1 Kwathi ke, xa lwagqibelayo uhlanga lonke ukuyiwela iYordan, wathetha uYehova kuYoshuwa, esithi,
2 Zithabatheleni ebantwini amadoda abe lishumi elinamabini, indoda ibe nye, indoda ibe nye esizweni;
3 niwawisele umthetho, nithi, Thabathani apha phakathi kweYordan, kule ndawo zimi kuyo iinyawo zababingeleli, amatye okumiswa abe lishumi elinamabini, niwele nawo, niwabele kuloo ndawo yokulalisa, niya kulalisa kuyo ngobu busuku.
4 Wawabiza ke uYoshuwa amadida alishumi elinamabini, abewamisile koonyana bakaSirayeli, indoda yanye, indoda yanye esizweni.
5 Wathi uYoshuwa kuwo, Gqithani phambi kwetyeya kaYehova uThixo wenu, niye eYordan phakathi, nithabathe iyileyo indoda ilitye libe linye, ilibeke egxalabeni layo, ngokwenani lezizwe zoonyana bakaSirayeli;
6 ukuze oku kube ngumqondiso phakathi kwenu, xa bathe banibuza oonyana benu ngexesha elizayo, besithi, Ayintoni na la matye kuni?
7 Nothi kubo, Amanzi eYordan anqamka phambi kwetyeya yomnqophiso kaYehova, ekuweleni kwayo eYordan anqamka amanzi eYordan; la matye oba sisikhumbuzo koonyana bakaSirayeli, kude kuse ephakadeni.
8 Benjenjalo ke oonyana bakaSirayeli, njengoko uYoshuwa wayebawisele umthetho. Bantabatha amatye alishumi elinamabini eYordan phakathi, njengoko wathethayo uYehova kuYoshuwa, ngokwenani lezizwe zoonyana bakaSirayeli, bawela nawo, baya nawo kuloo ndawo balalisa kuyo, bawabeka khona.
9 UYoshuwa wawamisa amatye alishumi elinamabini eYordan phakathi, kuloo ndawo zazimi kuyo iinyawo zababingeleli, abathwele ityeya yomnqophiso; akhona unanamhla.
10 Ke ababingeleli ababethwele ityeya bema eYordan phakathi, ada agqitywa onke amazwi uYehova awamwisela umthetho uYoshuwa ukuba awathethe ebantwini, ngokwento yonke uMoses abemwisele umthetho ngayo uYoshuwa. Bakhawuleza abantu, bawela.
11 Kwathi, bakugqiba bonke abantu ukuwela, yegqitha ityeya kaYehova nababingeleli phambi kwabantu.
12 Bawela oonyana bakaRubhen, noonyana bakaGadi, nesiqingatha sesizwe sakwaManase, bexhobile, phambi koonyana bakaSirayeli, njengoko wathethayo uMoses kubo.
13 Ngathi babengamashumi amane amawaka axhobele ukuphuma umkhosi, abawelayo phambi koYehova, besiya emfazweni, ezinkqantosini zaseYeriko.
14 Ngaloo mhla uYehova wamenza mkhulu uYoshuwa emehlweni amaSirayeli onke; amoyika njengoko abemoyika uMoses yonke imihla yobomi bakhe.
15 Wathi uYehova kuYoshuwa,
16 Bawisele umthetho ababingeleli abathwele ityeya yesingqino, ukuba benyuke baphume eYordan,
17 UYoshuwa wabawisela ke umthetho ababingeleli, esithi, Nyukani niphume eYordan.
18 Kwathi, ekunyukeni kwababingeleli abathwele sityeya yomnqophiso kaYehova phakathi kweYordan, ekuncothukeni kweentende zeenyawo zababingeleli zafika kowomileyo, abuyela endaweni yawo amanzi aseYordan, ahamba njengokwangaphambili, ngaphandle kweendonga zayo zonke.
19 Abantu benyuka baphuma eYordan ngolweshumi enyangeni yokuqala, bamisa eGiligali, ngecala lasempumalanga eYeriko.
20 Ke loo matye alishumi elinamabini, abawathabathayo eYordan, uYoshuwa wawamisa eGiligali.
21 Wathi koonyana bakaSirayeli, Xa bathe oonyana benu babuza kooyise ngexesha elizayo, besithi, Ayintoni na la matye?
22 nobazisa oonyana benu, nithi, AmaSirayeli ayiwela le Yordan, ehamba emhlabeni owomileyo;
23 kuba oko uYehova uThixo wenu wenza ukuba atshe amanzi aseYordan phambi kwenu, nada nawela; waxelisa oko uYehova uThixo wenu wakwenzayo kuLwandle oluBomvu, lona wenza ukuba lutshe phambi kwethu, sada sawela;
24 ukuze zonke izizwe zehlabathi zisazi isandla sikaYehova ukuba somelele; ukuze nimoyike uYehova uThixo wenu imihla yonke.