UJoshuwa
3:1 UJoshuwa wavuka ekuseni kakhulu; basuka eShitimi, nase
wafika eJordani, yena nabo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, balala khona
ngaphambi kokuba badlule.
3:2 Kwathi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu izikhonzi zadabula isigodi
umsingathi;
3:3 Bayala abantu, bathi: "Nxa nibona umphongolo kaJehova."
isivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, nabapristi bamaLevi besithwala,
niyakusuka endaweni yenu, nililandele.
3:4 Nokho kuyakuba khona isikhala phakathi kwakho nalo, mayelana izingalo eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili
ngesilinganiso: ningasondeli kuyo, ukuze nazi indlela eningahamba ngayo
kufanele nihambe, ngokuba anikadluli ngale ndlela ngaphambili.
3:5 UJoshuwa wathi kubantu: "Zingcweliseni, ngoba kusasa
uJehova uyakwenza izimangaliso phakathi kwenu.
3:6 UJoshuwa wakhuluma kubapristi, wathi: "Phakamisani umphongolo kaJehova."
yenza isivumelwano, uwele phambi kwabantu. Bawuphakamisa umphongolo we
isivumelwano, wahamba phambi kwabantu.
" 3:7 Futhi uJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: "Namuhla ngizoqala ukukhulisa wena
emehlweni ka-Israyeli wonke, ukuze bazi ukuthi, njengoba nganginoMose,
njalo ngizakuba lawe.
3:8 Uyala abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano.
ngokuthi: 'Nxa nifika ogwini lwamanzi aseJordani, anothi.'
yima eJordani.
3:9 UJoshuwa wathi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli: "Wozani lapha, nizwe izwi
amazwi kaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.
3:10 UJoshuwa wasesithi: Ngalokhu lizakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu.
nokuthi uyakuxosha nokuwaxosha phambi kwenu amaKhanani;
namaHeti, namaHivi, namaPherizi, namaPherizi
namaGirigashi, nama-Amori, namaJebusi.
3:11 Bheka, umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova womhlaba wonke uyadlula
phambi kwenu eJordani.
3:12 Ngakho manje zithatheleni amadoda ayishumi nambili ezizweni zakwa-Israyeli, kusukela
zonke izizwe yindoda.
3:13 Futhi kuyokwenzeka, ngokushesha nje lapho amathe ezinyawo
abapristi abathwala umphongolo kaJehova, uJehova womhlaba wonke, bayakuba
aphumule emanzini aseJordani, ukuze amanzi aseJordani anqamuke
emanzini avela phezulu; bayakuma phezu kwe
inqwaba.
3:14 Kwathi, lapho abantu besuka ematendeni abo, ukuze badlule
ngaphesheya kweJordani, nabapristi bethwele umphongolo wesivumelwano phambi kukaJehova
abantu;
3:15 Futhi njengoba ababethwele umphongolo befika eJordani, futhi izinyawo zemikhumbi
abapristi ababethwele umphongolo bacwiliswa emanzini, (ngoba
IJordani lichichima zonke izinguba zalo sonke isikhathi sokuvuna,)
3:16 Ukuthi amanzi ehla evela phezulu ema futhi ekhuphuka phezu
nqwabelanisa kude kakhulu nomuzi wase-Adam, ongaseceleni kweSaretan;
yehlela ngaselwandle lwasethafeni, ulwandle lukasawoti lwaphela;
banqanyulwa; abantu bawela maqondana neJeriko.
3:17 Futhi abapristi ababethwele umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova bema beqinile
emhlabathini owomileyo phakathi kweJordani, wonke u-Israyeli wawela
emhlabathini owomileyo, baze bawela bonke abantu eJordani.