UJoshuwa 1:1-18

Kwathi emva kokufa kukaMose inceku kaJehova, uJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, indodana kaNuni, inceku kaMose, wathi: Inceku yami uMose ifile; Suka manje, uwele leli Jordani, wena nabo bonke laba bantu, niye ezweni engizabanika lona abantwana bakwa-Israyeli. Zonke izindawo ayakunyathela kuzo amathe onyawo lwenu, ngininikile zona, njengalokho ngasho kuMose. Kusukela ehlane nakuleli Lebanoni kuze kufike emfuleni omkhulu, umfula u-Ewufrathe, lonke izwe lamaHeti, kuze kube seLwandle Olukhulu ekushoneni kwelanga, kuyakuba ngumkhawulo wenu. Akuyikuma muntu phambi kwakho zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakho; njengalokho nganginaye uMose, kanjalo ngiyakuba nawe; angiyikukushiya, angiyikukushiya. Qina, ume isibindi, ngokuba laba bantu uyakubanika izwe engalifungela oyise ukubanika lona libe yifa labo. Qina kuphela, ube nesibindi kakhulu, ukuze wenze ngokucophelela ngokomthetho wonke uMose, inceku yami, akuyala ngawo: ungaphambuki kuwo uye kwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo, ukuze ube nempumelelo nomaphi lapho uya khona. Le ncwadi yomthetho mayingasuki emlonyeni wakho; kodwa wozindla ngayo imini nobusuku, ukuze wenze ngokucophelela njengakho konke okulotshwe kuyo; Angililayanga yini? Qina, ume isibindi; ungesabi, ungapheli amandla, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho unawe nomaphi lapho uya khona. UJoshuwa wayeseyala ababonisi babantu, wathi: Dlulani phakathi kwempi, niyale abantu, nithi: Zilungiseleni ukudla; ngoba phakathi kwezinsuku ezintathu lizakudabula leli Jordani ukuze lingene ukulidla ilizwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu azalinika lona ukuba ngilidle. UJoshuwa wakhuluma kwabakwaRubeni, nabakwaGadi, nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase, wathi: Khumbulani izwi uMose inceku kaJehova aniyala ngalo ngokuthi: ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uniphumzile, waninika leli zwe. Umkenu, nabantwana benu, nemfuyo yenu kuyakuhlala ezweni uMose aninika lona phesheya kweJordani; kodwa kufanele nidlule nihlomile phambi kwabafowenu, wonke amaqhawe anesibindi, futhi nibasize; uJehova waze waphumuza abafowenu njengalokho aninika khona, balidla nabo izwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu abanika lona; khona-ke niyakubuyela ezweni lefa lenu, nidle lokho uMose inceku kaJehova aninika khona nganeno kweJordani ekuphumeni kwelanga. Bamphendula uJoshuwa, bathi: “Konke osiyala ngakho siyakukwenza; futhi nomaphi lapho usithumela khona, sizoya. Njengalokho samlalela uMose kukho konke, kanjalo siyakulalela nawe; kuphela uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho makabe nani, njengalokho ayenoMose. Noma ubani ovukela umyalo wakho futhi angalaleli amazwi akho kukho konke omyala ngakho kumelwe abulawe; vele uqine ugcwale isibindi.