U-Eksodusi 19
1 Ngenyanga yesithathu emva kokuphuma kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli elizweni leGibhithe, ngalelolanga bafika enkangala yeSinayi.
In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
2 Sebesukile eRefidimi, bafika enkangala yeSinayi, bamisa inkamba enkangala; uIsrayeli wamisa-ke inkamba khona phambi kwentaba.
When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.
3 UMozisi wasesenyukela kuNkulunkulu. INkosi yasimemeza kuye esentabeni isithi: Uzakutsho njalo kuyo indlu kaJakobe, ubatshele abantwana bakoIsrayeli uthi:
Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
4 Lina libonile lokho engikwenze kumaGibhithe, lokuthi ngalithwala phezu kwempiko zenkozi, ngaliletha kimi.
‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.
5 Ngakho-ke uba lilalela lokulalela ilizwi lami, ligcine isivumelwano sami, khona lizakuba yimfuyo ekhethekileyo kimi kulazo zonke izizwe; ngoba umhlaba wonke ungowami;
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;
6 njalo lizakuba ngumbuso wabapristi lesizwe esingcwele kimi. Yiwo lamazwi ozawatsho kubantwana bakoIsrayeli.
and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
7 UMozisi wasesiza wabiza abadala babantu, wabeka phambi kwabo wonke la amazwi iNkosi emlaye wona.
Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8 Bonke abantu basebephendula kanyekanye bathi: Konke iNkosi ekukhulumileyo sizakwenza. UMozisi wasebuyisela amazwi abantu eNkosini.
All the people answered together, and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.
9 INkosi yasisithi kuMozisi: Khangela, ngizakuza kuwe eyezini elinzima ukuze abantu bezwe nxa ngikhuluma lawe, lokuthi bakholwe kuwe kuze kube nininini. UMozisi wasebikela iNkosi amazwi abantu.
The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
10 INkosi yasisithi kuMozisi: Hamba uye ebantwini, ubangcwelise lamuhla lakusasa, bawatshe izembatho zabo,
The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
11 babe sebelungele usuku lwesithathu; ngoba ngosuku lwesithathu iNkosi izakwehla phambi kwamehlo abantu bonke phezu kwentaba yeSinayi.
and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
12 Uzabamisela abantu umngcele inhlangothi zonke uthi: Ziqapheleni ukukhwela entabeni, lokuthinta ewatheni layo. Wonke othinta intaba uzabulawa lokubulawa.
You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
13 Kakulasandla esizayithinta, kodwa sibili uzakhandwa ngamatshe loba sibili uzatshokwa; loba inyamazana loba umuntu, kakuyikuphila. Lapho uphondo lwenqama lukhala isikhathi eside bazakwenyukela entabeni.
No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”
14 UMozisi wasesehla entabeni waya ebantwini, wangcwelisa abantu, njalo bahlamba izembatho zabo.
Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15 Wathi ebantwini: Lungelani usuku lwesithathu; lingasondeli kowesifazana.
He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.”
16 Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesithathu sekusile, kwakulemidumo lemibane leyezi elinzima phezu kwentaba, lelizwi lophondo olulamandla amakhulu; kwaze kwathi bonke abantu ababesenkambeni bathuthumela.
On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
17 UMozisi wasebakhupha abantu enkambeni ukuyamhlangabeza uNkulunkulu; basebesima ngaphansi kwentaba.
Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
18 Intaba yonke-ke yeSinayi yathunqa intuthu, ngoba iNkosi yehlela phezu kwayo ngomlilo; njalo intuthu yayo yenyuka njengentuthu yesithando; intaba yonke yasizamazama kakhulu.
All of Mount Sinai smoked, because the LORD descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
19 Kwathi ilizwi lophondo liqhubeka lisiba lamandla amakhulu, uMozisi wakhuluma; njalo uNkulunkulu wamphendula ngelizwi.
When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
20 INkosi yasisehlela entabeni yeSinayi, engqongeni yentaba; iNkosi yambizela uMozisi engqongeni yentaba; uMozisi wenyuka-ke.
The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 INkosi yasisithi kuMozisi: Yehla, ubaxwayise abantu hlezi bafohlele eNkosini ukubona, njalo abanengi babo bawe.
The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
22 Labapristi labo abasondela eNkosini kabazingcwelise hlezi iNkosi ibadumele.
Let the priests also, who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break out on them.”
23 UMozisi wasesithi eNkosini: Abantu bangenyukele entabeni yeSinayi, ngoba wena usixwayisile usithi: Misa umngcele wentaba, uyingcwelise.
Moses said to the LORD, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
24 INkosi yasisithi kuye: Hamba wehle, ubuye wenyuke, wena loAroni elawe; kodwa abapristi labantu kabangafohli benyukele eNkosini, hlezi ibadumele.
The LORD said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them.”
25 UMozisi wasesehlela ebantwini, wabatshela.
So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
