Naʻe Kātaki ʻa Siope​—Te Tau Lava!

“Vakai ʻoku mau lau ko e monuʻia ʻa kinautolu kuo kataki.”​—SĒMISI 5:11.

1. Ko e hā naʻe leaʻaki ʻe ha Kalisitiane taʻumotuʻa ʻo kau ki hono ngaahi ʻahiʻahí?

‘ʻOKU muimuiʻi au ʻe he Tēvoló! ʻOku ou ongoʻi ʻo hangē pē ko ia naʻe ongoʻi ʻe Siopé!’ Ko e ngaahi lea ia ʻa A. H. Macmillan ʻi heʻene fakahaaʻi ʻa ʻene ngaahi ongoʻí ki ha tangata ko hono kaumeʻa ofi ʻi he ʻuluʻi ʻapitanga ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová. Naʻe ngata ʻa e moʻui ʻa Tokoua Macmillan ʻi he māmaní ʻi ʻAokosi 26, 1966 ʻi hono taʻu 89. Naʻá ne ʻilo ko e pale ʻoku tānaki mai ki he ngāue loto-tōnunga ʻa e kau Kalisitiane paní ʻo hangē ko iá ʻe “muimui atu mo kinautolu.” (Fakahā 14:13) Ko hono moʻoní, te nau hokohoko atu ai pē ʻi he ngāue ʻa Sihová ʻo fakafou ʻi ha toetuʻu ki ha moʻui taʻefaʻamate ʻi hēvani. Naʻe fiefia ʻa e ngaahi kaumeʻa ʻo Tokoua Macmillan ʻi heʻene maʻu ʻa e pale ko iá. Kae kehe, ʻi he fakaʻosiʻosi ʻo hono ngaahi taʻu ʻi he māmaní, naʻe kāpui ia ʻe ha ngaahi ʻahiʻahi kehekehe, ʻo kau ai ʻa e ngaahi palopalema fekauʻaki mo e moʻui leleí ʻa ia naʻe ʻai ai ia ke ne lāuʻilo lahi ʻaupito ki he ngaahi feinga ʻa Sētane ke maumauʻi ʻa ʻene tauhi anga-tonu ki he ʻOtuá.

2, 3. Ko hai ʻa Siope?

² ʻI he pehē ko ia ʻe Tokoua Macmillan naʻá ne ongoʻi tatau pē mo ia naʻe ongoʻi ʻe Siopé, naʻá ne lave ki ha tangata ʻa ia naʻá ne kātakiʻi ʻa e ngaahi ʻahiʻahiʻi lahi ʻo e tuí. Naʻe nofo ʻa Siope ʻi he “fonua ko Usa,” ʻi he fakatokelau nai ʻo ʻAlepeá. Ko ha hako ia ʻo e foha ʻo Noa ko Semi, ko ha tokotaha lotu ia kia Sihova. ʻOku hangehangē naʻe hoko ʻa e ʻahiʻahi kia Siopé ʻi he vahaʻa taimi ʻo e mate ʻa Siosifá pea mo e taimi naʻe fakamoʻoniʻi ai ʻe Mōsese ʻa ʻene anga-tonú. ʻI he lolotonga ʻo e vahaʻa taimi ko iá naʻe ʻikai ha taha ʻi he māmaní naʻe tatau mo Siope ʻi he anga-līʻoa ki he ʻOtuá. Naʻe vakai ʻa Sihova kia Siope ko ha tangata taʻehalaia, anga-tonu, manavahē ki he ʻOtuá.​—Siope 1:​1, 8.

³ ʻI heʻene “tomo hake ia ʻi he kakai ʻo Hahake katoa,” naʻe maʻu ai ʻe Siope ha kau sevāniti tokolahi, pea ko ʻene fanga manú naʻe aʻu ki he toko 11,500. Ka ko e koloaʻia fakalaumālié naʻe mahuʻinga muʻomuʻa taha kiate iá. Hangē ko e ngaahi tamai anga-fakaʻotua ʻi he ʻaho ní, ʻoku hangehangē naʻe akoʻi ʻe Siope ʻa hono ngaahi foha ʻe toko fitú mo hono ngaahi ʻofefine ʻe toko tolú ʻo kau kia Sihova. Naʻa mo e hili ʻo ʻenau mavahe atu mei hono ʻapí, naʻá ne ngāue ʻi he tuʻunga ko e taulaʻeiki fakafāmili ʻaki ʻene fai ʻa e ngaahi feilaulau maʻanautolu, koeʻuhi pē nai naʻa kuo nau fai ha angahala.​—Siope 1:​2-5.

4. (a) Ko e hā ʻoku totonu ai ke fakakaukau atu ʻa e kau Kalisitiane kuo fakatangaʻí ki he tangata ko Siopé? (e) ʻI he fekauʻaki mo Siopé, ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi fehuʻi te tau fakakaukau atu ki aí?

⁴ Ko Siopé ko ha tokotaha ia ke fakakaukau atu ki ai ʻa e kau Kalisitiane ʻoku fakatangaʻí koeʻuhi ke nau maʻu ha mālohi ke nau anga-kātaki. Naʻe tohi ʻe he ākonga ko Sēmisí: “Vakai ʻoku mau lau ko e monuʻia ʻa kinautolu kuo kataki. Kuo mou fanongo ki he kataki ʻa Siope; mou vakai foki hono ikuʻanga mei he ʻEiki: ta ʻoku uʻuuʻu ʻa e ʻEiki mo ʻofangofua.” (Sēmisi 5:11) Hangē pē ko Siopé, ko e kau muimui pani ʻo Sīsuú pea mo e “fuʻu kakai lahi” ʻi onopooní ʻoku fiemaʻu kiate kinautolu ʻa e kātaki ke nau lavameʻa ʻi he fekuki mo e ngaahi ʻahiʻahiʻi ʻo e tuí. (Fakahā 7:​1-9) Ko ia ai, ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi ʻahiʻahi naʻe kātekina ʻe Siopé? Ko e hā ʻa e ʻuhinga naʻe hoko ai iá? Pea ʻoku lava fēfē ke tau maʻu ha ʻaonga mei he ngaahi meʻa naʻá ne hokosiá?

Ko ha Pole Māfatukituki ʻAupito

5. Ko e hā ʻa e meʻa naʻe hoko ʻi hēvani naʻe ʻikai ke ʻilo ki ai ʻa Siope?

⁵ Naʻe ʻikai ke ʻilo ʻe Siope ia, ki ha pole lahi naʻe teu ke malanga hake ʻi hēvani. ʻI he ʻaho ʻe taha “naʻe omi ai ʻa e ngaahi foha ʻo e ʻOtua ke ha kia Sihova.” (Siope 1:6) Naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ʻAlo-tofu-pē-taha-ne-fakatupu ʻo e ʻOtuá, ʻa Folofola. (Sione 1:​1-3) Naʻe toe ʻi ai foki mo e kau ʻāngelo māʻoniʻoni pea mo e ngaahi foha ko e kau ʻāngelo talangataʻa ʻo e ʻOtuá. (Sēnesi 6:​1-3) Naʻe ʻi ai mo Sētane, he ko hono lī hifo ia mei hēvaní naʻe toki hoko ia ʻi he hili ʻa hono fokotuʻu ʻo e Puleʻangá ʻi he 1914. (Fakahā 12:​1-12) ʻI he taimi ʻo Siopé, naʻe langaʻi ai ʻe Sētane ha pole māfatukituki. Naʻe teu ai ke ne fakahā ʻa ʻene veiveiua ʻo fekauʻaki mo e totonu ʻa e tuʻunga-pule ʻa Sihova ki he ʻEne ngaahi meʻamoʻui fakatupú kotoa.

6. Ko e hā ʻa e meʻa naʻe feinga ʻa Sētane ke faí, pea naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa ʻene lauʻikovi loi ʻa Sihová?

⁶ Naʻe ʻeke ʻe Sihova: “Ko hoʻo haʻu mei fe?” Naʻe tali ange ʻe Sētane: “Mei he ʻalu fano ʻi mamani, mo aʻahi holo ai.” (Siope 1:7) Naʻá ne kumi ki ha taha ke ne mātuʻaki folo. (1 Pita 5:​8, 9) ʻI hono ʻai ke maumauʻi ʻa e anga-tonu ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku nau tauhi kia Sihová, ʻe feinga ʻa Sētane ke fakamoʻoniʻi ʻe ʻikai ke ʻi ai ha taha ia ʻe talangofua kakato ki he ʻOtuá tuʻunga ʻi he ʻofa. ʻI hono fakahaaʻi ʻa e polé, naʻe ʻeke ʻe Sihova kia Sētane: “Kuo ke tokangaʻi ʻa ʻeku tamaioʻeiki ko Siope? ʻa e ʻikai ha taha ʻi mamani ʻoku tatau mo ia? he ko e tangata haohaoa mo angatonu, ʻoku ʻapasia ki he ʻOtua mo afe mei he kovi”? (Siope 1:8) Naʻe malava ʻa Siope ke muimui ki he ngaahi tuʻunga ʻa e ʻOtuá neongo ʻa e tuʻunga taʻehaohaoá. (Sāme 103:​10-14) Ka naʻe tali fakaʻita ange ʻa Sētane: “He ʻoku ʻapasia ʻa Siope ki he ʻAfiona tuʻungaʻa pe? ʻIkai kuo ke ʻaʻi takai ia mo hono fale, mo e meʻa kotoa ʻoku ne maʻu? Kuo ke tapuakiʻi ʻa e ngaue ʻa hono nima, pea ko ʻene monumanu ʻoku nau ʻufiʻufi ʻa e fonua.” (Siope 1:​9, 10) Naʻe lauʻikovi loi ai ʻe he Tēvoló ʻa Sihova ʻaki hono fakahuʻuhuʻu ʻo pehē ʻoku ʻikai ha taha ʻe ʻofa mo lotu kiate Ia koeʻuhi ko hano ueʻi ʻe he houngaʻia ki Hono tuʻungá mo hono ngaahi ʻulungaangá ka ʻokú Ne totongi fakafufū ʻa e ngaahi meʻamoʻuí ke nau tauhi ange kiate Ia. Naʻe pehē ʻe Sētane naʻe tauhi pē ʻe Siope ia ʻa e ʻOtuá koeʻuhi ko ha tuʻunga lelei ʻi he siokita, kae ʻikai ʻi he ʻofa.

Ko e ʻOho ʻa Sētané!

7. ʻI he founga fē naʻe poleʻi ai ʻe he Tēvoló ʻa e ʻOtuá, pea ko e hā ʻa e meʻa naʻe fai ʻe Sihová?

⁷ Naʻe pehē ʻe Sētane: “Ka ko eni, ala atu muʻa ki heʻene ngaahi meʻa; pea talaatu te ne matuʻaki tafuli meiate koe.” Ko e hā ʻa e tali naʻe fai ʻe he ʻOtuá ki ha pole fakatupu fakamāʻulaloʻi kita peheé? Naʻe pehē ʻe Sihova: “Vakai, te ke faʻiteliha ki heʻene ngaahi meʻa kotoa; kae ʻikai te ke ala kiate ia.” Naʻe ʻosi lea foki ʻa e Tēvoló ʻo ne pehē ko e ngaahi meʻa kotoa naʻe maʻu ʻe Siopé naʻe tāpuakiʻi, fakatupulekina, pea kuo maluʻi. Naʻe fakaʻatā ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻa Siope ke faingataʻaʻia, neongo ko hono sinó ʻe ʻikai ke fai ha ala ki ai. ʻI hono fakapapauʻi ke fai ʻa e meʻa ʻoku koví, naʻe mavahe leva ʻa Sētane mei he fakatahaʻangá ni.​—Siope 1:​11, 12.

8. (a) Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi mole fakamatelie naʻe hokosia ʻe Siopé? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e moʻoni ʻo fekauʻaki mo e “afi ʻa e ʻOtua”?

⁸ Naʻe kamata leva ʻa e ʻoho ʻa Sētané. Ko e taha ʻo e kau sevāniti ʻa Siopé naʻá ne ʻoange kiate ia ʻa e ngaahi ongoongo koví ni: “Naʻe fai ʻe he fanga pulu ʻenau toho palau, pea kaikai ʻa e fanga asi ofi ki ai: pea hifo mai ʻa e kau Sipa, ʻo ʻave kinautolu; pea ko e kau ngaue kuo nau tamateʻi ʻaki ʻa e mata ʻo e heleta.” (Siope 1:​13-15) Naʻe mavahe atu ʻa hono maluʻi takai ʻa e konga ʻapi ʻo Siopé. Tuai e kemo, naʻe ngāue mai ʻa e mālohi ʻo e tēmenioó, he naʻe pehē ʻe ha toe sevāniti ʻe taha: “Ne to mei langi ʻa e afi ʻa e ʻOtua, ʻo fakamomofi ʻa e fanga sipi mo e kau ngaue, pea kuo nau ʻosi ai.” (Siope 1:16) He toki meʻa fakatēvolo lahi ē ka ko hono ʻai ke hā ko e ʻOtuá ke tukuakiʻi ki he tuʻutāmaki pehē kuo hoko ki heʻene sevāniti ʻaʻaná! Koeʻuhi ko e afi mei langí, ʻe malava faingofua ai ke tukuakiʻi ʻa Sihova, ka ko hono moʻoní ko e afí ko e haʻu ia mei ha tēmeniō.

9. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa hono uesia ʻe he maumau fakaʻikonōmiká ʻa e vahaʻangatae ʻo Siope mo e ʻOtuá?

⁹ ʻI he hokohoko atu ʻa e ʻoho ʻa Sētané, naʻe toe fakamatala mai ʻe ha sevāniti ʻe taha ʻo pehē kuo haʻu ʻa e kau Kalitiá ʻo ʻave ʻa e fanga kāmeli ʻa Siopé pea kuo nau tāmateʻi ʻa e kau ngāué kotoa. (Siope 1:17) Neongo naʻe tofanga heni ʻa Siope ʻi he faingataʻaʻia fakaʻikonōmika, naʻe ʻikai ke fakaʻauha ʻe he meʻá ni ʻa hono vahaʻangatae mo e ʻOtuá. ʻE lava ke ke kātakiʻi ha mole lahi fakamatelie ʻo ʻikai ke maumauʻi ai ʻa hoʻo anga-tonu kia Sihová?

Meʻa Fakamamahi Lahi Ange ʻOku Hokó

10, 11. (a) Ko e hā naʻe hoko ki he fānau ʻe toko hongofulu ʻa Siopé? (e) ʻI he hili ʻa e mate fakamamahi ʻa e fānau ʻe toko hongofulu ʻa Siopé, naʻe fēfē ʻa e anga ʻo ʻene fakakaukau kia Sihová?

¹⁰ Naʻe ʻikai ke ʻosi ai ʻa e ʻoho ʻa e Tēvoló kia Siopé. Naʻe fakamatala mai ha toe sevāniti ʻe taha: “Ko hoʻo fanau tangata mo fanau fefine naʻe fai ʻenau kai mo inukava ʻi he fale ʻo honau taʻokete lele, mo e ʻiloange naʻe to mai ha matangi lahi mei he tuʻa toafa, ʻo ne taaʻi ʻa e tuliki ʻe fa ʻo e fale; pea naʻe hinga ia ki he fanau, pea kuo nau pekia: pea ko au toko taha tofu pe kuo u hao mai ke fakaha kiate koe.” (Siope 1:​18, 19) Ko hano fakamatalahalaʻi ʻo e meʻá ni ʻe pehē nai ko e fakatamakí ni naʻe fakatupunga ʻe he matangi ʻa ia ‘ko ha fakahoko mai ʻe he ʻOtuá.’ Kae kehe, naʻe ʻohofi ʻe he mālohi fakatēmenioó ʻa Siope ʻi he tafaʻaki ʻe alafakalaveaʻingofua ai ʻa ʻene ngaahi ongoʻí.

¹¹ ʻI he fepaki mo e meʻa fakamamahí ni, naʻe hanga ʻe Siope ʻo ‘hae hifo hono kofú, kosi hono ʻulú, peá ne tō hifo ki he kelekelé ʻo ne punou.’ Kae kehe, fanongo ki heʻene ngaahi leá. “Ko Sihova naʻa ne foaki, pea ko Sihova kuo ne toʻo atu; kae maloʻia ai pe ʻa e huafa ʻo Sihova.” ʻOku hoko atu ʻa e fakamatalá: “ʻI he ngaahi meʻa kotoa ko ia naʻe ʻikai fai hala ʻa Siope, pea naʻe ʻikai te ne tuku ha kovi ki he ʻOtua.” (Siope 1:​20-22) Naʻe toe foʻi heni ʻa Sētane. Fēfē kapau ʻoku tau mamahi ʻi ha meʻa kuo hoko mo tau loto-mamahi ka ko e kau sevāniti kitautolu ʻa e ʻOtuá? Ko e anga-līʻoa taʻesiokita kia Sihová pea mo e falala kiate iá ʻoku malava ke ne ʻai kitautolu ke tau kātaki ʻi he tuʻunga ko e kau tauhi anga-tonu, ʻo hangē tofu pē ko ia naʻe fai ʻe Siopé. Ko e kau paní pea mo honau takangá ʻa ia ʻoku nau maʻu ʻa e ʻamanaki ke moʻui ʻi māmaní ʻoku malava moʻoni ke nau maʻu ha fakafiemālie mo ha mālohi mei he fakamatala ko ʻeni ʻo kau ki he kātaki ʻa Siopé.

Ko e Hoko ʻo Toe Mālohi Ange ʻa e Polé

12, 13. ʻI ha toe fakataha ʻe taha ʻi hēvani, ko e hā naʻe kole ki ai ʻa Sētané, pea ko e hā ʻa e tali ki ai ʻa e ʻOtuá?

¹² Naʻe ui leva ʻe Sihova ha toe fakataha ʻi he fakamaauʻanga fakahēvaní. Naʻe hoko ʻa Siope ko ha tangata taʻefānau, mo masiva ʻaupito, ʻo hangē ne fakamamahiʻi ia ʻe he ʻOtuá, ka naʻe kei kakato pē ʻa ʻene anga-tonú. Ko hono moʻoní, heʻikai ke fakahā ʻe Sētane ko e moʻoni ko ʻene ngaahi tukuakiʻi ʻa e ʻOtuá mo Siopé naʻe loi. Naʻe teu leva eni ʻa e ‘ngaahi foha ʻo e ʻOtuá’ ke nau fanongo ki he fakakikihí mo hono fakaeʻa ʻa e taʻemoʻoní ʻaki hono ʻai ʻe Sihova ʻa e Tēvoló ke na fehangahangai fakaʻosi ai leva.

¹³ ʻI hono ui mai ʻo Sētane ke fai ha fakamatalá, naʻe ʻeke ʻe Sihova: “Naʻa ke ʻi fe ʻena?” Ko e hā ʻa e talí? “Naʻa ku ʻalu fano ʻi mamani mo aʻahi holo ai.” Naʻe toe fakahanga ʻe Sihova ʻa e tokangá ki heʻene sevāniti taʻehalaia, anga-tonu, manavahē ʻOtua ko Siopé, ʻa ia naʻá ne kei tauhi maʻu mālohi ʻa ʻene anga-tonú. Naʻe tali ange ʻe he Tēvoló: “Ko e kili pe ia telia ha kili: ʻio, ʻe ʻatu ʻe ha tangata ʻene meʻa kotoa telia ʻene moʻui. Ka ko eni, ala atu muʻa ki hono kili mo hono kakano, pea talaatu te ne matuʻaki tafuli meiate koe.” Ko ia naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻOtuá: “Ko ena ia ke ke faʻiteliha ki ai; ka te ke fakaili ʻene moʻui.” (Siope 2:​2-6) ʻI he fakamahalo ʻo pehē kuo teʻeki ai ke toʻo ʻe Sihova ʻa ʻene ngaahi ʻā fakaemaluʻí kotoa, naʻe kole ʻa Sētane ke ne fai ha meʻa ki he hui mo e kakano ʻo Siopé. Naʻe ʻikai ke fakaʻatā ʻa e Tēvoló ke ne tāmateʻi ʻa Siope; ka naʻe ʻilo ʻe Sētane ko e mahaki fakaesinó ʻe mamahi ai ia pea naʻá ne ʻai ia ke hā ʻo hangē ko haʻane tofanga ʻi ha tautea mei he ʻOtuá koeʻuhi ko ha ngaahi angahala fufū.

14. Ko e hā naʻe taaʻiʻaki ʻe Sētane ʻa Siopé, pea ko e hā ʻa e ʻuhinga naʻe ʻikai malava ai ʻe ha tangata ke ne ʻoange ha fakafiemālie ki he tokotaha faingataʻaʻiá ni?

¹⁴ ʻI heʻene mavahe mei he fakataha ko iá, naʻe hoko atu leva ʻa Sētane ʻi heʻene fiefiá ke fai ha meʻa fulikivanu. Naʻá ne taaʻi ʻa Siope ʻaki “ʻa e ngaahi hangatamaki kovi mei hono ʻaofivaʻe ʻo aʻu ki hono tumuʻaki.” Ko ha moʻui mamahi lahi ē naʻe kātakiʻi ʻe Siope heʻene tangutu he efuefú ʻo vakuʻaki ia ha mafoaʻi ipu! (Siope 2:​7, 8) Naʻe ʻikai ke ʻi ai ha toketā fakaetangata ʻe lava ke ne ʻomai kiate ia ha fakafiemālie mei he meʻa fakamamahi mo mātuʻaki langa ko ení pea mo fakalieliá ni, he naʻe tupu ia mei he mālohi faka-Sētane. Ko Sihova pē naʻe malava ke ne faitoʻo ʻa Siopé. Kapau ko ha sevāniti mahamahaki koe ʻa e ʻOtuá, ʻoua ʻaupito naʻa ngalo ʻoku malava ʻe he ʻOtuá ke tokoniʻi koe ke ke kātaki pea ʻoku malava ke ne ʻoatu kiate koe ʻa e moʻui ʻi ha māmani foʻou ʻoku ʻikai ke toe ʻi ai ha puke.​—Sāme 41:​1-3; ʻAisea 33:24.

15. Ko e hā ʻa e meʻa naʻe kōlenga ange ʻa e uaifi ʻo Siopé kiate ia ke ne faí, pea ko e hā ʻa e tali ki ai ʻa Siopé?

¹⁵ Fakaʻosí, naʻe pehē ʻe he uaifi ʻo Siopé: “ʻOku ke kei kuku koā hoʻo haohaoa? Tafuli muʻa mei he ʻOtua, pea mate.” Ko e “haohaoa” ni ʻoku ʻuhingá ke anga-līʻoa taʻehalaia, pea ʻoku mahalo naʻe lea paetaku ʻa e fefiné ni ke ʻai ʻa Siope ke ne talatukiʻi ʻa e ʻOtuá. Ka naʻe tali ange ʻe Siope: “Ko hoʻo lea ʻoku hange ko e lau ʻa ha taha ʻi he kau fefine fakangangau. He te tau tali koā ʻa e lelei mei he ʻOtua, kae ʻikai tali mo e kovi?” Naʻa mo e foʻi pauʻu fiehua ko eni ʻa Sētané naʻe ʻikai hano ola, he ʻoku talamai kiate kitautolu: “ʻI he meʻa ko ia kotoa naʻe ʻikai to ha meʻa hala mei he ngutu ʻo Siope.” (Sione 2:​9, 10) Mahalo ʻe leaʻaki ʻe he ngaahi mēmipa fakafepaki ʻo e fāmilí ʻo pehē kuo tau hangē ha valé he ongosia ʻi he tuli ki he ngaahi meʻa faka-Kalisitiané pea fakaʻaiʻai kitautolu ke tau tafoki meia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá. ʻI he hangē ko Siopé, ʻoku malava ke tau kātakiʻi ha ʻahiʻahi pehē koeʻuhi ʻoku tau ʻofa kia Sihova pea ʻoku tau loto ke fakamālōʻia ʻa hono huafa māʻoniʻoní.​—Sāme 145:​1, 2; Hepelū 13:15.

Kau Kākā Loto-Fieʻeiki ʻe Toko Tolú

16. Ko hai naʻe haʻu, ʻo fakangalingali mai ke fakafiemālieʻi ʻa Siopé, ka naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa hono ngaohi kākaaʻi kinautolu ʻe Sētané?

¹⁶ Naʻe toe hoko mai leva ha founga faka-Sētane ʻe taha, naʻe haʻu ʻa e ngaahi “kaumeʻa” ʻe toko tolu, ʻo pehē tokua ko ʻenau omi ke fakafiemālieʻi ʻa Siope. Ko e toko taha ko ʻElifasi, ʻoku hangehangē ko ha hako ia ʻo ʻĒpalahame fakafou mai ʻia ʻĪsoa. Koeʻuhi ko ʻElifasi naʻe fuofua leá, mahalo ko ia naʻe taʻumotuʻa tahá. Naʻe toe ʻi ai foki mo Pilitati, ko ha hako ʻo Suaʻa, ko e tokotaha ʻo e ngaahi foha ʻo ʻĒpalahamé kia Kētula. Ko hono tolú ko e tangata ko Sofaʻa, naʻe ui ko ha tokotaha Naʻama ke fakaʻilongaʻiʻaki ʻa hono fāmilí pe feituʻu naʻe nofo aí, ʻi he tokelau hihifo nai ʻo ʻAlepeá. (Siope 2:11; Sēnesi 25:​1, 2; 36:​4, 11) Hangē pē ko e faʻahinga ʻoku nau feinga ke ʻai ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ke nau tafoki mei he ʻOtuá ʻi he ʻaho ní, ko e toko tolú ni naʻe ngaohi kākaaʻi kinautolu ʻe Sētane ʻi haʻane feinga ke ʻai ʻa Siope ke ne fakahā ʻokú ne halaia ki he ngaahi tukuakiʻi loí pea mo maumauʻi ʻa ʻene tauhi anga-tonú.

17. Ko e hā ʻa e meʻa naʻe fai ʻe he kau ʻaʻahi ʻe toko tolú, pea ko e hā ʻa e meʻa naʻe ʻikai te nau fai ʻi he ʻaho ʻe fitú mo e pō ʻe fitú?

¹⁷ Naʻe fai ʻe he toko tolú ni hano fakahāhā ʻa e kaungāongoʻi ʻaki ʻenau tangi, hae hifo honau ngaahi kofú, pea laku ʻa e efuefu ki ʻolunga ke ngangana hifo ʻi honau ngaahi ʻulú. Ka ʻi he hili iá naʻa nau tangutu fakataha mo Siope ʻi he ʻaho ʻe fitu mo e pō ʻe fitu ʻo ʻikai te nau foaki ha foʻi lea fakafiemālie! (Siope 2:12, 13; Luke 18:​10-14) Ko e kau kākā loto-fieʻeiki ko eni ʻe toko tolú naʻa nau hala ʻaupito ʻi he tuʻunga fakalaumālie ʻa ia naʻe ʻikai ha meʻa fakafiemālie ke nau leaʻaki ʻo fekauʻaki mo Sihova mo ʻene ngaahi talaʻofá. Ka, naʻe faai atu ʻo nau aʻu ki ha ngaahi fakamulituku hala pea nau mateuteu ke ngāueʻaki ia kia Siope ki he vave taha te nau fakahuʻuhuʻu fakataha atu ai ia mo e founga tuʻumaʻu ʻo e anga ʻo e mamahi ʻi ha meʻa ʻoku hoko. Ko ia ai, ki muʻa ke ʻosi ʻa e ʻaho hono fitú, naʻe fakaofiofi mai ha kiʻi tangata ko ʻIlaiū ʻo tangutu ofi mai ʻi ha feituʻu ʻe lava ke ne fanongo ai ki he fetalanoaʻakí.

18. Ko e hā naʻe feinga ai ʻa Siope ki he melino ʻi he maté?

¹⁸ Naʻe fakahohaʻasi atu leva ʻe Siope ʻa e lōngonoá ni. ʻI he ʻikai te ne maʻu ha fakafiemālie mei he kau ʻaʻahi ko eni ʻe toko tolú, naʻá ne talatalaakiʻi ʻa hono kovi ʻa e ʻaho ʻo hono fanauʻí peá ne fifili pe ko e hā ʻa e ʻuhinga ne kei fuoloa mai ai ʻa ʻene moʻui mamahí. Naʻá ne feinga ki he melino ʻi he maté, ʻo ʻikai ʻaupito haʻane fakakaukau ʻe toe malava ke ne maʻu ʻa e fiefia moʻoní ki muʻa peá ne maté, he ko eni kuó ne masiva ʻaupito, mamahi, mo puke lahi ʻaupito. Ka heʻikai ke tuku ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻa Siope ke uesia ʻo aʻu ki he tuʻunga ko e maté.​—Siope 3:​1-26.

Ko e ʻOho ʻa e Kau Tukuakiʻi ʻo Siopé

19. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi tafaʻaki naʻe tukuakiʻi loi ai ʻe ʻElifasi ʻa Siopé?

¹⁹ Ko ʻElifasi naʻe fuofua lea ʻi he ngaahi takai taki taha ʻo e fakakikihi naʻe toe ʻahiʻahiʻi ai ʻa e anga-tonu ʻa Siopé. ʻI heʻene ʻuluaki leá, naʻe ʻeke ʻe ʻElifasi: “ʻI fe fonua ne tuʻusi ai ʻa e kakai angatonu?” Naʻá ne fakaʻosiʻaki ʻo ne pehē kuo pau pē naʻe fai ʻe Siope ha meʻa kovi ʻo ne maʻu ai ʻa e tautea mei he ʻOtuá. (Siope, vahe 4, 5) ʻI heʻene lea hono uá, naʻe lumaʻi ai ʻe ʻElifasi ʻa e poto ʻo Siopé peá ne ʻeke: “Ko e ha ʻa e meʻa kuo ke ʻilo ki ai kuo teʻeki ke mau ʻilo?” Naʻe fakahuʻuhuʻu ʻa ʻElifasi ke pehē naʻe feinga ʻa Siope ke fakahāhā ki he niʻihi kehé ʻokú ne māʻolunga ange ia ʻi he Tokotaha-Aoniú. ʻI he fakaʻosi ʻo ʻene lea anga-mālohi hono uá, naʻá ne fakamatalaʻi ʻoku halaia ʻa Siope ʻi he fakafepaki, totongi fakafufū, mo e kākā. (Siope, vahe 15) ʻI heʻene lea fakaʻosí, naʻe tukuakiʻi loi ai ʻe ʻElifasi ʻa Siope ʻi he ngaahi hia lahi​—fakamālohi, ʻikai ke foaki ha mā mo ha vai ki he masivá, pea anga-fakaaoao ki he kau uitoú mo e kau paeá.​—Siope, vahe 22.

20. Ko e hā ʻa e anga ʻo e ʻohofi naʻe fai ʻe Pilitati kia Siopé?

²⁰ ʻI he hoko ko e tokotaha hono ua ke lea ʻi he foʻi takai taki taha ʻe tolu ʻo e fakakikihí, naʻe muimui pē ʻa Pilitati ʻi he kaveinga fakalūkufua naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe ʻElifasí. Naʻe nounou ange ʻa e ngaahi lea ʻa Pilitatí ka naʻe oʻo ange ia. Naʻe aʻu ʻo ne tukuakiʻi naʻe faihala ʻa e fānau ʻa Siopé pea ko honau tuhá pē ia ko e mate. ʻAki ha fakakaukau hala, naʻá ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e fakatātaá ni: Koeʻuhi ʻoku mōmoa pea mate ʻa e papailá mo e kutá ʻi he ʻikai ha vaí, ko ia ʻoku pehē ʻa e “haʻa fakangalo ʻOtua.” ʻOku moʻoni ʻa e foʻi fakamatala ia ko iá, ka naʻe ʻikai kaunga ia kia Siope. (Siope, vahe 8) Naʻe fakakalasi ʻe Pilitati ʻa e ngaahi faingataʻaʻia ʻa Siopé ʻi he ngaahi meʻa ʻoku hoko ki he kau anga-fulikivanú. (Siope, vahe 18) ʻI heʻene kiʻi lea nounou hono tolú, naʻe pehē ai ʻe Pilitati ko e tangatá ko ha “kelemutu” mo e “ʻuanga” pea ko ia ai ʻoku taʻemaʻa ia ʻi he ʻao ʻo e ʻOtuá.​—Siope, vahe 25.

21. Ko e hā naʻe tukuakiʻi ki ai ʻe Sofaʻa ʻa Siopé?

²¹ Ko Sofaʻa naʻe fika tolu ke lea ʻi he fakakikihí. ʻI hono fakalūkufuá, ko ʻene fakamatala naʻe fokotuʻutuʻú naʻe hangē tofu pē ko e fakamatala ʻa ʻElifasi mo Pilitatí. Naʻe tukuakiʻi ʻe Sofaʻa ʻa Siope ʻokú ne anga-fulikivanu pea naʻá ne naʻinaʻi kiate ia ke ne mavahe mei he ngaahi tōʻonga angahalá. (Siope, vahe 11, 20) ʻI he hili ʻa e foʻi takai ʻe ua naʻe taʻofi leva ʻe Sofaʻa ʻa ʻene fakamatalá. Naʻe ʻikai ke ʻi ai ha meʻa ke ne toe tānaki atu ʻi he takai hono tolú. Kae kehe, ʻi he lolotonga ʻo e fakakikihí ni fakakātoa, naʻe tali loto-toʻa ange ʻe Siope ki he kau tukuakiʻi ko eni ʻoʻoná. Hangē ko ení, ʻi he meʻa ʻe taha naʻá ne pehē ai: “Ko e tuʻunga fakalelu langaʻi mamahi homou kotoa. Lau ʻe au kuo ngata ʻa e fai ʻataʻi lea?”​—Siope 16:​2, 3.

ʻOku Malava ke Tau Kātaki

22, 23. (a) ʻI he meʻa naʻe hoko kia Siopé, ʻoku anga-fēfē nai ʻa hono fai ʻe he Tēvoló ʻa e feinga ke maumauʻi ʻetau anga-tonu kia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá? (e) Neongo naʻe kātakiʻi ʻe Siope ʻa e ngaahi ʻahiʻahi kehekehe, ko e hā nai te tau ʻeke ʻo kau ki hono tuʻungá?

²² Hangē ko Siopé, ʻoku tau fehangahangai nai mo ha ʻahiʻahi lahi ange ʻi he tahá ʻi he taimi pē taha, pea ʻoku ngāueʻaki nai ʻe Sētane ʻa e loto-siʻí pe ko ha ngaahi meʻa kehe ʻi heʻene ngaahi feinga ke maumauʻi ʻetau anga-tonú. ʻOkú ne feinga nai ke fakatafokiʻi kitautolu meia Sihova ʻo kapau ʻoku tau faingataʻaʻia fakaʻikonōmika. Kapau ʻoku mate atu ha taha naʻá te ʻofa ai pe ʻoku tau hokosia ha moʻui mahamahaki, ʻoku feinga nai ai ʻa Sētane ke fakalotoʻi kitautolu ke tau tukuakiʻi ʻa e ʻOtuá. Hangē ko e ngaahi kaumeʻa ʻo Siopé, ʻe aʻu ʻo tukuakiʻi loi nai kitautolu ʻe ha taha. Hangē ko ia naʻe fakahā ʻe Tokoua Macmillan, ko Sētane ʻokú ne fai nai hano ‘muimuiʻi kitautolu,’ ka ʻoku malava ke tau kātaki.

²³ Hangē ko ia kuo tau vakai ki aí, naʻe kātakiʻi ʻe Siope ʻa hono ngaahi ʻahiʻahi kehekehé. Kae kehe, naʻe ʻikai te ne meimei lava ke kātaki? Naʻá ne maʻu moʻoni ha laumālie maumau? Tau vakai ange pe naʻe mole meia Siope ʻa ʻene ʻamanakí kotoa.

Ko e Hā Haʻo Tali?

◻ Ko e hā ʻa e pole lahi naʻe langaʻi ʻe Sētane ʻi he taimi ʻo Siopé?

◻ ʻI he ngaahi founga fē naʻe ʻahiʻahiʻi ai ʻa Siope ʻo aʻu ki he tuʻunga taupotu tahá?

◻ Ko e hā naʻe tukuakiʻi ʻe he “ngaahi kaumeʻa” ʻe toko tolu ʻo Siopé ʻo kau kiate iá?

◻ ʻI he meʻa naʻe hoko kia Siopé, ʻoku anga-fēfē nai ʻa e feinga ʻa Sētane ke maumauʻi ʻetau anga-tonu kia Sihová?

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 18]

A. H. Macmillan