ISAHLUKO 1 1 Ngomnyaka weshumi nambili wokubusa kukaNebukadinesari, owabusa eNineve, umuzi omkhulu; emihleni ka-Arpakishadi, owabusa phezu kwamaMede eEkibatane, 2 Wakha ezindongeni zase-Ekibhatane nxazonke zamatshe abaziwe, ububanzi bawo buyizingalo ezintathu, ubude bawo buyizingalo eziyisithupha, ukuphakama kogange kube yizingalo ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa, nobubanzi balo buyizingalo ezingamashumi ayisihlanu. 3 Wamisa imibhoshongo yalo phezu kwamasango alo buyizingalo eziyikhulu ukuphakama, nobubanzi baso buyizingalo ezingamashumi ayisithupha. 4 Wenza namasango alo, amasango aphakeme abe yizingalo ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa, ububanzi bawo buyizingalo ezingamashumi amane, ukuba kuphume amabutho akhe anamandla, kumiswe abezinyawo zakhe. 5 Ngalezo zinsuku inkosi uNebukadinesari yalwa nenkosi u-Arpakishade ethafeni elikhulu eliyithafa elisemngceleni weRagawu. 6 Kwabuthana kuye bonke ababehlala ezintabeni, nabo bonke abakhe ngase-Ewufrathe, naseTigris, naseHidaspes, nase-okini ka-Ariyoki inkosi yase-Elymeya, nezizwe eziningi kakhulu zamadodana kaKelodi. empini. 7 Khona-ke uNebukhadinezari inkosi yase-Asiriya wathumela kubo bonke ababehlala ePheresiya + nakubo bonke abakhe ngasentshonalanga + nakubo bonke ababehlala eKhilikhiya + naseDamaseku + naseLebhanoni + nase-Antilibhanu + nakubo bonke abahlala ngasogwini lolwandle. 8 nakwabezizwe baseKarmeli, naseGiliyadi, naseGalile ephakeme, nasethafeni elikhulu lase-Esdrolomu, 9 nakubo bonke ababeseSamariya nasemizini yalo nangaphesheya kweJordani kuze kube seJerusalema, naseBethani, naseKhelusi, naseKadesi, nasemfuleni waseGibithe, naseThafinesi, naseRamese, nasezweni lonke laseGesemi, 10 nize nidlulele ngaphesheya kweTanishi neMemfisi, nakubo bonke abakhileyo eGibithe, nize nifike emikhawulweni yaseKushe. 11 Kodwa bonke abakhileyo bezwe badelela umyalo kaNebukhadinezari inkosi yase-Asiriya, abayanga naye ekulweni; ngokuba babengamesabanga, yebo, phambi kwabo njengomuntu munye, bathuma kubo izithunywa zakhe ngokungenamsebenzi nangehlazo. 12 Ngakho uNabukhadinezari walithukuthelela lonke leli zwe, wafunga ngesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi nombuso wakhe ukuthi wayeyophindiselela nokuphindiselela kuzo zonke izifunda zaseKhilikhiya, naseDamaseku, naseSiriya, futhi wayeyobabulala ngenkemba bonke abakhileyo ezweni. izwe lakwaMowabi, nabantwana bakwa-Amoni, neJudiya lonke, nabo bonke ababeseGibithe, nize nifike emikhawulweni yezilwandle ezimbili. 13 Wasephuma impi enamandla akhe emelene nenkosi uArpakishade ngomnyaka weshumi nesikhombisa, wanqoba empini yakhe, wachitha wonke amandla ka-Arpakishade, nabamahhashi bakhe bonke, nezinqola zakhe zonke; 14 Waba yinkosi yemizi yakhe, wafika e-Ekibhatane, wathatha imibhoshongo, waphanga izitaladi zayo, waphendula ubuhle bayo bube yihlazo.
15 Naye wathatha u-Arpakishade ezintabeni zaseRagawu, wamgwaza ngemicibisholo yakhe, wamqeda nya ngalolo suku. 16 Wayesebuyela ngasemuva eNineve, yena nalo lonke iviyo lakhe lezizwe eziningi beyisixuku esikhulu kakhulu samadoda empi, waphumula, wenza idili, yena nempi yakhe, izinsuku eziyikhulu namashumi amabili. ISAHLUKO 2 1 Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nesishiyagalombili, ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nambili lwenyanga yokuqala, kwakhulunywa endlini kaNebukhadinezari inkosi yaseAsiriya ukuthi aziphindisele njengokusho kwakhe emhlabeni wonke. 2 Wabiza zonke izikhulu zakhe, nazo zonke izikhulu zakhe, wakhuluma kuzo icebo lakhe eliyimfihlo, waqeda ukuhlupheka komhlaba wonke emlonyeni wakhe. 3 Khona-ke banquma ukubhujiswa yonke inyama engazange ilalele umyalo womlomo wayo. 4 Kwathi lapho eseqedile iseluleko sakhe, uNebukadinesari inkosi yase-Asiriya wabiza uHolofernesi induna yebutho lakhe eyayiseduze kwakhe, wathi kuye. 5 Isho kanje inkosi enkulu, inkosi yomhlaba wonke, ithi: Bheka, uyakuphuma ebusweni bami, uthathe kanye nawe amadoda athembela emandleni awo, abehamba ngezinyawo abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili; nenani lamahhashi nabagibeli bawo abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili. 6 Futhi uyohlasela lonke izwe lasentshonalanga, ngoba abawulalelanga umyalo wami. 7 Futhi uyomemezela kubo ukuthi bangilungisele umhlaba namanzi; ngokuba ngiyophuma ngentukuthelo yami ngimelane nabo futhi ngiyosibekela ubuso bomhlaba wonke ngezinyawo zebutho lami, futhi ngizobanikela kube yimpango kubo. kubo: 8 ukuze ababuleweyo babo bagcwalise izigodi zabo lemifudlana yabo, lomfula ugcwale abafileyo babo, uze ugcwale; 9 Futhi ngiyobaholela ekuthunjweni kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba wonke. 10 Ngakho-ke uzophuma. ungithathele ngaphambili yonke imikhawulo yabo; uma bezinikela kuwe, wongigcinela bona kuze kufike usuku lokujeziswa kwabo. 11 Kepha abahlubukayo iso lakho malingabahawukeli; kodwa zinikele ekuhlatshweni, uziphange loba ngaphi lapho oya khona. 12 Ngokuba kuphila kwami, nangamandla ombuso wami, konke engikukhulumile, ngiyakukwenza ngesandla sami. 13 Qaphelani ukuba ningeqi nowodwa wemiyalo yenkosi yenu, kepha niyifeze ngokugcwele, njengalokho nginiyalile, ningalibali ukuyenza. 14 Wayesephuma uHoloferne ebusweni benkosi yakhe, wabiza bonke ababusi, nezinduna, nezinduna zempi yaseAsiriya; 15 Wabala abakhethiweyo bokulwa, njengalokho inkosi yakhe yamyala, abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili nambili abagibela amahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili; 16 Wabahlela njengebutho elikhulu lempi. 17 Wathatha amakamela nezimbongolo ezinqoleni zabo, isibalo esikhulu kakhulu; nezimvu, nezinkomo, nezimbuzi ezingenakubalwa, zibe ngumphako wazo;
18 kanye nokudla okuningi kwawo wonke amadoda empi, negolide nesiliva eliningi kakhulu eliphuma endlini yenkosi. 19 Khona-ke waphuma nawo wonke amandla akhe ukuze ahambe phambi kwenkosi uNebukhadinezari ohambweni, futhi wasibekela wonke ubuso bomhlaba ngasentshonalanga ngezinqola zabo, nabamahhashi, nabakhethiweyo babo abahamba ngezinyawo. 20 Kwafika nabo isixuku esikhulu samazwe anjengesikhonyane nanjengesihlabathi somhlaba, ngokuba isixuku sasingenakubalwa. 21 Basuka eNineve uhambo lwezinsuku ezintathu ukuya ethafeni laseBektileti, bamisa eBektileti ngasentabeni engakwesokhohlo sentaba yaseKilikhiya. 22 Wayesethatha yonke impi yakhe, nezinyawo zakhe, nezinkweli zamahhashi, nezinqola, wamuka lapho waya ezintabeni; 23 Yachitha iPhudi neLudi, yaphanga bonke abantwana bakwaRasesi nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababengasehlane ngaseningizimu yezwe lamaKheli. 24 Wadabula u-Ewufrathe, wadabula iMesopotamiya, wachitha yonke imizi ephakemeyo ngasemfuleni iArbonayi, kwaze kwaba nifika elwandle. 25 Yathatha imingcele yaseKhilikhiya, yabulala bonke abamelene naye, yaze yafika emikhawulweni yaseJafete eseningizimu, malungana ne-Arabiya. 26 Wahaqa bonke abantwana bakwaMidiyani, washisa amadokodo abo, waphanga nezibaya zabo zezimvu. 27 Yase yehlela emathafeni aseDamaseku ngesikhathi sokuvuna ukolweni, yashisa amasimu abo onke, yachitha izimvu zabo nezinkomo zabo, yaphanga imizi yabo, yachitha izwe labo, yabulala izinsizwa zabo zonke ngezikhali. usiko lwenkemba. 28 Ngakho ukwesaba nokwesaba kwakhe kwehlela bonke abakhileyo ngasogwini lolwandle, eSidoni, naseTire, nabakhileyo eSuri, nase-Ocina, nabo bonke abakhileyo eJimna; abakhe e-Azotu nase-Ashikeloni bamesaba kakhulu. ISAHLUKO 3 1 Base bethuma amanxusa kuye ukuba aphathe ukuthula, bathi: 2 Bheka, thina zinceku zikaNebukhadinezari inkosi enkulu silele phambi kwakho; sisebenzise njengokuhle emehlweni akho. 3 Bheka, izindlu zethu, nazo zonke izindawo zethu, nawo onke amasimu ethu kakolweni, nezimvu, nezinkomo, nawo onke amadokodo amatende ethu kulele phambi kwakho; uwasebenzise ngokuthanda kwakho. 4 Bheka, ngisho namadolobha ethu nabakhileyo kuwo bayizinceku zakho; woza wenze kuzo njengoba kukuhle emehlweni akho. 5 Ayesefika-ke amadoda kuHolofernesi, amtshela ngale ndlela. 6 Wayesehlela ngasogwini lolwandle, yena nempi yakhe, wamisa izikaniso zamabutho emizini ephakemeyo, wathatha kuyo amadoda akhethiweyo okusiza. 7 Base bemukela nezwe lonke elizingelezeleyo ngezimbali, nemidanso, nangezigubhu. 8 Nokho yadiliza imingcele yabo, yagawula o-Ashera babo, + ngoba yayikhiphe umyalo wokuba kubhujiswe bonke onkulunkulu bezwe, ukuze zonke izizwe zikhulekele
uNebukadinesari kuphela, futhi zonke izilimi nezizwe zibize kuye njengonkulunkulu. 9 Weza maqondana ne-Esdraeloni eduze kwaseJudiya, malungana nomgodlagodla omkhulu waseJudiya. 10 Wamisa phakathi kweGeba neSithopholi, wahlala khona inyanga yonke, ukuze abuthele ndawonye zonke izinqola zempi yakhe. ISAHLUKO 4 1 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ababehlala eJudiya, bezwa konke uHolofernesi induna yenkulungwane kaNebukadinesari inkosi yase-Asiriya ayekwenzile ezizweni, nokuthi wayephange kanjani wonke amathempeli azo, wawenza ize. 2 Ngakho bamesaba kakhulu, bakhathazeka ngeJerusalema lethempeli leNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo. 3 Ngokuba babesanda kubuya ekuthunjweni, futhi bonke abantu baseJudiya base bebuthene kamuva, nezitsha, nealtare, nendlu kwangcweliswa emva kokungcoliswa. 4 Ngakho bathumela kuyo yonke imingcele yaseSamariya, + nasemizaneni, naseBethoroni, + naseBelmeni, + naseJeriko, + naseKhoba, + nase-Esora, + nasesigodini saseSalema. 5 Bazuza kuqala eziqongweni zonke zezintaba eziphakemeyo, baqinisa imizana ekuyo, babekela ukudla okuphakelayo kwempi, ngokuba amasimu abo ayesevunwa kamuva. 6 UJehoyakimi umpristi omkhulu owayekhona ngalezo zinsuku eJerusalema wabhalela abakhileyo eBethuliya naseBetomesthamu elibhekene ne-Esdraeloni ngasendle, eduze kwaseDothayimi; 7 Wabayala ukuthi bagcine imikhawulo yezintaba, ngokuba kwakukhona kuyo ukungena eJudiya; 8 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza njengalokho uJehoyakimi umpristi omkhulu ebayalile kanye namalunga abo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababehlala eJerusalema. 9 Base bekhala bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli kuNkulunkulu ngokufutheka okukhulu, bazithoba ngokufutheka okukhulu; 10 Bona, nawomkabo, nabantwana babo, nezinkomo zabo, nabo bonke abafokazi, nabaqashwayo, nezinceku zabo ezithengwe ngemali, bembatha indwangu yamasaka ezinkalweni zabo. 11 Kanjalo bonke abesilisa nabesifazane, nabantwana, nabakhileyo eJerusalema, bawa phambi kwethempeli, bathela umlotha emakhanda abo, bendlala indwangu yamasaka phambi kobuso bukaJehova, bembatha indwangu yamasaka e-altare; 12 Bakhala kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli bonke nganhliziyonye, ukuba angabanikeli abantwana babo babe yimpango, nabafazi babo babe yimpango, nemizi yefa labo ibe yincithakalo, nendlu engcwele ekuhlazweni nasekuhlazweni, ukuze izizwe zithokoze. 13 UNkulunkulu wayizwa imikhuleko yabo, wabheka ukuhlupheka kwabo, ngokuba abantu bazila ukudla izinsuku eziningi kulo lonke elaseJudiya naseJerusalema phambi kwendlu engcwele kaJehova Sebawoti. 14 UJehoyakimi umpristi omkhulu, nabo bonke abapristi ababemi phambi kukaJehova, nabakhonza uJehova, babebophe izinkalo zabo indwangu yamasaka, banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa imihla ngemihla, nezithembiso nezipho zesihle zabantu;
15 Babenomlotha emigqonyeni yabo, bakhala kuJehova ngamandla abo onke ukuba ayibuke ngomusa yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli. ISAHLUKO 5 1 Kwase kutshelwa uHolofenesi induna yempi yaseAsiriya ukuthi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babelungisele impi, bavalile imimango yezintaba, baziqinisa zonke iziqongo zamagquma aphakemeyo, baziqinisa. ibeke izithiyo emazweni e-champaign: 2 Wathukuthela kakhulu, wabiza zonke izikhulu zakwaMowabi, nezikhulu zakwa-Amoni, nabo bonke ababusi bogu lolwandle; 3 Wathi kubo: “Ngitsheleni nina bantwana baseKhanani, ukuthi bangobani laba bantu abahlala ezintabeni, nokuthi iyini imizi abahlala kuyo, nokuthi iyini isixuku sempi yabo, nokuthi ikuphi lapho ibutho labo lihlala khona. amandla namandla, nokuthi iyiphi inkosi ebekwe phezu kwabo, noma induna yebutho labo; 4 Futhi kungani benqume ukungezi bazongihlangabeza, kunabo bonke abakhileyo entshonalanga? 5 Wayesethi u-Ahiyori isikhulu sabantwana bakwa-Amoni: “Inkosi yami mayizwe izwi emlonyeni wenceku yakho, mina-ke ngizokutshela iqiniso mayelana nalaba bantu abahlala eduze kwakho, abahlala ezintabeni. : akuyikuphuma amanga emlonyeni wenceku yakho. 6 Laba bantu bayinzalo yamaKaledi: 7 Bahlala njengabezizwe eMesophothamiya, ngokuba bengalandelanga onkulunkulu bawoyise ababesezweni lamaKaledi. 8 Bayishiya indlela yawoyise, bakhuleka kuNkulunkulu wasezulwini, uNkulunkulu abamaziyo, babaxosha ebusweni babonkulunkulu babo, babalekela eMesophothamiya, bagogobala khona izinsuku eziningi. 9 UNkulunkulu wabo wabayala ukuba basuke endaweni ababegogobele kuyo, baye ezweni laseKhanani, lapho bahlala khona, banda igolide nesiliva nemfuyo eningi kakhulu. 10 Kodwa lapho indlala isigubuzele lonke ilizwe leKhanani, behlela eGibhithe, bagogobala khona, besondliwe, baba lixuku elikhulu lapho, okokuthi kwakungelamuntu obala isizwe sabo. 11 Inkosi yaseGibithe yabavukela, yabaphatha ngobuqili, yabathobisa ngomsebenzi wezitini, yabenza izigqila. 12 Base bekhala kuNkulunkulu wabo, walishaya lonke izwe laseGibithe ngezifo ezingelaphekiyo; abaseGibithe babaxosha ebusweni babo. 13 UNkulunkulu womisa uLwandle Olubomvu phambi kwabo; 14 Wabayisa entabeni yaseSina, naseKadesi-Barne, wabaxosha bonke ababehlala ehlane. 15 Bahlala ezweni lama-Amori, bachitha yonke i-Eshiboni ngamandla abo, bawela iJordani badla ifa lonke lezintaba. 16 Baxosha phambi kwabo amaKhanani, namaPherezi, namaJebusi, namaSikemu, namaGerigesi onke, bahlala kulelo zwe izinsuku eziningi. 17 Bangonanga phambi kukaNkulunkulu wabo, baphumelela, ngokuba uNkulunkulu ozonda ububi wayenabo. 18 Kodwa kwathi sebephambukile endleleni ayebamisele yona, bachithwa ezimpini ezinengi ezimbi kakhulu, bathunjwa basiwa elizweni elingesilo elabo, lethempeli
likaNkulunkulu wabo lachithwa, lemizi yabo yachithwa. ezithathwe izitha. 19 Kepha manje sebebuyele kuNkulunkulu wabo, bakhuphukile ezindaweni ababehlakazekele kuzo, balidla iJerusalema, lapho indlu yabo engcwele ikhona, bahlezi ezintabeni; ngoba laliyincithakalo. 20 Ngakho-ke, nkosi yami, mbusi, uma kukhona iphutha kulaba bantu, futhi bona kuNkulunkulu wabo, ake sibone ukuthi lokhu kuyakuba yincithakalo yabo, sikhuphuke, futhi sibanqobe. 21 Kepha uma kungekho bubi esizweni sakubo, inkosi yami mayidlule, funa iNkosi yabo ibavikele, uNkulunkulu wabo abe phezu kwabo, sibe yihlazo phambi komhlaba wonke. 22 Kwathi lapho u-Ahiyori eseqedile lawo mazwi, bonke abantu ababemi bezungeza itende bakhonona, futhi izikhulu zikaHoloferne nazo zonke ezazihlala ngasogwini lolwandle nakwaMowabi zakhuluma ukuba zimbulale. 23 Ngoba bathi, kasiyikwesaba ubuso babantwana bakoIsrayeli, ngoba khangela, bangabantu abangenamandla lamandla okulwa impi eqinileyo. 24 Ngalokho, nkosi Holofernesi, siyakukhuphuka, babe yimpango edliwayo kuyo yonke impi yakho. ISAHLUKO 6 1 Kwathi isiphelile isiyaluyalu sabantu ababehlezi ngasemphakathini, uHolofenesi induna yempi yase-Asiriya wathi ku-Ahiyori nakuwo wonke amaMowabi phambi kwebandla lonke lezizwe: 2 Ungubani wena, Ahiyori, nezisebenzi zakwa-Efrayimi, ukuthi uprofethe ngathi namuhla, wathi singalwi nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wabo uyabavikela na? futhi ngubani uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kukaNebukadinesari? 3 Uyakuthuma amandla akhe, ababhubhise ebusweni bomhlaba, uNkulunkulu wabo akayikubakhulula; ngoba kawakwazi ukusekela amandla amabhiza ethu. 4 Ngokuba siyakunyathela ngabo phansi kwezinyawo zabo, izintaba zabo ziyodakwa yigazi labo, namasimu abo agcwale izidumbu zabo, nezinyathelo zabo aziyikuma phambi kwethu, ngokuba bayobhubha nokubhubha; isho inkosi uNebukadinesari, inkosi yomhlaba wonke, ngokuba wathi: Akukho nokukodwa emazwini ami ayoba yize. 5 Wena-ke, Ahiyori, oqashiwe wakwa-Amoni, owakhuluma lawa mazwi ngosuku lobubi bakho, awusayikubona ubuso bami kusukela kulolu suku, ngize ngiphindisele kulesi sizwe esaphuma eGibithe. 6 Futhi ngaleso sikhathi inkemba yebutho lami, kanye nesixuku salabo abangikhonzayo, iyodabula ezinhlangothini zakho, futhi uyowela phakathi kwababuleweyo babo, lapho ngibuya. 7 Ngalokho izinceku zami ziyakukubuyisela ezintabeni, zikubeke komunye wemizi yasezikhawulweni; 8 Futhi awuyikubhubha, uze ubhujiswe kanye nabo. 9 Uma uzincenga enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi bayakubanjwa, bunganyuki ubuso bakho; 10 UHolofene wayala izinceku zakhe ezazihlala etendeni lakhe ukuba zithathe u-Ahiyori, zimlethe eBethuliya, zimnikele esandleni sabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. 11 Izinceku zakhe zamthatha, zamkhipha ekamu, zamyisa ethafeni, zasuka phakathi kwe-Arabha, zaya ezintabeni, zafika emithonjeni ephansi kweBethuliya.
12 Lapho abantu bomuzi bebabona, bathatha izikhali zabo, baphuma emzini, baya esiqongweni sentaba; 13 Nokho sebengenile ngasese ngaphansi kwentaba, bambopha u-Ahiyori, bamphonsa phansi, bamshiya phansi kwentaba, babuyela enkosini yabo. 14 Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli behla emzini wabo, beza kuye, bamthukulula, bamyisa eBethuliya, bamethula kubabusi bomuzi; 15 Ngalezo zinsuku kwakukhona u-Oziya indodana kaMika wesizwe sakwaSimeyoni, noKhabris indodana kaGothoniyeli, noKarmisi indodana kaMalikiyeli. 16 Base bebizela ndawonye onke amadoda amadala omuzi, bonke abasha bawo bagijima kanyekanye nabesifazane bawo emhlanganweni, babeka u-Ahiyori phakathi kwabo bonke abantu babo. U-Oziya wayesembuza ngalokho okwenzekileyo. 17 Waphendula, wabatshela amazwi omkhandlu kaHolofene, nawo onke amazwi ayewakhulumile phakathi kwezikhulu zase-Asiriya, nawo wonke uHolofene ayekukhulume ngokuzidla ngendlu yakwa-Israyeli. 18 Abantu basebewa phansi, bakhonza uNkulunkulu, bakhala kuNkulunkulu. ethi, 19 O Nkosi Nkulunkulu wezulu, bheka ukuzigqaja kwabo, uhawukele ukuphansi kwesizwe sakithi, futhi ubuke ubuso balabo abangcweliselwe wena namuhla. 20 Basebemduduza u-Ahiyori, bamdumisa kakhulu. 21 U-Uziya wamkhipha ebandleni wamyisa endlini yakhe, wenzela amalunga idili; bacela usizo kuNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli bonke lobo busuku. ISAHLUKO 7 1 Ngangomuso uHoloferne wayala yonke impi yakhe, nabo bonke abantu bakhe ababezile ukumngenela, ukuba basuse ikamu labo ngaseBethuliya, bahambe phambili imimango yezintaba, balwe nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. . 2 Amaqhawe abo asusa amakamu awo ngalolo suku, impi yamadoda empi yayiyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa emigundatshani, nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili ngaphandle kwemithwalo nabanye ababehamba ngezinyawo phakathi kwabo, isixuku esikhulu kakhulu. . 3 Bamisa esigodini esiseduze kwaseBethuliya ngasemthonjeni, basakaza ngobubanzi phezu kweDothayimi kuze kufike eBelmayimi, kusukela eBethuliya kuze kube seKinamoni elibhekene neEsdraeloni. 4 Kwathi abantwana bakoIsrayeli bebona ixuku labo, batshaywa luvalo, bathi, ngulowo lalowo kumakhelwane wakhe: Khathesi laba bazakukhotha ubuso bomhlaba; ngokuba izintaba eziphakemeyo, nezigodi, namagquma akukwazi ukuthwala isisindo sakho. 5 Base bethatha, kwaba yilowo nalowo izikhali zakhe zempi, babasa umlilo emibhoshongweni yabo, bahlala, balinda bonke lobo busuku. 6 Kwathi ngosuku lwesibili uHolofenesi wakhipha bonke abamahhashi bakhe emehlweni abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababeseBethuliya; 7 Wabona imifudlana ekhuphukela emzini, wafika emithonjeni yamanzi abo, wawathatha, wabeka izikaniso zamabutho amadoda empi phezu kwawo, yena wasuka waya kubantu bakhe.
8 Zase zifika kuye zonke izikhulu zabantwana bakwaEsawu, nazo zonke izikhulu zabantwana bakwaMowabi, nezinduna zasogwini lolwandle, zathi: 9 Ake izwe inkosi yethu izwi, funa kugumbuqelwa ebuthweni lakho. 10 Ngokuba laba bantu babantwana bakwa-Israyeli abathembeli emikhontoni yabo, kepha ezindaweni eziphakeme zezintaba abahlala kuzo, ngokuba akulula ukukhuphukela eziqongweni zezintaba zabo. 11 Ngakho-ke, nkosi yami, ungalwi nabo ngohlelo lwempi, akuyikubhubha noyedwa kubantu bakho. 12 Hlala ekamu lakho, ugcine onke amadoda empi yakho, izinceku zakho zingene esandleni sazo umthombo wamanzi ophuma phansi kwentaba; 13 Ngokuba bonke abakhileyo eBethuliya banamanzi abo khona; kanjalo bayakoma bababulale, banikele umuzi wabo, thina nabantu bethu siyakukhuphukela eziqongweni zezintaba eziseduze, simise phezu kwabo, ukuba siqaphele ukuba kungaphumi muntu emzini. 14 Ngakho bona kanye labomkabo labantwana babo bazaqedwa ngomlilo, njalo ingakafiki phezu kwabo inkemba, bazachithwa ezitaladeni abahlala kuzo. 15 Kanjalo uyakubabuyisela umvuzo omubi; ngokuba bahlubuka, kabahlangananga ubuso bakho ngokuthula. 16 Lawo mazwi aba mahle kuHolofernesi nasezincekwini zakhe zonke, wamisa ukwenza njengokusho kwabo. 17 Yasuka ikamu labantwana bakwa-Amoni kanye nabo abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu base-Asiriya, bamisa esigodini, bawathatha amanzi, nemithombo yamanzi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli. 18 Abantwana bakwa-Esawu bakhuphuka nabantwana bakwa-Amoni, bamisa ezintabeni malungana neDothayimi, bathuma abanye kubo ngaseningizimu, nangasempumalanga malungana ne-Ekrebeli eliseduze neKushi, phezu komfula iMochmur; yonke impi yamaAsiriya yamisa emathafeni, yasibekela ubuso bezwe lonke; amatende abo nezinqola zabo kwakugxunyekwe kwaba isixuku esikhulu kakhulu. 19 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhala kuJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, ngokuba inhliziyo yabo yaphela amandla, ngokuba zonke izitha zabo zazibahaqile, kungekho-ndlela yokuphunyuka phakathi kwabo. 20 Ngakho lonke ibandla lase-Asiriya lahlala libazungezile, imigundatshani yalo, nezinqola, nabamahhashi, izinsuku ezingamashumi amathathu nane, zaze zaphela zonke izitsha zabo zamanzi bonke ababehlala eBethuliya. 21 Imithombo yathululwa, futhi babengenamanzi okuphuza basuthe usuku olulodwa; ngoba babebaphuzisa ngesilinganiso. 22 Ngakho abantwana babo abancane baphelelwa yizinhliziyo, nezintombi zabo nezinsizwa zabo baphelelwa amandla ngokoma, bawa ezitaladini zomuzi nasemigudwini yamasango, akwabe kusaba namandla kubo. 23 Bonke abantu babuthana ku-Oziya, nasenduneni yomuzi, izinsizwa, nezintombi, nabantwana, bamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, bathi phambi kwamalunga onke: 24 UNkulunkulu makabe ngumahluleli phakathi kwethu nani, ngokuba nisenzele okubi okukhulu, ngokuba anifunanga ukuthula kubantwana bakwa-Asiriya. 25 Ngokuba manje asinamsizi, kepha uNkulunkulu usithengise esandleni sabo, ukuze siphonswe phansi phambi kwabo ngokoma nokubhujiswa okukhulu.
26 Ngakho-ke babizele kuwe, uwunikele wonke umuzi ube yimpango kubantu baseHolofene nakuyo yonke impi yakhe. 27 Ngokuba kungcono kithi ukuba sibe yimpango kubo kunokuba sife ngokoma, ngokuba siyakuba yizigqila zakhe, ukuze umphefumulo wethu uphile, singakuboni ukufa kwabantwana bethu phambi kwamehlo ethu, nawomkethu, noma ukufa kwabantwana bethu phambi kwamehlo ethu, nomkathu, noma ukufa. izingane zethu zifa. 28 Sifakaza ngani izulu nomhlaba, noNkulunkulu wethu, neNkosi yawobaba, osijezisa ngokwezono zethu nezono zawobaba, ukuze angenzi njengalokho sishilo namuhla. 29 Kwaba khona ukukhala okukhulu nganhliziyonye phakathi kwebandla; bakhala eNkosini uJehova ngezwi elikhulu. 30 U-Oziya wayesethi kubo: “Yimani isibindi, bazalwane, sibekezele izinsuku eziyisihlanu, lapho uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu eyakusiphendulela ngaso umusa wakhe; ngoba kayikusilahla ngokupheleleyo. 31 Futhi uma lezi zinsuku zidlula, futhi singasitholi usizo, ngizokwenza njengezwi lakho. 32 Wabahlakaza abantu, kwaba yilowo nalowo endaweni yakhe; bangena ezindongeni nasemibhoshongweni yomuzi wabo, bathumela abesifazane nabantwana ezindlini zabo, bangeniswa emzini. ISAHLUKO 8 1 Ngaleso sikhathi uJudithi wezwa, indodakazi kaMerari, indodana ka-Oksi, indodana kaJosefa, indodana ka-Oseli, indodana ka-Elikhiya, indodana ka-Ananiya, indodana kaGideyoni, indodana kaRafayimi. , indodana ka-Acitho, indodana ka-Elihu, indodana ka-Eliyabe, indodana kaNathanayeli, indodana kaShamayeli, indodana kaSalasadali, indodana ka-Israyeli. 2 UManase wayengumyeni wakhe, owesizwe sakhe nasezihlotsheni zakhe, owafa ngesikhathi sokuvunwa kwebhali. 3 Kwathi emi engamele ababebopha izithungu ensimini, ukushisa kwehlela ekhanda lakhe, wawela embhedeni wakhe, wafela emzini waseBethuliya; bammbela koyise ensimini phakathi kweDothayimi neBalamo. . 4 Ngakho uJudithi wayengumfelokazi endlini yakhe iminyaka emithathu nezinyanga ezine. 5 Wazenzela itende phezu kwendlu yakhe, wembatha indwangu yesaka okhalweni lwakhe, wagqoka izingubo zomfelokazi wakhe. 6 Futhi wazila ukudla zonke izinsuku zobufelokazi bakhe, ngaphandle kwezinsuku zamasabatha, nezamasabatha, nezandulela zokuthwasa kwenyanga, nezokuthwasa kwezinyanga, nemikhosi, nezinsuku ezimisiweyo zendlu yakwa-Israyeli. 7 Wayemuhle futhi, emuhle kakhulu, ebukeka kahle; indoda yakhe uManase wayemshiyile igolide, nesiliva, nezinceku, nezincekukazi, nezinkomo, namasimu; wahlala phezu kwazo. 8 Futhi kwakungekho muntu owayemkhulume kabi; njengoba wayemesaba uNkulunkulu kakhulu. 9 Lapho ezwa amazwi amabi abantu ngokumelene nombusi, kangangokuthi baphelelwa amandla ngokuswela amanzi; ngokuba uJuditi wayewezwile onke amazwi u-Uziya ayewakhulume kubo, nokuthi wayefungile ukuwunikela umuzi kuma-Asiriya emva kwezinsuku eziyisihlanu;
10 Khona-ke wathumela umlindi wakhe, owayephethe zonke izinto ayenazo, ukuba abize u-Oziya noKhabris noKarmisi, abadala bomuzi. 11 Base beza kuye, wathi kubo: "Ngizweni, nina babusi bakhileyo eBethuliya, ngokuba amazwi enu eniwakhulume phambi kwabantu namuhla awalungile mayelana nalesi sifungo enisenzile, enasimemezela. phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nani, futhi sithembisile ukunikela umuzi ezitheni zethu, ngaphandle kokuthi ngalezi zinsuku iNkosi iphendukele ukunisiza. 12 Manje ningobani nina eniye nalinga uNkulunkulu namuhla, futhi nime esikhundleni sikaNkulunkulu phakathi kwabantwana babantu na? 13 Manje yizameni iNkosi uMninimandla onke, kodwa anisoze nazi lutho. 14 Ngokuba anikutholi ukujula kwenhliziyo yomuntu, ningakwazi nokubona izinto azicabangayo; Cha, bazalwane bami, ningamthukuthelisi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu. 15 Ngokuba uma engasisizi phakathi kwalezi zinsuku ezinhlanu, unamandla okusivikela lapho ethanda, ngisho nsuku zonke, noma asibhubhise phambi kwezitha zethu. 16 Ningabophi amacebo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, ngokuba uNkulunkulu akanjengomuntu ukuba asongelwe; futhi akanjengendodana yomuntu ukuba antengantenge. 17 Ngakho-ke masilindele insindiso yakhe, futhi sibize kuye ukuba asisize, futhi uzolizwa izwi lethu, uma kukuhle kuye. 18 Ngokuba akuvelanga muntu enkathini yethu, futhi akusekho namuhla isizwe, nomndeni, nabantu, noma umuzi phakathi kwethu okhonza onkulunkulu abenziwe ngezandla njengakuqala. 19 Ngaleso sizathu obaba banikelwa enkembeni nangempango, futhi bawa kakhulu phambi kwezitha zethu. 20 Kepha omunye unkulunkulu asimazi; ngalokho siyethemba ukuthi akayikusidelela thina noma isizwe sakithi. 21 Ngokuba uma sithathwa kanjalo, yonke iJudiya iyochithwa, nendlu yethu engcwele iyophangwa; uyakubiza inhlamba yalo emlonyeni wethu. 22 Futhi ukubulawa kwabafowethu, nokuthunjwa kwezwe, kanye nokuchithwa kwefa lethu, kuyokuphendulela phezu kwamakhanda ethu phakathi kwabeZizwe, noma yikuphi lapho siyoba yizigqila; futhi siyakuba yicala nehlazo kubo bonke abasidlayo. 23 Ngokuba ubugqila bethu abuyikuba umusa, kepha uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu uyakubuphendula kube yihlazo. 24 Ngakho-ke, bazalwane, asiboniseni isibonelo kubafowethu, ngoba izinhliziyo zabo zithembele kithi, futhi indlu engcwele, nendlu, ne-altare kuphezu kwethu. 25 Futhi masibonge uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu osivivinyayo, njengoba enza okhokho bethu. 26 Khumbulani lokho akwenza ku-Abrahama, nokuvivinya kwakhe u-Isaka, nalokho okwenzeka kuJakobe eMesopotamiya yase-Aramu, lapho eluse izimvu zikaLabani umfowabo kanina. 27 Ngokuba akasilinga emlilweni njengabo, ukuze ahlole izinhliziyo zabo, akaphindisele kithi, kepha uJehova uyabashaya abasondela kuye ukubayala. 28 Wayesethi u-Uziya kuye: "Konke okukhulumileyo ukukhulumile ngenhliziyo enhle, akakho ongaphika amazwi akho."
29 Ngokuba lolu akulona usuku lokuqala lapho ukuhlakanipha kwakho kubonakaliswa khona; kepha kusukela ekuqaleni kwezinsuku zakho bonke abantu bayakwazi ukuqonda kwakho, ngokuba umumo wenhliziyo yakho muhle. 30 Kepha abantu bomile kakhulu, basiphoqa ukuba senze kubo njengoba nje sishilo, futhi silethe isifungo phezu kwethu, esingayikusephula. 31 Ngakho-ke ake usikhulekele, ngoba ungowesifazana othembekileyo, njalo iN kosi izasinika izulu ukuze sigcwalise imithombo yethu, singabe sisadinwa. 32 Wayesethi uJudith kubo: “Ngizweni, ngizakwenza into eyakuhamba ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane kubantwana besizwe sakithi. 33 Lizakuma esangweni ngalobubusuku, mina-ke ngizaphuma lencekukazi yami; njalo phakathi lensuku elathembisa ngazo ukunikela umuzi ezitheni zethu, iNkosi izahambela uIsrayeli ngesandla sami. 34 Kodwa ningabuzi ngesenzo sami, ngokuba angiyikunitshela, kuze kufezeke lokho engikwenzayo. 35 U-Oziya nezikhulu bathi kuye: "Hamba ngokuthula, iNkosi uJehova ibe phambi kwakho ukuba iphindisele ezitheni zethu." 36 Base bebuya etendeni, baya ezindlini zabo. ISAHLUKO 9 1 UJudith wawa ngobuso, wazithela umlotha ekhanda, wambulisa indwangu yesaka ayegqoké ngayo; kwathi ngesikhathi sokushiswa kwempepho kusihlwa eJerusalema endlini yeNkosi uJudith wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, wathi: 2 O Jehova, Nkulunkulu kababa uSimeyoni, owamnika inkemba ukuba aphindisele kwabafokazi, owakhumula ibhande lencekukazi ukuba ayingcolise, wembula ithanga libe yihlazo lakhe, wangcolisa ubuntombi bakhe kwaba yihlazo lakhe; ngoba uthe: Kakuyikuba njalo; nokho benza njalo; 3 Ngalokho wanikela ababusi babo ukuba babulawe, baze bafafaza umbhede wabo ngegazi, bekhohliswa, washaya izinceku kanye namakhosi azo, nezikhulu ezihlalweni zazo zobukhosi; 4 Uyakunikela abafazi babo babe yimpango, namadodakazi abo abe yizithunjwa, futhi yonke impango yabo yahlukaniselwe abantwana bakho abathandekayo; abathukuthela ngomshisekeli wakho, bakwenyanya ukungcoliswa kwegazi labo, banxusa kuwe, Nkulunkulu, Nkulunkulu wami, ngiphendule nami mfelokazi. 5 Ngoba kawusebenzanga lezozinto kuphela, kodwa lezinto ezawa ngaphambili, ezalandela; uzindla ngezinto ezikhona manje nezizayo. 6 Yebo, lokho okunqumile kwase kuseduze, wathi: Bheka, silapha, ngokuba zonke izindlela zakho zilungisiwe, nezahlulelo zakho zisekwazini kwakho ngaphambili. 7 Ngokuba bhekani, ama-Asiriya maningi amandla awo; baphakanyiswe ngehhashi nabantu; bayaziqhenya ngamandla ezinyawo zabo; bathemba isihlangu, nomkhonto, nomnsalo, nendwayimana; ungazi ukuthi wena unguJehova ochitha izimpi; nguJehova igama lakho. 8 Phonsa amandla abo ngamandla akho, wehlise amandla abo ngolaka lwakho, ngoba bahlosile ukungcolisa indlu yakho engcwele, lokungcolisa itabernakele* lapho kuhlala khona igama lakho elitusekayo, bawise phansi uphondo lwe-altare lakho ngenkemba.
9 Bheka ukuzikhukhumeza kwabo, ubeke ulaka lwakho phezu kwamakhanda abo; 10 Shaya ngenkohliso yezindebe zami inceku kanye nesikhulu, nesikhulu kanye nenceku; chitha ubuhle babo ngesandla sowesifazane. 11 Ngokuba amandla akho awami ngobuningi namandla akho emadodeni anamandla, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu wabahluphekileyo, umsizi wabacindezelweyo, umsekeli wababuthakathaka, umvikeli wabadangele, umsindisi walabo abangenathemba. . 12 Ngiyakuncenga, Nkulunkulu kababa, Nkulunkulu welifa likaIsrayeli, Nkosi yezulu lomhlaba, Mdali wamanzi, nkosi yezidalwa zonke, uzwe umkhuleko wami. 13 Futhi wenze inkulumo yami nenkohliso ibe yinxeba labo nemivimbo, abaklame izinto ezinonya ngokumelene nesivumelwano sakho, nendlu yakho engcwele, nesiqongo saseSiyoni, naphezu kwendlu yefa labantwana bakho. 14 Futhi wenze zonke izizwe nezizwe zivume ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu wawo wonke amandla namandla, futhi akekho omunye ovikela abantu bakwa-Israyeli ngaphandle kwakho. ISAHLUKO 10 1 Ngemva kokuba esephelile ukukhala kuNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, futhi eseqedile wonke lawa mazwi. 2 Wasukuma lapho ayewele khona, wabiza incekukazi yakhe, wehlela endlini ayehlala kuyo ngesabatha nangemikhosi yakhe; 3 Wakhumula indwangu yesaka ayeyigqokile, wakhumula izingubo zobufelokazi bakhe, wageza umzimba wakhe wonke ngamanzi, wazigcoba ngamagcobo anenani, waluka izinwele zekhanda lakhe, wafaka isondo phezu. wagqoka izingubo zakhe zokuthokoza ayezigqokile esaphila uManase umyeni wakhe. 4 Wathatha izimbadada ezinyaweni zakhe, wafaka amasongo akhe, namaketanga akhe, namasongo akhe, namacici akhe, nezihlobiso zakhe zonke, wazihlobisa ngobuqhawe, ukuze ahunge amehlo abo bonke abantu ababezakumbona. 5 Wayesenika incekukazi yakhe imvaba yewayini, nophiso lwamafutha, wagcwalisa isaka namabele agayiwe, nezigaxa zamakhiwane, nesinkwa esihle; wazisonga zonke lezizinto, wazibeka phezu kwakhe. 6 Ngakho baphuma baya esangweni lomuzi waseBhethuliya, bafica u-Oziya + namadoda amadala omuzi emi lapho, iKhabhisi + neKarimi. 7 Lapho bembona ukuthi ubuso bakhe buguqukile, nesembatho sakhe sishintshile, bamangala ngobuhle bakhe kakhulu, bathi kuye. 8 UNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wawobaba, makakuphe umusa, afeze imisebenzi yakho, kube yinkazimulo yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, kuphakanyiswe iJerusalema. Base bekhonza uNkulunkulu. 9 Wathi kubo: “Yalelani ukuba ngivulelwe amasango omuzi, ukuze ngiphume ngifeze lokho enikukhulume kimi. Basebelaya amajaha ukuthi amvule, njengokutsho kwakhe. 10 Sebekwenzile lokho, waphuma uJudithi, yena nencekukazi yakhe kanye naye; amadoda omuzi ayibheka, yaze yehla entabeni, yaze yadlula esigodini, awabe esayibona. 11 Basebephuma baqonda esigodini; umlindo wokuqala wamaAsiriya wamhlangabeza;
12 wamthatha, wambuza wathi: Ungowabaphi abantu? uvela ngaphi? uya ngaphi na? Wasesithi: Ngingowesifazana wamaHebheru, ngiwabalekile, ngoba azaphiwa ukuthi udliswe; 13 Futhi ngiyeza phambi kukaHolofernesi induna yebutho lakho ukuze ngimemezele amazwi eqiniso; ngiyakumbonisa indlela ayakuhamba ngayo, anqobe lonke izwe lezintaba, angalahlekelwa yizidumbu noma ukuphila komuntu wakubo. 14 Kwathi amadoda ezwa amazwi akhe, ebona ubuso bakhe, amangala ngobuhle bakhe, athi kuye: 15 Uwusindisile umphefumulo wakho ngokuphangisa ukwehla phambi kwenkosi yethu; ngalokho woza etendeni layo, abanye bethu bakuhambise, baze bakunikele esandleni sayo. 16 Lapho usumi phambi kwakhe, ungesabi enhliziyweni yakho, kepha mbonise njengezwi lakho; futhi uzokuncenga kahle. 17 Khona-ke bakhetha kubo amadoda ayikhulu ukuba amphelezele nencekukazi yakhe; bamyisa etendeni likaHolofene. 18 Kwakukhona isixuku ekamu* lonke, ngokuba izwi lokuza kwalo lizwakala phakathi kwamatende, lamzungeza emi ngaphandle kwetende likaHoloferne, baze bamtshela ngalo. 19 Bamangala ngobuhle bakhe, bababaza abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ngaye, bathi, kwaba yilowo nalowo kumakhelwane wakhe: "Ngubani ongadelela laba bantu abanabesifazane abanje phakathi kwabo na?" impela akukuhle ukuba kusale umuntu oyedwa kubo oyekwa, adukise umhlaba wonke. 20 Ababehlezi eduze kukaHolofernesi baphuma kanye nazo zonke izinceku zakhe bamngenisa etendeni. 21 UHoloferne wayehlezi embhedeni wakhe ngaphansi kwesihenqo, esalukwe ngokunsomi, negolide, nesimaragidu, namatshe ayigugu. 22 Ngakho bambonisa ngaye; waphuma phambi kwetende lakhe izibani zesiliva zihamba phambi kwakhe. 23 Kwathi uJudithi esefikile phambi kwakhe lenceku zakhe bonke bamangala ngobuhle bobuso bakhe; wawa ngobuso bakhe, wakhuleka kuye; izinceku zakhe zamphakamisa. ISAHLUKO 11 1 Wayesethi uHoloferne kuye: “Mame, isibindi, ungesabi enhliziyweni yakho, ngokuba angizange ngihluphe noyedwa othanda ukumkhonza uNebukadinesari, inkosi yomhlaba wonke. 2 Ngakho-ke, uma abantu bakho abahlala ezintabeni bebengadelanga eduze kwami, bengingeke ngibaphakamisele umkhonto wami, kepha bazenzele lezi zinto ngokwabo. 3 Kepha manje ngitshele ukuthi ubalekeleleni, uze kithi, ngokuba uze ukugcinwa; khululeka, uzophila ngalobu busuku, futhi emva kwalokhu: 4 Ngokuba akakho oyakukulimaza, kepha akuncenge kahle, njengalokho zenza izinceku zenkosi uNebukhadinezari inkosi yami. 5 UJudithi wathi kuye: "Yamukela amazwi enceku yakho, uvumele incekukazi yakho ikhulume phambi kwakho; angiyikuqamba amanga enkosini yami ngalobu busuku."
6 Uma ulandela amazwi encekukazi yakho, uNkulunkulu uyakulenza liphele kuwe leli zwi; futhi inkosi yami ngeke ihluleke izinhloso zayo. 7 Kuphila kukaNebukadinesari, inkosi yomhlaba wonke, kuphila kwamandla akhe, okuthumileyo ukuba usekele konke okuphilayo, ngokuba akuyikubakho kuphela abantu abayakumkhonza ngawe, kepha nezilwane zasendle, nezinkomo; izinyoni zezulu ziyakuphila ngamandla akho phansi kukaNebukadinesari nendlu yakhe yonke. 8 Ngokuba sizwile ngokuhlakanipha kwakho nangeziqondiso zakho, kuzwakele emhlabeni wonke ukuthi wena wedwa uphakeme embusweni wonke, unamandla olwazini, umangalisa ngezimpi zempi. 9 Manje mayelana nendaba u-Ahiyori ayikhuluma emkhandlwini wakho, siwezwile amazwi akhe; ngoba amadoda kaBethuliya amsindisile, njalo wabatshela konke akukhulume kuwe. 10 Ngakho-ke, O nkosi nombusi, ungalihloniphi izwi lakhe; kepha kubeke enhliziyweni yakho, ngokuba kuqinisile, ngokuba isizwe sakithi asiyikujeziswa, nenkemba ayiyikubahlula, uma bonile kuNkulunkulu wabo. 11 Manje, ukuze inkosi yami inganqotshwa futhi iphazamise inhloso yayo, ngisho ukufa manje sekubehlele, futhi isono sabo sibafihlile, ngalokho bayocunula uNkulunkulu wabo noma nini lapho benza lokho okungafanele ukwenziwa. kwenziwe: 12 Ngokuba ukudla kwabo kuphelile, nawo onke amanzi abo aba mancane, banquma ukubeka izandla phezu kwezinkomo zabo, bahlose ukuqeda zonke lezo zinto uNkulunkulu abenqabele zona ukuba bazidle ngemithetho yakhe. 13 Futhi bazimisele ukunikela ngolibo lwengxenye eyishumi yewayini + namafutha, ababengcwelisile, futhi bagcinelwe abapristi abakhonza eJerusalema phambi kobuso bukaNkulunkulu wethu; okuyizinto ezingekho emthethweni kunoma yimuphi wabantu ngisho nokuthinta izandla zakhe. 14 Ngoba bathume abanye eJerusalema, ngoba labakhileyo khona benze okufanayo, ukuze babaphathele imvume evela esigodlweni. 15 Manje lapho bebaletha izwi, bayokwenza ngokushesha, futhi bayonikwa kuwe ukuba babhujiswe ngalolo suku. 16 Ngalokho mina, incekukazi yakho, ngikwazi konke lokho, ngibalekile ebusweni babo; futhi uNkulunkulu ungithumile ukwenza izinto nawe, lapho umhlaba wonke uyomangala, futhi noma ubani ozwayo. 17 Ngokuba inceku yakho ikhonza uNkulunkulu wezulu imini nobusuku; manje-ke, nkosi yami, ngiyakuhlala nawe, inceku yakho iphumele esigodini ebusuku, ngikhuleke kuNkulunkulu, aphendule. bayongitshela lapho bonile izono zabo. 18 Ngizakuza ngikutshengise lokhu; khona uzaphuma lebutho lakho lonke, kakuyikuba khona loyedwa owamelana lawe. 19 Futhi ngizokuhola phakathi kweJudiya, uze ufike phambi kweJerusalema; ngiyakubeka isihlalo sakho sobukhosi phakathi kwawo; uyakubaxosha njengezimvu ezingenamalusi, nenja ayiyikuvula umlomo wayo kuwe; wena. 20 Khona-ke amazwi akhe aba mahle kuHolofernesi nasezincekwini zakhe zonke; bamangala ngokuhlakanipha kwakhe, bathi:
21 Akakho owesifazane onjalo kusukela komunye umkhawulo womhlaba kuze kube komunye, kokubili ngobuhle bobuso nokuhlakanipha kwamazwi. 22 Kanjalo noHolofernesi wathi kuye. UNkulunkulu wenze kahle ngokukuthuma phambi kwabantu, ukuze amandla abe sezandleni zethu nokubhujiswa phezu kwalabo abangayinaki inkosi yami. 23 Manje umuhle ebusweni bakho, uhlakaniphile emazwini akho; uma wenza njengokusho kwakho uNkulunkulu wakho uyakuba nguNkulunkulu wami, uhlale endlini yenkosi uNebukhadinezari, ube negama kuyo yonke indawo. umhlaba. ISAHLUKO 12 1 Waselaya ukuthi angeniswe lapho okwakubekwe khona isitsha sakhe; futhi wathi bamlungisele ukudla kwakhe, futhi ukuba aphuze iwayini lakhe siqu. 2 UJudith wathi: "Angiyikudla kukho, funa kube yisiphambeko, kepha ngiyakulungiselelwa lokho engikulethile." 3 Wayesethi uHoloferne kuye: "Uma ukudla kwakho kuphela, singakunika kanjani okufana na?" ngoba kakho kithi owesizwe sakho. 4 UJudithi wathi kuye: Kuphila komphefumulo wakho, nkosi yami, incekukazi yakho ayiyikuqeda lokho enginakho, ingakasebenzi iNkosi ngesandla sami lokho ekumisile. 5 Izinceku zikaHoloferne zazimngenisa etendeni, walala kwaze kwaba phakathi kobusuku, wavuka ngomlindo wokusa; 6 ngathumela kuHoloferne, ngokuthi: Inkosi yami mayiyale ukuba incekukazi yakho iphumele ukukhuleka. 7 UHoloferne wayala abalindi bakhe ukuba bangamvaleli; wahlala ekamu izinsuku ezintathu, waphuma ebusuku, waya esigodini saseBethuliya, wageza emthonjeni wamanzi ngasekamu. 8 Lapho ephuma, wancenga uJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli ukuba amqondise indlela yakhe yokukhulisa abantwana babantu bakubo. 9Wangena ehlanzekile, wahlala etendeni, waze wadla ukudla kwakhe kusihlwa. 10 Ngosuku lwesine uHolofernesi wenzela izinceku zakhe kuphela idili, akabizanga nasinye sezikhonzi edilini. 11 Wayesethi kuBagowa umthenwa, owayephethe konke anakho: “Hamba manje, umncenge lona wesifazane ongumHeberu okanye nawe ukuba eze kithi, adle, aphuze kanye nathi. 12 Ngokuba bheka, kuyakuba yihlazo kithi, uma simyeka onjalo singamhlanganyeli; ngoba uma singamdonseli kithi, uzosihleka usulu. 13 Wayesesuka uBagowa ebusweni bukaHoloferne, weza kuye, wathi: “Le ntombi enhle mayingesabi ukuza enkosini yami, izukiswe phambi kwayo, inathe iwayini, ijabule nathi, ijabule. wenza lolu suku lwaba njengenye yamadodakazi ase-Asiriya akhonza endlini kaNebukadinesari. 14 UJudithi wasesithi kuye: Ngingubani mina khathesi, ukuthi ngiphikisane lenkosi yami? ngokuqinisekile noma yini emthokozisayo ngizoyenza ngokushesha, futhi kuyoba yinjabulo yami kuze kube usuku lokufa kwami. 15 Wasesukuma wahloba ngesambatho sakhe lazo zonke isambatho sakhe sowesifazana, incekukazi yakhe yahamba yambekela izikhumba ezithambileyo emhlabathini phambi
kukaHolofernesi, eyazemukela kuBagowa ukuze ihlale insuku zonke. udle phezu kwabo. 16 UJudithi esengenile wahlala phansi, uHolofernesi inhliziyo yakhe yahlabeka ngenxa yakhe, lenhliziyo yakhe yanyakaza, wafisa kakhulu ukuba naye; ngoba wayelinde isikhathi sokumkhohlisa kusukela osukwini ambona ngalo. 17 Wayesethi uHoloferne kuye: "Phuza manje, ujabule nathi." 18 Wayesethi uJudithi: "Manje sengiyakuphuza, nkosi yami, ngokuba ukuphila kwami kukhulu kimi namuhla kunazo zonke izinsuku kusukela ngizalwa." 19 Khona-ke wathatha, wadla, waphuza phambi kwakhe lokho incekukazi yakhe eyayikulungiselele. 20 UHoloferne wajabula kakhulu ngaye, waphuza iwayini elingaphezu kwalokho ayekade enatha ngalusuku lunye selokhu azalwa. ISAHLUKO 13 1 Kwathi sekuhlwile, izinceku zakhe zashesha zamuka, uBagowa wavala itende lakhe ngaphandle, waxosha izikhonzi phambi kwenkosi yakhe; balala emibhedeni yabo, ngokuba bonke babekhathele, ngokuba umkhosi wawusumude. 2 UJudithi wayesesele yedwa etendeni, uHolofene elele yedwa embhedeni wakhe, ngokuba wayegcwele iwayini. 3 UJudithi wayeseyalile incekukazi yakhe ukuba ime ngaphandle kwekamelo lakhe lokulala, imlinde. ephuma njengokwenza kwakhe imihla ngemihla: ngokuba wathi uzophuma aye emikhulekweni yakhe, wakhuluma noBagowa njengalelo cebo. 4 Baphuma bonke, akwasala noyedwa ekamelweni lokulala, omncane noma omkhulu. UJudith wema ngasembhedeni wakhe, wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wamandla onke, bheka lesi sikhathi imisebenzi yezandla zami ekuphakanyisweni kweJerusalema. 5 Ngokuba manje yisikhathi sokusiza ifa lakho, nokwenza izenzo zakho zokubhubhisa izitha ezisivukele. 6 Khona-ke wafika ensikeni yombhede eyayisekhanda likaHolofernesi, wehlisa umphini wakhe lapho. 7 Wasondela embhedeni wakhe, wabamba izinwele zekhanda lakhe, wathi: “Ngiqinise, Jehova Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, namuhla. 8 Wagalela kabili entanyeni yakhe ngamandla akhe onke, wasusa ikhanda lakhe kuye. 9 Wawisa isidumbu sakhe embhedeni, wasisusa umbhede ezinsikeni; masinyane yaphuma, yanika uHolofenesi ikhanda lakhe encekukazini yayo; 10 Wakufaka esikhwameni sakhe sokudla, bahamba bobabili kanyekanye njengokwenza kwabo ekukhulekeni; sebedlulile ekamu, bazungeza isigodi, bakhuphuka intaba yaseBethuliya, bafika emasangweni ayo. 11 Wayesethi uJudith ekude kubalindi besango: "Vulani, vulani isango; uNkulunkulu, yebo, uNkulunkulu wethu, unathi, ukubonakalisa amandla akhe eJerusalema, nempi yakhe phezu kwesitha, njengalokho enzile. kwenziwe ngalolusuku. 12 Lapho amadoda omuzi wakubo ezwa izwi lakhe, ashesha ehlela esangweni lomuzi wawo, abiza amalunga omuzi. 13 Base begijima bonke kanyekanye, abancane nabakhulu, ngokuba kwabamangalisa ukuthi ifikile;
14 Yasisithi kubo ngelizwi elikhulu: Dumisani, lidumiseni uNkulunkulu, dumisani uNkulunkulu, ngoba kawususanga umusa wakhe endlini kaIsrayeli, kodwa ubhubhise izitha zethu ngezandla zami ngalobubusuku. 15 Wayesekhipha ikhanda esikhwameni, wababonisa, wathi kubo: “Bheka, inhloko kaHolofene induna yempi yase-Asiriya, bheka, umbhede abelele kuwo ekudakiwe; uJehova umshayile ngesandla sowesifazane. 16 Kuphila kukaJehova ongigcinile endleleni yami engihamba ngayo, ubuso bami bumkhohlisile kwaba yincithakalo, nokho akenzanga isono kimi ukuba angingcolise, angijabhise. 17 Bonke abantu bamangala ngokumangalisayo, bakhothama, bakhuleka kuNkulunkulu, basho nganhliziyonye, bathi: “Mawubusiswe wena Nkulunkulu wethu, ozenze ize izitha zabantu bakho namuhla. 18 Wayesethi u-Uziya kuye: “O ndodakazi, ubusisiwe wena nguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke kunabo bonke abesifazane emhlabeni; + futhi makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu owadala amazulu nomhlaba, + okuqondise ukuba unqunywe ikhanda lenhloko yezitha zethu. 19 Ngokuba lokhu ithemba lakho akuyikusuka enhliziyweni yabantu abakhumbula amandla kaNkulunkulu kuze kube phakade. 20 Futhi uNkulunkulu uziphendulele lezi zinto kuwe zibe yindumiso yaphakade, ukukuhambela ezintweni ezinhle, ngokuba awuzange ugodle ukuphila kwakho ngenxa yosizi lwesizwe sakithi, kodwa uphindisele ukubhujiswa kwethu, uhamba ngendlela eqondile phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu. Basebesithi bonke abantu; Makube njalo, makube njalo. ISAHLUKO 14 1 Wayesethi uJudith kubo: “Ngizweni, bazalwane bami, nithathe leli khanda, nililengise endaweni ephakemeyo yezindonga zenu. 2 Kuzakuthi nxa sekuvela ukusa, ilanga seliphumile phezu komhlaba, thathani, ngulowo lalowo izikhali zakhe, liphume emzini wonke amaqhawe, libeke induna phezu kwawo, njengokungathi lizakwenza. yehlela endle ekulindweni kwama-Asiriya; kodwa ungehli. 3 Bayakuthatha izikhali zabo, baye ekamu, bamise izinduna zempi yase-Asiriya, bagijimele etendeni likaHoloferne, kepha bangamfumani; ukwesaba kuyakwehlela phezu kwabo. abaleke phambi kobuso bakho. 4 Kanjalo nina nabo bonke abakhileyo esifundeni sakwaIsrayeli niyakubaxosha, nibachithe ekuhambeni kwabo. 5 Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba wenze lezi zinto, ngibize ngoAhiyori umAmoni, ukuze abone futhi amazi lowo odelela indlu ka-Israyeli, futhi omthumele kithi kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe. 6 Basebembiza u-Ahiyori ukuthi aphume endlini ka-Uziya; lapho efika, wabona ikhanda likaHoloferne esandleni somuntu phakathi kwebandla labantu, wawa ngobuso, umoya wakhe waphela amandla. 7 Kwathi sebemtholile, wawa ngasezinyaweni zikaJudith, wakhuleka kuye, wathi: “Ubusisiwe wena kuwo wonke amadokodo akwaJuda nasezizweni zonke eziyakuzwa igama lakho ziyakumangala. 8 Ngakho-ke ngitshele zonke izinto ozenzile kulezi zinsuku. UJudith wayesemtshela phakathi kwabantu konke
abekwenzile, kusukela osukwini aphuma ngalo kwaze kwaba yileso sikhathi, wakhuluma kubo. 9 Eseqedile ukukhuluma, abantu bakhamuluka ngezwi elikhulu, bahlokoma emzini wabo. 10 Kwathi u-Ahiyori esebonile konke uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli ayekwenzile, wakholwa kakhulu kuNkulunkulu, wasoka ijwabu lakhe, wahlanganiswa nendlu ka-Israyeli kuze kube namuhla. 11 Kwathi ekuntweleni kokusa, balengisa ikhanda likaHoloferne odongeni, bathatha, kwaba yilowo nalowo izikhali zakhe, baphuma ngamaviyo, baya emikhawulweni yentaba. 12 Kodwa ama-Asiriya esewabonile athumela kubaholi bawo abafika ezinduneni zabo nezinduna zabo nakulowo nalowo wababusi babo. 13 Base befika etendeni likaHolofernesi, bathi kophethe zonke izinto zakhe: "Vusa manje inkosi yethu, ngokuba izinceku zibe nesibindi sokwehlela ukulwa nathi ukuba zibhujiswe." 14 Wasengena eBagowa, wangqongqotha emnyango wethente; ngoba wayecabanga ukuthi ulale loJudith. 15 Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi kwakungaphenduli muntu, wayivula, wangena ekamelweni lokulala, wamfica elele phansi efile, nekhanda lakhe lisusiwe kuye. 16 Ngakho wadanduluka ngezwi elikhulu, ngokukhala, nangokububula, nangokukhala okukhulu, futhi waklebhula izingubo zakhe. 17 Esengene etendeni lapho uJudithi ayelala khona; 18 Lezi zinceku zenze ngokukhohlisa; owesifazane othile wamaHeberu uthukile endlini yenkosi uNebukadinesari, ngokuba bheka, uHoloferne ulele phansi engenakhanda. 19 Lapho izinduna zebutho lase-Asiriya zizwa lawo mazwi, zaklebhula amajazi azo futhi ingqondo yazo yakhathazeka ngokumangalisayo, kwaba khona ukukhala nomsindo omkhulu kakhulu ekamu lonke. ISAHLUKO 15 1 Kwathi abasematendeni bezwa, bamangala ngalokho okwenzekileyo. 2 Behlelwa ngukwesaba nokuthuthumela, akwabakho muntu owaba nesibindi sokuma phambi komakhelwane wakhe, kepha bagijima bonke kanyekanye, babalekela kuzo zonke izindlela zasethafeni nasezintabeni. 3 Ababemise ezintabeni ezizungeza iBethuliya babaleka. Khona-ke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, bonke ababeyiqhawe phakathi kwabo, bagijimela phezu kwabo. 4 U-Oziya wayesethumela eBetomasi, naseBebayi, naseKhobayi, naseKhola, nakuyo yonke imikhawulo yakwa-Israyeli, ukuba babike okwenzekileyo, nokuba bonke bagijimele ezitheni zabo ukuba bababhubhise. 5 Kwathi abantwana bakoIsrayeli sebezwile, babahlasela bonke nganhliziyonye, bababulala eKhobayi; ngokunjalo lalabo abeza bevela eJerusalema lakuzo zonke izintaba, ngoba abantu babebabikele okwakwenziwe. enkambeni yezitha zabo) labo ababeseGileyadi leGalili babaxotsha ngokuceka okukhulu baze badlula eDamaseko lemingceleni yalo. 6 Abaseleyo ababehlala eBethuliya bawela ekamu* laseAsiriya, bayiphanga, banotha kakhulu. 7 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababebuyile ekubulaleni baba nabaseleyo; nemizana nemizi eyayisezintabeni
nasemathafeni yathola impango eningi, ngokuba isixuku sasisikhulu kakhulu. 8 UJehoyakimi umpristi omkhulu namalunga abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababehlala eJerusalema beza ukuba babone okuhle uNkulunkulu ayekubonise u-Israyeli, nokubona uJudithi, nokumbingelela. 9 Sebefikile kuye, bambusisa nganhliziyonye, bathi kuye: “Wena uyinkazimulo yeJerusalema, wena uyinkazimulo enkulu ka-Israyeli, wena uyinjabulo enkulu yesizwe sakithi; 10 Zonke lezi zinto wenzile ngesandla sakho; wenze okuningi okuhle ku-Israyeli, uNkulunkulu wathokoza ngakho; Basebesithi bonke abantu: Makube njalo. 11 Abantu baphanga ikamu izinsuku ezingamashumi amathathu, bamnika uJuditi Holofene itende lakhe, nayo yonke isitsha sakhe, nemibhede, nezitsha, nempahla yakhe yonke; walungisa izinqola zakhe, wazibeka phezu kwazo. 12 Bonke abesifazane bakwa-Israyeli bagijima kanyekanye ukuyombona, bambusisa, bamdansela, waphatha amagatsha esandleni sakhe, wanika nabesifazane ababe naye. 13 Bamembathisa umqhele womnqumo yena nencekukazi yakhe eyayinaye, wahamba phambi kwabantu bonke ekusina, ehola bonke abesifazane; nawo onke amadoda akwa-Israyeli alandela embethe izikhali zawo, enemiqhele yezimbali nangezingoma. emilonyeni yabo. ISAHLUKO 16 1 UJudithi wayeseqala ukuhlabelela lokhu kubonga kuIsrayeli wonke; bonke abantu bahlabelela emva kwakhe leli culo lokudumisa. 2 UJudith wathi: “Qalani kuNkulunkulu wami ngezigubhu, nihubele iNkosi yami ngamasimbali, nimhubele ihubo elisha, mphakamiseni, nibize igama lakhe. 3 Ngokuba uNkulunkulu uyadiliza izimpi, ngokuba phakathi kwekamu phakathi kwabantu wangikhulula esandleni sabangizingelayo. 4 I-Asiriya liphuma ezintabeni enyakatho, lafika nezinkulungwane eziyishumi zempi yakhe, uquqaba olwavimba izifufula, nabamahhashi balo basibekela amagquma. 5 Yazishaya isifuba ngokuthi iyakushisa imikhawulo yami, ibulale izinsizwa zami ngenkemba, iphahlaze abantwana abancelayo emhlabathini, yenze izingane zami zibe yimpango, nezintombi zami zibe yimpango. 6 Kodwa uJehova uSomandla ubajabhise ngesandla sowesifazana. 7 Ngokuba iqhawe aliwelanga phambi kwezinsizwa, namadodana amaThithani alizange limbulale, iziqhwaga azizange zimhlasele, kodwa uJudithi indodakazi kaMerari wamenza buthakathaka ngobuhle bobuso bakhe. 8 Wakhumula ingubo yobufelokazi bakhe ukuze aphakanyiswe abacindezelwe kwa-Israyeli, wagcoba ubuso bakhe ngamafutha, wabopha izinwele zakhe ngethango, wathatha ingubo yelineni ukuze amkhohlise. 9 Izimbadada zakhe zakhafula amehlo akhe, ubuhle bakhe babamba ingqondo yakhe, nomsele wadlula entanyeni yakhe. 10 AmaPheresiya athuthumela ngenxa yesibindi salo, namaMede esaba ngobulukhuni balo. 11 Khona abahluphekayo bami bakhamuluka ngokujabula, nababuthakathaka bami bamemeza ngokujabula; kepha
bamangala; bona baphakamisa amazwi abo, kepha bachithwa. 12 Amadodana amantombazana abahlabile, abalimaza njengabantwana bababaleki, babhubha ngempi yeNkosi. 13 Ngiyakuhlabelela eNkosini ihubo elisha, ngithi: Jehova, umkhulu, ukhazimula, uyamangalisa ngamandla, awunqobeki. 14 Zonke izidalwa mazikhonze wena, ngokuba wena wakhuluma, zadalwa, wathumela umoya wakho, wazidala, futhi akakho ongamelana nezwi lakho. 15 Ngokuba izintaba ziyakunyakaziswa emanzini ezisekelweni zazo, amadwala ancibilike njengengcina ebusweni bakho, kepha wena unomusa kwabakwesabayo. 16 Ngokuba yonke imihlatshelo mincane ukuba ibe yiphunga elimnandi kuwe, namanoni onke awanele umnikelo wakho wokushiswa; kepha owesaba uJehova mkhulu ngezikhathi zonke. 17 Maye kuzo izizwe ezivukela izihlobo zami! uJehova Sebawoti uyakubaphindisela ngosuku lokwahlulela ngokubeka umlilo nezimpethu enyameni yabo; bayakuziphatha, bakhale kuze kube phakade. 18 Kwathi bengena eJerusalema bakhuleka eNkosini; kwathi lapho abantu sebezihlambulule, banikela ngeminikelo yabo yokushiswa, neminikelo yabo yesihle, nezipho zabo. 19 UJudithi wangcwelisa zonke izimpahla zikaHoloferne, abantu ababemnike zona, wamnika umpheme abewukhiphe ekamelweni lakhe lokulala, waba ngumnikelo kuJehova. 20 Ngakho abantu baqhubeka besidla eJerusalema phambi kwendlu engcwele okwezinyanga ezintathu, uJudithi wahlala labo. 21 Ngemva kwalokho wabuyela, kwaba yilowo nalowo efeni lakhe, noJudith waya eBethuliya, wahlala empahleni yakhe, waba nodumo ezweni lonke ngesikhathi sakhe. 22 Abaningi bamfisa, kepha akwabakho muntu owamazi zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe, esefile uManase umyeni wakhe, wabuthelwa kubantu bakubo. 23 Kodwa yena waqhubeka ehlonishwa kakhulu, waguga endlini yomyeni wakhe eneminyaka eyikhulu nanhlanu, wakhulula incekukazi yakhe; wafela eBethuliya; bammbela emhumeni kaManase indoda yakhe. 24 Indlu yakwa-Israyeli yamlilela izinsuku eziyisikhombisa; engakafi wababela izihlobo zakhe zonke izihlobo zikaManase umyeni wakhe nabasondelene nabo bezihlobo zakhe. 25 Kwakungekho noyedwa owesabisa abantwana bakwaIsrayeli ezinsukwini zikaJuditi nangesikhathi eside ngemva kokufa kwakhe.