< UJoshuwa 3 >

1 UJoshuwa wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu, basuka eShithimi, bafika eJordani, yena labo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli; basebelala khona bengakachaphi.
Mu makya ennyo Yoswa n’Abayisirayiri bonna ne bagolokoka okuva e Sittimu, bwe baatuuka ku mugga Yoludaani ne basooka balindirira awo nga tebannagusomoka.
2 Kwasekusithi ekupheleni kwensuku ezintathu induna zadabula phakathi kwenkamba;
Bwe waayitawo ennaku ssatu abakulembeze baabwe ne babayitaayitamu
3 zalaya abantu zisithi: Nxa libona umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu, labapristi, amaLevi, bewuthwele, lina-ke lisuke endaweni yenu liwulandele.
nga bwe babalagira nti, “Bwe munaalaba Essanduuko ey’Endagaano ya Mukama Katonda wammwe, bakabona Abaleevi nga bagisitudde ne mulyoka muva mu kifo kino ne mugigoberera,
4 Kodwa kuzakuba khona ibanga phakathi kwenu lawo, phose ingalo eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili ngesilinganiso; lingasondeli kuwo; ukuze lazi indlela elizahamba ngayo, ngoba kalidlulanga ngalindlela mandulo.
kubanga lino ekkubo temuliyitangamu. Naye wakati wammwe nayo, mulekawo ebbanga nga lya fuuti enkumi ssatu muleme okugisemberera.”
5 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwini: Zingcweliseni, ngoba kusasa iNkosi izakwenza izimangaliso phakathi kwenu.
Awo Yoswa n’agamba Abayisirayiri nti, “Mwetukuze kubanga enkya Mukama anaakola ebyamagero mu mmwe.”
6 UJoshuwa wasekhuluma kubapristi esithi: Phakamisani umtshokotsho wesivumelwano, ledlule phambi kwabantu. Basebewuphakamisa umtshokotsho wesivumelwano, bahamba phambi kwabantu.
Ate Yoswa n’agamba bakabona nti, “Musitule Essanduuko ey’Endagaano era mukulemberemu abantu babagoberere.” Bakabona nabo ne bakola nga Yoswa bwe yabalagira.
7 INkosi yasisithi kuJoshuwa: Lamuhla ngizaqala ukukukhulisa emehlweni kaIsrayeli wonke ukuze bazi ukuthi njengalokho ngangiloMozisi, ngizakuba lawe.
Mukama n’agamba Yoswa nti, “Olwa leero ŋŋenda okukugulumiza mu maaso g’Abayisirayiri bonna balyoke bamanye nti nga bwe nnali ne Musa, era bwe ntyo bwe ndi naawe.
8 Wena-ke uzalaya abapristi abathwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano uthi: Nxa selifikile ekhunjini lwamanzi eJordani, lizakuma eJordani.
Bw’otyo onoolagira bakabona abasitula Essanduuko ey’Endagaano nti bwe mutuuka ku mugga Yoludaani, muyimirire buyimirizi.”
9 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli: Sondelani lapha, lizwe amazwi eNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
Yoswa n’ayita Abayisirayiri nti, “Musembere wano muwulire ebigambo bya Mukama Katonda wammwe.
10 UJoshuwa wasesithi: Ngalokhu lizakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu, lokuthi uzawaxotsha lokuwaxotsha elifeni amaKhanani lamaHethi lamaHivi lamaPerizi lamaGirigashi lamaAmori lamaJebusi asuke ngaphambi kwenu.
Olwa leero mugenda okutegeera nti Katonda omulamu ali mu mmwe, kubanga anaagobera ddala Abakanani, n’Abakiiti, n’Abakiivi, n’Abaperezi, n’Abagirugaasi, n’Abamoli, n’Abayebusi mmwe nga mulaba.
11 Khangelani, umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi yomhlaba wonke uzachapha phambi kwenu eJordani.
Laba, Essanduuko ey’Endagaano ya Mukama w’ensi zonna y’eneebakulemberamu nga musomoka omugga guno Yoludaani.
12 Ngakho-ke zithatheleni amadoda alitshumi lambili ezizweni zakoIsrayeli, indoda ibenye kuleso lalesosizwe.
Kale nno mulonde abasajja kkumi na babiri okuva mu bika bya Isirayiri nga buli kika mulondamu omu omu:
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.
Bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko ya Mukama w’ensi zonna, olunaalinnya ebigere byabwe mu mugga Yoludaani, amazzi agabadde gakulukuta gonna ganaayimirira ne geetuuma.”
14 Kwasekusithi abantu besuka emathenteni abo ukuchapha iJordani, abapristi bathwala umtshokotsho wesivumelwano phambi kwabantu.
Awo Abayisirayiri ne basimbula weema zaabwe okusomoka Yoludaani nga bakulembeddwamu bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko y’Endagaano.
15 Lalapho abathwele umtshokotsho befika eJordani, lenyawo zabapristi abathwele umtshokotsho zigxanyuzwa ephethelweni lamanzi (ngoba iJordani liyagcwala enkunjini zonke zalo zonke izinsuku zokuvuna),
Omugga Yoludaani gwanjaala mu kiseera eky’amakungula kyonna. Mu kiseera ekyo bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko we baalinnyira ebigere byabwe ku Yoludaani.
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.
Amangwago amazzi agaali gakulukuta ne gayimirira ne geetuuma eri ewala okuliraana ekibuga Adamu ku ludda lwa Zaresaani. N’ago agaali gaserengeta okweyiwa mu Araba Ennyanja ey’Omunnyo ne gasalikako, abantu ne basomokera Yoludaani ku ttaka ekkalu, mu maaso ga Yeriko.
17 Labapristi abathwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi bema emhlabathini owomileyo phakathi kweJordani beqinile, loIsrayeli wonke wachapha emhlabathini owomileyo, isizwe sonke saze saqeda ukuchapha iJordani.
Bakabona abasitudde Essanduuko ya Mukama ne bayimirira wakati mu Yoludaani awatakyali mazzi okutuusa Abayisirayiri bonna lwe baasomoka.

< UJoshuwa 3 >