Joshuwa

23 Ngemva kwezinsuku eziningi uJehova enike u-Israyeli ukuphumula + kuzo zonke izitha ezingomakhelwane bakhe, lapho uJoshuwa esemdala iminyaka isihambile, + 2 uJoshuwa wabiza wonke u-Israyeli, + amadoda amadala, izinhloko, abahluleli nezikhulu, + wathi kubo: “Mina sengigugile; iminyaka yami isihambile. 3 Nikubonile konke uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akwenzile kuzo zonke lezi zizwe ngenxa yenu, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye obenilwela. + 4 Bhekani, nginabele ngenkatho *+ indawo yezizwe ezingakanqotshwa kanye neyazo zonke izizwe engazibhuqa + ukuze ibe yifa lenu, + kusukela eJordani kuya oLwandle Olukhulu* entshonalanga. 5 UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye owayelokhu ezidudula phambi kwenu, + futhi wanixoshela zona,* nalithatha izwe lazo, njengoba nje uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu anithembisa. +

6 “Manje kumele nibe nesibindi sokugcina nokwenza konke okulotshwe encwadini yoMthetho + KaMose ngokuba ningalokothi nichezuke kuwo niye kwesokudla noma kwesobunxele, + 7 ngokuba ningalokothi nizihlanganise nalezi zizwe + ezisele phakathi kwenu. Akumele niwaphathe nokuwaphatha amagama onkulunkulu bazo + noma nifunge ngabo, futhi akumele nibakhonze noma nibakhothamele. + 8 Kodwa kumele ninamathele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, + njengoba nje nenzile kwaze kwaba yilolu suku. 9 UJehova uyoxosha izizwe ezinkulu nezinamandla phambi kwenu, + ngoba akekho noyedwa oye wakwazi ukumelana nani kuze kube yilolu suku. + 10 Umuntu oyedwa nje kuphela kini uyojaha abayinkulungwane, + ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyanilwela, + njengoba nje anithembisa. + 11 Ngakho hlalani niqaphile + ngokuba nithande uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu. +

12 “Kodwa uma ningake nje niphenduke ninamathele kulezi zizwe ezisele + phakathi kwenu, niganiselane *+ nazo futhi nizihlanganise nazo, nazo zizihlanganise nani, 13 kufanele nazi ngokuqinisekile ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngeke aqhubeke ezixosha* lezi zizwe ngenxa yenu. + Ziyoba yisicupho nogibe kanye nohlupho nxazonke zenu, + zibe ngameva emehlweni enu kuze kube yilapho senishabalele kuleli zwe elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninike lona.

14 “Manje sengizokufa,* futhi nazi kahle ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu nangawo wonke umphefumulo* wenu ukuthi akukho nesisodwa isithembiso kuzo zonke izithembiso ezinhle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu anithembise zona esingafezekanga. Zigcwaliseke zonke. Asikho nesisodwa esingagcwalisekanga. + 15 Kodwa njengoba nje zonke izithembiso ezinhle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu anithembisa zona zigcwalisekile, + ngendlela efanayo uJehova uyonilethela lonke usizi akhulume ngalo* futhi uyonibhuqa niphele kuleli zwe elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninike lona. + 16 Uma ningasigcini isivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aniyala ukuba nisigcine, futhi uma nihamba niyokhonza abanye onkulunkulu nibakhothamele, uJehova uyonithukuthelela kakhulu + nishabalale ngokushesha ezweni elihle aninike lona.” +