Isahluko 1
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Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi:
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“Suka uye eNineve, umuzi omkhulu, umemeze phezu kwalo, ngokuba ububi balo benyukele ebusweni bami.”
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Kepha uJona wasuka ebusweni bukaJehova ukuba abalekele eTharishishi, wehlela eJopha, wafumana umkhumbi obuyakuya eTharishishi; wakhokha imali yawo, wakhwela kuwo, ukuba ahambe nawo, aye eTharishishi, asuke ebusweni bukaJehova.
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Kodwa uJehova waphonsa umoya omkhulu elwandle, kwaba yisiphepho esikhulu elwandle; kwacatshangwa ukuthi umkhumbi uyakwaphulwa.
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Khona amatilosi esaba, akhala, kwaba yilelo nalelo kunkulunkulu walo, aphonsa elwandle impahla ebisemkhunjini ukuba ube lula kubo. Kepha uJona wayehlele phakathi komkhumbi, wayeselele ubuthongo.
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Kwase kusondela kuye induna yomkhumbi, yathi: “Unani wena olele ubuthongo na? Vuka, ubize uNkulunkulu wakho; mhlawumbe lo Nkulunkulu uyakusikhumbula ukuba singabhubhi.”
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Bathi, kwaba yilowo nalowo kumngane wakhe: “Wozani senze inkatho, sazi ukuthi kungenxa kabani lobu bubi buphezu kwethu.” Base benza inkatho; inkatho yamudla uJona.
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Base bethi kuye: “Ake usitshele ukuthi kungenxa kabani lobu bubi buphezu kwethu. Umsebenzi wakho uyini? Uvelaphi? Liphi izwe lakini, ungowasiphi isizwe na?”
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Wathi kubo: “NgingumHeberu; ngiyamesaba uJehova, uNkulunkulu wasezulwini, owenzile ulwandle nomhlabathi owomileyo.”
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Base besaba abantu ngokwesaba okukhulu, bathi kuye: “Kuyini lokhu okwenzileyo na?” Ngokuba base bazi ukuthi ubalekile ebusweni bukaJehova, lokhu ebatshelile.
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Base bethi kuye: “Siyakwenze njani kuwe, ukuze ulwandle luthule kithina,” ngokuba ulwandle luyaqhubeka lube nesivunguvungu.
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Wathi kubo: “Ngiphakamiseni, ningiphonse elwandle, bese luthula kini ulwandle, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi lesi siphepho esikhulu siphezu kwenu ngenxa yami.”
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Kepha amadoda agwedla ukuba abuyele emhlabathini, kepha ahluleka, ngokuba ulwandle lwaqhubeka lwaba nesiphepho kuwo.
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Ayesekhala kuJehova, athi: “Siyakuncenga: masingabhubhi ngenxa yalo muntu, ungabeki phezu kwethu igazi elingenacala, ngokuba wena Jehova wenzile njengokuhlosa kwakho.”
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Amphakamisa uJona, amphonsa elwandle; ulwandle lwase lupheza ukufutha.
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Amadoda ayesesaba uJehova ngokwesaba okukhulu; ahlabela uJehova umhlatshelo, enza izithembiso.
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UJehova wamisela inhlanzi enkulu ukuba imgwinye uJona; uJona wayesezibilinini zenhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu.