uJona
1:1 Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi:
1:2 Sukuma, uye eNineve, umuzi omkhulu, futhi umemeze ngokumelene nalo; kwabo
ububi bukhuphukele phambi kwami.
1:3 Kodwa uJona wasukuma ukuze abalekele eTharishishi asuke ebusweni bukaJehova.
wehlela eJopha; wafumana umkhumbi oya eTharishishi;
wakhokha imali yawo yokugibela, wehlela kuwo, ukuba ahambe nawo ukuya
iTharishishi ebusweni bukaJehova.
1:4 Kodwa uJehova wathumela umoya omkhulu elwandle, futhi kwaba khona umoya onamandla
isivunguvungu elwandle, kangangokuthi umkhumbi wawusuzophuka.
1:5 Khona-ke amatilosi esaba, futhi wakhala, kwaba yilowo nalowo kunkulunkulu wakhe, futhi
waphonsela olwandle impahla eyayisemkhunjini, ukuze ube lula
yazo. Kepha uJona wayehlele ezingxenyeni ezingaphakathi zomkhumbi; walala,
futhi wayelele ubuthongo.
1:6 Umphathi womkhumbi weza kuye, wathi kuye: "Usho ukuthini, O?
olalayo? vuka, ubize uNkulunkulu wakho, uma kungenzeka uNkulunkulu asikhumbule,
ukuze singabhubhi.
1:7 Bathi, kwaba yilowo nalowo kumngane wakhe, Wozani senze inkatho
singazi ukuthi kungenxa kabani lobu bubi buphezu kwethu. Ngakho benza inkatho, futhi
inkatho yamehlela uJona.
1:8 Base bethi kuye: "Ake usitshele ukuthi lokhu kungenxa kabani?"
ububi buphezu kwethu; Uyini umsebenzi wakho? uvela ngaphi? ini
izwe lakini? ungowabaphi abantu?
1:9 Wathi kubo: "NgingumHeberu; futhi ngiyamesaba uJehova, uNkulunkulu we
izulu, owenza ulwandle nomhlabathi owomileyo.
1:10 Khona-ke amadoda esaba kakhulu, futhi wathi kuye: "Kungani ukwenzele lokho?"
wenze lokhu? Ngokuba amadoda azi ukuthi ubalekile ebusweni bukaJehova;
ngoba wayebatshelile.
1:11 Base bethi kuye: "Sikwenzeni kuwe, ukuze ulwandle lube khona?"
sizolile kithi? ngoba ulwandle lwaluqhubeka luyisiphepho.
1:12 Wathi kubo: "Ngiphakamiseni, ningiphonse olwandle; ngakho
ulwandle luzothula kini, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi lokhu kukhulu ngenxa yami
isiphepho siphezu kwakho.
1:13 Nokho amadoda agwedla kanzima ukuyiyisa ezweni; kodwa babekwazi
hhayi: ngoba ulwandle lwaqhubeka, futhi kwaba nesiphepho phezu kwabo.
1:14 Ngakho bakhala kuJehova, bathi: "Siyakuncenga, O Jehova.
siyakuncenga, masingabhubhi ngenxa yokuphila kwalo muntu, futhi singabeki phezu kwakhe
thina igazi elingenacala, ngokuba wena Jehova wenzile njengokuthanda kwakho.
1:15 Ngakho bamphakamisa uJona, futhi bamphonsa olwandle, nolwandle
ephelile ukufutheka kwakhe.
1:16 Khona-ke amadoda amesaba kakhulu uJehova, futhi banikela umhlatshelo kuye
uJehova, wenza izithembiso.
1:17 Manje uJehova walungiselela inhlanzi enkulu ukuba imgwinye uJona. Futhi uJona
wayesesiswini senhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu.