Incwadi YeBhayibhile 18—Yobhi

Umbhali: NguMoses

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: Entlango

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowe-1473 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngaphezu kweminyaka eli-140 phakathi kowe-1657 nowe-1473 B.C.E.

1. Lithetha ukuthini igama likaYobhi, kwaye yiyiphi imibuzo ephendulwa yincwadi kaYobhi?

LE YENYE yezona ncwadi zindala zeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo! Yincwadi exatyiswa kakhulu kwaye icatshulwa ngokufuthi, ukanti ayiqondwa luluntu. Kwakutheni ukuze le ncwadi ibhalwe, kwaye ixabiseke ngantoni kuthi namhlanje? Impendulo iboniswe kwintsingiselo yegama likaYobhi ethi: “Ixhoba Lobutshaba.” Ewe, le ncwadi iphakamisa imibuzo emibini ebalulekileyo eyile: Kutheni abantu abamsulwa bebandezeleka nje? Kutheni uThixo evumele ubungendawo nje emhlabeni? Ukuze le mibuzo iphenduleke sinengxelo engokubandezeleka nengonyamezelo olukhulu lukaYobhi esifanele siyiqwalasele. Yabhalwa yonke, kanye njengokuba uYobhi wayecele njalo.—Yobhi 19:23, 24.

2. Yintoni ebubungqina bokuba uYobhi wayengumntu wokwenene?

² UYobhi wayenomonde nonyamezelo. Kodwa ngaba wayekho umntu onguYobhi? Phezu kwayo yonke nje imigudu kaMtyholi yokucim’ igama lo mzekelo ubalaseleyo wengqibelelo embalini, impendulo icacile. UYobhi wayengumntu wokoqobo! UYehova umkhankanya kunye namangqina Akhe uNowa noDaniyeli, abo uYesu Kristu wavumayo ukuba babekho. (Hez. 14:14, 20; thelekisa uMateyu 24:15, 37.) Uhlanga lwamandulo lwamaHebhere lwamgqala uYobhi njengomntu wokwenene. Umbhali ongumKristu uYakobi walatha kumzekelo kaYobhi wonyamezelo. (Yak. 5:11) Ngumzekelo womntu owayephila ngokwenene kuphela, kungekhona owasentsomini, owawunokuba nempembelelo, ubenza beyiseke abanquli bakaThixo kukuba ingqibelelo inokulondolozwa phantsi kwazo zonke iimeko. Ngaphezu koko, ubunzulu nemvakalo yamazwi abhalwe kwekaYobhi bungqinela ubunyaniso bale meko.

3. Bubuphi ubungqina obukhoyo bokuba incwadi kaYobhi iphefumlelwe?

³ Into yokuba incwadi kaYobhi iyinyaniso kwaye iphefumlelwe ikwangqinelwa kukuba amaHebhere amandulo ayesoloko eyiquka kwimibhalo yawo engcwele yeBhayibhile, nto leyo esisibakala esiphawulekayo kuba uYobhi ngokwakhe wayengengomSirayeli. Ukongezelela kwiimbekiselo ezenziwa nguHezekile nanguYakobi, le ncwadi iyacatshulwa ngumpostile uPawulos. (Yobhi 5:13; 1 Kor. 3:19) Ubungqina obunamandla bokuba le ncwadi iphefumlelwe buboniswa kukuvisisana kwayo ngokumangalisayo nezibakala ezingqinelweyo zenzululwazi. Bekunokwaziwa njani ukuba uYehova ‘uxhome ihlabathi phezu kokungeni,’ xa abantu bamandulo babeneyona mbono ingaqhelekanga mayela nendlela umhlaba oxhaswe ngayo? (Yobhi 26:7) Imbono eyayikho kumaxesha amandulo yayiyeyokuba umhlaba wawuxhaswe ziindlovu ezazimi phezu kwesirhubuluzi esikhulu saselwandle esinjengofudo. Kutheni le nto incwadi kaYobhi ingathethi nto nje ngaloo mfungumfungu? Ngokucacileyo kungenxa yokuba uYehova uMdali wanikela ingxelo eyinyaniso ngokuyiphefumlela. Enye inkcazelo eninzi engomhlaba nezinto zawo ezimangalisayo nengezilwanyana zasendle neentaka kwiindawo zokwemvelo ezihlala kuzo ichane kangangokuba nguYehova uThixo kuphela obenokuba nguMyili noMphefumleli wencwadi kaYobhi.a

4. Kwakuphi yaye kwakunini apho kwathi kwenzeka oku, kwaye yagqitywa nini ukubhalwa incwadi kaYobhi?

⁴ UYobhi wayehlala kwaUtse, ngokutsho kweengcali ezithile mayela nokuma komhlaba, ekumntla welama-Arabhu kufuphi nelizwe elalimiwe ngamaEdom nangakwimpuma yelizwe elalithenjiswe inzala ka-Abraham. AmaShebha ayehlala emazantsi, amaKaledi ehlala empuma. (1:1, 3, 15, 17) UYobhi wavavanywa kwixesha elide emva kwemihla ka-Abraham. Kwakungexesha laxa ‘kwakungekho bani owayenjengoYobhi ehlabathini, indoda egqibeleleyo, ethe tye.’ (1:8) Eli xesha libonakala lilithuba eliphakathi kokufa kukaYosefu (ngowe-1657 B.C.E.), indoda eyayinokholo olubalaseleyo, nexesha uMoses awaqalisa ngalo ikhondo lakhe lengqibelelo. UYobhi wabalasela kunqulo olunyulu ngeli thuba lokudyojwa kwamaSirayeli lunqulo lweedemon lwaseYiputa. Ngaphezu koko, uqheliselo olukhankanywe kwisahluko sokuqala sekaYobhi, nokwamkela kukaThixo uYobhi njengomnquli wokwenyaniso, ezo zinto zalatha kumaxesha oosolusapho kunokuba zalathe kwixesha lamva elisusela kowe-1513 B.C.E. ukusa phambili, xa uThixo waqhubana ngokukhethekileyo noSirayeli phantsi koMthetho. (Amosi 3:2; Efe. 2:12) Ngaloo ndlela, ngokuphila kukaYobhi ixesha elide, kuyabonakala ukuba le ncwadi igubungela ithuba eliphakathi kowe-1657 B.C.E. nowe-1473 B.C.E., nyaka lowo awafa ngawo uMoses; le ncwadi yagqitywa nguMoses ngaxa lithile emva kokufa kukaYobhi kwanangoxa amaSirayeli ayesentlango.—Yobhi 1:8; 42:16, 17.

5. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba nguMoses owabhala incwadi kaYobhi?

⁵ Kutheni sisithi uMoses wayengumbhali wayo? Oku kuvisisana neyona ngxelo ekukudala ikho, kumaYuda nakubaphengululi bokuqala abangamaKristu. Uhlobo lokubhala olunamandla nolucacileyo lombongo wesiHebhere olusetyenzisiweyo kwincwadi kaYobhi lwenza kucace ukuba yayibhalwe ngesiHebhere santlandlolo, ulwimi olwaluthethwa nguMoses. Ayinakuba yaguqulelwa ngokusuka kolunye ulwimi olunjengesiArabhu. Kwakhona, iinxalenye ezibhalwe ngendlela eqhelekileyo zifana kakhulu nezo zePentatiki kunayo nayiphi na eminye imibhalo eseBhayibhileni. Umbhali umele ukuba wayengumSirayeli, njengokuba uMoses wayenguye, kuba amaYuda ‘ayephathiswe izihlabo zikaThixo.’ (Roma 3:1, 2) Akuba ekhule ngokwaneleyo, uMoses wachitha iminyaka engama-40 kwaMidiyan, engekude ukusuka kwaUtse, apho wayenokufumana khona inkcazelo eneenkcukacha ebhalwe kwekaYobhi. Kamva, xa wagqitha kufuphi nelizwe lakuloYobhi ebudeni bohambo lwamaSirayeli lweminyaka engama-40 entlango, uMoses wafunda ngeenkcukacha zokugqibela waza wazibhala encwadini.

6. Ziziphi iinkalo ezenza ukuba incwadi kaYobhi ibe ngaphezu kokuba yincwadi nje?

⁶ Ngokutsho kweThe New Encyclopædia Britannica, ngokufuthi incwadi kaYobhi “ibalelwa kwezona ncwadi zibalaseleyo kuncwadi lwehlabathi.”b Phofu ke, le ncwadi ingaphezulu nje kokuba ibe yincwadi yokoqobo ebalaseleyo. Incwadi kaYobhi ibalasele kwiincwadi zeBhayibhile ekuphakamiseni igunya, ukuba sesikweni, ubulumko nothando lukaYehova. Iyityhila ngokucace ngakumbi imbambano eyintloko ephambi kwendalo iphela. Ikwenza kucace okuninzi okuthethwe kwezinye iincwadi zeBhayibhile, ngokukodwa eyeGenesis, iEksodus, INtshumayeli, uLuka, kwabaseRoma neyeSityhilelo. (Thelekisa uYobhi 1:6-12; 2:1-7 neGenesis 3:15; iEksodus 9:16; uLuka 22:31, 32; kwabaseRoma 9:16-19 neSityhilelo 12:9; kwanoYobhi 1:21; 24:15; 21:23-26; 28:28 ngokulandelelana kwazo neNtshumayeli 5:15; 8:11; 9:2, 3; 12:13.) Inikela impendulo kwimibuzo emininzi engobomi. Ngokuqinisekileyo iyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yeLizwi likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo, enokuninzi ekunikelayo kulo ngokuthi ilenze liqondakale ngokuyingenelo.

OKUQULETHWE YEKAYOBHI

7. Simfumana ekweyiphi imeko uYobhi njengokuba siqalisa incwadi yakhe?

⁷ Intshayelelo yencwadi kaYobhi (1:1-5). Oku kusingenisa kuYobhi, indoda ‘egqibeleleyo, ethe tye, emoyikayo uThixo, etyekayo ebubini.’ UYobhi wonwabile, unoonyana abasixhenxe neentombi ezintathu. Ungumnini-mhlaba omi kakuhle ngokwezinto eziphathekayo onemihlambi emikhulu yempahla emfutshane neenkomo. Unezicaka ezininzi kwaye ‘mkhulu kubo bonke oonyana belasempumalanga.’ (1:1, 3) Phofu ke, akangomntu othanda izinto eziphathekayo, kuba akakholosanga ngazo. Ukwasisityebi ngokomoya, emisebenzini emihle, ekulungele ngawo onke amaxesha ukunceda olusizana okanye ocinezelekileyo, okanye ukumnika ingubo yokwaleka nabani na oyisweleyo. (29:12-16; 31:19, 20) Bonke abantu bayamhlonela. UYobhi unqula uThixo oyinyaniso, uYehova. Akavumi ukuqubuda elangeni, enyangeni nasezinkwenkwezini njengoko zenzayo iintlanga ezingabahedeni, kodwa uthembekile kuYehova, ugcine ingqibelelo kuThixo wakhe kwaye unandipha ulwalamano olusondeleyo kunye Naye. (29:7, 21-25; 31:26, 27; 29:4) UYobhi ukhonza njengombingeleli wentsapho yakhe, enikela amadini anyukayo rhoqo, hleze ibe yonile.

8. (a) Uza njani uSathana ukuza kucel’ umngeni ingqibelelo kaYobhi? (b) UYehova ulwamkela njani olo celomngeni?

⁸ USathana ucel’ umngeni uThixo (1:6–2:13). Ngokungummangaliso umkhusane osithayo uyavulwa ukuze sibone izinto zasezulwini. UYehova ubonwa esongamela intlanganiso yoonyana bakaThixo. NoSathana uyazibonakalisa phakathi kwabo. UYehova utsalela ingqalelo kumkhonzi wakhe othembekileyo uYobhi, kodwa uSathana uyicel’ umngeni ingqibelelo kaYobhi, esima ngelokuba uYobhi umkhonza uThixo ngenxa yeengenelo zezinto eziphathekayo azifumanayo. Ukuba uThixo uya kumvumela uSathana azihluthe ezi zinto, uYobhi uya kutyeka kwingqibelelo yakhe. UYehova uyalwamkela olu celomngeni, emnika umqathango uSathana wokuba akamele amchukumise uYobhi.

9. (a) Ziziphi iimvavanyo eziqatha ezehlela uYobhi? (b) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba ugcine ingqibelelo yakhe?

⁹ UYobhi engalindelanga uqalisa ukwehlelwa ngamashwa amaninzi. AmaShebha namaKaledi aphanga ubutyebi bakhe obuninzi. Umoya omkhulu ubulala oonyana neentombi zakhe. Olu vavanyo luqatha alumenzi uYobhi amqalekise uThixo okanye amshiye. Kunoko, uthi, “Igama likaYehova malibongwe.” (1:21) Oyisiwe kwaye engqineke elixoki kule nkalo, kwakhona uSathana uvela phambi kukaYehova aze amangale ngokuthi: “Ulusu ngenxa yolusu; konke anako umntu wokunika ngenxa yomphefumlo wakhe.” (2:4) USathana uma ngelokuba ukuba ebevunyelwe ukuba awuchukumise umzimba kaYobhi, ebeya kwenza uYobhi amqalekise uThixo ebusweni bakhe. Enikwe imvume yokwenza yonke into ngaphandle kokubulala uYobhi, uSathana ubetha uYobhi ngesifo esoyikekayo. Inyama yakhe ‘yambeswa iimpethu namagada omhlaba,’ kwaye umzimba nomoya wakhe uyanuka kumkakhe nakwizalamane. (7:5; 19:13-20) Njengento ebonisa ukuba uYobhi akayaphulanga ingqibelelo yakhe, umfazi wakhe umbongoza esithi: “Usabambelele na ekugqibeleleni kwakho? Mlahle uThixo, ufe.” UYobhi uyamkhalimela kwaye ‘akoni ngomlomo wakhe.’—2:9, 10.

10. Kukuphi ‘ukuthuthuzela’ okungavakaliswa ngamazwi okulungiselelwa nguSathana?

¹⁰ Ngoku uSathana uvelisa amaqabane amathathu, afikayo ukuza ‘kuthuthuzela’ uYobhi. NguElifazi, uBhiledadi noTsofare. Xa bekude abamqondi uYobhi, kodwa bandula ke bawaphakamise amazwi abo baze balile bazigalele nothuli entloko. Ngokulandelayo, bahlala phambi kwakhe bethe cwaka. Emva kweentsuku ezisixhenxe nobusuku bazo ‘bokuthuthuzela’ kungekho mazwi bawathethayo, ekugqibeleni uYobhi uqalisa ukuthetha ngokuvula ingxoxo ende nabo kufane kuthiwe ngabathuthuzeli bakhe.—2:11.

11-13. UYobhi uyivula njani le ngxoxo, sisiphi isityholo esenziwa nguElifazi, kwaye ithini impendulo kaYobhi yenkalipho?

¹¹ Ingxoxo: yokuqala (3:1–14:22). Ukususela kweli nqanaba kuse phambili, okuqhubekayo kutyhilwa ngombongo ozukileyo wesiHebhere. UYobhi uyawuqalekisa umhla awazalwa ngawo kwaye umangalisiwe sisizathu sokuba uThixo emvumele ukuba aqhubeke ephila.

¹² Ekuphenduleni, uElifazi utyhola uYobhi ngokuba akagqibelelanga. Uthi, ubani othe tye akazange atshabalale. Ukhumbula umbono awubone ebusuku ekuthe kuwo ilizwi lamxelela ukuba uThixo akakholiswa ngabakhonzi bakhe, ngokukodwa abo benziwe ngodongwe, uthuli lomhlaba. Ubonisa ukuba ukubandezeleka kukaYobhi kusisohlwayo esivela kuThixo uSomandla.

¹³ UYobhi umphendula ngenkalipho uElifazi. Uyadanduluka njengokuba nasiphi na isidalwa besiya kwenjenjalo xa sitshutshiswa okanye sibandezelekile. Ibiya kuba kukufa okunokumkhulula kule meko. Uyawakhalimela amaqabane akhe ngokuba emenzele iyelenqe kwaye uthi: “Ndiyaleni, ndothi cwaka; nindiqondise ukulahleka kwam.” (6:24) UYobhi ulwela ubulungisa bakhe phambi kukaThixo, ‘uMlindi woluntu.’—7:20.

14, 15. Uma ngelithini uBhiledadi, kwaye kutheni uYobhi esoyikela ukuba akayi kuphumelela kwityala lakhe kuThixo?

¹⁴ Ngoku kuthetha uBhiledadi, esithi oonyana bakaYobhi bonile kwaye uYobhi akathanga tye, kungenjalo ngeviwe nguThixo. Uyalela uYobhi ukuba akhangele kwizizukulwana zangaphambili nakwizinto ezaphengululwa ngookhokho babo njengezilukhokelo.

¹⁵ UYobhi uyaphendula esithi, akanatswela-bulungisa uThixo. UThixo akanakuphenduliswa ngumntu, kuba “ulowenza izinto ezinkulu ezingenakugocwagocwa, nemisebenzi ebalulekileyo engenakubalwa.” (9:10) UYobhi akanakuphumelela ekubeni ngophikisana noYehova emthethweni. Ekuphela kwento anokuyenza kukucela ubabalo lukaThixo. Ukanti, ngaba kukho nayiphi na ingenelo ekufuneni ukwenza okuthe tye? “Ogqibeleleyo nongendawo úyabatshabalalisa.” (9:22) Emhlabeni akugwetywa ngobulungisa. UYobhi woyikela ukuba akayi kuphumelela kwityala lakhe kuThixo. Ufuna umlamli. Ubuza isizathu sokuba evavanywa kwaye ubongoza uThixo ukuba akhumbule ukuba wenziwe ‘ngodongwe.’ (10:9) Uyayiqonda indlela uThixo ebebonakalisa ngayo kuye ububele kwixesha elidluleyo, kodwa uthi uThixo ubeya kusuka abe nomsindo kakhulu ngakumbi ukuba wenza imbambano, nakubeni elungile. Akwaba nje ebengase afe!

16, 17. (a) Lithini icebiso lokuzidla elinikelwa nguTsofare? (b) UYobhi ukuvavanya njani ukuxabiseka ‘kwabathuthuzeli’ bakhe, kwaye yiyiphi intembelo enamandla ayivakalisayo?

¹⁶ Ngoku kungenelela uTsofare kule ngxoxo. Ngokungathi kunjalo, uthi: Singabantwana na, le nto simele siphulaphule intetho yobudenge? Uthi umsulwa ngokwenene, kodwa ukuba nje uThixo ebenokuthetha, ebeya kulityhila ityala lakho. Ubuza uYobhi oku: “Unokufikelela na ezingontsingontsini zikaThixo?” (11:7) Ucebisa uYobhi ukuba ahlukane noqheliselo olubi, kuba iintsikelelo ziya kufikela abo benjenjalo, ngoxa “amehlo abangendawo ophelelwa.”—11:20.

¹⁷ UYobhi udanduluka ngokucaphuka okukhulu esithi: “Kambe, nini abantu; buya kufa nani ubulumko.” (12:2) Usenokuba yinto yentlekisa, kodwa akaziva engento yanto. Ukuba amaqabane akhe ebenokukhangela kwizinto ezidalwe nguThixo, nakuzo ebeya kufunda okuthile. Amandla nobulumko obuluncedo bobukaThixo, olawula zonke izinto, ‘nokhulisa iintlanga, azitshabalalise.’ (12:23) UYobhi kuyamvuyisa ukuthethelela imeko yakhe kuThixo, kodwa ngokuphathelele “abathuthuzeli” bakhe abathathu—uthi “nina ningabadyobha ngobuxoki, ningamagqirha angento nonke niphela.” (13:4) Bekuya kuba bubulumko ngabo ukuba bathi cwaka! Uvakalisa intembelo anayo kukuba sesikweni kwemeko yakhe kwaye ubongoza uThixo ukuba amphulaphule. Uphethukela kwingcamango yokuba “umntu, into ezelwe ngumfazi, imihla yakhe mifutshane, izele ziinkathazo.” (14:1) Umntu udlula ngokukhawuleza, njengesithunzi. Akunakuze uvelise umntu ococekileyo emntwini ongacocekanga. Ethandazela ukuba uThixo amgushe kwelabafileyo de ubuye umsindo Wakhe, uYobhi ubuza oku: “Ukuba uthe umfo wafa, wophila [“kwakhona,” NW] na?” Ekuphenduleni uvakalisa ithemba elinamandla elileli: “Bendinga ndingalinda, kude kufike ukukhululwa kwam.”—14:13, 14.

18, 19. (a) Ugculela ngelithini uElifazi kwingxoxo yesibini? (b) UYobhi ukugqala njani ‘ukuthuthuzela’ kwamaqabane akhe, kwaye ukhangele kuYehova ukuba enze ntoni?

¹⁸ Ingxoxo: yesibini (15:1–21:34). Ekuvuleni ingxoxo yesibini, uElifazi uhlekisa ngolwazi lukaYobhi, esithi ‘uzalise umbilini wakhe ngolophu lwasempumalanga.’ (15:2) Kwakhona uyayigxeka into yokuba uYobhi athi ugcine ingqibelelo, esithi umntu ofayo kwanabangcwele emazulwini abanakuba ngabakholekileyo emehlweni kaYehova. Umtyhola ngokungangqalanga uYobhi ngokuthi uzama ukuzigwagwisa kuThixo nangokuthi uyawexuka, enyoba kwaye ekhohlisa.

¹⁹ UYobhi uphendula ngokuthi amaqabane akhe ‘angabathuthuzeli abayindinisa nabathetha nje umoya.’ (16:2, 3) Ukuba bebekule meko akuyo yena, ebengayi kubanyelisa. Ukunqwenela kakhulu ukuthethelelwa, kwaye ukhangele kuYehova, ekunguye onengxelo yakhe noya kugqiba ngemeko yakhe. Akukho bulumko abufumanayo uYobhi kumaqabane akhe. Baphelisa lonke ithemba. ‘Ukuthuthuzela’ kwabo kufana nokuthi ubusuku yimini. Ekuphela kwethemba elikhoyo ‘kukuya kwelabafileyo.’—17:15, 16.

20, 21. Athini amazwi ahlabayo avakaliswa nguBhiledadi, uwagatya ngelithini uYobhi, kwaye uYobhi ubonakalisa ukuba ukholose ngantoni?

²⁰ Ingxoxo iba shushu. Ngoku uBhiledadi unomsindo, kuba unoluvo lokuba uYobhi uye wathelekisa abahlobo bakhe nezilwanyana ezingenangqiqo. Ubuza uYobhi oku, ‘Liya kushiywa ihlabathi ngenxa yakho na?’ (18:4) Ulumkisa ngelokuba uYobhi uya kubambiseka kumgibe owoyikekayo, njengomzekelo kwabanye. UYobhi akayi kuba nanzala eya kuphila emva kwakhe.

²¹ UYobhi uphendula athi: “Kunini na nisenza isingqala kumphefumlo wam, nindityumza ngokuthetha?” (19:2) Uphulukene nentsapho nabahlobo, umfazi wakhe nabendlu yakhe bamshiyile, kwaye naye usinde “macebetshu.” (19:20) Ukholose ngokuvela komhlawuleli ukuba azinzise le mbambano ngenxa yakhe, ukuze ekugqibeleni ‘ambone uThixo.’—19:25, 26.

22, 23. (a) Kutheni le nto uTsofare eziva ekhathazekile, kwaye uthini ngebango lokuba uYobhi unezono? (b) UYobhi uphendula ngamazwi angcangcazelisayo athini?

²² UTsofare, njengoBhiledadi, uziva ekhathazekile akuphulaphula ‘ukubahlazisa’ kukaYobhi. (20:3) Uphinda into yokuba uYobhi uye wabanjwa zizono zakhe. Abangendawo basoloko befumana isohlwayo kuThixo, kwaye abaphumli, nangona benandipha ubunewunewu, utsho njalo uTsofare.

²³ UYobhi uphendula ngamazwi angcangcazelisayo: Ukuba uThixo usoloko ebohlwaya abangendawo ngaloo ndlela, kutheni ke abangendawo beqhubeka bephila, bade baluphale, baze babe ngabaphawulekayo ekubeni zizityebi? Imihla yabo bayichithela eziyolweni. Kukangaphi besehlelwa yintlekele? Ubonisa ukuba izityebi nabangamahlwempu bafa ngendlela efanayo. Enyanisweni, ongendawo udla ngokufa “onwabile kanye, echulumachile,” ngoxa ilungisa lisenokufa “ukrakra umphefumlo” walo.—21:23, 25.

24, 25. (a) Yiyiphi intlebendwane yobuxoki ngoYobhi eziswa nguElifazi ngokuzigwagwisa? (b) Uqokela aze acel’ umngeni ngelithini uYobhi ekuphenduleni?

²⁴ Ingxoxo: yesithathu (22:1–25:6). UElifazi ubuya eneengcwangu ukuza kuhlasela, ecukuceza uYobhi kwibango lakhe lokuba akanakubekwa tyala phambi koSomandla. Uza nentlebendwane yobuxoki ngoYobhi, esithi mbi, uwaxhaphazile amahlwempu, ubavimbile isonka abalambileyo, nokuba uye wabaphatha gadalala abahlolokazi neenkedama. UElifazi uthi indlela uYobhi ebephila ngayo ngasese ayikho msulwa njengokuba yena esitsho yaye ke oku kuboniswa yimeko embi akuyo uYobhi. UElifazi ulilisela ngelithi kodwa “ukuba uthe wabuyela kuSomandla,” ‘uya kuva.’—22:23, 27.

²⁵ Ekuphenduleni kwakhe uYobhi uyasichasa isityholo esivakaliswa ngomsindo sikaElifazi, esithi unqwenela ukuba aviwe nguThixo, oliqondayo ikhondo lakhe lobulungisa. Kukho abo bacinezela iinkedama, abahlolokazi namahlwempu baze babulale, bebe, baze bakrexeze. Basenokubonakala beqhuba kakuhle okwexeshana, kodwa baya kuwufumana wona umvuzo wabo. Baya kuncothulwa kuphele ngabo. UYobhi ucel’ umngeni ngamazwi athi, “Ukuba kanti akunjalo, ngubani na owondenza othetha amanga?”—24:25.

26. Kukuphi okunye okungakumbi uBhiledadi noTsofare abakuthethayo?

²⁶ UBhiledadi uyakujika kancinane oku, esithi akukho mntu unokuba nyulu phambi koThixo. UTsofare uvale owakhe umlomo kule ngxubusho yesithathu. Akananto anokuyithetha.

27. Ngeli thuba uYobhi ubuphakamisa njani ubukhulu bukaSomandla?

²⁷ Ingxoxo eshushu aqukumbela ngayo uYobhi (26:1–31:40). Kwintetho yakhe yokugqibela, uYobhi uwatsho athi cwaka amaqabane akhe. (32:12, 15, 16) Engacengi uthi: “Utheni na wena ukumnceda ongenamandla? . . . Utheni na ukumcebisa ongenabulumko?” (26:2, 3) Noko ke, akukho nto inokukwazi, lingenako nelabafileyo ukufihla nantoni na emehlweni kaThixo. UYobhi uchaza ubulumko bukaThixo esibhakabhakeni, emhlabeni, emafini, elwandle nasemoyeni—zinto ezo azibonileyo umntu. Ezo zinto ziyinxalenye nje encinane yeendlela zikaSomandla. Azinakulinganiswa nobukhulu bukaSomandla.

28. Ngawaphi amazwi achanileyo athethwa nguYobhi ngengqibelelo?

²⁸ Eyisekile kukuba umsulwa, uthi: “Ndoda ndife ndingayisusanga ingqibelelo yam kum!” (27:5, NW) Hayi, uYobhi akenzanga nantoni na emenza afanelekele oko kumehleleyo. Ngokungavisisaniyo nezityholo zabo, uThixo uya kukuvuza ukugcina ingqibelelo ngokuqinisekisa ukuba izinto abaziqwebela zona abangendawo ngenxa yenkqubela yabo zidliwa ilifa ngamalungisa.

29. UYobhi ubuchaza njani ubulumko?

²⁹ Umntu uyayazi indawo obuvela kuyo ubutyebi bomhlaba (isilivere, igolide, ubhedu), kodwa bona “ubulumko buvela phi na ke?” (28:20) Ubufunile phakathi kwezinto eziphilayo; ubukhangele elwandle; abunakuthengwa ngegolide okanye ngesilivere. UThixo ungulowo ubuqondayo ubulumko. Ubona eziphelweni zomhlaba nezamazulu, uyawahlulahlula umoya namanzi, ayilawule imvula namafu ahamba noqhwithela. UYobhi uqukumbela ngokuthi: “Yabona, ukoyika iNkosi, bubulumko obo, nokutyeka ebubini kuyingqondo.”—28:28.

30. UYobhi unqwenela ukubuyiselwa kweyiphi imeko, kodwa injani imeko yakhe okwangoku?

³⁰ UYobhi obandezelekileyo ngokulandelayo uchaza imbali yobomi bakhe. Unqwenela ukubuyiselwa kwimeko yakhe yangaphambili yobuhlobo obusondeleyo noThixo, xa wayehlonelwa naziinkokeli zesixeko. Wayengumhlanguli wabaziintsizana yaye engamehlo kwiimfama. Wayeluleka kakuhle, yaye abantu babekhangela phambili kumazwi akhe. Kodwa ngoku, kunokuba abe ngonesidima, ude ahlekwe nangabo baziintsana kuye, abayise babo ababekumgangatho ongaphantsi nakowezinja zomhlambi wakhe. Bayamtshicela baze bamchase. Ngoku, ekubeni ekwimeko elusizi ngokuphawulekayo, bampheka bemophula.

31. UYobhi uvakalisa intembelo yakhe ekugwebeni kukabani, kwaye uthini ngokuphathelele ingxelo ethembekileyo yobomi bakhe?

³¹ UYobhi uzichaza njengozahluleleyo yaye ucela ukuba agwetywe nguYehova. “Makandilinganise esikalini sobulungisa, akwazi uThixo ukugqibelela kwam.” (31:6) UYobhi uyazithethelela izinto azenze kwixesha elidluleyo. Ebengengomkrexezi, engabenzeli namayelenqe abanye. Ebengakutyesheli ukunceda abasweleyo. Ebengakholosanga ngobutyebi bezinto eziphathekayo, nakubeni wayesisityebi. Ebengalinquli ilanga, inyanga neenkwenkwezi, kuba “oko ngekuba bubugwenxa phambi kwabagwebi; kuba ngendiba ndimkhanyele uThixo waphezulu.” (31:28) UYobhi umema abo baphikisana naye emthethweni ukuba bavakalise oku kuzizityholo abanazo kwingxelo ethembekileyo yobomi bakhe.

32. (a) Kuthetha bani ngoku? (b) Kutheni le nto uElihu evutha ngumsindo kuYobhi nakumaqabane akhe, kwaye yintoni emnyanzelela ukuba athethe?

³² Kuthetha uElihu (32:1–37:24). Ngeli thuba, uElihu, oyinzala kaBhuzi, yena ongunyana kaNahore, ngaloo ndlela esisalamane somnombo ka-Abraham osusela kude, ebephulaphule kule ngxubusho. Ebelindile ngenxa yokuvakalelwa kukuba abo baziingwevu kuye bafanele ukuba babe nolwazi olukhulu. Noko ke, asibobudala, kodwa ngumoya kaThixo onika ukuqonda. UElihu uyavutha ngumsindo kuYobhi “ngenxa yokuzigwebela ngokwakhe kunoThixo,” kodwa uya uvutha ngakumbi ngenxa yamaqabane kaYobhi amathathu ngenxa yokungabi nabulumko ngendlela ehlazisa ngolu hlobo esithi uThixo ungongendawo. UElihu ‘uzele kukuthetha,’ yaye umoya kaThixo umnyanzelela ukuba lo msindo wakhe awubhodlele kula maqabane kodwa engakhethi buso okanye ‘engateketisi mntu.’—Yobhi 32:2, 3, 18-22; Gen. 22:20, 21.

33. Wone phi uYobhi, kwaye ke uThixo uya kumbabala njani?

³³ UElihu uthetha enyanisekile, evakalisa ukuba uThixo unguMdali wakhe. Walatha kwinto yokuba uYobhi ebekuxhalabele ngakumbi ukuthethelelwa kwakhe kunokuthethelelwa kukaThixo. Kwakungeyomfuneko ngoThixo ukuba aphendule onke amazwi kaYobhi, ngokungathi uthethelela izenzo Zakhe, nangokungathi uYobhi wayesilwa noThixo. Phofu ke, ekubeni umphefumlo kaYobhi usondela ekufeni, uThixo umbabala ngokumthumelela umthunywa, esithi: “Mkhulule, angehli aye esihogweni, kuba ndilufumene ucamagusho. Isuka ibe nentlahla inyama yakhe; ubuyela emihleni yobudodana bakhe.” (Yobhi 33:24, 25) Amalungisa aya kubuyiselwa kwimpilo entle!

34. (a) UElihu ukhalima ngokubhekele phaya esithini? (b) Kunokuba azizukise ngobulungisa bakhe, yintoni efanele yenziwe nguYobhi?

³⁴ UElihu ubizela kuye izilumko ukuba zize kumphulaphula. Ukhalimela uYobhi ngokuthi kwakhe akukho ngenelo ekubeni ngumgcini wengqibelelo: “Makube lee kuThixo ukuba ngongendawo; kuSomandla, ukuba abe nobugqwetha, ke ukwenza komntu ukubuyekeza kuye, amfumanise umfo ngokwehambo yakhe.” (34:10, 11) Unokuyisusa impefumlelo yobomi, kwaye ke yonke into eyinyama iya kuthi shwaka. UThixo ugweba ngokungenamkhethe. UYobhi ebesoloko ekhokelisa ubulungisa bakhe. Ebedyuduzela, phofu ke engenzi ngabom, kodwa ‘ebengazi’; kwaye ke uThixo ebezeka kade umsindo ngakuye. (34:35) Kuninzi ekumelwe kuthethwe ngako ukuze kuthethelelwe uThixo. UThixo akayi kuwasusa amehlo akhe kumalungisa, kodwa uya kuwohlwaya. “Akamlondolozeli ebomini ongendawo; iintsizana uzinika ibango lazo.” (36:6) Ekubeni uThixo enguMyaleli owongamileyo, uYobhi ufanele awuzukise umsebenzi Wakhe.

35. (a) Yintoni uYobhi afanele anikele ingqalelo kuyo? (b) UYehova uya kuyibonakalisa koobani inkoloseko yakhe?

³⁵ Kwimeko ekhwankqisayo yokuqalisa kokwenzeka koqhwithela, uElihu uthetha ngezinto ezinkulu ezenziwe nguThixo nangokukwazi Kwakhe ukulawula amandla endalo. Uthi ke kuYobhi: “Yima, uyigqale imisebenzi ebalulekileyo kaThixo.” (37:14) Khawuqwalasele ubungangamsha obuzukileyo nokuba nendili okukhwankqisayo kukaThixo, bukude lee ukuba bungafunyaniswa ngumntu. “Mkhulu ngamandla; akagwenxi siko nabuninzi bobulungisa.” Ewe, uYehova uya kubakhathalela abo bamoyikayo, kungekhona abo “abalumke ngokwabo.”—37:23, 24.

36. Sisiphi isifundo esingumzekeliso yaye luluphi uthotho lwemibuzo athi uYehova ngalo afundise uYobhi isifundo?

³⁶ UYehova uphendula uYobhi (38:1–42:6). UYobhi umcelile uThixo ukuba athethe naye. Ngoku uYehova ngendlela ezukileyo uthetha esemoyeni ovuthuzayo. Ubuza uYobhi uthotho lwemibuzo ethi yona ngokwayo ibe sisifundo kubungento bomntu nakubukhulu bukaThixo. “Ubuphi na wena ukuseka kwam ihlabathi? . . . Ngubani na owabeka ilitye lalo lembombo, ekumemeleleni kunye kwamakhwezi okusa, beduma bonke oonyana bakaThixo?” (38:4, 6, 7) Oko kwenzeka kude kudala ngaphambi kwexesha likaYobhi! UYobhi ubuzwa ebuziwe, ngemibuzo angenakuyiphendula, njengokuba uYehova ethetha esalatha kulwandle lwasemhlabeni, kumaleko walo welifu, ukusa, amasango okufa, ukukhanya nobumnyama. “Uyazi kambe, ngokuba wawusewuzelwe oko lilikhulu nenani lemihla yakho!” (38:21) Yaye kuthekani ngoovimba bekhephu nabesichotho, uqhwithela nemvula nombethe, umkhenkce neqabaka nemikhosi yeenkwenkwezi zezulu, imibane neengqimba zamafu, amarhamncwa neentaka?

37. Yiyiphi eminye imibuzo engakumbi ethoba uYobhi, kwaye yintoni ekunyanzeleka ukuba ayivume namakayenze?

³⁷ Ngokuthobeka uYobhi uyavuma esithi: “Yabona, ndiphantsi. Ndothini na ukuphendula? Ndibeka isandla sam emlonyeni wam.” (40:4) UYehova uyalela uYobhi ukuba ajongane nocelomngeni. Uphakamisa olunye uthotho olungakumbi lwemibuzo yokumcel’ umngeni ephakamisa ukuba nendili kwakhe, ukongama kwakhe namandla akhe, njengokuba ezo zinto zibonakaliswa kwindalo yakhe. NeMvubu neNgwenya zinamandla kakhulu kunoYobhi! Ezithobe ngokupheleleyo, uYobhi uyayiqonda imbono yakhe ephosakeleyo, kwaye uyavuma ukuba uthethe engaqondi. Ebona uThixo ngokwakhe ngoku, kungekhona ngomingimingi kodwa ngokuqonda, uyazicekisa aze aguquke ‘eseluthulini naseluthuthwini.’—42:6.

38. (a) UYehova ugqibezela njani ngoElifazi namaqabane akhe? (b) Umbabala aze amsikelele njani uYobhi?

³⁸ Umgwebo nentsikelelo kaYehova (42:7-17). Ngokulandelayo uYehova uthethisa uElifazi namaqabane akhe amabini ngokungathethi kwabo izinto eziyinyaniso Ngaye. Bamele benze amadini baze bathandazelwe nguYobhi. Emva koku, uYehova uyamkhulula uYobhi kule meko yobukhoboka, emsikelela ngokuphindwe kabini. Abantakwabo, oodade wabo, nababesakuba ngabahlobo kuye babuyela kuye benezipho, kwaye usikelelwa ngokuphindwe kabini kunangaphambili ngeegusha ezininzi, iinkamela, iinkomo neemazi zamaesile. Kwakhona unabantwana abalishumi, iintombi zakhe ezintathu ziba zezona zintle kulo lonke ilizwe. Ubomi bakhe ngokungummangaliso bandiswa ngeminyaka eli-140, ngokokude abe nokubona izizukulwana ezine zenzala yakhe. Ufa “eyindoda enkulu, ephelele ebudaleni.”—42:17.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

39. Kungaziphi iindlela ezahlukahlukeneyo ethi incwadi kaYobhi iphakamise ize izukise uYehova ngazo?

³⁹ Incwadi kaYobhi iphakamisa uYehova ize inikele ubungqina kubulumko nakumandla akhe angenakulinganiswa nanto. (12:12, 13; 37:23) Kwakule ncwadi, kubhekiswa kuThixo njengoSomandla izihlandlo ezingama-31, nto leyo ethetha ukuthi kuyo eli gama livela ngokufuthi kunakuzo zonke ezinye iZibhalo. Le ngxelo ibalaselisa ukuba ngunaphakade kwakhe nesikhundla sakhe esiphakamileyo (10:5; 36:4, 22, 26; 40:2; 42:2) kwanokuba sesikweni kwakhe, inceba nemfesane yakhe (36:5-7; 10:12; 42:12). Igxininisa ukuthethelelwa kukaYehova kunosindiso lomntu. (33:12; 34:10, 12; 35:2; 36:24; 40:8) UYehova, uThixo kaSirayeli, ukwaboniswa enguThixo kaYobhi.

40. (a) Incwadi kaYobhi iyizukisa ize iyicacise njani imisebenzi kaThixo yobugcisa? (b) Iwanikela njani amavandlakanya andulelayo eemfundiso ezikwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike kwaye ivisisana njani nazo?

⁴⁰ Ingxelo ekuYobhi izukisa ize icacise umsebenzi wobugcisa kaThixo. (38:4–39:30; 40:15, 19; 41:1; 35:10) Iyavisisana nengxelo yeGenesis yokuba umntu wenziwe ngothuli yaye ke ubuyela kulo. (Yobhi 10:8, 9; Gen. 2:7; 3:19) Isebenzisa amabinzana athi “umhlawuleli,” “ucamagusho,” nelithi “wophila kwakhona na,” ngaloo ndlela isenza amavandlakanya andulelayo eemfundiso ezisisiseko kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike. (Yobhi 19:25; 33:24; 14:13, 14) Amabinzana amaninzi ale ncwadi aye aphindwa okanye kwabhekiselwa kuwo ngabaprofeti nangababhali abangamaKristu. Ngokomzekelo, thelekisa uYobhi 7:17—INdumiso 8:4; Yobhi 9:24—1 Yohane 5:19; Yobhi 10:8—INdumiso 119:73; Yobhi 12:25—Duteronomi 28:29; Yobhi 24:23—IMizekeliso 15:3; Yobhi 26:8—IMizekeliso 30:4; Yobhi 28:12, 13, 15-19—IMizekeliso 3:13-15; Yobhi 39:30—Mateyu 24:28.c

41. (a) Yiyiphi imilinganiselo engokobuthixo egxininiswayo kuYobhi? (b) Umkhonzi kaThixo uYobhi ungumzekelo omhle ngokubalaseleyo ngayiphi indlela kuthi namhlanje?

⁴¹ Imilinganiselo kaYehova yokuphila yandlalwe kwiindinyana ezininzi. Le ncwadi izigxeka kakhulu izinto eziphathekayo (Yobhi 31:24, 25), unqulo lwezithixo (31:26-28), ukukrexeza (31:9-12), ukuvuyelela (31:29), ukungenzi ngokusesikweni nokukheth’ ubuso (31:13; 32:21), ukuzingca (31:16-21), ukunganyaniseki nokuxoka (31:5), ibonisa ukuba umntu owenza ezi zinto akanakuba ngokholekileyo kuThixo yaye akayi kubufumana ubomi obungunaphakade. UElihu ungumzekelo omhle wentlonelo enzulu nokuthozama, nowokungafihlisi, inkalipho nokuphakamisa uThixo. (32:2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 18-20; 33:6, 33) Ukuqhelisela kukaYobhi ubuntloko, ulwazelelelo ngentsapho yakhe nobubele bakhe zikwasisifundo. (1:5; 2:9, 10; 31:32) Noko ke, uYobhi ukhunjulwa ikakhulu ngenxa yokugcina kwakhe ingqibelelo nokunyamezela ngomonde, emisela umzekelo owomelez’ ukholo kubakhonzi bakaThixo ukutyhubela izizukulwana nangokukodwa kula maxesha okuvavanywa kokholo. “Unyamezelo lukaYobhi naluva, nesigqibo seNkosi nasibona, ngokuba iNkosi inemfesane enkulu, inenceba.”—Yak. 5:11.

42. Yiyiphi imbambano esisiseko yoBukumkani ecaciswayo kuYobhi, kwaye ziziphi iinkalo ezibangel’ umdla ezicaciswayo zale mbambano?

⁴² UYobhi wayengenguye lowo wembewu ka-Abraham lowo kwakwenziwe kuye amadinga angoBukumkani, kanti ingxelo ephathelele ingqibelelo yakhe inegalelo elikhulu ekucaciseni iinjongo zikaYehova zoBukumkani. Le ncwadi iyinxalenye ebalulekileyo kwingxelo engokobuthixo, kuba ityhila imbambano esisiseko phakathi kukaThixo noSathana, mbambano leyo ebandandakanya ingqibelelo yomntu kuYehova njengoMongami wakhe. Ibonisa ukuba izithunywa zezulu, ezadalwa ngaphambi komhlaba nomntu, zikwangababukeli kwaye zinomdla kakhulu kulo mhlaba nakumphumo waloo mbambano. (Yobhi 1:6-12; 2:1-5; 38:6, 7) Ibonisa ukuba loo mbambano yabakho ngaphambi komhla kaYobhi nokuba uSathana ungumntu ongumoya okho ngokwenene. Ukuba incwadi kaYobhi yabhalwa nguMoses, esi sisihlandlo sokuqala ukuba kuvele ibinzana elithi has·Sa·tanʹ kumbhalo wesiHebhere weBhayibhile, liyifanisa ngokubhekele phaya “inyoka yakudala.” (Yobhi 1:6, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW; ISityhi. 12:9) Le ncwadi ikwabonisa ukuba asingoThixo obangela ukuba uluntu lubandezeleke, lugule, luze lufe, yaye icacisa isizathu sokuba abangamalungisa batshutshiswe, ngoxa bona abangendawo nobungendawo buvunyelwe ukuba buqhubeke bukho. Ibonisa ukuba uYehova unomdla ekutyhaleleni phambili imbambano leyo de kuse ekuzinzisweni kwayo ngokupheleleyo.

43. Ngokuvisisana nezityhilelo zikaThixo kwincwadi kaYobhi, liliphi ikhondo ngoku elimele lilandelwe ngabo bonke abo bafuna iintsikelelo zoBukumkani bukaThixo?

⁴³ Ngoku lixesha laxa bonke abo bafuna ukuphila phantsi kolawulo loBukumkani bukaThixo bamele bamphendule uSathana, “ummangaleli,” ngekhondo labo lengqibelelo. (ISityhi. 12:10, 11) Naphakathi ‘kwezilingo ezibangela ukuthi nqa,’ abagcini bengqibelelo bamele baqhubeke bethandazela ukuba igama likaThixo lingcwaliswe nokuba uBukumkani bakhe bufike butshayele uSathana nayo yonke imbewu yakhe egculelayo. Leyo iya kube ‘iyimini kaThixo yokudibana nemfazwe,’ eya kulandelwa yinkululeko naziintsikelelo uYobhi awayenethemba lokuzinandipha.—1 Pet. 4:12; Mat. 6:9, 10; Yobhi 38:23; 14:13-15.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]