UJoshuwa 9
1 Kwathi amakhosi wonke ayebusa ngentshonalanga yeJodani, layeselizweni lamaqaqa, layesewatheni lwamaqaqa angentshonalanga, layesekele uLwandle oLukhulu kusiyafika eLebhanoni, amakhosi amaHithi, ama-Amori, amaKhenani, amaPherizi, amaHivi lamaJebusi esizwa ngalezizinto
It happened, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the Great Sea in front of Lebanon, the Hethite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it
2 ahlangana ukuze alwisane uJoshuwa labako-Israyeli.
that they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 Kodwa kwathi ngesikhathi abantu beGibhiyoni sebezwe konke uJoshuwa ayekwenze eJerikho le-Ayi,
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4 benza ubuqili: Bahamba njengamanxusa ayelabobabhemi ababethwele amasaka adabukileyo lezigxingi zewayini ezindala ezazidabuke zangcinwa.
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins, old and torn and bound up,
5 Amadoda ayegqoke amanyathela ayedabukile njalo exaxelwe, begqoke lezigqoko ezigugileyo. Zonke izinkwa ababezithwele njengomphako zazomile njalo zikhuntile.
and old and patched shoes on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.
6 Baya kuJoshuwa esihonqweni seGiligali bathi kuye lakwabako-Israyeli, “Sivela elizweni elikude; ngakho yenzani isivumelwano lathi.”
They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us."
7 Abako-Israyeli baphendula amaHivi bathi, “Kodwa mhlawumbe lihlala eduzane lathi, pho singasenza kanjani isivumelwano lani?”
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "What if you live among us. How could we make a covenant with you?"
8 Bathi kuJoshuwa “Siyizinceku zenu.” Kodwa uJoshuwa wababuza wathi, “Lingobani njalo livela ngaphi?”
They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?"
9 Baphendula bathi, “Izinceku zakho zivela elizweni elikude njalo zikhangwe yindumela kaThixo uNkulunkulu wenu. Ngoba sesezwa imibiko eminengi ngaye: konke akwenza eGibhithe,
They said to him, "Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of his fame, all that he did in Egypt,
10 lakho konke akwenza emakhosini amabili ama-Amori empumalanga yeJodani, uSihoni inkosi yeHeshibhoni lo-Ogi inkosi yaseBhashani owayebusa e-Ashitharothi.
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 Abadala bethu labo bonke abakhileyo elizweni lakithi bathi kithi, ‘Thwalani umphako wohambo lwenu; lihambe liyehlangana labo lithi kubo, “Sizinceku zenu: yenzani isivumelwano lathi.”’
Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and tell them, "We are your servants. Now make a covenant with us."'
12 Isinkwa sethu lesi sasifudumala ngesikhathi sisifaka emigodleni yethu sisesemakhaya ngelanga esasuka ngalo sisiza kini. Kodwa-ke khangelani ukuthi sesome njalo sakhunta njani.
This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, look, it is dry, and has become moldy.
13 Izigxingi lezi zewayini esazigcwalisisayo zazizintsha, kodwa-ke khangelani ukuthi sezidabuke njani. Izigqoko lamanyathela ethu sekudatshulwe yibude bomango.”
These wineskins, which we filled, were new; and look, they are torn. These our garments and our shoes have become old because of the very long journey."
14 Abako-Israyeli bahlola imiphako yabo kodwa-ke kabasabuzanga kuThixo.
The men sampled their provisions, and did not ask counsel from the mouth of the LORD.
15 Ngakho uJoshuwa wenza isivumelwano sokuthula labo wabavumela ukuthi bahlale, njalo abathungameli bebandla bavumelana lalokhu ngesifungo.
Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the congregation swore to them.
16 Sekwedlule insuku ezintathu benze isivumelwano lamaGibhiyoni, abako-Israyeli bezwa ukuthi lababantu babengomakhelwana, ababehlala eduzane labo.
It happened at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.
17 Abako-Israyeli baya emadolobheni abo ayebalisa iGibhiyoni, iKhefira, iBherothi leKhiriyathi-Jeyarimi.
The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18 Kodwa abako-Israyeli kabazange babahlasele ngenxa yokuthi abathungameli bebandla babefunge ngoThixo, uNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli. Ibandla lonke lakhonona ngabadala bebandla;
The children of Israel did not strike them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation murmured against the leaders.
19 kodwa bona bonke baphendula bathi, “Sibanike isifungo sethu ngoThixo, uNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli njalo asingeke sabathinta khathesi.
But all the leaders said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel; and now therefore we may not touch them.
20 Lokhu yikho esizakwenza kubo: Sizabayekela bahlale, ukuze ulaka lungezi kithi ngenxa yokwephula isifungo esasenza phambi kwabo.”
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them."
21 Baqhubeka bathi, “Bayekeleni bahlale, kodwa bazakuba ngababandi benkuni labakhi bamanzi abazasebenzela uzulu wonke.” Ngakho-ke isivumelwano sabakhokheli sagcinwa.
And the leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, and all the congregation did as the leaders had spoken to them.
22 UJoshuwa wabiza wonke amaGibhiyoni wathi kuwo, “Kungani lisikhohlisile ngokuthi, ‘Sihlala khatshana lani, lina lihlala eduzane lathi kangaka?’
Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, "Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you live among us?
23 Seliqalekisiwe: kalisoze liyekele ukuba ngababandi benkuni labakhi bamanzi lisebenzela indlu kaNkulunkulu wami.”
Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be bondservants, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God."
24 Baphendula uJoshuwa bathi, “Izinceku zakho zatshelwa mgceke ukuthi uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu walaya njani inceku yakhe uMosi ukuthi alinike ilizwe lonke lokuthi litshabalalise bonke ababakhele kulo lina lingakafiki. Ngakho-ke sesabela impilo zethu ngenxa yenu, yikho okwenze senza lokhu.
They answered Joshua, and said, "Because your servants were certainly told how the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 Sesizinikele ezandleni zenu. Yenzani kithi konke elikubona kufanele njalo kuqondile kini.”
Now, look, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do."
26 Ngakho-ke uJoshuwa wabasindisa esandleni sika-Israyeli, njalo kabasababulalanga.
He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.
27 Ngalelolanga wenza ukuthi amaGibhiyoni abe ngababandi benkuni labakhi bamanzi besebenzela uzulu njalo besebenza e-alithareni likaThixo endaweni eyayikhethwe nguThixo. Yikho abayikhona kuze kube lamhlanje.
That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which he should choose.
