Ubizo uJona Alubalekelayo
Umprofethi ubalekela ubizo lukaBaba lokushumayela ezitheni zika-Israyeli, ugwinywa yinhlanzi enkulu, futhi ufunda — ngokungathandi — ukuthi isihawu sikaBaba wethu sibanzi kakhulu kunesakhe.
1 1Lafika izwi likaBaba wethu kuJona, indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi:
2“Sukuma, uye eNineve, lowo muzi omkhulu, umemeze umelane nawo, ngokuba ububi babo busenyukele phambi kwami.”
3Kodwa uJona wasuka wabalekela eTharishishi, esuka ebukhoneni bukaBaba wethu. Wehlela eJopha, wafica umkhumbi oya eTharishishi, wakhokha imali yohambo, wagibela ukuba ahambe nabo eTharishishi, esuka ebukhoneni bukaBaba wethu.
4Kepha uBaba wethu waphosa umoya omkhulu olwandle; kwavuka isiphepho esinamandla, umkhumbi wawusengathi usuzophihlika. 5Amatilosi esaba, kwaba yilowo nalowo ekhala kunkulunkulu wakhe. Aphonsa impahla yomkhumbi olwandle ukuze awenze lula. Kodwa uJona wayesehlele ngaphansi komkhumbi, elele ubuthongo obukhulu. 6Induna yomkhumbi yeza yathi kuye: “Kungani ulele? Vuka, ukhuleke kunkulunkulu wakho! Mhlawumbe uzosinaka, singabhubhi.”
7Amadoda athi omunye komunye: “Wozani, senze inkatho ukuze sazi ukuthi ubani obangela le nhlekelele phezu kwethu.” Enza inkatho, yawela phezu kukaJona. 8Athi kuye: “Sitshele—wena oletha le nhlekelele phezu kwethu—wenza msebenzi muni? Uvelaphi? Liyiphi izwe lakho? Ungowayiphi isizwe?”
9Waphendula wathi: “NgingumHeberu, futhi ngiyamesaba uBaba wethu, uBaba wezulu, owenza ulwandle nomhlabathi owomile.”
10Ayesesaba kakhulu amadoda, athi: “Yini le oyenzile?” Ngokuba ayazi ukuthi ubalekela ubukhona bukaBaba wethu, ngokuba wayewatshelile.
11Athi kuye: “Sikwenzeni ukuze ulwandle lusithulele na?”—ngokuba ulwandle lwalulokhu luvuka ngokwengeziwe.
12Wathi kuwo: “Ngiphakamiseni ningiphonse olwandle, khona luzonithulela. Ngiyazi ukuthi lesi siphepho esikhulu sehlele phezu kwenu ngenxa yami.”
13Kunalokho amadoda agwedla ngamandla ukuze afike emhlabathini, kodwa ehluleka, ngokuba ulwandle lwalulokhu luvuka ngokwengeziwe lumelene nawo. 14Ngakho akhala kuBaba wethu athi: “Siyakuncenga, Nkulunkulu, ungasiyeki sife ngenxa yokuthatha impilo yalo muntu. Ungasibeki icala legazi elingenacala, ngokuba wenze njengokuthanda kwakho.” 15Amthatha uJona, amphonsa olwandle, lwazola ulwandle olwaluvuka. 16Ayesemesaba kakhulu amadoda uBaba wethu, anikela ngomhlatshelo kuBaba wethu, enza nezifungo.
