< UZekhariya 3 >
1 Yase ingitshengisa uJoshuwa umphristi omkhulu emi phambi kwengilosi kaThixo, loSathane emi kwesokunene sakhe ephikisana laye.
2 UThixo wathi kuSathane, “UThixo uyakukhuza, Sathane! UThixo oyikhethileyo iJerusalema, uyakukhuza! Umuntu lo kasisikhuni esihwatshwe sibhebha na?”
3 UJoshuwa wema phambi kwengilosi egqoke ezingcolileyo.
4 Ingilosi yasisithi kulabo ababemi phambi kwayo, “Mkhululeni izigqoko lezi ezingcolileyo.” Yasisithi kuJoshuwa, “Uyabona, sengisisusile isono sakho, yikho sengizakugqokisa izigqoko ezinhle kakhulu.”
5 Ngasengisithi, “Mthwaliseni iqhiye ehlanzekileyo ekhanda lakhe.” Basebemthwalisa iqhiye ehlanzekileyo ekhanda, bamgqokisa njalo, ingilosi kaThixo ilokhu imi khonapho.
6 Ingilosi kaThixo yasimupha umlayo lo uJoshuwa, yathi:
7 “Nanku akutshoyo uThixo uSomandla: ‘Nxa uzahamba ngezindlela zami ugcine izimiso zami, lapho-ke uzabusa indlu yami, uwaphathe lamaguma ami, njalo mina ngizakupha indawo phakathi kwalaba abemiyo lapha.
8 Lalela, wena mphristi omkhulu Joshuwa, kanye labakhula bakho abahlezi phambi kwakho, abangamadoda ayisitshengiselo sezinto ezizayo: Ngizaletha inceku yami iHlumela.
9 Uyabona, ilitshe engilimise phambi kukaJoshuwa! Kulamehlo ayisikhombisa phezu kwelitshe lilinye, njalo ngizagubha umbhalo kulo,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla, ‘njalo ngizasisusa isono salelilizwe ngelanga elilodwa zwi.
10 Ngalelolanga lowo lalowo wenu uzamema umakhelwane wakhe ukuthi ahlale ngaphansi kwevini lomkhiwa wakhe,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.”