UJoshuwa 23:1-16

Kwathi emva kwezinsuku eziningi, lapho uJehova esephumuzile u-Israyeli ezitheni zabo zonke nxazonke, uJoshuwa esemdala eneminyaka eminingi, uJoshuwa wabiza wonke u-Israyeli, amalunga akhe, nezinhloko zakhe, nabahluleli bakhe, nezinduna zakhe, wathi kubo: “Sengimdala ngineminyaka eminingi; nibonile konke uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akwenzile kuzo zonke lezi zizwe ngenxa yenu, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye onilweleyo. Bhekani, nginabele lezi zizwe eziseleyo zibe yifa lezizwe zenu, kusukela eJordani, kanye nezizwe zonke engizinqumileyo, kuze kufike eLwandle Olukhulu ngasentshonalanga. UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyakuzixosha ngaphambi kwenu, azidungule ebusweni benu, nilidle izwe lazo, njengalokho ebekhuluma uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kini. “Yimani kakhulu isibindi ukugcina nokwenza konke okulotshiwe encwadini yomthetho kaMose, ukuze ningachezuki kukho ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo, ukuba ningangeni kulezo zizwe ezisele phakathi kwenu, ningabizi amagama awonkulunkulu bazo, ningabafungi, ningabakhonzi, ningabakhothameli, kepha ninamathele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, njengalokho nenzile kuze kube namuhla. “Ngokuba uJehova uxoshile ngaphambi kwenu izizwe ezinkulu ezinamandla, kepha nina, akukho muntu omile phambi kwenu kuze kube namuhla. Umuntu oyedwa uxoshile inkulungwane, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye onilwelayo, njengalokho ebekhuluma kini. Qaphelisisani ukuba nimthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu. “Ngokuba uma nibuyela emuva, ninamathele ensalini yalezo zizwe, zona lezi ezisele phakathi kwenu, niganiselane nazo, ningene kuzo, nazo kini, yazini nokwazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu akasayikuzixosha lezo zizwe phambi kwenu, kepha zoba lugibe nesihibe kini, nenkalivasi* ezinhlangothini zenu, nameva emehlweni enu, nize nibhubhe kuleli zwe elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninike lona. “Bhekani, namuhla ngiyahamba indlela yomhlaba wonke; niyazi ezinhliziyweni zenu zonke nasemiphefumulweni yenu yonke ukuthi akuphuthanga nento eyodwa kuzo zonke izinto ezinhle azikhuluma uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngani; kwenziwa konke kini, akuphuthanga nento eyodwa kukho. Kuyakuthi njengalokho zonke izinto ezinhle zenziwe kini akhuluma ngazo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kini, kanjalo uJehova ehlisele phezu kwenu zonke izinto ezimbi, aze anibhubhise kuleli zwe elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninike lona. Uma neqa isivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akuyala ngaso, niye nikhonze abanye onkulunkulu, nibakhothamele, intukuthelo kaJehova iyakunivuthela, nibhubhe masinyane ezweni elihle aninike lona.”