nga lya fuuti enkumi ssatu muleme okugisemberera.”
5 UJoshuwa wathi ebantwini, “Zihlambululeni ngoba kusasa uThixo uzakwenza izimanga phakathi kwenu.”
Awo Yoswa n’agamba Abayisirayiri nti, “Mwetukuze kubanga enkya Mukama anaakola ebyamagero mu mmwe.”
6 UJoshuwa wathi kubaphristi, “Thathani umtshokotsho wesivumelwano beselikhokhela phambi kwabantu.” Ngakho bawuthatha basebehamba phambi kwabo.
Ate Yoswa n’agamba bakabona nti, “Musitule Essanduuko ey’Endagaano era mukulemberemu abantu babagoberere.” Bakabona nabo ne bakola nga Yoswa bwe yabalagira.
7 UThixo wasesithi kuJoshuwa, “Lamhla ngizaqalisa ukukuphakamisa emehlweni abako-Israyeli bonke ukuze babone ukuthi ngilawe njengoba ngangiloMosi.
Mukama n’agamba Yoswa nti, “Olwa leero ŋŋenda okukugulumiza mu maaso g’Abayisirayiri bonna balyoke bamanye nti nga bwe nnali ne Musa, era bwe ntyo bwe ndi naawe.
8 Tshela abaphristi abathwala umtshokotsho wesivumelwano uthi, ‘Lingafika okhunjini lwamanzi kaJodani, lingene liyekuma phakathi komfula.’”
Bw’otyo onoolagira bakabona abasitula Essanduuko ey’Endagaano nti bwe mutuuka ku mugga Yoludaani, muyimirire buyimirizi.”
9 UJoshuwa wathi kwabako-Israyeli, “Wozani lapha lizolalela amazwi kaThixo uNkulunkulu wenu.
Yoswa n’ayita Abayisirayiri nti, “Musembere wano muwulire ebigambo bya Mukama Katonda wammwe.
10 Lokhu yikho okuzakwenza ukuthi lazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu njalo ngempela uzaxotsha phambi kwenu amaKhenani, amaHithi, amaHivi, amaPherizi, amaGigashi, ama-Amori lamaJebusi.
Olwa leero mugenda okutegeera nti Katonda omulamu ali mu mmwe, kubanga anaagobera ddala Abakanani, n’Abakiiti, n’Abakiivi, n’Abaperezi, n’Abagirugaasi, n’Abamoli, n’Abayebusi mmwe nga mulaba.
11 Khangelani, umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi womhlaba wonke lizangena phakathi kweJodani phambi kwenu.
Laba, Essanduuko ey’Endagaano ya Mukama w’ensi zonna y’eneebakulemberamu nga musomoka omugga guno Yoludaani.
12 Ngakho-ke, khethani amadoda alitshumi lambili esuka ezizwaneni zako-Israyeli, oyedwa esizwaneni esisodwa.
Kale nno mulonde abasajja kkumi na babiri okuva mu bika bya Isirayiri nga buli kika mulondamu omu omu:
13 Kuzakuthi masinyazana abaphristi abathwele umtshokotsho kaThixo, iNkosi yomhlaba wonke, sebengene eJodani, amanzi omfula ogelezayo azakwehlukaniswa abesesima abe yinqwaba.”
Bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko ya Mukama w’ensi zonna, olunaalinnya ebigere byabwe mu mugga Yoludaani, amazzi agabadde gakulukuta gonna ganaayimirira ne geetuuma.”
14 Ngakho kwathi abantu sebesuke ezihonqweni ukuze bayechapha uJodani, abaphristi ababethwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano bahamba phambili.
Awo Abayisirayiri ne basimbula weema zaabwe okusomoka Yoludaani nga bakulembeddwamu bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko y’Endagaano.
15 UJodani wayehlala egcwele ngezikhathi zonke zokuvuna. Kukanti kwathi abaphristi ababethwele umtshokotsho befika eJodani inyawo zabo zazithinta amanzi,
Omugga Yoludaani gwanjaala mu kiseera eky’amakungula kyonna. Mu kiseera ekyo bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko we baalinnyira ebigere byabwe ku Yoludaani.
16 amanzi ayevelela ngaphezulu ema ukugeleza. Abuthana aba yinqwaba ema khatshana laphaya, malungana ledolobho elithiwa yi-Adamu duzane leZarethani kukanti amanzi ayegelezela phansi ngekuyeni olwandle lwe-Arabha (okutsho uLwandle Lwetswayi) ahle ehlukaniswa ngokupheleleyo. Ngakho-ke abantu bachaphela ngaphetsheya malungana leJerikho.
Amangwago amazzi agaali gakulukuta ne gayimirira ne geetuuma eri ewala okuliraana ekibuga Adamu ku ludda lwa Zaresaani. N’ago agaali gaserengeta okweyiwa mu Araba Ennyanja ey’Omunnyo ne gasalikako, abantu ne basomokera Yoludaani ku ttaka ekkalu, mu maaso ga Yeriko.
17 Abaphristi ababethwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo bema bathi mpo emhlabathini owomileyo phakathi kweJodani, ngesikhathi abantu bonke bako-Israyeli bechapha isizwe sonke saze saqeda ukuchapha emhlabathini owomileyo.
Bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko ya Mukama ne bayimirira wakati mu Yoludaani awatakyali mazzi okutuusa Abayisirayiri bonna lwe baasomoka.

< UJoshuwa 3 >