AbaHluleli
2 Ingelosi kaJehova + yakhuphukela eBhokimi isuka eGiligali + yathi: “Nganikhipha eGibhithe nganiletha ezweni engafunga ngalo kokhokho benu. + Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngathi, ‘Angisoze ngasephula isivumelwano engasenza nani. + 2 Nina, akumele nenze isivumelwano nabantu bakuleli zwe, + kufanele niwadilize ama-altare abo.’ + Kodwa anizange nililalele izwi lami. + Nikwenzeleni lokhu? 3 Yingakho nami ngithe: ‘Ngeke ngibaxoshe phambi kwenu, + bayoba ugibe kini, + nonkulunkulu babo bayoniyenga.’ ” +
4 Lapho ingelosi kaJehova ikhuluma la mazwi kuwo wonke ama-Israyeli, abantu bakhala kakhulu. 5 Ngakho baqamba leyo ndawo ngokuthi iBhokimi,* base benzela uJehova umhlatshelo lapho.
6 Lapho uJoshuwa ededela abantu ukuba bahambe, wonke ama-Israyeli ahamba, yilowo nalowo waya endaweni eyifa lakhe wayohlala khona. + 7 Abantu baqhubeka bekhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa nazo zonke izinsuku zamadoda amadala aqhubeka ephila ngemva kokufa kukaJoshuwa nayebone zonke izenzo zikaJehova ezinkulu ayezenzele u-Israyeli. + 8 Ngakho uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eneminyaka engu-110. + 9 Ngakho bamngcwaba endaweni eyifa lakhe eThimnati-heresi, + ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi, enyakatho yeNtaba iGahashi. + 10 Sonke leso sizukulwane sangcwatshwa nokhokho baso, kwase kuvela esinye isizukulwane ngemva kwaso esasingamazi uJehova nalokho ayekwenzele ama-Israyeli.
11 Ngakho ama-Israyeli enza okubi emehlweni kaJehova akhonza noBhali. + 12 Amshiya kanjalo uJehova, uNkulunkulu woyise, owawakhipha ezweni laseGibhithe. + Alandela abanye onkulunkulu, onkulunkulu bezizwe ezazakhelene nawo, + abakhothamela, amcasula uJehova. + 13 Amshiya uJehova akhonza uBhali nemifanekiso ka-Ashitoreti. + 14 Ngenxa yalokho intukuthelo kaJehova yawavuthela ama-Israyeli, ngakho wawanikela ezandleni zalabo abawaphanga. + Wawathengisa esandleni sezitha zawo ezazakhelene nawo, + ayengasenawo amandla okumelana nezitha zawo. + 15 Nomaphi lapho ayeya khona, isandla sikaJehova sasimelene nawo, ewalethela inhlekelele, + njengoba nje uJehova ayeshilo nanjengoba nje uJehova ayefungile kuwo, + ayesebunzimeni obukhulu. + 16 Ngakho uJehova wayemisa abahluleli ababewasindisa esandleni sabaphangi. +
17 Kodwa enqaba ukulalela ngisho nabahluleli, ayefeba nabanye onkulunkulu ebakhothamela. Aphambuka ngokushesha endleleni okhokho bawo ababehambe ngayo. Okhokho bawo bayilalela imiyalo kaJehova, + kodwa wona awazange ayilalele. 18 Noma nini lapho uJehova ewamisela abahluleli, + uJehova wayemsiza lowo mahluleli ammisile awasindise esandleni sezitha zawo zonke izinsuku zalowo mahluleli; ngoba uJehova wayewadabukela *+ ngokububula kwawo okwakubangelwa yilabo ababewacindezela + nalabo ababewahlukumeza.
19 Kodwa lapho umahluleli efa, ayephinde enze ngokukhohlakala kakhulu ukwedlula oyise ngokulandela abanye onkulunkulu abakhonze, abakhothamele. + Awazange ayiyeke imikhuba yawo nenkani yawo. 20 Ekugcineni intukuthelo kaJehova yamvuthela u-Israyeli, + wathi: “Ngenxa yokuthi lesi sizwe sisephulile isivumelwano + sami engasenza nokhokho baso futhi asingilalelanga, + 21 nami ngeke ngixoshe phambi kwaso nesisodwa salezi zizwe uJoshuwa azishiya lapho efa. + 22 Lokhu ngikwenza ukuze ngimvivinye u-Israyeli ukuthi uzoyigcina yini indlela kaJehova + ngokuhamba kuyo njengoba nje kwenza oyise.” 23 Ngakho uJehova wazivumela lezi zizwe ukuba zisale. Akazange azixoshe ngokushesha, futhi akazange azinikele esandleni sikaJoshuwa.