GENESISI

1 Ekuthomeni uZimu wadala izulu nephasi.+

2 Iphasi belingahlaleki begodu linganalitho, bekunobumnyama phezu kwamanzi+ begodu ummoya kaZimu+ bewukhamba phezu kwawo.

3 Yeke uZimu wathi: “Akube nomkhanyo.”+ Nangambala waba khona. 4 UZimu wabona umkhanyo lowo umuhle ngemva kwalokho wahlukanisa umkhanyo nobumnyama. 5 UZimu wabiza umkhanyo ngokuthi yiMini, kwathi ubumnyama wabubiza ngokuthi Busuku.+ Yeke kwahlwa bekwasa, kwaba lilanga lokuthoma.

6 UZimu wathi: “Akube nesikhala+ esikhulu hlangana namanzi, siwahlukanise kabili, amanye abe ngaphezulu amanye ngaphasi.”+ 7 Nje-ke uZimu wasenza isikhaleso, wahlukanisa amanzi, amanye aba ngaphezulu amanye aba ngaphasi.+ Nangambala kwaba njalo. 8 Isikhaleso uZimu wasibiza ngokuthi Mkayi. Kwahlwa bekwasa, kwaba lilanga lesibili.

9 UZimu wathi: “Amanzi angaphasi komkayi akabuthane ndawonye begodu akube nendawo eyomileko.”+ Nangambala kwaba njalo. 10 UZimu wabiza indawo eyomileko ngokuthi yiPhasi,+ kwathi iindawo lapho amanzi abuthanele khona wazibiza ngamaLwandle.+ Wakubona kukuhle+ lokho. 11 Ngemva kwalokho uZimu wathi: “Akumile utjani ephasini, iintjalo ezikhupha imbewu nemithi yeenthelo ngokuhlukahluka kwayo.” Nangambala kwaba njalo. 12 Nje-ke kwamila utjani ephasini, iintjalo ezikhupha imbewu+ nemithi yeenthelo ngokuhlukahluka kwayo. UZimu wakubona kukuhle lokho. 13 Kwahlwa bekwasa, kwaba lilanga lesithathu.

14 Ngemva kwalokho, uZimu wathi: “Akube nelanga, inyanga neenkwekwezi+ emkayini, zizokuhlukanisa imini nobusuku+ begodu zizokutjengisa ukuhluka kweenkhathi, kwamalanga nokweminyaka.+ 15 Zizokukhanyisa ephasini.” Nangambala kwaba njalo. 16 Nje-ke uZimu wenza ilanga nenyanga, ilanga lakhanyisa emini+ kwathi inyanga yakhanyisa ebusuku, wenza neenkwekwezi.+ 17 Wazibeka emkayini, ukwenzela bona zikhanyise ephasini, 18 enye ikhanye emini, enye ikhanye ebusuku begodu zihlukanise umkhanyo nobumnyama.+ Nje-ke uZimu wakubona kukuhle lokho. 19 Kwahlwa begodu kwasa, kwaba lilanga lesine.

20 Ngemva kwalokho, uZimu wathi: “Emanzini akube neenlwana eziphilako, kuthi emkayini kube neenlwana eziphaphako.”+ 21 UZimu wadala iinlwana ezikulu zelwandle nazo zoke iinlwana eziphila emanzini ngokuhlukahluka kwazo. Wadala nazo zoke iinlwana eziphaphako ngokuhlukahluka kwazo. UZimu wakubona kukuhle lokho. 22 Nje-ke uZimu wazibusisa, wathi: “Zalani nande nigcwale ngelwandle,+ ngokunjalo nangeenlwana eziphaphako, azibe zinengi ephasini.” 23 Kwahlwa bekwasa, kwaba lilanga lesihlanu.

24 UZimu wathi: “Akube neenlwana eziphilako ephasini ngokuhlukahluka kwazo, kube neenlwana ezifuywako, ezirhurhubako neenlwana zommango ngokuhlukahluka kwazo.”+ Nangambala kwaba njalo. 25 UZimu wenza iinlwana zommango ngokuhlukahluka kwazo, iinlwana ezifuywako ngokuhlukahluka kwazo neenlwana ezirhurhubako ngokuhlukahluka kwazo. Nje-ke uZimu wakubona kukuhle lokho.

26 Ngemva kwalokho uZimu wathi: “Asenze+ umuntu afane nathi.*+ Abuse iinhlambi zelwandle, iinlwana eziphapha emkayini, iinlwana ezifuywako, nalo loke iphasi nazo zoke iinlwana ezirhurhubako ephasini.”+ 27 Nje-ke uZimu wadala umuntu, wamenza wafana naye, wabenza kwaba yindoda nomfazi.+ 28 Ngemva kwalokho, uZimu wababusisa wathi: “Belethani nande, nizalise iphasi+ benilibuse.+ Nibuse+ iinhlambi zelwandle, iinlwana eziphapha emkayini nazo zoke iinlwana ezikhambakhamba ephasini.”

29 UZimu wathi: “Zoke iintjalo eziveza imbewu nayo yoke imithi ethela iinthelo, ngininikela yona bona ibe kukudla kwenu.+ 30 Zoke iinlwana zommango, iinlwana eziphapha emkayini nazo zoke iinlwana ezikhambakhamba ephasini, ngizinikele utjani bona kube kukudla kwazo.”+ Nangambala kwaba njalo.

31 Ngemva kwalokho wabona koke akwenzileko, kwamambala bekukuhle.+ Nje-ke kwahlwa bekwasa, kwaba lilanga lesithandathu.

2 Nje-ke kwaqedwa+ ukudalwa kwezulu nephasi nakho koke okukilo. 2 Ngelanga lekhomba uZimu besele awuqedile umsebenzi ebekawenza bewaphumula+ kusukela ngelanga lekhomba ngombana besele awenze woke umsebenzi. 3 UZimu wabusisa ilanga lekhomba, walenza lacwengeka ngombana kwaba lilanga aphumula ngalo kiwo woke umsebenzi awenzileko, kikho koke ebekanqophe ukukwenza.

4 Lo mlando wangesikhathi sokubunjwa kwezulu nephasi, ilanga uJehova* uZimu adala ngalo izulu nephasi.+

5 Bekungakabi notjani ephasini, kunganasitjalo esimilako ngombana uJehova uZimu bekangakanisi izulu ephasini begodu bekunganamuntu ozokulima. 6 Kodwana bekunekungu enyuka phasi imanzise ihlabathi.

7 Yeke uJehova uZimu wabumba umuntu ngehlabathi,+ wavuthela eempumulweni zakhe ummoya wokuphila,+ umuntu waba mumuntu ophilako.*+ 8 UJehova wenza isimu ye-Edeni+ nca ngepumalanga, wabeka kiyo umuntu ambumbileko.+ 9 Yeke uJehova uZimu wenza bona kumile yoke imithi ekarisako nefanelekela ukudliwa, wenza umuthi wokuphila+ phakathi nesimu wenza nomuthi wokwazi okuhle nokumbi.+

10 Nje-ke bekunomlambo ogeleza e-Edeni uthelelela isimu begodu umlambo loyo wahlukaniseka waba nemilanjana emine. 11 Igama lomlanjana wokuthoma yiPitjhoni, ngiwo obhode inarha yeRhavila lapho kunegolide khona. 12 Igolide lenarheni leyo lihle khulu, kukhona nekghomu enuka kamnandi nelitje le-oniksi. 13 Igama lomlanjana wesibili yiGihoni, ngiwo obhode inarha yeKutjhe. 14 Igama lomlanjana wesithathu yiRhidekheli,*+ ngiwo otjhinga ngepumalanga ye-Asiriya.+ Umlanjana wesine yiYufrathe.+

15 UJehova uZimu wathatha umuntu wambeka esimini ye-Edeni bona ayilime bekayitlhogomele.+ 16 UJehova wamyala wathi: “Ungazidlela ngokuthanda kwakho+ kinanyana ngimuphi umuthi osesimini, 17 kodwana malungana nomuthi wokwazi okuhle nokumbi, ungadli kiwo ngombana mhlana udla kiwo nangambala uzokufa.”+

18 Nje-ke uJehova wathi: “Akusikuhle bona umuntu ahlale yedwa. Ngizomenzela umsizi omfaneleko.”+ 19 UJehova wabumba ngehlabathi zoke iinlwana zommango neenlwana eziphaphako, waziletha emuntwini bona azithiye amagama. Nanyana ngiliphi igama ebekalithiya isilwana, kwaba ligama laso.+ 20 Nje-ke umuntu wathiya zoke iinlwana ezifuywako, eziphaphako neenlwana zommango kodwana yena bekanganamsizi omfaneleko. 21 UJehova uZimu walalisa umuntu ubuthongo obukhulu, kuthe asalele njalo, wakhupha elinye leembambo zakhe ngemva kwalokho wavala indawo leyo ngenyama. 22 UJehova wabumba umfazi ngebambo alithethe endodeni, ngemva kwalokho wamusa endodeni.+

23 Nje-ke indoda yathi:

24 Kungebangelo-ke indoda izokutjhiya uyise nonina inamathele kumkayo begodu bazokuba yinyama yinye.+ 25 Bobabili indoda nomkayo bebahlubule+ kodwana bebangananhloni.

3 Inyoka+ beyihlakaniphe ukuzidlula zoke iinlwana zommango uJehova uZimu ebekazenzile. Yeke yathi emfazini: “Kghani kuliqiniso ukuthi uZimu uthe ningadli kiyo yoke imithi esesimini?”+ 2 Umfazi wathi enyokeni: “Singazidla zoke iinthelo zemithi esesimini.+ 3 Malungana nomuthi ophakathi nesimu+ uZimu uthe: ‘Ningadli kiwo begodu ningawuthinti ukuze ningafi.’” 4 Kilokho inyoka yathi emfazini: “Awa angekhe nife.+ 5 Ngombana uZimu uyazi ukuthi ngelanga enizokudla ngalo kiwo, amehlwenu azokuvuleka begodu nizokuba njengoZimu, nazi okulungileko nokungakalungi.”+

6 Ngebangelo, umfazi wabona ukuthi umuthi lo muhle, uneenthelo ezikhanukelekako begodu ukarisa kwamambala. Yeke wakha isithelo sawo wasidla.+ Ngemva kwalokho, wanikela indodakhe nasele inaye, nayo yasidla.+ 7 Amehlwabo avuleka, balemuka ukuthi bakhamba hlubule. Nje-ke bathatha amakari womuthi wamafeyi bazenzela izambatho, bavala ubuhlubule babo.+

8 Ngemva kwalokho bezwa ilizwi lakaJehova uZimu njengombana bekakhamba esimini ngaphambi kokutjhinga kwelanga, yeke indoda nomkayo babhacela uJehova hlangana nemithi yesimu. 9 UJehova uZimu bekasolo ambiza umuntu athi: “Ukuphi?” 10 Emaswapheleni umuntu wathi: “Ngizwe ilizwi lakho esimini kodwana ngasaba ngombana bengihlubule, yeke ngabhaca.” 11 UZimu wathi: “Ngubani okutjele bona uhlubule?+ Kghani udle emthini engakuyala bona ungadli kiwo?”+ 12 Umuntu wathi: “Umfazi onginikele yena bona abe ngewami unginikele isithelo somuthi, nje-ke ngasidla.” 13 UJehova wathi emfazini: “Yintobani oyenzileko le?” Umfazi waphendula wathi: “Inyoka ingikhohlisile, nje-ke ngadla.”+

14 Kilokhu uJehova wathi enyokeni:+ “Ngebanga lokuthi wenze lokhu, ungoqalekisiweko kizo zoke iinlwana ezifuywako nakizo zoke iinlwana zommango. Uzokurhurhuba ngamathumbakho begodu uzokudla ithuli ukuphila kwakho koke. 15 Ngizokwenza wena+ nomfazi+ nibe manaba,+ ngenze neenzukulwana zenu+ zibe manaba. Isizukulwana somfazi sizokutshidlha ihlokwakho,+ wena uzosiluma* esithendeni.”+

16 Wathi emfazini: “Ngizokwandisela ubuhlungu nawuzithweleko, uzokubeletha kabuhlungu khulu, uzokukhanukela ukuba nendodakho begodu yona izokubusa.”

17 Ku-Adamu* wathi: “Ngebanga lokuthi ulalele umkakho wadla emthini engakuyala ngawo+ ngathi, ‘Ungadli kiwo,’ ihlabathi iqalekisiwe ngebanga lakho.+ Uzakudla iinthelo zayo ngobuhlungu obukhulu ukuphila kwakho koke.+ 18 Izakuvezela ameva nekhula begodu kufuze udle iintjalo zommango. 19 Uzakujulukela ukudla kwakho bewubuyele ehlabathini ngombana wathathwa kiyo.+ Ngebanga lokuthi ulithuli uzokubuyela ethulini.”+

20 U-Adamu wathiya umkakhe wathi ngu-Eva,* ngombana bekazokuba ngumma wabantu boke.+ 21 UJehova uZimu wenzela u-Adamu nomkakhe izambatho ezide zesikhumba bona bambathe.+ 22 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova uZimu wathi: “Umuntu sekafana nathi, wazi okulungileko nokungakalungi.+ Nje-ke akukafaneli avunyelwe bona alule isandla sakhe akhe isithelo somuthi wokuphila+ asidle begodu aphile ngokungapheliko.” 23 UJehova wamqotha esimini ye-Edeni+ bona ayokulima ihlabathi ebekathethwe kiyo.+ 24 Kuthe nasekamqothile, wabeka amakherubhi+ ngepumalanga yesimu ye-Edeni nesabula evuthako esolo iphenduphenduka bona agade indlela ebuyela emthini wokuphila.

4 Nje-ke u-Adamu waya emabhayini nomkakhe u-Eva begodu umkakhe wazithwala.+ Nakabeletha uKayini,+ wathi: “UJehova ungisizile ngabeletha umntwana womsana.” 2 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wabeletha u-Abela,+ umfowabo kaKayini.

U-Abela waba ngumalusi, uKayini waba mlimi. 3 Ngemva kwesikhathi esithileko, uKayini wathatha iinthelo azivunileko wenza ngazo umnikelo kuJehova. 4 U-Abela yena-ke waletha iimvana ezimazibulo emhlambinakhe+ nomhlwehlwazo. UJehova wamthanda u-Abela begodu wamukela nomnikelwakhe,+ 5 kodwana akhenge amukele uKayini nomnikelwakhe. Yeke uKayini wasilingeka khulu begodu wadana. 6 Nje-ke uJehova wathi kuKayini: “Kubayini usilingeke kangaka begodu udanile? 7 Nawenza okuhle utjho bona angeze ngakwamukela na? Nawenza okungakalungi, yelela isono sikulinde emnyango, sikhanukela ukukubhudungela. Alo uzosihlula na?”

8 Ngemva kwalokho, uKayini wathi kumfowabo u-Abela: “Asikhambe siye emmangweni.” Kuthe nabasemmangwenapho uKayini wasahlela umfowabo bewambulala.+ 9 Ngemva kwesikhathi esithileko uJehova wathi kuKayini: “Uphi u-Abela umfowenu?” Waphendula wathi: “Angimazi. Kghani sengingunogada kamfowethu na?” 10 UZimu wathi kuye: “Yintobani oyenzileko le? Lalela bona iingazi zomfowenu ozithululele ehlabathini+ zingililela kangangani. 11 Nje-ke uqalekisiwe begodu uqothiwe endaweni le ngombana wathululela iingazi zomfowenu kiyo ngezandla zakho.+ 12 Nawulimako angeze kusathela kuhle, uzokundinda begodu uzokuphila ngokubaleka ephasini.” 13 UKayini wathi kuJehova: “Isibetho samesi singaphezu kwamandlami. 14 Namhlanjesi uyangiqotha enarheni, ngizokuba kude nawe, ngizokundinda begodu ngiphile ngokubaleka ephasini, nanyana ngubani ongifumanako uzongibulala.” 15 Nje-ke uJehova wathi kuye: “Awa angeze, nanyana ngubani ozokubulala uzokuhlunguphazwa iinkhathi ezilikhomba.”

UJehova wenzela uKayini itshwayo, ukwenzela bona kungabi nomuntu ozombulala. 16 UKayini wasuka phambi kwakaJehova, wayokuhlala endaweni* engepumalanga ye-Edeni,+ wazifihla lapho.

17 Ngemva kwalokho uKayini waya emabhayini nomkakhe,+ umkakhe wazithwala, wabeletha u-Inogo. UKayini wakha idorobho, walithiyelela ngendodanakhe u-Inogo. 18 Ngemva kwalokho u-Inogo wabelethelwa u-Iradi, u-Iradi wabelethelwa uMerhiyayeli, uMerhiyayeli wabelethelwa uMetutjhayeli, uMetutjhayeli wabelethelwa uLemeki.

19 ULemeki wathatha abafazi ababili. Umfazi wokuthoma bekungu-Ada, wesibili kunguTsila. 20 U-Ada wabeletha uJabali. UJabali lo mumuntu wokuthoma owahlala ematendeni begodu waba nefuyo. 21 Igama lomfowabo kaJabali bekunguJubali, okumumuntu wokuthoma owabetha iharibha nefuludi. 22 UTsila wabeletha uTubali-Khayini, obekenza yoke imihlobo yamathulusi wekhopha newesimbi. Udadwabo kaTubali-Khayini bekunguNama. 23 ULemeki watjho amezwi naka ebafazini bakhe, ebekungu-Ada noTsila:

25 U-Adamu godu waya emabhayini nomkakhe, umkakhe wambelethela indodana. U-Eva wathiya indodana leyo ngokuthi nguSethi,*+ wathi, “UZimu ungiphe omunye umntwana ozokuvala isikhundla saka-Abela, ngombana uKayini wambulala.”+ 26 USethi naye wabelethelwa indodana, wayithiya ngokuthi ngu-Enotjhi.+ Ngesikhatheso abantu bathoma ukubiza igama lakaJehova.

5 Le yincwadi yomlando ka-Adamu. Mhlazana uZimu adala u-Adamu, wamenza wafana naye.+ 2 Wadala indoda nomfazi.+ Ngelanga ababumba+ ngalo wababusisa, wababiza ngokuthi baBantu.

3 U-Adamu nakaneminyaka eli-130, waba nendodana efana naye, wayithiya ngokuthi nguSethi.+ 4 Ngemva kobana u-Adamu abelethelwe uSethi, waphila iminyaka ema-800. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 5 Nje-ke u-Adamu waphila iminyaka ema-930, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.+

6 USethi nakaneminyaka eli-105 waba nendodana, igama layo ngu-Enotjhi.+ 7 Ngemva kobana uSethi abelethelwe u-Enotjhi, waphila iminyaka ema-807. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 8 USethi waphila iminyaka ema-912, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

9 U-Enotjhi nakaneminyaka ema-90, waba nendodana, igama layo nguKhenani. 10 Ngemva kobana u-Enotjhi abelethelwe uKhenani, waphila iminyaka ema-815. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 11 U-Enotjhi waphila iminyaka ema-905, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

12 UKhenani nakaneminyaka ema-70, waba nendodana, igama layo nguMahalaliyeli.+ 13 Ngemva kobana uKhenani abelethelwe uMahalaliyeli, waphila iminyaka ema-840. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 14 UKhenani waphila iminyaka ema-910, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

15 UMahalaliyeli nakaneminyaka ema-65, waba nendodana igama layo nguJeredi.+ 16 Ngemva kobana uMahalaliyeli abelethelwe uJeredi, waphila iminyaka ema-830. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 17 UMahalaliyeli waphila iminyaka ema-895, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

18 UJeredi nakaneminyaka eli-162, waba nendodana, igama layo ngu-Inogo.+ 19 Ngemva kobana uJeredi abelethelwe u-Inogo, waphila iminyaka ema-800. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 20 UJeredi waphila iminyaka ema-962, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

21 U-Inogo nakaneminyaka ema-65, waba nendodana, igama layo nguMethusela.+ 22 Ngemva kobana u-Inogo abelethelwe uMethusela, wakhamba noZimu weqiniso iminyaka ema-300. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 23 U-Inogo waphila iminyaka ema-365. 24 U-Inogo wakhamba noZimu+ weqiniso. Akhenge asaba khona, ngombana uZimu wamenza wangasabi khona.+

25 UMethusela nakaneminyaka eli-187 waba nendodana, igama layo nguLemeki.+ 26 Ngemva kobana uMethusela abelethelwe uLemeki, waphila iminyaka ema-782. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 27 UMethusela waphila iminyaka ema-969, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

28 ULemeki nakaneminyaka eli-182 waba nendodana. 29 Wayithiya ngokuthi nguNowa,*+ wathi: “Lo uzasiduduza ekusebenzeni kwethu budisi nekusebenzeni kwethu kabuhlungu ngezandla zethu ngombana uJehova wayiqalekisa+ ihlabathi.” 30 Ngemva kobana uLemeki abelethelwe uNowa, waphila iminyaka ema-595. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi. 31 ULemeki waphila iminyaka ema-777, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

32 Kuthe lokha uNowa nakaneminyaka ema-500, wabelethelwa uTjhemu,+ uRhamu+ noJafethi.+

6 Kwathi abantu nabathoma ukwanda ephasini begodu babelethelwa amadodakazi, 2 amadodana kaZimu+ weqiniso* athoma ukulemuka ukuthi amadodakazi wabantu mahle. Yeke athoma ukuzithathela abafazi, athatha nanyana ngimuphi umfazi ebewamfuna. 3 Nje-ke uJehova wathi: “Angekhe ngimbekezelele* ngokungapheliko+ umuntu, ngombana usisoni. Ngokwesilinganiso uzakuphila iminyaka eli-120.”+

4 Emihleni leyo nangemva kwayo bekunamaNefili.* Ngesikhatheso amadodana kaZimu weqiniso aragela phambili nokuya emabhayini namadodakazi wabantu begodu abelethelwa amadodana. Bewaziintsitsirimba zekadeni begodu adumile.

5 UJehova wabona ukuthi ukukhohlakala komuntu kuzele ephasini begodu imicabangwakhe mimbi ngaso soke isikhathi.+ 6 UJehova wazisola ukuthi ubenzeleni abantu, wezwa ubuhlungu.+ 7 Nje-ke uJehova wathi: “Ngizokutjhabalalisa boke abantu engibabumbileko, umuntu neenlwana ezifuywako, iinlwana ezirhurhubako neenlwana eziphapha emkayini ngombana ngiyazisola bona ngibenzeleni.” 8 Kodwana uNowa wamukeleka kuJehova.

9 Lo mlando kaNowa.

UNowa bekayindoda elungileko.+ Bekanganamtjhapho phakathi kwabantu ebekaphila nabo.* UNowa wakhamba noZimu weqiniso.+ 10 Ekukhambeni kwesikhathi uNowa waba namadodana amathathu, uTjhemu, uRhamu noJafethi.+ 11 Kodwana iphasi belonakele emehlweni kaZimu weqiniso begodu belizele inturhu. 12 Nje-ke uZimu waqala ephasini, belonakele+ ngombana abantu bebalonile.+

13 Ngemva kwalokho uZimu wathi kuNowa: “Ngiqunte ukutjhabalalisa boke abantu ngombana iphasi lizele inturhu ngebanga labo, yeke ngizobatjhabalalisa nalo.+ 14 Zenzele umkhumbi ngesigodo segofere.+ Wenze iinkumba ngemkhunjini begodu uwusinde ngesikontiri+ ngaphakathi nangaphandle. 15 Nasi indlela ozowenza ngayo: Kufuze ube mamitha ali-134 ubude, amamitha ama-22 ububanzi namamitha ali-13 ukuphakama. 16 Kufuze wenze ifesidere* libe siquntu semitha kusukela emfulelweni womkhumbi. Kufuze wenze umnyango ube ngehlangothini+ begodu uhlukanise umkhumbi kathathu, ube nesitezi sokuthoma, sesibili nesesithathu.

17 “Ngiletha umthwalela+ ephasini bona utjhabalalise koke okungaphasi kwezulu nakho koke okuphilako. Koke okusephasini kuzokutjhabalala.+ 18 Ngenza isivumelwano nawe, kufuze ungene ngemkhunjini namadodanakho, umkakho nabomalukazana bakho.+ 19 Kufuze ungenise zoke iinlwana eziphilako+ ngazimbili ukwenzela bona ziragele phambili ziphila nawe, kufuze kube ngesiduna nesisikazi;+ 20 iinlwana eziphaphako ngokwemihlobazo, iinlwana ezifuywako ngokwemihlobazo neenlwana ezirhurhubako ngokwemihlobazo, zingenise ngazimbili bona ziragele phambili ziphila.+ 21 Kufuze ungenise yoke imihlobo yokudla kwakho nokudla+ kweenlwana ngemkhunjini.”

22 UNowa wenza koke uZimu amyala bona akwenze. Wenza njalo.+

7 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wathi kuNowa: “Ngena ngemkhunjini, wena nomndenakho ngombana nguwe wedwa engikufumene ulungile hlangana nabantu ophila nabo.+ 2 Kizo zoke iinlwana ezihlwengileko thatha ezilikhomba,*+ kube ngesiduna nesisikazi. Bese kuthi eenlwaneni ezingakahlwengeki uthathe ezimbili kwaphela, esiduna nesisikazi; 3 neenlwana eziphaphako, thatha ezilikhomba,* kube ngesiduna nesisikazi ukwenzela bona zibe nabantwana, zihlale zikhona zizale iphasi+ loke. 4 Emalangeni alikhomba ngizokwenza bona kune izulu+ amalanga ama-40 nobusuku obuma-40,+ ngizokuthanyela koke okuphilako engikudalileko+ ephasini.” 5 UNowa wenza koke uJehova amyala bona akwenze.

6 Nakufika umthwalela ephasini+ uNowa bekaneminyaka ema-600. 7 Nje-ke uNowa, amadodanakhe, umkakhe nabomalukazana bakhe bangena ngemkhunjini ngaphambi kokuthi kuthome umthwalela.+ 8 Iinlwana ezihlwengileko, ezingakahlwengeki, eziphaphako nakho koke okukhambakhamba ephasini,+ 9 kwangena ngemkhunjini ngazimbili, esiduna nesisikazi njengombana uZimu ayala uNowa. 10 Ngemva kwamalanga alikhomba umthwalela wafika ephasini.

11 UNowa nakaneminyaka ema-600, enyangeni yesibili ngelanga le-17 woke amanzi asemkayini athumbuka neentunja zomkayi zavuleka.+ 12 Izulu larhatjha amalanga ama-40 nobusuku obuma-40. 13 Mhlokho uNowa wangena ngemkhunjini namadodanakhe, okunguTjhemu, uRhamu noJafethi,+ umkakhe nabomalukazana bakhe abathathu.+ 14 Bangena nazo zoke iinlwana zemmangweni ngokuhlukahluka kwazo, iinlwana ezifuywako ngokuhlukahluka kwazo, iinlwana ezirhurhubako ngokuhlukahluka kwazo, iinlwana eziphaphako ngokuhlukahluka kwazo, iinyoni nezinye iinlwana eziphaphako. 15 Zoke iinlwana eziphilako ngokuhlukahluka kwazo bezisolo ziza kuNowa ngaphakathi emkhunjini, ngazimbili. 16 Zangena, eziduna nezisikazi ngokuhlukahluka kwazo njengombana uZimu bekayale uNowa. Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wavala umnyango.

17 Belisolo lina njalo amalanga ama-40 ephasini, amanzi bewasolo anda, nje-ke aphakamisa umkhumbi wathaya phezulu. 18 Amanzi aba manengi khulu begodu bewasolo akhuphuka kodwana umkhumbi bewuthaya phezu kwawo. 19 Amanzi la aba manengi khulu, abe agubuzesa+ neentaba eziphakamileko. 20 Amanzi la agubuzesa iintaba abe adlulela ngamamitha* ayi-6.5.

21 Nje-ke zoke iinlwana ebezikhambakhamba ephasini zatjhabalala,+ okuziinlwana eziphaphako, ezifuywako, zemmangweni neenlwanyana ezincani kuhlanganise nabantu.+ 22 Koke ebekuphila endaweni eyomileko kwafa.+ 23 UZimu wathanyela koke ebekuphila ephasini, okuhlanganisa abantu, iinlwana ezihlukahlukeneko, ezirhurhubako neziphapha emkayini. Koke kwathanyelwa ephasini,+ kwasinda+ uNowa nalabo egade banaye emkhunjini kwaphela. 24 Amanzi bewasolo agubuzese iphasi njalo bekwaphela amalanga ali-150.+

8 UZimu wakhumbula uNowa nazo zoke iinlwana zommango nezifuywako ebezinaye ngemkhunjini,+ wenza bona kuvunguze umoya ephasini amanzi athoma ukubohla. 2 Imithombo yamanzi neentunja zezulwini zavalwa, izulu lathula.+ 3 Amanzi athoma ukubohla kancanikancani ephasini. Ngemva kwamalanga ali-150 amanzi besele abohlile. 4 Ngelanga le-17 enyangeni yekhomba, umkhumbi wahlala phezu kweentaba ze-Ararathi. 5 Amanzi aya njalo abohla bekwaba yinyanga yetjhumi. Ngelanga lokuthoma lenyanga yetjhumi iinqongolo zeentaba zathoma ukubonakala.+

6 Nje-ke ngemva kwamalanga ama-40, uNowa wavula ifesidere+ ebekalenze emkhunjini 7 wathumela igubulu, lasolo liphapha liya le nale, bekwaba kulapho amanzi abohla ephasini.

8 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wathumela ijuba bona liyokuhlola ukuthi amanzi abohlile na. 9 Ijuba akhenge lifumane indawo yokuhlala, nje-ke labuyela kuye emkhunjini ngombana iphasi loke+ belisagutjuzeswe mamanzi. UNowa walula isandla sakhe walingenisa ngemkhunjini. 10 Walinda amalanga alikhomba, walithumela godu. 11 Kuthe lokha ijuba nalibuyako ntambama, uNowa wabona liphethe ikari lomuthi wama-oliva ngomlomalo. Yeke walemuka bona amanzi abohlile ephasini.+ 12 Walinda amanye amalanga alikhomba. Ngemva kwalokho walithumela kodwana akhenge lisabuya.

13 Yeke ngomnyaka wama-601+ ngelanga lokuthoma lenyanga yokuthoma, amanzi besele omile ephasini. UNowa wavula intunja emfulelweni womkhumbi wabona ukuthi ihlabathi iyoma. 14 Ngelanga lama-27 lenyanga yesibili, iphasi besele lomile.

15 Nje-ke uZimu wathi kuNowa: 16 “Phumani ngemkhunjini, wena, umkakho, amadodanakho nabomalukazana+ bakho. 17 Khupha nayo yoke imihlobo yeenlwana+ ebezinawe ngemkhunjini, iinlwana eziphaphako, ezifuywako, zommango nazo zoke iinlwana ezirhurhubako ephasini bona zizale iphasi,+ zizalane zande.”

18 Yeke uNowa waphuma ngemkhunjini namadodanakhe,+ umkakhe nabomalukazana bakhe. 19 Zaphuma ngemkhunjini zoke iinlwana zommango, zoke iinlwana ezirhurhubako, zoke iinlwana eziphaphako nazo zoke ezikhambakhamba ephasini, zaphuma ngokwemihlobazo.+ 20 Ngemva kwalokho uNowa wakhela uJehova i-aldara,+ wathatha ezinye zeenlwana ezihlwengileko neziphaphako+ ezihlwengileko, wenza iminikelo etjhiswako ngazo. 21 UJehova wezwa kunuka kamnandi. Nje-ke uJehova wathi ehliziywenakhe: “Angekhe ngisaqalekisa iphasi+ ngebanga lomuntu ngombana imicabango yomuntu mimbi kusukela ebutjheni bakhe.+ Angekhe ngisatjhabalalisa koke okuphilako njengombana ngenzile.+ 22 Kusukela nje, ephasini kuzokuhlala kunesikhathi sokutjala nesokuvuna, samakhaza nesomtjhiso, sehlobo nesobusika, semini nesobusuku.”+

9 UZimu wabusisa uNowa namadodanakhe wathi kibo: “Belethani nande, nizalise iphasi.+ 2 Zoke iinlwana eziphila ephasini, iinlwana eziphaphako, iinlwana ezikhambakhambako neenlwana ezihlala ngemanzini, zizonisaba. Ngininikela zona+ bona nizibuse. 3 Zoke iinlwana eziphilako ezikhambakhamba ephasini ngininikela zona bona zibe kukudla kwenu.+ Njengombana ngininikele iintjalo, ngininikela zona zoke.+ 4 Kodwana inyama engakophiswa kufuze ningayidli ngombana iingazi+ zitjho ukuphila.* 5 Nangabe kukhona okuphalaza iingazi, ngizokujezisa. Nangabe silwana kufuze sife, nangabe mumuntu kufuze abhadele ngokuphila kwakhe ngombana mfowenu.+ 6 Nangabe umuntu uphalaza iingazi zomunye umuntu nezakhe zizokuphalazwa+ ngombana umuntu wenziwe ngomfanekiso kaZimu.+ 7 Nina belethani nande,+ nizalise iphasi.”

8 UZimu wathi kuNowa nemadodanenakhe: 9 “Ngenza isivumelwano nani+ neenzukulwana zenu, 10 nazo zoke iinlwana eziphume nani ngemkhunjini, iinyoni, iinlwana ezifuywako, zommango nazo zoke iinlwana ezisephasini.+ 11 Ngenza nani isivumelwano: Angekhe ngisatjhabalalisa okuphilako ngomthwalela begodu angekhe ngisalitjhabalalisa+ iphasi ngomthwalela.”

12 UZimu wangezelela wathi: “Leli litshwayo lesivumelwano engisenza phakathi kwami nani naphakathi kwazo zoke izinto eziphilako nakizo zoke iinzukulwana ezizokulandela. 13 Ngibeka izungu lekosi emafini bona libe litshwayo lesivumelwano esiphakathi kwami nephasi. 14 Nanyana kunini nangiveza amafu emkayini nezungu lekosi lizokuvela emafini. 15 Ngokuqinisekileko ngizosikhumbula isivumelwano engasenza nani nazo zoke iinlwana eziphilako, sokuthi angekhe ngisathoma ngitjhabalalise iphasi nakho koke okukilo+ ngomthwalela. 16 Izungu lekosi lizakuvela emafini begodu kwamambala ngizosikhumbula isivumelwano esingapheliko engasenza nakho koke okuphila ephasini.”

17 UZimu wabuyelela wathi kuNowa: “Leli litshwayo lesivumelwano engisenza nakho koke okuphila ephasini.”+

18 Amadodana kaNowa aphuma nawo ngemkhunjini bekunguTjhemu, uRhamu noJafethi.+ Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uRhamu waba nguyise kaKanana.+ 19 Lawo madodana kaNowa amathathu begodu boke abantu abahlala ephasini baziinzukulwana zawo.+

20 UNowa wathoma ukulima, watjala isimu yamadiribe. 21 Kwathi nakaqeda ukusela iwayini, wadakwa bewalala ahlubule ngetendeni lakhe. 22 URhamu ubaba kaKanana wabona uyise ahlubule, watjela abafowabo ngaphandle. 23 UTjhemu noJafethi bathatha isambatho basibeka emahlombabo, bangena ngetendeni bakhamba isinyava. Bavala ubuhlubule bakayise, ubuso babo bufulathele, akhenge babone ubuhlubule bakayise.

24 Kwathi uNowa nakaqaquluka ewayinini lakhe, wezwa ngokwenziwe yindodanakhe encani, 25 wathi:

“Akaqalekiswe uKanana.+

Akabe sigqila seengqila zabafowabo.”+

26 Wangezelela wathi:

UKanana akabe sigqila sakhe.”

28 UNowa waphila iminyaka ema-350 ngemva komThwalela.+ 29 Seyiyoke iminyaka uNowa ayiphilako yaba ma-950, ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala.

10 Lo mlando wamadodana kaNowa, okunguTjhemu,+ uRhamu noJafethi.

Ngemva komThwalela+ amadodana kaNowa la abelethelwa amadodana. 2 Amadodana kaJafethi bekunguGomere,+ uMagogi,+ uMadayi, uJavani, uTubali,+ uMetjheki+ noTirasi.+

3 Amadodana kaGomere bekungu-Atjhikenazi,+ uRifathi noTogarima.+

4 Amadodana kaJavani bekungu-Elitjha,+ uTaratjhitjhi,+ uKithi+ noDodani.

5 Ngibo ababa bokhokho babantu ebebahlala eenhlengeleni* ngokwamalimi abawakhulumako, ngokwemindenabo nangokweentjhaba zabo.

6 Amadodana kaRhamu bekunguKutjhe, uMitsiriyamu,+ uPhuthi+ noKanana.+

7 Amadodana kaKutjhe bekunguSeba,+ uRhavila, uSabeta, uRama+ noSabiteka.

Amadodana kaRama bekunguTjheba noDedani.

8 UKutjhe waba nguyise kaNimrodi. UNimrodi lo mumuntu wokuthoma owaba namandla ephasini. 9 UNimrodi waba mzumi onesibindi begodu ajamelene noJehova. Kungebangelo kwaba nesitjho esithi: “NjengoNimrodi, umzumi onesibindi nojamelene noJehova.” 10 Wathoma ukubusa eBhabheli,+ e-Ereke,+ e-Akadi neKaline enarheni yeTjhinari.+ 11 Ukusuka lapho watjhinga e-Asiriya,+ wakha iNiniva,+ iRerhobhothi-Iri, iKalarha 12 neReseni, hlangana neNiniva neKalarha: Woke amadorobho la akha idorobho elikhulu.

13 UMitsiriyamu waba nguyise kaLudi,+ ka-Anami, kaLehabi, kaNafiturhi,+ 14 kaPatrusi,+ kaKasilurhi (okuvela kuye amaFilista+) noKafitori.+

15 UKanana waba nguyise kaTsidoni+ okulizibulo lakhe, waba nguyise kaRhiti,+ 16 wamaJebusi,+ wama-Amori,+ wamaGirigatjhi, 17 wamaRhivi,+ wama-Arikhi, wamaSini, 18 wama-Arivadi,+ wamaTsemari namaRhamathi.+ Ngemva kwalokho imindeni yamaKanana yarhatjheka. 19 Inarha yamaKanana beyisuka eTsidoni iyokufika eGerari,+ ehlanu kweGaza.+ Beyikhamba beyiyokufika eSodoma, eGomora,+ e-Adima neTseboyimu.+ Iindawezi bezihlanu kweLatjha. 20 La madodana kaRhamu ngokwemindenawo, ngokwamalimi abawakhulumako, ngokweenarha zawo nangokweentjhaba zawo.

21 UTjhemu umfowabo* kaJafethi naye wabelethelwa abantwana. Waba ngukhokhwawo woke amadodana ka-Ebhere.+ 22 Amadodana kaTjhemu bekungu-Elamu,+ u-Atjhuri,+ u-Aripakitjhadi,+ uLudi no-Aramu.+

23 Amadodana ka-Aramu bekungu-Utsi, uRhuli, uGeteri noMatjhi.

24 U-Aripakitjhadi waba nguyise kaTjhela,+ uTjhela waba nguyise ka-Ebhere.

25 U-Ebhere waba namadodana amabili. Igama lenye indodanakhe bekunguPelegi*+ ngombana ngeenkhathi zakhe abantu bebahlukene phakathi. Igama lomfowabo bekunguJokithani.+

26 UJokithani waba nguyise ka-Almodadi, uTjhelefi, uRhatsarimavethi, uJerarhi,+ 27 uHadoramu, u-Uzali, uDikhila, 28 u-Obhali, u-Abimayeli, uTjheba, 29 u-Ofira,+ uRhavila noJobabi. Woke la bekumadodana kaJokithani.

30 Indawo ebebahlala kiyo beyisuka eMetjha iyokufika eSefari, esifundeni seentaba sangePumalanga.

31 La madodana kaTjhemu ngokuya ngokwemindenawo, amalimi abawakhulumako, iindawo abahlala kizo nangokweentjhaba zawo.+

32 Le mindeni yamadodana kaNowa ngokuya ngokwemindeni yabokhokho bawo nangokweentjhaba zawo. Ngemva komThwalela+ iintjhaba ezavela emadodaneni kaNowa zarhatjheka ephasini.

11 Kusukela ngesikhatheso boke abantu ephasini bebakhuluma ilimi linye basebenzisa amagama afanako. 2 Kuthe lokha abantu nabakhamba nca ngepumalanga babona umrhoba othabaleleko enarheni yeTjhinari,+ bahlala khona. 3 Bathi komunye nomunye: “Yizani senzeni iintina sizibhage emlilweni.” Yeke basebenzisa iintina esikhundleni samatje, basebenzisa isikontiri saba lidaka labo. 4 Nje-ke bathi: “Asizakheleni idorobho nombhotjhongo ofika ezulwini, sizakhele igama ukwenzela bona singarhatjheki ephasini loke.”+

5 UJehova wehlela phasi bona azokubona idorobho nombhotjhongo owakhiwe babantu. 6 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wathi: “Abantwaba bamunye begodu bakhuluma ilimi linye+ kungebangelo benza lokhu. Phela akunalitho abalicabangako abangabhalelwa kulenza. 7 Asehleni+ siyokuraranisa ilimi labo bona bangasazwani nabakhulumako.” 8 Nje-ke uJehova wabasabalalisela ephasini loke+ begodu kancanikancani balisa ukwakha idorobho. 9 Kungebangelo-ke idorobhelo lathiywa ngokuthi yiBhabheli,*+ ngombana uJehova wararanisa ilimi ephasini loke, uJehova wabasabalalisela ephasini loke.

10 Lo mlando kaTjhemu.+

UTjhemu bekaneminyaka eli-100 nakabelethelwa u-Aripakitjhadi+ ngemva kweminyaka emibili kube nomThwalela. 11 Ngemva kobana uTjhemu abelethelwe u-Aripakitjhadi, waphila iminyaka ema-500. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.+

12 U-Aripakitjhadi nakaneminyaka ema-35 wabelethelwa uTjhela.+ 13 Ngemva kobana u-Aripakitjhadi abelethelwe uTjhela, waphila iminyaka ema-403. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.

14 UTjhela nakaneminyaka ema-30 wabelethelwa u-Ebhere.+ 15 Ngemva kobana uTjhela abelethelwe u-Ebhere, waphila iminyaka ema-403. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.

16 U-Ebhere nakaneminyaka ema-34 wabelethelwa uPelegi.+ 17 Ngemva kobana u-Ebhere abelethelwe uPelegi, waphila iminyaka ema-430. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.

18 UPelegi nakaneminyaka ema-30 wabelethelwa uRewu.+ 19 Ngemva kobana uPelegi abelethelwe uRewu, waphila iminyaka ema-209. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.

20 URewu nakaneminyaka ema-32 wabelethelwa uSerugu. 21 Ngemva kobana uRewu abelethelwe uSerugu, waphila iminyaka ema-207. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.

22 USerugu nakaneminyaka ema-30 wabelethelwa uNarhori. 23 Ngemva kobana uSerugu abelethelwe uNarhori, waphila iminyaka ema-200. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.

24 UNarhori nakaneminyaka ema-29 wabelethelwa uTerarhi.+ 25 Ngemva kobana uNarhori abelethelwe uTerarhi, waphila iminyaka eli-119. Waba nguyise wamadodana namadodakazi.

26 UTerarhi waphila iminyaka ema-70 ngemva kwalokho wabelethelwa u-Abramu,+ uNarhori+ noHarana.

27 Lo mlando kaTerarhi.

UTerarhi waba nguyise ka-Abramu, kaNarhori noHarana; uHarana waba nguyise kaLothi.+ 28 UHarana wahlongakalela e-Uri+ yamaKhaledi,*+ inarha abelethelwa kiyo, uyise uTerarhi bekasaphila. 29 U-Abramu noNarhori bazithathela abafazi. Igama lomka-Abramu bekunguSarayi,+ igama lomkaNarhori kunguMilika+ indodakazi kaHarana, uyise kaMilika noJisika. 30 Nje-ke uSarayi bekayinyumba,+ anganabantwana.

31 UTerarhi wathatha indodanakhe u-Abramu nomzukulwanakhe+ uLothi, indodana kaHarana wathatha noSarayi umalukazanakhe, umka-Abramu indodanakhe, baphuma naye e-Uri yamaKhaledi* batjhinga enarheni yeKanana.+ Bafika eHarana+ bahlala khona. 32 UTerarhi waphila iminyaka ema-205. Ngemva kwalokho wahlongakalela eHarana.

12 UJehova wathi ku-Abramu: “Phuma enarheni yekhenu, eenhlobeni zakho nendlini kayihlo uye enarheni engizakutjengisa yona.+ 2 Ngizokwenza ube sitjhaba esikhulu, ngizokubusisa, ngizokwenza igama lakho libe likhulu begodu wena uzokuba sibusiso.+ 3 Ngizobabusisa labo abakubusisako, ngizobaqalekisa labo abakuthukako+ begodu yoke imindeni yephasini izokubusiswa ngawe.”+

4 Nje-ke u-Abramu wakhamba njengombana uJehova bekamtjelile, uLothi wakhamba naye. U-Abramu bekaneminyaka ema-75 nakasuka eHarana.+ 5 Wathatha umkakhe uSarayi+ noLothi indodana yomfowabo+ nayo yoke ipahla ebebayibuthelele,+ wathatha nabantu ababafumane eHarana, batjhinga enarheni yeKanana.+ Kuthe nabafika enarheni yeKanana, 6 u-Abramu wakhambakhamba enarheni leyo wabe wayokufika eTjhekemu+ eduze nomuthi omkhulu weMore.+ Ngesikhatheso bekunamaKanana enarheni leyo. 7 Ngemva kwalokho, uJehova wabonakala ku-Abramu wathi: “Ngizokunikela isizukulwana+ sakho inarha le.”+ Yeke u-Abramu wakha i-aldara endaweni leyo uJehova abonakale kuye khona. 8 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, wasuka lapho waya esifundeni seentaba esingepumalanga yeBhetheli,+ wahloma itende lakhe, iBhetheli yaba ngetjingalanga, i-Ayi+ yaba ngepumalanga. Wakhela uJehova+ i-aldara begodu wabiza igama lakaJehova.+ 9 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abramu watlhatlhamula ikampa, waraga nekhambo lakhe watjhinga nca ngeNegebhi,+ asusa ikampakhe kwenye indawo ayise kwenye.

10 Nje-ke kwaba nendlala enarheni, u-Abramu wehlela eGibhide bona ayokuhlala khona isikhatjhana+ ngombana indlala beyibhokile enarheni.+ 11 Kuthe nasele bazokungena eGibhide, u-Abramu wathi kumkakhe uSarayi: “Ngibawa ungilalele! Ngiyazi bona umfazi omuhle kwamambala.+ 12 Abantu beGibhide bazokuthi nabakubonako, bathi, ‘Lo mkakhe.’ Bazongibulala kodwana wena bazokulisa uphile. 13 Ngibawa uthi ungudadwethu, ukwenzela bona bangiphathe kuhle ngebanga lakho begodu ngisinde.”+

14 Kuthe nabangena eGibhide, abantu bakhona babona ukuthi umfazi lo muhle tle. 15 Amakhosana kaFaro ambona nawo, athoma ukumbuka kuFaro, nje-ke wathathwa wasiwa ngendlini kaFaro. 16 UFaro wamphatha kuhle u-Abramu ngebanga lakaSarayi, wamupha izimvu, iinkomo, abodumbana, iinsebenzi namakamela.+ 17 Ngemva kwalokho, uJehova wabetha uFaro nomndenakhe ngeembetho ezisabekako ngebanga lakaSarayi umka-Abramu.+ 18 Nje-ke uFaro wabiza u-Abramu wathi kuye: “Yintobani ongenze yona le? Kubayini ungakangitjeli ukuthi umfazi lo ngewakho? 19 Kubayini uthe, ‘Ngudadwethu,’+ ngize ngifune ukumthatha abe mkami? Nangu umkakho. Mthathe nikhambe!” 20 UFaro wanikela abantu bakhe umyalo wokobana bakhuphe u-Abramu nomkakhe nakho koke u-Abramu anakho.+

13 Nje-ke u-Abramu waphuma eGibhide watjhinga eNegebhi,+ wakhamba nomkakhe noLothi nakho koke egade anakho. 2 U-Abramu bekanefuyo enengi, isiliva negolide+ elinengi. 3 Bekakhamba ahlala iindawo ngeendawo njengombana asuka eNegebhi atjhinga eBhetheli bewafika endaweni ehlangana neBhetheli ne-Ayi,+ wahloma itende lakhe lapho, 4 okuyindawo lapho akha khona i-aldara phambilini. Wafese wabiza igama lakaJehova lapho.

5 ULothi obekakhamba no-Abramu naye bekanezimvu, iinkomo namatende. 6 Nje-ke bekungasakghonakali bona bahlale endaweni yinye ngombana bebanefuyo enengi khulu. 7 Lokho kwenza abelusi bemihlambi ka-Abramu nebakaLothi barhitjhana. (Ngesikhatheso enarheni bekuhlala amaKanana namaPerizi.)+ 8 Yeke u-Abramu wathi kuLothi:+ “Ngibawa singalwi, nabelusi bemihlambethu abangarhitjhani ngombana usihlobo sami. 9 Khetha lapho ufuna ukuhlala khona enarheni le. Ngibawa sihlukane. Nange uya ngesinceleni, mina ngizokuya ngesidleni; kodwana nange ukhetha ukuya ngesidleni mina-ke ngizokuya ngesinceleni.” 10 Nje-ke uLothi waqala wabona isifunda seJordani+ ebesinamanzi amanengi (ngaphambi kokuthi uJehova atjhabalalise iSodoma neGomora), sifana nesimu kaJehova,+ njengeGibhide ukuyokufika eTsowari.+ 11 ULothi wakhetha soke isifunda seJordani begodu wafudusa ikampakhe, watjhinga ngepumalanga. Bahlukana bunjalo-ke. 12 U-Abramu wahlala enarheni yeKanana, uLothi yena wahlala hlangana namadorobho wesifunda,+ kwathi kamva wayokuhloma itende lakhe hlanu kweSodoma. 13 Abantu beSodoma bebakhohlakele begodu bazizoni ezikulu kuJehova.+

14 UJehova wakhuluma no-Abramu ngemva kokobana ahlukane noLothi, wathi kuye: “Ngibawa uphakamise amehlwakho usendaweni okiyo leyo, uqale ngetlhagwini nesewula, ngepumalanga netjingalanga, 15 ngombana yoke inarha oyibonako le, ngizokunikela yona, wena neenzukulwana zakho bona nihlale kiyo ngokungapheliko.+ 16 Ngizokwenza iinzukulwana zakho zibe ngangethuli lehlabathi, ukwenzela ukuthi nangabe kunomuntu ongabala ithuli lehlabathi, neenzukulwana zakho angakghona ukuzibala.+ 17 Sikima uyikhambe yoke inarha leyo begodu ujayelane nobude nobubanzi bayo, ngombana ngizokunikela yona.” 18 U-Abramu waraga nokuhlala ematendeni. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi weza wahlala eduze nemithi yeMamre+ eseRhebroni,+ wakhela uJehova+ i-aldara lapho.

14 Emihleni leyo u-Amrafeli ikosi yeTjhinari,+ u-Ariyoki ikosi ye-Elasari, uKedorolawomeri+ ikosi ye-Elamu+ noTidali ikosi yeGoyimu, 2 balwa noBhera ikosi yeSodoma,+ uBhiritjha ikosi yeGomora,+ uTjhinabu ikosi ye-Adima, uTjhemebheri ikosi yeTseboyimu+ nekosi yeBhela okuyiTsowari. 3 Woke amakhosi la ahlangana aba libutho emRhobeni weSidimu,+ okuliLwandle leTswayi.*+

4 Amakhosi amahlanu la asebenzela uKedorolawomeri iminyaka eli-12, kodwana ahlubuka ngomnyaka we-13. 5 Kwathi ngomnyaka we-14 uKedorolawomeri namakhosi ebewanaye beza begodu bahlula amaRafa e-Atjhiterothi-Kharinayimu, amaZuzi eRhamu, ama-Emi+ eTjhave-Khiriyatayimu, 6 namaRhori+ entabenawo eSeyiri+ kwehla bekwayokufika e-Eli-Parana, esemmangweni. 7 Ngemva kwalokho babuyela emva batjhinga e-Eni-Mitjhipathi, okuyiKhadetjhi,+ basihlula soke isifunda sama-Amalekhi+ nama-Amori+ ebewahlala eRhatsetsoni-Tamari.+

8 Nje-ke ikosi yeSodoma yatjhinga emRhobeni weSidimu nekosi yeGomora, ikosi ye-Adima, ikosi yeTseboyimu nekosi yeBhela, okuyiTsowari, bajama ngendlela ehlelekileko njengeenqhema zamasotja bona balwe nabo emRhobeni weSidimu, 9 balwa noKedorolawomeri ikosi ye-Elamu, uTidali ikosi yeGoyimu, u-Amrafeli ikosi yeTjhinari no-Ariyoki ikosi ye-Elasari,+ bekumakhosi amane alwa namakhosi amahlanu. 10 Nje-ke umRhoba weSidimu bewuzele imigodi yesikontiri, amakhosi weSodoma neGomora alinga ukubaleka begodu awela ngakiyo, kwathi labo abaseleko babalekela esifundeni seentaba. 11 Ngemva kwalokho, amakhosi amane athumbileko ayithatha yoke ipahla yeSodoma neGomora nakho koke ukudla kwabo araga nekhambo lawo.+ 12 Athatha noLothi, indodana yomfowabo ka-Abramu obekahlala eSodoma,+ kuhlanganise nepahlakhe begodu araga nekhambo lawo.

13 Ngemva kwalokho, indoda ephunyurhileko yeza yazokutjela u-Abramu umHebheru ngokwenzekileko. U-Abramu ngesikhatheso bekahlala hlangana nemithi emikhulu kaMamre um-Amori,+ umfowabo ka-Etjhikolo no-Aneri.+ Amadoda la bewasizana no-Abramu. 14 Nje-ke u-Abramu wezwa ukuthi isihlobo sakhe+ sithunjiwe. Khonokho wabuthelela abantu bakhe ababanduliweko, iinsebenzi ezibelethwe endlinakhe ezima-318, baphuma bawagijimisa bebayokufika eDani.+ 15 Kwathi phakathi kobusuku, wahlukanisa amabuthwakhe, yena neenceku zakhe basahlela amakhosi lawo begodu bawahlula. Wawagijimisa bewayokufika eRhoba esetlhagwini yeDamaseku. 16 Wayibuyisa yoke ipahla, wabuyisa noLothi isihlobo sakhe, ipahlakhe, abafazi nabanye abantu ebebathunjiwe.

17 U-Abramu nakabuya ukuyokuhlula uKedorolawomeri namakhosi ebewanaye, ikosi yeSodoma yaphuma yayokuhlangana naye emRhobeni weTjhave, okumRhoba weKosi.+ 18 Yeke uMelkizedeki+ ikosi yeSalema,+ walethela u-Abramu uburotho newayini; bekamphristi kaZimu oPhezukoke.+

19 Ngemva kwalokho wambusisa wathi:

Nje-ke u-Abramu wamnikela koke kwetjhumi.+

21 Ngemva kwalokho, ikosi yeSodoma yathi ku-Abramu: “Nginikela abantu kodwana wena ungazithathela ipahla.” 22 U-Abramu wathi ekosini yeSodoma: “Ngifunga* kuJehova uZimu oPhezukoke, uMenzi wezulu nephasi, 23 bona angekhe ngithathe okungekwakho, ngitjho nanyana kungaba yirhara namkha umutja wamapatlagwana, ukwenzela bona ungathi, ‘Ngenze u-Abramu waba yinjinga.’ 24 Akunanto engizoyithatha ngaphandle kwalokho abantu bami esele bakudlile. Malungana nesabelo samadoda akhambe nami, u-Aneri, u-Etjhikolo noMamre,+ banikele isabelo sabo.”

15 Ngemva kwalokhu ilizwi lakaJehova lafika ku-Abramu embonweni, lathi: “Ungasabi+ Abramu. Ngisivikelo sakho.+ Umvuzwakho uzokuba mkhulu.”+ 2 U-Abramu wathi: “Jehova Kosi ePhakemeko, uzongiphani? Anginamntwana begodu u-Eliyezeri+ ovela edorobheni leDamaseku nguye ozokuthatha zoke izinto zami zibe lilifa lakhe.” 3 U-Abramu wangezelela wathi: “Awukangiphi abantwana+ begodu incekwami iyangilandela bona ibe yindlalifa.” 4 Yeke ilizwi lakaJehova lathi kuye, “Umuntu lo angekhe abe yindlalifakho kodwana indodanakho ngiyo ezokuba yindlalifa.”+

5 Nje-ke wamkhuphela ngaphandle wathi kuye: “Ngibawa uqale phezulu ezulwini, ubale iinkwekwezi nangabe uzokukghona ukuzibala.” Ngemva kwalokho wathi kuye: “Zizokuba njalo-ke iinzukulwana zakho.”+ 6 U-Abramu wakholwa kuJehova+ begodu uZimu wamqala njengolungileko.+ 7 Wangezelela wathi ku-Abramu: “NginguJehova owakukhupha e-Uri yamaKhaledi* bona ngikunikele inarha le ibe ngeyakho.”+ 8 U-Abramu wathi kuye: “Jehova Kosi ePhakemeko, ngizokwazi njani bona ngizoyithatha ibe ngeyami?” 9 UZimu wathi kuye: “Ngilethela ithole elineminyaka emithathu, imbuzi esikazi eneminyaka emithathu, iramu elineminyaka emithathu, ijuba lommango nejuba elincani elifuywako.” 10 Nje-ke wathatha zoke iinlwanezi wazisika phakathi zaba ziinquntu ezimbili, wabeka isiquntu sesilwana ngasinye ngehlangothini elinye, kwathi ngehlangothini elinye, nakhona wabeka isiquntu sesilwana ngasinye kodwana akhenge azisike iinyoni. 11 Amadlanga ehla adla inyama yeenlwana ezibulewekwezi kodwana u-Abramu wasolo awaqotha.

12 Kuthe nakutjhinga ilanga, u-Abramu wabanjwa buthongo obukhulu begodu wafikelwa bumnyama obukhulu obuthusako. 13 Nje-ke uZimu wathi ku-Abramu: “Yazi ukuthi iinzukulwana zakho zizokuhlala enarheni ekungasiyo yazo begodu abantu balapho bazozigqilaza, bazitlhagise iminyaka ema-400.+ 14 Kodwana ngizosahlulela isitjhaba esizokugqilaza+ iinzukulwana zakho begodu zizokukhamba enarheni leyo zinepahla enengi.+ 15 Wena uzokuhlongakala* ngokuthula, uzokubulungwa sewuluphele.+ 16 Iinzukulwana zakho zona zizokubuya+ ngesizukulwana sesine, ngombana isikhathi sokobana ama-Amori ajeziswe asikafiki.”+

17 Kuthe ilanga nalitjhingako begodu sekumnyama, kwabonakala umlilo othunya intuthu nesibani esivuthako sadlula hlangana neenlwana ezibulewekweza. 18 Ngelangelo uJehova wenza isivumelwano+ no-Abramu, wathi: “Inarha+ le ngizoyinikela iinzukulwana zakho, kusukela emlanjeni weGibhide ukuya emlanjeni omkhulu, umlambo iYufrathe.+ 19 Iinarha engizozinikela iinzukulwana zakho, yinarha yamaKheni, yamaKhenizi,+ yamaKhadimoni, 20 yamaRhiti,+ yamaPerizi,+ yamaRafa,+ 21 yama-Amori, yamaKanana, yamaGirigatjhi neyamaJebusi.”+

16 Nje-ke uSarayi umka-Abramu bekanganabantwana,+ kodwana bekanesisebenzi esimGibhide igama laso bekunguHagari.+ 2 USarayi wathi ku-Abramu: “Ngibawa ungilalele. UJehova ungikhandele bona ngibe nabantwana. Yeke ngibawa uye emabhayini nesisebenzi sami. Mhlamunye ngingafumana abantwana ngaso.”+ U-Abramu walalela lokho uSarayi akutjhoko. 3 U-Abramu besele ahlezi iminyaka elitjhumi enarheni yeKanana, uSarayi umkakhe wathatha uHagari isisebenzi sakhe esimGibhide, wasiletha endodenakhe u-Abramu bona sibe mkakhe. 4 Nje-ke u-Abramu waya emabhayini noHagari, waba sidisi. UHagari nakabona ukuthi usidisi, wathoma ukudelela umphathakhe uSarayi.

5 Ngemva kwalokho, uSarayi wathi ku-Abramu: “Ubuhlungu engibuzwakobu ngibuzwa ngebanga lakho. Ngimi okunikele isisebenzi sami, kodwana nasilemuka ukuthi sisidisi, sathoma ukungidelela. Kwanga uJehova angahlulela hlangana nami nawe.” 6 Nje-ke u-Abramu wathi kuSarayi: “Qala! Isisebenzi sakho silawulwa nguwe. Ungenza nanyana yini oyifunako kiso.” Ngemva kwalokho, uSarayi wasiphatha kumbi begodu sambalekela.

7 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, ingilozi kaJehova yasifumana emthonjeni wamanzi emmangweni, umthombo osendleleni eya eTjhuri.+ 8 Yathi kiso: “Hagari, sisebenzi sakaSarayi, ubuyaphi begodu uyakuphi?” Yena wathi: “Ngibalekela umphathami uSarayi.” 9 Nje-ke ingilozi kaJehova yathi kuye: “Buyela kumphathakho uzithobe kuye.” 10 Ngemva kwalokho, ingilozi kaJehova yathi: “Ngizokwandisa iinzukulwana zakho ngokubuyelelweko, kangangobana zizokuba zinengi khulu bona ungazibala.”+ 11 Ingilozi kaJehova yangezelela yathi: “Qala! Usidisi begodu uzokubeletha indodana, kufuze uyithiye ngokuthi ngu-Itjhimayeli,* ngombana uJehova usizwile isililo sakho. 12 Indodana leyo izokuba njengodumbana wommango. Izokulwa nabo boke abantu, nabantu bazokulwa nayo begodu izokuhlala eduze nabo boke abafowabo.”*

13 Ngemva kwalokho, wabiza igama lakaJehova obekakhuluma naye, wathi: “UnguZimu obonako,”+ ngombana uHagari wathi: “Inga-kghani kwamambala endaweni le ngibone ongibonako na?” 14 Kungebangelo umthombo loyo wabizwa ngokuthi yiBheyeri-Larhayi-Royi.* (Uhlangana kweKhadetjhi neBeredi.) 15 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uHagari wabelethela u-Abramu indodana begodu u-Abramu wayithiya ngokuthi ngu-Itjhimayeli.+ 16 U-Abramu bekaneminyaka ema-86 lokha uHagari nakambelethela u-Itjhimayeli.

17 U-Abramu nakaneminyaka ema-99, uJehova wabonakala kuye wathi: “NginguZimu uMninimandla Woke. Khamba phambi kwami begodu ungabi namtjhapho. 2 Ngizosiphetha isivumelwano engasenza nawe+ begodu ngizokwenza ube neenzukulwana ezinengi.”+

3 U-Abramu nakezwa lokho, waguqa wakhothamisa ihloko, uZimu waragela phambili akhuluma naye, wathi: 4 “Ngenze isivumelwano nawe+ begodu kwamambala uzokuba nguyise weentjhaba ezinengi.+ 5 Igama lakho angeze lisaba ngu-Abramu;* lizokuba ngu-Abrahama* ngombana ngizokwenza ube nguyise weentjhaba ezinengi. 6 Ngizokwandisa abantwana bakho begodu ngizokwenza ube ziintjhaba, amakhosi azokuvela kuwe.+

7 “Ngizosiphetha isivumelwano engasenza nawe+ nesizukulwana sakho kizo zoke iinzukulwana zaso; lesi sivumelwano esingapheliko sokobana ngibe nguZimu kuwe nesizukulwaneni sakho. 8 Inarha ekungasingeyenu+ enihlala kiyo le, okuyinarha yoke yeKanana, ngizoyinikela wena neenzukulwana zakho bona ibe ngeyenu ngokungapheliko begodu mina ngizokuba nguZimazo.”+

9 UZimu wathi ku-Abrahama: “Kufanele uphethe isivumelwano sami, wena neenzukulwana zakho kiso soke isizukulwana sazo. 10 Isivumelwano sami nawe okufuze wena neenzukulwana zakho nisilalele, ngilesi: Woke umuntu omduna ophakathi kwenu kufuze asokwe.+ 11 Ukusokokhu kuzokuba litshwayo lesivumelwano esiphakathi kwami nani.+ 12 Esizukulwaneni sakho, kufuze kusokwe+ woke umuntu omduna onamalanga abunane, nanyana ngubani obelethelwe endlinakho, ongasisizukulwana sakho nothengwe ngemali kwenye inarha. 13 Kufuze kusokwe+ woke amadoda abelethelwe endlinakho, woke amadoda athengwe ngemalakho begodu isivumelwano sami esisenyamenakho kufuze sibe sivumelwano esingapheliko. 14 Nangabe kunomuntu omduna ongafuni ukusokwa, kufuze abulawe hlangana nabantu bekhabo ngombana uphule isivumelwano sami.”

15 Nje-ke uZimu wathi ku-Abrahama: “Ungasabizi umkakho ngokuthi nguSarayi*+ ngombana igama lakhe lizokuba nguSara.* 16 Ngizombusisa ngikuphe nendodana ngaye;+ ngizombusisa begodu uzokuba ziintjhaba; amakhosi wabantu azokuvela kuye.” 17 U-Abrahama nakezwa lokhu waguqa wakhothamisa ihloko wahleka wathi ehliziywenakhe:+ “Kghani indoda eneminyaka eli-100 ingabelethelwa umntwana noSara umfazi oneminyaka ema-90 angabeletha?”+

18 Yeke u-Abrahama wathi kuZimu weqiniso: “Kwanga ungabusisa u-Itjhimayeli!”+ 19 UZimu wathi: “USara umkakho uzokubelethela indodana, kufuze uyithiye ngokuthi ngu-Isaka.*+ Ngizokwenza isivumelwano esingapheliko naye bekube seenzukulwaneni zakhe.+ 20 Ngisizwile isibawo sakho malungana no-Itjhimayeli. Ngizombusisa begodu ngizomenza abe nabantwana abanengi, ngimandise khulu. Uzokuba nguyise wamakhosana ali-12, ngizomenza abe sitjhaba esikhulu.+ 21 Kodwana ngizosiphetha isivumelwano sami no-Isaka,+ loyo uSara azokubelethela yena umnyaka ozako+ ngesikhathesi.”

22 UZimu nakaqeda ukukhuluma no-Abrahama, wasuka lapho wamtjhiya. 23 Nje-ke u-Abrahama wathatha indodanakhe u-Itjhimayeli nawo woke amadoda abelethelwe endlinakhe nawo woke umuntu othengiweko, boke abaduna abasendlinakhe wabasoka ngelangelo njengombana uZimu akhulumile.+ 24 U-Abrahama bekaneminyaka ema-99 nakasokwako.+ 25 Indodanakhe u-Itjhimayeli beyineminyaka eli-13 nayisokwako.+ 26 U-Abrahama nendodanakhe u-Itjhimayeli basokwa ngelanga linye. 27 Woke amadoda asendlini ka-Abrahama, abelethelwe khona, athengwe ngemali esitjhabeni esinye asokwa naye.

18 Ngemva kwalokho, uJehova+ wabonakala kuye hlangana nemithi emikhulu yeMamre,+ ngesikhathi ahlezi ebungenweni betende. Ngesikhatheso nelanga belibaba! 2 Kwathi nakaqalako, wabona amadoda amathathu ajame kudanyana.+ Wathi nakawabonako, wagijima wafika kiwo waguqa. 3 Wathi: “Jehova, nangabe uyangamukela, ngibawa ungivakatjhele. 4 Ngibawa kulethwe amanzi, kuhlanjwe iinyawo zenu,+ ngemva kwalokho-ke nizigedle ngaphasi komuthi. 5 Ngombana nakhu nivakatjhele isisebenzi senu, akulethwe isiqetjhana soburotho nidle begodu nibe namandla. Ngemva kwalokho-ke ningakhamba.” Amphendula athi: “Kulungile, ungenza njengombana utjhwile.”

6 Nje-ke u-Abrahama wagijimela ngetendeni lapha kunoSara khona wafika wathi: “Rhaba! Uthathe iinlinganiso ezintathu zeseya* zeflowuru esezingeni eliphezulu, uyibhice bese wenza uburotho.” 7 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abrahama wagijimela emhlambini, wafika wakhetha ikunzana enonileko nehle. Wayinikela isisebenzi sakhe, sayihlinza ngokurhabako. 8 U-Abrahama wathatha ibhodoro, ibisi nenyama yekunzana ehlatjiweko wanikela amadoda la bona adle. Wawatenda+ ngaphasi komuthapho.

9 Athi kuye: “Uphi uSara+ umkakho?” Wawaphendula wathi: “Ungetendeni.” 10 Omunye wawo waraga wathi: “Ngokuqinisekileko umnyakozako ngesikhathesi ngizokubuya kuwe begodu uSara umkakho uzabe anendodana.”+ Ngesikhatheso uSara bekasebungenweni betende ebelingemva kwamadoda la alalele. 11 U-Abrahama noSara besele baluphele, iminyaka ikhambile tle!+ USara besele adlulile eminyakeni yokuba nabantwana.+ 12 Yeke wahlekela ngaphakathi wathi: “Nasengiluphele kangaka nekosami nayo iluphele nje, kghani kufuze ngithabe ngalokhu?”+ 13 Nje-ke uJehova wathi ku-Abrahama: “Kubayini uSara ahleka begodu athi, ‘Kghani kwamambala ngingabeletha umntwana ngitjho nanyana ngiluphele kangaka?’ 14 Kunento engabhalela uJehova na?+ Umnyakozako ngesikhathesi ngizokubuya kuwe begodu uSara umkakho uzabe anendodana.” 15 USara waphika ukuthi uhlekile wathi, “Awa akhenge ngihleke!” Bekabetjhwa livalo. UZimu wathi kuye: “Iye, uhlekile.”

16 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi amadoda la akhamba. U-Abrahama wawaphekelela wawajikela endleleni, ngemva kwalokho abona iSodoma.+ 17 UJehova wathi: “Angeze ngifihlele u-Abrahama lokho engikwenzako.+ 18 Kwamambala u-Abrahama uzokuba sitjhaba esikhulu nesinamandla begodu zoke iintjhaba zephasini zizokubusiswa ngaye.+ 19 Ngombana ngamazi ukwenzela bona ayale amadodanakhe nabo boke bomzakhe ukuthi bakhambe endleleni kaJehova ngokwenza okulungileko begodu benze nobulungiswa.+ Bona uJehova akwenze lokho akuthembisa ngo-Abrahama.”

20 UJehova wathi: “Ngizizwile iinghonghoyilo ngeSodoma neGomora begodu isono sazo sikhulu kwamambala.+ 21 Nje-ke ngizokwehla ngiyokubona ukuthi iinghonghoyilo engizizwakwezi ziliqiniso namkha zimamala.”+

22 Nje-ke amadoda la asuka lapho atjhinga ngeSodoma kodwana uJehova+ wasolo ano-Abrahama. 23 U-Abrahama watjhidela kuZimu wathi: “Kghani uzokutjhabalalisa abantu abalungileko nabakhohlakeleko?+ 24 Akhesithi kunabantu abama-50 abalungileko ngedorobheni. Kghani uzobatjhabalalisa begodu ungalibaleli idorobho ngebanga labantu abama-50 abalungileko? 25 Yinto ongeze wayenza leyo, ukuthi utjhabalalise abantu abalungileko nabakhohlakeleko. Angeze waphatha abalungileko nabakhohlakeleko ngendlela efanako.+ Yinto ongeze wayenza leyo!+ Kghani umaHluleli wephasi loke angeze akwenza na okulungileko?”+ 26 UJehova wathi: “Nange ngingafumana abantu abalungileko abama-50 eSodoma, ngizoyilibalela indawo le ngebanga labo.” 27 Nje-ke u-Abrahama waphendula godu wathi: “Mina ngilithuli nomlotha kwaphela. Yeke ngiyabawa Jehova, ngivumela ngikhulume nawe godu. 28 Akhesithi abantu abalungileko bama-45. Uzokutjhabalalisa inarha le ngebanga lokutlhayela kwabantu abahlanu?” UZimu waphendula wathi: “Angeze ngiyitjhabalalise ngebanga lalabo abama-45.”+

29 Nokho waraga nokukhuluma noZimu wathi: “Akhesithi bama-40 kwaphela. Wamphendula wathi: “Angeze ngiyitjhabalalise ngebanga lalabo abama-40.” 30 Waraga wathi: “Jehova ngibawa ungangipheleli ihliziyo,+ akhengirage nokukhuluma: Akhesithi bama-30 kwaphela abakhona.” Wamphendula wathi: “Angeze ngiyitjhabalalise ngebanga lalabo abama-30.” 31 Wanaba wathi: “Jehova ngibawa ungivumele ngikhulume godu: Akhesithi bama-20 kwaphela.” Wamphendula wathi: “Angeze ngiyitjhabalalise ngebanga lalabo abama-20.” 32 Emaswapheleni wathi: “Jehova ngibawa ungangipheleli ihliziyo kodwana ngivumela ngikhulume kokugcina: Akhesithi balitjhumi kwaphela.” Wamphendula wathi: “Angeze ngiyitjhabalalise ngebanga lalabo abalitjhumi.” 33 Kwathi uJehova nakaqeda ukukhuluma no-Abrahama wakhamba,+ u-Abrahama naye wabuyela endawenakhe.

19 Iingilozi ezimbili zafika eSodoma ntambama, uLothi bekahlezi esangweni ledorobho leSodoma. Kuthe nakazibonako, wasikima wayozihlangabeza, waguqa phambi kwazo wahloma ihloko phasi.+ 2 Wathi kizo: “Makhosami, ngibawa niphambukele ngendlini yencekwenu, nihlanjiswe iinyawo begodu nilale khona la. Kuzakuthi nanivukako ekuseni, nirage nekhambo lenu.” Iingilozezi zathi: “Awa, sizakulala endlelenapha.” 3 Nanyana kunjalo wasolo azirabhela bezangena naye ngendlinakhe. Ngemva kwalokho, wazilungiselela ukudla begodu wazibhagela uburotho obunganasibiliso, zadla.

4 Kuthe ngaphambi kobana bayokulala, kwafika isiqubuthu samadoda weSodoma, amasokana namadoda amadala, sabungelela indlu kaLothi. 5 Sasolo sirhuwelela uLothi sithi kuye: “Aphi amadoda angene ngendlinakho ebusukwinobu? Alethe kithi, siye nawo emabhayini.”+

6 Nje-ke uLothi waphuma waya kiso, wavala nomnyango. 7 Wathi kiso: “Bafowethu ngibawa ningenzi ubuhlola obunje. 8 Qalani! Nginamadodakazi amabili angakhenge aye emabhayini nendoda. Ngibawa ukunilethela wona amadodakazi la, ningenza nanyana yini eniyithandako kiwo. Nakumadoda la ngibawa ningenzi litho kiwo, ngombana eze kimi bona azokuvikeleka ngendlinami.”+ 9 Isiqubuthwesi sathi kuye: “Sukapha wena!” Saraga sathi: “Umuntu ovela kwenye inarha weza kithi bona azokuhlala la, nje sekafuna ukuzenza umahluleli kithi! Nakunguwe sizokwenza intwembi khulu ukudlula amadoda la.” Sasunduzana satjhidela ngamandla kuLothi kwasala kancani ukuthi siphule umnyango. 10 Nje-ke amadoda ebewangendlini adosela uLothi ngendlini, avala umnyango. 11 Aphophaza amadoda ebewasemnyango wendlu kusukela komncani kuya komkhulu, kangangobana aphumbutha afunana nendlela ephumako.

12 Ngemva kwalokho, amadoda angendlini athi kuLothi: “Kukhona abanye onabo lapha? Abakhwenyana, amadodana, amadodakazi nabo boke abantu okungebakho ngedorobheni, bakhuphe endaweni le! 13 Sizoyitjhabalalisa indawo le ngombana uJehova+ uzwe umbiko omumbi ngedorobheli, kangangobana uJehova usithumele bona sizolitjhabalalisa.” 14 Nje-ke uLothi waphuma, wakhuluma nabakhwenyana bakhe ebebazokutjhada amadodakazakhe, bekasolo athi: “Sikimani! Phumani endaweni le ngombana uJehova uzolitjhabalalisa idorobheli!” Kodwana abakhwenyana bakhe babona ngasuthi wenza ihlaya.+

15 Kwathi nakusako iingilozi zatjela uLothi bona arhabe zathi: “Sikima! Thatha umkakho namadodakazakho amabili, bona ungatjhabalali ngebanga lomtjhapho wedorobheli!”+ 16 Nakasariyadako, uJehova wamzwela,+ iingilozezi zabamba isandla sakhe, zabamba isandla somkakhe nezandla zamadodakazakhe amabili, zabakhuphela ngaphandle kwedorobho.+ 17 Kuthe nasele zibakhuphele ngaphandle, enye yazo yathi: “Baleka, sindisa ukuphila kwakho! Ungaqali ngemva,+ ungajami kinanyana ngisiphi isifunda seJordani.+ Balekela esifundeni seentaba ukuthi ungatjhatjalaliswa!”

18 Nje-ke uLothi wathi kizo: “Awa Jehova, ngibawa ungangithumeli lapho! 19 Ngibawa ungilalele, incekwakho ifumene umusa emehlwenakho begodu ungirhawukele ngokuvikela ukuphila kwami+ kodwana angekhe ngikghone ukubalekela esifundeni seentaba ngombana ngisaba ukuthi ngingaqalana nehlekelele begodu ngizokufa.+ 20 Nanti idorobho elincani eliseduze engingabalekela kilo. Ngingatjhinga kilo? Lidorobho elincani. Ngizokusinda nangingaya lapho.” 21 UZimu* wathi kuye: “Kulungile, ngizokurhawukela,+ angekhe ngitjhabalalise idorobho okhulume ngalo.+ 22 Rhaba! Balekela khona ngombana akunanto engizoyenza ungakafiki lapho.”+ Kungebangelo abiza idorobhelo ngokuthi yiTsowari.*+

23 ULothi nakafika eTsowari ilanga besele liphumile. 24 Nje-ke uJehova wenza bona kune isibabuli nomlilo eSodoma neGomora, bezivela kuJehova ezulwini.+ 25 Wawatjhabalalisa bunjalo-ke amadorobho lawo, soke isifundeso. Watjhabalalisa boke abantu bakhona nakho koke okumila endaweni leyo.+ 26 ULothi bekalandelwa mkakhe, umkakhe lo waqala emva begodu waphenduka isithubi setswayi.+

27 Nje-ke u-Abrahama wavuka ekuseni, watjhinga lapho bekajame khona phambi kwakaJehova.+ 28 Wathi nakaqala ngeSodoma neGomora wabona intuthu ikhuphuka, injengentuthu yekehla yomlilo!+ 29 UZimu akhenge akulibale lokho akutjela u-Abrahama. Yeke nakatjhabalalisa amadorobho la, wakhupha uLothi kiwo. ULothi bekahlala kiwo amadorobho la.+

30 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uLothi wathatha amadodakazakhe amabili, wakhamba eTsowari wayokuhlala esifundeni seentaba+ ngombana bekasaba ukuhlala eTsowari.+ Wahlala erholweni namadodakazakhe amabili. 31 Elizibulo yathi kwencani: “Ubaba uluphele begodu endaweni le akunandoda esingatjhinga nayo emabhayini besibe nabantwana njengabanye abantu. 32 Asinikele ubaba iwayini ngemva kwalokho, sitjhinge naye emabhayini, bona sibe nabantwana naye.”

33 Yeke ebusukwinobo bebasolo banikela uyise iwayini, ngemva kwalokho, elizibulo yangena yatjhinga emabhayini noyise. Uyise akhenge alemuke bona indodakazakhe iye naye emabhayini, ngemva kwalokho, yakhamba. 34 Ngakusasa elizibulo yathi kwencani: “Qala! Izolo ebusuku ngitjhinge emabhayini nobaba. Nanamhlanjesi ebusuku asimnikele iwayini, ngemva kwalokho, ungene utjhinge naye emabhayini bona sibe nabantwana nobaba.” 35 Godu ebusukwini bamhlokho bebasolo banikela uyise iwayini, ngemva kwalokho, encani yangena yaya emabhayini noyise, kodwana uyise akhenge alemuke bona utjhinge nayo emabhayini ngemva kwalokho, yakhamba. 36 Nje-ke womabili amadodakazi kaLothi azithwala abantwana bakayise. 37 Elizibulo yabeletha indodana, yayithiya ngoMowabi.+ UMowabi lo, nguyise wabantu bakwaMowabi banamhlanjesi.+ 38 Encani nayo yabeletha indodana, yayithiya ngoBhen-Ami. UBhen-Ami lo, nguyise wabantu bakwa-Amoni+ banamhlanjesi.

20 U-Abrahama wafudusa ikampakhe,+ watjhinga eNegebhi wahlala hlangana neKhadetjhi+ neTjhuri.+ Ngesikhathi ahlala enarheni engasingeyekhabo, eGerari,+ 2 bekasolo athi malungana noSara umkakhe: “Ungudadwethu.”+ Nje-ke u-Abimeleki ikosi yeGerari yathi kulethwe uSara endlinakhe.+ 3 Ngemva kwalokho, uZimu wabonakala ebhudangweni ebusuku ku-Abimeleki wathi: “Uzokufa ngebanga lomfazi omthetheko+ lo ngombana utjhadile begodu ungewenye indoda.”+ 4 Nokho u-Abimeleki bekangakatjhingi emabhayini naye. Nje-ke wathi: “Jehova kghani uzokubulala isitjhaba esimsulwa na? 5 Kghani u-Abrahama akhenge athi kimi uSara ungudadwabo? USara naye akhenge atjho kimi na ukuthi u-Abrahama umfowabo? Lokhu ngikwenze ngehliziyo emsulwa begodu bengingakanqophi ukwenza okungakalungi.” 6 UZimu weqiniso wakhuluma naye ebhudangweni, wathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi lokhu ukwenze ngehliziyo emsulwa, yeke ngikuvimbile bona ungoni kimi. Kungebangelo ngingakhenge ngikuvumele bona umthinte. 7 Nje-ke buyisela umfazi lo endodenakhe ngombana imphorofidi,+ izokuthandazela+ bona uragele phambili uphila. Nange ungambuyiseli kwamambala uzokufa, wena nabo boke ekungebakho.”

8 U-Abimeleki wavuka ekuseni wabiza zoke iinsebenzi zakhe wazitjela okwenzekileko, zathi nazizwa lokho zangenwa mamanzi emadolweni. 9 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abimeleki wabiza u-Abrahama wathi kuye: “Yintobani osenze yona le? Ngikone ngani bona ungabe ulethele mina nombuswami ihlekelele engaka? Into ongenze yona le ayikalungi.” 10 U-Abimeleki waraga wathi ku-Abrahama: “Bewunqopheni ngokwenza into le?”+ 11 U-Abrahama wamphendula wathi: “Ngazitjela ngathi, ‘Kwamambala abantu bala abamsabi uZimu, nje-ke bazongibulala ngebanga lomkami.’+ 12 Nangaphandle kwalokho, ungudadwethu ngombana uyindodakazi kababa kodwana ingasi indodakazi kamma, nje-ke waba mkami.+ 13 Lokha uZimu nakangenza bona ngikhambe endlini kababa,+ ngathi kuye, ‘Le yindlela ozongitjengisa ngayo ukuthi uyangithanda: Nanyana kukuphi lapha sikhamba khona uthi, ngimfowenu.’”+

14 U-Abimeleki wathatha izimvu, iinkomo, iinsebenzi eziduna nezisikazi wazinikela u-Abrahama, wambuyisela nomkakhe uSara. 15 U-Abimeleki wanaba wathi: “Inarha le ngeyami, nje-ke ungahlala nanyana kukuphi lapha uthanda khona.” 16 Wathi kuSara: “Nginikela umfowenu+ iimpaparwana zesiliva eziyi-1 000. Zilitshwayo lokuthi akunanto engakalungi oyenzileko begodu umsulwa.” 17 U-Abrahama wathandaza kuZimu weqiniso, nje-ke uZimu walapha u-Abimeleki, umkakhe neengqilakazi. Ngemva kwalokho, baba nabantwana 18 ngombana uJehova bekavale isibeletho sabo boke abafazi ebebangendlini ka-Abimeleki ngebanga lakaSara umka-Abrahama.+

21 UJehova wakhumbula uSara njengombana atjho, uJehova wenza kuSara njengombana bekathembisile.+ 2 U-Abrahama nasele aluphele, uSara wazithwala+ wambelethela indodana ngesikhathi uZimu athi uzokubeletha ngaso.+ 3 Wathiya indodana ayibelethelwe nguSara bona ngu-Isaka.+ 4 U-Abrahama wasoka indodanakhe u-Isaka lokha nayinamalanga abunane njengombana uZimu amyalile.+ 5 U-Abrahama bekaneminyaka eli-100 nakabelethelwa indodanakhe u-Isaka. 6 USara wathi: “UZimu ungenze ngathaba, nje-ke woke umuntu ozwa ngalokhu uzokuthaba nami.”* 7 Wangezelela wathi: “Ngubani obekacabanga bona ngingaba nomntwana? Nanyana kunjalo, ngibelethele u-Abrahama umntwana sele aluphele.”

8 Nje-ke umntwana wakhula walisiswa ukumunya. U-Abrahama wenza isidlo esikhulu ngelanga okwalisiswa ngalo u-Isaka ukumunya. 9 USara wabona indodana kaHagari+ umGibhide, leyo uHagari ayibelethela u-Abrahama, idelela u-Isaka.+ 10 Yeke uSara wathi ku-Abrahama: “Qotha isigqilakazesi nendodanaso ngombana indodanaso le angeze ibe yindlalifa nendodanami u-Isaka!”+ 11 Lokhu akhenge kumphathe kuhle u-Abrahama.+ 12 UZimu wathi ku-Abrahama: “Kungakuphathi kabuhlungu okukhulunywe nguSara kuwe malungana nendodanakho nesigqilakazi sakho. Lalela akutjhoko ngombana iinzukulwana zakho zizokuza ngo-Isaka.+ 13 Malungana nendodana yesigqilakazi,+ nayo ngizoyenza isitjhaba ngombana iyindodanakho.”+

14 U-Abrahama wavuka ekuseni, wathatha uburotho nesikhwama samanzi* wanikela uHagari. Wasibeka ehlombe lakaHagari wathi akakhambe nomsana.+ Wakhamba-ke wazulazula eBheritjheba.+ 15 Amanzi angesikhwameni aphela, uHagari watjhiya umntwana ngaphasi komuthi. 16 Wakhamba wayokuhlala kudanyana ayedwa ngombana wathi: “Angifuni ukubona umsanyanami afa.” Wahlala lapho wakhihla isililo.

17 UZimu walizwa ilizwi lomsana,+ yeke ingilozakhe yabiza uHagari isezulwini yathi kuye:+ “Kwenzenjani ngawe Hagari? Ungasabi ngombana uZimu ulizwile ilizwi lomsana lapha akhona. 18 Sikima, thatha umsana umbambe ngesandla ngombana ngizomenza isitjhaba esikhulu.”+ 19 Nje-ke uZimu wavula amehlo kaHagari wabona umthombo wamanzi, wakhamba wazalisa isikhwama samanzi wanikela umsana wasela. 20 UZimu wamtlhogomela umntwana+ njengombana akhula. Wahlala emmangweni, waba mdumuzi wemisubela. 21 Wahlala emmangweni weParana,+ unina wamthathela umfazi enarheni yeGibhide.

22 Ngesikhatheso u-Abimeleki noPhikoli induna yebutho lakhe bathi ku-Abrahama: “UZimu unawe kikho koke okwenzako.+ 23 Nje-ke funga kimi ngoZimu ukuthi uzokuthembeka kimi, emadodanenami neenzukulwaneni zami nokuthi uzokusebenzelana nami nenarha ohlala kiyo ngendlela yethando, engisebenzelane ngayo nawe.”+ 24 U-Abrahama wathi: “Ngiyafunga.”

25 U-Abrahama walila ku-Abimeleki ngomthombo wamanzi owathathwa ziinsebenzi zaka-Abimeleki ngekani.+ 26 U-Abimeleki waphendula wathi: “Angazi bona ngubani owenze lokhu, nawe akhenge ungitjele ngakho, ngithoma ukuzwa ngawe namhlanjesi.” 27 U-Abrahama nakezwa lokho wathatha izimvu neenkomo wazinikela u-Abimeleki, benza isivumelwano. 28 U-Abrahama nakabekela ngeqadi iimvana ezilikhomba ezisikazi, 29 u-Abimeleki wathi kuye: “Kubayini ubekela iimvana ezilikhomba ezisikazezi ngeqadi?” 30 U-Abrahama wathi kuye: “Kufuze wamukele iimvana ezilikhomba ezisikazezi, kube bufakazi bokuthi ngimi owagubha umthombo lo.” 31 Kungebangeli abiza indawo le ngokuthi yiBheritjheba*+ ngombana bobabili benza isifungo lapho. 32 Ngemva kobana benze isivumelwanesi+ eBheritjheba, u-Abimeleki noPhikoli induna yebutho lakhe babuyela enarheni yamaFilista.+ 33 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama watjala umuthi womtamariski eBheritjheba, wabiza igama lakaJehova+ uZimu ohlala bekube nini nanini.+ 34 U-Abrahama wahlala enarheni yamaFilista isikhathi eside.+

22 Nje-ke ngemva kwalokho uZimu walinga u-Abrahama,+ wathi kuye: “Abrahama!” Waphendula wathi: “Ngilalele Kosami!” 2 Wathi: “Ngibawa uthathe indodanakho, okukuphela kwayo noyithanda kwamambala,+ u-Isaka,+ ukhambe nayo eMoriya+ begodu ufike wenze ngayo umnikelo otjhiswako entabeni engizokutjengisa yona.”

3 Nje-ke u-Abrahama wavuka ekuseni khulu, wabophela udumbanakhe begodu wathatha iinsebenzi zakhe ezimbili nendodanakhe u-Isaka. Wakapa iinkuni zokwenza umnikelo otjhiswako, ngemva kwalokho watjhinga endaweni uZimu weqiniso amtjengise yona. 4 Ngelanga lesithathu, u-Abrahama waphakamisa amehlo begodu wabona indawo aya kiyo ikudanyana. 5 U-Abrahama watjela iinsebenzi zakhe wathi: “Salani lapha nodumbana, mina nomsana sisayokulotjha uZimu lapha, kuzakuthi ngemva kwalokho sibuye.”

6 Nje-ke u-Abrahama wathatha iinkuni zokwenza umnikelo otjhiswako wazithwesa u-Isaka. Ngemva kwalokho wathatha umlilo nomukhwa, bakhamba bobabili. 7 U-Isaka wathi kuyise u-Abrahama: “Baba!” Wamphendula wathi: “Iye msanami!” Wathi: “Nanzi iinkuni nomlilo kodwana iphi imvu yokwenza umnikelo otjhiswako?” 8 U-Abrahama wamphendula wathi: “Msanami, uZimu uzasipha imvu yokwenza umnikelo otjhiswako.”+ Bakhamba bobabili.

9 Bafika endaweni uZimu weqiniso ayitjengise u-Abrahama, wafese wakha i-aldara lapho begodu wabeka iinkuni phezu kwalo. Ngemva kwalokho, wabopha u-Isaka izandla neenyawo, wambeka phezu kweenkuni eziphezu kwe-aldara.+ 10 Nje-ke u-Abrahama wathatha umukhwa bona azokubulala indodanakhe.+ 11 Nokho ingilozi kaJehova yabiza u-Abrahama isezulwini, yathi: “Abrahama, Abrahama!” Waphendula wathi: “Ngilalele Kosami!” 12 Yathi: “Ungamlimazi umsana begodu ungamenzi litho. Nje sengiyazi bona uyamsaba uZimu ngombana akhenge ungalele ngendodanakho okukuphela kwayo.”+ 13 U-Abrahama nakezwa lokho waphakamisa amehlo begodu wabona iramu kudanyana libambeke ngeempondo emthini. Yeke wakhamba wayolithatha begodu wenza ngalo umnikelo otjhiswako esikhundleni sendodanakhe. 14 U-Abrahama wabiza indawo leyo ngokuthi yiJehova-jire.* Kungebangelo nanamhlanjesi kuthiwa: “Entabenakhe, uJehova uzokuletha okutlhogekako.”+

15 Ingilozi kaJehova yabiza u-Abrahama kwesibili isezulwini, 16 yathi, “UJehova uthi: ‘Ngifunga ngami,+ ngebanga lokuthi wenze lokhu begodu akhenge wale ngendodanakho, okukuphela kwayo,+ 17 ngizokubusisa, ngizokwenza isizukulwana sakho sibe sinengi njengeenkwekwezi zezulwini, njengehlabathi emagega nelwandle+ begodu isizukulwana sakho sizokuthatha amadorobho wezitha zaso.+ 18 Zoke iintjhaba zephasini zizokubusiswa ngesizukulwana sakho+ ngebanga lokuthi ungilalele.’”+

19 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama wabuyela eensebenzini zakhe begodu bakhamba boke babuyela eBheritjheba.+ U-Abrahama wahlala khona lapho eBheritjheba.

20 Kamva u-Abrahama wafumana umbiko othi: “UMilika ubelethele umfowenu uNarhori amadodana:+ 21 Izibulo lakhe ngu-Utsi, kulandele uBhuzi, kuthi abanye kube nguKhemuyeli onguyise ka-Aramu, 22 kube nguKesedi, uRhazo, uPilidatjhi, uYidilafu noBhetuweli.”+ 23 UBhetuweli waba nguyise kaRabega.+ UMilika wabelethela uNarhori umfowabo ka-Abrahama amadodana abunane la. 24 Ikhohlo lakhe uRewuma nalo lambelethela amadodana: okunguThebarha, uGarhamu, uTarhatjhi noMaka.

23 USara bekaneminyaka eli-127 nakahlongakalako.+ 2 Wahlongakalela eKhiriyathi-Ariba,+ okuyiRhebroni+ enarheni yeKanana.+ U-Abrahama wamlilela begodu wamhloboka. 3 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama watjhiya isidumbu somkakhe wayokukhuluma namadodana kaRhiti,+ wathi: 4 “Ngimumuntu ovela kwenye inarha, ohlala hlangana nani.+ Nginikelani indawo phakathi kwenu engizokubulungela kiyo. Ngizokubulunga umkami kiyo.” 5 Amadodana kaRhiti athi kuye: 6 “Sibawa usilalele kosethu. Uyikosi ekhethwe nguZimu* hlangana nathi.+ Ungabulunga umkakho emathunenethu akhethekileko. Akekho namunye wethu ozokwala ngendawakhe yokubulunga bona ubulunge umkakho.”

7 Ngemva kwalokho u-Abrahama wasikima, wakhothama phambi kwamadodana kaRhiti,+ 8 wathi kiwo: “Nangabe niyangivumela bona ngibulunge umkami, ngibawa ningincengele ku-Efroni indodana kaTsorhari 9 bona angithengisele irholo lakhe leMakaphela; lisekugcineni kwesimakhe. Mbaweni angithengisele lona phambi kwenu ngenani lesiliva eliyifaneleko+ ukwenzela bona ngibe nendawo yokubulunga.”+

10 U-Efroni bekahlezi hlangana namadodana kaRhiti. Nje-ke waphendula u-Abrahama alalelwe madodana kaRhiti nabantu ebebangena esangweni ledorobho,+ wathi: 11 “Awa kosami! Ngibawa ungilalele. Ngikunikela isimu nerholo elikiyo. Ngikunikela zona phambi kwabantu bekhethu, bulunga umkakho lapho.” 12 Nakezwa lokho u-Abrahama wakhothama phambi kwabantu benarheni leyo 13 wathi ku-Efroni abantu bamlalele: “Ngibawa ungilalele, ngizokuthenga isimu le ngenani lesiliva elaneleko. Ngibawa ulithathe ukwenzela bona ngibulunge umkami kiyo.”

14 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Efroni waphendula u-Abrahama wathi: 15 “Kosami, ngilalela. Inarha le ibiza amatjhekeli* wesiliva ama-400 kodwana lokho akukaqakatheki. Bulunga umkakho.” 16 U-Abrahama wakulalela lokho okutjhiwo ngu-Efroni, wamlinganisela inani lesiliva u-Efroni akhulume ngalo phambi kwamadodana kaRhiti, amatjhekeli* wesiliva ama-400 ngokwesilinganiso ebesamukelwa barhwebi.+ 17 Nje-ke isimu ka-Efroni eseMakaphela ebeyiphambi kweMamre, okuyisimu nerholo ebelikiyo nayo yoke imithi ebeyilapho kwanikelwa 18 u-Abrahama phambi kwamadodana kaRhiti naphambi kwabo boke ebebangena esangweni ledorobho. 19 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama wabulunga umkakhe uSara erholweni lesimu yeMakaphela phambi kweMamre okuyiRhebroni enarheni yeKanana. 20 Nje-ke amadodana kaRhiti adlulisela isimu nerholo ebezilapho ku-Abrahama bona kube yindawakhe yokubulungela.+

24 U-Abrahama besele aluphele begodu uJehova bekambusise ngakho koke.+ 2 U-Abrahama wathi esisebenzini sakhe, esingesikhulu ngendlinakhe, ebesitlhogomela koke anakho:+ “Ngibawa ubeke isandla sakho ngaphasi kwenyongami, 3 ngizokufungisa ngoJehova uZimu wezulu nephasi ukuthi angeze uthathele indodanami umfazi emadodakazini wamaKanana, engihlala phakathi kwawo.+ 4 Kunalokho uzokuya enarheni yekhethu, eenhlobeni zami,+ uyokuthathela khona u-Isaka indodanami umfazi.”

5 Isisebenzi sathi kuye: “Alo, nangabe umfazi loyo akafuni ukuza nami enarheni le, kghani kufuze ngithathe indodanakho ngiyise enarheni ovela kiyo?”+ 6 U-Abrahama wathi kiso: “Qiniseka bona awusi indodanami lapho.+ 7 UJehova uZimu wezulwini owangikhupha ngendlini kababa nenarheni yeenhlobo zami+ nowakhuluma nami wafunga wathi:+ ‘Inarha le ngizoyinikela iinzukulwana zakho,’+ uzokuthumela ingilozakhe bona ikunqophise,+ yeke uzoyithathela lapho-ke indodanami umfazi.+ 8 Nangabe umfazi loyo akafuni ukukhamba nawe, uzabe utjhaphulukile esifungwenesi kodwana ungayisi indodanami lapho.” 9 Isisebenzi sabeka isandla saso ngaphasi kwenyonga ka-Abrahama ikosaso, safunga malungana nendaba le.+

10 Nje-ke isisebenzi sathatha amakamela alitjhumi wekosaso begodu sakhamba siphethe yoke imihlobo yezipho ezivela ekosinaso. Ngemva kwalokho, sakhamba saya eMesopotamiya, edorobheni lakaNarhori. 11 Isisebenzesi nasifika emthonjeni ebewungaphandle kwedorobho, sajama saphumuza amakamela. Besele kuntambama, kusikhathi abafazi abeza ngaso bazokukha amanzi. 12 Sathandaza sathi: “Jehova Zimu wekosami u-Abrahama, ngibawa wenze ilangeli liphumelele begodu urhawukele ikosami u-Abrahama. 13 Ngijame emthonjenapha begodu abantazana bedorobheneli bayeza bazokukha amanzi. 14 Akwenzeke ukuthi intombi engizokuthi kiyo, ‘Ngibawa wehlise umjekakho, ungiseze amanzi,’ yona iphendule ithi, ‘Ungasela begodu ngizokuseza namakamelakho,’ akube ngiyo oyikhethele u-Isaka isisebenzi sakho. Lokho kuzakutjengisa bona uyirhawukele ikosami.”

15 Kuthe isisebenzesi singakaqedi ukukhuluma kwavela uRabega indodakazi kaBhetuweli+ indodana kaMilika+ umkaNarhori,+ omfowabo ka-Abrahama athwele umjeka wamanzi emahlombe. 16 Bekamuhle kwamambala, ayintombi; kunganandoda ekhe yaya emabhayini naye. Wehlela ngemthonjeni, wafese wazalisa umjekakhe wabuya. 17 Isisebenzi sithe nasimbonako, sagijimela kuye sathi: “Ngibawa ungiseze amanzi.” 18 URabega wathi: “Ungasela kosami.” Wehlisa umjekakhe, wanikela isisebenzi sasela. 19 Nakaqeda ukusiseza wathi: “Ngizokuseza namakamelakho bekaneliseke.” 20 Nje-ke warhaba wathela amanzi lapha kuselela khona iinlwana, wasolo agijima abuyelela kanengi emthonjeni, akha amanzi bona aseze woke amakamela. 21 Ngesikhatheso indoda le ithulile, imqalile irarekile, izibuza ukuthi kghani uJehova uliphumelelisile ikhambo layo namkha awa.

22 Kuthe nasele amakamela aqede ukusela, indoda le yamkhuphela icici lepumulweni, ubudisi balo busiquntu setjhekeli* namabhengela amabili wegolide, ubudisi bawo bumatjhekeli* alitjhumi, 23 yathi: “Akhese ungitjele, uyindodakazi kabani? Ikhona na ikumba endlini kayihlo bona ngingalala khona ubusuku banamhlanjesi?” 24 URabega wathi kiyo: “Ngiyindodakazi kaBhetuweli+ indodana kaMilika ayibelethela uNarhori.”+ 25 Waraga wathi: “Sinakho kokubili, iinhlanga nefuru enengi nendawo yokulala.” 26 Ngemva kwalokho, indoda le yaguqa yahloma ihloko phasi, yathokoza uJehova 27 yathi: “Akadunyiswe uJehova uZimu wekosami u-Abrahama ngombana akhenge alise ukuyithanda nokuthembeka kiyo. UJehova unginqophise endlini yeenhlobo zekosami.”

28 Umntazana wagijima wayokutjela unina nabanye ngalokhu. 29 URabega bekanomfowabo, igama lakhe kunguLabani.+ Nje-ke uLabani wagijimela endodeni ebeyingaphandle emthonjeni. 30 Nakabona icici lepumulweni namabhengela asezandleni zakadadwabo, ezwa namezwi kadadwabo uRabega athi, “Ngilokhu indoda leya ekukhulume kimi,” uLabani waya endodeni leya ebeyisajame emthonjeni namakamela. 31 Khonokho wathi: “Ubusiswe nguJehova. Nje-ke asikhambe siye ekhaya. Akusikuhle bona ujame ngaphandlapho. Ngikulungiselele indawo yokulala nendawo lapho amakamelakho angahlala khona.” 32 Yeke indoda le yakhamba naye, uLabani wafese watjhaphulula amakamela wawapha iinhlanga nefuru, wanikela indoda le amanzi wokuhlamba iinyawo zayo nezamadoda akhamba nayo. 33 Kuthe nakubekwa ukudla phambi kwayo, yathi: “Angeze ngidle ngingakatjho engize ngakho.” Nje-ke uLabani wathi: “Ungakhuluma-ke.”

34 Yathi: “Ngisisebenzi saka-Abrahama.”+ 35 UJehova uyibusise khulu ikosami, uyenze yanjinga khulu ngokuyipha izimvu neenkomo, isiliva negolide, iinsebenzi eziduna nezisikazi, amakamela nabodumbana.+ 36 USara umkakosami, wayibelethela indodana sele aluphele+ begodu ikosami izoyinikela koke enakho.+ 37 Yeke ikosami yangifungisa yathi: ‘Ungathatheli indodanami umfazi emadodakazini wamaKanana, enarheni engihlala kiyo le.+ 38 Kufuze uye endlini kababa emndeninami,+ uthathele indodanami umfazi lapho.’+ 39 Ngathi ekosinami: ‘Alo, kuthiwani-ke nangabe umfazi loyo akafuni ukukhamba nami?’+ 40 Yathi kimi: ‘UJehova engimlotjhako+ uzokuthumela ingilozakhe+ bona ikunqophise begodu izokuphumelelisa ikhambo lakho ufumanele indodanami umfazi emndeninami endlini kababa.+ 41 Nangabe umndenami awufuni ukukunikela yena, uzabe utjhaphulukile esifungweni sakho.’+

42 “Nangifika emthonjeni namhlanjesi, ngithandazile ngathi: ‘Jehova Zimu wekosami u-Abrahama, nangabe uzokwenza ikhambo lameli liphumelele nakhu okufuze kwenzeke: 43 Njengombana ngijame la, nakuza intombi+ izokukha amanzi, ‘Ngizokuthi: “Ngibawa ungiseze.” 44 Nayithi, “Ungasela begodu ngizokuseza namakamelakho.” Akube ngiyo uJehova ayikhethele indodana yekosami.’+

45 “Ngithe ngisakhuluma ngehliziyo njalo, kwavela uRabega athwele umjeka emahlombe, watjhinga ngemthonjeni wakha amanzi. Nje-ke ngathi kuye: “Ngibawa ungiseze amanzi.’+ 46 Msinyana wethula umjekakhe wathi: ‘Ungasela+ begodu ngizokuseza namakamelakho.’ Yeke ngasela, waseza namakamela. 47 Ngemva kwalokho, ngambuza ngathi: ‘Uyindodakazi kabani?’ Waphendula wathi: ‘Ngiyindodakazi kaBhetuweli indodana kaNarhori leyo ayibelethelwa nguMilika.’ Yeke ngamfaka icici lepumulweni namabhengela ezandleni zakhe.+ 48 Ngaguqa, ngahloma ihloko phasi phambi kwakaJehova, ngadumisa uJehova uZimu wekosami u-Abrahama+ owanginqophisa bona ngithathe indodakazi yomfowabo lekosami ibe mfazi wendodanayo. 49 Nje-ke ngitjelani nangabe niyafuna ukuba nomusa begodu nithembeke ekosinami; nangabe akusinjalo ngitjelani ngikghone ukudlulela phambili.”+

50 ULabani noBhetuweli baphendula bathi: “Lokhu kuvela kuJehova. Asikwazi ukuthi iye namkha awa. 51 Nangu uRabega phambi kwakho. Mthathe nikhambe, akabe mfazi wendodana yekosakho njengombana uJehova akhulumile.” 52 Isisebenzi saka-Abrahama nasizwa ipendulwabo, khonokho saguqa phambi kwakaJehova. 53 Sakhupha izinto zokuzikghabisa zegolide nezesiliva nezambatho sazinikela uRabega, sapha umfowabo nonina izinto eziligugu. 54 Ngemva kwalokho, isisebenzi saka-Abrahama namadoda ebekakhamba naso badla, basela balala lapho.

Ekuseni nasivukako sathi: “Ngivumela ngikhambe ngiye ekosinami.” 55 Umfowabo nonina kaRabega bathi: “Sibawa bona umntazana ahlale nathi ngitjho nanyana kungaba malanga angaba litjhumi. Ngemva kwalokho uzakukhamba.” 56 Sathi kibo: “Ningangibambezeli, nibona kuhle ukuthi uJehova wenze ikhambo lami laphumelela. Ngivumelani ngikhambe, ngiye ekosinami.” 57 Bathi: “Asimbizeni, sizwe bona yena uthini.” 58 Babiza uRabega bathi kuye: “Uzokukhamba nendoda le na?” Wathi: “Iye, ngizokukhamba nayo.”

59 Nje-ke bavumela udadwabo uRabega+ naloyo egade ayimbelesakhe*+ bona bakhambe nesisebenzi saka-Abrahama namadoda ebekakhamba naso. 60 Babusisa uRabega bathi kuye: “Dadwethu kwanga iinzukulwana zakho zingaba ziinkulungwana ezinengi, zithumbe amadorobho walabo abazizondako.”+ 61 URabega neensebenzi zakhe ezisikazi basikima, bakhwela emakameleni balandela indoda leyo. Yathatha uRabega yakhamba naye.

62 U-Isaka bekavela nca ngeBheyeri-Larhayi-Royi+ ngombana bekahlala eNegebhi.+ 63 Bekakhambakhamba emmangweni ntambama bona ayokucabangisisa.+ Uthe nakaphakamisa amehlo wabona kuza amakamela! 64 URabega naye nakaphakamisa amehlo wabona u-Isaka, wehla msinyana ekameleni. 65 Wabuza isisebenzi wathi: “Ngubani indoda leya ekhambakhamba emmangweni ezosihlangabeza?” Isisebenzi sathi: “Yikosami.” Yeke wathatha idugu wazigubuzesa ngayo. 66 Isisebenzi satjela u-Isaka koke okwenzekileko. 67 Ngemva kwalokho u-Isaka wangenisa uRabega ngetendeni lakaSara unina.+ Wamthatha waba mkakhe begodu wamthanda.+ U-Isaka watjhiriyeka ngemva kokuhlongakalelwa ngunina.+

25 Nje-ke u-Abrahama wathatha umfazi godu, igama lakhe bekunguKhethura. 2 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wambelethela uZimrani, uJokhitjhani, uMedani, uMidiyani,+ uYitjhibhakhi noTjhurhi.+

3 UJokhitjhani waba nguyise kaTjheba noDedani.

Amadodana kaDedani bekungu-Atjhuri, uLethutjhi noLewumi.

4 Amadodana kaMidiyani bekungu-Efa, u-Eferi, uRhanoki, u-Abida no-Elidaya.

Woke la bekumadodana kaKhethura.

5 Kamva u-Abrahama wanikela u-Isaka+ koke egade anakho, 6 kwathi amadodanakhe awafumene ngamakhohlwakhe wawanikela izipho. Ngaphambi kokuthi ahlongakale, wawathumela eendaweni ezingePumalanga, kude nendodanakhe u-Isaka.+ 7 U-Abrahama waphila iminyaka eli-175. 8 Nje-ke wahlongakala sele aluphele begodu anelisekile ngepilo. Ngemva kwalokho wabulungwa ngendlela okwabulungwa ngayo abokhokho bakhe. 9 Amadodanakhe u-Isaka no-Itjhimayeli bambulunga erholweni leMakaphela esimini ka-Efroni indodana kaTsorhari umRhiti, ebeyiphambi kweMamre,+ 10 okuyisimu u-Abrahama ayithenga emadodaneni kaRhiti. Wabulungwa lapho kwabulungwa khona uSara umkakhe.+ 11 Ngemva kokuthi u-Abrahama ahlongakele, uZimu bekasolo abusisa u-Isaka indodanakhe+ njengombana bekahlala eduze neBheyeri-Larhayi-Royi.+

12 Lo mlando ka-Itjhimayeli+ indodana ka-Abrahama, ayibelethelwa nguHagari+ umGibhide isisebenzi sakaSara.

13 La magama wamadodana ka-Itjhimayeli namagama weenkoro avela kizo: izibulo laka-Itjhimayeli nguNebayothi,+ kulandele uKedari,+ kube ngu-Adibiyeli, uMibisamu,+ 14 uMitjhima, uDuma, uMasa, 15 uRhadadi, uTema, uJethuri, uNafitjhi noKhedema. 16 La madodana ka-Itjhimayeli ngokuya ngokweendawo ahlala kizo nangamakampa ahlala kiwo, amakhosana ali-12 ngokuya ngokweenkoro zawo.+ 17 U-Itjhimayeli waphila iminyaka eli-137. Wahlongakala, wabulungwa ngendlela okwabulungwa ngayo abokhokho bakhe. 18 Nje-ke iinzukulwana zakhe zahlala ukuthoma eRhavila+ hlanu kweTjhuri,+ eduze neGibhide bekwayokufika e-Asiriya. Zahlala eduze nabafowabo.*+

19 Lo mlando ka-Isaka indodana ka-Abrahama.+

U-Abrahama waba nguyise ka-Isaka. 20 U-Isaka bekaneminyaka ema-40 nakathatha uRabega oyindodakazi kaBhetuweli+ umAramu wePadana-Aramu, udadwabo lakaLabani umAramu. 21 U-Isaka bekasolo ancenga uJehova abawela umkakhe ngombana bekayinyumba. Yeke uJehova wasiphendula isibawo sakhe begodu uRabega waba sidisi. 22 Amadodana ebekazithwele wona alwa ngesibelethweni sakhe,+ nje-ke wathi: “Nangabe kufuze ngizwe ubuhlungu obungaka, kubayini kufuze ngiphile?” Wabuza uJehova ngendaba le. 23 UJehova wathi kuye: “Esibelethweni sakho kuneentjhaba ezimbili,+ yeke uzokubeletha iintjhaba ezimbili,+ esinye sizokuba namandla kunesinye+ begodu indodana ekulu izokuba sisebenzi sendodana encani.”+

24 Safika isikhathi sokuthi abelethe, wabeletha amawele. 25 Wokuthoma owabelethwako waphuma abomvu, umzimbakhe woke unjengesambatho soboya,+ bamthiya bathi ngu-Esewu.*+ 26 Ngemva kwalokho, kwalandela umfowabo wavela abambe isithende saka-Esewu,+ wamthiya wathi nguJakopo.*+ U-Isaka bekaneminyaka ema-60 uRabega nakabelethako.

27 Njengombana abesanaba bakhula, u-Esewu waba mzumi onekghono,+ esikhathini esinengi bekahlala asekuzumeni kodwana uJakopo waba yindoda elungileko, ehlala ematendeni.+ 28 U-Isaka bekathanda u-Esewu, amthandiswa kukuthi uza nenyama, uRabega bekathanda uJakopo.+ 29 Ngelinye ilanga uJakopo apheke isobho yeenhlumaya, u-Esewu wafika abuya emmangweni begodu adinwe afile. 30 Nje-ke u-Esewu wathi kuJakopo: “Ngibawa urhabe ungiphe isobho ebomvu leyo, ngidinwe khulu!”* Kungebangelo igama lakhe kwaba ngu-Edomu.*+ 31 UJakopo wathi: “Kokuthoma ngithengisela ubuzibulo bakho!”+ 32 U-Esewu waphendula wathi: “Qala ngiyafa, buzangisiza ngani ubuzibulo?” 33 UJakopo wathi: “Funga kimi qangi!” Nje-ke wafunga kuye begodu wamthengisela ubuzibulo bakhe.+ 34 UJakopo wanikela u-Esewu uburotho nesobho yeenhlumaya, wadla, wasela ngemva kwalokho wasikima wakhamba. U-Esewu akhenge abuhloniphe ubuzibulo bakhe.

26 Enarheni kwaba nendlala efana naleya eyaba khona ngesikhathi saka-Abrahama,+ nje-ke u-Isaka waya ku-Abimeleki ikosi yamaFilista eGerari. 2 UJehova wabonakala kuye wathi: “Ungehleli eGibhide. Hlala enarheni engizokutjengisa yona. 3 Hlala enarheni ekungasi ngeyakho le.+ Ngizokuba nawe, ngikubusise, ngiphe wena neenzukulwana zakho iinarhezi+ begodu ngizosiphetha isivumelwano engasenza noyihlo u-Abrahama:+ 4 ‘Ngizokwenza iinzukulwana zakho zibe zinengi njengeenkwekwezi zezulwini,+ ngizozinikela zoke iinarhezi.+ Ngeenzukulwana zakhwezi, zoke iintjhaba zephasini zizokubusiswa,’+ 5 ngombana u-Abrahama walalela ilizwi lami, wenza koke engimyale ngakho, walalela imiyalo nemithethwami.”+ 6 Nje-ke u-Isaka waraga nokuhlala eGerari.+

7 Amadoda wendawo leyo nawambuza ngomkakhe bekathi: “Ngudadwethu.”+ Bekasaba ukuthi, “Mkami,” ngombana wathi, “Amadoda wendawo le angangibulala ngebanga lakaRabega, ngombana bekasiphalaphala.+ 8 Ngelinye ilanga u-Abimeleki ikosi yamaFilista yathi nayihlola ngefesidere, yabona u-Isaka azithabisa nomkakhe uRabega.+ 9 Yeke wabiza u-Isaka wathi kuye: “Umuntu lo mkakho! Kubayini uthi, ‘Ngudadwethu’?” U-Isaka wathi kuye: “Kungombana bengisaba ukufa ngebanga lakhe.”+ 10 U-Abimeleki wathi: “Yintobani osenze yona le?+ Omunye umuntu bekangalala naye lula begodu usenze sibe mlandu!”+ 11 Yeke u-Abimeleki wayala boke abantu wathi: “Nanyana ngubani othinta indoda le nomkayo kwamambala uzokubulawa!”

12 U-Isaka wathoma ukutjala enarheni leyo begodu ngomnyaka loyo wavuna ngokubuyelelwe kali-100, ngombana uJehova wambusisa.+ 13 Waba yinjinga, wasolo aphumelela wabe wanjinga khulu. 14 Waba nemihlambi yezimvu, yeenkomo neensebenzi ezinengi,+ amaFilista athoma ukumfela umona.

15 AmaFilista avala ngehlabathi yoke imithombo eyenjiwa ziinsebenzi zaka-Abrahama+ ngesikhathi sakhe. 16 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abimeleki wathi ku-Isaka: “Suka enarhenethu le ngombana sewunamandla ukusidlula.” 17 U-Isaka wasuka lapho waya emrhobeni weGerari,+ wahlala khona. 18 U-Isaka wemba godu imithombo eyenjiwa ngesikhathi sakayise u-Abrahama ngombana amaFilista ayivala ngemva kokuhlongakala kwaka-Abrahama.+ Wathiya imithombo leyo ngamagama uyise ayithiya ngawo.+

19 Kuthe iinsebenzi zaka-Isaka nazigubha emrhobeni zafumana umthombo wamanzi ahlwengileko. 20 Abelusi beGerari bathoma ukulwa nabelusi baka-Isaka bathi: “Amanzi la ngewethu!” Yeke wathiya umthombo loyo ngokuthi yi-Esekhe* ngombana balwe naye. 21 Bemba omunye umthombo, nalapho kwaba nokulwa. Nje-ke wathiya umthombo loyo ngokuthi yiSitina.* 22 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, wasuka lapho wayokugubha omunye umthombo kodwana akhenge ubangwe. Nje-ke wawuthiya ngokuthi yiRerhobhothi* wathi: “Ngombana uJehova nje usiphe indawo eyaneleko begodu usenze saba banengi enarheni.”+

23 Ngemva kwalokho wasuka lapho wakhuphukela eBheritjheba.+ 24 Ngobusuku bamhlokho uJehova wabonakala kuye wathi: “NginguZimu kayihlo u-Abrahama.+ Ungasabi ngombana nginawe,+ ngizokubusisa begodu ngizokwandisa iinzukulwana zakho ngebanga lesisebenzi sami u-Abrahama.”+ 25 Wakha i-aldara, wathandaza kuJehova.+ Wahloma itende lakhe lapho,+ iinsebenzi zakhe zagubha omunye umthombo lapho.

26 Nje-ke kwafika u-Abimeleki avela eGerari akhamba no-Arhuzathi umelulekakhe noPhikoli induna yebutho lakhe.+ 27 U-Isaka wathi kibo: “Nizokufunani kimapha, njengombana kungini enangihloya nangiqotha nenarhenenu?” 28 Bathi: “Sibonile ukuthi uJehova unawe.+ Nje-ke sathi, ‘Akube nesifungo phakathi kwethu, senze isivumelwano nawe+ 29 sokuthi angeze wenza litho elimbi kithi, njengombana nathi singakhenge sikulimaze kodwana senza okuhle kwaphela kuwe, sakukhambisa ngokuthula. Nje ungobusisiweko kaJehova.’” 30 Ngemva kwalokho, wabenzela isidlo, badla bebasela. 31 Bavuka ekuseni khulu, bafunga komunye nomunye.+ Ngemva kwalokho, u-Isaka wabatjhaphulula, bakhamba ngokuthula.

32 Ngelangelo kwafika iinsebenzi zaka-Isaka zizombikela ngomthombo eziwembileko,+ zathi kuye: “Sifumene amanzi!” 33 Wathiya umthombo loyo ngokuthi yiTjhiba. Kungebangelo-ke igama ledorobhelo kuyiBheritjheba+ bekube kunamhlanjesi.

34 U-Esewu nakaneminyaka ema-40 watjhada noJehudithi indodakazi kaBheri umRhiti noBhasemathi indodakazi ka-Eloni umRhiti.+ 35 Bebazwisa u-Isaka noRabega+ ubuhlungu obukhulu.

27 Nje-ke u-Isaka besele aluphele begodu angasaboni, wabiza indodanakhe elizibulo u-Esewu+ wathi kiyo: “Ndodanami!” Yaphendula yathi: “Baba!” 2 Waraga wathi: “Sengiluphele njenganje begodu angazi bona ngisalelwe sikhathi esingangani sokuphila. 3 Nje-ke ngibawa uthathe iinkhali zakho, isikhwama sakho semicibitjholo nomsubelakho, ukhambe uyongizumela inyamazana emmangweni.+ 4 Ngemva kwalokho, ungiphekele inyamazana leyo ngendlela engiyithanda ngayo, uyilethe kimapha ngidle ukwenzela bona ngikubusise ngaphambi kokuthi ngihlongakale.”

5 URabega bekalalele njengombana u-Isaka akhuluma nendodanakhe u-Esewu. Yeke u-Esewu wakhamba wayokuzumela uyise inyamazana emmangweni.+ 6 URabega wathi kuJakopo indodanakhe:+ “Ngiqeda ukuzwa uyihlo akhuluma nomnakwenu u-Esewu, athi kuye, 7 ‘Ngilethela inyamazana, ungiphekele yona ngendlela engiyithanda ngayo. Ngizayidla ngemva kwalokho ngikubusise phambi kwakaJehova, ngaphambi kokuthi ngihlongakale.’+ 8 Nje-ke ngilalela ndodanami begodu wenze lokho engizokutjela khona.+ 9 Ngibawa uye emhlambinapha, ungikhethele iimbuzana ezimbili ezinonileko, ngizoziphekela uyihlo ngendlela azithanda ngayo. 10 Ngemva kwalokho, uzayokunikela uyihlo, adle begodu akubusise ngaphambi kokuthi ahlongakale.”

11 UJakopo wathi kummakhe uRabega: “Umnakwethu u-Esewu unoboya+ kodwana mina nginesikhumba esitjhelelako. 12 Ngizokuthini ubaba nakangangithinta?+ Kuzokubonakala kwanga ngihlekisa ngaye, ngizozibangela isiqalekiso kunokuthi ngifumane isibusiso.” 13 Ummakhe waphendula wathi: “Ozakuqalekiswa ngakho akwehlele mina ndodanami. Wena yenza lokho engikutjela khona, yiza neembuzezo.”+ 14 Wakhamba wayozithatha, wazinikela unina, unina wazipheka kamnandi, ngendlela uyise azithanda ngayo. 15 Ngemva kwalokho, uRabega wathatha isambatho saka-Esewu sakanokutjho ebesingendlini, wasimbathisa uJakopo indodanakhe encani.+ 16 Wathatha nesikhumba seembuzana wasibeka emkhonweni kaJakopo, wasibeka nentanyeni la anganaboya khona.+ 17 Ngemva kwalokho, uRabega wanikela uJakopo ukudla egade amphekele khona noburotho.+

18 Nje-ke uJakopo wangena ngakuyise wathi: “Baba!” Waphendula wathi: “Iye ndodanami! Ungubani-ke wena?” 19 UJakopo waphendula uyise wathi: “Ngingu-Esewu izibulo lakho.+ Ngikwenzile othe ngikwenze. Nje-ke ngibawa uhlale kuhle udle inyama engikuphathele yona, ngemva kwalokho ungangibusisa.”+ 20 U-Isaka wathi endodanenakhe: “Kuze njani bona uyifumane msinya kangaka, ndodanami?” Waphendula wathi: “UJehova uZimakho ungisizile bona ngiyifumane.” 21 U-Isaka wathi kuJakopo: “Ngibawa utjhidele kimapha ndodanami, ngifuna ukukuthinta ngizwe ukuthi kwamambala uyindodanami u-Esewu namkha awusingiyo.”+ 22 Nangambala uJakopo watjhidela kuyise u-Isaka, wamthinta wathi: “Iphimbweli ngelakaJakopo, kodwana izandla ngezaka-Esewu.”+ 23 U-Isaka akhenge alemuke bona nguJakopo lo ngombana izandla zakhe bezinoboya njengezomnakwabo u-Esewu. Nje-ke wambusisa.+

24 Ngemva kwalokho, wabuza wathi: “Kwamambala uyindodanami u-Esewu na?” Waphendula wathi: “Iye.” 25 Wathi: “Akhungilethele inyama leyo ngidle ndodanami, ngemva kwalokho ngizakubusisa.” Wamlethela yona, wadla, wamnikela newayini wasela. 26 Uyise wathi kuye: “Ngibawa utjhidele ndodanami, ungimange.”+ 27 Watjhidela wammanga, uyise wezwa umnuko wesambatho sakhe.+ Ngemva kwalokho wambusisa wathi:

“Indodanami inuka njengommango obusiswe nguJehova. 28 Kwanga uZimu weqiniso angakupha izulu,*+ inarha enothileko,+ ikoroyi enengi newayini elitjha.+ 29 Abantu abakusebenzele begodu iintjhaba zikuthobele. Ube yikosi phezu kwabafowenu begodu amadodana kanyoko akuthobele.+ Nanyana ngubani okuqalekisako uzokuqalekiswa begodu nanyana ngubani okubusisako naye uzokubusiswa.”+

30 U-Isaka waqeda ukubusisa uJakopo, kwathi uJakopo asaphuma ngakuyise, u-Esewu wafika abuya ukuyokuzuma.+ 31 Naye wapheka inyama, wayiletha kuyise wathi: “Ubaba akahlale kuhle, adle inyama yendodanakhe, kuzakuthi ngemva kwalokho angibusise.” 32 Uyise waphendula wathi: “Ungubani?” Wathi: “Ngingu-Esewu, indodanakho elizibulo.”+ 33 U-Isaka wasilingeka bewahlengezela wathi: “Alo, kanti ngubani lo ongizumele inyamazana begodu wangiphekela yona? Ngidle ngaphambi kokuthi ufike, ngambusisa begodu lokho angeze kusatjhuguluka!”

34 U-Esewu wathi nakezwa lokho, wakhihla isililo esikhulu ezwa ubuhlungu wathi kuyise: “Baba, nami ngibusisa!”+ 35 Uyise wathi: “Umfowenu ungene lapha ngobugirikijani, wathatha iimbusiso ebekufuze zitholwe nguwe.” 36 U-Esewu wathi: “Wabizwa kufanele ngokuthi nguJakopo,* sebele angidlelezele kwesibili.+ Ubuzibulo bami wabuthatha,+ njenganje uthethe nesibusiso sami!”+ Wanaba wathi kuyise: “Alo akunasibusiso ongitjhiyele sona?” 37 U-Isaka waphendula u-Esewu wathi: “Ngimtjele ngathi uzokuba yikosi phezu kwakho,+ ngathi boke abafowabo bazokuba ziinsebenzi zakhe begodu ngamupha ikoroyi newayini elitjha.+ Alo yini eseleko engizabe ngisakwenzela yona ndodanami?”

38 U-Esewu wathi kuyise: “Asikho nasinye isibusiso onaso baba? Nami ngibusisa! U-Esewu wakhihla isililo esikhulu.+ 39 U-Isaka wathi kuye:

“Angeze uhlale enarheni enothileko begodu angeze ufumane izulu.*+ 40 Uzokuphila ngesabulakho+ begodu uzokuba sisebenzi somfowenu.+ Nokho nasele ungasakghoni ukukubekezelela lokho uzozitjhaphulula.”+

41 U-Esewu wabambela uJakopo amavunda ngebanga lesibusiso asifumene kuyise,+ bekasolo azitjela athi: “Ubaba sekazokuhlongakala.+ Ngemva kwalokho, ngizokubulala uJakopo umfowethu.” 42 Kwathi uRabega nakezwa ngalokho izibulo lakhe u-Esewu elifuna ukukwenza, wathi kubizwe indodanakhe uJakopo, wathi kiyo: “U-Esewu umnakwenu uluka amano wokuzibuyiselela ngokuthi akubulale. 43 Nje-ke ndodanami, yenza engizokutjela khona. Sikima, ubalekele kumfowethu uLabani eHarana.+ 44 Uhlale naye isikhatjhana bekube kulapho umnakwenu ehlisa khona ummoya. 45 Kuzakuthi ilaka lakhe nasele lehlile begodu akulibele nowamenza khona, ngithumele bona ubizwe. Angifuni ukuthi ningilahlekele nobabili ngelanga linye.”

46 URabega bekasolo athi ku-Isaka: “Angiphili kamnandi ngebanga labantazana bamaRhiti.+ Nange uJakopo angathatha umfazi ebantazaneni bamaRhiti abafana nebenarheni le, kungcono ngife.”+

28 Nje-ke u-Isaka wabiza uJakopo wambusisa begodu wamyala wathi: “Ungathathi umfazi ebantazaneni beKanana.+ 2 Tjhinga ePadana-Aramu emndenini kaBhetuweli ubamkhulwakho, nawufika lapho uzithathele umfazi ebantazaneni bakamalumakho uLabani.+ 3 UZimu uMninimandla Woke uzokubusisa, akwenze ube nabantwana abanengi, kwamambala nizokuba siqubuthu esikhulu sabantu.+ 4 UZimu uzokubusisa wena neenzukulwana zakho njengombana abusisa u-Abrahama,+ ukwenzela bona uthathe inarha ebekungasi ngeyekhenu ebewuhlala kiyo, leyo ayinikele u-Abrahama.”+

5 Nje-ke u-Isaka wakhambisa uJakopo, wakhamba waya ePadana-Aramu kuLabani indodana kaBhetuweli umAramu,+ umfowabo kaRabega+ unina kaJakopo no-Esewu.

6 U-Esewu wabona ukuthi u-Isaka ubusise uJakopo begodu umthumele ePadana-Aramu bona ayokuthatha umfazi khona nokuthi nakambusisako umyale wathi: “Ungathathi umfazi ebantazaneni beKanana,”+ 7 wabona nokuthi uJakopo ulalele uyise nonina ngokuya ePadana-Aramu.+ 8 Yeke u-Esewu wabona ukuthi abantazana beKanana bamsilinga kangangani uyise u-Isaka,+ 9 waya ku-Itjhimayeli ngitjho nanyana bekanabanye abafazi,+ wathatha uMarhalathi udadwabo lakaNebayothi. UMarhalathi bekayindodakazi ka-Itjhimayeli indodana ka-Abrahama.

10 UJakopo wasuka eBheritjheba watjhinga eHarana.+ 11 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wafika endaweni ethileko, walala lapho ngombana besele litjhingile. Wathatha ilitje wasamela ngalo bona alale.+ 12 Ngemva kwalokho wafikelwa libhudango, wabona isitepisi esisuka ephasini siya ezulwini; iingilozi zakaZimu zehla zenyuka kiso.+ 13 Wabona uJehova angehla kwaso, athi:

“NginguJehova uZimu ka-Abrahama uyihlo noZimu ka-Isaka.+ Inarha olele kiyo le ngizoyinikela wena neenzukulwana zakho.+ 14 Iinzukulwana zakho zizokuba ngangethuli lehlabathi,+ uzokwanda unabele ngetjingalanga, epumalanga, etlhagwini nesewula. Ngebanga lakho neenzukulwana zakho yoke imindeni yephasi izokubusiswa.+ 15 Nginawe begodu ngizokuvikela nanyana kukuphi lapha uya khona, ngizokubuyisela enarheni le.+ Angekhe ngikutjhiye bekube kulapho ngizalise isithembiso engisenze kuwe.”+

16 Ngemva kwalokho uJakopo wavuka wathi: “Kwamambala uJehova usendaweni le begodu bengingakwazi lokho.” 17 Ngebanga lalokho wafikelwa kusaba wangezelela wathi: “Qala ukuthi indawo le ibabazeka kangangani! Akunakuzaza bona le yindlu kaZimu,+ leli lisango lezulwini.”+ 18 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wavuka ekuseni khulu wathatha ilitje ebekasamele ngalo, walibeka itshwayo begodu walithela ngamafutha.+ 19 Indawo leyo wayibiza ngokuthi yiBhetheli* kodwana ngaphambilini beyibizwa ngokuthi yiLuzi.+

20 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wafunga wathi: “Nangabe uZimu uzokuraga anami, angivikele ekhambweni lami, anginikele uburotho bona ngidle, izambatho bona ngimbathe 21 begodu ngibuyele endlini kababa ngokuthula, kwamambala uJehova uzabe atjengisile ukuthi unguZimami. 22 Nje-ke ilitje engilibeke itshwayo lizokuba yindlu kaZimu+ begodu ngiyathembisa ukuthi ngizokunikela kwetjhumi kwakho koke ongiphe khona.”

29 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo waraga nekhambo lakhe waya enarheni yabantu bePumalanga. 2 Wabona umthombo emmangweni kulele nemihlambi emithathu yezimvu eduze kwawo ngombana abelusi bebajayele ukuseza imihlambabo lapho. Bekunelitje elikhulu elivale umthombo loyo. 3 Bekuthi nasele kubuthene yoke imihlambi lapho, kusunduzwe ilitje kusezwe imihlambi, ngemva kwalokho libuyiselwe endawenalo.

4 Nje-ke uJakopo wathi kibo: “Bafowethu, nibuyaphi?” Bathi: “Sibuya eHarana.”+ 5 Wathi kibo: “Niyamazi uLabani+ umzukulu kaNarhori?”+ Bathi: “Siyamazi.” 6 Wathi kibo: “Usavukile na?” Bathi: “Iye, usavukile. Nasi indodakazakhe uRarheli+ iza nezimvu!” 7 Ngemva kwalokho, wathi: “Kusese semini. Akukabi sikhathi sokubuthelela imihlambi. Nje-ke sezani izimvu nizise emadlelweni.” 8 Baphendula bathi: “Asikavunyelwa ukwenza njalo bekube kulapho yoke imihlambi seyibuthene bese basunduze ilitje elisemthonjeni, ngemva kwalokho siseze izimvu.”

9 Kuthe asakhuluma nabo, kwafika uRarheli nezimvu zakayise ngombana nguye obekazelusa. 10 UJakopo nakabona uRarheli, indodakazi kamalumakhe uLabani anezimvu zakhe, msinyana watjhidela wasunduza ilitje elisemthonjeni waseza izimvu zakaLabani. 11 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wammanga uRarheli, wakhihla isililo. 12 Watjela uRarheli ukuthi yena usihlobo sakayise nokuthi uyindodana kaRabega. URarheli wagijima wayokutjela uyise.

13 Kuthe uLabani+ nakezwa ngoJakopo indodana kadadwabo, wagijima wayomhlangabeza. Wamgona begodu wammanga wamletha ngendlinakhe. UJakopo watjela uLabani koke okwenzeke kuye. 14 ULabani wathi kuye: “Kwamambala usihlobo sami seengazi.” Wahlala naye inyanga yoke.

15 Nje-ke uLabani wathi kuJakopo: “Ukuthi usihlobo sami+ akutjho ukuthi kufuze ungisebenzele simahla. Ufuna ngikubhadele ngani?”+ 16 ULabani gade anamadodakazi amabili. Omkhulu kunguLeya omncani kunguRarheli.+ 17 ULeya gade angasimuhle,* uRarheli yena bekanejamo begodu amuhle. 18 UJakopo wathanda uRarheli, nje-ke wathi kuLabani: “Ngizimisele ukukusebenzela iminyaka elikhomba bona unginikele indodakazakho uRarheli.”+ 19 ULabani wathi: “Kungcono bona ngimnikele wena kunokobana ngimnikele enye indoda. Hlala nami.” 20 UJakopo wasebenza iminyaka elikhomba bona afumane uRarheli+ kodwana kuye kwaba ngathi malanga ambalwa ngombana bekamthanda.

21 Nje-ke uJakopo wathi kuLabani: “Nginikela umkami ngombana isikhathi esivumelene ngaso sesihlangene, ngivumela ngiye emabhayini naye.” 22 ULabani wenza umnyanya wamema boke abantu abahlala endaweni leyo. 23 Kuthe nasele kurhwaqele wathatha indodakazakhe uLeya wayisa kuJakopo bona alale nayo. 24 ULabani bekanesisebenzi esisikazi igama laso kunguZilipha. Nje-ke wasithatha wasinikela uLeya bona kube sisebenzi sakhe.+ 25 Ekuseni uJakopo wabona ukuthi nguLeya! Yeke wathi kuLabani: “Yintobani ongenze yona le? Kghani akhenge na ngikusebenzele bona ngifumane uRarheli? Udlale ngami.”+ 26 ULabani wathi: “Akusilisiko lethu bona kwende omncani izibulo lingakendi. 27 Thabela iveke le yoke noLeya. Ngemva kwalokho, ngizokunikela noRarheli nawuzongisebenzela eminye iminyaka elikhomba.”+ 28 UJakopo wenza njalo, ngemva kwalokho wamnikela uRarheli bona abe mkakhe. 29 ULabani bekanesinye godu isisebenzi esisikazi igama laso kunguBhilirha,+ wasithatha wasinikela uRarheli bona kube sisebenzi sakhe.+

30 UJakopo walala noRarheli, wamthanda ukudlula uLeya. Wasebenzela uLabani iminyaka eminye elikhomba.+ 31 UJehova nakabona ukuthi uLeya akathandwa, wavula isibeletho sakhe+ kodwana uRarheli bekayinyumba.+ 32 Nje-ke uLeya waba sidisi wabeletha indodana, wayithiya ngokuthi nguRubeni*+ wathi: “Kungombana uJehova ukubonile ukutlhaga kwami,+ kwanjesi indodami izokuthoma ukungithanda.” 33 Waba sidisi godu wabeletha indodana, wathi: “UJehova ukuzwile ukunghonghoyila kwami ngokuthi angithandwa, nje-ke unginikele nenye.” ULeya wayithiya ngokuthi nguSimiyoni.*+ 34 Waba sidisi godu wabeletha indodana, wathi: “Kwanjesi indodami izokunamathela kimi ngombana ngiyibelethele amadodana amathathu.” Yeke wayithiya ngokuthi nguLevi.*+ 35 Waba sidisi godu wabeletha indodana, wathi: “Nje ngizokudumisa uJehova.” Yeke wayithiya ngokuthi nguJuda.*+ Ngemva kwalokho, akhenge asabeletha.

30 URarheli nakabona ukuthi akakabeletheli uJakopo abantwana, wafela udadwabo umona, wathi kuJakopo: “Ngipha abantwana, nakungasinjalo ngizokufa.” 2 UJakopo nakezwa lokho wasilingeka, wathi kuRarheli: “NginguZimu na? Wenziwe ngimi bona ungabelethi?” 3 URarheli wathi: “Nangu uBhilirha+ isigqilakazi sami. Lala naye, ukwenzela bona angibelethele abantwana, khona nami ngizaba nabantwana.” 4 Nje-ke wathatha isisebenzi sakhe uBhilirha, wasinikela uJakopo bona sibe mkakhe begodu uJakopo walala naso.+ 5 UBhilirha waba sidisi, wabelethela uJakopo indodana. 6 URarheli wathi: “UZimu ube ngumahlulelami, wangilalela wangipha nendodana.” Kungebangelo ayithiya ngokuthi nguDani.*+ 7 Isisebenzi sakaRarheli uBhilirha, saba sidisi godu, sabelethela uJakopo indodana yesibili. 8 URarheli wathi: “Ngilwe nodadwethu begodu ngamhlula!” Nje-ke wathiya indodana leyo ngokuthi nguNafitali.*+

9 Kwathi uLeya nakalemuka bona akasabi nabantwana, wathatha uZilipha isisebenzi sakhe wasinikela uJakopo bona sibe mkakhe.+ 10 Nje-ke uZilipha isisebenzi sakaLeya sabelethela uJakopo indodana. 11 ULeya wathi: “Kwamambala ngibusisekile!” Yeke wathiya indodana leyo ngokuthi nguGadi.*+ 12 Ngemva kwalokho, isisebenzi sakaLeya uZilipha sabelethela uJakopo indodana yesibili. 13 ULeya wathi: “Ngithabe kwamambala! Abafazi bendaweni le bazokuthi ngithabile.”+ Nje-ke wathiya indodana leyo ngokuthi ngu-Atjheri.*+

14 URubeni+ bekakhambakhamba emasimini ngesikhathi sokuvunwa kwekoroyi, wafumana amakofe. Nje-ke wawaletha kunina uLeya. URarheli wathi kuLeya: “Ngibawa ungabele amakofe wendodanakho.” 15 ULeya wathi: “Awukaneliseki na ngokungithathela indoda?+ Khona nje sewufuna namakofe wendodanami.” URarheli waphendula wathi: “Ebusukwini banamhlanjesi uzokulala nawe, nange ungangipha amakofe wendodanakho.”

16 Kwathi uJakopo nakafikako abuya emasimini, uLeya wamhlangabeza wathi kuye: “Namhlanjesi uyokulala nami ngombana ngikuqatjhe ngamakofe wendodanami.” Nje-ke ebusukwini bamhlokho walala naye. 17 UZimu wamuzwa uLeya begodu wamphendula, nje-ke wazithwala, wabelethela uJakopo indodana yesihlanu. 18 ULeya wathi: “UZimu unginikele umvuzo womsebenzami ngombana ngithethe isisebenzi sami ngasinikela indodami.” Nje-ke wathiya indodana leyo ngokuthi ngu-Isakari.*+ 19 ULeya waba sidisi godu, wabelethela uJakopo+ indodana yesithandathu. 20 Ngemva kwalokho, wathi: “UZimu unginikele umvuzo omuhle tle! Nje khona indodami seyizongibekezelela+ ngombana ngiyibelethele amadodana asithandathu.”+ Nje-ke indodana leyo wayithiya ngokuthi nguZebuloni.*+ 21 Ngemva kwalokho, wabeletha umntazana wamthiya ngokuthi nguDina.+

22 UZimu wakhumbula uRarheli, wamuzwa begodu wamphendula, wamenza wakghona ukuba sidisi.*+ 23 Waba sidisi, wabeletha indodana. Wathi: “UZimu ususe ihlazo lami!”+ 24 Wathiya indodana leyo ngokuthi nguJosefa*+ wathi: “UJehova ungiphe enye indodana.”

25 Ngemva kokuthi uRarheli abelethe uJosefa, uJakopo wathi kuLabani: “Ngivumela ngibuyele, enarheni yekhethu.+ 26 Nginikela abafazi bami nabantwana bami ngombana sengikubhadele ngaqeda ngokukusebenzela, nawe wazi kuhle bona ngikusebenzele njani.”+ 27 ULabani waphendula wathi: “Ngiyakuncenga, ngibawa uhlale nami. Ngibonile ukuthi uJehova uyangibusisa ngebanga lakho.” 28 Wanaba wathi: “Akhungitjele bona ufuna ngikubhadele kangangani, ngizakubhadela.”+ 29 UJakopo wamphendula wathi: “Nawe wazi kuhle bona ngikusebenzele kangangani, nomhlambakho wande ngebanga lami;+ 30 ngaphambi kokuthi ngifike bewunokuncani kodwana nje, umhlambakho wandile begodu solo ngafika la uJehova ukubusisile. Nje-ke nami ngifuna kube nento engiyenzela umndenami.”+

31 ULabani wathi: “Alo, ufuna ngikupheni?” UJakopo waphendula wathi: “Akutlhogeki bona ungibhadele! Nange ungangenzela into yinye nje kwaphela, ngizokuraga nokulusa umhlambakho bengiwutlhogomele.+ 32 Ngizokukhambakhamba hlangana nomhlambakho. Bekela ngeqadi zoke izimvu ezinamabalabala, hlangana namaramu amancani bekela ngeqadi anzinyana, eembuzini ezisikazi ubekele ngeqadi ezinamabalabala. Kusukela nje, le yindlela ozongibhadela ngayo.+ 33 Nawuzako uzokuqala umvuzwami, uzokubona ukuthi ngithembekile. Nange ungafumana imbuzi esikazi enganamabalabala emhlambinami weembuzi namkha iramu elincani elingasinzinyana emhlambinami wezimvu, kufuze wazi ukuthi letjiwe.”

34 ULabani waphendula wathi: “Kulungile, akwenzeke njengokutjho kwakho.”+ 35 Nje-ke mhlokho, wathatha iimpongo ezinamabalabala neembuzi ezisikazi ezinamabalabala wazibekela ngeqadi. Wathatha amaramu amancani egade anokumhlotjhana nanzinyana, wawanikela amadodanakhe bona awatlhogomele. 36 Ngemva kwalokho, wahlukana noJakopo, waya endaweni elibanga lamalanga amathathu. Nje-ke uJakopo wasala alusa imihlambi kaLabani egade isele.

37 UJakopo waqunta iingojwana emthini westoreksi, we-alimondi nowepalatani, ngemva kwalokho wazibaza kwasala okumhlophe. 38 Wathatha iingodo azibazilekweza wazibeka phambi komhlambi, ekerebheni lapho zisela khona amanzi. Ukwenzela bona imihlambi nayifika lapho, ilungele ukukhwelana phambi kwazo.

39 Nangambala bekuthi imihlambi nayifika phambi kweengojwanezo, ilungele ukukhwelana, ukwenzela bona izale ezinemitleza nezimabalabala. 40 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wahlukanisa amaramu amancani begodu wenza bona umhlambi uqale ngakilezo ezinemitleza nezinzinyana emihlambini kaLabani. Wahlukanisa imihlambakhe, akhenge ayihlanganise neyakaLabani. 41 Ebegade zinonile emhlambini bekuthi nasele zilungela ukukhwelana, uJakopo athathe iingojwaneza azibeke phambi kwemihlambi ukwenzela bona eziduna zilungele ukukhwelana hlanu kweengojwanezo. 42 Ebegade ziimgorho bekuthi nasele zilungela ukukhwelana, uJakopo angazibeki iingojwana lapho. Nje-ke zoke ebegade ziimgorho bekuba ngezakaLabani kodwana ezinonileko kube ngezakaJakopo.+

43 UJakopo waphumelela khulu, waba nemihlambi emikhulu, waba neensebenzi eziduna nezisikazi, amakamela nabodumbana.+

31 UJakopo wezwa bona amadodana kaLabani athi: “UJakopo uthethe koke okungekwakababa begodu ubuthelele boke ubunjinga bakababa.”+ 2 Kuthe nakaqala uLabani, wabona ukuthi indlela amqala ngayo ayisafani nekuthomeni.+ 3 Yeke uJehova wathi kuJakopo: “Buyela enarheni yabokhokho bakho neenhlobeni zakho.+ Ngizokuhlala nginawe.” 4 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wathumela umlayezo kuRarheli noLeya bona beze emmangweni lapho kunomhlambakhe, 5 wathi kibo:

“Ngilemuke ukuthi indlela uyihlo angiqala ngayo ayisafani+ nekuthomeni kodwana uZimu kababa ube nami.+ 6 Nani niyazi ukuthi ngisebenzele uyihlo ngawo woke amandlami.+ 7 Nokuthi uyihlo khewalinga ukungidlelezela, utjhugulule nomrholwami iinkhathi ezilitjhumi kodwana uZimu akhenge amvumele bona angilimaze. 8 Bekuthi nakathi, ‘Ngizokubhadela ngezimabalabala,’ nje-ke woke umhlambi uzale ezinamabalabala, kodwana nakathi, ‘Ngizokubhadela ngezinemitleza,’ woke umhlambi bewuzala ezinemitleza.+ 9 Yeke uZimu bekasolo athatha ifuyo kayihlo ayinikela mina. 10 Bekuthi umhlambi nawugijimisanako, ngiphakamise amehlo ngibone ebhudangweni ukuthi iimpongo ezigijimisa ezisikazi ngezinemitleza, ngezimabalabala nezinamaqhatjhazana.+ 11 Ngemva kwalokho, ingilozi kaZimu weqiniso yathi kimi ebhudangweni, ‘Jakopo!’ Ngathi, ‘Ngilapha Kosi.’ 12 Yaraga yathi, ‘Ngibawa uqale ubone ukuthi zoke iimpongo ezigijimisa ezisikazi emhlanjini ngezinemitleza, ngezimabalabala nezinamaqatjhaza ngombana ngibone koke uLabani akwenze kuwe.+ 13 NginguZimu weqiniso weBhetheli,+ lapho wabeka khona itshwayo elitjeni begodu wafunga kimi.+ Nje-ke sikima, ukhambe enarheni le ubuyele enarheni owabelethelwa kiyo.’”+

14 Khonokho uRarheli noLeya bathi kuye: “Sisesenesabelo na elifeni lakababa? 15 Akasiqali njengabantu abavela kwenye inarha na, njengombana asithengisa wasolo asebenzisa imali esithengwe ngayo?+ 16 Boke ubunjinga uZimu abuthethe kubaba ngebethu nabantwabethu.+ Yeke, yenza koke uZimu athi ukwenze.”+

17 UJakopo wasikima, wakhweza abantwabakhe nabafazi bakhe emakameleni,+ 18 wathatha yoke imihlambi nayo yoke ipahla ayibuthelele+ ePadana-Aramu bona aye kuyise u-Isaka eKanana.+

19 Ngesikhathi uLabani ayokurhuna uboya bezimvu zakhe, uRarheli weba iinthombe zakayise zamatherafimi.*+ 20 Naphezu kwalokho, uJakopo wadlelezela uLabani umAramu ngokukhamba angakamtjeli. 21 Wabaleka, wayama uMlambo*+ nakho koke egade anakho. Watjhinga nca ngesifundeni seentaba seGiliyadi.+ 22 Kwathi ngelanga lesithathu kwabikelwa uLabani ukuthi uJakopo ubalekile. 23 Nje-ke uLabani wathatha abafowabo,* bagijimisa uJakopo amalanga alikhomba bebamfumana esifundeni seentaba seGiliyadi. 24 Ngemva kwalokho, uZimu wafika kuLabani umAramu+ ngebhudango ebusuku+ wathi kuye: “Tjheja bona ukhuluma njani noJakopo.”+

25 Yeke uLabani waya kuJakopo, uJakopo bekahlome itende lakhe entabeni, uLabani nabafowabo bebakampe esifundeni seentaba seGiliyadi. 26 ULabani wathi kuJakopo: “Yintobani oyenzileko le? Ungikhohliseleni bewathatha namadodakazami inga ziinthunjwa ezithethwe ngesabula? 27 Kubayini ungibalekele, wangikhohlisa wangangitjela na? Ngathana bewungitjelile, bengizokulayelisa ngethabo uvunyelwe iingoma ngabosotjherere nangamaharibha. 28 Akhenge ungiphe nethuba lokumanga nokulayelisa iinzukulu zami namadodakazami. Into oyenzileko le budlhadlha. 29 Nginamandla wokunilimaza kodwana uZimu kayihlo ukhulume nami izolo ebusuku wathi, ‘Tjheja bona ukhuluma njani noJakopo.’+ 30 Nje-ke ukhethe ukukhamba ngombana uhlulukele kwenu. Alo-ke ubebeleni abozimu bami?”+

31 UJakopo waphendula uLabani wathi: “Kungombana bengisaba, yeke ngacabanga ukuthi, ‘Uzongimuka amadodakazakho.’ 32 Nanyana ngubani ozomfumana anabozimu bakho, kufuze afe. Phenyisisa engikuphetheko phambi kwabafowethu, uthathe okungokwakho.” UJakopo bekangazi ukuthi nguRarheli obebileko. 33 ULabani wangena ngetendeni lakaJakopo, wangena ngetendeni lakaLeya, nangetendeni leengqilakazi+ zabo ezimbili kodwana akhenge abafumane. Ngemva kwalokho, waphuma ngetendeni lakaLeya, wangena ngetendeni lakaRarheli. 34 Ngesikhatheso, bekathethe iinthombe zamatherafimi azibeke esihlalweni esibekwa phezu kwamakamela, bekahlezi phezu kwaso. Nje-ke uLabani wazizuma ngetendeni, akhenge azifumane. 35 Ngemva kwalokho, uRarheli wathi kuyise: “Kosami ungasilingeki, njengombana ungibona ngingakghoni ukusikima phambi kwakho ngisesikhathini.”+ Nje-ke uLabani wazizuma kodwana akhenge azifumane.+

36 UJakopo wasilingeka bewasola uLabani. Ngemva kwalokho, wathi kuLabani: “Ungigijimiselani inga ngenze ubulelesi? Ngikone ngani? 37 Uphenye yoke ipahlami, ufumaneni okungokwakho? Kubeke phambi kwabafowethu naphambi kwabafowenu basahlulele. 38 Iminyaka ema-20 nginawe, izimvu neembuzi zakho akhenge zipholoje+ begodu akhenge ngidle amaramu womhlambakho. 39 Nangabe efuywenakho kunesilwana esidatjulwe saba ziintokana,+ akhenge ngilethe ubufakazobo kuwe ukuveza ukuthi bekungasimlandwami. Ngitjho nanyana isilwana besingetjiwa emini nofana ebusuku bewufuna ngisibhadele. 40 Emini bengiphekwa lilanga kuthi ebusuku ngigongobaliswa makhaza begodu iinkhathi ezinengi bengihlubayela.+ 41 Sengihlezi kwakho iminyaka ema-20. Ngikusebenzele iminyaka eli-14, bona ngifumane amadodakazakho neminyaka esi-6 ngitjheja umhlambakho. Watjhugulula umrholwami iinkhathi ezilitjhumi.+ 42 Nangathana uZimu kababa,+ uZimu ka-Abrahama loyo osatjwa ngu-Isaka+ bekangasingehlangothini lami, bewuzongikhambisa nginganalitho. UZimu ubone ubuhlungu bami nokusebenza budisi kwami. Kungebangelo akukhalimele izolo ebusuku.”+

43 Ngemva kwalokho, uLabani waphendula uJakopo wathi: “Amadodakazi la, madodakazami, abantwanaba bazukulu bami, umhlambi lo ngewami begodu yoke into oyibonako ngeyami namadodakazami.’ Ngingawalimaza njani wona, nabantwabawo? 44 Nje-ke asenze isivumelwano, sibe bufakazi phakathi kwami nawe.” 45 UJakopo wathatha ilitje walibeka itshwayo.+ 46 Wathi kubafowabo: “Dobhani amatje!” Bawadobha bawabeka aba siqorho. Ngemva kwalokho, badlela phezu kwesiqorhweso. 47 ULabani wayibiza ngokuthi yiYegari-Sahaduta* kodwana uJakopo wayibiza ngokuthi yiGaledi.*

48 Ngemva kwalokho, uLabani wathi kuye: “Isiqorho samatjesi, bufakazi phakathi kwami nawe namhlanjesi.” Kungebangelo sabizwa ngokuthi yiGaledi+ 49 nangokuthi siThala, wathi: “Kwanga uJehova angasolo asitjhejile nalokha singasabonani. 50 Nawungaphatha kumbi amadodakazami bewuthathe abanye abafazi, khumbula ukuthi ngitjho nanyana kungekhe kube nomuntu okubonako, nguZimu ozokubona ongufakazi phakathi kwami nawe.” 51 ULabani waraga wathi kuJakopo: “Nasi isiqorho samatje, nanti nelitje elibekwe itshwayo elitjengisa ukuthi mina nawe senze isivumelwano. 52 Isiqorho samatjesi bufakazi, ilitje elibekwe itshwayo linikela ubufakazi+ bokuthi angekhe ngeqele ngale kwesiqorho samatje bona ngikulimaze, nawe angekhe weqele ngapha kwesiqorho, nangapha kwelitjeli bona ungilimaze. 53 UZimu ka-Abrahama,+ uZimu kaNarhori, uZimu kabababo kufuze ahlulele phakathi kwami nawe.” UJakopo wafunga ngaloyo ohlonitjhwa nguyise u-Isaka.+

54 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wenza umhlatjelo entabeni, wamema abafowabo bona bazokudla uburotho. Yeke babudla bebalala entabeni. 55 ULabani wavuka ekuseni khulu, wamanga abazukulu bakhe+ namadodakazakhe begodu wababusisa.+ Ngemva kwalokho, wakhamba wabuyela ekhaya.+

32 Nje-ke uJakopo wakhamba, iingilozi zakaZimu zahlangana naye. 2 UJakopo nakazibonako wathi: “Le yikampa kaZimu!” Yeke wathiya indawo leyo ngokuthi yiMarhanayimu.*

3 UJakopo wathumela iinthunywa bona zikhambe phambi kwakhe, ziye kumnakwabo u-Esewu enarheni yeSeyiri+ esifundeni sakwa-Edomu,+ 4 waziyala wathi: “Nakhu enizokutjela ikosami u-Esewu, ‘UJakopo isisebenzi sakho, sithi: “Ngihlezi noLabani isikhathi eside.+ 5 Ngifumene iinkunzi, abodumbana, izimvu, iinsebenzi ezisikazi neziduna.+ Nje-ke ngikuthumela umlayezo lo kosami bona ngikwazise ngalokhu khona uzangamukela.”’”

6 Ngemva kwesikhathi esithileko, iinthunyweza zabuyela kuJakopo, zathi: “Sihlangene nomnakwenu u-Esewu, uyeza uzokubona begodu uza namadoda ama-400.”+ 7 UJakopo warhidlwa livalo begodu watshwenyeka.+ Yeke wahlukanisa abantu egade akhamba nabo, izimvu, iimbuzi, iinkomo namakamela kwaba ziinqhema ezimbili. 8 Wathi: “Nange u-Esewu asahlela isiqhema sinye, esinye sizokukghona ukuphunyurha.”

9 Ngemva kwalokho uJakopo wathi: “Maye Zimu kabamkhulu u-Abrahama, Zimu kababa u-Isaka, Jehova wena othi kimi, ‘Buyela enarhenekhenu neenhlobeni zakho begodu ngizakwenzela okuhle,’+ 10 indlela ongithanda ngayo nothembeke ngayo kimi ayikasifaneli isisebenzi sakho+ ngombana nangiyama iJordani bengiphethe intongami nje kwaphela kodwana nje sebele nginokunengi, kangangokuthi ngikghona ukukuhlukanisa kube ziinqhema ezimbili.+ 11 Ngithandaza kuwe,+ ngibawa ungisindise esandleni somnakwethu u-Esewu, ngisaba ukuthi uzongisahlela,+ asahlele abafazi bami nabantwana bami. 12 Wena wathi: ‘Ngizokwenzela okuhle begodu ngizokwenza iinzukulwana zakho zibe zinengi njengehlabathi yelwandle, yinengi khulu kangangokuthi ayibaleki.’”+

13 UJakopo wahlala ubusuku boke lapho. Ngemva kwalokho wathatha ezinye izinto anazo wazipha umnakwabo u-Esewu:+ 14 Bekuziimbuzi ezisikazi ezima-200, iimpongo ezima-20, izimvu ezisikazi ezima-200, amaramu ama-20, 15 amakamela amunyisako ama-30 namakamedlana wakhona, iinkomo ezima-40, iinkunzi ezili-10, abodumbana abasikazi abama-20 nabodumbana abaduna abali-10.+

16 Wazithatha wazinikela iinsebenzi zakhe, imihlambi le yakhamba ilandelana. Wathi eensebenzini zakhe: “Khambani phambi kwami, nenze bona kube nesikhala hlangana nemihlambi.” 17 Watjela isisebenzi esakhamba kokuthoma, wathi: “Nange u-Esewu umnakwethu akubuza athi, ‘Ungowakabani? Utjhingaphi? Umhlambi okhamba nawo lo ngewakabani?’ 18 Kufuze uphendule uthi, ‘NgingewakaJakopo isisebenzi sakho, umhlambi lo uthunyelwe wena kosami Esewu,+ naye uyasilandela.’” 19 Wayala nesisebenzi esakhamba kwesibili nesakhamba kwesithathu, nabo boke egade balandela imihlambi, wathi: “Ngilokho enizokutjho nanihlangana no-Esewu. 20 Godu kufuze nithi, ‘Isisebenzi sakho uJakopo singemva kwethu.’” Ngombana wacabanga wathi: ‘Ngizomehlisa ummoya ngokuthumela isipho.+ Ngemva kwalokho ngizakuthi nangimbonako angamukele ngomusa.’ 21 Isiphweso sakhamba phambi kwakhe kodwana yena walala ekampeni.

22 Kamva ngabo ubusukobo, wavuka wathatha abafazi bakhe ababili,+ iinsebenzi zakhe ezisikazi ezimbili+ namadodanakhe ali-11, ngemva kwalokho bayama umlambo iJabokhi.+ 23 Wayama nabo umlambo, wathatha nakho koke egade anakho.

24 Emaswapheleni uJakopo wasala ayedwa. Nje-ke kwaba nendoda alwa nayo bekwasa.+ 25 Indoda le yathi nayibona ukuthi akhenge ihlule uJakopo yamthinta inyonga begodu inyongakhe yakhwamuka njengombana bebalwa njalo.+ 26 Ngemva kwalokho yathi: “Ngilisa ngikhambe ngombana sekusile.” Waphendula wathi: “Angeze ngikulise ukhambe ungakangibusisi.”+ 27 Yeke yambuza yathi: “Ungubani igama lakho?” Waphendula wathi: “NginguJakopo.” 28 Yathi: “Igama lakho angeze kusaba nguJakopo kodwana uzokuba ngu-Israyeli*+ ngombana ulwe noZimu+ nabantu begodu waphumelela.” 29 UJakopo wabuza wathi: “Ngibawa ungitjele igama lakho.” Yaphendula yathi: “Kubayini ufuna ukwazi igama lami?”+ Ngemva kwalokho yambusisa khonapho. 30 UJakopo wathiya indawo leyo ngokuthi yiPeniyeli,*+ wathi, “Ngibone ubuso bakaZimu kodwana ngaphila.”+

31 Kwathi nakadlula ePhenuweli,* ilanga laphuma, bekahluza ngebanga lokulimala enyongeni.+ 32 Kungebangelo bekube kunamhlanjesi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bangawudli umsipha wenyonga ngombana indoda leya yathinta wona lokha inyonga kaJakopo nayizakukhwamuka.

33 UJakopo uthe nakaphakamisa amehlwakhe wabona kuza u-Esewu anamadoda ama-400.+ Nje-ke wahlukanisa abantwana, abanye baba noLeya abanye noRarheli, abanye baba neensebenzi zakhe ezisikazi ezimbili.+ 2 Wabeka iinsebenzi zakhe ezisikazi nabantwana bazo phambili,+ kwalandela uLeya nabantwana bakhe,+ ngemva kwabo kwaba nguRarheli+ noJosefa. 3 Yena wakhamba phambi kwabo, wakhothama amahlandla alikhomba njengombana atjhidela kumnakwabo.

4 U-Esewu wagijima wayomhlangabeza, wafese wamgona, wammanga begodu balila bobabili. 5 Uthe nakavusa ihloko wabona abafazi nabantwana, wathi: “Bobani abakhamba nawaba?” UJakopo wathi: “Bantwana uZimu abaphe isisebenzi sakho.”+ 6 Iinsebenzi ezisikazi zaya phambili nabantwana bazo zakhothama, 7 noLeya nabantwabakhe baya phambili bakhothama. Ngemva kwalokho kwalandela uJosefa noRarheli, nabo bakhothama.+

8 U-Esewu wathi: “Kubayini uthumele abantu nemihlambi engihlangene nayo leya?”+ Waphendula wathi: “Ngenze lokhu bona ngifumane umusa ekosinami.”+ 9 Ngemva kwalokho u-Esewu wathi: “Nginezinto ezinengi mfowethu,+ okungekwakho akuhlale kungekwakho.” 10 UJakopo wathi: “Ngibawa uzithathe. Nangabe ngifumene umusa kuwe, thatha isipho samesi ngombana ngikulethele sona bona ngizokubona ubuso bakho. Ngithe nangibona ubuso bakho kwaba ngasuthi ngibona ubuso bakaZimu ngombana ungamukele kamnandi.+ 11 Ngibawa uthathe isipho esilethwe kuwesi,+ sitjengisa bona ngikufisela okuhle ngombana uZimu ube nomusa kimi begodu nginakho koke engikutlhogako.”+ Waraga nokumncenga bewasithatha.

12 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi u-Esewu wathi: “Asikhambe, mina ngizokukhamba phambi kwakho.” 13 UJakopo wathi: “Ikosami iyalemuka bona ngikhamba nabantwana, basesebancani+ begodu nginezimvu neenkomo ezisamunyisako, kufuze ngizitlhogomele. Nange zingakhanjiswa ngokurhabako ngelanga linye umhlambi woke ungafa. 14 Nje-ke ngibawa ukhambe phambi kwesisebenzi sakho kosami kodwana mina ngizokukhamba kabuthaka ngokuvumelana nefuywami nabantwabami bengifike eSeyiri ekosinami.”+ 15 U-Esewu wathi: “Nakunjalo-ke, ngibawa ukutjhiya abanye babantu bami nawe.” UJakopo wathi: “Kubayini wenza njalo? Kwanele ukufumana umusa ekosinami.” 16 Yeke ngalo ilangelo u-Esewu wabuyela eSeyiri.

17 UJakopo waya eSukothi+ wafese wazakhela indlu, wenzela nomhlambakhe umthunzi. Kungebangelo athiya indawo leyo ngokuthi yiSukothi.*

18 Ngemva kwekhambo elisuka ePadana-Aramu,+ uJakopo wafika aphephile edorobheni leTjhekemu+ enarheni yamaKanana,+ wahloma ikampakhe eduze nedorobho. 19 Wathenga ngeempaparwana ezili-100+ zemali isiquntu sesimu lapho ahlome khona itende lakhe emadodaneni kaRhamori uyise kaTjhekemu. 20 Wenza i-aldara lapho, walithiya ngokuthi nguZimu, uZimu ka-Israyeli.+

34 UDina indodakazi kaJakopo ayibelethelwa nguLeya+ bekaphele avakatjhele abantazana benarheni leyo.+ 2 Kuthe uTjhekemu indodana kaRhamori umRhivi,+ ikosana yenarheni leyo nakambonako, wamthatha bewamkata. 3 Ngemva kwalokho watjhidelana khulu noDina indodakazi kaJakopo, wamthanda begodu wamsoma. 4 UTjhekemu wathi kuRhamori+ uyise: “Ngibawa ungithathele umntazana lo abe mkami.”

5 UJakopo nakezwa ukuthi uTjhekemu usilaphaze uDina indodakazakhe, amadodanakhe bewaluse imihlambi emmangweni ngesikhatheso. Wazithulela wawalinda abuya. 6 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uRhamori uyise kaTjhekemu wakhamba wayokukhuluma noJakopo. 7 Yeke amadodana kaJakopo ezwa ngalokho begodu abuya emadlelweni ngokurhabako. Ezwa ubuhlungu begodu asilingeka khulu ngombana uTjhekemu udelele u-Israyeli ngokulala nendodakazi kaJakopo,+ okuyinto ebekungakafuzi yenziwe.+

8 URhamori wakhuluma nabo wathi: “Indodanami uTjhekemu ithanda indodakazakho. Ngibawa nimvumele abe mkayo, 9 nitjhadiselane nathi. Nisinikele abantazana benu begodu nizithathele abantazana bethu.+ 10 Ningahlala nathi begodu ningenza nanyana yini enarheni le. Hlalani, nenze irhwebo kiyo nizizuzele nepahla.” 11 Nje-ke uTjhekemu wathi kuyise kaDina nakubafowabo: “Ngibawa ningiphe engikufisako, ngizoninikela nanyana yini eniyifunako. 12 Ningalikhuphula ngendlela enifuna ngayo ilobolo nesipho enisifuna kimi.+ Ngizimisele ukuninikela nanyana yini eniyifunako. Ngibawa ningivumele ngithathe umntazanenu.”

13 Amadodana kaJakopo aphendula uTjhekemu noRhamori uyise ngokubakhohlisa ngombana uTjhekemu usilaphaze uDina udadwabo. 14 Athi kibo: “Asikwazi ukwenza into enjalo sithathe udadwethu simnikele indoda engakasoki,+ lokho kungaba lihlazo kithi. 15 Singavumelana nani kwaphela ngaphasi kombandela nakhu: ukuthi nifane nathi nisoke woke amadoda.+ 16 Nanenza njalo sizoninikela abantazana bethu nathi sizokuthatha abantazana benu, sizokuhlala nani begodu sizokuba sitjhaba sinye. 17 Naningavumelani nathi bona nisokwe, sizokuthatha udadwethu sikhambe.”

18 Amezwabo athabisa uRhamori+ noTjhekemu indodanakhe.+ 19 UTjhekemu ogade ahlonitjhwa khulu ngakwabo, akhenge asariyada ukwenza ngokwesibawo sabo+ ngombana bekazifela ngendodakazi kaJakopo.

20 Nje-ke uRhamori nendodanakhe uTjhekemu, baya esangweni ledorobho+ bakhuluma namadoda wedorobheni labo, bathi: 21 “Abantwaba bafuna ukwenza ukuthula nathi. Bavumeleni bahlale enarhenethu benze irhwebo kiyo ngombana inarha yikulu, singahlalisana nabo begodu singatjhadiselana nabo.+ 22 Abantwaba bazokuhlala nathi bona sibe sitjhaba sinye kwaphela ngaphasi kombandela nakhu: ukuthi abaduna bethu kufuze basokwe njengabo.+ 23 Nasenza njalo, ipahlabo, umnothwabo nayo yoke ifuywabo kuzokuba ngekwethu. Nje-ke asibavumeleni bona bahlale nathi.” 24 Boke ebebahlangene esangweni ledorobho bavumelana noRhamori nendodanakhe uTjhekemu begodu woke amadoda asokwa, boke ebebahlangene esangweni ledorobho.

25 Kwathi ngelanga lesithathu nabaseseenhlungwini, amadodana amabili kaJakopo, uSimiyoni noLevi abomnakwabo kaDina,+ athatha iinsabula angena ngedorobheni ngokungakalindeleki abulala boke abaduna.+ 26 Abulala uRhamori nendodanakhe uTjhekemu ngesabula, athatha uDina ngendlini kaTjhekemu abuyela emva. 27 Amadodana kaJakopo amanye eza abona amadoda arhayiliweko begodu azithathela izinto ngombana basilaphaze udadwabo.+ 28 Athatha izimvu, iimbuzi nabodumbana babo, nakho koke ebekungedorobheni nemasimini. 29 Athatha nayo yoke ipahlawo, athumba boke abantwababo nabafazi babo, azithathela nakho koke okungendlini.

30 Nje-ke uJakopo wathi kuSimiyoni noLevi:+ “Ningilethele ihlekelele ngokungenza ngihloywe babantu benarheni le, ngihloywe maKanana namaPerizi. Sibancani begodu bazokubuthana bangisahlele, ngizokurhayilwa mina nabendlwami.” 31 Yeke bathi: “Akunamuntu okufuze aphathe udadwethu njengengwadla.

35 Ngemva kwalokho, uZimu wathi kuJakopo: “Sikima utjhinge eBhetheli,+ uhlale khona bewenzele uZimu weqiniso i-aldara lapho, uZimu owabonakala kuwe ngesikhathi ubalekela u-Esewu umnakwenu.”+

2 UJakopo watjela umndenakhe nabo boke egade banaye wathi: “Susani abozimu bezinye iintjhaba hlangana nani,+ nizihlambulule benimbathe ezinye izambatho, 3 asikhambeni sitjhinge eBetheli, kulapho ngizokwakhela khona uZimu weqiniso i-aldara, uZimu owangiphendula ngesikhathi ngigandelelekile bewaba nami nanyana kukuphi lapha bengitjhinga khona.”+ 4 Nje-ke bathatha abozimu bezinye iintjhaba namacici egade bawafakile bakunikela uJakopo, ngemva kwalokho uJakopo wakufihla ngaphasi komuthi omkhulu ebewuhlanu kweTjhekemu.

5 Kwathi nabakhambako uZimu wenza abantu beendaweni egade bakhelene nabo baba nevalo, ngebangelo-ke akhenge bagijimise amadodana kaJakopo. 6 UJakopo nabo boke egade akhamba nabo bafika eLuzi+ okuyiBhetheli eseKanana. 7 Wakha i-aldara lapho, walithiya ngokuthi yiBhethe-Eli* ngombana kulapho uZimu weqiniso abonakala kuye ngesikhathi abalekela umnakwabo.+ 8 Kamva uDibhora+ imbelesi kaRabega wahlongakala, wabulungwa hlanu kweBhetheli ngaphasi komuthi we-owuku. Nje-ke uJakopo wathiya indawo leyo wathi yi-Aloni-bhakhuthi.*

9 UZimu wabonakala kuJakopo godu ngesikhathi abuya ePadana-Aramu bewambusisa. 10 Wathi kuye: “Igama lakho unguJakopo.+ Yeke angeze usaba nguJakopo kodwana uzokuba ngu-Israyeli.” Wathoma ukumbiza ngo-Israyeli.+ 11 UZimu wanaba wathi kuye: “NginguZimu uMninimandla Woke.+ Wena beletha begodu wande. Uzokuba nguyise+ weentjhaba neenqhema zabantu begodu ezinye iinzukulwana zakho zizokuba makhosi.+ 12 Inarha engayinikela u-Abrahama no-Isaka ngizoyipha wena neenzukulwana zakho.”+ 13 Ngemva kwalokho uZimu wakhamba, wamtjhiya lapha gade akhuluma naye khona.

14 UJakopo wabeka ilitje lesikhumbuzo lapho uZimu gade akhuluma naye khona, walithela ngomnikelo wesiselo nangamafutha.+ 15 UJakopo godu wathiya indawo lapho gade akhuluma khona noZimu ngokuthi yiBhetheli.+

16 Nje-ke bakhamba eBhetheli. Bathi nabasesekudanyana ne-Efrata, uRarheli wathonywa ziinhlungu zokubeletha begodu wezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu nakabelethako. 17 Asezwa ubuhlungu khulu njalo, umbelethisi wathi kuye: “Ungathukwa ngombana indodana le nayo uzoyibeletha.”+ 18 Ngomzuzwanakhe wokugcina (besele ahlongakala) wathiya indodanakhe le ngokuthi nguBhen-Oni* kodwana uyise wayithiya ngokuthi nguBhenjamini.*+ 19 URarheli wahlongakala bambulunga basesesendleleni etjhinga e-Efrata okuyiBhetlehema.+ 20 UJakopo wabeka ilitje lesikhumbuzo phezu kwethuna lakhe; ilitjelo nanamhlanjesi liseselilitje lesikhumbuzo lethuna lakaRarheli.

21 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Israyeli wakhamba wayokuhloma itendakhe phambi kombhotjhongo we-Ederi. 22 Ngesikhathi u-Israyeli asahlala enarheni leyo, uRubeni waya emabhayini nekhohlo lakayise uBhilirha, uyise wayizwa indaba le.+

Amadodana kaJakopo bewali-12. 23 Awabelethelwa nguLeya bekunguRubeni+ izibulo lakhe, uSimiyoni, uLevi, uJuda, u-Isakari noZebuloni. 24 Awabelethelwa nguRarheli nguJosefa noBhenjamini. 25 Awabelethelwa nguBhilirha isisebenzi sakaRarheli nguDani noNafitali. 26 UZilipha isisebenzi sakaLeya sambelethela uGadi no-Atjheri. Ngiwo-ke la amadodana kaJakopo abelethelwa wona ePadana-Aramu.

27 Ekugcineni uJakopo waya lapho bekunoyise u-Isaka eMamre,+ eKhiriyathi-Ariba okuyiRhebroni lapho u-Abrahama no-Isaka bebahlala khona, enarheni ekungasiyo yekhabo.+ 28 U-Isaka waphila iminyaka eli-180.+ 29 Ngemva kwalokho u-Isaka wahlongakala, wayokubulungwa nabokhokho bakhe. Besele aluphele kodwana wayithabela ipilwakhe. Nje-ke amadodanakhe u-Esewu noJakopo bambulunga.+

36 Lo mlando ka-Esewu ongu-Edomu.+

2 U-Esewu wathatha abafazi bakhe emadodakazini weKanana: Ngu-Ada+ indodakazi ka-Eloni umRhiti+ no-Oholibhama+ indodakazi ka-Ana, omzukulu kaTsibiyoni umRhivi 3 noBhasemathi+ indodakazi ka-Itjhimayeli, ongudadwabo kaNebayothi.+

4 U-Ada wabelethela u-Esewu u-Elifazi, uBhasemathi wabeletha uRewuyeli,

5 u-Oholibhama wabeletha uJewutjhi, uJalamu noKhorarhi.+

La madodana ka-Esewu abelethelwa wona enarheni yeKanana. 6 Ngemva kwalokho u-Esewu wathatha abafazi bakhe, amadodanakhe, amadodakazakhe, boke abantu abasemndeninakhe, ifuywakhe nazo zoke ezinye iinlwana zakhe nawo woke umnotho awufumene enarheni yeKanana,+ waya kwenye inarha kude nomfowabo uJakopo.+ 7 Ngombana besele banepahla enengi bona bangahlala ndawonye begodu inarha ebebahlala kiyo beyingasakghoni ukubatlhogomela ngombana bebanefuyo enengi. 8 Nje-ke u-Esewu wakhamba wayokuhlala esifundeni seentaba seSeyiri.+ Elinye igama laka-Esewu ngu-Edomu.+

9 Lo mlando ka-Esewu uyise wama-Edomu ahlala esifundeni seentaba zeSeyiri.+

10 La magama wamadodana ka-Esewu: Ngu-Elifazi indodana ka-Ada umka-Esewu; nguRewuyeli indodana kaBhasemathi umka-Esewu.+

11 Amadodana ka-Elifazi nguTemani,+ u-Omari, uTsefo, uGatami noKhenazi.+ 12 UTimna waba likhohlo laka-Elifazi indodana ka-Esewu. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wabelethela u-Elifazi u-Amalekhi.+ Lezi ziinzukulwana zaka-Ada umka-Esewu.

13 La madodana kaRewuyeli: NguNarhathi, uZerarhi, uTjhama noMiza. Lezi bekuziinzukulwana zakaBhasemathi+ umka-Esewu.

14 La madodana ka-Oholibhama awabelethela u-Esewu: NguJewutjhi, uJalamu noKhorarhi. U-Oholibhama bekamka-Esewu, ayindodakazi ka-Ana begodu amzukulu kaTsibiyoni.

15 La makhosana avela emndenini ka-Esewu:+ Amadodana ka-Elifazi izibulo laka-Esewu: Yikosana uTemani, yikosana u-Omari, yikosana uTsefo, yikosana uKhenazi,+ 16 yikosana uKhorarhi, yikosana uGatami nekosana u-Amalekhi. La makhosana u-Elifazi+ abelethelwa wona enarheni yakwa-Edomu. Bewaziinzukulwana zaka-Ada.

17 La madodana kaRewuyeli indodana ka-Esewu: Yikosana uNarhathi, yikosana uZerarhi, yikosana uTjhama nekosana uMiza. La makhosana uRewuyeli abelethelwa wona enarheni yakwa-Edomu.+ Bewaziinzukulwana zakaBhasemathi umka-Esewu.

18 La madodana ka-Oholibhama umka-Esewu: Yikosana uJewutjhi, yikosana uJalamu nekosana uKhorarhi. La makhosana abelethwa ngu-Oholibhama indodakazi ka-Ana umka-Esewu.

19 La madodana ka-Esewu ongu-Edomu+ begodu la makhosana wawo.

20 La madodana kaSeyiri umRhori, abahlali benarheni:+ NguLothani, uTjhobali, uTsibiyoni, u-Ana,+ 21 uDitjhoni, u-Etseri noDitjhani.+ La makhosana wamaRhori ebewaziinzukulwana zakaSeyiri enarheni yakwa-Edomu.

22 Amadodana kaLothani bekunguRhori noHemami, udadwabo kaLothani bekunguTimna.+

23 Amadodana kaTjhobali: Ngu-Alvani, uManarhathi, u-Ebali, uTjhefo no-Onamu.

24 Amadodana kaTsibiyoni:+ Ngu-Aya no-Ana. Lo ngu-Ana owafumana umthombo emmangweni aluse abodumbana bakaTsibiyoni uyise.

25 Abantwana baka-Ana: NguDitjhoni no-Oholibhama indodakazi ka-Ana.

26 Amadodana kaDitjhoni: NguRhemdani, u-Etjhibhani, uJitirani noKerana.+

27 Amadodana ka-Etseri: NguBhilirhana, uZavana no-Akhana.

28 Amadodana kaDitjhani: Ngu-Utsi no-Arana.+

29 Amakhosana wamaRhori: Yikosana uLothani, yikosana uTjhobali, yikosana uTsibiyoni, yikosana u-Ana, 30 yikosana uDitjhoni, yikosana u-Etseri nekosana uDitjhani.+ La makhosana wamaRhori enarheni yeSeyiri.

31 La makhosi abusa enarheni yakwa-Edomu+ ngaphambi kobana kubuse enye ikosi kwa-Israyeli.+ 32 UBhela indodana kaBhewori wabusa kwa-Edomu begodu idorobho abusa kilo yiDinihaba. 33 UBhela nakahlongakalako, uJobabi indodana kaZerarhi weBhozira wathoma ukubusa esikhundleni sakhe. 34 UJobabi nakahlongakalako, uRhutjhamu wenarheni yamaTemani wathoma ukubusa esikhundleni sakhe. 35 URhutjhamu nakahlongakalako, uRhadadi indodana kaBhedadi owahlula abantu bakwaMidiyani+ esifundeni* sakwaMowabi wabusa esikhundleni sakhe begodu igama ledorobho abusa kilo yi-Avithi. 36 URhadadi nakahlongakalako, uSamla weMasirekha wabusa esikhundleni sakhe. 37 USamla nakahlongakalako, uSawula weRerhobhothi eseqadi koMlambo wabusa esikhundleni sakhe. 38 USawula nakahlongakalako, uBhali-Rhanani indodana ka-Akibori wabusa esikhundleni sakhe. 39 UBhali-Rhanani indodana ka-Akibori nakahlongakalako, uHadari wabusa esikhundleni sakhe. Igama ledorobho abusa kilo bekuyiPawu begodu igama lomkakhe bekunguMehethabheli indodakazi kaMathiredi oyindodakazi kaMezahabu.

40 La magama wamakhosana avela ku-Esewu ngokwemindenawo, ngokweendawo zawo, ngamagamawo: Yikosana uTimna, yikosana u-Aliva, yikosana uJetethi,+ 41 yikosana u-Oholibhama, yikosana u-Ela, yikosana uPinoni, 42 yikosana uKhenazi, yikosana uTemani, yikosana uMibitsari, 43 yikosana uMagidiyeli nekosana u-Iramu. La makhosana wakwa-Edomu ngokweendawo zawo zokuhlala enarheni yelifa lawo.+ Lezi ziinzukulwana zaka-Esewu uyise wama-Edomu.+

37 UJakopo waraga nokuhlala enarheni yeKanana, lapha uyise gade ahlala khona enarheni ekungasiyo yekhabo.+

2 Lo mlando kaJakopo.

Kuthe uJosefa+ isokana elineminyaka eli-17 nakalusa umhlambi+ namadodana kaBhilirha+ namadodana kaZilipha+ abafazi bakayise, waletha umbiko omumbi ngawo kuyise. 3 Nje-ke u-Israyeli gade athanda uJosefa ukudlula woke amanye amadodanakhe+ ngombana wabelethelwa yena sele aluphele, wathatha isambatho esikhethekileko wamnikela sona. 4 Abomnakwabo nababona ukuthi uyise umthanda ukubadlula boke, bathoma ukumhloya, akhenge basakhuluma naye ngehlonipho.

5 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJosefa waba nebhudango, walihlathululela abomnakwabo+ begodu bamhloya khulu. 6 Wathi kibo: “Ngibawa nilalele nanti ibhudango engibe nalo. 7 Besibophelela iinqwambi esimini, isiqwambi sami sajama rwe begodu iinqwambi zenu zazombeleza zakhothamela isiqwambi sami.”+ 8 Abomnakwabo bathi kuye: “Utjho bona uzokuba yikosethu?”+ Lokho kwenza ukuthi bamhloye khulu ngebanga lebhudango lakhe nangalokho abatjele khona.

9 Ngemva kwalokho, waba nelinye godu ibhudango, watjela boke abafowabo ngalo wathi: “Ngibe nelinye godu ibhudango. Ilanga, inyanga neenkwekwezi ezili-11 bezingikhothamela.”+ 10 Walihlathululela noyise phambi kwabafowabo, uyise wamkhalima wathi kuye: “Litjho ukuthini ibhudango lakhweli? Utjho ukuthi mina nonyoko nabafowenu sizokuza kuwe sikukhothamele?” 11 Abafowabo bamfela umona+ kodwana uyise wacabanga ngalokho uJosefa akutjhwileko.

12 Nje-ke abafowabo bakhamba bayokulusa umhlambi kayise hlanu kweTjhekemu.+ 13 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi u-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Abafowenu baluse imihlambi hlanu kweTjhekemu. Yewize ngikuthume kibo.” UJosefa wathi kuye: “Kulungile baba!” 14 U-Israyeli wathi kuye: “Ngibawa uyobahlola ukuthi koke kusakhamba kuhle na, nokuthi umhlambi usavikelekile. Ngemva kwalokho ubuye uzongibikela.” UJosefa wakhamba asuka emrhobeni weRhebroni+ watjhinga eTjhekemu. 15 Kwathi nakasakhambakhamba emmangweni, wahlangana nendoda ethileko. Indoda leyo yambuza yathi: “Uzulazula nje ufunani?” 16 Wathi kiyo: “Ngifunana nabafowethu. Ngibawa ungitjele bayilusele kuphi imihlambi?” 17 Indoda le yaraga yathi: “Basukile lapha, ngibezwe bathi, ‘Asitjhingeni eDotani.’” UJosefa wabalandela wabafumana eDotani.

18 Bambona aseza kude, kuthe angakafiki kibo bathoma ukuluka amano wokumbulala. 19 Bathi komunye nomunye: “Qalani nasiya isibhudangikazesa siyeza!+ 20 Asisibulaleni, sisiphosele ngepetsini bese sizokuthi sidliwe sibandana esiyingozi. Akhesibone ukuthi kuzokwenzekani ngamabhudangwaso.” 21 URubeni+ nakezwa ngalokho, walinga ukumsindisa kibo. Wathi: “Singambulali.”+ 22 URubeni wathi kibo: “Ningathululi iingazi.+ Mphoseleni ngepetsini esemmangweni le kodwana ningamlimazi.”+ Umnqophwakhe bekukumsindisa kibo ukwenzela bona ambuyisele kuyise.

23 UJosefa uthe nakafika kubafowabo, bamhlubulisa isambatho sakhe esikhethekileko,+ 24 bamthatha bamphosela ngepetsini. Ngesikhatheso ipetsi beyinganamanzi.

25 Ngemva kwalokho, bahlala phasi badla. Kwathi nabathi mehlo suka, babona kuza isiqhema sama-Itjhimayeli+ sivela eGiliyadi. Amakamelaso bewathwele iinthako zokulapha nezinukisa kamnandi+ begodu besitjhinga eGibhide. 26 Nje-ke uJuda wathi kubafowabo: “Sizokuzuzani nasingabulala umfowethu besigubuzese iingazi zakhe?+ 27 Asimthengiseleni+ ama-Itjhimayeli, singamlimazi. Mfowethu, ziingazi zethu.”* Nje-ke bavumelana naye. 28 Kwathi abarhwebi bamaMidiyani+ nabadlulako, abafowabo bakaJosefa bakhupha uJosefa ngepetsini bamthengisela ama-Itjhimayeli ngeempaparwana zesiliva ezima-20.+ Amadoda la akhamba noJosefa eGibhide.

29 URubeni uthe nakayokuhlola ngepetsini, nakabona ukuthi uJosefa akakho ngapho warathula izambatho zakhe. 30 Uthe nakabuyela kubafowabo wathi: “Umfowethu akasekho! Ngizokubona ngenzeni?”

31 Nje-ke bahlaba ipongo bathatha isambatho sakaJosefa basifaka ngeengazini. 32 Ngemva kwalokho, bathumela isambatho esikhethekileko kuyise, bathi: “Nakhu esikufumeneko. Sibawa uqalisise ukuthi akusisisambatho sendodanakho na.”+ 33 Wasiqalisisa wathi: “Sisambatho sendodanami! Kungenzeka udliwe sibandana esiyingozi. UJosefa urathulwe waba ziinquqwana!” 34 UJakopo warathula izambatho zakhe, wambatha umgodla wazilela indodanakhe amalanga amanengi. 35 Yeke amadodana namadodakazakhe bekasolo alinga ukumtjhiriya kodwana wabhala ukutjhiriywa, wathi: “Ngizokutjhinga eThuneni*+ ngililela indodanami!” Waraga nokulila.

36 AmaMidiyani amthengisela uPothifara+ eGibhide, isikhulu sesigodlo sakaFaro nenduna yabonogada.+

38 Ngesikhatheso uJuda watjhiya abafowabo, wayokuhloma itendakhe hlanu kwendoda emAdulamu igama layo nguRhira. 2 Khonapho uJuda wabona indodakazi yomKanana,+ igama layo nguTjhuwa. Nje-ke wayithatha bona ibe mkakhe bewatjhinga nayo emabhayini, 3 yaba sidisi, yabeletha indodana wayithiya ngokuthi ngu-Eri.+ 4 Yaba sidisi godu yabeletha indodana yayithiya ngokuthi ngu-Onani. 5 Yabeletha enye indodana, yayithiya ngokuthi nguTjhela. Ngesikhathi ibeletha indodana le uJuda bekase-Akziba.+

6 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJuda wathathela u-Eri izibulo lakhe umfazi, igama lomfazi loyo bekunguTamari.+ 7 U-Eri lo bekenza izinto ezimbi phambi kwakaJehova, nje-ke uJehova wambulala. 8 UJuda nakabona lokho, wathi ku-Onani: “Thatha umfazi kamnakwenu abe mkakho, utjhinge naye emabhayini bona umnakwenu abe nabantwana ngawe.”+ 9 U-Onani bekazi ukuthi abantwanabo angeze kube ngebakhe.+ Nje-ke nakaya emabhayini nomfazi kamnakwabo, bekathululela isidoda sakhe phasi ukuthi angabeletheli umnakwabo abantwana.+ 10 Akwenzako akhenge kumthabise uJehova, yeke wambulala naye.+ 11 UJuda wathi kuTamari umalukazanakhe: “Khamba uyokuhlala endlini kayihlo, ungatjhadi godu bekube kulapho uTjhela sekakhule khona.” UJuda wacabanga wathi: ‘UTjhela lo naye angafa njengabomnakwabo.’+ Nje-ke uTamari wakhamba wayokuhlala endlini kayise.

12 Ngemva kwesikhathi esithileko, umkaJuda indodakazi kaTjhuwa+ wahlongakala. UJuda wazila, ngemva kwalokho waya ebantwini egade barhuna izimvu zakhe eTimna+ akhamba nomnganakhe uRhira umAdulamu.+ 13 UTamari watjelwa ukuthi: “Nanguya usosokanakho uya eTimna uyokurhuna izimvu zakhe.” 14 Kwathi nakezwa lokho, wahlubula izambatho zakhe zokuba mhlolokazi, wazembesa ngetjhila, wazigubuzesa ngedugu bewayokuhlala esangweni le-Enayimu, ebelisendleleni etjhinga eTimna ngombana bekabona ukuthi uTjhela sekakhulile kodwana akakamthathi amenze umkakhe.+

15 UJuda nakambonako wacabanga ukuthi uyingwadla ngombana bekazivale ubuso. 16 Nje-ke watjhinga kuye njengombana bekasendleleni, wathi: “Ngibawa ungivumele ngitjhinge nawe emabhayini,” bekangazi ukuthi ngumalukazanakhe.+ Wamphendula wathi: “Alo khuyini ozangipha yona nange ngingatjhinga nawe emabhayini?” 17 UJuda wathi: “Ngizokuthatha imbuzana emhlambinami ngikuthumele yona.” Wamphendula wathi: “Uzanginikela isibambiso na esizongitjengisa ukuthi uzokwenza okuthembisileko?” 18 UJuda wathi: “Alo sibambiso bani ofuna ngikunikele sona?” Wamphendula wathi: “Nginikela idzilamnwanakho+ yetshwayo nentambo yakhona nedondolo lakho.” Wamnikela zona, ngemva kwalokho waya naye emabhayini begodu waba sidisi. 19 UTamari ngemva kwalokho wakhamba, wasusa itjhila egade azembese ngalo bese wambatha izembatho zakhe zokuba mhlolokazi.

20 Nje-ke uJuda wathumela imbuzana leyo ngomnganakhe omAdulamu,+ bona afumane isibambiso asitjhiye emfazini loya kodwana umnganakhe akhenge asamfumana. 21 Wabuza abantu bendaweni leyo wathi: “Iphi ingwadla yethempelini ye-Enayimu ehlala eqadi kwendlela?” Bathi kuye: “Akhenge khekube nengwadla yethempelini endaweni le.” 22 Ekugcineni wabuyela kuJuda wathi kuye: “Akhenge ngimthole, ngibuze nabantu balapho bathi kimi, ‘Akhenge khekube nengwadla yethempelini endaweni le.’” 23 UJuda wathi: “Akazithathe ngombana nasingasolo simfuna sizazibangela ihlazo. Imbuzana ngiyithumele kodwana akhenge umthole.”

24 Ngemva kweenyanga ezingaba zintathu, uJuda wafumana umbiko othi: “UTamari umalukazanakho ube yingwadla begodu usidisi.” UJuda wathi: “Mkhupheni, nimtjhise.”+ 25 Njengombana bamkhupha, wathumela amezwi naka kusosokanakhe: “Indoda izintwezi okungezayo ngiyo engenze ngaba sidisi, ngibawa uziqalisise ubone ukuthi ngezakabani, yidzilamnwana yetshwayo enentambo yakhona nedondolo.”+ 26 UJuda waziqala, wathi: “Ulunge ukudlula mina, ngombana akhenge ngimnikele uTjhela indodanami.”+ Ngemva kwalokho akhenge asaya naye emabhayini.

27 Kwathi nakufika isikhathi sakhe sokubeletha, wabeletha amawele. 28 Njengombana abeletha, elinye iwele lakhupha isandla, umbelethisi wathatha intambo ebomvu wayibopha esandleni salo, wathi: “Lo uphume qangi.” 29 Kwathi iwele elinyeli nalibuyisela isandla umfowabo waphuma, umbelethisi wathi: “Qala bona umlimaze kangangani ummakho!” Nje-ke bamthiya ngokuthi nguPeretsi.*+ 30 Ngemva kwalokho umfowabo egade anentambo ebomvu esandleni waphuma, bamthiya ngokuthi nguZerarhi.+

39 Ama-Itjhimayeli+ aletha uJosefa eGibhide.+ Khonapho uPothifara,+ isikhulu sesigodlo sakaFaro esimGibhide, samthenga ezandleni zawo. 2 UJehova bekanoJosefa+ kangangobana waphumelela bewaphathiswa imisebenzi ethileko endlini yekosakhe emGibhide. 3 Ikosakhe yabona ukuthi uJehova bekanoJosefa nokuthi uJehova wamenza waphumelela kikho koke akwenzako.

4 UJosefa wafumana umusa ekosinakhe, beyamenza waba sisandla sayo. Yambeka bona abe mtlhogomeli wendlwayo nakho koke okungekwayo. 5 Kuthe ngemva kobana abekwe bona abe mtlhogomeli wendlwayo nakho koke okungekwayo, uJehova wasolo abusisa umndeni kaPothifara ngebanga lakaJosefa. UJehova godu wabusisa koke egade anakho ngendlini nesimini.+ 6 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, yatjhiyela koke okungekwayo ezandleni zakaJosefa, akhenge itshwenyeke ngalitho ngaphandle kwalokho egade ikudla. UJosefa wakhula waba nejamo begodu waqaleka.

7 Ngemva kwalokho, umfazi wekosakhe wathoma ukumkhanuka, wathi: “Lala nami.” 8 UJosefa akhenge avume ukulala naye, wathi kuye: “Qala, ikosami ayitshwenyeki ngokuthi kunani ngendlini begodu ingabele bona ngitlhogomele koke okungekwayo. 9 Akekho omkhulu ukudlula mina ngendlini le begodu ikosi inginikele koke okungekwayo ngaphandle kwakho ngombana umkayo. Nje-ke ngingabenza njani ubumbi obungaka, ngone kuZimu?”+

10 Qobe langa umkaPothifara bekaganukeja uJosefa kodwana akhenge avume ukulala naye. 11 Kwathi ngelinye ilanga uJosefa nakangena ngendlini azokwenza umsebenzakhe, wafumana zoke iinsebenzi zangendlini zingekho. 12 Nje-ke umkaPothifara wamdosa ngesambatho sakhe wathi kuye: “Lala nami!” UJosefa watjhiya isambatho sakhe esandleni somfazi loyo wabalekela ngaphandle. 13 Msinyana umkaPothifara nakabona ukuthi uJosefa utjhiye isambatho sakhe esandleni sakhe begodu ubalekele ngaphandle, 14 warhuwelela iinsebenzi zangendlinakhe wathi kizo: “Qalani! Indodami isilethele umHebherukazi lo bona azosihlazisa.* Ungene ngapha wafuna ukulala nami kodwana ngarhuwelela. 15 Nje-ke uthe nakangizwa ngirhuwelela, watjhiya isambatho sakhe eqadi kwami wabalekela ngaphandle.” 16 Ngemva kwalokho, umkaPothifara wasibeka eqadi kwakhe isambatho sakaJosefa bekwafika ikosakhe.

17 Nje-ke umkaPothifara wabuyelela amezwi awatjho ekuthomeni, wabikela ikosi wathi: “Isisebenzesa esimHebheru osilethele sona size kimi bona sizongihlazisa. 18 Ngithe nangirhuwelelako, satjhiya isambatho saso eqadi kwami sabalekela ngaphandle.” 19 Khonokho ikosaso nayizwa amezwi womkayo nakathi: “Ngilokho isisebenzikazi sakho esikwenze kimi,” yasilingeka khulu. 20 Nje-ke yathatha uJosefa yamphosela ngejele, lapho kuvalelwe khona iimbotjhwa zayo, kwaba kuhlala kwakhe ngejele.+

21 UJehova waraga anoJosefa, wasolo amthanda,* wamenza bona afumane umusa emehlweni wenduna eyihloko yejele.+ 22 Nje-ke induna eyihloko yejele yabeka uJosefa bona abe mphathi wazo zoke iimbotjhwa, yambeka bona atjheje koke okwenziwa ngapho.+ 23 Induna eyihloko yejele beyingazitshwenyi ngalitho engaphasi kwetjhejo lakaJosefa ngombana uJehova bekanoJosefa begodu uJehova wenza bona koke uJosefa akwenzako kuphumelele.+

40 Ngemva kwalokho, induna yabaphathikapho+ yekosi yeGibhide nenduna yababhagi, bonela ikosabo yeGibhide. 2 Yeke uFaro wasilingwa ziinduna zakhe ezimbilezi, okuyinduna yabaphathikapho nenduna yababhagi,+ 3 wazivalela ngejele elingendlini yenduna yabonogada,+ lapho bekuvalelwe khona uJosefa.+ 4 Nje-ke induna yabonogada yabela uJosefa bona ahlale nazo bekazitlhogomele,+ zahlala ngejele isikhathi eside.*

5 Umphathikapho nombhagi wekosi yeGibhide egade bavalelwe ngejele, bobabili baba nebhudango ngobusuku bunye begodu elinye nelinye belinehlathululwalo. 6 Kuthe uJosefa nakangenako ngakusasa ekuseni, wababona badanile. 7 Wababuza wathi: “Kubayini nidanile namhlanjesi?” 8 Bathi kuye: “Sobabili sibe namabhudango kodwana akunamuntu ongasihlathululela wona.” UJosefa wathi kibo: “NguZimu kwaphela onganihlathululela amabhudangwenu.+ Ngibawa ningitjele wona.”

9 Nje-ke umphathikapho watjela uJosefa ngebhudango lakhe wathi kuye: “Ebhudangweni lami bekunesidiribe phambi kwami. 10 Esidiribeneso bekunamahlumela amathathu, njengombana asakhula, atlhurha aveza iinthelo ezivuthiweko zamadiribe. 11 Ikapho kaFaro beyisesandleni sami begodu ngathatha amadiribe ngawaminyela ngekaphwenakhe. Ngemva kwalokho ngamnikela yona.” 12 Ngemva kwalokho, uJosefa wathi kuye: “Nasi ihlathululo yebhudango lakho: Amahlumela amathathu malanga amathathu. 13 Emalangeni amathathu kusukela nje, uFaro uzokukhupha ngapha akubuyisele esikhundleni sakho+ begodu uzokunikela uFaro ikapho njengalokha nawusese mphathi wekaphwakhe.+ 14 Nje-ke ungikhumbule izinto nazikukhambela kuhle. Ngibawa ube nomusa* kimi ukhulume ngami kuFaro ukwenzela bona angikhuphe endaweni le. 15 Ungibona nginje, ngathathwa ngekani enarheni yamaHebheru+ begodu akunanto embi engiyenzileko, engenza ngivalelwe ngejele.”+

16 Induna yababhagi nayibona ukuthi ihlathululo kaJosefa ibikezela izinto ezihle ngomphathikapho, yathi kuye: “Nami ngibe nebhudango, bengithwele abomantji abathathu boburotho obumhlophe, 17 umantji ongaphezulu bewunemihlobohlobo yezinto ezibhagiweko zakaFaro, bekuneenyoni ezidla izinto ezingemantjini loyo.” 18 Nje-ke uJosefa wayiphendula wathi, “Nasi ihlathululo yebhudangwelo: Abomantji abathathu malanga amathathu. 19 Emalangeni amathathu kusukela nje, uFaro uzokuqunta ihlokwakho, akuphanyeke esigodweni begodu iinyoni zizokudla inyamakho.”+

20 Nje-ke ngelanga lesithathu bekulilanga lamabeletho+ lakaFaro, wenza umnyanya bewaletha induna yabaphathikapho nenduna yababhagi phambi kweensebenzi zakhe. 21 Wabuyisela induna yabaphathikapho esikhundleni sayo begodu induna leyo yaragela phambili ilethela uFaro ikapho. 22 Kodwana waphanyeka induna yababhagi njengombana uJosefa abahlathululele.+ 23 Nanyana kunjalo, induna yabaphathikapho yamkhohlwa uJosefa.+

41 Ekupheleni kweminyaka emibili, uFaro wabhudanga+ ajame hlanu koMlambo iNayili. 2 Wabona iinkomo ezilikhomba ezihle ezinonileko ziphuma emlanjeni begodu zidla utjani eNayili.+ 3 Wabona neenkomo ezilikhomba ezimbi ezondileko ziphuma emlanjeni iNayili, zajama hlanu kweenkomo ezinonileko magega nomlambo. 4 Iinkomo ezimbi ezondileko zathoma ukudla iinkomo ezilikhomba ezihle ezinonileko. UFaro waphaphama khonokho.

5 Ngemva kwalokho, walala bewaba nebhudango lesibili. Wabona iinqwambi ezilikhomba ziphuma ehlangeni, zinothile.+ 6 Ngemva kwalokho kwavela iinqwambi ezilikhomba ezimatsikani nezitjhwabiswe mmoya wepumalanga. 7 Iinqwambi ebezimatsikani zathoma ukuginya ezilikhomba ebegade zinothile. Nakwenzeka lokhu, uFaro waphaphama bewalemuka ukuthi uyabhudanga.

8 Watshwenyeka khulu ekuseni. Nje-ke wabiza boke abaphristi beGibhide abenza imilingo nawo woke amadoda ahlakaniphileko. Wabatjela ngamabhudango abe nawo kodwana akekho namunye owakghona ukumhlathululela ukuthi atjho ukuthini.

9 Induna yabaphathikapho yakhuluma noFaro yathi: “Namhlanjesi ngivuma izono zami. 10 Kwathi nawusilingekileko ngebanga leensebenzi zakho, wathi mina nombhagi sivalelwe ngejele, endlini yenduna yabonogada.+ 11 Ngemva kwalokho, sobabili saba nebhudango ngobusuku obubodwa. Waba nelakhe nami ngaba nelami begodu elinye nelinye belinehlathululwalo.+ 12 Besinesokana elimHebheru, lisisebenzi senduna yabonogada.+ Sathi nasilitjela ngamabhudango+ lawo, lasihlathululela bona atjho ukuthini. 13 Kwenzeka ngendlela elisihlathululele ngayo, mina ngabuyiselwa esikhundleni sami kwathi indoda enye leya yaphanyekwa.”+

14 Nje-ke uFaro wathi kubizwe uJosefa,+ bamkhupha msinyana ngejele.+ UJosefa warhuna, wambatha ezinye izambatho, watjhinga kuFaro. 15 UFaro wathi kuye: “Ngibe nebhudango kodwana akunamuntu ongangihlathululela lona. Nje-ke ngizwile bathi nawuzwa ibhudango ukghona ukulihlathulula.”+ 16 UJosefa waphendula uFaro wathi: “Awa, mina angisililitho! UZimu nguye ozokunikela ihlathululo ehle, ingasi mina.”+

17 UFaro waraga wathi kuJosefa: “Ebhudangweni lami bengijame eqadi koMlambo iNayili. 18 Ngabona iinkomo ezilikhomba ezihle ezinonileko, ziphuma emlanjeni iNayili, nje-ke zathoma ukudla utjani beNayili.+ 19 Ngemva kwazo, kwaphuma ezinye iinkomo ezilikhomba, bezisibaga, zizimbi begodu zondile. Bengithoma ukubona iinkomo ezimbi kangaka eGibhide. 20 Iinkomo ezondile begodu ezimbi, zathoma ukudla iinkomo ezilikhomba egade zinonile. 21 Ngemva kokuthi zizidlile, akekho obekangabona ukuthi zidle iinkomo leza ngombana zahlala zondile begodu zizimbi njalo njengaphambilini. Ngaphaphama khonokho.

22 “Ngemva kwalokho ngabhudanga iinqwambi ezilikhomba ziphuma ehlangeni, zinothile.+ 23 Kwavela ezinye iinqwambi ezilikhomba ebezimatsikani begodu zitjhwabiswe mmoya wepumalanga. 24 Iinqwambi ebegade zimatsikani zathoma ukuginya ezilikhomba ebezinothile. Nje-ke ngatjela abaphristi+ abenza imilingo kodwana akekho namunye owakghona ukungihlathululela ibhudangweli.”+

25 UJosefa wathi kuFaro: “Amabhudangwakho atjho into yinye. UZimu weqiniso ukutjele lokho azokwenza.+ 26 Iinkomo ezihle ezilikhomba zitjho iminyaka elikhomba, neenqwambi ezihle ezilikhomba zitjho iminyaka elikhomba. Amabhudango la atjho into yinye. 27 Iinkomo ezilikhomba ezondileko nezimbi zitjho iminyaka elikhomba, neenqwambi ezilikhomba ezatjhwabiswa mmoya wepumalanga zitjho iminyaka elikhomba; okutjho ukuthi kuzokuba neminyaka elikhomba yendlala. 28 Kunjengombana ngitjhwile kuFaro: UZimu weqiniso umenze wabona lokho azokwenza.

29 “Kuzokuba neminyaka elikhomba lapho kuzokuba nokudla okunengi khona eGibhide. 30 Ngemva kwalokho, kuzokuba neminyaka elikhomba yendlala begodu kuzokulitjalwa ukuthi eGibhide khekwaba nokudla okunengi ngombana indlala izabe ibhokile enarheni.+ 31 Abantu ngeze basakhumbula ukuthi khekwaba nokudla okunengi enarheni ngombana indlala izabe ibhoke khulu! 32 UFaro ukubhudange kabili lokhu ngombana kwamambala uZimu weqiniso uzokwenza lokhu begodu uzokwenza kungasikade.

33 “Nje-ke uFaro akafune indoda enelemuko nehlakaniphileko, ayenze ibe yinduna kiyo yoke inarha yeGibhide. 34 Akabeke iinduna enarheni, abuthelele ingcenye eyodwa kezihlanu yeenthelo eGibhide hlangana neminyaka elikhomba yokudla okunengi.+ 35 Eminyakeni yokudla okunengi ezako le, akubuthelelwe ukudla, kubekwe emadorobheni begodu kuvikelwe,+ kuzakuba kukudla kwakaFaro. 36 Ukudlokhu kuzakudliwa eminyakeni elikhomba yendlala ezokuba khona eGibhide, ukwenzela bona abantu nefuyo bangatjhabalali ngebanga lendlala.”+

37 Iqhingeli laba lihle kuFaro nakizo zoke iinsebenzi zakhe. 38 Nje-ke uFaro wathi eensebenzini zakhe: “Ikhona na indoda enommoya kaZimu njengale?” 39 UFaro wathi kuJosefa: “Ngebanga lokuthi uZimu ukwenze wazi koke lokhu begodu akunamuntu ohlakaniphe nonelemuko njengawe, 40 uzokuba yinduna emzinami begodu boke abantu bami bazokulalela kikho koke othi bakwenze.+ Mina ngizokuba mkhulu kuwe ngombana ngiyikosi.” 41 UFaro wanaba wathi kuJosefa: “Ngikubeka bona ube yinduna kiyo yoke inarha yeGibhide.”+ 42 Ngemva kwalokho uFaro wakhupha idzilamnwana yetshwayo emunwenakhe wayifaka esandleni sakaJosefa, wambathisa izambatho zelineni elisezingeni eliphezulu, wamfaka nomncamo wegolide entanyeni. 43 Wamkhweza kwenye yeenkarana* zakhe begodu kwaba nabakhamba phambi kwakhe barhuwelela bathi, “Khothamani phambi kwakhe!”* Wambeka bunjalo-ke bona abe yinduna kiyo yoke inarha yeGibhide.

44 UFaro wathi kuJosefa: “NginguFaro kodwana akunamuntu enarheni le ongakghona ukwenza nanyana yini ngaphandle kwemvumakho.”+ 45 Ngemva kwalokho, uFaro wathiya uJosefa wathi nguTsafenati-Paneyarha bewamnikela u-Asenathi+ indodakazi kaPothi-Fera omphristi we-Oni* bona ibe mkakhe. Nje-ke uJosefa wathoma ukuba yinduna enarheni yeGibhide.+ 46 UJosefa bekaneminyaka ema-30+ nakajama phambi kwakaFaro ikosi yeGibhide.

Ngemva kwalokho-ke, wasuka phambi kwakaFaro wayikhamba yoke inarha yeGibhide. 47 Hlangana neminyaka elikhomba yokudla okunengi inarha yathela khulu. 48 UJosefa wabuthelela ukudla kweminyaka elikhomba enarheni yeGibhide, akubeka emadorobheni. Kiwo woke amadorobho, bekabeka ukudla okuvunwe emasimini aseduze. 49 UJosefa waraga nokubeka ukudla, kwaba kunengi khulu njengehlabathi yelwandle kangangokuthi besele bangasakghoni nokukubala ngombana bekukunengi tle!

50 Ngaphambi kokuthi kufike umnyaka wendlala, uJosefa+ waba namadodana amabili, awabelethelwa ngu-Asenathi indodakazi kaPothi-Fera umphristi we-Oni.* 51 UJosefa wathiya izibulo lakhe ngokuthi nguManase,*+ wathi, “UZimu ungenze ngakhohlwa umrarwami nayo yoke indlu kababa.” 52 Indodanakhe yesibili wayithiya wathi ngu-Efrayimu,*+ wathi, “UZimu ungenze ngaba nabantwana* enarheni yeenhlungu zami.”+

53 Iminyaka elikhomba yokudla okunengi yaphela eGibhide,+ 54 yathoma-ke iminyaka elikhomba yendlala njengombana uJosefa atjhwile.+ Indlala yaba khona kizo zoke iindawo kodwana eGibhide kwaba nokudla.+ 55 Emaswapheleni ukudla kwaphela kizo zoke iindawo zeGibhide, nje-ke abantu balilela uFaro bafuna ukudla.+ UFaro watjela boke abantu beGibhide wathi: “Khambani niye kuJosefa benenze koke azonitjela khona.”+ 56 Indlala yarhagala kizo zoke iindawo zephasini.+ Nje-ke uJosefa wavula iinlulu zesivuno wathengisela amaGibhide+ ngombana indlala beyibhoke tle eGibhide. 57 Kanti godu nabantu abavela eendaweni ezihlukahlukeneko beza eGibhide bazokuthenga ukudla kuJosefa ngombana indlala beyibhokile ephasini.+

42 UJakopo nakezwa bona kunekoroyi eGibhide,+ wathi emadodanenakhe: “Kubayini nihlalele ukuqalana ngemehlweni nje?” 2 Wangezelela wathi: “Ngizwile bona kunekoroyi eGibhide. Nje-ke yehlelani khona niyosithengela yona ukwenzela bona singafi.”+ 3 Yeke abafowabo+ bakaJosefa abalitjhumi behlela eGibhide bona bayokuthenga ikoroyi. 4 Kodwana uJakopo akhenge avume bona bakhambe noBhenjamini+ umfowabo kaJosefa ngombana wathi: “Mhlamunye naye angehlelwa yingozi afe.”+

5 Amadodana ka-Israyeli eza nabanye ebebazokuthenga ngombana indlala besele ifike nenarheni yeKanana.+ 6 NguJosefa obekaphethe enarheni+ yeGibhide begodu nguye obekathengisela abantu abaseenarheni eziseduze ikoroyi.+ Nje-ke abafowabo bakaJosefa bafika bebakhothama phambi kwakhe bahloma iinhloko phasi.+ 7 UJosefa nakabona abafowabo, wabazi kodwana wenza bona bangamboni.+ Wabakgharameja wathi: “Nivelaphi?” Bathi kuye: “Sivela enarheni yeKanana, sizokuthenga ukudla.”+

8 UJosefa wakghona ukubona abafowabo kodwana bona akhenge bamazi. 9 Msinyana uJosefa wakhumbula amabhudango aba nawo ngabo,+ wathi kibo: “Niziinhloli! Nize lapha ukuzokuhlola ukuthi ningayisahlela njani inarhethu!” 10 Bathi kuye: “Awa kosethu, iinceku zakho zize lapha ukuzokuthenga ukudla. 11 Soke simadodana womuntu munye begodu sithembekile. Iinsebenzi zakho azisiziinhloli.” 12 UJosefa wathi kibo: “Ayisiliqiniso into eniyikhulumako le! Nize lapha bona nizokuhlola ukuthi ningayisahlela njani inarhethu.” 13 Bathi kuye: “Simadodana wendoda yinye.+ Ubaba uhlala enarheni yeKanana begodu unamadodana ali-12,+ umfowethu omncani usele nobaba,+ kanti omunye yena akasekho.”+

14 UJosefa wathi kibo: “Kunjengombana ngitjhwile, ‘Niziinhloli!’ 15 Ngizonilinga ngalokhu: Ngifunga ngoFaro, angekhe nikhambe lapha bekube kulapho ningilethele umfowenu omncani.+ 16 Thumani omunye wenu bona ayomthatha njengombana nina nisabotjhiwe. Ngalokho-ke ngizokukghona ukubona ukuthi nikhuluma iqiniso namkha awa. Yeke nangabe akusinjalo, ngifunga ngoFaro ngithi niziinhloli nina.” 17 Wabavalela amalanga amathathu.

18 Ngelanga lesithathu uJosefa wathi kibo: “Yenzani lokhu begodu niphile ngombana ngisaba uZimu. 19 Nangabe nithembekile, akusale omunye wabafowenu lapha nivalelwe khona kodwana nina abanye ningakhamba nithathe ikoroyi niyokuqeda indlala emindeninenu.+ 20 Ngemva kwalokho, ningilethele umfowenu, ukuze amezwenu abe ngathembekileko begodu ningafi.” Benza njengombana atjhwile.

21 Bathi komunye nomunye: “Kwamambala sijeziswa ngebanga lomfowethu+ ngombana sambona ukuthi bekatshwenyeke kangangani nakasibawa bona simrhawukele kodwana akhenge simlalele. Kungebangeli-ke sehlelwa yihlekelele le.” 22 URubeni wabaphendula wathi: “Akhenge ngitjho na bona, ‘Ningamlimazi umntwana,’ kodwana akhenge nilalele.+ Nje-ke sesimlandu.”+ 23 Bebangazi ukuthi uJosefa uyabezwa ngombana bekunomuntu omtologelako hlangana nabo. 24 UJosefa wasuka kibo, walila.+ Nakabuyako wakhuluma nabo godu, wathatha uSimiyoni+ wambopha phambi kwabo.+ 25 UJosefa wakhupha umyalo wokobana kuzaliswe imigodlabo ngekoroyi begodu umuntu ngamunye abuyiselwe imalakhe ngemgodlenakhe, banikelwe nokudla abazokudla endleleni. Benzelwa njalo-ke.

26 Nje-ke balayitjha ikoroyabo kibodumbana, ngemva kwalokho bangena indlela. 27 Kuthe lokha omunye wabo nakavula umgodlakhe bona aphe udumbanakhe ukudla endaweni ebebazokulala kiyo, wabona imalakhe ngesikhwanyeni. 28 Khonokho wathi kubafowabo: “Ngibuyiselwe imalami, nasi ngesikhwanyeni sami!” Bathukwa bebahlengezela, bathi komunye nomunye: “Yini le uZimu asenze yona?”

29 Nabafika eKanana kuyise uJakopo bamtjela zoke izinto ezibaveleleko, bathi: 30 “Indoda ephethe inarha leya isikgharamejile+ yasimangalela nangokuthi sizokuhlola inarha. 31 Sathi kiyo, ‘Sibabantu abathembekileko, asisiziinhloli.+ 32 Simadodana wendoda yinye. Ubaba uhlala enarheni yeKanana+ begodu unamadodana ali-12.+ Enye ayisekho+ begodu umfowethu omncani usele nobaba.’ 33 Indoda ephethe inarha leya yathi kithi, ‘Ngokwenza lokhu ngizokwazi bonyana nithembekile: Tjhiyani umfowenu nami.+ Ngemva kwalokho, nithathele imindenenu ukudla nikhambe.+ 34 Ningilethele umfowenu, ukwenzela bona ngazi ukuthi anisiziinhloli kodwana nimadoda athembekileko. Ngemva kwalokho ngizonibuyisela umfowenu, nirage nokuthenga nanyana yini enarheni le.’”

35 Kuthe nabathulula imigodlabo, ngamunye wabo wafumana imali emgodlenakhe. Uyise kunye nabo, barhidlwa livalo lokha nababona iinkhwama zemalabo. 36 UJakopo warhuwelela wathi: “Ningithathele abantwana!+ UJosefa akasekho+ noSimiyoni akasekho,+ nje-ke nifuna ukuthatha noBhenjamini! Izintwezi zoke nje zenzeka njani kimi?” 37 URubeni wathi kuyise: “Ungabulala amadodanami womabili nange ngingambuyiseli kuwe.+ Nginikela yena ngizamtlhogomela, ngizombuyisa kuwe.”+ 38 UJakopo wathi: “Indodanami ayizukukhamba nani ngombana umfowabo uhlongakele, isele yodwa.+ Kuzokuthiwani nange ingehlakalelwa yingozi nanisendleleni. Kwamambala nizongibangela bona ngihlongakale*+ ngilisizi sengiluphele.”+

43 Nje-ke indlala beyibhokile enarheni yeKanana.+ 2 Kuthe nabaqeda ukudla ikoroyi abayifumene eGibhide,+ uyise wathi kibo: “Buyelani niyosithengela ukudla.” 3 Nje-ke uJuda wathi kuye: “Umuntu loya usitjele indlebe ukuzwa wathi, “Ningabuyi kimi nakube anizi nomfowenu.’+ 4 Nawungasivumela bona sikhambe nomfowethu, sizokwehla siyokuthengela ukudla. 5 Kodwana nawungasivumeli sikhambe naye, angekhe sehle ngombana indoda leya ithe kithi, ‘Ningabuyi kimi nakube anizi nomfowenu.’”+ 6 U-Israyeli+ wababuza wathi: “Ningilimazelani kangaka? Kubayini nitjele indoda leya ukuthi ninomunye umfowenu?” 7 Bathi kuye: “Indoda leya isibuze ngokunqophileko ifuna ukwazi ngathi nomndenethu, yathi: ‘Uyihlo usaphila na? Ninomunye umfowenu?’ Sayiphendula imibuzwayo.+ Besizokwazi njani ukuthi izokuthi kithi, ‘Yehlani nomfowenu’?”+

8 UJuda wathi kuyise: “Ngivumela ngikhambe nomfowethu omncani+ ukwenzela bona singafi,+ thina nawe nabantwabethu.+ 9 Ngizokuqiniseka ukuthi uvikelekile.+ Nakungenzeka ehlakalelwe ngokuthileko kufuze ujezise mina. Nangingabhalelwa kubuya naye kuwe, ngizokuthwala isonweso ngokungapheliko. 10 Ngathana asikariyadi nga sesiye eGibhide kabili besabuya.”

11 U-Israyeli ubababo wathi: “Nangabe kunjalo, yenzani lokhu: Thathani iinthelo ezihle enarheni le, nizifake ngemigodlenenu nehle nazo bona zibe sisipho endodeni leya:+ phathani ibhalisamu,+ iliju, iinthako zokulapha ezinukisa kamnandi+ nama-alimondi. 12 Phathani imali enengi, nibuyisele nemali leya enayifumana emigodlenenu,+ kungenzeka ifakwe ngephoso. 13 Thathani umfowenu nikhambe nibuyele endodeni leya. 14 Kwanga uZimu uMninimandla Woke angenza indoda leya inirhawukele, ukwenzela bona itjhaphulule uSimiyoni noBhenjamini. Kodwana mina nangabe kufuze ngilahlekelwe bantwabami akube njalo!”+

15 Nje-ke amadodana ka-Israyeli athatha izipho, athatha imali enengi noBhenjamini. Asikima ehlela eGibhide ajama phambi kwakaJosefa godu.+ 16 UJosefa nakabona uBhenjamini akhamba nabafowabo, khonokho wathi endodeni egade itjheja indlwakhe: “Thatha amadoda la uwase kwami, uhlabe iinlwana, ulungiselele ukudla ngombana amadoda la azokudla nami ngesikhathi samadina.” 17 Khonokho indoda leyo yenza njengombana uJosefa akhulumile,+ yawasa ngendlini kaJosefa. 18 Yeke amadoda lawo abetjhwa livalo nakasiwa ngendlini kaJosefa athoma ukuthi: “Kungebanga lemali leya esiyifumene ngemigodlenethu ngesikhathi size lapha. Nje-ke bazosisahlela basenze iingqila bathathe nabodumbana bethu.”+

19 Atjhinga endodeni leya etjheja indlu kaJosefa akhuluma nayo esangweni lendlu. 20 Athi: “Tjhebetjhebe kosethu! Kheseza ngaphambilini sizokuthenga ukudla.+ 21 Kwathi nasifika endaweni esizokulala kiyo begodu nasivula imigodlethu, ngamunye wethu wafumana yoke imalakhe ngemgodlenakhe.+ Nje-ke sithe asiyibuyise. 22 Size nemali enengi bona sizokuthenga ukudla. Asazi ukuthi ngubani ofake imalethu ngeenkhwanyeni zethu.”+ 23 Indoda leyo yathi: “Kulungile. Ningathukwa. UZimenu, uZimu kayihlo nguye ofake imali ngeenkhwanyeni zenu. Ngiyifumene imalenu.” Ngemva kwalokho wawalethela uSimiyoni.+

24 Indoda leyo yawasa ngendlini kaJosefa, yawanikela amanzi bona ahlambe iinyawo begodu yanikela nabodumbana bawo ifuru. 25 Alungiselela uJosefa isipho+ njengombana bekazokuza ngesikhathi samadina ngombana ezwa ukuthi azokuba nesidlo lapho.+ 26 UJosefa nakangena ngendlini amnikela isipho egade eze naso, akhothama ahloma iinhloko phasi.+ 27 Ngemva kwalokho, wawabuza amavuko wathi: “Unjani uyihlo ekhenakhuluma ngaye? Usaphila?”+ 28 Athi: “Isisebenzi sakho ubaba sisavukile. Usaphila.” Nje-ke aguqa.+

29 Kuthe nakaqalako, wabona uBhenjamini umfowabo indodana kanina wathi:+ “Ngumfowenu eningitjele ngaye lo?”+ Wangezelela wathi: “Kwanga uZimu angakubusisa ndodanami.” 30 Ngebanga lokuthi uJosefa bekangasakghoni ukuzibamba nakabona umfowabo wagijimela ngaphandle wayokufuna indawo angalilela kiyo, wangena ngekumbeni engeqadi begodu walilela lapho.+ 31 Ngemva kwalokho wahlamba ubuso, waphuma. Kuthe nasele akulungele ukulawula amazizwakhe wathi: “Phakululani ukudla.” 32 Baphakululela uJosefa ukudla kwakhe ayedwa, baphakululela abafowabo ukudla kwabo babodwa, kwathi amaGibhide ebewanoJosefa bawaphakululela awodwa. Benza lokhu ngombana amaGibhide bewangahlanganyeli ukudla namaHebheru, lokho bekunyenyisa ebantwini beGibhide.+

33 UJosefa wahlalisa abafowabo phambi kwakhe, wathoma ngomkhulu+ waswaphelisa ngomncani, bebasolo baqalana bararekile. 34 Bekasolo abadlulisela ukudla okusetafulenakhe kodwana uBhenjamini bekamnikela ukudla okunengi* okudlula kwabafowabo.+ Nje-ke baragela phambili nokudla begodu basela naye bebasutha.

44 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJosefa watjela indoda egade iphethe emzinakhe wathi: “Zalisa imigodla yamadoda la ngokudla okunengi kuye ngokwalokho angakghona ukukuthwala, ufake nemali emgodleni womunye nomunye wawo.+ 2 Ufake nekaphwami yesiliva emgodleni womncani, ufake nemalakhe ebekazokuthenga ngayo ikoroyi.” Indoda le yenza njengombana uJosefa atjhwile.

3 Ekuseni nasele kukhanya, amadoda la avunyelwa bona angene indlela nabodumbana bawo. 4 Kwathi asese seduze nedorobho, uJosefa watjela indoda egade iphethe emzinakhe, wathi: “Sikima, ugijimise amadoda lawa! Nawufika kiwo uthi, ‘Nenzelwe okuhle, alo kubayini nithokoza ngokwenza okumbi? 5 Kubayini nebe ikapho yekosami? Anazi na ukuthi ikapho le ikosami isela ngayo beyikghona nokubona ingomuso ngayo? Into eniyenzileko le kukhohlakala.’”

6 Nje-ke indoda leya yabafumana, yabatjela amezwi la. 7 Bathi kuye: “Kubayini ikosethu itjho njalo? Iinsebenzi zakho zingayenza njani into efana nale? 8 Imali esayifumana emigodlenethu sibuye nayo nasisuka eKanana.+ Alo, singaleba njani isiliva namkha igolide emzini wekosakho? 9 Nange ingafumaneka kwenye yeengqila zakho, kuzokufuze ife begodu soke nje sizokuba ziingqila zekosami.” 10 Indoda leya yathi: “Akube njengokutjho kwenu: Ozokufunyanwa ayiphethe, uzokuba sigqila sami kodwana nina noke nizokuba msulwa.” 11 Nje-ke boke barhaba behlisa imigodlabo bayibeka phasi, bayivula. 12 Yaphenyisisa yathoma ngomdala yayokuswaphelisa ngomncani. Ekugcineni yafumana ikapho leyo ngemgodleni kaBhenjamini.+

13 Barathula izambatho zabo, omunye nomunye wabuyisela umthwalwakhe phezu kwakadumbanakhe, babuyela edorobheni. 14 UJuda+ nabafowabo babuyela emzini kaJosefa, bamfumana asesekhona, nje-ke baguqa phambi kwakhe.+ 15 UJosefa wathi kibo: “Yintobani eniyenzileko le? Anazi na ukuthi indoda enjengami nje ikghona ukubona ingomuso?”+ 16 UJuda wamphendula wathi: “Yini esingayitjho ekosinethu? Singaziveza njani bona silungile? Nakhu uZimu weqiniso wembule ubutjhapho beengqila zakho.+ Nje-ke soke nje siziingqila zekosethu kuhlanganise nalo ofunyenwe nekapho.” 17 UJosefa wathi: “Yinto engeze ngayenza leyo! Indoda efunyenwe nekapho le izokuba sigqila sami+ kodwana nina noke ningakhamba ngokuthula, niye kuyihlo.”

18 UJuda wabandamela, wathi kuye: “Ngiyakuncenga kosami, ngibawa ungilalele begodu ungasipheleli ihliziyo isigqila sakho ngombana wena ufana noFaro.+ 19 Ikosami yabuza iingqila zayo yathi, ‘Uyihlo usaphila na? Ninomunye umfowenu?’ 20 Saphendula ikosethu sathi, ‘Iye ubaba usaphila, sebele aluphele begodu sinaye omunye umfowethu ubaba aba naye ekuluphaleni kwakhe, ungomncani.+ Nokho umnakwabo wahlongakala,+ nje-ke usele yedwa ngakummakhe+ begodu uyise umthanda tle.’ 21 Ngemva kwalokho, wathi eengqileni zakho, ‘Izani naye kimapha ngifuna ukumbona.’+ 22 Saphendula ikosethu sathi, ‘Umfowethu angeze akghona ukutjhiya uyise ngombana nakangamtjhiya, uyise angahlongakala.’+ 23 Waphendula iingqila zakho wathi, ‘Ningabuyi kimi nakube anizi nomfowenu.’+

24 “Nje-ke saya esigqileni sakho ubaba, samtjela lokho ikosethu ekutjhwileko. 25 Kamva ubaba wathi, ‘Buyelani niyosithengela ukudla.’+ 26 Samphendula sathi, ‘Angeze sikghone ukuya. Nange umfowethu angakhamba nathi sizokuya ngombana angeze sabuyela endodeni leya singakhambi nomfowethu omncani.’+ 27 Ubaba isigqila sakho wathi kithi, ‘Nazi kuhle ukuthi umkami wangibelethela amadodana amabili.+ 28 Omunye wabo wangitjhiya, nje-ke ngathi: “Kwamambala urathulwe waba ziinquqwana,+ solo kwamhlokho akhenge ngisambona. 29 Nange nithatha nalo kungenzeka avelelwe yingozi bekafe. Kwamambala nizongibangela bona ngihlongakale*+ ngilisizi sengiluphele.’+

30 “Nje-ke angifuni ukubuyela kubaba isigqila sakho, ngingakhambi nomfowethu lo ngombana umthanda ukudlula indlela azithanda ngayo, 31 nakabona ukuthi umfowethu lo akakabuyi nathi uzokuhlongakala, yeke sizabe senze bona ubaba isigqila sakho ahlongakale* alisizi sele aluphele nje. 32 Ngafunga kubaba ngathi, ‘Nange ngingambuyiseli kuwe, ngizakuthwala isonweso ukuphila kwami koke.’+ 33 Nje-ke ngiyakubawa, akusale mina ngibe sigqila sakho kunokuthi kusale umfowethu lo, akakhambe nabafowethu abuyele kuyise. 34 Ngingabuyela njani kubaba ngingakhambi nomfowethu lo? Angifuni ukubona ubaba awurubajeka!”

45 UJosefa nakezwa lokhu, akhenge akghone ukuzibamba phambi kweensebenzi zakhe.+ Warhuwelela wathi: “Phumani noke ngapha!” Wasala nabafowabo lokha nakaziveza kibo.+

2 Walila khulu kangangobana nabantu beGibhide basizwa isililweso safika nendlini kaFaro. 3 Ngemva kwalokho, uJosefa wathi kubafowabo: “NginguJosefa. Ubaba usaphila?” Abafowabo babhalelwa kumphendula, barareka. 4 UJosefa wathi kubafowabo: “Ngibawa nitjhidele.” Batjhidela kuye.

Wathi: “NginguJosefa umfowenu enamthengisa eGibhide.+ 5 Ningaphatheki kumbi, ningasolani ngebanga lokungithengisa kwenu. UZimu ungithumele lapha bona asindise ukuphila.+ 6 Lo mnyaka wesibili kunendlala enarheni,+ kuseza iminyaka emihlanu lapha kungekhe kulinywe namkha kuvunwe. 7 UZimu ungithume ngaphambi kwenu bona kusindiswe iinzukulwana zenu,+ ngokwenza lokhu uzonisindisa ngokurarako begodu angekhe nife. 8 Nje-ke akusingini eningithumele lapha kodwana ngithunyelwe nguZimu weqiniso bona angibeke ngibe yinduna engaphasi kwakaFaro nekosi enarheni yeGibhide.+

9 “Rhabani niye kubaba, nithi kuye, ‘Nakhu indodanakho uJosefa ekutjhoko: “UZimu ungibeke bona ngibe yikosi eGibhide.+ Ngibawa uze kimi, ungariyadi.+ 10 Kufuze uhlale enarheni yeGotjheni,+ uzokuba seduze nami nawulapho, wena, amadodanakho, iinzukulwana zakho, umhlambakho nakho koke onakho. 11 Ngizokunikela ukudla nawulapho ngombana kuseza iminyaka emihlanu yendlala.+ Nakungasinjalo, wena nomndenakho nakho koke onakho nizokubulawa yindlala.”’ 12 Nani niyabona ngitjho noBhenjamini uyabona ukuthi ngimi lo okhulumako.+ 13 Nje-ke kufuze nitjele ubaba ukuthi ngihlonitjhwa kangangani eGibhide, nimtjele nangakho koke enikubonileko. Rhabani begodu nibuye nobaba.”

14 Wagona umfowabo uBhenjamini bewalila, noBhenjamini wamgona naye walila.+ 15 Wamanga boke abafowabo, wabagona bewalila. Ngemva kwalokho bathoma ukukhuluma naye.

16 Kuthe iindaba zokufika kwabafowabo bakaJosefa nazifika endlini kaFaro, uFaro neensebenzi zakhe bathaba. 17 UFaro wathi kuJosefa: “Tjela abafowenu uthi kibo: ‘Layitjhani ukudla eenlwaneni zenu ezithwalako nitjhinge enarheni yeKanana, 18 nithathe uyihlo nemindenenu nize kimi. Ngizoninikela izinto ezihle zenarheni yeGibhide, nizokudla ukudla okunothileko kwenarheni le.’+ 19 Kufuze ubayale uthi:+ ‘Yenzani lokhu: Thathani iinkarana+ zenarheni yeGibhide niyokukhweza abantwabenu nabafazi benu. Kufuze nikhweze uyihlo kwenye yazo nize kimi.+ 20 Ningatshwenyeki ngepahlenu+ ngombana koke okuhle kweGibhide ngekwenu.’”

21 Amadodana ka-Israyeli enza njalo begodu uJosefa wawanikela iinkarana njengombana uFaro akhulumile, wawanikela nomphako wendlela. 22 Wanikela omunye nomunye wabo isambatho esitjha kodwana wanikela uBhenjamini iimpaparwana zesiliva ezima-300 nezambatho ezihlanu ezitja.+ 23 Wathumela uyise nakhu okulandelako: Abodumbana abalitjhumi bathwele izinto ezihle zeGibhide nabodumbana abasikazi abalitjhumi bathwele ikoroyi, uburotho nomphako kayise wendlela. 24 Kuthe abafowabo nabakhambako, wathi kibo: “Ningalwi njengombana nikhamba.”+

25 Ngemva kwalokho, bakhuphuka basuka eGibhide bafika enarheni yeKanana kubababo uJakopo. 26 Bambikela bathi: “UJosefa usaphila begodu ubusa yoke inarha yeGibhide.”+ Kodwana ubababo waphelelwa mamandla ngombana bekangabakholwa.+ 27 Kuthe nabamtjela koke uJosefa abatjele khona begodu nakabona iinkarana ezithunyelwe nguJosefa bona zizomlayitjha, wazizwa angcono. 28 U-Israyeli wathi: “Sengiyakholwa nje! Indodanami uJosefa isaphila! Kufuze ngiyoyibona ngaphambi kobana ngihlongakale!”+

46 Nje-ke u-Israyeli wathatha koke okungekwakhe,* wangena indlela. Wathi nakafika eBheritjheba,+ wenzela uZimu kayise u-Isaka+ imihlatjelo. 2 UZimu wakhuluma no-Israyeli ebhudangweni ebusuku, wathi kuye: “Jakopo, Jakopo!” Waphendula wathi: “Ngilalele kosami!” 3 UZimu wathi: “NginguZimu weqiniso, uZimu kayihlo.+ Ungasabi ukuya eGibhide ngombana kulapho ngizokwenza khona isitjhaba esikhulu.+ 4 Ngizokukhamba nawe eGibhide begodu mina ngokwami ngizokubuyisela enarheni le,+ uJosefa uzokuvala amehlwakho nawuhlongakalako.”+

5 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wakhamba eBheritjheba, amadodanakhe* amthwala, athwala abantwabawo nabafazi bawo ngeenkarana uFaro azithumela bona ziyokuthwala uyise. 6 Bathatha imihlambabo nezinto abazifumene eKanana. Nje-ke uJakopo nawo woke umndenakhe bafika eGibhide. 7 Wafika eGibhide namadodanakhe, amadodakazakhe neenzukulu zakhe, nawo woke umndenakhe.

8 La magama wamadodana ka-Israyeli eza nawo eGibhide,+ uJakopo namadodanakhe: Izibulo lakaJakopo bekunguRubeni.+

9 Amadodana kaRubeni bekunguRhanoki, uPalu, uRhetsironi noKarimi.+

10 Amadodana kaSimiyoni+ bekunguJemuweli, uJamini, u-Ohadi, uJakini, uTsorhari noSawula,+ okumadodana womfazi omKanana.

11 Amadodana kaLevi+ bekunguGeritjhoni, uKhehathi noMerari.+

12 Amadodana kaJuda+ bekungu-Eri, u-Onani, uTjhela,+ uPeretsi+ noZerarhi+ kodwana u-Eri no-Onani bahlongakala eKanana.+

Amadodana kaPeretsi bekunguRhetsironi noRhamulu.+

13 Amadodana ka-Isakari bekunguTola, uPuva, uJobho noTjhimroni.+

14 Amadodana kaZebuloni+ bekunguSeredi, u-Eloni noJarhiliyeli.+

15 La madodana kaLeya awabelethela uJakopo ePadana-Aramu kuhlanganise nendodakazakhe uDina.+ Amadodanakhe namadodakazakhe nasele baboke bebama-33.

16 Amadodana kaGadi+ bekunguTsifiyoni, uRhagi, uTjhuni, u-Etsibhoni, u-Arodi no-Areli.+

17 Amadodana ka-Atjheri+ bekunguJimna, uYitjhiva, uYitjhivi noBheriya, udadwabo bekunguSerarhi.

Amadodana kaBheriya bekunguRhebheri noMalikiyeli.+

18 Lezi ziinzukulwana zakaZilipha+ uLabani azinikela indodakazakhe uLeya. Nasele zizoke iinzukulwana zakaZilipha noJakopo zili-16.

19 Amadodana kaRarheli umkaJakopo bekunguJosefa+ noBhenjamini.+

20 U-Asenathi+ indodakazi kaPothi-Fera umphristi we-Oni* wabelethela uJosefa abantwana okunguManase+ no-Efrayimu+ eGibhide.

21 Amadodana kaBhenjamini+ bekunguBhekeri, uBhela, u-Atjhibeli, uGera,+ uNamani, u-Erhi, uRotjha, uMupi, uRhufi+ no-Aridi.+

22 La madodana kaRarheli abelethelwa uJakopo, nasele awoke ali-14.

23 Indodana* kaDani+ bekunguRhutjhimu.+

24 Amadodana kaNafitali+ bekunguJarhitsiyeli, uGuni, uJetseri noTjhilemu.+

25 Lezi ziinzukulwana zakaBhilirha, loyo uLabani amnikela indodakazakhe uRarheli. Abantwana ababelethela uJakopo balikhomba nasele baboke.

26 Boke ebekungebakaJakopo abaya eGibhide bebama-66 ngaphandle kwabomalukazana bakhe.+ 27 UJosefa wabelethelwa amadodana amabili eGibhide. Nje-ke woke umndeni kaJakopo owaya eGibhide, bekubabantu abama-70.+

28 UJakopo wathumela uJuda+ bona akhambe phambili, ayokutjela uJosefa ukuthi usendleleni utjhinga eGotjheni. Kwathi nabafika eGotjheni,+ 29 uJosefa wahlela ikaranakhe, watjhinga eGotjheni bona ayokuhlangana noyise u-Israyeli. Wathi nakambonako, wamsingatha bewalila khulu. 30 U-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Nje-khona sengingafa ngombana ngikubonile begodu ngiyazi nokuthi usaphila.”

31 UJosefa wathi kubafowabo nemndenini kayise: “Akhengiye kuFaro,+ ngiyombikela ukuthi, ‘Abafowethu nomndeni kababa ebewuseKanana bafikile.+ 32 Amadoda la abelusi,+ atlhogomela iinkomo nezimvu,+ nje-ke eze nemihlambawo nakho koke anakho.+ 33 UFaro nakanibizako begodu anibuze athi, ‘Nisebenza ukwenzani?’ 34 Kufuze nithi, ‘Iinsebenzi zakho bezisolo zibelusi kusukela ebutjheni bekube nje njengombana bekwenza abokhokho bethu.’+ Ukwenzela bona niyokuhlala eGotjheni+ ngombana amaGibhide ayabanyenya abantu abalusa izimvu.”+

47 Nje-ke uJosefa wabikela uFaro wathi:+ “Ubaba nabafowethu nemihlambabo nakho koke abanakho bafikile, bavela enarheni yeKanana, nje baseGotjheni.”+ 2 Wathatha abafowabo abahlanu wabasa kuFaro.+

3 UFaro wathi kubafowabo bakaJosefa: “Nisebenza ukwenzani?” Bathi: “Iinsebenzi zakho zibelusi bezimvu njengombana bekwenza abokhokho bethu.”+ 4 Ngemva kwalokho, bathi kuFaro: “Size lapha bona sizokuhlala enarheni ekungasi ngeyethu le+ ngombana imihlambi yeensebenzi zakho ayinamadlelo ngebanga lokuthi indlala ibhokile eKanana.+ Nje-ke sibawa uvumele iinsebenzi zakho bona zihlale enarheni yeGotjheni.”+ 5 Khonokho uFaro wathi kuJosefa: “Uyihlo nabafowenu beze kuwe. 6 Inarha yeGibhide isezandleni zakho. Hlalisa uyihlo nabafowenu endaweni ehle khulu enarheni.+ Bavumele bahlale eGotjheni begodu nangabe kunamadoda akghona ukwenza umsebenzi kuhle, abeke bona atlhogomele umhlambami.”

7 UJosefa waletha uyise uJakopo kuFaro, uJakopo wabusisa uFaro. 8 UFaro wabuza uJakopo, wathi: “Uneminyaka emingakhi?” 9 UJakopo wathi kuFaro: “Ngineminyaka eli-130 begodu isikhathesi soke nje bengisolo ngikhamba ngihlala koke nje. Iminyakami imbalwa begodu beyigandelela,+ ayisimide njengeminyaka abokhokho bami abayiphila nabakhamba bahlala koke nje.”+ 10 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wabusisa uFaro, wasuka phambi kwakhe.

11 Yeke uJosefa wahlalisa uyise nabafowabo eGibhide, wabanikela indawo ehle khulu enarheni yeRamasese+ njengombana uFaro ayalile. 12 UJosefa wasolo athumela ukudla kuyise, kubafowabo nakulabo ebebahlala nabo kuye ngokwesibalo sabantwababo.

13 Nje-ke bekunganakudla enarheni yoke ngombana indlala beyibhokile begodu abantu beGibhide nebeKanana bebaphelelwa mamandla ngebanga lendlala.+ 14 UJosefa bekabuthelela yoke imali ebeyifumaneka enarheni yeGibhide nenarheni yeKanana ngokuthengisa ikoroyi,+ wasolo aletha imali ngendlini kaFaro. 15 Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, abantu beGibhide nebeKanana baphelelwa yimali, nje-ke boke abantu beGibhide baya kuJosefa bathi kuye: “Sipha ukudla! Kubayini kufuze sife phambi kwakho ngebanga lokuthi asisanamali?” 16 UJosefa waphendula wathi: “Nangabe anisanamali lethani ifuywenu, mina ngininikele ukudla.” 17 Nje-ke baletha ifuywabo kuJosefa, wabanikela ukudla ebebakuthenga ngeenjomani zabo, ifuywabo, iinkomo zabo nabodumbana babo. Bekasolo abapha ukudla ebebakuthenga ngefuywabo leyo hlangana nomnyaka loyo.

18 Umnyaka loyo waphela, nje-ke ngomnyaka olandelako, beza kuJosefa bathi kuye: “Indaba le angeze sayifihlela ikosethu ukuthi imalethu nefuywethu sebele sikunikele ikosethu. Yeke akusanalitho esingalinikela ikosethu, sesisele ngemizimbethu le nangeenarha zethu. 19 Kubayini kufuze sife phambi kwakho begodu iinarha zethu zisale zinganabantu? Sithenga bewuthathe neenarha zethu khona uzasipha okuya ngendeni, sizakuba ziingqila zakaFaro neendawo zethu kuzakuba ngezakhe. Sipha imbewu siyokutjala ukwenzela bona siphile begodu neenarha zethu zingasali zinganabantu.” 20 UJosefa wathenga zoke iindawo zamaGibhide kwaba ngezakaFaro, woke amaGibhide athengisa amasimawo ngombana indlala beyibhoke tle! Nje-ke inarha kwaba ngeyakaFaro.

21 UJosefa watjela boke abantu beGibhide ebebahlala kiyo yoke inarha wathi bayokuhlala emadorobheni.+ 22 Inarha yabaphristi ngiyo yodwa angakhenge ayithenge+ ngombana abaphristi bebafumana ukudla kuFaro. Kungebangelo bangakhenge bathengise inarhabo. 23 UJosefa wathi ebantwini: “Namhlanjesi nginithengile naba ngebakaFaro, ngokunjalo nangeenarha zenu. Nje-ke nasi imbewu enizoyitjala emasimini. 24 Nasele nivuna nizakunikela uFaro+ ingcenye eyodwa kezihlanu, kuthi ezine kube ngezenu. Nizakulima ngazo benizidle nabantu abasemizinenu nabantwabenu. 25 Bathi: “Usindise ukuphila kwethu.+ Nje-ke nange ikosi ithanda, sizakuba ziingqila zakaFaro.”+ 26 UJosefa wakwenza kwaba mthetho, okumthetho osasebenza nanamhlanjesi eGibhide ukuthi eengcenyeni ezihlanu yinye, ngeyakaFaro. Yinarha yabaphristi kwaphela engakhenge ibe ngeyakaFaro.+

27 Nje-ke umndeni ka-Israyeli waraga nokuhlala eGibhide, eGotjheni.+ Wahlala khona waba nabantwana abanengi begodu wanda khulu.+ 28 UJakopo wahlala iminyaka eli-17 eGibhide wabe waba neminyaka eli-147.+

29 Kwathi u-Israyeli nasele abona ukuthi uzokuhlongakala+ wabiza indodanakhe uJosefa, wathi kiyo: “Nange ufuna ukungenzela umusa, ngibawa ubeke isandla sakho ngaphasi kwenyongami, ungitjengise ukuthi ungithanda kangangani begodu uthembekile kimi. Ngibawa ungangibulungeli eGibhide.+ 30 Nangihlongakalako kufuze ungikhuphe eGibhide uyongibulungela emalibeni wabokhokho bami.+ Waphendula wathi: “Ngizokwenza njalo.” 31 U-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Funga kimi.”+ UJosefa wafunga. Nje-ke u-Israyeli waguqa eenhlokweni zombhedakhe.+

48 Ngemva kwalokho, uJosefa watjelwa nakhu: “Uyihlo uyagula.” UJosefa nakezwa lokho, wathatha amadodanakhe amabili uManase no-Efrayimu wakhamba nawo.+ 2 Ngemva kwalokho, uJakopo wabikelwa nakhu: “Indodanakho uJosefa ize kuwe.” Yeke u-Israyeli waziqinisa wavuka wahlala embhedenakhe. 3 UJakopo wathi kuJosefa:

“UZimu uMninimandla Woke ubonakale kimi eLuzi enarheni yeKanana, wangibusisa.+ 4 Wathi kimi, ‘Ngizokwenza ube nabantwana abanengi, uzokuba nguyise weentjhaba ezinengi+ begodu ngizokunikela iinzukulwana zakho inarha le ibe lilifa lazo.’+ 5 Nje-ke amadodanakho amabili owabelethelwa wona eGibhide ngaphambi kobana ngize kuwe eGibhide ngewami.+ U-Efrayimu noManase bazokuba ngebami njengombana uRubeni noSimiyoni bangebami.+ 6 Abantwana ozokubelethelwa bona ngemva kwabo, bazokuba ngebakho. Bazokufumana ingcenye yenarha ezokufunyanwa bafowabo bona ibe lilifa labo.+ 7 Mina nangisuka ePadana, uRarheli wahlongakala+ eqadi kwami enarheni yeKanana, singakafiki enarheni ye-Efrata.+ Nje-ke ngambulunga endleleni eya e-Efrata okuyiBhetlehema.”+

8 U-Israyeli wabona amadodana kaJosefa wathi: “Bobani laba?” 9 UJosefa wathi kuyise: “Madodanami engawaphiwa nguZimu endaweni le.”+ U-Israyeli nakezwa lokho wathi: “Ngibawa uwalethe kimi bona ngiwabusise.”+ 10 Amehlo ka-Israyeli bewangasaboni kuhle ngebanga lokuluphala. Nje-ke uJosefa watjhideza amadodanakhe kuyise, uyise wawamanga bewawagona. 11 U-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Bengingasacabangi ukuthi ngizakhe ngikubone+ kodwana uZimu wenze nokuthi ngibone nabantwabakho.” 12 Ngemva kwalokho, uJosefa wawasusa emadolweni ka-Israyeli, waguqa wahloma ihloko phasi.

13 UJosefa wawabamba womabili, u-Efrayimu+ waba ngesidleni, uManase+ ngesinceleni. Ngemva kwalokho, wawatjhideza ku-Israyeli. Wabeka u-Efrayimu ngesinceleni saka-Israyeli noManase ngesidleni saka-Israyeli. 14 U-Israyeli walula isandla sakhe sangesidleni wasibeka ehloko ka-Efrayimu nanyana bekangomncani, wabeka isandla sakhe sangesinceleni phezu kwehloko kaManase. Waphambanisa izandla zakhe ngabomu ngitjho nanyana bekazi ukuthi uManase bekalizibulo.+ 15 Ngemva kwalokho, wabusisa uJosefa wathi:+

17 UJosefa nakabona uyise abeke isandla sakhe phezu kwehloko ka-Efrayimu, akhenge kumthabise lokho. Yeke walinga ukususa isandla sakayise phezu kwehloko ka-Efrayimu bona asibeke phezu kwehloko kaManase. 18 UJosefa wathi kuyise: “Awa baba, nangu olizibulo.+ Beka isandla sakho sangesidleni phezu kwehlokwakhe.” 19 Kodwana uyise wala wathi: “Ngiyazi ndodanami, ngazi kuhle. Naye uzokuba sitjhaba begodu uzokuba mkhulu. Nokho umfowabo uzokuba mkhulu khulu kunaye+ begodu iinzukulwana zakhe zizokuba zinengi bona zingabumba iintjhaba.”+ 20 Nje-ke waraga nokubabusisa mhlokho,+ wathi:

Ngalokho wabeka u-Efrayimu ngaphambi kwakaManase.

21 Ngemva kwalokho, u-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Sengiyahlongakala+ kodwana uZimu uzokuraga anani begodu uzonibuyisela enarheni yabokhokho benu.+ 22 Wena-ke, ngikunikela ingcenye enye yenarha ngaphezu kwabafowenu engayithatha ngesabula nangomcibitjholo esandleni sama-Amori.”

49 UJakopo wabiza amadodanakhe wathi: “Tjhidelani kimi madodanami, nginitjele bona kuzokwenzekani kini emihleni yokuphela ezako. 2 Buthanani nilalele nina madodana kaJakopo, lalelani uyihlo u-Israyeli.

3 “Rubeni,+ ulizibulo lami,+ ubelethwe lokha nangisese namandla, bewunesithunzi esikhulu namandla. 4 Angekhe ube mkhulu kunabafowenu ngombana ube njengesikhukhula, ulele nomfazi kayihlo.+ Ngokwenza lokho, akhenge uhloniphe umtjhadwami. Ngilokho-ke okwenzileko!

5 “USimiyoni noLevi bantwana bomuntu.+ Basebenzisa iinkhali zabo bona baphehle inturhu.+ 6 Kwanga ngingahlala ngingazihlanganisi nabo. Angifuni ukuzihlanganisa nebandla labo ngombana lokha nabasilingekileko, babulala amadoda+ begodu baqunta imisipha yeenkunzi ngaphandle kwesizathu. 7 Aliqalekiswe ilaka lobukhohlakali babo nelaka labo elivuthako.+ Ngizobahlukanisa enarheni kaJuda begodu ngibarhatjhe kwa-Israyeli.+

8 “Nakunguwe Juda,+ abafowenu bazokudumisa.+ Uzokuhlula amanabakho+ begodu amadodana kayihlo azokukhothama phambi kwakho.+ 9 Juda ndodanami unjengomntwana webhubezi.+ Ndodanami nakanjani uzokudla inyamazana ngemva kwalokho usikime. Uzozigedageda phasi njengebhubezi. Ngubani ozokulinga ukukuvusa? 10 Intonga yobukhosi angekhe isuke kuJuda,+ ngitjho nentonga yokubusa angekhe isuke eenyaweni zakho bekufike uTjhilo*+ ozokulalelwa babantu.+ 11 Uzokubophelela udumbanakhe esidiribeni nodumbanyanakhe esidiribeni esinothileko. Uzokuhlanza izambatho zakhe ewayinini nemhluzini wamadiribe. 12 Amehlwakhe abomvu ngebanga lokusela iwayini begodu amazinywakhe amhlophe ngebanga lokusela ibisi.

13 “UZebuloni+ uzokuhlala eligwini lelwandle lapha imikhumbi ibotjhelwa khona,+ umkhawulo wesifunda sakhe uzokunaba bewufike eTsidoni.+

14 “U-Isakari+ ngudumbana onamathambo aqinileko, ulele phasi nemithwalo emibili emgogodlhenakhe. 15 Uzokubona ubuhle bendawo yokuphumula nokuthi inarha yihle. Uzokwehlisa amahlombakhe athwale umthwalo begodu uzokwamukela umsebenzi obudisi.

16 “UDani+ ungomunye weenkoro zakwa-Israyeli,+ uzokwahlulela abantu bakhe. 17 UDani akabe yinyoka esendleleni, inyoka eneempondo eqadi kwendlela, eluma iinthende zenjomani bona oyikhwelileko awe.+ 18 Ngizokulinda isindiso evela kuwe, Jehova.

19 “NakunguGadi,+ uzokusahlelwa libutho labadlelezeli kodwana uzozibuyiselela nalibalekako.+

20 “Ukudla kwaka-Atjheri+ kuzokuba kunengi begodu uzokunikela abantu ukudla okulungele ikosi.+

21 “UNafitali+ umsinya begodu uyatjhelela, ukhuluma amezwi amnandi.+

22 “UJosefa+ uyipande yomuthi othelako, umuthi othelako ohlanu komthombo, iimpande zawo ezikhamba phezu komthangala. 23 Abadumuzi bemisubela bayamhloya, bayamtlhorholoja begodu bayamdumuza.+ 24 Nangaphasi kobujamobu usolo abambe umsubelakhe izandla zakhe ziqinile+ begodu zimsinya.+ Lokhu kuvela kiloyo onamandla owasiza uJakopo, umalusi ilitje laka-Israyeli. 25 UJosefa usisipho esivela kuZimu ozokusiza, unoMninimandla Woke ozokubusisa ngesibusiso esivela ezulwini, ngamanzi asuka ekuzikeni,+ ngabantwana abanengi nangefuyo. 26 Iimbusiso zakayihlo zizokudlula iimbusiso zeentaba zekadeni neembusiso zemibundu ehlala isikhathi eside.+ Zizokuhlala ehloko kaJosefa, phezu kwesihlohlo sokhethiweko hlangana nabafowabo.+

27 “UBhenjamini+ uzokusolo adabula amanabakhe njengepisi.+ Ekuseni uzokudla inyamazana kuthi ntambama ahlukanise ipahla ayifumene epini.”+

28 Boke laba ziinkoro ezili-12 zakwa-Israyeli begodu ngilokho uyise abatjela khona nakababusisako. Omunye nomunye umnikele isibusiso esimfaneleko.+

29 Ngemva kwalokho, wabanikela nasi imiyalo: “Ngizokuhlongakala kungasikade.+ Ngibulungani nabokhokho bami erholweni elisesimini ka-Efroni umRhiti,+ 30 erholweni elisesimini yeMakaphela phambi kweMamre enarheni yeKanana, esimini eyathengwa ngu-Abrahama ku-Efroni umRhiti bona ibe yindawo yokubulungela. 31 Lapho kwabulungelwa khona u-Abrahama nomkakhe uSara.+ Lapho kwabulungelwa khona u-Isaka+ nomkakhe uRabega nami ngabulungela uLeya khona. 32 Isimu nerholo okulapho kwathengwa emadodaneni kaRhiti.”+

33 Nje-ke uJakopo wathi nakaqeda ukunikela amadodanakhe iinqophiswezi, wathabulula iinyawo embhedeni wahlongakala, wabulungwa nabantu bekhabo.+

50 UJosefa waziphosa phezu kwakayise,+ walila bewammanga. 2 Ngemva kwalokho, watjela iinsebenzi zakhe ezibodorhodere bona zizese uyise ngamafutha anuka kamnandi+ ukwenzela bona isidumbu sakhe singaboli. Nje-ke abodorhodere batjhatjha u-Israyeli ngamafutha lawo, 3 kwabathatha amalanga ama-40 ukwenza njalo ngombana bekuthatha amalanga angako ukutjhatjha isidumbu ngamafutha anuka kamnandi ukwenzela bona singaboli. AmaGibhide araga nokulilela u-Israyeli amalanga ama-70.

4 Kwathi nasele kudlule amalanga wokulilela u-Israyeli, uJosefa wayokukhuluma neenduna ezingaphasi kwakaFaro, wathi: “Nange ngifumene umusa kini, tjelani uFaro umlayezo nakhu: 5 ‘Ubaba wangifungisa,+ wathi: “Nangihlongakalako+ kufuze uyongibulungela ethuneni lami+ engazilungiselela lona enarheni yeKanana.”+ Nje-ke ngibawa ukuyokubulunga ubaba, kuzakuthi ngemva kwalokho ngibuye.’” 6 UFaro wathi: “Khamba uyokubulunga uyihlo njengombana akufungisile.”+

7 Nje-ke uJosefa wakhamba wayokubulunga uyise, wakhamba nazo zoke iinsebenzi zakaFaro, abadala+ besigodlweni sakaFaro, boke abadala benarheni yeGibhide, 8 woke umndenakhe, abafowabo nomndeni kayise.+ Enarheni yeGotjheni kwasala abantwana, imihlambi yezimvu nefuywabo kwaphela. 9 Wakhamba neenkarana+ nabakhweli beenjomani, kwamambala bekusiqhema esikhulu tle! 10 Bafika eselelweni se-Athadi, esisesifundeni seJordani, barhahlawula isililo. UJosefa wasolo alilela uyise bekwaphela amalanga alikhomba. 11 Abantu ebebahlala lapho bekumaKanana, nje-ke bababona nabalila eselelweni se-Athadi, bathi: “Kwamambala amaGibhide ezwa ubuhlungu!” Kungebangelo indawo leyo yathiywa ngokuthi yi-Abela-Mitsirayimu,* isesifundeni seJordani.

12 Amadodana kaJakopo enza lokho awatjele khona.+ 13 Amadodanakhe amthwala, ayombulungela eKanana, erholweni lesimu yeMakaphela, isimu ephambi kweMamre, leyo u-Abrahama ayithenga ku-Efroni umRhiti bona kube yindawakhe yokubulungela.+ 14 Ngemva kokuthi uJosefa aqedile ukubulunga uyise, wabuyela eGibhide akhamba nabafowabo nabo boke ebebakhambe naye nakayokubulunga uyise.

15 Ngemva kokuhlongakala kwakayise, abafowabo bakaJosefa bathi komunye nomunye: “Kungenzeka uJosefa usibambele amavunda begodu uzozibuyiselela ngokumbi esamenza khona.”+ 16 Nje-ke bathumela uJosefa umlayezo othi: “Ngaphambi kokuthi uyihlo ahlongakale wathi: 17 ‘Nakhu enizokutjela uJosefa: “Ngiyakuncenga, ngibawa ulibalele umtjhapho wabafowenu nesono abasenza ngokukubangela ubuhlungu obungaka.”’ Ngibawa ulibalele umtjhapho weenceku zakaZimu kayihlo.” UJosefa walila njengombana bakhuluma naye. 18 Abafowabo beza baguqa phambi kwakhe, bathi: “Ungasenza nanyana yini oyithandako ngombana siziingqila zakho!”+ 19 UJosefa wathi kibo: “Ningasabi. Kanti senginguZimu na? 20 Ngitjho nanyana benihlose ukungilimaza,+ uZimu wenze lokhu kwaba yintwehle, wasindisa ukuphila kwabanengi njengombana enza namhlanjesi.+ 21 Nje-ke ningabi nevalo. Ngizokuraga nokupha nina nabantwabenu ukudla.”+ Wabaduduza njalo-ke bewabaqinisa.

22 UJosefa waraga nokuhlala eGibhide nomndeni kayise. Waphila iminyaka eli-110. 23 Wabona isizukulwana sesithathu samadodana ka-Efrayimu,+ amadodana kaMakiri+ namadodana kaManase. UJosefa bekabathatha njengabantwabakhe. 24 Kamva wathi kubafowabo: “Sengiyahlongakala kodwana uZimu uzokuba nani,+ uzonikhupha enarheni le anise enarheni afunga ngayo ku-Abrahama, ku-Isaka nakuJakopo.”+ 25 UJosefa wafungisa amadodana ka-Israyeli, wathi: “Kwamambala uZimu uzokuba nani, nje-ke kufuze nikhambe namathambami naniphuma enarheni le.”+ 26 UJosefa wahlongakala aneminyaka eli-110. Bamzesa ngamafutha anuka kamnandi ukwenzela bona isidumbu sakhe singaboli+ bebamfaka ngekasini eGibhide.