Jon 1 | NdeIBE | STEP | Ilizwi likaJehova lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi lathi:

Jonah 1

UJona Ubalekela UJehova

1 Ilizwi likaJehova lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi lathi: 2 “Hamba uye edolobheni elikhulu laseNineve utshumayele ngokulisola kakhulu, ngokuba ububi balo sebufinyelele kimi.”

3 Kodwa uJona wambalekela uJehova waqonda eThashishi. Wehla waya eJopha, lapho afica khona umkhumbi owawusiya kulelotheku. Eseyikhuphile imali yokukhwela, wangena umkhumbi waqonda eThashishi yena ebalekela uJehova.

4 UJehova wathumela isiphepho elwandlwe, kwaphenquka isivunguzane esasingathi sizawubhidliza umkhumbi. 5 Bonke abagwedli bawo besaba, ngulowo lalowo wakhala kunkulunkulu wakhe. Baphosela imithwalo elwandle ukuze baphungule ubunzima bomkhumbi. Kodwa uJona wayehlele endlwaneni engaphansi, emkhunjini, walala khona ubuthongo obukhulu. 6 Induna yomkhumbi yaya kuye yathi, “Ungalala njani? Vuka ubize unkulunkulu wakho! Mhlawumbe yena uzasizwa ukuze singabhubhi.”

7 Abagwedli base becebisana bathi, “Wozani, senze inkatho ukuze sibone ukuthi ngubani osibangele uhlupho lolu.” Bayenza inkatho, yadla uJona.

8 Basebembuza bathi, “Akusitshele, ngubani osibangele lonke lolu uhlupho na? Wenza msebenzi bani na? Uvela ngaphi? Ungowakuliphi ilizwe? Ungowasiphi isizwe na?”

9 Waphendula wathi, “NgingumHebheru, ngikhonza uJehova, uNkulunkulu wasezulwini, owenza ulwandle kanye lomhlabathi.”

10 Lokhu kwabethusa, babuza bathi, “Wenzeni pho?” (Babekwazi ukuthi ubalekela uJehova ngokuba wayevele esebatshelile.)

11 Ulwandle lwaselulokhu luqubuka lusiya phambili ngamandla. Ngakho base bembuza bathi, “Senzeni kuwe ukuze ulwandle luthule singalimali na?”

12 Waphendula wathi, “Ngiqukulani lingiphosele elwandle, luzathula. Ngiyazi ukuthi kungumlandu wami okwenze isiphepho esikhulu kangaka sehlela phezu kwenu.”

13 Kodwa amadoda azama ngamandla ukugwedlela emuva emhlabathini. Kodwa behluleka ngoba ulwandle lwaselusidla amahabula okudlula kuqala. 14 Khonapho base bekhala kuJehova bathi, “Hawu, Jehova, ungasiyekeli sife ngoba sibulele indoda le. Ungasibeki umlandu wokubulala umuntu ongelacala, ngoba wena, O Jehova, wenzile njengokufisa kwakho.” 15 Basebethatha uJona bamphosela olwandle, ulwandle lwase luthula ukugubhaza. 16 Lokhu kwenza amadoda lawo amesabe kakhulu uJehova, ase esenza umhlatshelo kuJehova enza izifungo kuye.

17 Kodwa uJehova waletha inhlanzi enkulukazi yamginya uJona, uJona wahlala phakathi kwenhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu lobusuku obuthathu.