< UJoshuwa 6 >

1 IJerikho yayivalwe ngci ngenxa yabako-Israyeli. Akulamuntu owayephuma loba owayengena.
Rĩu-rĩ, itũũra rĩu rĩa Jeriko rĩahingĩtwo biũ nĩ ũndũ wa andũ a Isiraeli. Gũtirĩ mũndũ woimaga nja kana agatoonya kuo.
2 Ngakho uThixo wathi kuJoshuwa, “Khangela, senginikele iJerikho, inkosi yayo kanye lamabutho ayo ezandleni zakho.
Nake Jehova akĩĩra Joshua atĩrĩ, “Nĩneanĩte itũũra rĩĩrĩ rĩa Jeriko moko-inĩ maku, o hamwe na mũthamaki wakuo, o na njamba cia hinya ciakuo.
3 Hambani libhode idolobho kanye lamadoda wonke ahlomileyo. Kwenzeni lokhu okwensuku eziyisithupha.
Thiũrũrũkai itũũra rĩu inene hamwe na andũ anyu othe a ita riita rĩmwe. Mwĩke ũguo mĩthenya ĩtandatũ.
4 Abaphristi abayisikhombisa kabathwale amacilongo enziwe ngempondo zenqama phambi komtshokotsho wesivumelwano. Ngosuku lwesikhombisa libhode idolobho kasikhombisa, abaphristi bevuthela amacilongo.
Na athĩnjĩri-Ngai mũgwanja matongorie ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro, makuuĩte macoro mũgwanja mathondeketwo na hĩa cia ndũrũme. Mũthenya wa mũgwanja-rĩ, mũgaathiũrũrũka itũũra rĩu maita mũgwanja, nao athĩnjĩri-Ngai mathiĩ makĩhuhaga macoro.
5 Nxa lingabezwa sebetshaya amacilongo bedonsa, abantu bonke kabahlabe umkhosi; umduli wedolobho uzadilika abantu bahle bangene, yilowo lalowo aqonde phambili.”
Rĩrĩa mũkaigua mahuha macoro na mũgambo mũnene, ĩra andũ othe makaanĩrĩra na rĩanĩrĩra inene mũno; naruo rũthingo rwa itũũra rĩu nĩrũkamomoka, nao andũ othe matoonye itũũra rĩu, o mũndũ athiĩte na mbere na kũrĩa arorete.”
6 Ngakho uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni wabiza abaphristi wathi kubo, “Thathani umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo kuthi abaphristi abayisikhombisa bahambe phambi kwawo bethwele amacilongo.”
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, Joshua mũrũ wa Nuni agĩĩta athĩnjĩri-Ngai, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Oyai ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Jehova, na mũreke athĩnjĩri-Ngai mũgwanja thĩinĩ wanyu makuue macoro mũgwanja ma hĩa cia ndũrũme, matongorie ithandũkũ rĩu.”
7 Waselaya abantu esithi, “Akuhanjwe! Hambani libhode idolobho, amabutho ahlomileyo ehamba phambi komtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo.”
Nake agĩatha andũ akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Thiĩi mbere! Mũthiĩ mũthiũrũrũkĩirie itũũra, andũ arĩa meeohete indo cia mbaara matongorie ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Jehova.”
8 Kwathi uJoshuwa esekhulume labantu, abaphristi abayisikhombisa ababethwele amacilongo ayisikhombisa phambi kukaThixo bahamba phambili bevuthela amacilongo, njalo umtshokotsho wesivumelwano ubalandela.
Rĩrĩa Joshua aarĩkirie kwarĩria andũ, na athĩnjĩri-Ngai acio mũgwanja maakuuĩte macoro marĩa mũgwanja ma hĩa cia ndũrũme magĩthiĩ marĩ mbere ya Jehova, makĩhuhaga macoro mao, narĩo ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Jehova rĩkĩmarũmĩrĩra.
9 Amabutho ayehlomile ahamba phambi kwabaphristi ababevuthela amacilongo, njalo amabutho angemuva ayelandela umtshokotsho. Ngasosonke lesisikhathi amacilongo ayekhala.
Nacio thigari iria ciarĩ na indo cia mbaara igĩthiĩ itongoretie athĩnjĩri-Ngai acio maahuhaga macoro, nacio thigari ingĩ ikĩrũmĩrĩra ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kuuma na thuutha. Hĩndĩ ĩyo yothe macoro no maahuhagwo.
10 Kodwa uJoshuwa wayelaye abantu wathi, “Lingaze lahlaba umkhosi wempini, lingakhwezi amazwi enu, lingakhulumi lutho kuze kufike isikhathi engizalitshela ngaso ukuthi limemeze. Beselihlaba-ke umkhosi.”
No rĩrĩ, Joshua nĩathĩte andũ akameera atĩrĩ, “Mũtikananĩrĩre na mũgambo wa mbaara, o na kana mũreke mĩgambo yanyu ĩiguo, o na mũtikoige ũndũ o na ũrĩkũ nginya mũthenya ũrĩa ngamwĩĩra mwanĩrĩre. Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩguo mũkaanĩrĩra!”
11 Ngakho umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo bawuthwala babhoda lawo idolobho kanye. Abantu babuyela ezihonqweni bayalala.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akiuga ithandũkũ rĩu rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Jehova rĩkuuo, rĩthiũrũrũkio itũũra-inĩ rĩu inene, riita rĩmwe. Andũ magĩcooka kambĩ na makĩraara kuo ũtukũ ũcio.
12 UJoshuwa wavuka kusesele ngelanga elilandelayo njalo abaphristi bathwala umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo.
Rũciinĩ rũrũ rũngĩ, Joshua agĩũkĩra tene, nao athĩnjĩri-Ngai makĩoya ithandũkũ rĩu rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Jehova.
13 Abaphristi abayisikhombisa ababethwele amacilongo ayisikhombisa bahamba phambili bekhokhele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo, bevuthela amacilongo. Amadoda ayehlomile ayehamba phambi kwabo njalo amabutho angemuva ayelandela umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo, kukanti-ke amacilongo aqhubeka ekhala.
Nao athĩnjĩri-Ngai arĩa mũgwanja makuuĩte macoro mũgwanja ma hĩa cia ndũrũme magĩthiĩ na mbere, makinyũkĩtie matongoretie ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Jehova o makĩhuhaga macoro. Thigari iria ciarĩ na indo cia mbaara ikĩmatongoria, nacio thigari ingĩ ikĩrũmĩrĩra ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Jehova kuuma na thuutha, o macoro makĩgambaga.
14 Ngosuku lwesibili babhoda idolobho kanye basebebuyela ezihonqweni. Bakwenza lokhu okwensuku eziyisithupha.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũthenya wa keerĩ magĩthiũrũrũka itũũra rĩu inene riita rĩmwe, magĩcooka kambĩ. Meekire ũguo mĩthenya ĩtandatũ.
15 Ngelanga lesikhombisa bavuka emadabukakusa babhoda idolobho kasikhombisa ngendlela efanayo, ngaphandle kokuthi ngalelolanga babhoda kasikhombisa.
Mũthenya wa mũgwanja-rĩ, magĩũkĩra ruoro rũgĩtema na magĩthiũrũrũka itũũra rĩu maita mũgwanja o ta ũrĩa meekaga mĩthenya ĩyo ĩngĩ, tiga atĩ mũthenya ũcio, maathiũrũrũkire itũũra rĩu inene maita mũgwanja.
16 Ngokwesikhombisa, kwathi abaphristi bekhalisa amacilongo, uJoshuwa walaya abantu wathi, “Memezani! Ngoba uThixo useliphile idolobho.
Nao makĩrĩthiũrũrũka riita rĩa mũgwanja-rĩ, rĩrĩa athĩnjĩri-Ngai maahuhire macoro, Joshua akĩĩra andũ atĩrĩ, “Anĩrĩrai mũno! Nĩgũkorwo Jehova nĩamũheete itũũra rĩĩrĩ!
17 Idolobho lakho konke okukulo kuzakwahlukaniselwa uThixo. URahabi isifebe lalabo ahlala labo endlini yakhe yibo abazasindiswa ngenxa yokuthi wafihla inhloli esazithumayo.
Itũũra rĩĩrĩ inene na kĩndũ kĩrĩa gĩothe kĩrĩ thĩinĩ warĩo nĩikwamũrĩrwo Jehova, cianangwo. No Rahabu ũrĩa mũmaraya wiki, na andũ arĩa othe marĩ hamwe nake thĩinĩ wa nyũmba yake, mekũhonokio, tondũ nĩahithire athigaani arĩa twatũmĩte.
18 Kodwa xwayani izinto ezahlukaniselwe ukubhujiswa, ukwenzela ukuthi lingazehliseli ukubhujiswa ngokuthatha okunye kwalezozinto. Lokho kungenza ukuthi izihonqo zako-Israyeli zehlelwe luhlupho njalo zitshabalaliswe.
Na rĩrĩ, mwĩmenyererei mũtikahutie indo icio ciamũrĩtwo cia kũniinwo, nĩgeetha mũtikerehere mwanangĩko nĩ ũndũ wa kuoya kĩndũ o na kĩrĩkũ gĩacio. Mũngĩcihutia nĩmũgatũma kambĩ ya Isiraeli ĩtuĩke ya kũniinwo, na mũmĩrehere thĩĩna.
19 Sonke isiliva, igolide lezinto zonke ezenziwe ngethusi langensimbi ezingcwele ziletheni kuThixo njalo kumele zifakwe esiphaleni sakhe sengcebo.”
Betha yothe na thahabu, na indo cia gĩcango na kĩgera, nĩ nyamũrĩre Jehova na no nginya ciigwo kĩgĩĩna-inĩ gĩake.”
20 Kwathi amacilongo ekhala abantu bahlaba umkhosi; ekukhaleni kwecilongo, abantu sebehlaba umkhosi omkhulu, umduli wabhidlika, ngakho wonke umuntu wangena phakathi balithatha idolobho.
Rĩrĩa coro wahuhirwo, andũ makĩanĩrĩra, na rĩrĩa andũ maaiguire mũgambo wa coro, makĩanĩrĩra rĩanĩrĩra inene, naruo rũthingo rũkĩmomoka; nĩ ũndũ ũcio o mũndũ o mũndũ agĩtoonya itũũra rĩu, na makĩrĩtunyana.
21 Idolobho balehlukanisela uThixo basebecakaza ngenkemba yonke into ephilayo eyayihlala kulo, amadoda labesifazane, abatsha labadala, inkomo, izimvu labobabhemi.
Nao makĩamũrĩra Jehova itũũra rĩu, na makĩananga kĩndũ o gĩothe kĩrĩa kĩarĩ muoyo kuo na rũhiũ rwa njora, arũme na andũ-a-nja, andũ ethĩ na akũrũ, na ngʼombe, na ngʼondu, na ndigiri.
22 UJoshuwa wakhuluma emadodeni amabili ayeke athunywa njengezinhloli zelizwe wathi, “Yanini endlini yesifebe liyesikhupha lezihlobo zaso zonke ligcwalise isifungo elasenza kuso.”
Joshua akĩĩra andũ arĩa eerĩ maathiĩte gũthigaana bũrũri ũcio atĩrĩ, “Thiĩi mũtoonye nyũmba ya mũtumia ũrĩa mũmaraya, mũmuumie nja hamwe na andũ ao othe, o ta ũrĩa mwamwĩrire na mwĩhĩtwa.”
23 Ngakho amadoda ayahambe ukuyahlola angena akhupha uRahabi, uyise lonina labanewabo lazozonke izihlobo zakhe. Bakhupha imuli yonke bayifaka endaweni eyayingaphandle kwezihonqo zako-Israyeli.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio aanake acio maarĩ athigaani magĩtoonya na makiumia Rahabu na nja, hamwe na ithe na nyina, na ariũ a nyina na andũ ao othe. Magĩkiumia andũ a nyũmba yake othe, makĩmaiga handũ kũu nja ya kambĩ ya Isiraeli.
24 Basebetshisa idolobho lonke lakho konke okwakuphakathi kwalo, kodwa befake isiliva legolide lezinto ezilungiswe ngethusi lensimbi esiphaleni sengcebo yendlu kaThixo.
Magĩcooka magĩcina itũũra rĩu inene rĩothe, na kĩrĩa gĩothe kĩarĩ thĩinĩ warĩo, no betha na thahabu, na indo cia gĩcango na cia kĩgera, magĩciiga kĩgĩĩna-inĩ kĩa nyũmba ya Jehova.
25 Kodwa uJoshuwa waphephisa uRahabi isifebe lemuli yakhe labo bonke abangabakhe ngenxa yokuthi wafihla amadoda ayethunywe nguJoshuwa ukuba zinhloli eJerikho, futhi ulokhu ehlala phakathi kwabako-Israyeli kuze kube lamhlanje.
No rĩrĩ, Joshua nĩahonokirie Rahabu ũrĩa mũmaraya, hamwe na andũ a nyũmba yake na andũ ao othe, tondũ nĩahithire andũ arĩa Joshua aatũmĩte magathigaane Jeriko nake atũũranagia na andũ a Isiraeli nginya ũmũthĩ.
26 Ngalesosikhathi uJoshuwa wenza isifungo esiqinileyo esithi, “Iqalekisiwe phambi kukaThixo indoda ezimisela ukwakha kutsha lelidolobho laseJerikho: Ngempilo yezibulo lakhe lendodana uzakwenza izisekelo; ngempilo yecinathunjana uzalungisa amasango alo.”
Ihinda o ro rĩu, Joshua akĩĩhĩtithia andũ acio na mwĩhĩtwa, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Kũgwatwo nĩ kĩrumi maitho-inĩ ma Jehova-rĩ, nĩ mũndũ ũrĩa ũkaageria gwaka itũũra rĩĩrĩ inene rĩa Jeriko rĩngĩ: “Mũndũ ũrĩa ũgaaka mĩthingi ya itũũra rĩĩrĩ, nĩagakuĩrwo nĩ mũriũ wake wa irigithathi; na akĩrũgamia ihingo cia itũũra rĩĩrĩ, akuĩrwo nĩ mũriũ wake wa kĩhinga-nda.”
27 UThixo wayeloJoshuwa, udumo lwakhe lwanda elizweni lonke.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Jehova agĩkorwo arĩ hamwe na Joshua, nayo ngumo yake ĩkĩhunja kũndũ guothe bũrũri ũcio.

< UJoshuwa 6 >