Abahluleli 2
1 Ingilosi kaThixo yahamba isuka eGiligali isiya eBhokhimi yathi, “Ngalikhupha eGibhithe ngaliholela elizweni engafunga ukulinika okhokho benu. Ngathi, ‘Angiyikusephula isivumelwano sami lani,
And the messenger of Yahweh came up from Gilgal, unto Bochim. And he said—I led you up out of Egypt, and brought you into the land, which I had sworn unto your fathers, And I said, I will not break my covenant with you, to times age-abiding;
2 njalo kaliyikwenza isivumelwano labantu balelilizwe, kodwa lizabhidliza ama-alithare abo.’ Kodwa lina kalingilalelanga. Likwenzeleni lokhu na?
But, ye, must not solemnise a covenant with the inhabitants of this land, Their altars, must ye tear down, —But ye have not hearkened unto my voice, what is this ye have done?
3 Ngakho khathesi-ke ngiyalitshela ukuthi angiyikubaxotsha phambi kwenu, bazakuba yizifu kini njalo onkulunkulu babo bazakuba yimijibila kini.”
Wherefore also I said, I will not drive them out from before you, —but they shall be your adversaries, and, their gods, shall become unto you a snare.
4 Kwathi ingilosi kaThixo isizikhulumile zonke lezizinto kubo bonke abako-Israyeli, abantu bakhala kakhulu,
And it came to pass, when the messenger of Yahweh had spoken these words unto all the sons of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5 indawo leyo bayibiza ngokuthi yiBhokhimi. Banikela imihlatshelo kuThixo khonapho.
So they called the name of that place, Bochim, and offered sacrifice there, unto Yahweh.
6 Emva kokuba uJoshuwa esebadedele abako-Israyeli, bahamba bayalithatha ilizwe, lowo lalowo endaweni eyilifa lakhe.
Now, when Joshua had let the people go, the sons of Israel went their way, every man to his inheritance, to take possession of the land.
7 Abantu bamkhonza uThixo ngezinsuku zokuphila kukaJoshuwa labadala kulaye ababesele bephila njalo beyibonile imisebenzi emikhulu uThixo ayeyenzele abako-Israyeli.
And the people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, —and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh which he had wrought for Israel.
8 UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaThixo, wafa eseleminyaka elikhulu letshumi.
So then Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, —being a hundred and ten years old.
9 Bamngcwaba emhlabeni oyilifa lakhe, eThimnathi-Heresi, elizweni lezintaba lako-Efrayimi, enyakatho kwentaba iGashi.
And they buried him within the bounds of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, —on the north of Mount Gaash.
10 Kwathi emva kokuba sonke isizukulwane leso sesiphelile, kwavela esinye isizukulwane esasingamazi uThixo kanye lalokho ayekwenzele abako-Israyeli.
All that generation also, were gathered unto their fathers, —and there arose another generation, after them, who had not known Yahweh, nor even the work which he had wrought for Israel.
11 Lapho-ke abako-Israyeli benza okubi emehlweni kaThixo, bakhonza uBhali.
So the sons of Israel did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, —and served the Baals;
12 Bamdela uThixo, uNkulunkulu waboyise, owayebakhuphe eGibhithe. Balandela njalo bakhonza onkulunkulu abehlukeneyo babantu ababehlala phakathi kwabo. Bamthukuthelisa uThixo
and forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them, —and angered Yahweh.
13 ngoba bamdela bakhonza uBhali labo-Ashithorethi.
Yea, they forsook Yahweh, —and did service unto the Baal and unto Ashtaroth.
14 Ekubathukutheleleni kwakhe uThixo wabanikela ezandleni zababahlaselayo lababaphangayo. Wabanikela ezitheni zabo ezazibahanqile, ababengasenelisi ukumelana lazo.
Then kindled the anger of Yahweh upon Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of spoilers, who plundered them, —and he sold them into the hand of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
15 Zonke izikhathi lapho abako-Israyeli bephuma ukuyakulwa, isandla sikaThixo samelana labo ukuba behlulwe, njengokufunga kwakhe kubo. Basebephakathi kohlupho olukhulu.
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of Yahweh was found to be against them for misfortune, as spake Yahweh, and as sware Yahweh unto them, —and they were distressed exceedingly.
16 Kulapho-ke uThixo abeka khona abahluleli ababahlengayo ezandleni zabaphangi laba.
And, though Yahweh raised up judges, —who saved them out of the hand of them that plundered them,
17 Belo kababalalelanga abahluleli babo kodwa baqhubeka bekhonza abanye onkulunkulu. Kabenzanga njengabokhokho babo, kodwa bona baphanga baphuma endleleni oyise ababehambe ngayo, indlela yokulalela imilayo kaThixo.
yet, even unto their judges, did thy not hearken, for they went unchastely astray after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them, —they turned aside speedily out of the way wherein their fathers who hearkened unto the commandments of Yahweh, walked, they did not so.
18 Ngasosonke isikhathi lapho uThixo ebabekela khona umahluleli, wayemthungamela umahluleli abahlenge ezandleni zezitha zabo lapho esaphila; ngoba uThixo waba lesihawu kubo lapho bebubula ngaphansi kwalabo ababebancindezele lababebahlukuluza.
And, when Yahweh raised them up judges, then was Yahweh with the judges, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies, all the days of the judge, —for Yahweh was grieved at their outcry, because of them who oppressed them, and ill-treated them.
19 Kodwa lapho umahluleli esefile, abantu babuyela ezindleleni zokuxhwala okwedlula ezaboyise, belandela abanye onkulunkulu, bebasebenzele njalo bebakhonza, besala ukudela izenzo zabo ezimbi lezindlela zobuqholo.
But, when the judge was dead, they again broke faith more than their fathers, by going their way after other gods, by serving them, and bowing themselves down to them, —they ceased not from their doings nor from their stubborn way.
20 Ngakho uThixo wamthukuthelela kakhulu u-Israyeli wathi, “Njengoba isizwe lesi sesephule isivumelwano engasimisela okhokho baso njalo kasingilalelanga,
So then the anger of Yahweh kindled upon Israel, and he said—Forasmuch as this nation have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice,
21 kangisayikuxotsha phambi kwaso iloba yisiphi isizwe phakathi kwezatshiywa nguJoshuwa ekufeni kwakhe.
I also, will no further dispossess a man from before them, —from among the nations which Joshua left remaining, when he died;
22 Ngizasebenzisa zona ukuhlola abako-Israyeli ngibone ukuthi bazayigcina yini indlela kaThixo, bahambe kuyo njengokwenziwa ngokhokho babo.”
that I may, by them, put Israel to the proof, —whether they are going to be observant of the way of Yahweh, to walk therein as their fathers observed it, or not.
23 UThixo wayevumele ukuthi lezozizwe zisale; kazixotshanga masinyane ngokuzinikela ezandleni zikaJoshuwa.
Thus then Yahweh left these nations, not dispossessing them speedily, —neither had he delivered them into the hand of Joshua
