UJoshuwa 3
1 UJoshuwa wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu, basuka eShithimi, bafika eJordani, yena labo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli; basebelala khona bengakachaphi.
Joshua got up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They camped there before they crossed over.
2 Kwasekusithi ekupheleni kwensuku ezintathu induna zadabula phakathi kwenkamba;
After three days, the officers went through the middle of the camp;
3 zalaya abantu zisithi: Nxa libona umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu, labapristi, amaLevi, bewuthwele, lina-ke lisuke endaweni yenu liwulandele.
and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the LORD your God’s covenant, and the Levitical priests bearing it, then leave your place and follow it.
4 Kodwa kuzakuba khona ibanga phakathi kwenu lawo, phose ingalo eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili ngesilinganiso; lingasondeli kuwo; ukuze lazi indlela elizahamba ngayo, ngoba kalidlulanga ngalindlela mandulo.
Yet there shall be a space between you and it of about two thousand cubits by measure—don’t come closer to it—that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before.”
5 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwini: Zingcweliseni, ngoba kusasa iNkosi izakwenza izimangaliso phakathi kwenu.
Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
6 UJoshuwa wasekhuluma kubapristi esithi: Phakamisani umtshokotsho wesivumelwano, ledlule phambi kwabantu. Basebewuphakamisa umtshokotsho wesivumelwano, bahamba phambi kwabantu.
Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and cross over before the people.” They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7 INkosi yasisithi kuJoshuwa: Lamuhla ngizaqala ukukukhulisa emehlweni kaIsrayeli wonke ukuze bazi ukuthi njengalokho ngangiloMozisi, ngizakuba lawe.
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8 Wena-ke uzalaya abapristi abathwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano uthi: Nxa selifikile ekhunjini lwamanzi eJordani, lizakuma eJordani.
You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”
9 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli: Sondelani lapha, lizwe amazwi eNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.”
10 UJoshuwa wasesithi: Ngalokhu lizakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu, lokuthi uzawaxotsha lokuwaxotsha elifeni amaKhanani lamaHethi lamaHivi lamaPerizi lamaGirigashi lamaAmori lamaJebusi asuke ngaphambi kwenu.
Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you.
11 Khangelani, umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi yomhlaba wonke uzachapha phambi kwenu eJordani.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.
12 Ngakho-ke zithatheleni amadoda alitshumi lambili ezizweni zakoIsrayeli, indoda ibenye kuleso lalesosizwe.
Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.
13 Kuzakuthi-ke lapho ingaphansi yenyawo zabapristi abathwele umtshokotsho weNkosi, iNkosi yomhlaba wonke, zizakuma emanzini eJordani, amanzi eJordani azaqunywa, amanzi ehlayo evela phezulu; azakuma abe yinqwaba eyodwa.
It shall be that when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of GOD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off. The waters that come down from above shall stand in one heap.”
14 Kwasekusithi abantu besuka emathenteni abo ukuchapha iJordani, abapristi bathwala umtshokotsho wesivumelwano phambi kwabantu.
When the people moved from their tents to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people,
15 Lalapho abathwele umtshokotsho befika eJordani, lenyawo zabapristi abathwele umtshokotsho zigxanyuzwa ephethelweni lamanzi (ngoba iJordani liyagcwala enkunjini zonke zalo zonke izinsuku zokuvuna),
and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark had dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest),
16 amanzi ehlayo evela phezulu ema, aphakama aba yinqwaba eyodwa, khatshana kakhulu lomuzi iAdamu, oseceleni kweZarethani; lalawo ehlela elwandle lwamagceke, ulwandle lweTshwayi, aphela aqunywa. Labantu bachapha maqondana leJeriko.
the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over near Jericho.
17 Labapristi abathwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi bema emhlabathini owomileyo phakathi kweJordani beqinile, loIsrayeli wonke wachapha emhlabathini owomileyo, isizwe sonke saze saqeda ukuchapha iJordani.
The priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.
