UGENESISI

1 Ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu wadala amazulu lomhlaba.+

2 Umhlaba wawungelasimo njalo ungelalutho. Kwakumnyama phezu kwamanzi*+ futhi umoya kaNkulunkulu+ wawuzulazula* phezu kwamanzi.+

3 UNkulunkulu wathi: “Akube lokukhanya.” Ukukhanya kwasekusiba khona.+ 4 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi ukukhanya kwakukuhle, waseqalisa ukwehlukanisa ukukhanya lobumnyama. 5 UNkulunkulu wabiza ukukhanya ngokuthi yimini kodwa ubumnyama wabubiza ngokuthi yibusuku.+ Kwaba khona ukuhlwa kwaba khona lokusa, leli kwaba lilanga lokuqala.

6 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wathi: “Akube khona umkhathi+ wehlukanise amanzi njalo akube khona umkhandlu wehlukanise amanzi kwamanye amanzi.”+ 7 UNkulunkulu wasesenza umkhathi, wehlukanisa amanzi angaphansi komkhathi lamanzi angaphezu kwawo.+ Lakanye kwaba njalo. 8 UNkulunkulu wabiza umkhathi ngokuthi lizulu.* Kwaba khona ukuhlwa, kwaba khona lokusa, leli kwaba lilanga lesibili.

9 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wathi: “Amanzi angaphansi kwamazulu kawabuthane ndawonye, kuvele umhlabathi owomileyo.”+ Lakanye kwaba njalo. 10 UNkulunkulu wabiza umhlabathi owomileyo ngokuthi ngumhlaba+ kodwa amanzi abuthene ndawonye wawabiza ngokuthi lulwandle.*+ UNkulunkulu wasebona ukuthi kwakukuhle.+ 11 UNkulunkulu wasesithi: “Umhlaba kawenze ukuthi utshani bumile, uveze lezimila ezilentanga kanye lezihlahla zezithelo kusiya ngemihlobo yazo. Kazithele izithelo ezilentanga emhlabeni.” Lakanye kwaba njalo. 12 Ngakho umhlaba waqalisa ukuveza utshani lezimila ezilentanga+ kanye lezihlahla ezizala izithelo ezilentanga kusiya ngemihlobo yazo. UNkulunkulu wasebona ukuthi kwakukuhle. 13 Kwaba khona ukuhlwa, kwaba khona lokusa, leli kwaba lilanga lesithathu.

14 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wathi: “Akube lezibane*+ emkhathini wamazulu ukuze zehlukanise imini lobusuku,+ njalo zizakuba yizibonakaliso zezigaba zomnyaka lezinsuku kanye leminyaka.+ 15 Izibane lezi zizakhanyisa emkhathini wamazulu ukuze zilethe ukukhanya emhlabeni.” Lakanye kwaba njalo. 16 UNkulunkulu wasesenza izibane ezinkulu ezimbili, wenza esikhulu sakhona ukuze sibuse imini,+ kuthi esinye sakhona ukuze sibuse ubusuku njalo wenza lezinkanyezi.+ 17 Ngakho uNkulunkulu wazifaka emkhathini wamazulu ukuze zilethe ukukhanya emhlabeni 18 lokuthi zibuse imini lobusuku njalo zehlukanise ukukhanya lobumnyama.+ UNkulunkulu wasebona ukuthi kwakukuhle. 19 Kwaba khona ukuhlwa, kwaba khona lokusa, leli kwaba lilanga lesine.

20 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wathi: “Akuthi emanzini kugcwale izidalwa eziphilayo* njalo izidalwa eziphaphayo aziphaphe phezu komhlaba emkhathini wamazulu.”*+ 21 UNkulunkulu wasedala izidalwa zolwandle ezinkulu layo yonke imihlobo yezidalwa eziphilayo* ezincane ezihamba zizinengi emanzini kanye lazo zonke izidalwa eziphaphayo ezilempiko kusiya ngemihlobo yazo. UNkulunkulu wasebona ukuthi kwakukuhle. 22 Yikho-ke uNkulunkulu wazibusisa izidalwa lezi wathi: “Zalani lande ligcwale emanzini olwandle+ lezidalwa eziphaphayo azande emhlabeni.” 23 Kwaba khona ukuhlwa, kwaba khona lokusa, leli kwaba lilanga lesihlanu.

24 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wathi: “Umhlaba kawuveze izidalwa eziphilayo* kusiya ngemihlobo yazo, inyamazana ezifuywayo lezinanakazana* kanye lenyamazana zeganga kusiya ngemihlobo yazo.”+ Lakanye kwaba njalo. 25 UNkulunkulu wasesenza inyamazana zeganga kusiya ngemihlobo yazo lenyamazana ezifuywayo kusiya ngemihlobo yazo kanye lazo zonke izinanakazana kusiya ngemihlobo yazo. UNkulunkulu wasebona ukuthi kwakukuhle.

26 UNkulunkulu wasesithi: “Asenze+ umuntu ngomfanekiso+ wethu, afanane lathi,+ njalo kabuse inhlanzi zolwandle, lezidalwa eziphaphayo zamazulu, lenyamazana ezifuywayo, lawo wonke umhlaba kanye lazo zonke izinanakazana ezihamba emhlabeni.”+ 27 UNkulunkulu wasedala umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe, wamdala ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu; wadala owesilisa lowesifazana.+ 28 Kanti njalo uNkulunkulu wababusisa wathi kubo: “Zalani lande ligcwalise umhlaba+ liwubuse+ njalo busani+ phezu kwenhlanzi zolwandle laphezu kwezidalwa eziphaphayo zamazulu lakuzo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ezihamba emhlabeni.”

29 UNkulunkulu wasesithi: “Sengilinike zonke izimila ezilentanga ezisemhlabeni wonke kanye lazo zonke izihlahla ezizala izithelo ezilentanga. Kazibe yikudla kwenu.+ 30 Zonke inyamazana zeganga lezidalwa zonke eziphaphayo zamazulu lakho konke okuphilayo okuhamba emhlabeni, ngikunike zonke izimila eziluhlaza ukuthi zibe yikudla.”+ Lakanye kwaba njalo.

31 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wakhangela konke ayekwenzile, wakubona kukuhle+ kakhulu. Kwaba khona ukuhlwa, kwaba khona lokusa, leli kwaba lilanga lesithupha.

2 Ngakho kwaphela ukudalwa kwamazulu lomhlaba lakho konke okukukho.*+ 2 Ngosuku lwesikhombisa uNkulunkulu wayesewuqedile wonke umsebenzi ayewenza njalo waqalisa ukuphumula ngosuku lwesikhombisa kuwo wonke umsebenzi ayewenza.+ 3 UNkulunkulu wasebusisa usuku lwesikhombisa wathi lungcwele ngoba ngalolusuku waqalisa ukuphumula kuwo wonke umsebenzi wokudala, kukho konke ayehlose ukukwenza.

4 Le yimbali yamazulu lomhlaba kusukela ngesikhathi kudalwa, ngelanga uJehova* uNkulunkulu enza ngalo izulu lomhlaba.+

5 Kwakungakabi lezihlahla zeganga emhlabeni njalo kwakungelazimila ezaseziqalise ukumila ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wayengakanisi izulu emhlabeni njalo kwakungelamuntu owayengalima umhlabathi. 6 Kodwa kwakuphakama inkungu emhlabeni imanzise wonke umhlabathi.

7 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasebumba umuntu ngothuli+ lomhlabathi njalo waphefumulela umoya wokuphila emakhaleni akhe,+ wasesiba ngumuntu ophilayo.*+ 8 Kanti njalo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenza* insimu e-Edeni+ ngasempumalanga, wasembeka khonapho umuntu ayembumbile.+ 9 Ngakho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi emhlabathini wensimu kumile zonke izihlahla ezibukekayo futhi ezilezithelo ezinhle lokuthi phakathi laphakathi kwayo kumile isihlahla sokuphila+ kanye lesihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi.+

10 Kwakulomfula e-Edeni owawugeleza uthelela leyonsimu njalo usuka kuleyondawo wawudabukana ube yimifula emine. 11 Umfula wokuqala kuthiwa yiPhishoni njalo yiwo ogombolozele lonke ilizwe leHavila lapho okulegolide khona. 12 Igolide eliselizweni lelo lihle njalo kulelolizwe kulenhlaka enukelelayo* kanye lelitshe okuthiwa yi-onekisi. 13 Umfula wesibili kuthiwa yiGihoni njalo yiwo ogombolozele lonke ilizwe leKhushi. 14 Umfula wesithathu kuthiwa yiHidekheli*+ futhi yiwo oqonda empumalanga kwe-Asiriya.+ Umfula wesine kuthiwa yiYufrathe.+

15 UJehova uNkulunkulu wathatha umuntu wamhlalisa ensimini yase-Edeni ukuze ayilime njalo ayinakekele.+ 16 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasenika umuntu umlayo othi: “Ungadla zonke izithelo zezihlahla ezisensimini uze usuthe.+ 17 Kodwa akumelanga udle isihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi, ngoba ngelanga ozasidla ngalo uzakufa sibili.”+

18 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wathi: “Akukuhle ukuthi umuntu aqhubeke eyedwa. Ngizamenzela umsizi omfaneleyo.”+ 19 Phela uJehova uNkulunkulu wayebumbe inyamazana zeganga ngomhlabathi, wabumba lazo zonke izidalwa zamazulu eziphaphayo njalo waqalisa ukuziletha emuntwini ukuze abone ukuthi yinye ngayinye wayezayibiza athini. Loba yiliphi ibizo umuntu ayelinika isidalwa ngasinye esiphilayo, lalisiba yilo ibizo laso.+ 20 Ngakho umuntu wazinika amabizo zonke inyamazana ezifuywayo lezidalwa zamazulu eziphaphayo kanye lazo zonke inyamazana zeganga, kodwa yena wayengelaye umsizi omfaneleyo. 21 UJehova uNkulunkulu wenza indoda yalala ubuthongo obukhulu. Yathi isalele wakhipha olunye ubambo lwayo wavala lapho ayelukhiphe khona. 22 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasebumba owesifazana ngobambo ayeluthethe endodeni, wamletha kuyo.+

23 Indoda yasisithi:

24 Ngenxa yalesosizatho, indoda izatshiya uyise lonina inamathele kumkayo* futhi bazakuba nyamanye.+ 25 Bobabili indoda lomkayo babelokhu benqunu+ njalo kakho owayelenhloni.

3 Inyoka+ yayihlakaniphe* ukwedlula zonke inyamazana zeganga ezazenziwe nguJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngakho yathi kowesifazana: “Kuliqiniso yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthe lingadli zonke izihlahla ezisensimini?”+ 2 Owesifazana wasesithi enyokeni: “Singadla izithelo zezihlahla ezisensimini,+ 3 kodwa mayelana lezithelo zesihlahla esiphakathi laphakathi kwensimu+ uNkulunkulu uthe: ‘Lingadli izithelo zaso futhi lingasithinti, ngoba lingenza njalo lizakufa.’” 4 Inyoka yasisithi kowesifazana: “Alisoze life loba sekutheni.+ 5 UNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukuthi ngalo kanye ilanga elizasidla ngalo, amehlo enu azavuleka futhi lizakuba njengoNkulunkulu, likwazi okuhle lokubi.”+

6 Yikho-ke owesifazana wabona ukuthi isihlahla leso sasifanele ukudliwa lokuthi sasibukeka emehlweni njalo sikhanga kakhulu, wasesikha isithelo saso wadla.+ Wathi eselomkakhe wamnika laye wadla.+ 7 Ngemva kwalokho, amehlo abo bobabili avuleka basebenanzelela ukuthi banqunu. Ngakho bathunga amahlamvu omkhiwa bawahlanganisa ukuze bagqoke, bavale ubunqunu babo.*+

8 Kwathi ngezikhathi zantambama* bezwa ilizwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu lapho ehamba ensimini. Indoda lomkayo basebemcatshela uJehova uNkulunkulu phakathi kwezihlahla ezisensimini. 9 UJehova uNkulunkulu wayelokhu eyibiza indoda esithi kuyo: “Ungaphi?” 10 Ekucineni yaphendula yathi: “Ngizwe ilizwi lakho ensimini, kodwa ngesaba ngoba benginqunu; yikho ngicatshile.” 11 UNkulunkulu wasesithi kuyo: “Ngubani okutshele ukuthi unqunu?+ Ususidlile yini isihlahla engakutshela ukuthi ungasidli?”+ 12 Indoda yathi: “Umfazi owangipha yena nguye onginike isithelo sesihlahla, ngasengisidla.” 13 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasesithi kowesifazana: “Kuyini lokhu osukwenzile?” Owesifazana wathi: “Inyoka ingiqilile ngadla.”+

14 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasesithi enyokeni:+ “Ngenxa yalokho okwenzileyo, usuqalekisiwe kuzo zonke inyamazana ezifuywayo lazo zonke inyamazana zeganga. Uzahuba ngesisu njalo uzakudla uthuli zonke insuku zokuphila kwakho. 15 Ngizakwenza ukuthi kube lokuzondana*+ phakathi kwakho+ lowesifazana,+ laphakathi kwenzalo yakho+ lenzalo yowesifazana.+ Izacobodisa ikhanda lakho+ njalo wena uzayilimaza isithende.”+

16 Wathi kowesifazana: “Ngizakwengezelela kakhulu ubuhlungu ozabuzwa nxa uzithwele njalo uzabeletha abantwabakho ngemihelo ebuhlungu. Uzahlala ufuna ukuba lomkakho njalo yena uzakubusa.”

17 Wasesithi ku-Adamu:* “Ngenxa yokuthi ulalele ilizwi lomkakho wadla isihlahla engithe,+ ‘Akumelanga usidle,’ umhlabathi usuqalekisiwe ngenxa yakho.+ Kuzo zonke insuku zokuphila kwakho uzasebenza nzima ukuze udle izithelo zawo.*+ 18 Umhlabathi uzakuvezela ameva lokhula oluhlabayo njalo uzakudla lokho okumila kuwo.* 19 Uzathola ukudla* ngezithukuthuku zobuso bakho uze ubuyele emhlabathini ngoba wathathwa kuwo.+ Uzabuyela ethulini ngoba uluthuli.”+

20 Ngemva kwalokho u-Adamu wanika inkosikazi yakhe ibizo wayithi ngu-Eva* ngoba yayizakuba ngunina wabantu bonke.*+ 21 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasesenzela u-Adamu lomkakhe izembatho zesikhumba ezinde ukuze bagqoke.+ 22 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasesithi: “Khathesi umuntu usenjengathi, usekwazi okuhle lokubi.+ Yikho kulokunye osekumele ngikwenze ukuze angeluli isandla sakhe athathe isithelo esihlahleni sokuphila,+ abesesidla aphile kuze kube nini lanini.” 23 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasemxotsha ensimini yase-Edeni+ ukuze ayelima umhlabathi athathwa kuwo.+ 24 Ngakho wamxotshela phandle umuntu, wafaka amakherubhi*+ empumalanga kwensimu yase-Edeni kanye lenkemba ebhebhayo eyayibhoda kokuphela ukuze kulindwe indlela eya esihlahleni sokuphila.

4 U-Adamu waselala lomkakhe u-Eva wazithwala.+ U-Eva wathi esebelethe uKhayini+ wathi: “Sengibelethe* umntwana ongumfana ngosizo lukaJehova.” 2 Ngokuya kwesikhathi wazala u-Abela,+ umfowabo kaKhayini.

U-Abela waba ngumelusi wezimvu, uKhayini waba ngumlimi. 3 Ngemva kwesikhathi uKhayini waletha esinye isivuno sakhe ukuze sibe ngumnikelo kuJehova. 4 U-Abela yena waletha amazibulo omhlambi+ wakhe wawanikela kanye lamafutha awo. Yikho uJehova wamamukela u-Abela, wemukela lomnikelo wakhe,+ 5 kodwa kamamukelanga uKhayini kanye lomnikelo wakhe. Lokhu kwenza uKhayini wazonda wafuthelana njalo wadana kakhulu. 6 UJehova wasesithi kuKhayini: “Kanti uzondeleni kangaka njalo udaniswe kuyini? 7 Nxa ungatshintsha wenze okuhle awusoze wamukelwe yini?* Kodwa nxa ungafuni ukutshintsha wenze okuhle, isono sikucathamele emnyango futhi sifuna ngabomvu ukukubusa. Pho uzasinqoba yini?”

8 Ngemva kwalokho uKhayini wathi kumfowabo u-Abela: “Ake siye egangeni.” Bathi sebekhonale uKhayini wahlasela umfowabo u-Abela wambulala.+ 9 Ngemva kwesikhathi uJehova wathi kuKhayini: “Ungaphi umfowenu u-Abela?” Yena wathi: “Angazi. Kanti yimi engimgcinayo yini umfowethu?” 10 UNkulunkulu wathi: “Wenzeni? Zwana! Igazi lomfowenu liyakhala kimi lisemhlabathini.+ 11 Khathesi usuqalekisiwe ngokuxotshwa emhlabathini osuvule umlomo wawo wemukela igazi lomfowenu livela esandleni sakho.+ 12 Nxa usulima umhlabathi awusoze ukukhiphele lutho,* njalo uzakuba ngumhambuma emhlabeni futhi uzahlala ubaleka usiyale lale.” 13 UKhayini wasesithi kuJehova: “Isijeziso secala lami sikhulu kakhulu ngeke ngenelise ukusithwala. 14 Lamuhla uyangixotsha elizweni njalo kuzamele ngicatshe phambi kobuso bakho; ngizakuba ngumhambuma emhlabeni futhi ngizahlala ngibaleka ngisiyale lale. Loba ngubani ozangithola uzangibulala loba sekutheni.” 15 Yikho uJehova wathi kuye: “Ngenxa yalesosizatho, loba ngubani ozabulala uKhayini uzaphindiselwa kasikhombisa.”

Ngakho uJehova wabeka uphawu ngenxa kaKhayini ukuze kuthi loba ngubani ozambona angambulali. 16 UKhayini wasesuka phambi kukaJehova wayahlala elizweni laseNodi,* empumalanga kwe-Edeni.+

17 Ngemva kwalokho uKhayini walala lomkakhe,+ umkakhe wazithwala wasezala u-Inokhi. UKhayini waqalisa lokwakha idolobho waselinika ibizo lendodana yakhe u-Inokhi. 18 Ngemva kwesikhathi u-Inokhi wazala u-Iradi. U-Iradi waba nguyise kaMehujayeli, uMehujayeli waba nguyise kaMethushayeli njalo uMethushayeli waba nguyise kaLamekhi.

19 ULamekhi wathatha abafazi ababili. Owokuqala kwakuthiwa ngu-Ada, owesibili kuthiwa nguZila. 20 U-Ada wazala uJabhali njalo uJabhali nguye owaqalisa impilo yokuhlala ematendeni lokufuya. 21 Ibizo lomfowabo kwakunguJubhali. Wayengowokuqala kulabo abadlala ihabhu* lefluthi. 22 Kanti njalo uZila wazala uThubhali-khayini owayekhanda yonke imihlobo yamathuluzi ekhopha lawensimbi futhi udadewabo kaThubhali-khayini kwakunguNahama. 23 ULamekhi wasetshela amakhosikazi akhe u-Ada loZila wathi:

25 U-Adamu waphinda walala lomkakhe. Umkakhe wasesiba lomntwana ongumfana wamnika ibizo wathi nguSethi*+ ngoba wathi, “UNkulunkulu usenginike omunye umntwana esikhundleni sika-Abela ngoba uKhayini wambulala.”+ 26 USethi laye wazala umntwana ongumfana wamnika ibizo wathi ngu-Enoshi.+ Ngalesosikhathi abantu baqalisa ukubiza ibizo likaJehova.

5 Leli libhuku lembali ka-Adamu. Ngelanga uNkulunkulu adala ngalo u-Adamu, wamenza wafanana laye.+ 2 Wabadala kwaba ngowesilisa lowesifazana.+ Ngelanga abadalwa ngalo+ wababusisa wababiza ngokuthi ngabantu.*

3 U-Adamu wathi esephile iminyaka engu-130 wazala indodana eyayifanana laye, ingumfanekiso wakhe futhi wayinika ibizo wathi nguSethi.+ 4 U-Adamu wathi esezele uSethi waphila iminyaka engu-800 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 5 Ngakho u-Adamu waphila iminyaka engu-930, wasesifa.+

6 USethi wathi esephile iminyaka engu-105 wazala u-Enoshi.+ 7 USethi wathi esezele u-Enoshi waphila iminyaka engu-807 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 8 Ngakho uSethi waphila iminyaka engu-912, wasesifa.

9 U-Enoshi wathi esephile iminyaka engu-90 wazala uKhenani. 10 U-Enoshi wathi esezele uKhenani waphila iminyaka engu-815 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 11 Ngakho u-Enoshi waphila iminyaka engu-905, wasesifa.

12 UKhenani wathi esephile iminyaka engu-70 wazala uMahalaleli.+ 13 UKhenani wathi esezele uMahalaleli waphila iminyaka engu-840 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 14 Ngakho uKhenani waphila iminyaka engu-910, wasesifa.

15 UMahalaleli wathi esephile iminyaka engu-65 wazala uJaredi.+ 16 UMahalaleli wathi esezele uJaredi waphila iminyaka engu-830 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 17 Ngakho uMahalaleli waphila iminyaka engu-895, wasesifa.

18 UJaredi wathi esephile iminyaka engu-162 wazala u-Inokhi.+ 19 UJaredi wathi esezele u-Inokhi waphila iminyaka engu-800 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 20 Ngakho uJaredi waphila iminyaka engu-962, wasesifa.

21 U-Inokhi wathi esephile iminyaka engu-65 wazala uMethusela.+ 22 U-Inokhi wathi esezele uMethusela, waqhubeka ehamba loNkulunkulu weqiniso* okweminyaka engu-300 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 23 Ngakho u-Inokhi waphila iminyaka engu-365. 24 U-Inokhi waqhubeka ehamba loNkulunkulu weqiniso.+ Ngemva kwalokho kazange aphinde abonakale ngoba uNkulunkulu wamsusa.+

25 UMethusela wathi esephile iminyaka engu-187 wazala uLamekhi.+ 26 UMethusela wathi esezele uLamekhi waphila iminyaka engu-782 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 27 Ngakho uMethusela waphila iminyaka engu-969, wasesifa.

28 ULamekhi wathi esephile iminyaka engu-182 wazala indodana. 29 Wayinika ibizo wathi nguNowa*+ esithi: “Lo uzasiphumuza* emsebenzini wethu onzima lasekusebenzeni gadalala ngezandla zethu ngenxa yokuthi uJehova waqalekisa umhlabathi.”+ 30 ULamekhi wathi esezele uNowa waphila iminyaka engu-595 njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi. 31 Ngakho uLamekhi waphila iminyaka engu-777, wasesifa.

32 UNowa wathi esephile iminyaka engu-500, wazala uShemu+ loHamu+ loJafethi.+

6 Abantu bathi sebesiba banengi emhlabeni futhi bezala amadodakazi amanengi, 2 amadodana kaNkulunkulu weqiniso*+ aqalisa ukunanzelela ukuthi amadodakazi abantu ayemahle. Ngakho aseqalisa ukuzithathela abafazi, azikhethela bonke nje ayebafuna. 3 UJehova wasesithi: “Angisoze ngimbekezelele* umuntu kuze kube nini lanini+ ngoba uyinyama nje.* Ngakho izinsuku zakhe zizakuba yiminyaka engu-120.”+

4 Ngalezonsuku lezalandelayo kwakulamaNefilimi* emhlabeni. Ngalesosikhathi amadodana kaNkulunkulu weqiniso aqhubeka elala lamadodakazi abantu. Amadodakazi la ayewazalela abantwana abangabafana njalo babengamadoda endulo alamandla futhi ayedumile.

5 Yikho-ke, uJehova wabona ukuthi ukuxhwala komuntu kwasekukukhulu emhlabeni lokuthi imicabango yomuntu kanye lezifiso zenhliziyo yakhe kwakukubi sonke isikhathi.+ 6 UJehova wazisola* ngokuthi wayemenzile umuntu emhlabeni njalo inhliziyo yakhe yaba buhlungu.*+ 7 Ngakho uJehova wathi: “Ngizabaqeda du abantu engabadalayo emhlabeni, umuntu, lezinyamazana ezifuywayo, lezinanakazana, kanye lezidalwa eziphaphayo zamazulu ngoba ngiyazisola ngokuthi ngakudala konke.” 8 Kodwa uNowa wathola umusa kuJehova.

9 Nansi imbali kaNowa.

UNowa wayeyindoda elungileyo+ njalo wayemsulwa* phakathi kwabantu ababephila ngesikhathi sakhe. UNowa wahamba loNkulunkulu weqiniso.+ 10 Ngokuya kwesikhathi uNowa wazala abantwana abathathu abangabafana, uShemu loHamu loJafethi.+ 11 Kodwa umhlaba wawusuwonakele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu weqiniso njalo wawusugcwele udlakela. 12 UNkulunkulu wakhangela umhlaba wabona ukuthi wawusuwonakele+ sibili; bonke abantu* emhlabeni basebesenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu.+

13 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wathi kuNowa: “Sengicabange ukutshabalalisa bonke abantu* ngoba umhlaba usugcwele udlakela ngenxa yabo. Yikho sengibatshabalalisa kanye lomhlaba.+ 14 Ngakho zenzele umkhumbi ngamapulanka esihlahla esilenhlaka.+ Uwenze ube lezingxenye ezitshiyeneyo phakathi njalo uwuhuqe ngethara+ phakathi langaphandle. 15 Nansi indlela okumele uwenze ngayo: Kumele ube zingalo* ezingu-300 ubude, ube zingalo ezingu-50 ububanzi njalo ube zingalo ezingu-30 ukuphakama. 16 Kumele ufake lewindi elizangenisa ukukhanya,* ubale ingalo eyodwa kusukela ephahleni ubusulifaka. Kanti njalo umnyango womkhumbi kumele uwufake eceleni kwawo,+ futhi wenze umkhumbi ube lesitezi sokuqala lesesibili kanye lesesithathu.

17 “Ngizaletha uZamcolo+ emhlabeni ukuze utshabalalise konke okuphilayo ngaphansi kwamazulu. Konke okusemhlabeni kuzabhubha.+ 18 Sengisenza isivumelwano lawe. Kumele ungene emkhunjini, wena lamadodana akho, lomkakho kanye labomalukazana bakho. + 19 Kanti njalo kuyo yonke imihlobo yezidalwa eziphilayo,+ kumele uthathe kokubili okuduna lokusikazi,+ ukungenise emkhunjini ukuze kulondolozwe kanye lawe; 20 izidalwa eziphaphayo kusiya ngemihlobo yazo, izinyamazana ezifuywayo kusiya ngemihlobo yazo, lazo zonke izinanakazana kusiya ngemihlobo yazo. Ngakubili kuzakuza kuwe kungene emkhunjini ukuze kulondolozwe.+ 21 Ngakho wena qoqa yonke imihlobo yokudla+ ukuze kube ngokwakho kanye lokwezinyamazana.”

22 UNowa wakwenza konke ayekutshelwe nguNkulunkulu. Wenza khona kanye ayekutsheliwe.+

7 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wathi kuNowa: “Ngena emkhunjini wena kanye lemuli yakho, ngoba phakathi kwesizukulwane lesi nguwe engikuthole ulungile phambi kwami.+ 2 Kuyo yonke imihlobo yezinyamazana ezihlanzekileyo kumele uthathe eziyisikhombisa,+ ezinduna lezinsikazi* njalo kuzo zonke ezingahlanzekanga thatha ezimbili kuphela kumhlobo ngamunye, enduna lensikazi; 3 lakuzo zonke izidalwa eziphapha emoyeni kumele uthathe eziyisikhombisa, ezinduna lezinsikazi* kumhlobo ngamunye ukuze ulondoloze imihlobo yazo iphila emhlabeni wonke.+ 4 Ngoba ngemva kwensuku eziyisikhombisa nje, ngizaletha izulu+ emhlabeni, line okwamalanga angu-40 lobusuku obungu-40+ njalo ngizathanyela ngiqede du yonke into ephilayo engiyenzileyo emhlabeni.”+ 5 Ngakho uNowa wakwenza konke uJehova ayethe akwenze.

6 UNowa wayeleminyaka engu-600 ngesikhathi uZamcolo efika emhlabeni.+ 7 UNowa lamadodana akhe lomkakhe kanye labomalukazana bakhe bangena emkhunjini uZamcolo engakaqalisi.+ 8 Zonke izinyamazana ezihlanzekileyo, lezinyamazana ezingahlanzekanga, lezidalwa eziphaphayo kanye lakho konke okuhamba emhlabathini,+ 9 kwangena emkhunjini lapho uNowa ayekhona kuhamba ngakubili, okuduna lokusikazi, njengoba nje uNkulunkulu wayemtshelile uNowa. 10 Kwathi sekwedlule amalanga ayisikhombisa amanzi kaZamcolo athululeka emhlabeni.

11 Mhlaka 17 ngenyanga yesibili, uNowa eseleminyaka engu-600, ngalelolanga yonke imithombo yamanzi eyayisemazulwini yadabuka, lamagedi ezimpophoma zamazulu avuleka.+ 12 Izulu lathululeka emhlabeni okwamalanga angu-40 lobusuku obungu-40. 13 Ngalo kanye lelolanga, uNowa wangena emkhunjini lamadodana akhe uShemu, loHamu, loJafethi+ kanye lomkakhe, lamakhosikazi amadodana akhe amathathu.+ 14 Bangena emkhunjini lazo zonke inyamazana zeganga ngemihlobo yazo, lazo zonke inyamazana ezifuywayo ngemihlobo yazo, lazo zonke izinanakazana ezisemhlabeni ngemihlobo yazo, lazo zonke izidalwa eziphaphayo ngemihlobo yazo, zonke nje inyoni lezidalwa zonke ezilempiko. 15 Zaqhubeka zingena ngambili emkhunjini lapho uNowa ayekhona, yonke nje imihlobo yezinto eziphilayo.* 16 Yikho-ke zangena zonke izidalwa eziphilayo, ezinduna lezinsikazi njengalokho uNkulunkulu ayekutshele uNowa. Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wavala umnyango.

17 UZamcolo waqhubeka okwamalanga angu-40 emhlabeni njalo amanzi aqhubeka esiba manengi aze aqalisa ukuphakamisa umkhumbi futhi wandenda phezu kwamanzi ayesegcwele emhlabeni. 18 Amanzi aba manengi kakhulu njalo aqhubeka esanda emhlabeni kodwa umkhumbi wawulokhu undenda phezu kwamanzi. 19 Ayesegcwele kakhulu emhlabeni okokuthi zonke izintaba ezinde ezingaphansi kwawo wonke amazulu zazingasakhanyi.+ 20 Amanzi aphakama aze edlula izintaba ngengalo* ezingu-15.

21 Ngakho-ke zonke izidalwa eziphilayo* ezihamba emhlabeni zatshabalala,+ izidalwa eziphaphayo, lenyamazana ezifuywayo, lenyamazana zeganga, lezinanakazana ezihamba zingamaqembu kanye labo bonke abantu.+ 22 Konke okuphefumulayo okwakusemhlabathini owomileyo* kwafa.+ 23 Ngakho uNkulunkulu watshabalalisa konke okuphilayo okwakusemhlabeni abantu lezinyamazana lezinanakazana kanye lezidalwa eziphaphayo emoyeni. Konke kwathanyelwa kwaphela du emhlabeni.+ UNowa lalabo ayelabo emkhunjini yibo kuphela abasilayo,+ 24 njalo amanzi aqhubeka esibekele umhlaba okwamalanga angu-150.+

8 UNkulunkulu wamkhumbula uNowa lazo zonke inyamazana zeganga lenyamazana ezifuywayo ezazilaye emkhunjini.+ Yikho wenza ukuthi umoya uvunguze emhlabeni, amanzi aseqalisa ukwentsha. 2 Imithombo yamanzi eyayisemazulwini lamagedi ezimpophoma zamazulu kwavalwa, izulu laselisima ukuna.*+ 3 Ngakho amanzi aqalisa ukwentsha kancane kancane emhlabeni. Ngemva kwamalanga angu-150 ayesebohlile. 4 Mhlaka 17 ngenyanga yesikhombisa, umkhumbi wafika wahlala phezu kwezintaba ze-Ararathi. 5 Amanzi ayelokhu esentsha kancane kancane kwaze kwaba yinyanga yetshumi. Kwathi mhlaka 1 ngaleyonyanga, iziqongo zezintaba zaqalisa ukukhanya.+

6 Ngemva kwamalanga angu-40 uNowa wavula iwindi+ lomkhumbi ayelenzile, 7 wavulela iwabayi njalo lalilokhu liphapha phandle liphinde liphenduke emkhunjini, amanzi aze aphela emhlabeni.

8 Ngemva kwesikhathi wavulela ijuba ukuze abone ukuthi amanzi ayesebohlile yini emhlabeni. 9 Ijuba alizange lithole indawo elalingahlala kuyo, ngakho labuyela kuNowa emkhunjini ngoba amanzi ayelokhu esibekele umhlaba wonke.+ UNowa waseselula isandla sakhe walibuyisela emkhunjini. 10 Walinda okwamanye amalanga ayisikhombisa waselivulela futhi ijuba. 11 Ijuba lathi libuyela kuye ntambama wabona lithwele ngomlomo walo ihlamvu lesihlahla se-oliva elalisanda kukhiwa. UNowa wahle wakwazi ukuthi amanzi ayesebohlile emhlabeni.+ 12 Waphinda walinda okwamanye amalanga ayisikhombisa, waselivulela futhi ijuba kodwa alizange liphinde liphenduke kuye.

13 Ngomnyaka wesi-601,+ mhlaka 1 ngenyanga yokuqala, amanzi ayesephelile emhlabeni; uNowa wavula isikhala ephahleni lomkhumbi wasebona ukuthi umhlabathi wawususoma. 14 Kwathi mhlaka 27 ngenyanga yesibili, umhlaba wawusuwomile.

15 UNkulunkulu wasesithi kuNowa: 16 “Phuma emkhunjini, wena lomkakho, lamadodana akho kanye labomalukazana bakho.+ 17 Uphume layo yonke imihlobo yezidalwa eziphilayo:+ izidalwa eziphaphayo, izinyamazana lazo zonke izinanakazana zomhlaba ukuze zizalane zande emhlabeni, zibe zinengi kuwo.”+

18 Yikho-ke uNowa waphuma lamadodana akhe+ lomkakhe kanye labomalukazana bakhe. 19 Zonke izidalwa eziphilayo lezinanakazana zonke, lazo zonke izidalwa eziphaphayo, konke nje okuhamba emhlabeni kwaphuma emkhunjini ngemihlobo yakho.+ 20 UNowa wasesakhela uJehova i-alithare,+ wathatha ezinye izinyamazana kuyo yonke imihlobo yenyamazana ezihlanzekileyo lakuyo yonke imihlobo yezidalwa eziphaphayo ezihlanzekileyo,+ wasenikela iminikelo yokutshiswa e-alithareni.+ 21 UJehova waqala ukuzwa uqhatshi olumnandi. UJehova wasesithi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Angisoze ngiphinde ngiqalekise umhlabathi+ ngenxa yomuntu ngoba izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zimbi kusukela esesemncane;+ njalo angisoze ngiphinde ngitshabalalise yonke into ephilayo njengalokhu engikwenzileyo.+ 22 Kusukela khathesi, emhlabeni kuzaqhubeka kuhlanyelwa njalo kuvunwa, kusiba lomqando lokutshisa, kusiba lehlobo lobusika kanye lemini lobusuku.”+

9 UNkulunkulu wasebusisa uNowa lamadodana akhe wathi kubo: “Zalani lande ligcwalise umhlaba.+ 2 Lizaqhubeka lisesatshwa njalo liqhuqhwa yizo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ezisemhlabeni, lazo zonke izidalwa zamazulu eziphaphayo, lakho konke okuhambayo emhlabathini kanye lazo zonke inhlanzi zolwandle. Konke lokhu sekubekwe ezandleni zenu.*+ 3 Lingadla+ zonke inyamazana eziphilayo ezisemhlabeni futhi ezihamba kuwo. Ngilinika zonke njengoba nje ngalipha izimila eziluhlaza.+ 4 Kodwa inyama elokuphila kwayo,* okutsho igazi+ layo, lingayidli.+ 5 Kanti njalo, loba yisiphi isidalwa esiphilayo esizachitha igazi, lona eliyikuphila kwenu* ngizakuthi sibhadale. Nxa kuyinyamazana kuzamele ife. Nxa kungumuntu kuzamele abhadale ngokuphila kwakhe ngoba uyabe echithe ukuphila komfowabo.+ 6 Loba ngubani ochitha igazi lomunye umuntu, laye igazi lakhe lizachithwa+ ngumuntu ngoba uNkulunkulu wenza umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe.+ 7 Ngakho zalani lande liwugcwalise umhlaba, libe banengi kuwo.”+

8 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu watshela uNowa kanye lamadodana akhe wathi: 9 “Sengisenza isivumelwano lani+ kanye labantwabenu abazalandela ngemva kwenu, 10 lazo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo elilazo, inyoni, lezinyamazana, lazo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo zomhlaba elilazo, zonke eziphume emkhunjini—sonke nje isidalwa esiphilayo emhlabeni.+ 11 Nansi-ke isivumelwano esengisenza lani: Angisoze ngiphinde ngitshabalalise zonke izinto eziphilayo* ngamanzi kaZamcolo njalo akusoze kube loZamcolo ozaphinda atshabalalise umhlaba.”+

12 UNkulunkulu waphinda wathi: “Nansi isibonakaliso sesivumelwano engisenza phakathi kwami lani kanye lazo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ezilani njalo sizasebenza kuzo zonke izizukulwane ezizalandela. 13 Sengifaka umchilo wami wamakhosikazi emayezini futhi uzakuba yisibonakaliso sesivumelwano esiphakathi kwami lomhlaba. 14 Loba nini lapho engizaletha khona amayezi phezu komhlaba, umchilowamakhosikazi uzabonakala emayezini. 15 Ngizasikhumbula sibili isivumelwano engisenzileyo phakathi kwami lani kanye lezidalwa eziphilayo zayo yonke imihlobo. Amanzi awasoze aphinde abe nguZamcolo ozatshabalalisa konke okuphilayo.+ 16 Umchilowamakhosikazi uzabonakala emayezini njalo ngizawubona besengikhumbula isivumelwano sanini lanini esiphakathi kukaNkulunkulu lazo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo zayo yonke imihlobo emhlabeni.”

17 UNkulunkulu waphinda wathi kuNowa: “Lesi yiso isibonakaliso sesivumelwano engisenza phakathi kwami lazo zonke izidalwa ezisemhlabeni.”+

18 Amadodana kaNowa aphuma emkhunjini kwakunguShemu loHamu loJafethi.+ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uHamu wazala uKhenani.+ 19 Abathathu laba babengamadodana kaNowa njalo bonke abantu abasemhlabeni bavela kubo, basebesabalala bagcwala indawo yonke emhlabeni.+

20 UNowa waqalisa ukulima wasehlanyela insimu yamagilebisi. 21 Ngelinye ilanga wanatha iwayini wadakwa, wanqunula wasecambalala etendeni lakhe. 22 UHamu, uyise kaKhenani wabona ubunqunu bukayise wasesiyatshela abafowabo ababili phandle. 23 Ngakho uShemu loJafethi bathatha isembatho basifaka emahlombe abo basebehamba nyovane bafika bavala ubunqunu bukayise bekhangele eceleni. Abazange babubone ubunqunu bukayise.

24 UNowa wathi evuka engasadakwanga liwayini, wasesizwa lokho indodana yakhe encane eyayikwenzile kuye, 25 wathi:

“Kaqalekiswe uKhenani.+

Kabe yisigqili sabafowabo esiphansi kakhulu.”+

26 Waqhubeka wathi:

UKhenani kabe yisigqili lakuye.”

28 Ngemva kukaZamcolo uNowa waphila eminye iminyaka engu-350.+ 29 Ngakho uNowa waphila iminyaka engu-950, wasesifa.

10 Nansi imbali yamadodana kaNowa, uShemu+ loHamu loJafethi.

Bona baba lamadodana ngemva kukaZamcolo.+ 2 Amadodana kaJafethi kwakunguGomeri,+ loMagogi,+ loMadayi, loJavani, loThubhali,+ loMeshekhi+ kanye loThirasi.+

3 Amadodana kaGomeri kwakungu-Ashikhenazi+ loRifathi loThogama.+

4 Amadodana kaJavani kwakungu-Elisha,+ loThashishi,+ loKhithimu,+ loDodanimi.

5 Laba yibo okwavela kubo abantu abahlala ezihlengeni abasabalala baya emazweni abo kusiya ngezindimi zabo lezimuli zabo kanye lezizwe zabo.

6 Amadodana kaHamu kwakunguKhushi loMizirayimi+ loPhuthi+ loKhenani.+

7 Amadodana kaKhushi kwakunguSebha,+ loHavila, loSabhitha, loRema+ kanye loSabhitheka.

Amadodana kaRema kwakunguShebha loDedani.

8 UKhushi wazala uNimrodi njalo uNimrodi waba ngowokuqala ukuba liqhawe elilamandla* emhlabeni. 9 Waba ngumzingeli olamandla owayephikisana loJehova. Yikho kulesitsho esithi: “NjengoNimrodi umzingeli olamandla ophikisana loJehova.” 10 Amadolobho uNimrodi aqalisa ukubusa kuwo kwakuyiBhabheli,+ le-Erekhi,+ le-Akhadi, leKhaline, elizweni laseShinari.+ 11 Wathi esuka elizweni lelo waya e-Asiriya+ wayakwakha iNiniva+ leRehobhothi-iri leKhala, 12 leReseni eyayiphakathi laphakathi kweNiniva leKhala: Lelo* kwakulidolobho elikhulu.*

13 UMizirayimi wazala uLudimi,+ lo-Anami, loLehabi, loNafithuhi,+ 14 loPhatrusi,+ loKhasiluhi (okwavela kuye amaFilisti)+ kanye loKhafithori.+

15 UKhenani wazala uSidoni+ izibulo lakhe, loHethi,+ 16 lamaJebusi,+ lama-Amori,+ lamaGirigashi, 17 lamaHivi,+ lama-Akhi, lamaSini, 18 lama-Arivadi,+ lamaZemari kanye lamaHamathi.+ Ngemva kwalokho izimuli zamaKhenani zasabalala. 19 Yikho-ke umngcele wamaKhenani wawusukela eSidoni uze uyefika khonale eGerari+ eduze leGaza,+ utshaye uze uyefika lakhonale eSodoma leGomora+ le-Adima leZebhoyimi+ eduze laseLasha. 20 La yiwo okwakungamadodana kaHamu kusiya ngezimuli zawo, lezindimi zawo, lamazwe awo kanye lezizwe zawo.

21 UShemu laye wazala abantwana njalo nguye owayengukhokho wawo wonke amadodana ka-Ebheri+ futhi engumfowabo kaJafethi owayelizibulo.* 22 Amadodana kaShemu kwakungu-Elami,+ lo-Ashuri,+ lo-Aphakhishadi,+ loLudi kanye lo-Aramu.+

23 Amadodana ka-Aramu kwakungu-Uzi, loHuli, loGetheri kanye loMashi.

24 U-Aphakhishadi wazala uShela njalo uShela+ wazala u-Ebheri.

25 U-Ebheri wazala amadodana amabili. Enye kwakuthiwa nguPhelegi*+ ngoba ngesikhathi eyaphila ngaso umhlaba wehlukaniswa.* Ibizo lomfowabo kwakunguJokhithani.+

26 UJokhithani wazala u-Alimodadi, loShelefi, loHazamavethi, loJera,+ 27 loHadoramu, lo-Uzali, loDikila, 28 lo-Obhali, lo-Abhimayeli, loShebha, 29 lo-Ofiri,+ loHavila kanye loJobhabhi. Bonke laba babengamadodana kaJokhithani.

30 Indawo yabo yokuhlala yayisukela eMesha ize iyefika eSefari, ezintabeni eziseMpumalanga.

31 La kwakungamadodana kaShemu kusiya ngamazwe awo, lezimuli zawo, lezindimi zawo kanye lezizwe zawo.+

32 Lezi yizo okwakuzimuli zamadodana kaNowa ngokuzalana kwawo kanye lezizwe zawo njalo ezimulini lezi yikho okwadabuka khona izizwe ezasabalala zagcwala umhlaba wonke ngemva kukaZamcolo.+

11 Ngalesosikhathi umhlaba wonke wawulokhu ukhuluma ulimi olulodwa futhi usebenzisa amabala afananayo. 2 Abantu bathi behamba beqonda empumalanga, bathola indawo eligceke elizweni leShinari+ bahlala kuyo. 3 Basebesithi komunye lomunye: “Wozani sizotshaya izitina sizitshise ngomlilo.” Ngakho basebenzisa izitina esikhundleni samatshe, basebenzisa lethara esikhundleni sodaka. 4 Basebesithi: “Wozani sizakhele idolobho kanye lomphotshongo ofika khonale emazulwini njalo kasizenzeleni ibizo elilodumo ukuze singasabalali sigcwale umhlaba wonke.”+

5 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wehla wayabona idolobho kanye lomphotshongo owawusakhiwa ngamadodana abantu. 6 UJehova wasesithi: “Abantu laba babambene njalo bakhuluma ulimi olulodwa,+ khangela ukuthi sebeqalise ukwenzani. Phela akulalutho abacabanga ukulwenza olungabehlula. 7 Woza sehle+ siyephithanisa* ulimi lwabo ukuze bangazwisisani nxa sebekhuluma indimi ezitshiyeneyo.” 8 Ngakho uJehova wenza abantu basabalala bagcwala umhlaba wonke+ njalo kancane kancane bawutshiya umsebenzi wokwakha idolobho. 9 Yikho idolobho lelo labizwa ngokuthi yiBhabheli*+ ngoba kuleyondawo uJehova waphithanisa* ulimi olwalukhulunywa ngumhlaba wonke, njalo uJehova wabenza basabalala bagcwala umhlaba wonke besuka kuleyondawo.

10 Le yimbali kaShemu.

UShemu+ wayeseleminyaka engu-100 ngesikhathi ezala u-Aphakhishadi+ njalo kwasekuleminyaka emibili kudlule uZamcolo. 11 UShemu wathi esezele u-Aphakhishadi waphila eminye iminyaka engu-500. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.+

12 U-Aphakhishadi waphila iminyaka engu-35 wasezala uShela.+ 13 U-Aphakhishadi wathi esezele uShela waphila eminye iminyaka engu-403. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.

14 UShela waphila iminyaka engu-30 wasezala u-Ebheri.+ 15 UShela wathi esezele u-Ebheri waphila eminye iminyaka engu-403. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.

16 U-Ebheri waphila iminyaka engu-34 wasezala uPhelegi.+ 17 U-Ebheri wathi esezele uPhelegi waphila eminye iminyaka engu-430. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.

18 UPhelegi waphila iminyaka engu-30 wasezala uRewu.+ 19 UPhelegi wathi esezele uRewu waphila eminye iminyaka engu-209. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.

20 URewu waphila iminyaka engu-32 wasezala uSerugi. 21 URewu wathi esezele uSerugi waphila eminye iminyaka engu-207. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.

22 USerugi waphila iminyaka engu-30 wasezala uNahori. 23 USerugi wathi esezele uNahori waphila eminye iminyaka engu-200. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.

24 UNahori waphila iminyaka engu-29 wasezala uThera.+ 25 UNahori wathi esezele uThera waphila eminye iminyaka engu-119. Kanti njalo wazala amanye amadodana lamadodakazi.

26 UThera waphila iminyaka engu-70 wasezala u-Abrama+ loNahori+ loHarani.

27 Le yimbali kaThera.

UThera wazala u-Abrama loNahori kanye loHarani njalo uHarani wazala uLothi.+ 28 UHarani wafela elizweni azalelwa kulo, e-Uri+ yamaKhaledi+ njalo wafa uyise uThera esaphila. 29 U-Abrama loNahori bathatha abafazi. Ibizo lomka-Abrama kwakunguSarayi+ njalo ibizo lomkaNahori kwakunguMilikha,+ indodakazi kaHarani. UHarani wayenguyise kaMilikha lo-Isikha. 30 USarayi wayeyinyumba,+ engelamntwana.

31 UThera wasethatha u-Abrama indodana yakhe kanye loLothi umzukulu wakhe+ owayeyindodana kaHarani, loSarayi umalukazana wakhe owayengumka-Abrama indodana yakhe, waphuma labo e-Uri yamaKhaledi baya elizweni laseKhenani.+ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi bafika eHarani+ bahlala khona. 32 UThera waphila iminyaka engu-205 njalo wafela eHarani.

12 UJehova wasesithi ku-Abrama: “Suka elizweni lakini lasezihlotsheni zakho lakwabendlu kayihlo uye elizweni engizakutshengisa lona.+ 2 Ngizakwenza ube yisizwe esikhulu, ngikubusise, ngenze ukuthi ibizo lakho libe likhulu njalo uzakuba yisibusiso.+ 3 Ngizababusisa labo abakubusisayo njalo umuntu okuqalekisayo ngizamqalekisa.+ Zonke imuli ezisemhlabeni zizabusiswa* ngawe.”+

4 Ngakho u-Abrama wasuka njengoba nje uJehova wayemtshelile njalo uLothi wahamba laye. U-Abrama wayeleminyaka engu-75 ngesikhathi esuka eHarani.+ 5 U-Abrama wathatha umkakhe uSarayi+ loLothi indodana yomfowabo,+ lazo zonke impahla ababezibuthelele,+ lazo zonke izisebenzi ababezithole eHarani baqonda eKhenani.+ Bathi befika elizweni laseKhenani, 6 u-Abrama wadabula kulo lonke ilizwe waze wayafika endaweni yaseShekhemu+ eduze lezihlahla ezinkulu zaseMore.+ Ngalesosikhathi elizweni lelo kwakuhlala amaKhenani. 7 UJehova wasebonakala ku-Abrama wathi: “Ilizwe leli ngizalipha+ izizukulwane zakho.”*+ Ngakho u-Abrama wakha i-alithare kuleyondawo, elakhela uJehova owayebonakale kuye. 8 Ngemva kwesikhathi waya ezintabeni ezisempumalanga kweBhetheli,+ wamisa itende lakhe kuleyondawo, iBhetheli ingasentshonalanga, i-Ayi+ ingasempumalanga. Wakhela uJehova i-alithare kuleyondawo+ njalo waqala ukubiza ibizo likaJehova.+ 9 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abrama wasuka kuleyondawo waqonda emangweni weNegebhi+ njalo wayelokhu ethutha esuka kwenye indawo esiya kwenye.

10 Ngalesosikhathi kwaba lendlala elizweni. U-Abrama wasesiya eGibhithe wayahlala khona okwesikhatshana*+ ngoba indlala yayibhahile.+ 11 Wathi esezafika eGibhithe wasesithi kumkakhe uSarayi: “Lalela nkosikazi, ngiyakwazi ukuthi umuhle kakhulu.+ 12 AmaGibhithe azakuthi ekubona athi, ‘Lo yinkosikazi yakhe,’ abesengibulala wena akutshiye uphila. 13 Ngicela uwatshele ukuthi ungudadewethu ukuze angiphathe kuhle ngenxa yakho futhi angangibulali.”+

14 U-Abrama wathi engena nje eGibhithe, amaGibhithe ananzelela ukuthi owesifazana ayehamba laye wayemuhle kakhulu. 15 Leziphathamandla zikaFaro eziphezulu zambona zafika kuFaro zababaza ubuhle bakhe. Owesifazana lo wasethathwa wahanjiswa endlini kaFaro. 16 UFaro wamphatha kuhle u-Abrama ngenxa kaSarayi, wamupha izimvu lenkomo, obabhemi abaduna labasikazi, lezisebenzi zesilisa lezesifazana kanye lamakamela.+ 17 UJehova wasetshaya uFaro labendlu yakhe ngenhlupho ezibuhlungu ngenxa kaSarayi umka-Abrama.+ 18 Ngakho uFaro wabiza u-Abrama wathi kuye: “Kuyini lokhu ongenze khona? Uyekeleleni ukungitshela ukuthi ngumkakho? 19 Kungani uthe ngudadewenu?+ Phela ngiphose ngamthatha waba ngumkami. Nangu umkakho, mthathe uhambe.” 20 Yikho uFaro wanika izinceku zakhe umlayo mayelana lo-Abrama basebemyekela wahamba lomkakhe kanye lakho konke ayelakho.+

13 U-Abrama wasesuka-ke eGibhithe waya eNegebhi+ lomkakhe, lakho konke ayelakho kanye loLothi. 2 U-Abrama wayenothe kakhulu, elezifuyo lesiliva legolide.+ 3 Phakathi kohambo lwakhe esuka eNegebhi esiya eBhetheli, wayehamba ethutha esuka kwenye indawo esiya kwenye waze wayafika endaweni ayemise kuyo itende lakhe kuqala, phakathi kweBhetheli le-Ayi.+ 4 Endaweni le kulapho u-Abrama ayefike wakha khona i-alithare njalo wabiza ibizo likaJehova kuleyondawo.

5 Indoda le okuthiwa nguLothi eyayihamba lo-Abrama layo yayilezimvu lenkomo kanye lamatende. 6 Ngakho indawo ababekuyo yayingaseneli ukuthi bahlale ndawonye, izifuyo* zabo zasezizinengi kakhulu okokuthi kwasekunzima ukuthi bahlale ndawonye. 7 Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi abelusi bezifuyo zika-Abrama labelusi bezifuyo zikaLothi baxabane. (Ngalesosikhathi elizweni kwakuhlala amaKhenani lamaPherizi.)+ 8 U-Abrama wasesithi kuLothi:+ “Ngicela singaxabani, njalo ngicela abelusi bami labelusi bakho bangaxabani ngoba mina lawe siyizihlobo.* 9 Ungazikhethela loba ngaphi lapho ofuna ukuhlala khona elizweni. Ngiyacela, kasehlukane. Nxa ungaya kwesenxele mina ngizakuya kwesokudla; kodwa nxa ungaya kwesokudla mina ngizakuya kwesenxele.” 10 Ngakho uLothi waphakamisa amehlo akhe wabona ukuthi sonke isigaba seJodani+ sasiyindawo elamanzi amanengi, (uJehova engakabhubhisi iSodoma leGomora), sasinjengensimu kaJehova+ njalo sinjengelizwe laseGibhithe kuze kuyefika eZowari.+ 11 ULothi wasezikhethela sonke isigaba seJodani, wathutha waya empumalanga, kwaba yikho ukwehlukana kwabo. 12 U-Abrama wahlala elizweni laseKhenani, uLothi yena wayahlala eduze kwamadolobho asesigabeni seJodani.+ Ekucineni wamisa itende lakhe eduze kweSodoma. 13 Abantu beSodoma babexhwalile, besenza izono ezinkulu phambi kukaJehova.+

14 Kwathi uLothi esesukile, uJehova wasesithi ku-Abrama: “Ngicela uphakamise amehlo akho ulapho omi khona, ukhangele enyakatho laseningizimu, empumalanga lasentshonalanga, 15 ngoba lonke ilizwe olibonayo ngizalinika wena lezizukulwane zakho* libe ngelenu kokuphela.+ 16 Ngizakwenza izizukulwane zakho* zibe zinengi njengothuli, okokuthi nxa ekhona ongabala uthuli, lezizukulwane zakho zingabalwa.*+ 17 Sukuma ulibhode ilizwe ubone ubude balo lobubanzi balo ngoba ngizakunika lona.” 18 Ngakho u-Abrama waqhubeka ehlala ematendeni. Ngokuya kwesikhathi wahlala eduze kwezihlahla ezinkulu zaseMamre+ eHebroni+ njalo wakhela uJehova i-alithare kuleyondawo.+

14 Ngalesosikhathi u-Amrafeli inkosi yaseShinari,+ lo-Ariyokhi inkosi yase-Elasari, loKhedolawome+ inkosi yase-Elami,+ loThidali inkosi yaseGoyimi, 2 balwa loBhera inkosi yaseSodoma,+ loBhirisha inkosi yaseGomora,+ loShinabi inkosi yase-Adima, loShemebheri inkosi yaseZebhoyimi+ kanye lenkosi yaseBhela, okutsho iZowari. 3 Amakhosi la abuthanisa amasotsha awo esigodini seSidimi,+ okutsho uLwandle Lwesawudo.+

4 Ayengaphansi kukaKhedolawome okweminyaka engu-12 kodwa ngomnyaka wesi-13 amhlamukela. 5 Ngakho ngomnyaka wesi-14 uKhedolawome lamakhosi ayelaye bafika banqoba amaRefayimi e-Ashitherothi-khanayimi, lamaZuzi ayeseHamu, lama-Emimi+ ayeseShave-khiriyathayimi 6 kanye lamaHori+ ayesentabeni yawo eSeyiri+ phansi khonale e-Eli-pharani emngceleni wenkangala. 7 Ngemva kwalokho baphenduka baya e-Eni-mishiphathi, okutsho iKhadeshi,+ bafika banqoba yonke indawo yama-Amaleki+ kanye lama-Amori+ ayehlala eHazazoni-thamari.+

8 Inkosi yaseSodoma yasiphuma isiyahlasela ilenkosi yaseGomora, lenkosi yase-Adima, lenkosi yaseZebhoyimi kanye lenkosi yaseBhela okutsho iZowari. Amakhosi la abuthana esigodini seSidimi, alungiselela ukulwa 9 loKhedolawome inkosi yase-Elami, loThidali inkosi yaseGoyimi, lo-Amrafeli inkosi yaseShinari kanye lo-Ariyokhi inkosi yase-Elasari.+ Kwakungamakhosi amane esilwa lamakhosi amahlanu. 10 Isigodi saseSidimi sasigcwele amagodi alethara. Yikho amakhosi aseSodoma leGomora athi ezama ukubaleka awela emagodini lawo, abaseleyo bona babalekela ezintabeni. 11 Abanqobi bathumba yonke impahla yeSodoma leGomora lokudla kwabo konke, bangena indlela.+ 12 Bathumba loLothi indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrama eyayihlala eSodoma+ njalo bathatha lempahla yakhe basebeqhubeka ngohambo lwabo.

13 Ngemva kwalokho enye indoda eyayiphunyukile yafika ku-Abrama umHebheru yamtshela okwakwenzakele. Ngalesosikhathi wayehlala* phansi kwezihlahla ezinkulu zikaMamre um-Amori,+ umfowabo ka-Eshikholi lo-Aneri.+ Amadoda la ayebambene lo-Abrama. 14 U-Abrama wathi esezwile ukuthi isihlobo sakhe+ sesithunjiwe, waqoqa amadoda aqeqetshiweyo ayelawo. Kwakuyizisebenzi ezingu-318 ezazizalwa endlini yakhe, wasebahlala izithende labobantu waze wayafika eDani.+ 15 Ebusuku wehlukanisa amabutho akhe aba ngamaqembu amabili njalo yena lezinceku zakhe babahlasela babanqoba. Wabaxotshanisa waze wayafika eHobha, esenyakatho kweDamaseko. 16 Wathatha yonke impahla ababeyithumbile, wathatha loLothi isihlobo sakhe lempahla zakhe, labesifazana kanye labanye abantu ababethunjiwe.

17 U-Abrama wathi esephenduka, ngemva kokunqoba uKhedolawome lamakhosi ayelaye, inkosi yaseSodoma yaphuma yamhlangabeza esigodini saseShave, okutsho isigodi senkosi,+ 18 njalo uMelikhizedekhi+ inkosi yeSalema+ wabuya lesinkwa lewayini futhi wayengumphristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke.+

19 Wasembusisa wathi:

U-Abrama wasemnika okwetshumi kwakho konke.+

21 Ngemva kwalokho inkosi yaseSodoma yathi ku-Abrama: “Nginika abantu, uzithathele impahla.” 22 Kodwa u-Abrama waphendula inkosi yaseSodoma wathi: “Ngiphakamisa isandla sami ngiyafunga kuJehova uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, uMenzi wezulu lomhlaba, 23 ngithi angisoze ngithathe lutho olungolwakho, kungaze kube luhali kumbe intambo yenyathela ukuze ungathi, ‘Yimi enganothisa u-Abrama.’ 24 Angisoze ngithathe lutho ngaphandle kwalokhu amajaha asekudlile. Kodwa amadoda ahambe lami, u-Aneri lo-Eshikholi loMamre,+ kawathathe isabelo sawo.”

15 Ngemva kwalokho ilizwi likaJehova lafika ku-Abrama embonweni lisithi: “Ungesabi+ Abrama. Ngilihawu lakho.+ Umvuzo wakho uzakuba mkhulu kakhulu.”+ 2 U-Abrama waphendula wathi: “Nkosi Enkulu Jehova, uzangiphani njengoba ubona ukuthi ngilokhu ngingelamntwana? Phela ozathatha ilifa lami yindoda le yeDamaseko, u-Eliyezeri.”+ 3 U-Abrama waphinda wathi: “Kawungiphanga umntwana*+ njalo inceku* yendlu yami yiyo ezakuba yindlalifa yami.” 4 UJehova wamphendula wathi, “Indoda le kayisoze ibe yindlalifa yakho kodwa indodana yakho uqobo yiyo ezakuba yindlalifa yakho.”+

5 Wasesithi kaphume phandle wathi kuye: “Ngicela ukhangele phezulu emazulwini ubale izinkanyezi nxa usenelisa ukwenza njalo.” Wasesithi kuye: “Izizukulwane zakho lazo zizakuba* njalo.”+ 6 U-Abrama wakholwa kuJehova+ njalo uNkulunkulu wathi* ulungile.+ 7 Waqhubeka wathi: “NginguJehova owakukhipha e-Uri yamaKhaledi ukuze ngikunike ilizwe leli libe ngelakho.”+ 8 U-Abrama wasephendula wathi: “Nkosi Enkulu Jehova, ngizakwazi njani ukuthi ngizalithatha libe ngelami?” 9 Yena wathi kuye: “Ngilethela ithokazi lenkomo elileminyaka emithathu, lembuzi ensikazi eleminyaka emithathu, lenqama eleminyaka emithathu, lejuba kanye lomntwana wenkwilimba.” 10 Ngakho wakuthatha konke lokhu wakudabula phakathi laphakathi kwaba zingxenye ezimbili, wasehlalisa ingxenye ngayinye yakhangelana lenye, kodwa inyoni kazange azidabule phakathi. 11 Ngemva kwalokho, inyoni ezidla inyama zaqalisa ukwehlela phezu kwenyama leyo kodwa u-Abrama wayelokhu ezixotsha.

12 Ilanga lathi selisiyatshona, u-Abrama wajunywa yibuthongo obukhulu, wehlelwa yibumnyama obukhulu futhi obesabekayo. 13 UNkulunkulu wasesithi ku-Abrama: “Kumele ukwazi ukuthi izizukulwane zakho zizakuba ngabezizweni elizweni elingayisilo lazo lokuthi labobantu bazakwenza izizukulwane zakho zibe yizigqili, bazihlukuluze okweminyaka engu-400.+ 14 Kodwa ngizasahlulela isizwe leso esizakwenza izizukulwane zakho zibe yizigqili+ njalo zizaphuma khona lempahla enengi.+ 15 Kodwa wena uzazifela ngokuthula, ngemva kokuphila impilo ende+ njalo uzangcwatshwa kubokhokho bakho. 16 Isizukulwane sakho sesine yiso esizaphenduka lapha+ ngoba isikhathi sokuthi ama-Amori ajeziselwe isono sawo asikafiki.”+

17 Kwathi ilanga selitshonile sekumnyama tshu kwabonakala iziko elithunqa intuthu, kwadlula lesibane esibhebhayo phakathi kwezingxenye zenyama. 18 Ngalelolanga uJehova wenza isivumelwano lo-Abrama+ wathi: “Ilizwe leli ngizalinika izizukulwane zakho,+ kusukela emfuleni waseGibhithe kuze kuyefika emfuleni omkhulu, umfula uYufrathe:+ 19 ilizwe lamaKheni,+ lamaKhenizi, lamaKhadimoni, 20 lamaHithi,+ lamaPherizi,+ lamaRefayimi,+ 21 lama-Amori, lamaKhenani, lamaGirigashi kanye lamaJebusi.”+

16 USarayi umka-Abrama wayengamzalelanga abantwana+ kodwa wayelencekukazi yakhe engumGibhithe okwakuthiwa nguHagari.+ 2 Ngakho uSarayi wathi ku-Abrama: “UJehova ungenze ngaba yinyumba. Ngicela ulale lencekukazi yami, mhlawumbe ingangizalela abantwana.”+ Yikho u-Abrama wakulalela lokho okwakutshiwo nguSarayi. 3 U-Abrama wathi eseleminyaka elitshumi ehlala elizweni leKhenani, umkakhe uSarayi wathatha incekukazi yakhe uHagari engumGibhithe waseyinika u-Abrama ukuthi ibe ngumkakhe. 4 Yikho u-Abrama walala loHagari wazithwala. UHagari uthe esebona ukuthi usezithwele waseqalisa ukweyisa inkosikazi yalapha ekhaya.

5 USarayi wasesithi ku-Abrama: “Udubo lolu esengilalo lubangelwe nguwe. Yimi engabeka incekukazi yami ezandleni zakho,* kodwa ithe isibona ukuthi isizithwele yaqalisa ukungeyisa. UJehova kahlulele phakathi kwami lawe.” 6 Ngakho u-Abrama wathi kuSarayi: “Incekukazi yakho isezandleni zakho. Yenza kuyo loba yini oyibona ifanele.” USarayi wasemphatha kubi uHagari waze wambalekela.

7 Ngemva kwesikhathi ingilosi kaJehova yamthola emthonjeni wamanzi enkangala futhi umthombo lo wawusendleleni eya eShuri.+ 8 Yathi kuye: “Hagari ncekukazi kaSarayi uvela ngaphi njalo uya ngaphi?” Waseyiphendula wathi: “Ngibalekela uSarayi.” 9 Ingilosi kaJehova yasisithi kuye: “Buyela kuSarayi, uzithobe kuye.”* 10 Ngemva kwalokho ingilosi kaJehova yathi: “Ngizakwenza inzalo yakho* yande, ibe nengi kakhulu okokuthi ngeke ibalwe.”+ 11 Ingilosi kaJehova yaphinda yathi: “Njengoba uzithwele, uzabeletha umntwana ongumfana njalo kumele umnike ibizo uthi, ngu-Ishmayeli* ngoba uJehova usekuzwile ukuhlupheka kwakho. 12 Uzakuba yindoda engubabhemi weganga.* Isandla sakhe sizamelana labantu bonke njalo lesandla somuntu wonke sizamelana laye futhi uzahlala ehlukene labo* bonke abafowabo.”

13 UHagari wasebiza ibizo likaJehova owayekhuluma laye wathi: “UnguNkulunkulu obonayo,”+ ngoba wathi, “Kambe yimi lo osebone lowo ongibonayo kulindawo?” 14 Yikho umthombo lowo wabizwa ngokuthi yiBheri-lahayi-royi.* (Uphakathi kweKhadeshi leBheredi.) 15 UHagari wazalela u-Abrama umntwana ongumfana, u-Abrama wasenika umntwana lo ayemzalelwe nguHagari ibizo wathi ngu-Ishmayeli.+ 16 U-Abrama wayeleminyaka engu-86 ngesikhathi uHagari emzalela u-Ishmayeli.

17 U-Abrama wathi eseleminyaka engu-99 uJehova wabonakala kuye wathi: “NginguNkulunkulu uSomandla. Hamba ezindleleni zami, utshengise ukuthi umsulwa.* 2 Ngizakwenza isivumelwano phakathi kwami lawe+ futhi ngizakwandisa kakhulukazi.”+

3 U-Abrama wathi ekuzwa lokhu waguqa wakhothamisa ikhanda, uNkulunkulu waseqhubeka ekhuluma laye esithi: 4 “Mina ngokwami ngenza isivumelwano lawe+ njalo uzakuba nguyise wezizwe ezinengi.+ 5 Awusoze uphinde ubizwe ngokuthi ungu-Abrama* kodwa usuzabizwa ngokuthi ungu-Abrahama* ngoba ngizakwenza ube nguyise wezizwe ezinengi. 6 Ngizakwenza ukuthi uzale abantwana abanengi kakhulu, ngenze ukuthi kuwe kuvele izizwe ezinengi njalo amakhosi azavela kuwe.+

7 “Ngizasigcina isivumelwano esiphakathi kwami lawe+ lenzalo yakho ezalandela* ngemva kwakho, kuzo zonke izizukulwane zenu. Lesi yisivumelwano esingapheliyo, esokuthi mina ngibe nguNkulunkulu wakho lowenzalo yakho ezalandela* ngemva kwakho. 8 Kanti njalo ilizwe ohlezi kulo ungowezizweni+ ngizalinika wena lenzalo yakho ezalandela* ngemva kwakho, lonke nje ilizwe leKhenani. Lizakuba ngelabo kokuphela njalo ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo.”+

9 UNkulunkulu waphinda wathi ku-Abrahama: “Kumele ugcine isivumelwano engisenze lawe, wena kanye lenzalo yakho ezalandela* ngemva kwakho kuzo zonke izizukulwane zabo. 10 Nansi-ke isivumelwano esiphakathi kwami lani, okumele wena labantwabakho* lisigcine: Wonke umuntu wesilisa ophakathi kwenu kumele asokwe.+ 11 Kumele lisoke njalo lokhu kuzakuba luphawu lwesivumelwano esiphakathi kwami lani.+ 12 Kuzo zonke izizukulwane zakho, wonke umuntu wesilisa oselamalanga angu-8 ezelwe kumele asokwe,+ loba ngubani ozelwe endlini yakho, laloba ngubani ongasimntanakho labo bonke abathengwe ngemali ebantwini bezinye izizwe. 13 Wonke umuntu wesilisa ozalwa endlini yakho, lothengwe ngemali yakho kumele asokwe+ njalo isivumelwano sami esisenyameni yenu sizakuba yisivumelwano esizahlala isikhathi eside. 14 Loba nguphi owesilisa ongasoze asoke kumele abulawe ngoba uyabe ephule isivumelwano sami.”

15 UNkulunkulu wasesithi ku-Abrahama: “Umkakho uSarayi*+ ungasambizi ngokuthi nguSarayi ngoba usezabizwa ngokuthi nguSara.* 16 Ngizambusisa njalo uzakuzalela indodana,+ ngizambusisa futhi kuye kuzavela izizwe ezinengi; amakhosi ezizwe zonke azavela kuye.” 17 U-Abrahama wathi ekuzwa lokhu waguqa wakhothamisa ikhanda wahleka, wasesithi enhliziyweni yakhe:+ “Kambe indoda eleminyaka engu-100 ingazala umntwana? USara angamzala yini umntwana yena eseleminyaka engu-90?”+

18 Ngakho u-Abrahama wathi kuNkulunkulu weqiniso: “Ngicela ubusise u-Ishmayeli.”+ 19 UNkulunkulu wasesithi: “Umkakho uSara uzakuzalela indodana sibili futhi kumele uyinike ibizo elithi Isaka.*+ Ngizakwenza isivumelwano layo njalo sizakuba yisivumelwano esingapheliyo futhi sizasebenza lakuzizukulwane zayo ezizalandela ngemva kwayo.+ 20 Kodwa okukhulumileyo ngo-Ishmayeli ngikuzwile. Laye ngizambusisa, ngimandise kakhulu, ngimenze abe labantwana abanengi. Kuzavela izinduna ezingu-12 kuye futhi ngizamenza abe yisizwe esikhulu.+ 21 Lanxa kunjalo, isivumelwano sami ngizasenza lo-Isaka,+ lowo ozamzalelwa nguSara ngalesisikhathi esibekiweyo ngomnyaka ozayo.”+

22 UNkulunkulu wathi eseqedile ukukhuluma lo-Abrahama wasuka kuye. 23 U-Abrahama wasethatha indodana yakhe u-Ishmayeli, lawo wonke amadoda ayezalwa endlini yakhe, lalawo ayewathenge ngemali, bonke nje abesilisa ayehlala labo, wabasoka bonke ngalo kanye lelolanga njengokutsho kukaNkulunkulu.+ 24 U-Abrahama wayeleminyaka engu-99 ngesikhathi esokwa.+ 25 U-Ishmayeli yena wayeleminyaka engu-13 ngesikhathi esokwa.+ 26 Ngalo kanye lelolanga u-Abrahama lendodana yakhe u-Ishmayeli basokwa. 27 Bonke abesilisa ababehlala laye, labo bonke ababezalwa endlini yakhe labo bonke ababethengwe ngemali ebantwini bezinye izizwe basokwa kanye laye.

18 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova+ wabonakala ku-Abrahama eduze kwezihlahla ezinkulu zeMamre.+ U-Abrahama wayehlezi emnyango wetende lakhe emini, ilanga litshisa bhe! 2 Wathi evusa ikhanda wabona amadoda amathathu emi bucwadlana laye.+ Wahle wagijima esuka emnyango wetende wawahlangabeza, wafika wathi mbo phansi emhlabathini. 3 Wasesithi: “Jehova nxa ngithole umusa kuwe, ngicela udlule emzini wenceku yakho. 4 Ngiyacela, akulethwe amanzanyana nje ligeziswe inyawo,+ beseliphumula ngaphansi kwesihlahla. 5 Njengoba selingenile emzini wenceku yenu, kahle ngiliphathele ucezwana lwesinkwa ukuze lidle lithole amandla, beseliqhubeka ngohambo lwenu.” Bona baphendula bathi: “Kulungile, ungenza lokho okutshoyo.”

6 Ngakho u-Abrahama waphangisa waya etendeni kuSara wafika wathi kuye: “Thatha izilinganiso* ezintathu zefulawa ecolekileyo masinyane, uyivube wenze izinkwa.” 7 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abrahama wagijima waya emhlambini wakhe wenkomo wakhetha iguqa eliduna elihle futhi elilenyama ebuthakathaka. Waselinika isisebenzi salihlinza masinyane, salipheka. 8 Wasethatha izankefu kanye lochago lenyama ayeseyiphekile, konke wakuthi qithi phambi kwabo. Ngesikhathi besidla, yena wayemi khonapho eduze kwabo ngaphansi kwesihlahla.+

9 Basebembuza bathi: “Ungaphi umkakho uSara?”+ Waphendula wathi: “Ukhona lapha etendeni.” 10 Ngakho omunye wabo wathi: “Ngizaphenduka kuwe ngasonalesisikhathi ngomnyaka ozayo futhi ngalesosikhathi umkakho uSara uzakuba lendodana.”+ USara wayelalele esemnyango wetende elalingemuva kwendoda eyayikhuluma. 11 U-Abrahama loSara basebegugile, iminyaka yabo isihambile+ njalo isikhathi sikaSara sokuba labantwana sasesidlule kudala.*+ 12 USara wasehlekela enhliziyweni wathi: “Kambe ngingayithola sibili intokozo le mina sengimdala kangaka, lenkosi yami isiguge kanje?”+ 13 UJehova wasesithi ku-Abrahama: “Kungani uSara ehlekile wathi, ‘Kambe ngingazala mina sengigugile?’ 14 Kukhona yini okungehlula uJehova?+ Ngizaphenduka kuwe ngomnyaka ozayo ngalesisikhathi esibekiweyo njalo uSara uzakuba lendodana.” 15 Kodwa uSara waphika wathi, “Angizange ngihleke,” ngoba wayesesaba. UNkulunkulu wasesithi: “Ye, uhlekile sibili.”

16 Amadoda la athi esehamba, u-Abrahama wawaphelekezela aze afika endaweni ayesebona khona iSodoma.+ 17 UJehova wathi: “U-Abrahama angisoze ngimfihlele lokho engizakwenza.+ 18 Phela yena uzakuba yisizwe esikhulu njalo esilamandla futhi zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizabusiswa* ngaye.+ 19 Sengimazi kuhle u-Abrahama njalo ngiyakwazi ukuthi uzalaya amadodana akhe labendlu yakhe abazalandela ngemva kwakhe ukuthi bagcine indlela kaJehova ngokwenza okuqondileyo lokulungileyo,+ ukuze uJehova agcwalise lokho athembise ukukwenzela u-Abrahama.”

20 UJehova wasesithi: “Insolo ngeSodoma leGomora inkulu sibili+ njalo isono sabantu bakhona sikhulu kakhulu.+ 21 Yikho ngizakwehla ngiyebona ukuthi abakwenzayo kuyahambelana yini lensolo esifike kimi, nxa kungenjalo ngizakwazi.”+

22 Amadoda lawo asesuka kuleyondawo aqonda eSodoma kodwa uJehova+ wasala lo-Abrahama. 23 U-Abrahama wasesondela kuNkulunkulu wathi: “Kambe uzatshabalalisa abenza okubi uhlanganise labalungileyo yini?+ 24 Ake sithi phakathi kwedolobho lelo kulabantu abangu-50 abalungileyo. Uzabatshabalalisa yini futhi ungabaxoleli abantu bendawo leyo lanxa kulabangu-50 abalungileyo? 25 Awungeke ufike umcabango onjalo kuwe futhi ngeke ubulale umuntu owenza okubi uhlanganise ndawonye lomuntu olungileyo, isiphetho solungileyo lowenza okubi sicine sesifanana.+ Umcabango onjalo ngeke ufike kuwe.+ Kambe uMahluleli womhlaba wonke kasoze enze okulungileyo yini?”+ 26 UJehova wasesithi: “Nxa ngingathola abantu abalungileyo abangu-50 eSodoma, ngizalixolela lonke idolobho lelo ngenxa yabo.” 27 U-Abrahama wasesithi: “Awu bakithi, sengiqunge isibindi sokukhuluma loJehova lanxa ngiluthuli, lomlotha nje. 28 Ake sithi kusilela abantu abahlanu phakathi kwabantu abangu-50 abalungileyo. Uzalibhubhisa yini lonke idolobho lelo ngenxa yabantu abahlanu?” Yena wathi: “Angisoze ngilibhubhise nxa ngingathola abangu-45.”+

29 Waphinda wakhuluma laye wathi: “Ake sithi sekutholakale abangu-40 edolobheni lelo.” Waphendula wathi: “Angisoze ngilibhubhise ngenxa yabangu-40.” 30 U-Abrahama waqhubeka wathi: “Ngiyacela Jehova, ungathukutheli,+ ngivumela ukuthi ngiqhubeke ngikhuluma: Ake sithi kutholakale abangu-30 edolobheni lelo.” UNkulunkulu waphendula wathi: “Nxa ngingathola abangu-30 angisoze ngilibhubhise.” 31 Waseqhubeka wathi: “Awu bakithi, sengiqunge isibindi sokukhuluma loJehova: Ake sithi kutholakale abantu abangu-20 edolobheni lelo.” Yena wamphendula wathi: “Angisoze ngilibhubhise ngenxa yabangu-20.” 32 Ekucineni u-Abrahama wathi: “Jehova ngiyacela, ungathukutheli, ngivumela ngiphinde ngikhulume kanye nje kuphela: Ake sithi kulabalitshumi kuphela edolobheni lelo.” Wasemphendula wathi: “Angisoze ngilibhubhise ngenxa yabalitshumi.” 33 UJehova wathi eseqedile ukukhuluma lo-Abrahama wasuka kuye,+ u-Abrahama laye wabuyela emzini wakhe.

19 Izingilosi ezimbili zafika eSodoma kusihlwa njalo uLothi wayehlezi egedini leSodoma. ULothi wathi ezibona wathi lothu wazihlangabeza, wafika waguqa phansi ekhothamise ikhanda.+ 2 Wasesithi: “Makhosi ami, ngiyacela, ake liphambukele emzini wenceku yenu lilale khona futhi lizahle ligeziswe lenyawo, beselivuka ekuseni kakhulu liqhubeke ngohambo lwenu.” Zona zathi: “Hatshi, sizalala egcekeni ledolobho.” 3 Kodwa yena wayelokhu ephikelela zaze zavuma ukuhamba laye emzini wakhe. Wafika wazilungisela ukudla okunengi, wapheka lesinkwa esingelamvubelo zasezisidla.

4 Bathi bengakalali kwatheleka amadoda edolobho lelo agombolozela indlu, wonke nje amadoda aseSodoma eliqembu, kusukela ebafaneni kuze kuyefika emaxhegwini. 5 Ayelokhu ememeza uLothi esithi: “Angaphi amadoda afike emzini wakho lamuhla kusihlwa? Wakhiphele phandle ukuze silale lawo.”+

6 ULothi wasephuma wavala isivalo, waya kuwo. 7 Wathi: “Bafowethu ngiyacela, lingenzi into le embi. 8 Zwanini, ngilamadodakazi amabili angakaze alale lendoda. Manini ngiwakhiphele phandle kini lenze loba yini eliyithandayo kuwo. Kodwa lingenzi lutho emadodeni la ngoba ayizethekeli emzini wami.”*+ 9 Bona bathi: “Suka lapha!” baphinda bathi: “Umuntu lo wezizweni ongelabani wabuya wahlala lapha. Manje ukuthatha ngaphi ukuthi asahlulele? Khathesi sizakwenza okubi kakhulu kuwe ukwedlula lokhu esizakwenza kuwo.” Basebesondela baminyezela uLothi befuna ukubulala isivalo. 10 Ngakho amadoda ayesendlini elulela izandla zawo phandle, adonsela uLothi endlini asevala umnyango. 11 Asesenza ukuthi wonke amadoda ayesemnyango abe yiziphofu, kusukela komncane kusiya komkhulu. Amadoda la ayelokhu ephumputha edinga umnyango aze adinwa.

12 Amadoda ayesendlini asesithi kuLothi: “Bakhona yini abanye abantu abayizihlobo zakho lapha? Kungaba ngabakhwenyana, amadodana akho, lamadodakazi akho, loba bonke nje abantu olabo edolobheni leli, basuse bonke endaweni le. 13 Indawo le sizayitshabalalisa ngoba insolo emayelana labantu bayo isinkulu kakhulu phambi kukaJehova,+ yikho uJehova esithumile ukuthi sizolitshabalalisa idolobho leli.” 14 Ngakho uLothi waphuma wayakhuluma labakhwenyana bakhe ababethembise ukutshada lamadodakazi akhe. Wayelokhu esithi kubo: “Phangisani! Phumani endaweni le, ngoba uJehova uzalitshabalalisa idolobho leli!” Kodwa abakhwenyana bakhe babebona angani uyazidlalela.+

15 Kwathi sekusemadabukakusa izingilosi zatshela uLothi ukuthi enze masinyane, zathi: “Phangisa! Thatha umkakho lamadodakazi akho amabili olawo ukuze ungabhujiswa nxa idolobho leli selitshabalaliswa ngenxa yecala lalo.”+ 16 Wathi elokhu esatomatoma, izingilosi zambamba ngesandla, zabamba lesandla somkakhe lezamadodakazi akhe amabili, zamkhiphela phandle, zamtshiya phandle kwedolobho+ ngenxa yokuthi uJehova waba lozwelo kuye.+ 17 Zathi sezibakhiphele phandle kwedolobho, enye yazo yathi: “Baleka ukuze usinde! Ungakhangeli emuva+ njalo ungami kuloba yiphi indawo esigabeni lesi!+ Balekela ezintabeni ukuze ungatshabalali.”

18 ULothi wasesithi kuzo: “Awu Jehova ungangisi kuleyondawo! 19 Inceku yakho isithole umusa kuwe njalo ube lothando oluqotho kimi ngokungigcina ngiphila+ kodwa angisoze ngenelise ukubalekela ezintabeni ngoba ngiyesaba ukuthi ingozi ingangifica endleleni besengisifa.+ 20 Kuledolobho elincane eduze lapha. Ngicela ukubalekela khona! Liyindawo encane nje futhi nxa ngingaya kulo ngizasinda.” 21 Wasesithi kuye: “Kulungile, ngiyasamukela isicelo sakho,+ angisoze ngilitshabalalise idolobho okhuluma ngalo.+ 22 Phangisa-ke! Ubalekele kulo ngoba angisoze ngenze lutho nxa ungakafiki khona.”+ Yikho idolobho lelo labizwa ngokuthi yiZowari.*+

23 Ilanga laseliphumile ngesikhathi uLothi efika eZowari. 24 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wanisa isalufa kanye lomlilo phezu kweSodoma leGomora. Izinto lezi zavela kuJehova emazulwini.+ 25 Ngakho wawatshabalalisa amadolobho lawo, sonke lesosigaba kanye labo bonke abantu ababehlala kuwo, lezimila ezazisemhlabathini.+ 26 Kodwa umkaLothi wayengemva kwakhe njalo wakhangela emuva wasesiba yisiduli sesawudo.*+

27 U-Abrahama wavuka ekuseni waya endaweni ayeke wama kuyo phambi kukaJehova.+ 28 Wathi uyakhangela eSodoma leGomora lakuyo yonke indawo esesigabeni leso wasala emangele. Wabona kuqubuka intuthu ejiyileyo elizweni futhi yayinjengentuthu ephuma esithandweni somlilo.+ 29 Ngakho uNkulunkulu wathi esetshabalalisa amadolobho asesigabeni leso, wakhumbula u-Abrahama, wakhipha uLothi emadolobheni lawo, lapho uLothi ayehlala khona.+

30 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uLothi wasuka eZowari lamadodakazi akhe amabili wayahlala ezintabeni+ ngoba wayesesaba ukuhlala eZowari.+ Ngakho waqala ukuhlala ebhalwini lamadodakazi akhe amabili. 31 Indodakazi yakhe endala yathi kwencane: “Ubaba usegugile njalo akulandoda lapha engalala lathi ukuze sibe labantwana njengalokho okwenziwa emhlabeni wonke. 32 Buya sinike ubaba iwayini anathe, besesilala laye silondoloze usendo lwakhe.”*

33 Yikho ngalobobusuku baqhubeka benika uyise iwayini, indodakazi endala yasingena yalala laye kodwa uyise kazange akwazi ukuthi yalala nini lokuthi yavuka nini. 34 Kwathi-ke ngelanga elilandelayo, indodakazi endala yathi kwencane: “Ngilele lobaba izolo ebusuku. Lalamuhla ebusuku asimnike iwayini anathe, ubususiyalala laye ukuze silondoloze usendo lwakhe.” 35 Yikho langalobobusuku baqhubeka benika uyise iwayini, indodakazi encane yasingena yalala laye kodwa kazange akwazi ukuthi yalala nini lokuthi yavuka nini. 36 Ngakho womabili amadodakazi kaLothi azithwala. 37 Indodakazi endala yabeletha umntwana ongumfana yamnika ibizo yathi nguMowabi.+ Nguye owaba nguyise wamaMowabi akhona lamuhla.+ 38 Encane layo yabeletha umntwana ongumfana, yamnika ibizo yathi nguBheni-ami. Nguye owaba nguyise wama-Amoni+ akhona lamuhla.

20 U-Abrahama wathutha lapho ayekhona+ waya elizweni leNegebhi, wahlala phakathi kweKhadeshi+ leShuri.+ U-Abrahama wathi esehlala* eGerari,+ 2 wayehlala ekhuluma ngomkakhe uSara esithi: “Ngudadewethu.”+ Ngakho u-Abhimeleki inkosi yaseGerari yathuma izithunywa zayo ukuthi ziyebiza uSara, waselethwa kuye.+ 3 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wafika ku-Abhimeleki ebusuku ephutsheni wathi kuye: “Usufanana lofileyo ngenxa yowesifazana osumthethe+ ngoba wendile futhi ungumfazi wenye indoda.”+ 4 Kodwa u-Abhimeleki wayengakamthinti,* yikho wathi: “Jehova, kambe ungabulala isizwe esingelacala?* 5 Kayisuye yini ongitshele wathi ngudadewabo? Laye umama lo katshongo yini ukuthi ngumnewabo? Engikwenzileyo ngikwenze ngenhliziyo emsulwa langezandla ezingelacala.” 6 UNkulunkulu weqiniso wasesithi kuye ephutsheni: “Ngiyakwazi ukuthi lokhu ukwenze ngenhliziyo emsulwa yikho ngikuvimbele ukuthi ungenzi isono kimi. Ngenxa yalokho angikuvumelanga ukuthi umthinte. 7 Khathesi-ke buyisela umfazi wendoda le ngoba ingumphrofethi+ njalo izakhuleka ikuncengele+ ukuze uqhubeke uphila. Kodwa nxa ungayekela ukumbuyisela, kumele ukwazi ukuthi wena labo bonke abendlu yakho lizakufa sibili.”

8 U-Abhimeleki wavuka ekuseni kakhulu wabiza zonke izinceku zakhe wazitshela konke lokhu futhi zethuka kakhulu. 9 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abhimeleki wasebiza u-Abrahama wathi kuye: “Kuyini lokhu osenze khona? Kambe ngikoneleni uze wehlisele mina lombuso wami isono esingaka? Akukuhle lokho okwenzileyo kimi.” 10 U-Abhimeleki wasephinda wathi ku-Abrahama: “Ubuhloseni uze wenze into enje?”+ 11 U-Abrahama wathi: “Kungenxa yokuthi ngacabanga ukuthi, ‘Abantu bendawo le abamesabi uNkulunkulu futhi bazangibulala ngenxa yomkami.’+ 12 Kodwa iqiniso elikhona yikuthi ungudadewethu sibili ngoba uyindodakazi kababa kodwa sitshiyana kubomama njalo ngamthatha waba ngumkami.+ 13 Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu esithi ngisuke endlini kababa+ ngathi kumkami: ‘Nanku okumele ukwenze ukuze utshengise ukuthi uyangithanda:* Loba ngaphi lapho esiyakhona fika uthi, “Lo ngumnewethu.”’”+

14 U-Abhimeleki wasethatha izimvu lenkomo kanye lezisebenzi zesilisa lezesifazana wanika u-Abrahama, wambuyisela lomkakhe uSara. 15 U-Abhimeleki waqhubeka wathi: “Ilizwe lami liphambi kwakho. Hlala loba ngaphi ofuna khona.” 16 Wasesithi kuSara: “Khathesi senginika umnewenu inhlamvu zesiliva ezingu-1 000.+ Ziyisibonakaliso kubo bonke abantu abalawe lapha, laphambi kwabo bonke abantu ukuthi akulalutho olubi olwenzileyo futhi ayikho into embi ongagconwa ngayo.” 17 U-Abrahama wasethandaza kuNkulunkulu weqiniso emncenga. UNkulunkulu wasemsilisa u-Abhimeleki lomkakhe lezigqilikazi zakhe basebeqala ukuba labantwana. 18 Phela uJehova wayebangele ukuthi bonke abesifazana ababesemzini ka-Abhimeleki babe zinyumba* ngenxa kaSara umka-Abrahama.+

21 UJehova wamkhumbula uSara njengoba wayetshilo, njalo uJehova wenzela uSara lokhu ayekuthembisile.+ 2 USara wazithwala+ wasezalela u-Abrahama umntwana ongumfana njalo lokhu kwenzakala u-Abrahama esegugile, ngaso kanye isikhathi esibekiweyo uNkulunkulu ayemthembise sona.+ 3 U-Abrahama wayinika ibizo indodana yakhe ayeyizalelwe nguSara, wayithi ngu-Isaka.+ 4 Kwathi indodana yakhe u-Isaka isilamalanga angu-8, u-Abrahama wayisoka njengoba nje uNkulunkulu wayemtshele ukuthi enze njalo.+ 5 U-Abrahama wayeseleminyaka engu-100 ngesikhathi kuzalwa indodana yakhe u-Isaka. 6 USara wasesithi: “UNkulunkulu usengenze ngahleka; wonke umuntu ozakuzwa lokhu uzahleka lami.”* 7 Waphinda wathi: “Kambe ngubani obengathi ku-Abrahama, ‘USara uzabamunyisa sibili abantwana’? Kodwa khathesi sengimzalele indodana esegugile.”

8 Umntwana wakhula wasekhitshwa ebeleni, u-Abrahama wenza idili elikhulu ngelanga u-Isaka akhitshwa ngalo ebeleni. 9 Kodwa uSara wayelokhu enanzelela ukuthi indodana kaHagari+ umGibhithe, ayeyizalele u-Abrahama yayilokhu isenza u-Isaka inhlekisa.+ 10 Wasesithi ku-Abrahama: “Xotsha isigqilikazi lesi lendodana yaso ngoba indodana yesigqilikazi lesi ayisoze ibe yindlalifa kanye lendodana yami u-Isaka!”+ 11 Kodwa lokhu okwatshiwo nguSara ngendodana* yakhe akuzange kumphathe kuhle u-Abrahama.+ 12 UNkulunkulu wasesithi ku-Abrahama: “Akungakuphathi kubi lokho okutshiwo nguSara mayelana lomfana kanye lesigqilikazi sakho. Mlalele* ngoba okuzathiwa yinzalo yakho* kuzavela ku-Isaka.+ 13 Ngizakwenza ukuthi lasendodaneni yesigqilikazi+ kuvele isizwe+ ngenxa yokuthi iyindodana yakho.”*

14 Ngakho u-Abrahama wavuka kusesele wathatha isinkwa lesigubhu samanzi esenziwe ngesikhumba wanika uHagari. Wafaka izinto lezi ehlombe likaHagari wathi yena lomfana kabahambe.+ UHagari wasesuka wahamba njalo wayelokhu ezulazula enkangala yaseBheri-shebha.+ 15 Kwathi amanzi ayesesigubhini sesikhumba esephelile, wafuqela umfana ngaphansi kwesixuku. 16 Wasehamba okomango ongalingana lebanga elihanjwa ngumtshoko nxa utshokiwe, wafika wahlala yedwa ngoba esithi: “Angifuni ukubona indodana yami isifa.” Ngakho wahlala phansi buqamama waqalisa ukuhlaba umkhosi ekhala.

17 UNkulunkulu walizwa ilizwi lomfana,+ ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yasimemeza uHagari isemazulwini yathi kuye:+ “Kutheni Hagari? Ungesabi ngoba uNkulunkulu ulizwile ilizwi lomfana khonapho lapho akhona. 18 Sukuma, uyesukumisa lomfana, umbambe ngesandla ngoba ngizamenza abe yisizwe esikhulu.”+ 19 UNkulunkulu wasemvula amehlo wabona umthombo wamanzi, ngakho waya kuwo wagcwalisa isigubhu sesikhumba ngamanzi wasenika umfana ukuthi anathe. 20 UNkulunkulu waqhubeka elaye umfana+ ngesikhathi ekhula. Wayehlala enkangala njalo waba ngumphosi wemitshoko. 21 Wahlala enkangala yasePharani+ njalo unina wayamthathela umfazi elizweni laseGibhithe.

22 Ngalesosikhathi u-Abhimeleki walanda u-Abrahama eloFikholi induna yebutho lakhe wathi kuye: “UNkulunkulu ulawe kukho konke okwenzayo.+ 23 Khathesi funga kimi ngoNkulunkulu ukuthi awusoze ungiqile mina labantwabami lezizukulwane zami, lokuthi uthando oluqotho engikutshengise lona, lawe uzangitshengisa lona kanye labantu belizwe leli ohlala kulo.”+ 24 U-Abrahama wasesithi: “Ngiyafunga ukuthi ngizakwenza njalo.”

25 Kodwa u-Abrahama wasekhalaza ku-Abhimeleki ngomthombo wamanzi owawuthethwe zinceku zika-Abhimeleki ngenkani.+ 26 U-Abhimeleki waphendula wathi: “Angikwazi ukuthi ngubani okwenzileyo lokhu; awuzange ungitshele ngakho njalo ngikuzwa lamuhla nje.” 27 U-Abrahama wasethatha izimvu lenkomo wazinika u-Abhimeleki njalo bobabili benza isivumelwano. 28 U-Abrahama wakhetha imvana ezinsikazi eziyisikhombisa emhlambini, wazimisa zodwa. 29 U-Abhimeleki wathi ku-Abrahama: “Kanti imvana lezi eziyisikhombisa ozimise zodwa ngezani?” 30 Wasesithi kuye: “Kumele wamukele imvana lezi eziyisikhombisa ezinsikazi esandleni sami ukuze zibe yibufakazi bokuthi yimi engawugebhayo umthombo lo.” 31 Yikho wabiza leyondawo ngokuthi yiBheri-shebha*+ ngoba bobabili benza isifungo khonapho. 32 Ngakho benza isivumelwano+ eBheri-shebha, u-Abhimeleki loFikholi induna yebutho lakhe basebesuka babuyela elizweni lamaFilisti.+ 33 Ngemva kwalokho wahlanyela isihlahla somthamariski eBheri-shebha, njalo wabiza ibizo likaJehova+ uNkulunkulu waphakade+ ekuleyondawo. 34 U-Abrahama wahlala* elizweni lamaFilisti okwesikhathi eside.*+

22 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu weqiniso walinga u-Abrahama+ njalo wathi kuye: “Abrahama!” Yena wasabela wathi: “Ngilapha!” 2 UNkulunkulu wasesithi: “Ngicela uthathe indodana yakho u-Isaka,+ yona kanye indodana yakho eyiyo yodwa futhi oyithanda kakhulu+ uye elizweni laseMoriya,+ ufike unikele ngayo ibe ngumnikelo wokutshiswa kwenye yezintaba engizakutshengisa yona.”

3 Ngakho u-Abrahama wavuka kusesele wabophela isihlalo kubabhemi wakhe, wathatha izinceku zakhe ezimbili kanye lendodana yakhe u-Isaka, wabanda lenkuni zomnikelo wokutshiswa. Wasesuka wangena indlela waya endaweni leyo uNkulunkulu weqiniso ayemtshele ukuthi aye kuyo. 4 Ngelanga lesithathu u-Abrahama wathi ephakamisa amehlo wayibona leyondawo khatshana le. 5 U-Abrahama wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe: “Lina salani lapha lobabhemi. Mina lomfana sisake siye le siyekhonza, sizaphenduka.”

6 U-Abrahama wasethatha inkuni zomnikelo wokutshiswa wazifaka ehlombe lika-Isaka indodana yakhe, yena wathatha umlilo lengqamu. Baqhubeka-ke ngohambo sebebabili. 7 U-Isaka wasesithi kuyise u-Abrahama: “Baba?” Yena waphendula wathi: “Yebo mntanami!” U-Isaka wathi: “Umlilo lenkuni nanku lapha. Kanti imvu yomnikelo wokutshiswa yona ingaphi?” 8 U-Abrahama wasesithi: “UNkulunkulu nguye ozasipha imvu yomnikelo wokutshiswa+ mntanami.” Bobabili baqhubeka ngohambo.

9 Ekucineni bafika kuleyondawo uNkulunkulu weqiniso ayemtshele ngayo. U-Abrahama wasesakha i-alithare khonapho, wafaka lenkuni phezu kwalo. Wabopha izandla lenyawo zendodana yakhe u-Isaka, wayifaka phezu kwenkuni e-alithareni.+ 10 U-Abrahama waseselula isandla sakhe wathatha ingqamu ukuze abulale indodana yakhe. + 11 Kodwa ingilosi kaJehova yammemeza isemazulwini yathi: “Abrahama, Abrahama!” Yena wasabela wathi: “Ngilapha!” 12 Yasisithi: “Ungambulali umfana njalo ungenzi lutho kuye. Khathesi sengikwazi ukuthi uyamesaba uNkulunkulu ngoba awalanga ukunginika indodana yakho eyiyo yodwa.”+ 13 Khonokho nje u-Abrahama wathi evusa amehlo wabona phambidlana kwakhe kulenqama, ibanjelwe esixukwini ngempondo zayo. Ngakho wahamba wayathatha inqama leyo wanikela ngayo, yaba ngumnikelo wokutshiswa esikhundleni sendodana yakhe. 14 U-Abrahama wabiza indawo leyo ngokuthi Jehova-jayire.* Yikho lalamuhla kulokhu kuthiwa: “Entabeni yakhe uJehova uzanika lokho okufunekayo.”+

15 Ingilosi kaJehova yaphinda yabiza u-Abrahama okwesibili isemazulwini, 16 yathi: “‘Ngifunga ngami uqobo,’ kutsho uJehova,+ ‘ngithi ngenxa yokuthi ukwenzile lokhu, wavuma ukungipha indodana yakho eyiyo yodwa,+ 17 ngizakubusisa sibili njalo ngizakwandisa inzalo yakho* loba sekutheni, ibe njengezinkanyezi zamazulu lanjengetshebetshebe ekhunjini lolwandle+ njalo inzalo yakho izathatha* amadolobho* ezitha zayo.+ 18 Ngenzalo yakho*+ zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizazitholela isibusiso ngenxa yokuthi ulalele ilizwi lami.’”+

19 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abrahama wabuyela ezincekwini zakhe basebesuka babuyela bonke eBheri-shebha+ njalo u-Abrahama waqhubeka ehlala eBheri-shebha.

20 Kwasekufika umbiko ku-Abrahama othi: “UMilikha laye usezalele umfowenu uNahori+ amadodana. 21 Izibulo lakhe ngu-Uzi, kube loBhuzi umfowabo, loKhemuweli uyise ka-Aramu, 22 loKhesedi, loHazo, loPhilidashi, loJidilafi kanye loBhethuweli.”+ 23 UBhethuweli waba nguyise kaRabheka.+ Amadodana la angu-8 yiwo uMilikha awazalela uNahori umfowabo ka-Abrahama. 24 Omunye umfazi wakhe okwakuthiwa nguRehuma laye wamzalela amadodana, uThebha, loGahami, loThahashi kanye loMahakha.

23 USara wafa eseleminyaka engu-127; le yiyo iminyaka ayiphilayo.+ 2 USara wafela eKhiriyathi-abha,+ okutsho iHebroni+ elizweni laseKhenani+ njalo u-Abrahama waqalisa ukulila lokukhalela uSara. 3 U-Abrahama wasesuka lapho umufi ayekhona waya kumadodana kaHethi,+ wathi kuwo: 4 “Ngingowezizweni njalo ngabuya ngazohlala phakathi kwenu.+ Ngicela linginike umhlabathi phakathi kwenu ozakuba yindawo yami yokungcwaba ukuze ngingcwabele khona umkami.” 5 Amadodana kaHethi asephendula u-Abrahama athi: 6 “Zwana nkosi yami, wena uyinduna kaNkulunkulu* phakathi kwethu.+ Ungangcwaba umkakho endaweni enhle kakhulu kulazo zonke esilazo. Kakho phakathi kwethu ozakuncitsha indawo yakhe yokungcwaba, akuvimbele ukuthi ungcwabe umkakho.”

7 Ngakho u-Abrahama wasukuma wakhothama phambi kwabantu belizwe lelo, amadodana kaHethi,+ 8 wathi kuwo: “Nxa lingivumela ukuthi ngingcwabe umkami, lalelani engikutshoyo lingincengele u-Efroni indodana kaZohari 9 ukuthi angithengisele ubhalu lwakhe lweMakhaphela olusemaphethelweni ensimu yakhe. Kangithengisele lona phambi kwenu ngesiliva esenela intengo yalo+ ukuze ngithole indawo yokungcwaba.”+

10 U-Efroni wayehlezi phakathi kwamadodana kaHethi. Ngakho u-Efroni umHithi waphendula u-Abrahama amadodana kaHethi elalele kanye labanye bonke ababesegedini ledolobho.+ Wathi: 11 “Hatshi nkosi yami, lalela, ngiyakunika insimu kanye lobhalu oluphakathi kwayo njalo ngikunika yona phambi kwamadodana abantu bakithi. Ngcwaba umkakho kuleyondawo.” 12 U-Abrahama wasekhothama phambi kwabantu belizwe lelo 13 wakhuluma lo-Efroni belalele wathi: “Ngicela ungilalele. Ngizakubhadala ngesiliva esenela intengo yensimu le. Ngicela usithathe, besengisiyangcwaba umkami kuleyondawo.”

14 U-Efroni wasephendula u-Abrahama wathi: 15 “Zwana nkosi yami. Insimu le ibiza amashekheli* esiliva angu-400. Kodwa iyini kambe imali le phakathi kwami lawe? Hamba uyengcwaba umkakho.” 16 U-Abrahama wamlalela u-Efroni, wasemlinganisela inani lesiliva ayeliqambe amadodana kaHethi elalele. Kwakungamashekheli* esiliva angu-400 ayehambelana lesisindo esasisamukelwa ngabathengisi.+ 17 Yikho-ke insimu ka-Efroni eyayiseMakhaphela, phambi kweMamre, insimu kanye lobhalu olwaluphakathi kwayo lazo zonke izihlahla ezaziphakathi kwemingcele yayo, kwaqinisekiswa ukuthi 18 sekuyimpahla ka-Abrahama ayithenge phambi kwamadodana kaHethi laphambi kwabo bonke ababesegedini ledolobho. 19 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abrahama wangcwaba umkakhe uSara ebhalwini lwensimu yeMakhaphela phambi kweMamre, okutsho iHebroni, elizweni laseKhenani. 20 Ngakho amadodana kaHethi anika u-Abrahama insimu kanye lobhalu olwaluphakathi kwayo, kwaba yindawo yakhe yokungcwaba.+

24 U-Abrahama wayesegugile, iminyaka yakhe isihambile njalo uJehova wayembusisile kukho konke.+ 2 Ngakho wakhuluma lenceku yakhe eyayindala kulabo bonke endlini yakhe futhi ikhangela yonke impahla yakhe.+ Wathi: “Ngicela ufake isandla sakho ngaphansi komlenze wami, 3 ufunge ngoJehova uNkulunkulu wamazulu loNkulunkulu womhlaba ukuthi awusoze uthathele indodana yami umfazi kumadodakazi abantu baseKhenani engihlala phakathi kwabo.+ 4 Kodwa kumele uhambe elizweni lakithi, lasezihlotsheni zami,+ uyethathela indodana yami u-Isaka umfazi khonale.”

5 Inceku yasisithi kuye: “Manje nxa owesifazana engizamthola engala ukubuya lami elizweni leli ngenzeni? Ngiyithathe yini indodana yakho ngiyibuyisele kulelolizwe owavela kulo?”+ 6 U-Abrahama wathi ekuzwa lokho wathi kuyo: “Woba leqiniso lokuthi awuyihambisi indodana yami kuleyondawo.+ 7 UJehova uNkulunkulu wamazulu owangisusa endlini kababa laselizweni lezihlobo zami+ futhi owakhuluma lami wafunga kimi+ wathi: ‘Ilizwe leli+ ngizalipha izizukulwane zakho,’*+ uzathuma ingilosi yakhe ihambe phambi kwakho+ njalo wena uzatholela indodana yami umfazi kuleyondawo.+ 8 Nxa owesifazana ozamthola engafuni ukubuya lawe lapha, uyabe usukhululekile kulesisifungo. Kodwa akumelanga uhambise indodana yami elizweni lelo.” 9 Ngakho inceku yafaka isandla sayo ngaphansi komlenze wenkosi yayo u-Abrahama, yafunga ngaloludaba.+

10 Inceku yasithatha amakamela enkosi yayo alitshumi lazo zonke izinto ezinhle enkosini yayo, yangena indlela yaqonda eMesophothamiya edolobheni laseNahori. 11 Yafika yaguqisa amakamela emthonjeni owawuphandle kwedolobho. Kwasekuyizikhathi zantambama, ngesikhathi abesifazana ababejayele ukuphuma ngaso besiyakukha amanzi. 12 Yasikhuleka yathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama ngicela ungenze ngiphumelele lamuhla njalo ube lothando oluqotho enkosini yami u-Abrahama. 13 Sengimi lapha emthonjeni wamanzi futhi amadodakazi abantu bedolobho leli asezabuya ezokukha amanzi. 14 Akuthi intombi engizakuthi kuyo, ‘Ngicela wehlise imbiza yakho yamanzi nginathe,’ yona ibisiphendula isithi, ‘Natha futhi ngizanathisa lamakamela akho,’ kube yiyo ozayikhethela inceku yakho u-Isaka. Ngicela lokhu kube yisibonakaliso sokuthi utshengise inkosi yami uthando oluqotho.”

15 Inceku yathi ingakaqedi ukukhuluma kwafika uRabheka ethwele imbiza yakhe yamanzi ehlombe. Wayeyindodakazi kaBhethuweli,+ indodana kaMilikha+ umkaNahori,+ umfowabo ka-Abrahama. 16 Intombi le yayilitshatshazi futhi iyintombi egcweleyo, ingakaze ilale lendoda. Yehlela emthonjeni yagcwalisa imbiza yayo yasiqansa isibuyela. 17 Inceku yahle yagijimela kuyo yafika yathi: “Ngicela unginathise kancane embizeni yakho yamanzi.” 18 Intombi yathi: “Natha nkosi yami.” Yasisehlisa imbiza yayo yamanzi yayibamba ngesandla, inceku yanatha. 19 Ithe isiqedile ukunathisa inceku yasisithi: “Ngizakhelela amanzi nginathise lamakamela akho wonke aze akholwe.” 20 Masinyane nje wathululela amanzi ayesembizeni yakhe emkolweni wokunathela izifuyo, wagijima esagijima esikha amanzi emthonjeni elokhu ewathela emkolweni ukuze wonke amakamela anathe. 21 Konke lokhu kusenzakala inceku yayilokhu ikhangele imangele izibuza ukuthi kambe uJehova wayelwenze lwaphumelela yini uhambo lwayo.

22 Kwathi amakamela eseqedile ukunatha, inceku yasinika intombi indandatho yegolide egqokwa emakhaleni elesisindo sengxenye yeshekheli,* lamasongo egolide amabili alesisindo samashekheli* alitshumi, 23 yathi kuyo: “Akungitshele, uyindodakazi kabani? Singayithola yini indawo yokulala emzini kayihlo?” 24 Yamphendula yathi: “Ngiyindodakazi kaBhethuweli,+ indodana kaMilikha ayizalela uNahori.”+ 25 Yaphinda yathi: “Silotshani obunengi lokudla kwezifuyo okunengi futhi lendawo yokulala ikhona.” 26 Inceku yasiguqa, yathi mbo phansi phambi kukaJehova, 27 yathi: “Kadunyiswe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama ngoba ubelokhu elothando oluqotho futhi ethembekile enkosini yami. UJehova ungikhokhele ngaze ngafika endlini yabafowabo benkosi yami.”

28 Intombi yagijima yayatshela unina labanye bonke zonke izinto lezi. 29 URabheka wayelomfowabo okwakuthiwa nguLabhani.+ Ngakho uLabhani wagijima waya kuleyondoda eyayisemthonjeni. 30 Wathi ebona indandatho yegolide egqokwa emakhaleni kanye lamasongo ayegqokwe ngudadewabo ezandleni futhi esizwa lamazwi ayekhulunywa ngudadewabo uRabheka esithi, “Indoda le ikhulume lami kanje,” wasephuma wayahlangabeza indoda leyo eyayilokhu imi eduze kwamakamela emthonjeni. 31 Wathi kuyo: “Woza wena obusiswe nguJehova. Kungani ulokhu umi phandle? Sengiyilungisile indlu ngalungisa lendawo yamakamela.” 32 Indoda le yasingena ngekhaya njalo amakamela ethulwa* imithwalo aphiwa utshani* lokunye ukudla kwawo. Yona lamadoda ayehamba layo baphiwa amanzi okugeza inyawo. 33 Kwathi sekulethwe ukudla phambi kwayo yona yathi: “Angisoze ngenelise ukudla ngingakalitsheli engihamba ngakho.” ULabhani wasesithi: “Khuluma sizwe!”

34 Yasisithi: “Ngiyinceku ka-Abrahama. + 35 UJehova uyibusise kakhulu inkosi yami njalo wenze yanotha kakhulu. Uyiphe izimvu lenkomo, lesiliva legolide, lezisebenzi zesilisa lezesifazana kanye lamakamela labobabhemi.+ 36 Kanti njalo uSara inkosikazi yenkosi yami wazalela inkosi yami indodana eseluphele+ futhi inkosi yami izanika indodana yayo konke elakho.+ 37 Ngakho inkosi yami ingifungisile yathi: ‘Akumelanga udingele indodana yami umfazi kumadodakazi abantu baseKhenani engihlala phakathi kwabo.+ 38 Kodwa kumele uye endlini kababa lasemulini yangakithi,+ uyethathela indodana yami u-Isaka umfazi.’+ 39 Mina ngasengiyibuza inkosi yami ngathi: ‘Manje nxa owesifazana engizamthola engala ukubuya lami ngenzeni?’+ 40 Yona yathi kimi: ‘UJehova lowo engihamba phambi kwakhe+ uzathumela ingilosi yakhe+ ukuthi ibe lawe futhi uzakwenza uhambo lwakho luphumelele sibili. Kumele udingele indodana yami umfazi emulini yangakithi lasendlini kababa.+ 41 Nxa ungaya kwabemuli yangakithi besebesala ukuthi ubuye laye umfazi, uyabe usukhululiwe kulesisifungo osenze kimi. Lokho kuzakukhulula esifungweni osenzileyo.’+

42 “Ngithe ngifika emthonjeni lamuhla ngakhuleka ngathi: ‘Jehova Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama nxa kuyikuthi uzakwenza uhambo lwami luphumelele, nanku engicela kwenzakale: 43 njengoba sengimi lapha emthonjeni, nxa kungafika intombi+ izokukha amanzi ngizakuthi kuyo, “Ngicela unginathise kancane embizeni yakho yamanzi.” 44 Nxa ingathi kimi, “Natha njalo ngizanathisa lamakamela akho,” akube yiyo kanye uJehova ayikhethele indodana yenkosi yami.’+

45 “Ngithe ngingakaqedi ukukhulumela enhliziyweni yami, kwathutsha uRabheka ethwele imbiza yamanzi ehlombe, wehlela emthonjeni wakha amanzi. Ngathi kuye: ‘Ngicela unginathise.’+ 46 Wasesethula imbiza yakhe masinyane ehlombe wathi: ‘Natha+ futhi ngizanathisa lamakamela akho.’ Ngasenginatha njalo waphinda wanathisa lamakamela. 47 Ngemva kwalokho ngimbuze ngathi, ‘Uyindodakazi kabani?’ yena waphendula wathi, ‘Ngiyindodakazi kaBhethuweli indodana kaNahori ayizalelwa nguMilikha.’ Ngakho ngimgqokise indandatho ekhaleni ngafaka lamasongo ezandleni zakhe.+ 48 Ngasengiguqa ngathi mbo phansi phambi kukaJehova, ngamdumisa uJehova uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama,+ ongikhokheleyo wangisa endleleni eyiyo ukuze ngithathe umzukulu* womfowabo wenkosi yami ayekuba yinkosikazi yendodana yayo. 49 Khathesi ngicela lingitshele ukuthi liyafuna yini ukutshengisa uthando oluqotho lokuthembeka enkosini yami. Kodwa nxa kungenjalo, ngitshelani ukuze ngikwazi ukuthi ngenzenjani.”*+

50 ULabhani loBhethuweli baphendula bathi: “Lokhu kuvela kuJehova, thina ngeke sithi ye kumbe hatshi kuwe.* 51 Nangu uRabheka phambi kwakho. Mthathe uhambe laye ukuze ayekuba ngumfazi wendodana yenkosi yakho njengoba nje uJehova etshilo.” 52 Inceku ka-Abrahama yathi isizwa amazwi abo yaguqa yathi mbo phansi phambi kukaJehova. 53 Yasiqalisa ukukhipha izinto zesiliva lezegolide kanye lezigqoko yanika uRabheka. Yakhipha lezinye izinto ezinhle yazinika umfowabo kaRabheka kanye lonina. 54 Ngemva kwalokho yona lamadoda eyayilawo badla banatha basebelala kulowomuzi.

Yathi ivuka ekuseni yathi: “Ngivumelani ngibuyele enkosini yami.” 55 Kodwa umfowabo kaRabheka lonina bathi: “Sicela intombi ike ihlale lathi okwensuku ezilitshumi nje, ibisizihambela-ke.” 56 Inceku yathi kubo: “Lingangibambeleli, njengoba uJehova enze uhambo lwami lwaphumelela. Ngivumelani ngihambe ngibuyele enkosini yami.” 57 Basebesithi: “Wothi sibize intombi sizwe ukuthi yona ithini.” 58 Babiza uRabheka bathi: “Uyafuna yini ukuhamba lendoda le?” Waphendula wathi: “Ye ngiyafuna ukuhamba.”

59 Ngakho bamvumela uRabheka+ wahamba kanye lomlizane+ wakhe lenceku ka-Abrahama, lamadoda eyayihamba lawo. 60 Kanti njalo bambusisa uRabheka bathi: “Dadewethu sengathi unganda ube yizinkulungwane eziphindwe ngamatshumi ayizinkulungwane njalo izizukulwane zakho* kazithathe amadolobho alabo* abazizondayo.”+ 61 URabheka lezisebenzi zakhe zesifazana basukuma bagada amakamela balandela indoda leyo. Ngakho inceku yamthatha-ke uRabheka yahamba.

62 U-Isaka wafika evela emangweni waseBheri-lahayi-royi+ ngoba wayehlala elizweni leNegebhi.+ 63 Kwathi sekuhwalala u-Isaka ezihambahambela egangeni ecabangisisa,+ waphakamisa amehlo wabona nankaya amakamela ayeza. 64 URabheka wathi evusa amehlo wabona u-Isaka, wahle wehla phezu kwekamela. 65 Wasebuza inceku wathi: “Ingubani indoda le engiyibona isiza egangeni isihlangabeza?” Inceku yamphendula yathi: “Yinkosi yami.” URabheka wasethatha iveyili wazivala. 66 Inceku yamlandisela u-Isaka konke eyayikwenzile. 67 Ngemva kwalokho u-Isaka wamthatha uRabheka wamngenisa etendeni likanina uSara.+ Ngakho wamthatha waba ngumkakhe wamthanda+ njalo u-Isaka waduduzeka ngemva kokufelwa ngunina.+

25 U-Abrahama wathatha omunye umfazi njalo ibizo lakhe kwakunguKhethura. 2 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wamzalela uZimrani, loJokhishani, loMedani, loMidiyani,+ lo-Ishibhakhi, loShuwa.+

3 UJokhishani wazala uShebha loDedani.

Amadodana kaDedani kwakungu-Ashurimi loLethushi loLewumi.

4 Amadodana kaMidiyani kwakungu-Efa, lo-Eferi, loHanokhi, lo-Abhida, lo-Elida.

Bonke laba babengamadodana kaKhethura.

5 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi u-Abrahama wanika u-Isaka konke ayelakho,+ 6 kodwa amadodana akhe ayewazalelwe ngabanye abafazi bakhe wawanika izipho. Wathi esaphila wawasusa aya ngasempumalanga khatshana lendodana yakhe u-Isaka,+ elizweni laseMpumalanga. 7 U-Abrahama waphila iminyaka engu-175. 8 Ngemva kwalokhu u-Abrahama waphefumula okokucina wafa. Wayesegugile njalo esephile isikhathi eside futhi esuthisekile ngempilo. Ngemva kwalokho wangcwatshwa njengabanye abantu bakibo. 9 Amadodana akhe u-Isaka lo-Ishmayeli amngcwaba ebhalwini lweMakhaphela ensimini eyayiphambi kweMamre, eyayingeka-Efroni indodana kaZohari umHithi.+ 10 Insimu le yayithengwe ngu-Abrahama emadodaneni kaHethi njalo yikho lapho okwangcwatshwa khona u-Abrahama lomkakhe uSara.+ 11 Ngemva kokufa kuka-Abrahama, uNkulunkulu waqhubeka ebusisa indodana yakhe u-Isaka+ njalo u-Isaka wayehlala eduze kweBheri-lahayi-royi.+

12 Le yimbali ka-Ishmayeli+ indodana ka-Abrahama ayizalelwa nguHagari+ umGibhithe, incekukazi kaSara.

13 Nanka amabizo amadodana ka-Ishmayeli kusiya ngezimuli ezadabuka kuwo: Izibulo lika-Ishmayeli kwakunguNebhayothi+ elandelwa nguKhedari+ lo-Adibheli, loMibhisamu,+ 14 loMishima, loDuma, loMasa, 15 loHadadi, loThema, loJethuri, loNafishi kanye loKhedema. 16 La yiwo amadodana ka-Ishmayeli njalo la yiwo amabizo awo kusiya ngendawo zawo zokuhlala kanye lezindawo ayemise kuzo amatende awo, izinduna ezingu-12 kusiya ngosendo lwazo.+ 17 U-Ishmayeli waphila iminyaka engu-137, wasephefumula okokucina wafa njalo wangcwatshwa njengabanye abantu bakibo. 18 Izizukulwane zakhe zazihlala kusukela eHavila+ eduze kweShuri+ eyayiseduze kweGibhithe kuze kuyefika e-Asiriya. Zazihlala eduze kwabo* bonke abafowabo.+

19 Le yimbali ka-Isaka indodana ka-Abrahama.+

U-Abrahama wazala u-Isaka. 20 U-Isaka wathi eseleminyaka engu-40 wathatha uRabheka, indodakazi kaBhethuweli+ um-Aramu owayehlala ePhadani-aramu. URabheka wayengudadewabo kaLabhani um-Aramu. 21 U-Isaka wayehlala encengela umkakhe kuJehova ngoba wayeyinyumba. Ngakho uJehova wezwa isikhalazo sakhe, umkakhe uRabheka wasezithwala. 22 Amadodana ayesesiswini sakhe aqalisa ukulwisana+ waze wathi: “Nxa kunje pho ngiphilelani?” wasekhuleka kuJehova embuza ngakho. 23 UJehova wathi kuye: “Esiswini sakho kulezizwe ezimbili+ njalo izizwe lezi ezimbili eziphakathi kwakho zizakwehlukaniswa.+ Esinye isizwe sizakuba lamandla ukwedlula esinye+ futhi omdala uzasebenzela omncane.”+

24 Isikhathi sakhe sokubeletha sathi sesifikile, lakanye wabona ukuthi wayelamaphahla esiswini sakhe. 25 Owaqala ukuphuma wayebomvu njalo elihwanqa umzimba wonke njengesigqoko esenziwe ngoboya.+ Ngakho bamnika ibizo bathi ngu-Esawu.*+ 26 Ngemva kwalokho kwalandela umfowabo njalo isandla sakhe sasibambe isithende sika-Esawu,+ yikho wanikwa ibizo kwathiwa nguJakhobe.*+ URabheka wathi ebeletha abantwana laba u-Isaka wayeseleminyaka engu-60.

27 Abafana bathi bekhula, u-Esawu waba ngumzingeli oyingcitshi,+ indoda ethanda iganga; kodwa uJakhobe wayeyindoda emsulwa ezihlalela ematendeni.+ 28 U-Isaka wayethanda u-Esawu ngoba wayemphathela inyama yenyamazana zeganga kodwa uRabheka wayethanda uJakhobe.+ 29 Ngelinye ilanga uJakhobe wathi epheka ukudla, kwasekufika u-Esawu evela egangeni edinwe efile. 30 U-Esawu wasesithi kuJakhobe: “Phangisa, ngicela unginike lokho okubomvana okuphekayo* ngoba ngifile ngendlala.”* Yikho wanikwa ibizo elithi Edomi.*+ 31 UJakhobe wasesithi kuye: “Qala ungithengisele ilungelo lakho lokuba lizibulo.”+ 32 U-Esawu waqhubeka wathi: “Sengisifa ngendlala! Ilungelo lokuba lizibulo linginceda ngani vele?” 33 UJakhobe wasesithi: “Qala ufunge kimi.” Ngakho wafunga kuJakhobe wamthengisela ilungelo lakhe lokuba lizibulo.+ 34 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe wanika u-Esawu isinkwa lendumba* wadla wanatha, wasesukuma wazihambela. Ngaleyondlela u-Esawu weyisa ilungelo lakhe lokuba lizibulo.

26 Kwaphinda kwaba lendlala elizweni, u-Isaka wasesuka waya eGerari ku-Abhimeleki inkosi yamaFilisti. Indlala yokuqala yayibe khona ngensuku zika-Abrahama.+ 2 UJehova wasebonakala ku-Isaka wathi kuye: “Ungayi eGibhithe, hlala elizweni engizakutshengisa lona. 3 Hlala njengowezizweni elizweni leli.+ Ngizaqhubeka ngilawe futhi ngikubusisa ngoba wonke amazwe la ngizawanika wena lezizukulwane zakho*+ njalo ngizasigcwalisa isifungo engasenza kuyihlo u-Abrahama+ ngathi: 4 ‘Ngizakwandisa inzalo yakho* ibe njengezinkanyezi zamazulu.+ Ngizanika inzalo yakho* wonke amazwe la+ njalo ngenzalo yakho* zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizazitholela isibusiso,’+ 5 ngenxa yokuthi u-Abrahama walilalela ilizwi lami, waqhubeka esenza engikufunayo, egcina imilayo yami, lezimemezelo zami kanye lemithetho yami.”+ 6 Ngakho u-Isaka waqhubeka ehlala eGerari.+

7 Amadoda ayehlala endaweni le ayelokhu embuza ngomkakhe kodwa yena wayewatshela athi: “Ngudadewethu.”+ Wayesesaba ukuthi athi, “Ngumkami,” ngoba esithi, “Amadoda endawo le angangibulala ngenxa kaRabheka,” ngoba uRabheka wayemuhle.+ 8 U-Isaka wathi esehlale isikhathi kuleyondawo, u-Abhimeleki inkosi yamaFilisti wakhangela ngewindi wabona u-Isaka etshengisa umkakhe uRabheka uthando.*+ 9 U-Abhimeleki wahle wambiza u-Isaka wathi: “Ngumkakho phela lo! Pho kungani uthe ngudadewenu?” U-Isaka wasesithi kuye: “Bengisesaba ukuthi ngizabulawa ngenxa yakhe yikho ngitsho njalo.”+ 10 U-Abhimeleki waqhubeka wathi: “Kuyini lokhu osenze khona?+ Omunye wabantu balapha ubezacina elala lomkakho futhi ubuzakwenza ukuthi sonke sibe lecala.”+ 11 U-Abhimeleki wasetshela abantu bonke wathi: “Loba ngubani ozathinta indoda le lomkayo uzabulawa loba sekutheni.”

12 U-Isaka waqalisa ukulima kulelolizwe njalo ngalowo mnyaka wavuna okuphindwe ka-100 kulokho ayekuhlanyelile ngoba uJehova wayembusisa.+ 13 Waphumelela futhi waqhubeka enotha waze waba lenotho enengi kakhulu. 14 Waba lemihlambi yezimvu leyenkomo kanye lezisebenzi ezinengi kakhulu,+ amaFilisti aseqalisa ukuba lomona ngaye.

15 Ngakho amaFilisti agqibela yonke imithombo eyayigejwe yizisebenzi zikayise u-Abrahama ngensuku zakhe.+ 16 U-Abhimeleki wasetshela u-Isaka wathi: “Suka endaweni yethu ngoba usulamandla kakhulu kulathi.” 17 U-Isaka wasesuka kuleyondawo, wayakhempa esigodini seGerari+ wahlala khona. 18 U-Isaka waphinda wayigebha imithombo eyayigejwe ngensuku zikayise u-Abrahama. Imithombo le yayigqitshelwe ngamaFilisti ngemva kokufa kuka-Abrahama+ njalo wayinika amabizo ayeqanjwe nguyise kuqala.+

19 Izisebenzi zika-Isaka zathi zigebha imithombo esigodini zathola umthombo olamanzi amahle. 20 Abelusi baseGerari baqalisa ukuxabana labelusi baka-Isaka besithi: “Amanzi la ngawethu!” Ngakho wabiza umthombo lo ngokuthi yi-Esekhi* ngoba babexabane laye. 21 Basebeqalisa ukugebha omunye umthombo njalo baphinda baxabana labo ngawo. Ngakho wawubiza ngokuthi yiSithina.* 22 Ngemva kwesikhathi wasuka kuleyondawo wayagebha omunye umthombo kodwa abazange baxabane laye ngawo. Ngakho wawubiza ngokuthi yiRehobhothi,* wathi: “Kungenxa yokuthi uJehova usesinike indawo eneleyo wasenza saba banengi elizweni.”+

23 Wasesuka kuleyondawo waya eBheri-shebha.+ 24 Ngalobobusuku uJehova wabonakala kuye wathi: “NginguNkulunkulu kayihlo u-Abrahama.+ Ungesabi+ ngoba ngilawe, ngizakubusisa ngandise inzalo yakho* ngenxa yenceku yami u-Abrahama.”+ 25 Ngakho u-Isaka wakha i-alithare kuleyondawo, wasebiza ibizo likaJehova.+ Wamisa letende lakhe khonapho+ njalo izinceku zakhe zagebha umthombo wamanzi kuleyondawo.

26 Ngemva kwesikhathi u-Abhimeleki wasuka eGerari waya ku-Isaka elo-Ahuzathi umcebisi wakhe loFikholi induna yebutho lakhe.+ 27 U-Isaka wasesithi kubo: “Lilandeni kimi njengoba langizonda laze langixotsha endaweni yenu?” 28 Bona bathi: “Sekusicacele sibili ukuthi uJehova ulawe.+ Ngakho sithe, ‘Sicela kube lesifungo esingasoze sephulwe phakathi kwethu lawe njalo sicela ukwenza isivumelwano lawe+ 29 esokuthi awusoze wenze okubi kithi njengoba lathi singazange senze okubi kuwe, ngoba sakwenzela okuhle kuphela sakuyekela wahamba ngokuthula. Khathesi uJehova usekubusisile.’” 30 Ngemva kwalokho u-Isaka wabenzela idili badla banatha. 31 Ngelanga elilandelayo bavuka ekuseni kakhulu benza izifungo komunye lomunye.+ Ngemva kwalokho wabavalelisa basebezihambela ngokuthula.

32 Ngalelolanga izisebenzi zika-Isaka zabuya zamtshela ngomthombo ezaziwugebhile,+ zathi kuye: “Sesiwatholile amanzi!” 33 Ngakho wawubiza ngokuthi yiShibha. Yikho idolobho lakhona libizwa ngokuthi yiBheri-shebha+ kuze kube lamuhla.

34 U-Esawu wathi eseleminyaka engu-40 wathatha uJudithi indodakazi kaBheyeri umHithi loBhasemathi indodakazi ka-Eloni umHithi.+ 35 Abesifazana laba babangela usizi olukhulu ku-Isaka loRabheka.+

27 U-Isaka wathi eseluphele njalo amehlo akhe esefiphele engasaboni kuhle, wabiza indodana yakhe endala u-Esawu+ wathi: “Ndodana yami!” Yona yathi: “Ngilapha.” 2 Wasesithi: “Sengiluphele njalo sengizakufa. 3 Ngakho thatha izikhali zakho lesikhwama sakho semitshoko kanye ledandili* uye egangeni uyezingela inyamazana yeganga ungiphathele,+ 4 ubusungiphekela ukudla okumnandi engikuthandayo ukulethe kimi ngidle ukuze ngikubusise ngingakafi.”

5 URabheka wayelalele ngesikhathi u-Isaka ekhuluma lo-Esawu indodana yakhe. U-Esawu wasuka wayazingela inyamazana egangeni ukuze abuye layo.+ 6 URabheka wasesithi kuJakhobe indodana yakhe:+ “Ngisanda kuzwa uyihlo ekhuluma lomnewenu u-Esawu esithi, 7 ‘Ngiphathela inyama yenyamazana yeganga ungilungisele ukudla okumnandi, besengisidla ukuze ngikubusise phambi kukaJehova ngingakafi.’ + 8 Khathesi-ke ndodana yami, lalelisisa wenze lokho engizakutshela khona.+ 9 Ngicela uye emhlambini uyengithathela amazinyane embuzi amabili anonileyo ukuze ngilungisele uyihlo ukudla okumnandi, ngikupheke ngendlela ayithandayo, 10 wena ubusuthatha ukudla lokho uyemnika adle ukuze akubusise engakafi.”

11 UJakhobe wathi kunina uRabheka: “Umnewethu u-Esawu ulihwanqa+ kodwa elami ijwabu libutshelezi. 12 Nxa ubaba angangibamba ezwe ukuthi yimi-ke?+ Kuzakhanya angathi ngidlala ngaye besengizilethela isiqalekiso kulokuthi ngithole isibusiso.” 13 Unina wasesithi kuye: “Isiqalekiso leso kasibe phezu kwami ndodana yami. Wena hamba kuphela uyekwenza lokho engikutshele khona, ungiphathele amazinyane lawo.”+ 14 Ngakho wasuka wayawathatha wawaletha kunina. Unina wasepheka ukudla okumnandi, wakupheka ngendlela uyise kaJakhobe ayekuthanda ngayo. 15 Ngemva kwalokho uRabheka wathatha izigqoko ezinhle zendodana yakhe endala u-Esawu ayelazo endlini, wazigqokisa uJakhobe indodana yakhe encane.+ 16 Wathatha lezikhumba zamazinyane embuzi wazifaka ezandleni lasentanyeni kaJakhobe lapho okwakungelahwanqa khona.+ 17 Wasenika uJakhobe indodana yakhe ukudla okumnandi ayekulungisile kanye lesinkwa ayesiphekile.+

18 Ngakho wahamba kuyise wathi kuye: “Baba!” Yena wathi; “Ngilapha. Ungubani ndodana yami?” 19 UJakhobe wasesithi kuyise: “Yimi u-Esawu izibulo lakho.+ Sengenze khona kanye othe ngikwenze. Ngicela uvuke uhlale, udle inyama yenyamazana engikuphathele yona ukuze ungibusise.”+ 20 U-Isaka wabuza indodana yakhe wathi: “Uyithole njani masinya kangaka ndodana yami?” Yena wathi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho nguye oyilethe kimi.” 21 U-Isaka wasesithi kuJakhobe: “Ngicela usondele eduze ngikubambe ndodana yami ukuze ngizwe ukuthi nguwe yini sibili indodana yami u-Esawu kumbe ayisuwe.”+ 22 UJakhobe wasesondela kuyise u-Isaka, uyise wambamba wasesithi: “Ilizwi lizwakala lingelikaJakhobe kodwa izandla ngezika-Esawu.”+ 23 U-Isaka kazange amnanzelele ngoba izandla zakhe zazizwakala zilehwanqa njengezandla zomnewabo u-Esawu. Ngakho wambusisa.+

24 Ngemva kwalokho wambuza wathi: “Nguwe sibili indodana yami u-Esawu?” Yena wathi: “Yimi.” 25 U-Isaka wasesithi: “Nginika inyama ngidle ndodana yami, besengikubusisa.” Yikho wamnika wadla, wamlethela lewayini wanatha. 26 Uyise u-Isaka wathi kuye: “Sondela eduze ndodana yami ungiqabuze.”+ 27 Wasesondela wamqabuza, uyise wezwa ukunukelela kwezigqoko zakhe,+ wambusisa wathi:

“Indodana yami iyanukelela njengokunukelela kwensimu ebusiswe nguJehova. 28 Sengathi uNkulunkulu weqiniso angakwehlisela amazolo avela ezulwini,+ akuphe lomhlabathi ovundileyo+ lamabele amanengi kanye lewayini elitsha elinengi.+ 29 Abantu abakusebenzele, lezizwe zikukhothamele, ube yinkosi phezu kwabafowenu njalo amadodana kanyoko kawakukhothamele.+ Wonke umuntu okuqalekisayo kaqalekiswe futhi wonke umuntu okubusisayo kabusiswe.”+

30 U-Isaka wathi esanda kuqeda ukubusisa uJakhobe, uJakhobe laye esanda kusuka nje kuyise u-Isaka, umnewabo u-Esawu wafika evela zingela.+ 31 Laye wapheka ukudla okumnandi wasekuhambisa kuyise wathi kuye: “Baba vuka udle inyama yenyamazana oyiphathelwe yindodana yakho ukuze uyibusise.” 32 Uyise u-Isaka wasesithi kuye: “Ungubani wena?” Yena wathi: “Yimi indodana yakho, izibulo lakho u-Esawu.”+ 33 U-Isaka wethuka waqhuqha kakhulu wathi: “Manje ngubani ohambe wayazingela inyamazana wangiphathela inyama? Ngiyidlile wena ungakafiki, ngasengimbusisa. Lakanye yena uzabusiswa sibili.”

34 U-Esawu wathi esizwa amazwi kayise waqhinqa isililo wakhala kabuhlungu esithi kuyise: “Ngibusisa baba, ngibusisa lami!” + 35 Kodwa yena wathi: “Umfowenu ubuye kimi wenza ubuqili ukuze athathe isibusiso ebesingesakho.” 36 U-Esawu wathi: “Ibizo elithi Jakhobe* limfanele sibili. Phela sekukabili ethatha indawo yami.+ Sewathatha ilungelo lami lokuba lizibulo,+ khathesi usengithathele lesibusiso sami.”+ Waphinda wathi: “Awungitshiyelanga yini esinye isibusiso?” 37 U-Isaka wasephendula u-Esawu wathi: “Manje sengimenze waba yinkosi phezu kwakho,+ ngamupha bonke abafowabo ukuthi babe yizisebenzi zakhe njalo sengimuphe amabele lewayini elitsha ukuze angasweli.+ Pho kuyini okuseleyo engingakwenzela khona ndodana yami?”

38 U-Esawu wasesithi kuyise: “Kanti baba awusela ngitsho lesisodwa yini isibusiso? Ngibusisa baba, ngibusisa lami!” Esetsho njalo u-Esawu wasiqhinqa isililo, zehla ezimathonsi.+ 39 Uyise u-Isaka wasemphendula wathi:

“Wena uzahlala khatshana lomhlabathi ovundileyo futhi uzakuba khatshana lamazolo avela ezulwini.+ 40 Uzaphila ngenkemba yakho+ njalo uzasebenzela umfowenu.+ Kodwa uzathi usudiniwe* wephule ijogwe lakhe ulisuse entanyeni yakho.”+

41 U-Esawu wambambela isikhwili umfowabo uJakhobe, wamzonda ngenxa yesibusiso ayesiphiwe nguyise.+ U-Esawu wayelokhu esithi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Insuku zokulilela ubaba ziyasondela.+ Ngemva kwalokho ngizambulala uJakhobe umfowethu.” 42 URabheka wathi esetshelwe amazwi endodana yakhe endala u-Esawu, wahle wathi indodana yakhe encane uJakhobe ibizwe wasesithi kuyo: “Zwana! Umfowenu u-Esawu ufuna ukukubulala ukuze aphindisele.* 43 Ngakho yenza engizakutshela khona ndodana yami. Suka lapha ubaleke uye kumfowethu uLabhani eHarani.+ 44 Hlala khona okwesikhatshana ulaka lomnewenu luze lwehle, 45 aze abhodle, akhohlwe lokho omenze khona. Nxa sekunjalo, ngizathumela ilizwi lokuthi uphenduke. Kungani kumele ngifelwe yini lobabili ngelanga elilodwa?”

46 Ngemva kwalokho uRabheka wayesehlala esithi ku-Isaka: “Ngithwele nzima ngenxa yamadodakazi kaHethi.+ Nxa uJakhobe laye engathatha umfazi kumadodakazi kaHethi, ofanana lamadodakazi elizwe leli, pho ngiyabe ngisaphilelani?”+

28 Ngakho u-Isaka wabiza uJakhobe wambusisa, wasemlaya wathi: “Akumelanga uthathe umfazi kumadodakazi aseKhenani.+ 2 Suka uye ePhadani-aramu endlini kaBhethuweli uyihlomkhulu ozala unyoko, uzafika khonale uthathe umfazi phakathi kwamadodakazi kaLabhani+ umfowabo kanyoko. 3 UNkulunkulu uSomandla uzakubusisa akuphe abantwana abanengi, akwandise futhi wena uzakuba yisizwe esilabantu abanengi.+ 4 Uzakubusisa wena kanye lenzalo yakho ngendlela abusisa ngayo u-Abrahama+ ukuze uthathe ilizwe obuhlala kulo ungowezizweni, lelo uNkulunkulu alinike u-Abrahama.”+

5 Ngakho u-Isaka wamvalelisa, uJakhobe wasesuka waya ePhadani-aramu kuLabhani umfowabo kaRabheka.+ URabheka engunina kaJakhobe lo-Esawu njalo uLabhani wayeyindodana kaBhethuweli um-Aramu.+

6 U-Esawu wabona ukuthi u-Isaka wayesebusise uJakhobe wamusa ePhadani-aramu ukuthi ayethatha umfazi khonale, lokuthi wathi embusisa wamlaya wathi: “Ungathathi umfazi phakathi kwamadodakazi aseKhenani.”+ 7 Wabona lokuthi uJakhobe wayelalele uyise lonina waya ePhadani-aramu.+ 8 U-Esawu wasenanzelela ukuthi uyise u-Isaka wayengawathandi amadodakazi aseKhenani.+ 9 Ngakho u-Esawu waya ko-Ishmayeli wathatha uMahalathi indodakazi ka-Ishmayeli indodana ka-Abrahama, waba ngomunye wabafazi bakhe. UMahalathi lo wayengudadewabo kaNebhayothi.+

10 Ngakho uJakhobe wasuka eBheri-shebha, waqhubeka ngohambo lwakhe esiya eHarani.+ 11 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wafika kwenye indawo walungiselela ukulala khonapho ngoba ilanga laselitshonile. Wathatha elinye ilitshe khonapho waliqamela walala.+ 12 Wasephupha iphupho njalo ephutsheni lakhe wabona ilele* elalisuka emhlabeni lisiyatshaya khonale emazulwini futhi izingilosi zikaNkulunkulu zazisehla ziqansa kulo.+ 13 Phezu kwalo kwakuloJehova njalo wathi kuye:

“NginguJehova uNkulunkulu kayihlo u-Abrahama, loNkulunkulu ka-Isaka.+ Ilizwe leli olele kulo ngizakunika lona, libe ngelakho lenzalo yakho.*+ 14 Inzalo yakho izakuba nengi njengothuli lomhlabathi+ njalo uzasabalala uye empumalanga, lasentshonalanga, lasenyakatho kanye laseningizimu. Zonke imuli ezisemhlabeni zizabusiswa* ngawe kanye lenzalo yakho.*+ 15 Ngilawe njalo ngizakulinda loba ngaphi lapho oya khona futhi ngizakubuyisela elizweni leli.+ Angisoze ngikutshiye ngize ngenze lokho engikuthembise khona.”+

16 UJakhobe wasephaphama ebuthongweni wathi: “UJehova usendaweni le sibili kodwa mina bengingakwazi.” 17 Kanti njalo wafikelwa yikwesaba wathi: “Indawo le iyesabeka kakhulu! Kumele ukuthi le yindlu kaNkulunkulu+ njalo leli ligedi lasezulwini.”+ 18 UJakhobe wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu wathatha ilitshe ayeliqamele walimisa laba njengensika, wathela amafutha phezu kwalo.+ 19 Ngakho wabiza leyondawo ngokuthi yiBhetheli* kodwa ekuqaliseni idolobho lelo lalibizwa ngokuthi yiLuzi.+

20 UJakhobe wasefunga wathi: “Nxa uNkulunkulu angaqhubeka elami, angivikele kuloluhambo lwami njalo anginike ukudla* kanye lezigqoko, 21 ngize ngibuyele ngokuthula emzini kababa, lapho-ke uJehova uyabe etshengise ukuthi unguNkulunkulu wami sibili. 22 Ilitshe leli engilimise laba njengensika lizakuba yindlu kaNkulunkulu+ futhi loba sekutheni ngizakunika okwetshumi kukho konke ozanginika khona.”

29 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe waqhubeka ngohambo lwakhe waze wayafika elizweni labantu beMpumalanga. 2 Wasebona umthombo egangeni njalo kwakulemihlambi yezimvu emithathu eyayilele eduze kwawo ngoba yayijayele ukunathiswa kulowomthombo. Umthombo lo wawuvalwe ngelitshe elikhulu. 3 Kwakusithi nxa imihlambi yonke isibuthanisiwe khonapho, abelusi bagiqe ilitshe lelo bavule umthombo besebenathisa imihlambi. Ngemva kwalokho babeligiqa balibuyisele bavale umthombo.

4 UJakhobe wasesithi kubo: “Bafowethu, livela ngaphi?” Bona bathi: “Sivela eHarani.”+ 5 Wasesithi kubo: “Liyamazi yini uLabhani+ umzukulu kaNahori?”+ Bona baphendula bathi: “Siyamazi.” 6 Yena wathi kubo: “Uyaphila yini?” Bathi kuye: “Uziphilele. Nanguya loRasheli+ indodakazi yakhe ubuya lezimvu.” 7 Wasesithi kubo: “Khathesi kusesemini. Ayisiso sikhathi sokubuthanisa imihlambi. Nathisani izimvu lizihambise emadlelweni.” 8 Bona baphendula bathi: “Asivunyelwa ukwenza njalo. Kumele simelele ukuthi yonke imihlambi ibuthaniswe besekugiqwa ilitshe elivale umthombo. Ngemva kwalokho sesingazinathisa izimvu.”

9 Wathi esakhuluma labo uRasheli wafika lezimvu zikayise ngoba wayengumelusi. 10 UJakhobe wathi ebona uRasheli indodakazi kaLabhani umfowabo kanina, lezimvu zikaLabhani, wahle wasondela wagiqa ilitshe elalivale umthombo wanathisa izimvu zikaLabhani umfowabo kanina. 11 UJakhobe waseqabuza uRasheli wakhala kakhulu, zehla ezimathonsi. 12 UJakhobe watshela uRasheli ukuthi wayeyisihlobo sikayise* lokuthi wayeyindodana kaRabheka. URasheli wasesuka egijima wayatshela uyise.

13 ULabhani+ uthe esizwa umbiko omayelana loJakhobe indodana kadadewabo, wagijima wamhlangabeza. Wafika wamgona wamqabuza, wasehamba laye emzini wakhe. UJakhobe waqalisa ukulandisela uLabhani konke okwakwenzakele. 14 ULabhani wathi kuye: “Wena ulithambo lami lenyama yami sibili.”* Ngakho wahlala laye inyanga yonke.

15 ULabhani wasesithi kuJakhobe: “Kambe sekumele ungisebenzele mahala ngenxa yokuthi uyisihlobo sami?*+ Ngitshela ukuthi ufuna ngikubhadale ngani?”+ 16 ULabhani wayelamadodakazi amabili. Ibizo lendodakazi endala kwakunguLeya, encane kunguRasheli.+ 17 Amehlo kaLeya ayengakhangi kodwa uRasheli wayemuhle kakhulu futhi elomzimba omuhle. 18 UJakhobe wayesemthanda uRasheli yikho wathi: “Ngizimisele ukukusebenzela iminyaka eyisikhombisa ukuze ngithole indodakazi yakho encane uRasheli.”+ 19 ULabhani wasesithi: “Kungcono ngimnike wena kulokuthi ngimnike enye indoda. Qhubeka uhlala lami.” 20 UJakhobe wasesebenza iminyaka eyisikhombisa ukuze athole uRasheli+ kodwa kuye iminyaka le yayingathi zinsukwana nje ngoba wayemthanda.

21 UJakhobe wasesithi kuLabhani: “Nginika yena abe ngumkami* ngoba insuku zami sezenele njalo ngivumela ngimthathe ngilale laye.” 22 ULabhani wasebuthanisa bonke abantu baleyondawo wenza idili. 23 Kodwa kwathi kusihlwa uLabhani wathatha indodakazi yakhe uLeya wayisa kuJakhobe ukuze alale layo. 24 ULabhani wathatha lencekukazi yakhe uZilipha wayinika indodakazi yakhe uLeya ukuthi imsebenzele.+ 25 Kwathi sekusile uJakhobe wabona ukuthi wayeloLeya, wasesithi kuLabhani: “Kuyini lokhu ongenze khona? Kanti angisebenzelanga uRasheli yini? Pho kungani ungiqilile?”+ 26 ULabhani wasesithi: “Isiko lethu alivumi ukuthi sendise intombi encane endala ingakendi. 27 Kholisa idili elenzelwe owesifazana lo okweviki yonke. Ngemva kwalokho ngizakunika umnawakhe kodwa kuzamele ungisebenzele eminye iminyaka eyisikhombisa.”+ 28 UJakhobe wakwenza lokhu, wakholisa lowesifazana lowo edilini okweviki yonke. Ngemva kwalokho uLabhani wamupha indodakazi yakhe uRasheli ukuthi ibe ngumkakhe. 29 Kanti njalo uLabhani wathatha incekukazi yakhe uBhiliha+ wayinika indodakazi yakhe uRasheli ukuthi ibe yisisebenzi sakhe.+

30 UJakhobe waselala loRasheli njalo wayethanda yena ukwedlula uLeya. Ngakho wasebenzela uLabhani eminye iminyaka eyisikhombisa.+ 31 UJehova wathi ebona ukuthi uLeya kathandwa* wasesenza ukuthi enelise ukuzithwala+ kodwa uRasheli wayeyinyumba.+ 32 Ngakho uLeya wazithwala wasebeletha umntwana ongumfana wamnika ibizo wathi nguRubheni*+ ngoba wathi: “Kungenxa yokuthi uJehova ukubonile ukuhlupheka kwami,+ khathesi umkami usezaqalisa ukungithanda.” 33 Waphinda wazithwala wasebeletha umntwana ongumfana, wathi: “Kungenxa yokuthi uJehova uzwile ukuthi bengingathandwa wasenginika lalo futhi.” Ngakho wamnika ibizo wathi nguSimiyoni.*+ 34 Waphinda wazithwala wasebeletha umntwana ongumfana wathi: “Khathesi umkami usezasondela kimi ngoba sengimzalele amadodana amathathu.” Ngakho wanikwa ibizo wathiwa nguLevi.*+ 35 ULeya waphinda wazithwala wasebeletha umntwana ongumfana wathi: “Khathesi ngizadumisa uJehova.” Ngakho wamnika ibizo wathi nguJuda.*+ Ngemva kwalokho wema ukuba labantwana.

30 URasheli wathi ebona ukuthi wayengazalelanga uJakhobe abantwana waqalisa ukuba lomhawu ngodadewabo, wasesithi kuJakhobe: “Nginika abantwana, nxa ungasangiphanga bona ngizakufa.” 2 UJakhobe wavutha ngolaka wamzondela uRasheli wathi: “Ngisesikhundleni sikaNkulunkulu yini onguye okuvimbele ukuthi ube labantwana?” 3 URasheli wasesithi: “Nangu uBhiliha+ isigqilikazi sami. Lala laye ukuze angizalele abantwana,* lami ngibe labantwana ngaye.” 4 Yikho wanika uJakhobe incekukazi yakhe uBhiliha ukuthi ibe ngumkakhe, uJakhobe walala layo.+ 5 UBhiliha wasezithwala wazalela uJakhobe umntwana ongumfana. 6 Ngemva kwalokho uRasheli wathi: “UNkulunkulu usebe ngumahluleli wami njalo ulalele ilizwi lami wanginika indodana.” Ngakho wamnika ibizo wathi nguDani.*+ 7 UBhiliha incekukazi kaRasheli waphinda wazithwala wazalela uJakhobe umntwana wesibili ongumfana. 8 URasheli wasesithi: “Ngilwe kanzima lodadewethu njalo lami sengize nganqoba.” Ngakho wamnika ibizo wathi nguNafithali.*+

9 ULeya wathi ebona ukuthi usemile ukuba labantwana, wathatha incekukazi yakhe uZilipha wayipha uJakhobe ukuthi ibe ngumkakhe.+ 10 Incekukazi kaLeya uZilipha yazalela uJakhobe umntwana ongumfana. 11 ULeya wasesithi: “Asengamhlophe kimi.” Ngakho wamnika ibizo wathi nguGadi.*+ 12 Ngemva kwalokho incekukazi kaLeya uZilipha yazalela uJakhobe umntwana wesibili ongumfana. 13 ULeya wasesithi: “Ngiyathokoza sibili! Khathesi amadodakazi azakuthi ngiyathokoza.”+ Ngakho wamnika ibizo wathi ngu-Asheri.*+

14 Ngelinye ilanga uRubheni+ wayezihambela egangeni ngesikhathi sokuvunwa kwengqoloyi wasedobha amamandirakhi,* wawaphathela unina uLeya. URasheli wasesithi kuLeya: “Ngicela unginike amanye amamandirakhi endodana yakho.” 15 ULeya wathi kuye: “Kambe ukubona kuyinto encane ukuthi uthethe umkami?+ Khathesi usufuna lokuthatha amamandirakhi endodana yami!” URasheli wathi: “Kulungile, nxa unganginika amamandirakhi endodana yakho uzalala lawe lamuhla ebusuku.”

16 UJakhobe wathi evela emadlelweni ntambama uLeya wamhlangabeza wathi: “Lamuhla uzalala lami ngoba ngikuqhatshe ngamamandirakhi endodana yami.” Ngakho ngalobobusuku walala laye. 17 Yikho-ke uNkulunkulu wamuzwa uLeya wasemphendula. ULeya wazithwala wazalela uJakhobe umntwana wesihlanu ongumfana. 18 ULeya wasesithi: “UNkulunkulu usenginike imbadalo yami ngoba nginike umkami incekukazi yami.” Ngakho wanika umntwana ibizo wathi ngu-Isakhari.*+ 19 ULeya waphinda wazithwala wazalela uJakhobe umntwana wesithupha ongumfana.+ 20 ULeya wasesithi: “UNkulunkulu usengiphe isipho, isipho esihle sibili. Khathesi umkami uzangamukela+ ngoba sengimzalele amadodana ayisithupha.”+ Ngakho wanika umntwana ibizo wathi nguZebhuloni.*+ 21 Ngemva kwalokho wazala umntwana oyinkazana wamnika ibizo wathi nguDina.+

22 UNkulunkulu wacina emkhumbula uRasheli. UNkulunkulu wamuzwa wamphendula, wenza ukuthi enelise ukuzithwala.+ 23 URasheli wazithwala wasesiba lomntwana ongumfana wathi: “UNkulunkulu uselisusile ihlazo lami!”+ 24 Ngakho wamnika ibizo wathi nguJosefa*+ esithi: “UJehova usenginike enye indodana.”

25 URasheli wathi esebelethe uJosefa, uJakhobe wahle wathi kuLabhani: “Ngiyekela ngihambe ngiye emulini yakithi laselizweni lakithi.+ 26 Nginika abantwabami lamakhosikazi ami engiwasebenzeleyo ukuze ngihambe ngoba lawe ukwazi mhlophe ukuthi ngikusebenzele njani.”+ 27 ULabhani wasesithi kuye: “Nxa ngithole umusa kuwe ngicela uhlale ngoba ngizwisisile ngezibonakaliso* ukuthi uJehova uyangibusisa ngenxa yakho.” 28 Waphinda wathi: “Tshono ukuthi ufuna ngikubhadale ngani besengikubhadala.”+ 29 UJakhobe wasesithi kuye: “Lawe uyakwazi ukuthi ngikusebenzele njani lokuthi imihlambi yakho ibinjani ngesikhathi ngiyigcinile.+ 30 Wawulokulutshwana ngingakabuyi kodwa umhlambi wakho usuwandile waba mkhulu njalo selokhu ngafikayo uJehova ubelokhu ekubusisa. Pho mina ngizayisebenzela nini imuli yami?”+

31 ULabhani wathi: “Manje ngikupheni?” UJakhobe wasesithi: “Ungangiphi lutho. Ngizaphinda ngeluse umhlambi wakho ngiwulinde nxa ungangenzela into eyodwa nje.+ 32 Ngizadabula phakathi komhlambi wakho lamuhla. Wena khiphela eceleni zonke izimvu ezilamatshatha lemibalabala, lazo zonke izimvu ezinsundu eziphakathi kwemvana ezinduna kanye lazo zonke imbuzi ezinsikazi ezilemibalabala lamatshatha. Kusukela khathesi izifuyo lezi kumele zibe yimbadalo yami.+ 33 Ukulunga* kwami kumele kungifakazele ngesikhathi esizayo nxa usuzohlola imbadalo yami. Ngingatholakala ngilembuzi ensikazi engelamibalabala futhi engelamatshatha kuzathiwa itshontshiwe njalo ngingatholakala ngilezinyane lemvu eliduna kodwa lingelambala onsundu kuzathiwa litshontshiwe.”

34 ULabhani wasesithi: “Kulungile! Akwenzakale njengokutsho kwakho.”+ 35 Ngalelolanga uLabhani wabeka eceleni impongo ezilemizilazila lemibalabala, lembuzi ezinsikazi ezilamatshatha lemibalabala, zonke nje ezilokumhlophe lawo wonke amazinyane ezimvu amaduna ayelombala onsundu, wasesithi izifuyo lezo zigcinwe ngamadodana akhe. 36 Ngemva kwalokho wehlukanisa imihlambi yakhe lekaJakhobe okwebanga elilingana lohambo lwamalanga amathathu. UJakhobe yena wasala eselusa imihlambi kaLabhani eyayisele.

37 UJakhobe wasethatha izigojwana ezimanzi zesihlahla somstorakhi lesom-alimondi kanye lesepulane waxebula amaxolo ezigojwana lezo kwasala kukhanya amatshatha amhlophe. 38 Wasefaka izigojwana ayesezixebule amaxolo phambi komhlambi. Wazifaka emigelweni eyayigeleza amanzi, emikolweni lapho okwakunathela khona izifuyo ukuze zilandelwe phambi kwezigojwana lezo nxa sezizonatha.

39 Ngakho imihlambi yayilandelwa phambi kwezigojwana lezo njalo yayizala amazinyane alemizilazila lalamatshatha kanye lemibalabala. 40 UJakhobe wehlukanisa imvana ezinduna wakhangelisa imihlambi kulezo ezilemizilazila lakuzo zonke ezinsundu ezaziphakathi kwemihlambi kaLabhani. Wasesehlukanisa imihlambi yakhe ukuze ingahlangani lekaLabhani. 41 Kwakusithi nxa izifuyo ezilamandla sezilandelwa uJakhobe afake izigojwana zakhe phambi kwemihlambi emigelweni okwakugeleza kuyo amanzi ukuze zilandelwe ziseduze kwezigojwana lezo. 42 Kodwa wayengazifaki izigojwana zakhe nxa kulezifuyo ezibuthakathaka. Ngakho ezibuthakathaka zazihlala zisiba ngezikaLabhani, ezilamandla zibe ngezikaJakhobe.+

43 UJakhobe wanotha kakhulu, waba lemihlambi emikhulu kanye lezisebenzi zesilisa lezesifazana lamakamela labobabhemi.+

31 Ngokuya kwesikhathi wezwa lokho okwakukhulunywa ngamadodana kaLabhani esithi: “UJakhobe usethethe zonke izinto zikababa njalo yonke inotho yakhe uyibuthelele ngezinto ezivela empahleni kababa.”+ 2 Kanti njalo uJakhobe wayesithi nxa ekhangela ubuso bukaLabhani abone ukuthi wayesetshintshile engasamthandi njengakuqala.+ 3 UJehova wasesithi kuJakhobe: “Buyela elizweni laboyihlo lasezihlotsheni zakho,+ mina ngizaqhubeka ngilawe.” 4 UJakhobe wasethumela umbiko kuRasheli loLeya ebatshela ukuthi babuye emadlelweni lapho okwakulemihlambi yakhe khona, 5 wathi kubo:

“Ngiyabona sibili ukuthi indlela uyihlo angikhangela ngayo isitshintshile, kasangithandi njengakuqala,+ kodwa uNkulunkulu kababa ubelokhu elami.+ 6 Lani likwazi mhlophe ukuthi uyihlo ngimsebenzele ngamandla ami wonke.+ 7 Uyihlo ubelokhu ezama ukungiqila njalo watshintsha lomholo wami okwezikhathi ezilitshumi, lanxa kunjalo uNkulunkulu kazange amvumele ukuthi angilimaze. 8 Kwakusithi nxa angangitshela athi, ‘Ezilamatshathatshatha yizo ezizakuba ngumholo wakho,’ umhlambi wonke uzale ezilamatshatha. Kuthi nxa angathi, ‘Ezilemizilazila yizo ezizakuba ngumholo wakho,’ umhlambi wonke uzale ezilemizilazila.+ 9 Ngakho uNkulunkulu wayelokhu ethatha izifuyo zikayihlo engipha zona. 10 Ngelinye ilanga umhlambi wathi usudabule, ngaba lephupho, ngabona ukuthi impongo ezazilandela ezinsikazi emhlambini yilezo ezazilemizilazila lamatshathatshatha kanye lamachathachatha.+ 11 Ingilosi kaNkulunkulu weqiniso yasikhuluma lami ephutsheni yathi, ‘Jakhobe!’ mina ngathi, ‘Ngilapha.’ 12 Yaqhubeka yathi, ‘Ngicela uphakamise amehlo akho, uzabona ukuthi zonke impongo ezilandela ezinsikazi emhlambini ngezilemizilazila lamatshathatshatha kanye lamachathachatha, ngoba ngikubonile konke uLabhani akwenzayo kuwe.+ 13 NginguNkulunkulu weqiniso waseBhetheli+ lapho owagcoba khona insika ngamafutha, wenza lesifungo kimi.+ Khathesi suka uphume elizweni leli ubuyele elizweni owazalelwa kulo.’”+

14 URasheli loLeya bathi kuye: “Kambe sisesekhona yini isabelo esingaba lilifa lethu endlini kababa? 15 Sesibalwa njengabezizweni kuye. Phela wasithengisa kuwe futhi lemali esayikhitshelwayo ubelokhu eyisebenzisa.+ 16 Yonke inotho uNkulunkulu ayithethe kubaba ngeyethu labantwabethu.+ Ngakho yenza konke uNkulunkulu athe ukwenze.”+

17 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe wasukuma wagadisa abantwabakhe lamakhosikazi akhe phezu kwamakamela,+ 18 waqalisa ukuqhuba yonke imihlambi yakhe, zonke nje izifuyo zakhe+ ayezithole ngesikhathi esePhadani-aramu, wathwala lazo zonke impahla ayeselazo waqonda elizweni laseKhenani kuyise u-Isaka.+

19 Ngalesosikhathi uLabhani wayehambe wayagela izimvu zakhe, uRasheli wasetshontsha izithombe zamatherafimu*+ ezazingezikayise.+ 20 Kanti njalo uJakhobe wamhlakaniphela uLabhani um-Aramu ngoba kazange amtshele ukuthi usehamba. 21 Wabaleka lakho konke ayelakho wachapha umfula,*+ waseqonda esabelweni seGiliyadi+ ezintabeni. 22 Ngelanga lesithathu uLabhani watshelwa ukuthi uJakhobe usebalekile. 23 Ngakho uLabhani wathatha abafowabo* bahamba umango wamalanga ayisikhombisa bemlandela waze wamthola esabelweni seGiliyadi ezintabeni. 24 UNkulunkulu wasefika kuLabhani um-Aramu+ ephutsheni ebusuku+ wathi kuye: “Nanzelela okutshoyo kuJakhobe kungelani lokuthi kuhle kumbe kubi.”+

25 Ngakho uLabhani wamlanda uJakhobe futhi uJakhobe wayemise itende lakhe entabeni. ULabhani yena wayefike wakhempa labafowabo esabelweni seGiliyadi ezintabeni. 26 ULabhani wasesithi kuJakhobe: “Kuyini lokhu okwenzileyo? Kungani ukhethe ukungiqila wathatha amadodakazi ami wahamba lawo angathi ngabantu abathunjwe empini? 27 Kungani ungiqilile wasuka ungangitshelanga? Aluba ubungitshelile bengizakuvalelisa ngentokozo langezingoma, sitshaya amathamborini lamahabhu.* 28 Kodwa awuzange unginike ithuba lokuqabuza abazukulu bami* lamadodakazi ami. Wenze ubuthutha. 29 Ngilawo amandla okwenza okubi kuwe kodwa uNkulunkulu kayihlo ukhulume lami izolo ebusuku wathi, ‘Nanzelela okutshoyo kuJakhobe kungelani lokuthi kuhle kumbe kubi.’+ 30 Ngiyabona ukuthi ubusukufuna ngabomvu ukubuyela emzini kayihlo yikho usukile wahamba. Pho onkulunkulu+ bami bona ubatshontsheleni?”

31 UJakhobe waphendula uLabhani wathi: “Ngisuke ngingakutshelanga ngoba bengisesaba njalo bengicabanga ukuthi ungangithathela amadodakazi akho ngenkani. 32 Loba ngubani ozamthola elabonkulunkulu bakho kasoze aphile. Dinga ezintweni engilazo abafowethu bekhangele, ubusuthatha okungokwakho.” Kodwa uJakhobe wayengakwazi ukuthi uRasheli nguye owayetshontshe onkulunkulu bakayise. 33 Ngakho uLabhani wangena etendeni likaJakhobe lasetendeni likaLeya kanye lasetendeni lezigqilikazi ezimbili+ kodwa kazange abathole onkulunkulu bakhe. Wasephuma etendeni likaLeya waya kwelikaRasheli. 34 URasheli wayethethe izithombe zamatherafimu* lezo wazifaka esihlalweni* sekamela wasehlala phezu kwazo. Yikho uLabhani wadinga yonke indawo etendeni lelo kodwa kazange azithole. 35 URasheli wasesithi kuyise: “Ungazondi nkosi yami, angenelisi ukusukuma ngoba ngisesikhathini.”*+ Ngakho uLabhani wadinga esadinga kodwa kazange azithole izithombe zamatherafimu.*+

36 UJakhobe uthe ekubona lokhu wazonda waqalisa ukusola uLabhani, wasesithi kuye: “Kanti ngoneni? Yiliphi icala engilenzileyo uze ungixotshanise kabuhlungu kangaka? 37 Khathesi njengoba usubhudule wabhudula kuzo zonke impahla zami, kuyini okutholileyo okwendlu yakho? Kufake lapha phambi kwabafowethu laphambi kwabafowenu ukuze bahlulele phakathi kwethu sobabili. 38 Iminyaka le engu-20 ngilawe, izimvu zakho lembuzi zakho azizange ziphunze+ njalo angizange ngidle ngitsho lenqama eyodwa emhlambini wakho. 39 Angizange ngibuye lesifuyo sakho sidlithizwe zinyamazana zeganga.+ Nxa sasibulewe ngangikubhadala. Wawufuna imbadalo kimi kungelani lokuthi isifuyo sakho sitshontshwe emini kumbe ebusuku. 40 Emini ngangitshona ngitshiswa lilanga, ebusuku ngitshazwa ngumqando futhi ngiswela ubuthongo.+ 41 Sengihlale lawe iminyaka engu-20. Ngikusebenzele iminyaka engu-14 ukuze ungiphe amadodakazi akho amabili, ngaphinda ngakusebenzela eyisithupha ukuze ngithole lami emhlambini wakho, futhi waqhubeka utshintsha umholo wami okwezikhathi ezilitshumi.+ 42 Aluba uNkulunkulu kababa,+ uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, lowo owesatshwa ngu-Isaka+ ubengekho eceleni kwami, ubuzangikhipha emzini wakho ngilengise izandla. UNkulunkulu ukubonile ukuhlupheka kwami lokusebenza nzima kwami, yikho ekukhuzile izolo ebusuku.”+

43 ULabhani wasephendula uJakhobe wathi: “Amadodakazi la ngawami, labantwana laba ngabami, lomhlambi lo ngowami, yonke nje into oyikhangeleyo ngeyami lamadodakazi ami. Kambe kuyini okubi engingakwenza kubo lamuhla futhi kuyini okubi engingakwenza kubantwababo ababazeleyo? 44 Khathesi woza senze isivumelwano, mina lawe, esizakuba yibufakazi phakathi kwethu.” 45 Ngakho uJakhobe wathatha ilitshe walimisa laba njengensika.+ 46 UJakhobe wasesithi kubafowabo: “Dobhani amatshe.” Basebedobha amatshe bawabuthelela aba yinqwaba. Ngemva kwalokho badlela khonapho okwakulenqwaba yamatshe. 47 ULabhani wabiza leyonqwaba ngokuthi yiJegari-sahadutha* kodwa uJakhobe wayibiza ngokuthi yiGaledi.*

48 ULabhani wasesithi: “Inqwaba le yamatshe iyibufakazi phakathi kwami lawe lamuhla.” Yikho yabizwa ngokuthi yiGaledi,+ 49 langokuthi yiNqabayokulinda ngoba wathi: “UJehova kaqhubeke esilinda mina lawe lanxa siyabe singasabonani. 50 Nxa ungaphatha kubi amadodakazi ami futhi uqalise ukuthatha abanye abafazi phezu kwamadodakazi ami, lanxa kuzabe kungelamuntu obonayo, khumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzakuba ngufakazi phakathi kwami lawe.” 51 ULabhani waphinda wathi kuJakhobe: “Nansi inqwaba yamatshe njalo nansi insika engiyimisileyo phakathi kwami lawe. 52 Inqwaba le yamatshe iyibufakazi njalo insika le layo iveza ubufakazi+ bokuthi angisoze ngidlule inqwaba le yamatshe ngizokwenza okubi kuwe lokuthi lawe awusoze udlule inqwaba le yamatshe lensika le uzokwenza okubi kimi. 53 UNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama+ loNkulunkulu kaNahori loNkulunkulu kayise wabo kabe ngumahluleli phakathi kwethu.” UJakhobe wasefunga ngalowo owesatshwa nguyise u-Isaka.+

54 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe wanikela umhlatshelo khonapho entabeni wasenxusa abafowabo ukuthi bazokudla isinkwa. Ngakho badla basebelala kuleyontaba. 55 ULabhani yena wavuka ekuseni kakhulu waqabuza abazukulu bakhe*+ lamadodakazi akhe wababusisa.+ Esuka lapho wangena indlela wabuyela emzini wakhe.+

32 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe waqhubeka ngohambo lwakhe njalo izingilosi zikaNkulunkulu zamhlangabeza. 2 UJakhobe wathi ezibona nje izingilosi lezi wathi: “Le yinkamba kaNkulunkulu!” Yikho wabiza indawo leyo ngokuthi yiMahanayimi.*

3 UJakhobe wasethuma izithunywa ukuthi zihambe phambi kwakhe ziye kumnewabo u-Esawu elizweni laseSeyiri,+ emangweni we-Edomi.+ 4 Wathi kuzo: “Nanku elizakutsho enkosini yami u-Esawu, ‘Inceku yakho uJakhobe ithi: “Bengihlala* loLabhani okwesikhathi sonke lesi,+ 5 njalo sengilenkomo, labobabhemi, lezimvu kanye lezisebenzi zesilisa lezesifazana.+ Ngakho ngikuthumela ilizwi nkosi yami ngikubikela ngalokhu ukuze ngithole umusa kuwe.”’”

6 Ngemva kwesikhathi izithunywa zaphenduka kuJakhobe zathi: “Sifikile kumnewenu u-Esawu njalo usendleleni uzokuhlangabeza elamadoda angu-400.”+ 7 UJakhobe wathi ekuzwa lokhu wesaba kakhulu futhi wakhathazeka.+ Yikho wehlukanisa abantu ayelabo baba ngamaqembu amabili, wehlukanisa lemihlambi yezimvu leyembuzi leyenkomo kanye lamakamela. 8 Wasesithi: “Nxa u-Esawu angahlasela elinye iqembu, elinye lizakwenelisa ukubaleka.”

9 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe wathi: “Awu Nkulunkulu kababa u-Abrahama loNkulunkulu kababa u-Isaka, awu Jehova wena othi kimi, ‘Buyela elizweni lakini lasezihlotsheni zakho ngizakwenza uphumelele,’+ 10 Lonke uthando oluqotho ongitshengise lona kanye lokuthembeka okwenzileyo kimi,+ akungifanelanga mina nceku yakho ngoba ngachapha uJodani ngiphethe intonga yami kuphela kodwa khathesi sengilamaqembu amabili.+ 11 Ngithandaza kuwe, ngicela ungikhulule+ esandleni somnewethu u-Esawu ngoba ngiyamesaba, angafika angihlasele+ mina labantwana kanye labonina. 12 Wena wathi kimi: ‘Ngizakwenza uphumelele sibili, futhi ngizakwenza inzalo yakho* ibe njengetshebetshebe yolwandle enengi kakhulu okokuthi ngeke ibalwe.’”+

13 Ngakho walala endaweni leyo. Ngemva kwalokho wathatha ezinye izifuyo zakhe ukuze anike umnewabo u-Esawu isipho:+ 14 imbuzi ezinsikazi ezingu-200, lempongo ezingu-20, lezimvu ezinsikazi ezingu-200, lenqama ezingu-20, 15 lamakamela angu-30 kanye lamathole awo, lamankomokazi angu-40, lenkunzi ezilitshumi, labobabhemi abasikazi abangu-20, labobabhemi abaduna abalitshumi.+

16 Konke lokhu wakunika izisebenzi zakhe, umhlambi ngamunye ulandela omunye, wasesithi kuzo: “Chaphani lihambe phambi kwami njalo litshiye ibanga elithile phakathi komhlambi ngamunye.” 17 Isisebenzi sokuqala wasitshela wathi: “Nxa umnewethu u-Esawu angahlangana lawe abesekubuza athi, ‘Ungokabani, uyangaphi njalo izifuyo lezi eziphambi kwakho ngezikabani?’ 18 kumele uphendule uthi, ‘Ngiyisisebenzi senceku yakho uJakhobe. Lesi yisipho esithunyelwe inkosi yami u-Esawu+ njalo inceku yakho ingemuva kwethu iyalandela.’” 19 Waphinda watshela isisebenzi sesibili lesesithathu kanye labo bonke ababelandela imihlambi wathi: “Yilo ilizwi okumele lilikhulume nxa lingahlangana lo-Esawu. 20 Kanti njalo kumele lithi, ‘Inceku yakho uJakhobe iyalandela ngemuva kwethu.’” UJakhobe wayezitshele wathi: ‘Nxa ngingamthoba inhliziyo ngokumthumela isipho,+ mhlawumbe uzangamukela kuhle nxa sengimbona.’ 21 Ngakho isipho sahamba phambi kwakhe kodwa yena walala lapho ayefike wakhempa khona.

22 Wasevuka phakathi kobusuku wathatha amakhosikazi akhe amabili+ lezincekukazi zakhe ezimbili+ lamadodana akhe angu-11 wachapha ezibukweni* laseJabhokhi.+ 23 Wabathatha wabachaphisa isifula,* wachaphisa lakho konke ayelakho.

24 UJakhobe wasesala eyedwa. Enye indoda yasiqalisa ukubindana* laye kwaze kwaba semadabukakusa.+ 25 Indoda le yathi ibona ukuthi kayimehluli yasithinta inyonga kaJakhobe njalo inyonga yakhe yakhumuka ngesikhathi ebindana lendoda le.+ 26 Ngemva kwalokho indoda le yathi: “Ngiyekela ngihambe ngoba sekuzakusa.” UJakhobe wathi: “Angisoze ngikuyekele uhambe nxa ungangibusisanga.”+ 27 Yasisithi kuye: “Ibizo lakho ungubani?” yena wathi: “NginguJakhobe.” 28 Yasiphendula yathi: “Awusayikubizwa ngokuthi unguJakhobe kodwa usuzabizwa ngokuthi ungu-Israyeli*+ ngoba usutshukane loNkulunkulu+ labantu waze wanqoba.” 29 UJakhobe wasesithi kuyo: “Ngicela ungitshele ibizo lakho.” Kodwa yona yathi: “Ulibuzelani ibizo lami?”+ Yasimbusisa ekuleyondawo. 30 Ngakho uJakhobe wabiza indawo leyo ngokuthi yiPheniyeli*+ ngoba wathi, “Ngibonane loNkulunkulu ubuso ngobuso kodwa ngaqhubeka ngiphila.”+

31 Ilanga laphuma uJakhobe esanda kwedlula ePhenuweli* kodwa wayeqhula ngenxa yenyonga yakhe.+ 32 Yikho lalamuhla abantwana bako-Israyeli bengawudli umsipha osemlenzeni lapho okuhlangana khona umlenze lenqulu, ngoba indoda leyo yathinta inyonga kaJakhobe emsipheni osemlenzeni.

33 UJakhobe wathi evusa ikhanda wabona u-Esawu esiza elamadoda angu-400.+ Ngakho wehlukanisa abantwana, abanye baya kuLeya abanye kuRasheli abanye kuzincekukazi ezimbili.+ 2 Wafaka izincekukazi ezimbili labantwabazo phambili,+ kwasekulandela uLeya labantwabakhe,+ ngemva kwabo kwakulandela uRasheli+ loJosefa. 3 UJakhobe wasehamba phambi kwabo, wakhothama kasikhombisa elokhu esondela kumnewabo.

4 U-Esawu wasegijima emhlangabeza wafika wamgona, wamqabuza futhi bakhala. 5 U-Esawu wathi ephakamisa amehlo wabona abesifazana labantwana wathi: “Ngobani laba ohamba labo?” Yena wathi: “Ngabantwana uNkulunkulu abanike inceku yakho ngomusa wakhe.”+ 6 Izincekukazi zasezisondela labantwabazo zafika zakhothama, 7 kwasekulandela uLeya labantwabakhe labo bafika bakhothama. UJosefa laye wasesondela phambili eloRasheli bafika bakhothama.+

8 U-Esawu wasesithi: “Kanti iqembu labantu leli olithumeleyo ngelani?”+ UJakhobe wamphendula wathi: “Bengisenzela ukuthola umusa enkosini yami.”+ 9 U-Esawu wasesithi: “Mfowethu ngilempahla enengi kakhulu,+ zigcinele okungokwakho.” 10 Kodwa uJakhobe wathi: “Ngiyacela nxa ngithole umusa kuwe, thatha isipho engikunika sona ngoba ngisilethele ukuthi ngibone ubuso bakho. Khathesi sengibone ubuso bakho kwaba angathi ngibone ubuso bukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi ungamukele ngazo zombili.+ 11 Ngicela wamukele isipho engifuna ukukubusisa ngaso+ ngoba uNkulunkulu ungenzele umusa futhi angisweli lutho.”+ Waqhubeka emncenga waze wasamukela.

12 Ngemva kwesikhathi u-Esawu wathi: “Asisuke lapha sihambe, wothi mina ngikhokhele phambi kwakho.” 13 Kodwa uJakhobe wathi kuye: “Inkosi yami iyazibonela ukuthi abantwana basesebancane*+ lokuthi ngihamba lezimvu ezilamazinyane lenkomo ezilamathole. Nxa zingahamba zigijinyiswa okwelanga elilodwa wonke umhlambi uzakufa. 14 Ngicela inkosi yami ihambe phambi kwenceku yayo, kodwa mina ngizaqhubeka ngohambo kancane kancane ukuze ngihambisane lezifuyo zami labantwana, ngize ngifike enkosini yami eSeyiri.”+ 15 U-Esawu wasesithi: “Kungcono ngikutshiyele abanye abantu bami.” Yena wathi: “Kungani kumele wenze njalo? Inkosi yami kayingenzele umusa nje kuphela.” 16 Yikho ngalelolanga u-Esawu wangena indlela wabuyela eSeyiri.

17 UJakhobe yena wasuka lapho waya eSukhothi,+ wafika wazakhela indlu kuleyondawo, wakhela lemihlambi yakhe izibaya. Yikho wabiza indawo leyo ngokuthi yiSukhothi.*

18 UJakhobe wafika kuhle edolobheni leShekhemu+ elizweni laseKhenani+ evela ePhadani-aramu+ njalo wafika wakhempa eduze kwedolobho lelo. 19 Wasethenga indawo ngenhlamvu zemali ezingu-100,+ wamisa itende lakhe kuyo njalo wayithenga kumadodana kaHamori uyise kaShekhemu. 20 UJakhobe wakha i-alithare kuleyondawo walibiza ngokuthi, uNkulunkulu, nguNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.+

34 UDina indodakazi kaJakhobe ayizalelwa nguLeya,+ wayejayele ukuyakwejisa lentombi* zalelolizwe.+ 2 UShekhemu indodana kaHamori umHivi+ owayeyinduna yalelolizwe wathi embona wamthatha wambamba iganyavu. 3 Inhliziyo kaShekhemu yanamathela kuDina indodakazi kaJakhobe njalo wayithanda kakhulu intombi le, wakhuluma layo kamnandi eyincenga.* 4 UShekhemu wasesithi kuyise uHamori:+ “Hamba uyengicelela intombi le ukuthi ibe ngumkami.”

5 Ngesikhathi uJakhobe esizwa ukuthi indodakazi yakhe uDina yayisingcoliswe nguShekhemu, amadodana akhe ayesegangeni eselusa umhlambi wakhe. Ngakho uJakhobe wazithulela amadodana akhe aze aphenduka. 6 UHamori uyise kaShekhemu wasehamba wayakhuluma loJakhobe. 7 Kodwa indaba le yafika endlebeni zamadodana kaJakhobe njalo ahle asuka egangeni aphenduka. Ayebuhlungu futhi ezonde efile ngoba uShekhemu wayelethe ihlazo ku-Israyeli ngokulala lendodakazi kaJakhobe,+ into okwakungamelanga yenzakale.+

8 UHamori wafika wakhuluma labo wathi: “UShekhemu indodana yami uyayithanda kakhulu indodakazi yenu. Ngicela limuphe yona ibe ngumkakhe 9 njalo yendiselanani lathi. Sinikeni amadodakazi enu, lani lithathe amadodakazi ethu.+ 10 Hlalani lathi lenze elikufunayo elizweni. Zihlaleleni lithengise kulo lizitholele inotho.” 11 UShekhemu wasekhuluma loJakhobe kanye labafowabo bakaDina wathi: “Ngicela libe lomusa kimi, ngizalipha loba yini eliyifunayo kimi. 12 Ngibizelani amalobolo amanengi kanye lesipho esidulayo.+ Ngizimisele ukulipha loba yini eliyifunayo. Ngiphani intombi le ibe ngumkami kuphela.”

13 Ngakho amadodana kaJakhobe aphendula uShekhemu loyise uHamori ngobuqili ngenxa yokuthi wayengcolise udadewabo uDina. 14 Abaphendula athi: “Ngeke senze into enjalo, asisoze sithathe udadewethu simnike indoda engasokwanga+ ngoba lokho kulihlazo kithi. 15 Yinye kuphela into engasenza sivume, kumele lisoke wonke amadoda elilawo libe njengathi.+ 16 Nxa lingenza njalo sizalinika amadodakazi ethu, lathi besesizithathela amadodakazi enu njalo sizahlala lani sibe ngabantu banye. 17 Kodwa nxa lingasoze lilalele esikutshoyo liyekele ukusoka, sizathatha udadewethu sizihambele.”

18 UHamori+ lendodana yakhe uShekhemu+ bathaba bekuzwa lokhu. 19 Ijaha leli kalizange lizilazile, lahle layakwenza ababekutshilo+ ngenxa yokuthi laliyithanda indodakazi kaJakhobe futhi lalihlonitshwa kakhulu kubo bonke ababesemzini kayise.

20 Ngakho uHamori lendodana yakhe uShekhemu baya egedini ledolobho bakhuluma lamadoda edolobho lakibo+ bathi: 21 “Amadoda la afuna sihlalisane ngokuthula. Asiwavumeleni ahlale elizweni njalo athengise kulo ngoba ilizwe leli lilendawo enkulu angahlala kuyo. Singazithathela amadodakazi awo abe ngomkethu, lawo siwaphe amadodakazi ethu.+ 22 Yinye kuphela into ezakwenza avume ukuhlala lathi ukuze sibe ngabantu banye; kumele wonke amadoda aphakathi kwethu asokwe njengawo.+ 23 Nxa singenza njalo, impahla yawo lenotho yawo lezifuyo zawo kuzakuba ngokwethu. Ngakho asivumeni ukwenza akutshoyo ukuze ahlale lathi.” 24 Wonke amadoda ayebuthana egedini ledolobho avumelana lalokho okwakutshiwo nguHamori lendodana yakhe uShekhemu njalo wonke amadoda asokwa, wonke nje ayebuthana egedini ledolobho.

25 Kwathi ngelanga lesithathu amadoda lawo elokhu esafuthelwa, amadodana kaJakhobe, uSimiyoni loLevi, abafowabo bakaDina,+ bathatha inkemba zabo bangena edolobheni abantu belibele babulala wonke amadoda.+ 26 Babulala loHamori lendodana yakhe uShekhemu ngenkemba, bathatha uDina endlini kaShekhemu bahamba. 27 Amanye amadodana kaJakhobe athi efika athola amadoda edolobho esebulewe, asebutha yonke into edolobheni lelo ngenxa yokuthi udadewabo wayengcolisiwe.+ 28 Athatha imihlambi yabo yezimvu leyembuzi leyenkomo labobabhemi lakho konke okwakusedolobheni kanye lasemadlelweni. 29 Bathatha lempahla yonke yabantu laba, bathumba bonke abafazi babo kanye labantwababo abancane, babutha lakho konke okwakusezindlini.

30 UJakhobe wasesithi kuSimiyoni loLevi:+ “Selingilethele uhlupho olukhulu ngoba selingenze ngaba lephunga elibi ebantwini belizwe leli, amaKhenani lamaPherizi. Thina sibalutshwana njalo abantu laba bazaqoqana bazongihlasela bangitshabalalise mina lemuli yami.” 31 Kodwa bona bathi: “Akulamuntu okumele aphathe udadewethu njengewule.”

35 Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wathi kuJakhobe: “Suka uye eBhetheli+ uyehlala khona, wakhele uNkulunkulu weqiniso i-alithare kuleyondawo, lowo owabonakala kuwe ngesikhathi ubalekela umnewenu u-Esawu.”+

2 UJakhobe wasekhuluma labendlu yakhe kanye labo bonke ayelabo wathi: “Lahlani bonke onkulunkulu bezizweni elilabo,+ lizihlambulule litshintshe lezigqoko zenu, 3 besesisuka lapha siqanse siye eBhetheli. Ngizakwakhela uNkulunkulu weqiniso i-alithare kuleyondawo, yena owangiphendulayo ngosuku lokuhlupheka kwami njalo obelokhu elami loba ngaphi ebengisiya khona.”+ 4 Yikho banika uJakhobe bonke onkulunkulu bezizweni ababelabo kanye lamacici ababewagqokile, uJakhobe wasegqibela* izinto lezo ngaphansi kwesihlahla esikhulu esasiseduze leShekhemu.

5 Bathi sebeqhubeka ngohambo lwabo, uNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi abantu bamadolobho ayeseduze kwabo bafikelwe yikwesaba. Ngakho abazange bawaxotshanise amadodana kaJakhobe. 6 Ekucineni uJakhobe labo bonke ayelabo bafika eLuzi+ okutsho iBhetheli, elizweni laseKhenani. 7 Wasesakha i-alithare kuleyondawo wayibiza ngokuthi yi-Eli-bhetheli* ngoba uNkulunkulu weqiniso wayeziveze kuye kuleyondawo ngesikhathi ebalekela umnewabo.+ 8 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uDibhora+ umlizane kaRabheka wafa wangcwatshwa eduze leBhetheli ngaphansi kwesihlahla som-okhi. Yikho uJakhobe wabiza leyondawo ngokuthi yi-Aloni-bhakhuthi.*

9 UNkulunkulu waphinda wabonakala kuJakhobe ngesikhathi esiza evela ePhadani-aramu njalo wambusisa. 10 UNkulunkulu wathi kuye: “Ibizo lakho unguJakhobe.+ Awusayikubizwa ngokuthi unguJakhobe kodwa usuzabizwa ngokuthi ungu-Israyeli.” Waseqalisa ukumbiza ngokuthi ngu-Israyeli.+ 11 UNkulunkulu waphinda wathi kuye: “NginguNkulunkulu uSomandla.+ Zala ube labantwana abanengi. Izizwe kanye leqembu lezizwe kuzaphuma kuwe+ futhi amakhosi azavela kuwe.+ 12 Ilizwe engalipha u-Abrahama lo-Isaka ngizakunika lona njalo ngizalinika lezizukulwane zakho ezizalandela ngemva kwakho.”+ 13 UNkulunkulu wasesenyuka wasuka endaweni ayekhuluma laye ekuyo.

14 Ngakho uJakhobe wamisa insika yelitshe khonapho ayekhulume laye khona, wasethela umnikelo wokunathwayo phezu kwayo wathela lamafutha.+ 15 Kanti njalo uJakhobe wayelokhu eyibiza ngokuthi yiBhetheli+ leyondawo uNkulunkulu ayekhulume laye kuyo.

16 Basebesuka-ke eBhetheli njalo kwathi sekusele umango othile ukuthi bafike e-Efratha uRasheli waqala ukuhelelwa kodwa kwaba nzima ukuthi abelethe ngoba wayesizwa ubuhlungu kakhulu. 17 Wathi elokhu elwisa ukubeletha, umbelethisi wakhe wathi kuye: “Ungesabi ngoba uzazala omunye umntwana ongumfana.”+ 18 Wathi esezaphela (ngoba wayesesifa), wanika umntwana ibizo wathi nguBheni-oni* kodwa uyise wamnika elithi Bhenjamini.*+ 19 Ngakho uRasheli wafa wasengcwatshwa endleleni eya e-Efratha, okutsho eBhethilehema.+ 20 UJakhobe wasemisa insika phezu kwethuna lakhe njalo ilokhu iyinsika yethuna likaRasheli kuze kube lamuhla.

21 Ngemva kwalokho u-Israyeli wasuka kuleyondawo wamisa itende lakhe esephambidlana komphotshongo wase-Ederi. 22 Ngelinye ilanga u-Israyeli esahlala kuleyondawo uRubheni wahamba wayalala loBhiliha omunye umfazi kayise njalo u-Israyeli wayizwa indaba le.+

UJakhobe wayelamadodana angu-12. 23 Amadodana kaLeya kwakunguRubheni+ izibulo likaJakhobe, loSimiyoni, loLevi, loJuda, lo-Isakhari kanye loZebhuloni. 24 Amadodana kaRasheli kwakunguJosefa loBhenjamini. 25 Amadodana kaBhiliha incekukazi kaRasheli kwakunguDani loNafithali. 26 Amadodana kaZilipha incekukazi kaLeya kwakunguGadi lo-Asheri. La yiwo okwakungamadodana kaJakhobe awazalelwa esePhadani-aramu.

27 Ekucineni uJakhobe wafika lapho okwakuloyise u-Isaka eMamre+ emangweni waseKhiriyathi-abha okutsho iHebroni, lapho u-Abrahama lo-Isaka ababehlala khona njengabezizweni.+ 28 U-Isaka waphila iminyaka engu-180,+ 29 wasephefumula okokucina wafa njalo wangcwatshwa njengabanye abantu bakibo. Wayesephile isikhathi eside futhi esuthisekile ngempilo. Amadodana akhe u-Esawu loJakhobe amngcwaba.+

36 Le yimbali ka-Esawu, okutsho u-Edomi.+

2 U-Esawu wathatha abafazi bakhe kumadodakazi aseKhenani. Wathatha u-Ada+ indodakazi ka-Eloni umHithi,+ lo-Oholibhama+ indodakazi ka-Ana eyayingumzukulu kaZibhiyoni umHivi 3 njalo wathatha lendodakazi ka-Ishmayeli uBhasemathi,+ udadewabo kaNebhayothi.+

La yiwo amadodana ka-Esawu azalelwa elizweni laseKhenani. 6 Ngemva kwalokho u-Esawu wathatha amakhosikazi akhe, lamadodana akhe, lamadodakazi akhe, bonke abendlu yakhe, lomhlambi wakhe wenkomo lezimvu, lazo zonke ezinye izifuyo zakhe layo yonke inotho ayeseyibuthelele+ elizweni laseKhenani, wasesuka waya kwelinye ilizwe khatshana lomfowabo uJakhobe.+ 7 Phela impahla yabo yayisinengi kakhulu ukuthi bahlale ndawonye, lendawo ababehlala kuyo* yayingasabeneli ngenxa yobunengi bezifuyo zabo. 8 Ngakho u-Esawu wahlala elizweni laseSeyiri elisezintabeni.+ U-Esawu wayebizwa langokuthi ngu-Edomi.+

9 Le yimbali ka-Esawu uyise wama-Edomi ayehlala elizweni laseSeyiri+ elisezintabeni.

10 La ngamabizo amadodana ka-Esawu: U-Elifazi indodana ka-Ada, inkosikazi ka-Esawu loRehuweli indodana kaBhasemathi, inkosikazi ka-Esawu.+

11 Amadodana ka-Elifazi kwakunguThemani,+ lo-Omari, loZefo, loGathamu kanye loKhenazi.+ 12 UThimina waba ngomunye umfazi ka-Elifazi indodana ka-Esawu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wazalela u-Elifazi indodana okwakuthiwa ngu-Amaleki.+ La yiwo okwakungamadodana ka-Ada inkosikazi ka-Esawu.

13 Amadodana kaRehuweli kwakunguNahathi, loZera, loShama kanye loMiza. La yiwo okwakungamadodana kaBhasemathi+ inkosikazi ka-Esawu.

14 Amadodana ka-Oholibhama inkosikazi ka-Esawu kwakunguJewushi loJalamu loKhora. U-Oholibhama wayeyindodakazi ka-Ana futhi engumzukulu kaZibhiyoni.

15 Nanzi induna zamadodana ka-Esawu+ ezazivela kumadodana ka-Elifazi izibulo lika-Esawu: Induna uThemani, lenduna u-Omari, lenduna uZefo, lenduna uKhenazi,+ 16 lenduna uKhora, lenduna uGathamu kanye lenduna u-Amaleki. Lezi yizo induna zosendo luka-Elifazi+ elizweni lase-Edomi. La yiwo okwakungamadodana ka-Ada.

17 La ngamadodana kaRehuweli indodana ka-Esawu: Induna uNahathi, lenduna uZera, lenduna uShama kanye lenduna uMiza. Lezi yizo induna zosendo lukaRehuweli elizweni lase-Edomi.+ La yiwo okwakungamadodana kaBhasemathi inkosikazi ka-Esawu.

18 La ngamadodana ka-Oholibhama inkosikazi ka-Esawu: Induna uJewushi lenduna uJalamu lenduna uKhora. Lezi yizo induna ezavela ku-Oholibhama inkosikazi ka-Esawu, indodakazi ka-Ana.

19 La yiwo okwakungamadodana ka-Esawu kanye lezinduna zawo njalo wayebizwa langokuthi ngu-Edomi.+

20 La ngamadodana kaSeyiri umHori ayehlala elizweni lelo:+ ULothani, loShobhali, loZibhiyoni, lo-Ana,+ 21 loDishoni, lo-Ezeri kanye loDishani.+ Lezi yizo induna zamaHori, amadodana kaSeyiri ayeselizweni lase-Edomi.

22 Amadodana kaLothani kwakunguHori loHemama njalo udadewabo kaLothani kwakunguThimina.+

23 La ngamadodana kaShobhali: U-Alivani, loManahathi, lo-Ebhali, loShefo kanye lo-Onami.

24 La ngamadodana kaZibhiyoni:+ U-Ayiya lo-Ana. U-Ana lo nguye owathola indawo ezimpompoza amanzi atshisayo enkangala ngesikhathi eselusa obabhemi bakayise uZibhiyoni.

25 Laba ngabantwana baka-Ana: UDishoni lo-Oholibhama indodakazi ka-Ana.

26 La ngamadodana kaDishoni: UHemidani, lo-Eshibhani, lo-Ithirani kanye loKherani.+

27 La ngamadodana ka-Ezeri: UBhilihani loZahavani lo-Akani.

28 La ngamadodana kaDishani: U-Uzi lo-Arani.+

29 Nanzi induna zamaHori: Induna uLothani, lenduna uShobhali, lenduna uZibhiyoni, lenduna u-Ana, 30 lenduna uDishoni, lenduna u-Ezeri kanye lenduna uDishani.+ Lezi yizo induna zamaHori ezitshiyeneyo ezaziselizweni laseSeyiri.

31 Nanka amakhosi ayebusa elizweni lako-Edomi+ kungakabi lenkosi ko-Israyeli.*+ 32 UBhela indodana kaBheyori wabusa ko-Edomi njalo idolobho lakhe lalibizwa kuthiwa yiDinihabha. 33 UBhela wathi esefile, uJobhabhi indodana kaZera weBhozira waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe. 34 UJobhabhi wathi esefile uHushami owayevela elizweni lamaThemani waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe. 35 UHushami wathi esefile kwabusa uHadadi indodana kaBhedadi, owanqoba amaMidiyani+ elizweni lakoMowabi njalo idolobho lakhe kwakuthiwa yi-Avithi. 36 UHadadi wathi esefile, uSamila waseMasirekha waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe. 37 USamila wathi esefile, uShawuli weRehobhothi ngasemfuleni waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe. 38 UShawuli wathi esefile, uBhali-hanani indodana ka-Akhibhori waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe. 39 Kwathi uBhali-hanani indodana ka-Akhibhori esefile, uHadari waqalisa ukubusa esikhundleni sakhe. Idolobho lakhe kwakuthiwa yiPhawu njalo inkosikazi yakhe kwakuthiwa nguMehethabheli indodakazi kaMathiredi, indodakazi kaMezahabi.

40 Nanzi induna zosendo luka-Esawu kusiya ngezimuli zazo lendawo zazo kanye lamabizo azo: Induna uThimina, lenduna u-Aliva, lenduna uJethethi,+ 41 lenduna u-Oholibhama, lenduna u-Ela, lenduna uPhinoni, 42 lenduna uKhenazi, lenduna uThemani, lenduna uMibhizari, 43 lenduna uMagidiyeli kanye lenduna u-Iramu. Lezi yizo induna zako-Edomi kusiya ngendawo zazo zokuhlala elizweni lazo.+ Lo nguye u-Esawu owayenguyise wama-Edomi.+

37 UJakhobe waqhubeka ehlala elizweni laseKhenani lapho okwahlala khona uyise engowezizweni.+

2 Le yimbali kaJakhobe.

Ngesikhathi uJosefa+ elijaha elileminyaka engu-17, wayeselusa umhlambi wezimvu lembuzi+ elamadodana kaBhiliha+ lamadodana kaZilipha,+ amakhosikazi kayise. UJosefa wasetshela uyise okubi okwakwenziwe ngabafowabo. 3 U-Israyeli wayemthanda uJosefa ukwedlula wonke amanye amadodana akhe+ ngenxa yokuthi wamzala eseluphele; ngakho wamthungisela ijazi elihle kakhulu. 4 Abafowabo bathi bebona ukuthi uyise wayemthanda ukwedlula bona, baqalisa ukumzonda njalo babengasakhulumi laye kuhle.

5 Ngemva kwesikhathi uJosefa waphupha iphupho, waselitshela abafowabo.+ Lokhu kwenza ukuthi bamzonde kakhulu. 6 Wathi kubo: “Zwanini ukuthi ngiphupheni. 7 Besibopha izithungo phakathi kwensimu, esami isithungo sasesiphakama sama mpo, kwathi ezenu izithungo zasigombolozela zasikhothamela.”+ 8 Abafowabo bathi kuye: “Utsho ukuthi wena uzazenza inkosi phezu kwethu njalo usibuse?”+ Ngakho bamzonda kakhulu kulakuqala ngenxa yamaphupho akhe lalokho ayekukhulumile.

9 Ngemva kwalokho waphupha lelinye iphupho walilandisela abafowabo, wathi: “Ngiphuphe elinye iphupho. Khathesi ngiphuphe ilanga lenyanga kanye lenkanyezi ezingu-11 kungikhothamela.”+ 10 Waphinda walandisela uyise iphupho lakhe labafowabo bekhona, uyise wasemkhuza wathi kuye: “Liphupho bani leli? Utsho ukuthi mina lonyoko kanye labafowenu sizabuya sikukhothamele?” 11 Abafowabo baba lomona ngaye+ kodwa uyise wawagcina amazwi la.

12 Abafowabo basebehamba lomhlambi wezimvu lembuzi zikayise emadlelweni eduze kweShekhemu.+ 13 U-Israyeli wasesithi kuJosefa: “Abafowenu bayekwelusa izimvu lembuzi eduze kweShekhemu. Woza ngikuthume kubo.” UJosefa waphendula wathi: “Kulungile baba.” 14 Ngakho uyise wathi kuye: “Hamba uyebona ukuthi abafowenu baphilile yini lokuthi umhlambi unjani ubusuphenduka uzongitshela.” Yikho uJosefa wasuka esigodini saseHebroni+ waqonda eShekhemu. 15 Ngemva kwesikhathi indoda ethile yamfica elokhu ezulazula egangeni yambuza yathi: “Udingani?” 16 Wayiphendula wathi: “Ngidinga abafowethu. Ngicela ukubuza, belusele ngaphi imihlambi?” 17 Indoda le yasisithi: “Sebesukile lapha ngibazwe besithi, ‘Asambeni eDothani.’” Ngakho uJosefa wasuka walandela abafowabo waze wabathola eDothani.

18 Abafowabo bambona esesekhatshana njalo wathi engakafiki lakubo baqalisa ukubumba icebo lokumbulala. 19 Bathi: “Khangelani! Nanguyana umaphupha+ lowana uyeza. 20 Wozani simbulale simjikele emgodini* njalo sizakuthi udliwe yinyamazana yeganga eyingozi, besesibona ukuthi amaphupho akhe azaphelela ngaphi.” 21 URubheni+ wathi ekuzwa lokhu wazama ukumvikela wathi: “Kasingambulali.”+ 22 Waphinda wathi kubo: “Lingambulali.+ Mjikeleni emgodini lo osenkangala kodwa lingamfaki isandla.”+ Lokhu wayekwenzela ukuthi amkhulule kubo ukuze ambuyisele kuyise.

23 UJosefa wathi efika kubafowabo bahle bamkhipha ijazi lakhe elihle ayeligqokile,+ 24 basebemthatha bamjikela emgodini. Umgodi lo wawungelamanzi ngalesosikhathi.

25 Ngemva kwalokho bahlala phansi ukuze badle. Bathi bayakhangela babona ama-Ishmayeli+ esiza eludwendwe evela eGiliyadi. Amakamela awo ayethwele inhlaka* enukelelayo lebhalisamu kanye lamaxolo alenhlaka+ njalo ayelubangise eGibhithe. 26 UJuda wasesithi kubafowabo: “Kambe sizazuzani nxa singabulala umfowethu sigqibele igazi lakhe?+ 27 Singamfaki isandla, asimthengiseleni+ ama-Ishmayeli. Phela ungumfowethu, igazi lethu.” Ngakho abafowabo bavuma. 28 Kwathi abathengisi bakoMidiyani+ bedlula khonapho abafowabo bamkhipha emgodini, basebemthengisela ama-Ishmayeli ngenhlamvu zesiliva ezingu-20.+ Amadoda la athatha uJosefa ahamba laye eGibhithe.

29 URubheni wathi ebuyela wathola uJosefa engasekho emgodini, wasedabula izigqoko zakhe. 30 Wasesiya kubafowabo wafika wathi: “Umfana kasekho emgodini! Manje sengizakwenza njani?”

31 Ngakho babulala impongo basebethatha ijazi likaJosefa baligxamuza egazini layo. 32 Ngemva kwalokho bathumela ijazi lelo kuyise bathi: “Nanku esikutholileyo. Sicela uhlole ukuthi leli ayisilo yini ijazi lendodana yakho.”+ 33 UJakhobe walihlola wasememeza wathi: “Yilo kanye ijazi lendodana yami! Kutsho ukuthi idliwe yinyamazana yeganga eyingozi! UJosefa udlithiziwe sibili!” 34 UJakhobe wasedabula izigqoko zakhe wathandela isaka ekhalweni, walilela indodana yakhe okwamalanga amanengi. 35 Wonke amadodana akhe lamadodakazi akhe ayelokhu ezama ukumduduza kodwa yena waqhubeka esala ukududuzwa esithi: “Ngizaze ngiyengena engcwabeni*+ ngilokhu ngililela indodana yami!” Yikho uyise waqhubeka emkhalela.

36 Ama-Ishmayeli afika laye eGibhithe amthengisa kuPhothifa isiphathamandla sikaFaro+ esasiyinduna yabalindi.+

38 Ngalesosikhathi uJuda wasuka kubafowabo wamisa itende lakhe eduze kwendoda engum-Adulamu eyayithiwa nguHira. 2 UJuda wathi esekhonale wabona indodakazi yomKhenani+ othile okwakuthiwa nguShuwa. Ngakho wayithatha yaba ngumkakhe walala layo 3 njalo yazithwala. Ngemva kwesikhathi yabeletha umntwana ongumfana, uJuda wamnika ibizo wathi ngu-Eri.+ 4 Yaphinda yazithwala futhi yabeletha umntwana ongumfana, yamnika ibizo yathi ngu-Onani. 5 Yasibeletha omunye umntwana ongumfana yamnika ibizo yathi nguShela. UJuda wayehlala e-Akhizibi+ ngesikhathi umkakhe ebeletha umntwana lo.

6 Ngokuya kwesikhathi uJuda wadingela izibulo lakhe u-Eri umfazi njalo ibizo lakhe kwakuthiwa nguThamari.+ 7 Kodwa izenzo zika-Eri, izibulo likaJuda zazingamthokozisi uJehova, ngakho uJehova wambulala. 8 Kwathi sekunjalo uJuda wathi ku-Onani: “Ngena umkamnewenu, ulale laye, uzalele umfowenu abantwana.”+ 9 Kodwa u-Onani wayekwazi ukuthi abantwana labo kwakungasoze kuthiwe ngabakhe,+ yikho wayesithi nxa elala lomkamfowabo achithele ubudoda phansi ukuze angazaleli umfowabo abantwana.+ 10 Ayekwenza akuzange kumthokozise uJehova, yikho laye wambulala.+ 11 UJuda wathi kuThamari umalukazana wakhe: “Hlala ungumfelokazi emzini kayihlo, indodana yami uShela ize ikhule.” UJuda watsho njalo ngoba wayesesaba ukuthi indodana yakhe uShela layo ingafa njengabafowabo.+ Ngakho uThamari wahamba wayahlala emzini kayise.

12 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJuda wafelwa ngumkakhe indodakazi kaShuwa.+ Kwathi isikhathi sokulilela umkakhe sesiphelile, wasesuka waya ebantwini abagela izimvu zakhe eThimina+ ehamba lomngane wakhe uHira um-Adulamu.+ 13 UThamari wasetshelwa ukuthi, “Uyihlozala uya eThimina ukuyagela izimvu zakhe.” 14 Ngakho wakhipha izigqoko zakhe zokuzila wavala ubuso bakhe ngeveyili wembatha lelembu emahlombe akhe. Wasesiyahlala egedini le-Enayimi elalisemgwaqweni oya eThimina ngoba wabona ukuthi uShela wayesekhulile, kodwa elokhu engakamphiwa ukuthi abe ngumkakhe.+

15 UJuda wathi embona wahle wacabanga ukuthi liwule ngenxa yokuthi wayezivale ubuso. 16 Ngakho waphambukela kuye eceleni komgwaqo wathi: “Ngicela ukulala lawe.” Phela wayengakwazi ukuthi kwakungumalukazana wakhe.+ Kodwa yena wathi kuye: “Uzanginikani ukuze ulale lami?” 17 Yena wathi: “Ngizathatha izinyane lembuzi emhlambini wami ngikuthumele lona.” Kodwa owesifazana wathi: “Uzanginika yini isibambiso engizasala laso uze ulithumele?” 18 Yena wasesithi: “Ufuna ngikunikeni okuzakuba yisibambiso?” Wamphendula wathi: “Nginika indandatho yakho elophawu+ lentambo yayo kanye lentonga esesandleni sakho.” Yikho wamnika izinto lezo waselala laye njalo owesifazana lo wazithwala. 19 Ngemva kwalokho owesifazana wasuka wahamba wafika wakhipha ilembu ayezivale ngalo wagqoka izigqoko zakhe zokuzila.

20 UJuda wasethuma umngane wakhe um-Adulamu+ ukuthi ahambise izinyane lembuzi kowesifazana lowo, abesethatha isibambiso ayemtshiyele sona kodwa kazange amthole. 21 Wabuza amadoda ahlala endaweni leyo wathi: “Lingaphi iwule lethempelini elaliseceleni komgwaqo e-Enayimi?” Wona athi: “Akukaze kube lewule lethempelini endaweni le.” 22 Wasebuyela kuJuda wafika wathi: “Angimtholanga owesifazana njalo amadoda endawo leyo athe akukaze kube lewule lethempelini endaweni leyo.” 23 Ngakho uJuda wathi: “Kazigcinele izinto lezo ukuze singabi yinhlekisa. Phela ngimthumele izinyane lembuzi leli kodwa awumtholanga.”

24 Kodwa ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu uJuda wemukela umbiko othi: “Umalukazana wakho uThamari ubesewula futhi usezithwele ngenxa yokuwula kwakhe.” UJuda wasesithi: “Mkhipheleni phandle atshiswe.”+ 25 Bathi sebemkhiphela phandle wasethumela ilizwi kuyisezala wathi: “Ngoniwe ngumnikazi wezinto lezi.” Waphinda wathi: “Ngicela uhlole ukuthi izinto lezi ngezikabani, indandatho elophawu lentambo yayo kanye lentonga.”+ 26 UJuda wazihlola izinto lezi wasesithi: “Owesifazana lo ulungile ukwedlula mina ngoba angizange ngimnike uShela indodana yami.”+ Ngemva kwalokho uJuda kazange aphinde alale laye.

27 Kwathi isikhathi sakhe sokubeletha sesifikile kwatholakala ukuthi ulamaphahla esiswini sakhe. 28 Wathi esebeletha, elinye lakhuphela isandla salo phandle, umbelethisi wasethatha intambo ebomvu wayibophela esandleni salo wathi: “Lo nguye ophume kuqala.” 29 Kodwa lathi libuyisela isandla salo phakathi elinye lahle laphuma, umbelethisi wamangala wathi: “Hawu kanti ufohle njani!” Ngakho waphiwa ibizo kwathiwa nguPherezi.*+ 30 Ngemva kwalokho kwaphuma umfowabo owayebotshwe ngentambo ebomvu esandleni njalo waphiwa ibizo kwathiwa nguZera.+

39 UJosefa wasethathwa wahanjiswa eGibhithe.+ UmGibhithe okuthiwa nguPhothifa+ owayeyisiphathamandla sikaFaro futhi eyinduna yabalindi wamthenga kuma-Ishmayeli+ ayebuye laye. 2 Kodwa uJehova wayelaye uJosefa.+ Lokhu kwenza ukuthi aphumelele njalo wanikwa isikhundla sokukhangela indlu yenkosi yakhe engumGibhithe. 3 Inkosi yakhe yabona ukuthi uJehova wayelaye lokuthi uJehova wayesenza ukuthi konke ayekwenza kuphumelele.

4 UJosefa waqhubeka ethola umusa enkosini yakhe njalo waba yisisebenzi sayo esithenjiweyo. Ngakho yamkhetha ukuthi akhangele abendlu yayo kanye lokuthi aphathe konke okungokwayo. 5 Yathi isimbeke ukuthi akhangele abendlu yayo lokuthi abe ngumphathi wakho konke eyayilakho, uJehova waseqhubeka ebusisa abendlu yomGibhithe ngenxa kaJosefa futhi uJehova wabusisa konke ayelakho endlini yakhe lasemasimini.+ 6 Ekucineni uPhothifa wabeka konke ayelakho ezandleni zikaJosefa njalo wayengasazihluphi ngalutho ngaphandle kokudla ayekudla. Kanti njalo uJosefa wakhula waba lijaha elihle futhi elilomzimba omuhle.

7 Ngemva kwalokho inkosikazi yenkosi yakhe yaqalisa ukumhawukela uJosefa, yathi kuye: “Lala lami.” 8 Kodwa yena wala wathi kuyo: “Inkosi yami ayizihluphi ngakho konke okusendlini yayo ngoba ngilapha njalo konke okungokwayo ikubeke ezandleni zami. 9 Kakho omkhulu kulami endlini le futhi inkosi yami ayingincitshanga lutho ngaphandle kwakho ngoba wena uyinkosikazi yayo. Manje ngingayenzelani into embi kangaka, ngonele uNkulunkulu?”+

10 Nsuku zonke owesifazana lo wayemncenga uJosefa, kodwa yena kazange avume ukulala laye kumbe ukuthi bake babe bodwa. 11 Ngelinye ilanga uJosefa wangena endlini esiyakwenza imisebenzi yakhe njalo ezinye izisebenzi zazingekho endlini. 12 Owesifazana lo wasembamba ngesembatho sakhe wathi: “Lala lami!” Kodwa uJosefa waphunyuka wabaleka waya phandle, isembatho sakhe sasala esandleni sowesifazana. 13 UmkaPhothifa uthe ebona ukuthi isembatho sikaJosefa sesisele esandleni sakhe lokuthi wayesebaleke waphuma phandle, 14 wasememeza izisebenzi zendlu yakhe wathi kuzo: “Khangelani, umHebheru lo owalethwa ngumkami lapha usefuna ukusenza inhlekisa. Ubuye lapha efuna ukulala lami mina ngahle ngahlaba umkhosi. 15 Uthe engizwa ngihlaba umkhosi ngimemeza wasetshiya isembatho sakhe eceleni kwami wabaleka waphuma phandle.” 16 Ngemva kwalokho umkaPhothifa wabeka isembatho leso eceleni kwakhe, walinda inkosi yakhe yaze yafika endlini.

17 Waseyitshela into efananayo wathi: “Isisebenzi esingumHebheru owasiletha lapha sibuye kimi sifuna ukungenza inhlekisa. 18 Kodwa sithe singizwa ngihlaba umkhosi, ngimemeza satshiya isembatho saso eceleni kwami sabaleka saphuma phandle.” 19 Inkosi yakhe ithe isizwa lokho okwakukhulunywa ngumkayo esithi: “Lokho yikho engikwenziwe yisisebenzi sakho,” yavutha ngolaka. 20 Ngakho inkosi kaJosefa yamthatha yamphosela ejele lapho okwakugcinwa khona izibotshwa zenkosi njalo waqhubeka ekhonapho ejele.+

21 Kodwa uJehova kazange amtshiye uJosefa njalo waqhubeka emtshengisa uthando oluqotho, wenza lokuthi umphathijele abe lomusa kuye.+ 22 Umphathijele wakhetha uJosefa ukuthi akhangele zonke izibotshwa ejele njalo kwasekunguye owayekhangela konke okwakumele kwenziwe yizibotshwa khonapho.+ 23 Umphathijele wayengazihluphi ngokukhangela loba yini eyayisezandleni zikaJosefa ngoba uJehova wayelaye uJosefa njalo uJehova wayesenza ukuthi konke ayekwenza kuphumelele.+

40 Ngemva kwezinto lezi, umphathi wabaphathinkezo+ benkosi yaseGibhithe lomphathi wabaphekizinkwa bonela inkosi yabo, inkosi yaseGibhithe. 2 UFaro wazizondela iziphathamandla zakhe ezimbili, umphathi wabaphathinkezo lomphathi wabaphekizinkwa,+ 3 wasezifaka ejele, endlini yenduna yabalindi,+ lapho uJosefa ayevalelwe khona.+ 4 Induna yabalindi yathi uJosefa abe lazo iziphathamandla lezi, azinakekele+ futhi zahlala ejele okwezinsuku ezinengi.*

5 Ngobunye ubusuku umphathinkezo wenkosi yaseGibhithe lomphekizinkwa wayo ababevalelwe ejele, baphupha amaphupho njalo iphupho ngalinye lalilengcazelo yalo. 6 UJosefa wathi efika kubo ngelanga elilandelayo ekuseni, wababona bedanile. 7 Yikho wabuza iziphathamandla zikaFaro ezazivalelwe laye ejele wathi: “Lidaneleni kangaka lamuhla?” 8 Zona zamphendula zathi: “Sobabili siphuphe amaphupho kodwa akulamuntu ongasichasisela wona.” UJosefa wasesithi kuzo: “Ukuchasisa amaphupho kayisikho kukaNkulunkulu yini?+ Ngicela lingilandisele wona.”

9 Ngakho umphathi wabaphathinkezo walandisela uJosefa iphupho lakhe wathi: “Ephutsheni lami ngibone isihlahla samagilebisi siphambi kwami. 10 Esihlahleni leso bekulengatsha ezintathu futhi zithe ziqala ukuhluma zaba lamaluba,* zathela izixha zamagilebisi njalo ahle avuthwa. 11 Inkomitsho kaFaro ibisesandleni sami, ngasengisikha amagilebisi ngawakhamela enkomitshini kaFaro. Ngemva kwalokho ngaqhubela uFaro inkomitsho yakhe.” 12 UJosefa wasesithi kuye: “Nansi ingcazelo yephupho lakho: Ingatsha ezintathu zimela amalanga amathathu. 13 Ngelanga lesithathu kusukela lamuhla, uFaro uzakukhulula* akubuyisele esikhundleni sakho+ njalo uzaqhubela uFaro inkomitsho yakhe njengalokhu owawukwenza usesengumphathinkezo wakhe.+ 14 Kodwa ungikhumbule nxa izinto sezikuhambela kuhle. Ngicela ungitshengise uthando oluqotho futhi utshele uFaro ngami, mhlawumbe ungangikhipha endaweni le. 15 Phela ngathunjwa elizweni lamaHebheru+ futhi akulacala engilenzileyo lapha elenze bangifaka ejele.”*+

16 Umphathi wabaphekizinkwa wathi ebona ukuthi uJosefa ukhulume ingcazelo enhle wathi kuye: “Lami ngiphuphile, ngiphuphe ekhanda lami kulamabhasikiti amathathu alezinkwa ezimhlophe. 17 Ebhasikitini ephezulu bekulemihlobo yonke yezinto ezinhle ezibhekhelwe uFaro futhi bekulenyoni ebezisidla okusebhasikitini leyo ebiphezu kwekhanda lami.” 18 UJosefa wasephendula wathi: “Nansi ingcazelo yephupho lakho: Amabhasikiti amathathu amela amalanga amathathu. 19 Kungakadluli izinsuku ezintathu kusukela lamuhla, uFaro uzakuquma ikhanda* abesekulengisa esigodweni njalo inyoni zizakudla inyama yakho.”+

20 Ngelanga lesithathu kwakulilanga uFaro azalwa ngalo+ futhi wenzela zonke izisebenzi zakhe idili. Wasesithi umphathi wabaphathinkezo kanye lomphathi wabaphekizinkwa balethwe kuye, phambi kwezisebenzi zakhe. 21 Wasebuyisela umphathi wabaphathinkezo esikhundleni sakhe sokuba ngumphathinkezo njalo umphathinkezo waqhubeka enika uFaro inkomitsho yakhe. 22 Kodwa walengisa umphathi wabaphekizinkwa njengoba nje uJosefa wayebachasisele.+ 23 Lanxa kunjalo umphathi wabaphathinkenzo kazange amkhumbule uJosefa, wakhohlwa ngaye.+

41 Ngemva kweminyaka emibili egcweleyo, uFaro waphupha+ emi ngasemfuleni uNayili, 2 njalo wabona emfuleni lo kuphuma amankomokazi ayisikhombisa ayemahle, enonile futhi esidla utshani obuseceleni komfula uNayili.+ 3 Ngemva kwawo kwalandela amanye amankomokazi ayisikhombisa ephuma kuNayili futhi ayekhanya emabi, ecakile. Afika ama eceleni kwamankomokazi anonileyo ngasekhunjini lomfula uNayili. 4 Amankomokazi la acakileyo futhi amabi aqalisa ukudla amankomokazi ayisikhombisa ayemahle enonile, uFaro wahle waphaphama.

5 Waphinda wajumeka wasephupha okwesibili. Waphupha izikhwebu zamabele eziyisikhombisa ziphuma ehlangeni linye futhi zigcwele zizinhle.+ 6 Ngemva kwazo kwakhula izikhwebu zamabele eziyisikhombisa ezazicakile futhi zihangulwe ngumoya otshisayo wasempumalanga. 7 Izikhwebu zamabele ezazicakile zaqalisa ukuginya eziyisikhombisa ezazigcwele futhi zizinhle. UFaro wasephaphama, wananzelela ukuthi ubephupha.

8 Ekuseni uFaro waqala* ukukhathazeka, wathi kubizwe bonke abaphristi baseGibhithe abenza amasalamusi kanye lawo wonke amadoda ahlakaniphileyo. UFaro wasebalandisela amaphupho akhe kodwa bonke behluleka ukumchasisela wona.

9 Umphathi wabaphathinkenzo wasesithi kuFaro: “Lamuhla ngiyazivuma izono zami. 10 UFaro wake wazondela izinceku zakhe, mina kanye lomphathi wabaphekizinkwa,+ wasesivalela ejele, endlini yenduna yabalindi. 11 Ngobunye ubusuku sobabili saphupha amaphupho njalo iphupho ngalinye lalilengcazelo yalo.+ 12 Lapho esasikhona kwakulejaha elingumHebheru elaliyisisebenzi senduna yabalindi.+ Sathi silitshela amaphupho ethu,+ lasichasisela ukuthi iphupho ngalinye litshoni. 13 Elalisichasisele khona kwenzakala njengokutsho kwalo. Mina ngabuyiselwa esikhundleni sami, indoda engangilayo yalengiswa.”+

14 Ngakho uFaro wathi uJosefa abizwe,+ basebemkhipha masinyane ejele.*+ Waphuca ikhanda, wagela lendevu wasetshintsha izigqoko waya kuFaro. 15 UFaro wasesithi kuJosefa: “Ngibe lephupho kodwa akulamuntu ongangichasisela lona. Ngizwe kuthiwa wena ungezwa iphupho uyenelisa ukulichasisa.”+ 16 UJosefa waphendula uFaro wathi: “Kambe ngiyini mina? UNkulunkulu nguye ozakhuluma lokho okulungele inhlalakahle kaFaro.”+

17 UFaro wathi kuJosefa: “Ngiphuphe ngimi ekhunjini lomfula uNayili. 18 Ngibone kuphuma amankomokazi ayisikhombisa emfuleni lo njalo abemahle enonile, aseqalisa ukudla utshani obuseceleni komfula uNayili.+ 19 Ngemva kwawo kulandele amanye amankomokazi ayisikhombisa azingcuba, abemabi kakhulu futhi ecakile. Angikaze ngibone amankomokazi amabi njengawo kulo lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe. 20 Amankomokazi la abecake ephelile futhi emabi, aqalise ukudla ayisikhombisa awokuqala anonileyo. 21 Kodwa athe esewadlile akulamuntu obengatsho ukuthi awadlile ngoba abelokhu ekhanya ecakile njengakuqala. Ngemva kwalokho ngihle ngaphaphama.

22 “Ngasengiphupha izikhwebu zamabele eziyisikhombisa ebezikhula ehlangeni linye njalo bezigcwele zizinhle.+ 23 Ngemva kwazo kukhule ezinye izikhwebu zamabele eziyisikhombisa ebeziswabile, zicakile futhi zihangulwe ngumoya otshisayo wasempumalanga. 24 Izikhwebu lezi ezicakileyo ziqalise ukuginya eziyisikhombisa ebezizinhle. Ngakho ngilandisele abaphristi abenza amasalamusi+ kodwa kakho owenelise ukungichasisela.”+

25 UJosefa wasesithi kuFaro: “Amaphupho akho atsho into efananayo. UNkulunkulu weqiniso usemtshelile uFaro lokho azakwenza.+ 26 Amankomokazi amahle ayisikhombisa amela iminyaka eyisikhombisa. Lezikhwebu zamabele ezinhle eziyisikhombisa zimela iminyaka eyisikhombisa. Amaphupho la atsho into efananayo. 27 Amankomokazi ayisikhombisa abemabi, ecake ephelile futhi alandele ngemva kwanonileyo, amela iminyaka eyisikhombisa. Lezikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ebezingelalutho njalo zihangulwe ngumoya otshisayo wasempumalanga zitsho ukuthi kuzakuba leminyaka yendlala eyisikhombisa. 28 Njengoba nje ngitshilo kuFaro: UNkulunkulu weqiniso usetshengise uFaro lokho azakwenza.

29 “Kuzakuba leminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala enkulu kulo lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe. 30 Kodwa ngemva kweminyaka le kuzalandela iminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala. Abantu bazakhohlwa lokuthi bekuke kwaba lenala elizweni laseGibhithe. Kanti njalo indlala le izatshaya ibhuqe ilizwe.+ 31 Inala ezabe ikhona elizweni ayisoze ikhunjulwe sibili ngenxa yendlala ezalandela ngoba izabe inkulu kakhulu. 32 UFaro unikwe amaphupho amabili ngoba uNkulunkulu weqiniso useyimise yaqina indaba le njalo uNkulunkulu weqiniso uzakwenza masinyane lokho akuvezileyo.

33 “Yikho-ke uFaro kadinge indoda eqedisisayo njalo ehlakaniphileyo abeseyibeka ukuthi ikhangele ilizwe laseGibhithe. 34 UFaro kangapholisi amaseko, kakhethe iziphathamandla elizweni futhi aqoqe ingxenye eyodwa kwezinhlanu kuso sonke isivuno esizaphuma eGibhithe ngeminyaka eyisikhombisa ezabe ilenala.+ 35 Kaziqoqe konke ukudla okuzakuba khona eminyakeni le ezabe ilenala. Ukudla lokhu akubuthelelwe eziphaleni zikaFaro, kubekwe emadolobheni njalo kugcinwe kuwo.+ 36 Nxa iminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala isifikile elizweni laseGibhithe, ukudla lokho yikho okuzadliwa ukuze ilizwe lingatshabalaliswa yindlala.”+

37 Icebo leli lakhanya lilihle sibili kuFaro lakuzo zonke izisebenzi zakhe. 38 UFaro wasekhuluma lezisebenzi zakhe wathi: “Kambe singayithola ngaphi enye indoda enjengale, elomoya kaNkulunkulu?” 39 UFaro wathi kuJosefa: “Njengoba uNkulunkulu ekwazise zonke izinto lezi, kakho omunye oqedisisayo lohlakaniphe njengawe. 40 Indlu yami isizakuba sezandleni zakho njalo bonke abantu bami bazalalela konke okutshoyo.+ Mina yimi ngedwa engizakuba phezu kwakho ngenxa yesikhundla sami sokuba yinkosi.” 41 UFaro waphinda wathi kuJosefa: “Zwana, sengibeka lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe ezandleni zakho.”+ 42 UFaro wasekhipha indandatho yakhe elophawu eyayisemunweni wakhe wayigqokisa uJosefa, wamgqokisa lezigqoko zelineni ezinhle futhi wamgaxa leketane yegolide entanyeni. 43 Kanti njalo wathi kagadiswe inqola yakhe yesibili yesikhosini. Abantu babememeza phambi kwakhe besithi, “Guqani phambi kwakhe!”* Ngakho uFaro wabeka lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe ezandleni zakhe.

44 UFaro waphinda wathi kuJosefa: “NginguFaro, lanxa kunjalo kulo lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe akulamuntu ozakwenza loba yini* engazange athole imvumo kuwe.”+ 45 Ngemva kwalokho uFaro wanika uJosefa ibizo wathi nguZafenathi-phaneya njalo wamnika u-Asenathi+ indodakazi kaPhothifera umphristi wase-Oni* ukuthi ibe ngumkakhe. UJosefa waqalisa ukukhangela konke okwakusenzakala elizweni* laseGibhithe.+ 46 UJosefa wayeleminyaka engu-30+ ngesikhathi esima phambi kukaFaro* inkosi yaseGibhithe.

Ngemva kwalokho uJosefa wasuka phambi kukaFaro walibhoda lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe. 47 Eminyakeni eyisikhombisa eyayilenala ilizwe laqhubeka lithela kakhulu. 48 Waqhubeka eqoqa konke ukudla okwakukhona elizweni laseGibhithe ngeminyaka le eyisikhombisa njalo wayekubuthelela emadolobheni. Edolobheni ngalinye wayegcina ukudla okwakuphuma emasimini ayeseduze kwalo. 49 UJosefa waqhubeka ebuthelela amabele ngobunengi bawo, aze aba manengi njengetshebetshebe yolwandle. Bacina bengasabali* lokuthi anganani ngoba isilinganiso sawo sasesisikhulu kakhulu.

50 Kwathi iminyaka yendlala ingakafiki, u-Asenathi indodakazi kaPhothifera umphristi wase-Oni* wazalela uJosefa abantwana ababili abangabafana.+ 51 UJosefa wanika izibulo lakhe ibizo wathi nguManase*+ ngoba wayesithi, “UNkulunkulu usengenze ngakhohlwa zonke inhlupho zami kanye labo bonke abendlu kababa.” 52 Owesibili wamnika ibizo wathi ngu-Efrayimi*+ ngoba wathi, “UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba labantwana* elizweni lokuhlupheka kwami.”+

53 Yaphela-ke iminyaka eyisikhombisa eyayilenala elizweni laseGibhithe,+ 54 kwasekuqala iminyaka yendlala eyisikhombisa njengokutsho kukaJosefa.+ Indlala le yaba khona emazweni wonke kodwa kulo lonke elaseGibhithe kwakulokudla.*+ 55 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi indlala yahlasela lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe, abantu basebekhala kuFaro befuna ukudla.+ Ngakho uFaro watshela bonke abaseGibhithe wathi: “Hambani kuJosefa lenze konke azalitshela khona.”+ 56 Indlala yayilokhu ibhahile emhlabeni wonke.+ UJosefa waseqalisa ukuvula zonke iziphala ezazisemadolobheni wathengisela abaseGibhithe ukudla+ ngoba indlala yayisinzima elizweni laseGibhithe. 57 Kanti njalo abantu abavela emhlabeni wonke babebuya eGibhithe bezothenga ukudla kuJosefa ngoba indlala yayitshingile emhlabeni wonke.+

42 UJakhobe wezwa ukuthi kulamabele eGibhithe+ wathi emadodaneni akhe: “Kungani lilokhu likhangelene nje?” 2 Wasesithi: “Ngizwe kuthiwa kulamabele eGibhithe. Hambani khonale liyesithengela wona ukuze siqhubeke siphila, singafi.”+ 3 Yikho abafowabo bakaJosefa abalitshumi+ basuka baya eGibhithe besiyathenga amabele. 4 Kodwa uJakhobe wathi uBhenjamini+ umnawakhe kaJosefa angahambi labafowabo ngoba wayesithi: “Mhlawumbe angehlelwa yingozi abesesifa.”+

5 Ngakho amadodana ka-Israyeli abambisana indlela labanye ababesiyathenga ukudla ngoba indlala yayisifikile laselizweni leKhenani.+ 6 UJosefa nguye owayebusa elizweni laseGibhithe+ njalo bonke abantu emhlabeni babethenga amabele kuye.+ Yikho abafowabo bakaJosefa bafika bamkhothamela bekhangelise amakhanda phansi.+ 7 UJosefa wathi ebona abafowabo wahle wabazi, kodwa kazange abatshele ukuthi ungubani.+ Wasebatshingela wathi: “Livela ngaphi?” Bona bathi: “Sivela elizweni laseKhenani, sizothenga ukudla.”+

8 Ngakho uJosefa wabazi abafowabo kodwa bona abazange bakwazi ukuthi nguye. 9 UJosefa wahle wakhumbula konke ayeke wakuphupha mayelana labafowabo,+ wasesithi kubo: “Lizinhloli lina! Lilande ukuzobona izindawo zelizwe ezingavikelekanga.” 10 Bona bathi kuye: “Hatshi nkosi yami, izinceku zakho zilande ukuzothenga ukudla. 11 Singamadodana omuntu munye njalo singamadoda athembekileyo. Kayisikho ukuthi izinceku zakho zinhloli.” 12 Kodwa wathi kubo: “Hatshi! Lilande ukuzobona izindawo zelizwe ezingavikelekanga.” 13 Bona bathi: “Izinceku zakho yizelamani ezingu-12.+ Singamadodana omuntu munye+ ohlala elizweni laseKhenani. Icinathunjana lisele lobaba+ kodwa omunye umfowethu kasekho.”+

14 UJosefa wasesithi kubo: “Engikukhulumileyo yikho, ‘Lizinhloli lina!’ 15 Nanku elizahlolwa ngakho: Ngifunga ngokuphila kukaFaro, nxa isicino sangakini singabuyanga lapha kalisoze lisuke endaweni le.+ 16 Thumani omunye wenu ayebuya lomfowenu, abanye basale lapha bebotshiwe. Lokhu yikho engizabona ngakho ukuthi elikutshoyo kuliqiniso yini. Nxa kungenjalo, ngifunga ngokuphila kukaFaro ngithi lizinhloli.” 17 Wasebavalela okwamalanga amathathu.

18 Ngelanga lesithathu uJosefa wathi kubo: “Yenzani engikutshoyo liqhubeke liphila ngoba ngiyamesaba uNkulunkulu. 19 Nxa lithembekile, omunye wenu kasale ebotshiwe esitokisini, lina abanye beselizihambela liyethatha amabele liyekupha imuli zenu ukuze zingabulawa yindlala.+ 20 Kuzamele libuye lomnawenu kimi, kukhanye ukuthi amazwi enu aliqiniso ukuze lingafi.” Ngakho bavuma ukuthi bazakwenza njalo.

21 Basebekhuluma bebodwa bathi: “Lapha sesijeziselwa esakwenza kumfowethu,+ ngoba salubona usizi ayekulo ngesikhathi esincenga ukuthi simzwele kodwa asizange silalele. Yikho lathi sesiphakathi kosizi lolu.” 22 URubheni wasebaphendula wathi: “Angitshongo yini ukuthi lingamlimazi umntwana,* lina lenza inkani?+ Khathesi igazi lakhe selibuzwa kithi.”+ 23 Kodwa babengakwazi ukuthi uJosefa uyabezwa nxa bekhuluma laye ngoba babetolikelwa. 24 UJosefa wasesuka kubo waqalisa ukukhala.+ Uthe ephenduka wakhuluma labo futhi, wasethatha uSimiyoni+ wambopha phambi kwabo.+ 25 Ngemva kwalokho uJosefa wathi amasaka abo agcwaliswe amabele, wathi lemali yabo bonke ibuyiselwe emasakeni abo, waphinda wathi nxa sebehamba baphiwe umphako. Basebekwenzelwa lokho ayekutshilo.

26 Ngakho bafaka amabele abo phezu kwabobabhemi babo bangena indlela. 27 Bathi sebesendlini yezihambi omunye wabo wavula isaka lakhe ukuthi anike ubabhemi wakhe ukudla, wasebona imali yakhe isesakeni* lakhe. 28 Wathi kubafowabo: “Imali yami ibuyiselwe, nansi lapha esakeni lami.” Baphelelwa, baqhuqha, basebekhangelana bathi: “Kuyini lokhu uNkulunkulu asenze khona?”

29 Bathi befika kuyise uJakhobe elizweni laseKhenani bamlandisela konke okwakwenzakele kubo bathi: 30 “Indoda engumbusi elizweni lelo isitshingele+ yathi silande ukuzohlola ilizwe. 31 Kodwa siyitshele sathi: ‘Singamadoda athembekileyo, ayisikho ukuthi sizinhloli.+ 32 Siyizelamani ezingu-12+ njalo singamadodana omuntu munye. Omunye umfowethu kasekho+ kodwa isicino sisele lobaba elizweni laseKhenani.’+ 33 Lanxa kunjalo, indoda engumbusi elizweni lelo ithe kithi, ‘Nanku okumele likwenze ukuze ngibone ukuthi lithembekile: Tshiyani omunye wenu lapha kimi+ beselithatha amabele lihambe ukuze liyekupha imuli zenu, zingabulawa yindlala.+ 34 Libuye lesicino sangakini kimi ukuze ngikwazi ukuthi lithembekile lokuthi alilandanga ukuzohlola ilizwe. Lingenza njalo ngizabuyisela umfowenu kini, beselikhululeka ukuthenga elikufunayo elizweni.’”

35 Bathe sebethulula amasaka abo munye ngamunye wabona nansi isikhwama* sakhe semali sikhona. Bona loyise bathi bebona izikhwama lezo batshaywa luvalo. 36 Uyise uJakhobe wathi kubo: “Selingithathele abantwabami.+ UJosefa kasekho+ loSimiyoni kasekho,+ khathesi selifuna ukungithathela loBhenjamini. Kambe sengingaze ngehlelwe zinhlupho ezingaka bakithi.” 37 URubheni wasesithi kuyise: “Nxa ngingehluleka ukumphendukisa kuwe ubulale amadodana ami amabili.+ Mtshiye ezandleni zami, ngizambuyisela kuwe.”+ 38 Kodwa uJakhobe wathi: “Alisoze lihambe lendodana yami ngoba umfowabo sewafa kwasala yona yodwa.+ Nxa ingehlelwa yingozi endleleni ife, lizakwenza ukuthi ngiye engcwabeni+ ngisosizini.”*+

43 Indlala yayibhahile elizweni.+ 2 Ngakho bathi sebewaqedile amabele ababewathole eGibhithe,+ uyise wathi kubo: “Buyelani liyesithengela okunye ukudla.” 3 UJuda wasesithi kuye: “Indoda yaseGibhithe yasixwayisa kwacaca yathi: ‘Nxa lingabuyanga laye umnawenu angifuni kulibona lapha futhi.’+ 4 Nxa ungasivumela ukuthi sihambe laye umfowethu, sizahamba siyekuthengela ukudla. 5 Kodwa nxa usala ukuthi sihambe laye asisoze sihambe ngoba indoda leyana yasitshela yathi, ‘Nxa lingabuyanga laye umnawenu angifuni kulibona lapha futhi.’”+ 6 U-Israyeli+ wabuza wathi: “Kungani lingilethele uhlupho lolu? Kanti vele laliyitshelelani indoda leyo ukuthi lilomunye umfowenu?” 7 Baphendula bathi: “Indoda leyo yabuzisisa mayelana lathi lezihlobo zethu yathi, ‘Uyihlo usaphila yini? Lilaye yini omunye umfowenu?’ Sasesiyitshela iqiniso.+ Sasizakwazi njani ukuthi izakuthi, ‘Buyani lomfowenu’?”+

8 UJuda wasencenga uyise u-Israyeli wathi: “Wothi ngihambe laye umfana,+ sihle singene indlela ukuze thina lawe kanye labantwabethu+ singafi kodwa siqhubeke siphila.+ 9 Ngizakuba leqiniso lokuthi umfana uvikelekile.*+ Nxa kungenzakala loba yini kuye, yimi engizabe ngilecala. Ngizakuba lecala kuwe okwempilo yami yonke nxa ngingehluleka ukuphenduka laye, ngimbeke phambi kwakho. 10 Aluba kasichithanga isikhathi ngabe sesihambe saze saphenduka kabili.”

11 Ngakho uyise u-Israyeli wathi kubo: “Nxa kunjalo-ke yenzani lokhu: Thathani izinto ezinhle kakhulu eziselizweni lizithwale ngamasaka enu, liphathele indoda leyo isipho:+ lithathe ibhalisamu+ elilingeneyo, loluju oluncane, lenhlaka* enukelelayo, lamaxolo alenhlaka,+ lamazambane okuthiwa ngamaphistakhiyo kanye lama-alimondi. 12 Thathani imali ephindwe kabili njalo libuyele lemali eyabuya isemasakeni enu.+ Mhlawumbe kwaphambaniseka. 13 Mthatheni umfowenu lihambe, libuyele endodeni leyo. 14 Kwangathi uNkulunkulu uSomandla angenza ukuthi indoda leyo ilizwele ukuze ikhulule umfowenu kanye loBhenjamini. Kodwa nxa kuyikuthi kuzamele ngilahlekelwe ngabantwabami,+ yikho lokho.”

15 Ngakho amadodana kaJakhobe athatha isipho, lemali ephindwe kabili, athatha loBhenjamini. Asesuka aya eGibhithe afika ama phambi kukaJosefa okwesibili.+ 16 UJosefa wathi ebona uBhenjamini elabo wahle watshela indoda eyayikhangela indlu yakhe wathi: “Hambisa amadoda la endlini ubusuhlaba izifuyo ulungise ukudla ngoba kumele ngidle lawo emini.” 17 Indoda leyo yahle yakwenza lokhu okwakukhulunywe nguJosefa,+ yawahambisa endlini kaJosefa. 18 Kodwa amadoda la athi ehanjiswa endlini kaJosefa aqala ukwesaba, athi: “Silethwe lapha ngenxa yemali eyabuyiselwa emasakeni ethu size sibuye kuqala. Khathesi bazasihlasela basenze izigqili, basithathele labobabhemi bethu.”+

19 Ngakho balanda indoda eyayikhangela indlu kaJosefa basebekhuluma layo emnyango wendlu. 20 Bathi: “Uxolo nkosi yami! Sake sabuya lapha kuqala sizothenga ukudla.+ 21 Kodwa sathi sifika endlini yezihambi sivula amasaka ethu sabona imali zethu zikhona njalo isaka ngalinye lalilayo yonke imali esasibuye layo.+ Yikho-ke, sifuna ukuyibuyisela imali le. 22 Asikwazi ukuthi ngubani owayibuyisela emasakeni ethu+ njalo siphinde sabuya lenye imali yokuthenga ukudla.” 23 Yasisithi: “Kulungile. Lingesabi. Imali yenu yayiqale yafika kimi. UNkulunkulu wenu, loNkulunkulu kayihlo nguye owayefake amagugu emasakeni enu.” Ngemva kwalokho yakhulula uSimiyoni yamletha kubo.+

24 Indoda le yasibangenisa endlini kaJosefa yabanika amanzi okugeza inyawo, yanika labobabhemi babo ukudla. 25 Balungisa isipho+ sikaJosefa ngoba babezwile ukuthi uyabuya azokudla labo emini.+ 26 UJosefa wathi esengenile endlini basebethatha isipho basingenisa bamnika basebeguqa phansi bekhothamise amakhanda.+ 27 Ngemva kwalokho wababuza impilo wathi: “Unjani uyihlo, ixhegu elangitshela ngalo? Usaphila yini?”+ 28 Basebesithi: “Inceku yakho ubaba iphilile njalo iqinile.” Ngemva kwalokho baguqa bakhothamisa amakhanda.+

29 Wathi evusa amehlo wabona uBhenjamini, umntakanina+ wasesithi: “Lo nguye yini umfowenu oyisicino elangitshela ngaye?”+ Wathi kuBhenjamini: “UNkulunkulu kabe lomusa kuwe ndodana yami.” 30 UJosefa wathi esekhulume lomnawakhe wahle wathi lothu waphuma ngoba wayengasenelisi ukuzibamba. Ngakho wadinga indawo yokuyakhala, wasengena kwenye indlu eyayingelamuntu, zehla ezimathonsi.+ 31 Wathi esethule, wageza ubuso wasebuyela wafika wathi: “Phakululani ukudla.” 32 Yena bamnika yedwa ukudla, bona banikwa bodwa, kwasekusithi amaGibhithe ayelawo adla wodwa, ngoba amaGibhithe ayengeke adle ndawonye lamaHebheru ngenxa yokuthi lokhu kuyenyanyeka kumaGibhithe.+

33 Bonke babehlezi phambi kwakhe, olizibulo ehlezi ekuqaliseni ngenxa yelungelo lakhe lokuba lizibulo,+ ekucineni kuhlezi isicino ngenxa yokuba licinathunjana, njalo babelokhu bethaphana ngamehlo bemangele. 34 Yena wayelokhu ebathumela ukudla okwakusetafuleni yakhe kodwa uBhenjamini wayemnika okuphindwe kahlanu ukwedlula okwabanye bonke.+ Ngakho baqhubeka besidla laye njalo benatha baze basutha nti.

44 Ngemva kwesikhathi uJosefa watshela indoda eyayikhangela indlu yakhe wathi: “Gcwalisa ugqibe amasaka amadoda la ngokudla okunengi angakuthwala njalo ufake imali yalowo lalowo esakeni lakhe.+ 2 Kodwa kumele ufake inkomitsho yami yesiliva esakeni lomfowabo omncane kanye lemali yakhe yamabele.” Ngakho indoda leyo yenza khona kanye uJosefa ayekutshilo.

3 Ekuseni sekukhanya, bawavalelisa amadoda la asesuka ahamba labobabhemi bawo. 4 Athi engakayi khatshana ledolobho, uJosefa watshela indoda eyayikhangela indlu yakhe wathi: “Wahlale izithende amadoda abelapha. Nxa ungawafica uthi kuwo, ‘Kungani libuyisele okuhle ngokubi? 5 Liyithatheleni inkomitsho yenkosi yami enatha ngayo njalo eyisebenzisa ukuhlahlula? Into eliyenzileyo imbi kakhulu.’”

6 Ngakho yabalandela yabafica yasibatshela amazwi lawo. 7 Kodwa bona bathi kuyo: “Kungani inkosi yami isitsho njalo? Izinceku zakho ngeke zenze into enjalo. 8 Imali esayithola emasakeni ethu sayiphendukisa kini sivela elizweni leKhenani.+ Kambe besesingaze sitshontshe isiliva legolide endlini yenkosi yakho? 9 Loba ngubani ozatholakala elayo phakathi kwezigqili zakho kabulawe, besekusithi thina abanye sibe yizigqili zakho nkosi yami.” 10 Yona yabaphendula yathi: “Khonokho elikutshoyo yikho esizakwenza. Ozatholakala elayo uzakuba yisigqili sami kodwa lina abanye lizabe lingelacala.” 11 Yikho ngamunye wabo wahle wehlisa isaka lakhe walivula. 12 Indoda leyo yasidingisisa iqalisa komdala yaze yafika komncane. Ekucineni inkomitsho yatholakala esakeni likaBhenjamini.+

13 Bathe bekubona lokhu badabula izigqoko zabo futhi ngamunye wabo waqukula isaka lakhe walibuyisela phezu kukababhemi wakhe babuyela edolobheni. 14 UJuda+ labafowabo bathi bengena endlini kaJosefa bamthola elokhu ekhona, bafika bazilahla phansi phambi kwakhe.+ 15 UJosefa wasesithi kubo: “Kuyini lokhu elikwenzileyo? Belingakwazi yini ukuthi indoda enjengami iyenelisa ukuhlahlula?”+ 16 UJuda wasephendula wathi: “Kambe singathini kuwe nkosi yami? Kuyini esingakutsho? Singenzani ukuze kukhanye ukuthi asilacala? UNkulunkulu weqiniso ulibonile icala lezigqili zakho.+ Thina kanye lalowo otholakale elenkomitsho sesiyizigqili zakho nkosi yami.” 17 Kodwa yena wathi: “Angingeke ngenze into enjalo! Lowo otholakale elenkomitsho yami nguye ozakuba yisigqili sami.+ Abanye lingazihambela kuyihlo ngokuthula.”

18 UJuda wasesondela kuye wathi: “Awu nkosi yami, ngiyakuncenga, ngicela uvumele isigqili sakho sikhulume lawe njalo ungasizondeli isigqili sakho ngoba wena ufana loFaro uqobo.+ 19 Nkosi yami, wena wabuza izigqili zakho wathi, ‘Lilaye yini ubaba kumbe omunye umfowenu?’ 20 Yikho sathi enkosini yami, ‘Ye silaye ubaba oseluphele njalo silomnawethu ubaba amzala eseluphele. Nguye olicinathunjana+ kodwa umnewabo sewafa.+ Yena nguye yedwa osesele kunina+ futhi ubaba uyamthanda.’ 21 Wena wasusithi ezigqilini zakho, ‘Buyani laye kimi ukuze ngimbone.’+ 22 Kodwa thina satshela inkosi yami sathi, ‘Umfana ngeke ahlukane loyise. Nxa engamtshiya, ubaba angafa sibili.’+ 23 Wena wasusithi ezigqilini zakho, ‘Nxa lingabuyanga laye umnawenu angifuni kulibona lapha futhi.’+

24 “Ngakho sahamba esigqilini sakho ubaba sambikela amazwi akho nkosi yami. 25 Ngemva kwesikhathi ubaba wathi, ‘Buyelani liyesithengela okunye ukudla.’+ 26 Kodwa thina sathi kuye, ‘Ngeke sihambe. Sizahamba kuphela nxa umfowethu ezahamba lathi ngoba ngeke senelise ukubona ubuso bendoda leyana nxa singelaye.’+ 27 Ngakho isigqili sakho ubaba sathi kithi, ‘Likwazi mhlophe ukuthi umkami wangizalela amadodana amabili kuphela.+ 28 Kodwa omunye wabo sewangitshiya njalo ngazitshela ngathi: “Kumele ukuthi wadlithizwa yinyamazana yeganga”+ njalo angikaze ngimbone kuze kube lamuhla. 29 Manje nxa lingangithathela layenalo oseleyo, abesesehlelwa yingozi afe, lizakwenza ukuthi ngiye engcwabeni+ ngisosizini.’*+

30 “Nxa ngingabuyela esigqilini sakho ubaba umfana singelaye phakathi kwethu, yena emthanda kangaka,* 31 abesebona ukuthi umfana kakho, uzahle afe. Izigqili zakho ziyabe zehlisele isigqili sakho ubaba engcwabeni ephakathi kosizi.* 32 Isigqili sakho sathembisa ubaba ukuthi sizamvikela umfana sathi, ‘Ngingayekela ukumphendukisa umfana, ngizakuba lecala kuwe okwempilo yami yonke.’+ 33 Ngakho ngicela kube yimi engisalayo, ngibe yisigqili sakho esikhundleni somfana ukuze umfana abuyele labafowabo. 34 Kambe ngingabuyela njani kubaba ngingelaye umfana? Ngeke ngikumele ukubona ubaba esehlelwa luhlupho lolu.”

45 UJosefa wehluleka ukuzibamba phambi kwazo zonke izisebenzi zakhe,+ wasememeza wathi: “Wonke umuntu kaphume phandle.” Ngakho akulamuntu owayekhona ngesikhathi uJosefa eziveza kubafowabo.+

2 UJosefa wakhala kakhulu amaGibhithe aze amuzwa futhi labendlu kaFaro bakuzwa lokho. 3 Wasesithi kubafowabo: “NginguJosefa. Ubaba usaphila yini?” Kodwa abafowabo behluleka ukumphendula ngoba basebephelelwe. 4 Ngakho uJosefa wathi kubo: “Ngicela lisondele kimi,” basebesondela kuye.

Wasesithi: “Yimi uJosefa umfowenu elamthengisela eGibhithe.+ 5 Kodwa lingasolani futhi lingadani ngenxa yokuthi langithengisa; ngoba uNkulunkulu wangithuma phambi kwenu ukuze kulondolozwe impilo.+ 6 Lo ngumnyaka wesibili wendlala+ njalo okweminyaka emihlanu ezayo akulamuntu ozalima kumbe avune. 7 UNkulunkulu wangithuma phambi kwenu ukuze alondoloze izizukulwane zenu*+ emhlabeni njalo alikhulule ngendlela emangalisayo ukuze liqhubeke liphila. 8 Ngakho kayisini elangithumela lapha kodwa nguNkulunkulu weqiniso. Lokhu wakwenzela ukuthi angenze ngibe ngumeluleki omkhulu kaFaro* lokuthi ngibe yinkosi kuyo yonke indlu yakhe, lombusi kulo lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe.+

9 “Buyelani kubaba masinyane lifike lithi kuye, ‘Nanku okutshiwo yindodana yakho uJosefa: “UNkulunkulu usengibeke ukuthi ngibe yinkosi kulo lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe.+ Buya kimi masinyane.+ 10 Uzahlala eGosheni+ ukuze ube seduze kwami, wena lamadodana akho labazukulu bakho kanye lezifuyo zakho lakho konke olakho. 11 Ngizakunika ukudla ukuleyondawo ngoba kusasele iminyaka emihlanu yendlala.+ Ungayekela ukwenza njalo wena lemuli yakho lizakuba ngabayanga njalo konke olakho kuzatshabalala.”’ 12 Lina kanye lomnawami uBhenjamini liyazibonela ngawenu ukuthi yimi sibili engikhuluma lani.+ 13 Kumele litshele ubaba ngodumo esengilalo eGibhithe kanye lakho konke elikubonileyo. Hambani liyebuya lobaba masinyane.”

14 UJosefa wasegona* umnawakhe uBhenjamini wakhala, uBhenjamini laye wamgona wakhala.+ 15 Waseqabuza bonke abafowabo, wabagona wakhala. Ngemva kwalokho abafowabo baxoxa laye.

16 Kwafika umbiko endlini kaFaro othi: “Abafowabo bakaJosefa babuyile.” UFaro lezinceku zakhe bathokoza bekuzwa lokhu. 17 Ngakho uFaro wathi kuJosefa: “Tshela abafowenu uthi: ‘Thwalisani izifuyo zenu imithwalo yenu libuyele elizweni laseKhenani, 18 liyethatha uyihlo kanye lezimuli zenu lize lazo lapha kimi. Ngizalinika izinto ezinhle eziselizweni laseGibhithe njalo lizakudla okuhle okuvela endaweni evundileyo yelizwe.*+ 19 Kanti njalo kumele uthi kubo:+ “Thathani izinqola+ elizweni laseGibhithe ukuze liyethwala ngazo abantwabenu lamakhosikazi enu, kuthi enye lithwale ngayo uyihlo, beselibuya lapha.+ 20 Lingakhathazeki ngempahla zenu+ ngoba konke okuhle okuselizweni laseGibhithe ngokwenu.”’”

21 Lakanye amadodana ka-Israyeli enza ayekutsheliwe. UJosefa wawanika izinqola njengokutsho kukaFaro njalo wawanika lomphako wokudla endleleni. 22 Wasenika ngamunye wabo isigqoko sokutshintsha kodwa uBhenjamini wamnika inhlamvu zesiliva ezingu-300 lezigqoko zokutshintsha ezinhlanu.+ 23 Wasethumela uyise obabhemi abalitshumi bethwele izinto ezinhle zaseGibhithe kanye labobabhemi abasikazi abalitshumi bethwele amabele, lesinkwa kanye lomphako kayise ayezawudla endleleni. 24 UJosefa wabavalelisa abafowabo njalo bathi besuka wathi kubo: “Lingaxabani endleleni.”+

25 Ngakho basuka eGibhithe babuyela kuyise uJakhobe elizweni laseKhenani. 26 Bafika bathi kuye: “UJosefa uyaphila njalo nguye obusayo kulo lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe.”+ Kodwa uyise waba lesithuli ngoba wayengakukholwa abakutshoyo.+ 27 Bathi sebemtshele wonke amazwi uJosefa ayewakhulumile njalo esebone lezinqola ayezithumele ukuthi zizomthwala, uJakhobe wazizwa esengcono. 28 U-Israyeli wasesithi: “Sengikholwa sibili ukuthi indodana yami uJosefa iyaphila. Kungcono ngihambe ngiyembona ngingakafi.”+

46 Ngakho u-Israyeli wathatha konke ayelakho* wangena indlela. Wathi efika eBheri-shebha+ wanikela imihlatshelo kuNkulunkulu ka-Isaka uyise.+ 2 UNkulunkulu wasekhuluma lo-Israyeli ngombono ebusuku wathi: “Jakhobe! Jakhobe!” yena wathi: “Ngilapha!” 3 Wasesithi kuye: “NginguNkulunkulu weqiniso, uNkulunkulu kayihlo.+ Ungesabi ukuya eGibhithe ngoba ngizakwenza ube yisizwe esikhulu+ kuleyondawo. 4 Yimi engizahamba lawe eGibhithe njalo yimi engizakususa khona,+ futhi uJosefa nguye ozavala amehlo akho*+ nxa ungafa.”

5 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe wasuka eBheri-shebha njalo amadodana akhe amthwala uyise u-Israyeli labantwabawo kanye lamakhosikazi awo ngezinqola ezazithunyelwe nguFaro ukuthi zizomthwala. 6 Bathatha imihlambi yabo kanye lempahla abasebelayo elizweni laseKhenani. UJakhobe wafika-ke eGibhithe layo yonke imuli yakhe. 7 Wafika eGibhithe lamadodana akhe lamadodakazi akhe kanye labazukulu bakhe, yonke nje imuli yakhe.

8 La ngamabizo amadodana ka-Israyeli, amadodana kaJakhobe ahamba laye eGibhithe:+ Izibulo likaJakhobe kwakunguRubheni.+

9 Amadodana kaRubheni kwakunguHanokhi, loPhalu, loHezironi loKhami.+

10 Amadodana kaSimiyoni+ kwakunguJemuweli, loJamini, lo-Ohadi, loJakhini, loZohari kanye loShawuli+ indodana yowesifazana ongumKhenani.

11 Amadodana kaLevi+ kwakunguGeshoni loKhohathi loMerari.+

12 Amadodana kaJuda+ kwakungu-Eri, lo-Onani, loShela,+ loPherezi+ kanye loZera.+ Kodwa u-Eri lo-Onani bafela elizweni laseKhenani.+

Amadodana kaPherezi kwakunguHezironi loHamuli.+

13 Amadodana ka-Isakhari kwakunguThola, loPhuva, lo-Iyobhi kanye loShimroni.+

14 Amadodana kaZebhuloni+ kwakunguSeredi lo-Eloni kanye loJahaliyeli.+

15 La ngamadodana kaLeya awazalela uJakhobe ePhadani-aramu, njalo wamzalela lendodakazi okuthiwa nguDina.+ Wonke amadodana lamadodakazi akhe ayengu-33.

16 Amadodana kaGadi+ kwakunguZifiyoni, loHagi, loShuni, lo-Ezibhoni, lo-Eri, lo-Arodi kanye lo-Areli.+

17 Amadodana ka-Asheri+ kwakungu-Imna, lo-Ishiva, lo-Ishivi kanye loBheriya njalo udadewabo kwakunguSera.

Amadodana kaBheriya kwakunguHebheri loMalikhiyeli.+

18 La ngamadodana kaZilipha+ incekukazi kaLeya ayiphiwa nguyise uLabhani. Wazalela uJakhobe abantwana bonke laba futhi sebebonke babengu-16.*

19 Amadodana kaRasheli umkaJakhobe kwakunguJosefa+ loBhenjamini.+

20 Amadodana kaJosefa awazala elizweni laseGibhithe kwakunguManase+ lo-Efrayimi+ njalo wawazalelwa ngu-Asenathi+ indodakazi kaPhothifera umphristi wase-Oni.*

21 Amadodana kaBhenjamini+ kwakunguBhela, loBhekheri, lo-Ashibheli, loGera,+ loNahamani, lo-Ehi, loRoshi, loMuphimi, loHuphimi+ kanye lo-Aridi.+

22 La ngamadodana kaRasheli awazalela uJakhobe futhi esewonke ayengu-14.*

23 Indodana kaDani+ kwakunguHushimi.+

24 Amadodana kaNafithali+ kwakunguJahazeli, loGuni, loJezeri kanye loShilemu.+

25 La ngamadodana kaBhiliha incekukazi kaRasheli ayiphiwa nguyise uLabhani. Wazalela uJakhobe abantwana bonke laba futhi sebebonke babeyisikhombisa.*

26 Bonke ababezalwa nguJakhobe abahamba* laye eGibhithe ngaphandle kwabafazi bamadodana akhe babengu-66.+ 27 UJosefa yena wayelamadodana amabili eGibhithe. Yikho bonke abendlu kaJakhobe ababuya eGibhithe babengu-70.+

28 UJakhobe wasethuma uJuda+ ukuthi ayebikela uJosefa ukuthi usezafika eGosheni. Ngakho bathi sebefikile eGosheni,+ 29 uJosefa wathi babophe inqola yakhe wasesuka wayahlangabeza uyise u-Israyeli eGosheni. Wathi efika nje kuye wamdumela wamgona,* wakhala okwesikhathi eside.* 30 U-Israyeli wasesithi kuJosefa: “Sengizibonele ngawami ukuthi usaphila sibili, khathesi sengingazifela.”

31 UJosefa wasetshela abafowabo labo bonke abemuli kayise wathi: “Kahle ngiye kuFaro+ ngiyekuthi kuye, ‘Abafowethu layo yonke imuli kababa sebebuyile lapha kimi bevela elizweni laseKhenani.+ 32 Amadoda la angabelusi+ njalo aphila ngokufuya.+ Abuye layo yonke imihlambi yawo kanye lakho konke alakho.’+ 33 Nxa uFaro angalibiza alibuze ukuthi lenza msebenzi bani, 34 kumele lithi kuye, ‘Izinceku zakho beziphila ngokufuya kusukela ebutsheni bazo kuze kube lamuhla futhi lokho yikho okwakusenziwa ngokhokho bethu.’+ Nxa lingatsho njalo uzalivumela ukuthi lihlale eGosheni+ ngoba bonke abantu abelusa izimvu bayenyanyeka kumaGibhithe.”+

47 Ngakho uJosefa waya kuFaro wafika wathi:+ “Ubaba labafowethu sebefikile bevela elizweni leKhenani njalo babuye lemihlambi yabo kanye lakho konke okungokwabo. Khathesi basesigabeni seGosheni.”+ 2 Wathatha abafowabo abahlanu wayabethula kuFaro.+

3 UFaro wathi kubo: “Lenza msebenzi bani?” Bamphendula bathi: “Izinceku zakho zingabelusi bezimvu futhi lo yiwo umsebenzi owawusenziwa ngokhokho bethu.”+ 4 Basebesithi kuFaro: “Sibuye ukuzohlala elizweni leli njengabezizweni+ ngoba elizweni leKhenani akuselamadlelo omhlambi wezinceku zakho, indlala ibhahile khonale.+ Ngakho sicela uvumele izinceku zakho zihlale esigabeni seGosheni.”+ 5 UFaro wasesithi kuJosefa: “Uyihlo labafowenu sebeze lapha kuwe. 6 Ilizwe laseGibhithe lisezandleni zakho. Wothi uyihlo labafowenu bahlale endaweni enhle kulazo zonke elizweni.+ Kabahlale esigabeni seGosheni njalo nxa bekhona abalolwazi phakathi kwabo, ubabeke ukuthi bagcine izifuyo zami.”

7 UJosefa wasehamba loyise kuFaro wafika wamethula kuye njalo uJakhobe wasembusisa uFaro. 8 UFaro wasebuza uJakhobe wathi: “Usuleminyaka emingaki?” 9 UJakhobe wasesithi kuFaro: “Sengileminyaka engu-130 njalo bengilokhu ngizulazula* impilo yami yonke. Iminyaka le ibinzima kodwa milutshwane+ nxa ngiyiqathanisa leminyaka eyaqedwa ngokhokho bami bezulazula.”*+ 10 Ngemva kwalokho uJakhobe wambusisa uFaro, wasesuka wahamba.

11 Ngakho uJosefa wanika uyise labafowabo indawo yokuhlala eGibhithe. Wabahlalisa endaweni enhle kakhulu yelizwe, emangweni waseRamesesi+ njengokutsho kukaFaro. 12 UJosefa waqhubeka enika uyise labafowabo kanye layo yonke imuli kayise ukudla* kusiya ngenani labantwababo.

13 Ngalesosikhathi kwakungaselakudla* endaweni yonke ngoba indlala yayisinzima kakhulu njalo abantu baseGibhithe labaseKhenani babeyatha ngendlala.+ 14 UJosefa wayelokhu eqoqa yonke imali eyayibuya labantu bezothenga amabele,+ eyabantu baseGibhithe leyabantu baseKhenani njalo wayeyihambisa endlini kaFaro. 15 Ngokuya kwesikhathi abantu baseGibhithe labaseKhenani baphelelwa yimali ababelayo, ngakho bonke abantu baseGibhithe baya kuJosefa bathi: “Sinike ukudla bakithi. Kambe sesingaze sife usikhangele ngenxa yokuthi asiselamali?” 16 UJosefa wasesithi kubo: “Nxa lingaselamali, buyani lezifuyo zenu lizothenga ngazo ukudla.” 17 Ngakho abantu baqalisa ukuletha izifuyo zabo kuJosefa ukuze abathengisele ukudla. Babekuthenga ngamabhiza, lezimvu, lembuzi, lenkomo labobabhemi. UJosefa waqhubeka ebathengisela ukudla ngezifuyo zabo zonke waze waphela lowomnyaka.

18 Wathi usuphelile lowomnyaka baya kuye ngomnyaka olandelayo bathi: “Nkosi ngeke sikufihlele udaba lolu; sesikuphe yonke imali yethu lezifuyo zethu. Sekusele thina lamasimu ethu kuphela. 19 Kungani kumele sife usikhangele, lamasimu ethu alaluke? Sithenge thina kanye lamasimu ethu ukuze sithole ukudla. Sizakuba yizigqili zikaFaro njalo lamasimu ethu azakuba ngawakhe. Siphe inhlanyelo ukuze siphile, singafi futhi lamasimu ethu angatshabalali.” 20 Ngakho uJosefa wathenga wonke umhlabathi wamaGibhithe waba ngokaFaro ngenxa yokuthi bonke abantu baseGibhithe basebethengise amasimu abo njengoba indlala yayitshingile. Umhlabathi wabo waba ngokaFaro.

21 Wathuthisa abantu kuyo yonke imihlubulo yaseGibhithe wabasa emadolobheni.+ 22 Kodwa umhlabathi wabaphristi kazange awuthenge+ ngoba babethola ukudla kuFaro njalo babephila ngokudla ababekunikwa nguFaro, yikho bengathengisanga umhlabathi wabo. 23 UJosefa wasesithi ebantwini: “Lamuhla sengilithengile lina kanye lomhlabathi wenu, seliyimpahla kaFaro. Ngakho nansi inhlanyelo, ithatheni liyeyihlanyela emasimini. 24 Kuso sonke isivuno elizasithola, kumele linike uFaro ingxenye eyodwa kwezinhlanu.+ Kodwa ingxenye ezine eziseleyo yizo elizathatha kuzo inhlanyelo kanye lokudla kwezimuli zenu lokwabantwabenu.” 25 Yikho bathi kuye: “Uzisindisile impilo zethu+ nkosi. Nxa sithole umusa kuwe, sivumele sibe yizigqili zikaFaro.”+ 26 UJosefa wasekwenza kwaba ngumthetho olokhu usebenza lalamuhla elizweni laseGibhithe ukuthi ingxenye eyodwa kwezinhlanu ngekaFaro. Umhlabathi wabaphristi yiwo kuphela ongazange ube ngokaFaro.+

27 Abako-Israyeli baqhubeka behlala elizweni laseGibhithe esigabeni seGosheni,+ bahlaliseka njalo bazalana baba banengi kakhulu.+ 28 UJakhobe waphila iminyaka engu-17 elizweni laseGibhithe. Ngakho isiyonke iminyaka eyaphilwa nguJakhobe yayingu-147.+

29 U-Israyeli wathi esezakufa+ wabiza indodana yakhe uJosefa wathi: “Nxa ngithole umusa kuwe, ngicela ufake isandla sakho ngaphansi komlenze wami ufunge ukuthi uzakuba lothando oluqotho kimi lokuthi uzathembeka kimi. Ngicela ungangingcwabi eGibhithe.+ 30 Nxa ngingafa kumele ungisuse elizweni laseGibhithe uyengingcwaba ndawonye labokhokho bami.”+ UJosefa wathi: “Ngizakwenza njengokutsho kwakho.” 31 Uyise wasesithi: “Ngicela ufunge kimi,” uJosefa wasefunga.+ Ngemva kwalokho u-Israyeli waguqa emakhanda ombheda wakhe.+

48 Ngemva kwalokho uJosefa watshelwa ukuthi uyise uyagula. Ngakho uJosefa wathatha amadodana akhe uManase lo-Efrayimi wahamba lawo kuyise.+ 2 UJakhobe wasetshelwa kwathiwa: “Indodana yakho uJosefa ibuyile izokubona.” Yikho u-Israyeli waziqinisa wavuka wahlala embhedeni wakhe. 3 UJakhobe wathi kuJosefa:

“UNkulunkulu uSomandla wabonakala kimi eLuzi elizweni laseKhenani wangibusisa.+ 4 Wathi kimi, ‘Ngizakupha abantwana abanengi ngikwandise futhi ngizakwenza ube yisizwe esilabantu abanengi.+ Ilizwe leli ngizalinika izizukulwane zakho* ezizalandela njalo lizakuba ngelazo kokuphela.’+ 5 Amadodana akho amabili owazele elizweni laseGibhithe ngingakabuyi kuwe eGibhithe ngawami.+ U-Efrayimi loManase bazakuba ngabami njengoRubheni loSimiyoni.+ 6 Kodwa abanye abantwana ozakuba labo bazakuba ngabakho. Bazabizwa ngebizo labanewabo ukuze badle labo ilifa.+ 7 Ngathi ngivela ePhadani ngafelwa ngunyoko uRasheli+ elizweni laseKhenani njalo kwakusasele umango ukuthi sifike e-Efratha.+ Yikho ngamngcwaba khonapho endleleni eya e-Efratha okutsho eBhethilehema.”+

8 U-Israyeli wathi ebona amadodana kaJosefa wathi: “Ngobani laba?” 9 UJosefa wasesithi kuyise: “Ngamadodana ami engiwaphiwe nguNkulunkulu endaweni le.”+ UJakhobe wathi: “Ngicela uwasondeze kimi ngiwabusise.”+ 10 Ngalesosikhathi amehlo ka-Israyeli ayesefiphele ngenxa yokuguga, engasaboni kuhle. Ngakho uJosefa wasondeza amadodana akhe kuyise, uyise wasewaqabuza wawagona. 11 U-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Ngangingacabangi ukuthi ngizaphinda ngibubone ubuso bakho,+ kodwa khathesi uNkulunkulu usengenze ngabona labantwabakho.” 12 UJosefa wasebasusa emadolweni ka-Israyeli, waguqa wakhothamisa ikhanda.

13 UJosefa wabathatha-ke bobabili, wabamba u-Efrayimi+ ngesandla sakhe sokudla wamusa kwesenxele sika-Israyeli, wasebamba uManase+ ngesandla sakhe senxele wamusa kwesokudla sika-Israyeli, wabasondeza kuye. 14 Kodwa u-Israyeli wafaka isandla sakhe sokudla ekhanda lika-Efrayimi lanxa kwakunguye omncane njalo esenxele wasifaka ekhanda likaManase. Lokhu wakwenza ehlosile ngoba owayelizibulo kwakunguManase.+ 15 Ngemva kwalokho wabusisa uJosefa wathi:+

17 Akuzange kumphathe kuhle uJosefa ukubona uyise elokhu ebeke isandla sakhe sokudla phezu kwekhanda lika-Efrayimi. Yikho wazama ukuthi asuse isandla sikayise ekhanda lika-Efrayimi asise kwelikaManase. 18 UJosefa wasesithi kuyise: “Hayi baba, lo nguye olizibulo.+ Faka isandla sakho sokudla ekhanda lakhe.” 19 Kodwa uyise wayelokhu esala esithi: “Ngiyakwazi ndodana yami, ngiyakwazi sibili. Lakuye kuzaphuma abantu abanengi njalo laye uzakuba mkhulu. Lanxa kunjalo, umnawakhe uzakuba mkhulu kulaye+ njalo izizukulwane zakhe zizakuba zinengi zilingane lezizwe ezinengi.”+ 20 Ngakho waqhubeka ebabusisa ngalolosuku+ esithi,

Ngakho wayelokhu efaka u-Efrayimi phambi kukaManase ngesikhathi ebabusisa.

21 U-Israyeli wasesithi kuJosefa: “Zwana, mina sengizakufa,+ kodwa uNkulunkulu uzaqhubeka elani njalo uzalibuyisela elizweni labokhokho benu.+ 22 Ngakho wena ngikunika esinye isabelo selizwe ukwedlula abafowenu, ilizwe engalithatha esandleni sama-Amori ngenkemba yami langedandili lami.”

49 UJakhobe wabiza amadodana akhe wathi: “Buthanani ndawonye ngilitshele okuzakwenzakala kini ekucineni kwezinsuku. 2 Hlanganani lilalele lina madodana kaJakhobe, lalelani uyihlo u-Israyeli.

3 “Rubheni+ ulizibulo lami,+ ungamandla ami lokuqala kwamandla ami okuzala, njalo ubulesithunzi esikhulu lamandla amangalisayo. 4 Kodwa awusoze ube mkhulu ngenxa yokuthi waba njengamanzi esikhukhula, awuzange uzibambe, wakhwela phezu kombheda kayihlo.+ Ngalesosikhathi wangcolisa umbheda wami. URubheni wakhwela kuwo sibili!

5 “USimiyoni loLevi yizelamani.+ Inkemba zabo yizikhali zodlakela.+ 6 Awu mphefumulo* wami ungazihlanganisi labo. Awu dumo lwami* ungangeni emhlanganweni wabo ngoba babulala abantu ngolaka lwabo,+ baquma lenkunzi imisipha besenzela ukukholisa nje. 7 Akuqalekiswe ukuthukuthela kwabo ngoba kulesihluku, aluqalekiswe ulaka lwabo ngoba lulolunya.+ Akuthi ngibachithachithe elizweni likaJakhobe, ngibasabalalise elizweni lika-Israyeli.+

8 “Kodwa wena Juda+ abafowenu bazakudumisa.+ Isandla sakho sizakuba sentanyeni yezitha zakho.+ Amadodana kayihlo azakukhothamela.+ 9 UJuda ungumdlwane wesilwane.+ Ndodana yami uzakudla inyamazana usukume. UJuda usecambalele, wazelula njengesilwane. Unjengaso kanye isilwane, kambe ngubani ongaba lesibindi sokumvusa? 10 Intonga yobukhosi ayisoze isuke kuJuda;+ lenduku yombusi ayisoze isuke phakathi kwezinyawo zakhe kuze kufike uShilo*+ njalo izizwe zonke zizamlalela.+ 11 Uzabophela ubabhemi wakhe esihlahleni samagilebisi, abophele lodonkana kababhemi wakhe esihlahleni samagilebisi esihle, abesewatsha izigqoko zakhe phakathi kwewayini lesembatho sakhe egazini lamagilebisi. 12 Amehlo akhe abomvu ngenxa yewayini, lamazinyo akhe amhlophe ngenxa yochago.

13 “UZebhuloni+ uzahlala ekhunjini lolwandle, ekhunjini lapho okuma khona imikhumbi+ njalo umngcele wakhe okhatshana uzaqhela usiya eSidoni.+

14 “U-Isakhari+ ngubabhemi olamathambo aqinileyo, olele phakathi laphakathi kwemithwalo emibili. 15 Uzabona ukuthi indawo yokuphumula inhle lokuthi ilizwe liyabukeka. Uzakwehlisa ihlombe lakhe athwale umthwalo njalo uzavuma ukusetshenziswa ngenkani.

16 “UDani,+ omunye wezizwana zako-Israyeli uzakwahlulela abantu bakhe.+ 17 UDani kabe yinyoka eseceleni komgwaqo, inyoka elempondo eseceleni kwendlela, egamula* izithende zebhiza ukuze oligadileyo awe ngeqolo.+ 18 Awu Jehova, ngizalindela insindiso evela kuwe.

19 “UGadi+ uzahlaselwa liqembu lezigebenga, kodwa yena uzalihlala izithende alihlasele.+

20 “Isinkwa sika-Asheri+ sizakuba* yithaphutshiye njalo uzakhipha ukudla okufanele inkosi.+

21 “UNafithali+ yimpalakazi enhle ezacileyo. Ukhuluma amazwi amnandi.+

22 “UJosefa+ lihlumela lesihlahla esithelayo, isihlahla esithelayo esiseduze komthombo njalo esilengatsha ezilengele ngale komduli. 23 Kodwa abaphosa imitshoko babelokhu bemhlukuluza, bemtshoka ngemitshoko futhi baqhubeka bemzonda.+ 24 Lanxa kunjalo, idandili* lakhe laqhubeka lisendaweni yalo,+ izandla zakhe zahlala ziqinile futhi ziphosa imitshoko ngokuphangisa.+ Lokhu kwakuvela ezandleni zalowo olamandla, oncedisa uJakhobe, kumelusi, ilitshe lika-Israyeli. 25 Yena* uvela kuNkulunkulu kayihlo, uzakunceda njalo useduze loSomandla. Uzakubusisa ngezibusiso zaphezulu emazulwini, lezibusiso zaphansi ezindaweni ezitshonayo,+ langezibusiso zamabele kanye lesibeletho. 26 Izibusiso zikayihlo zizakuba zinkulu ukwedlula izibusiso zezintaba zanini lanini, ukwedlula izinto ezinhle ezisemaqaqeni ahlala ekhona.+ Zizahlala ziphezu kwekhanda likaJosefa, phezu komqhele wekhanda lalowo owakhethwa kubafowabo.+

27 “UBhenjamini+ uzaqhubeka edlithiza njengeganyana.+ Ekuseni uzakudla inyamazana ayijimbileyo, ntambama ehlukanise impahla ayithumbileyo.”+

28 Bonke laba yibo ababumba izizwana zako-Israyeli ezingu-12 njalo lokhu yikho abakutshelwa nguyise ngesikhathi ebabusisa. Ngamunye wamnika isibusiso esimfaneleyo.+

29 Ngemva kwalokho wabatshela wathi: “Khathesi sengizazifela njengabanye abantu bakithi.+ Lingingcwabe lapho okwangcwatshwa khona obaba ebhalwini olusensimini ka-Efroni umHithi,+ 30 ubhalu olusensimini yeMakhaphela phambi kweMamre elizweni laseKhenani. Insimu le yathengwa ngu-Abrahama ku-Efroni umHithi ukuthi ibe yindawo yokungcwaba. 31 U-Abrahama loSara bangcwatshwa kuleyondawo.+ U-Isaka+ lomkakhe uRabheka labo bangcwatshwa khona njalo yikho lapho engangcwaba khona uLeya. 32 Insimu leyo lobhalu olukuyo kwathengwa kumadodana kaHethi.”+

33 UJakhobe waqeda-ke ukulayela amadodana akhe, wasebuyisela inyawo zakhe phezu kombheda, waphefumula okokucina wafa njalo wangcwatshwa njengabanye abantu bakibo.+

50 UJosefa waseziphosela phezu kukayise+ wakhala njalo wamqabuza. 2 Ngemva kwalokho uJosefa watshela izinceku zakhe ezingabelaphi ukuthi ziqhole*+ isidumbu sikayise. Ngakho abelaphi bamqhola u-Israyeli, 3 bakwenza lokhu okwensuku ezingu-40 ezigcweleyo ngoba ukuqhola isidumbu kwakuthatha amalanga wonke la. AmaGibhithe aqhubeka emlilela okwensuku ezingu-70.

4 Kwathi insuku zokumlilela sezidlulile, uJosefa waya kuziphathamandla zikaFaro* wathi: “Nxa ngithole umusa kini, ngikhulumelani loFaro lithi: 5 ‘Ubaba wangifungisa+ wathi kimi: “Khangela sengisifa.+ Kumele uyengingcwaba endaweni yami yokungcwaba+ engazigebhela yona elizweni laseKhenani.”+ Ngicela ungivumele ngihambe ngiyengcwaba ubaba besengiphenduka.’” 6 UFaro waphendula wathi: “Hamba uyengcwaba uyihlo njengoba wakufungisa.”+

7 Ngakho uJosefa wahamba wayangcwaba uyise njalo zonke izinceku zikaFaro zahamba laye, labadala+ besigodlweni kanye labo bonke abadala belizwe laseGibhithe, 8 labo bonke abendlu kaJosefa labafowabo kanye labendlu kayise.+ EGosheni batshiya abantwababo abancane kanye lemihlambi yabo kuphela. 9 Abanye abahamba laye ngabezinqola+ labagadi bamabhiza; kwakuliqembu elikhulu kakhulu. 10 Bathi befika esizeni* se-Athadi esabelweni seJodani bakhala kabuhlungu kwaba yisililo esesabekayo. UJosefa waqhubeka elilela uyise okwezinsuku eziyisikhombisa. 11 AmaKhenani ayeyizakhamizi zelizwe lelo athi ebabona belila esizeni se-Athadi ababaza athi: “Lesi yisililo esikhulu samaGibhithe!” Yikho indawo leyo esesabelweni seJodani yabizwa ngokuthi yi-Abheli-mizirayimi.*

12 Ngakho amadodana kaJakhobe enza khona kanye ayewatshele khona.+ 13 Amadodana akhe amthwala aya laye elizweni laseKhenani asemngcwaba ebhalwini lwensimu yeMakhaphela. Insimu le eyayiphambi kweMamre yathengwa ngu-Abrahama ku-Efroni umHithi ukuthi ibe yindawo yokungcwaba.+ 14 UJosefa wathi esemngcwabile uyise wabuyela eGibhithe labafowabo kanye labo bonke abantu ababehambe laye besiyangcwaba uyise.

15 Abafowabo bakaJosefa bathi bebona uyise esefile bathi: “Mhlawumbe uJosefa ulokhu esizondele njalo angaphindisela konke okubi esamenza khona.”+ 16 Ngakho bathumela umbiko kuJosefa bathi: “Uyihlo watshiya elayele engakafi, wathi: 17 ‘Nanku okumele likutsho kuJosefa: “Ngiyakuncenga, ngicela ubaxolele abafowenu ngesiphambeko kanye lesono abasenzayo bekuzwisa ubuhlungu.”’ Yikho sicela uzixolele izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kayihlo ngenxa yesiphambeko sazo.” UJosefa wathi ekuzwa lokho wakhala. 18 Ngemva kwalokho abafowabo bafika bazilahla phansi phambi kwakhe bathi: “Yenza okufunayo kithi, sesiyizigqili zakho.”+ 19 UJosefa wathi kubo: “Lingesabi. Kambe nginguNkulunkulu yini ukuthi sengingaze ngilahlulele? 20 Lanxa lalifuna ukwenza okubi kimi,+ uNkulunkulu watshintsha izinto zahamba kuhle ukuze kulondolozwe impilo zabantu abanengi, njengoba libona ekwenza lamuhla.+ 21 Ngakho lingesabi. Ngizaqhubeka ngilinika ukudla lina labantwabenu.”+ Ngemva kwalokho wabaduduza futhi wabaqinisa ngamazwi akhe.

22 UJosefa waqhubeka ehlala eGibhithe, yena labo bonke abendlu kayise njalo waphila iminyaka engu-110. 23 UJosefa wabona isizukulwane sesithathu samadodana ka-Efrayimi+ kanye lamadodana kaMakhiri+ indodana kaManase. Kuye babengathi ngabantwabakhe sibili.* 24 UJosefa wathi esezakufa watshela abafowabo wathi: “Mina sengisifa, kodwa uNkulunkulu kasoze ayekele ukulincedisa.+ Loba sekutheni uzalikhipha elizweni leli, alise elizweni afunga ukuthi uzalipha u-Abrahama lo-Isaka loJakhobe.”+ 25 UJosefa wasefungisa amadodana ka-Israyeli wathi: “UNkulunkulu kasoze ayekele ukulincedisa. Amathambo ami kumele lisuke lawo lapha.”+ 26 UJosefa wafa eleminyaka engu-110, basebemqhola*+ njalo wafakwa ebhokisini eGibhithe.