ISAHLUKO 1 1 Kwathi emva kokuthi u-Aleksandru indodana kaFiliphu waseMakedoniya, owavela ezweni laseKhetiyimi, ebulele uDariyu inkosi yamaPheresiya namaMede, wabusa esikhundleni sakhe, owokuqala eGrisi, 2 Wenza izimpi eziningi, wanqoba izinqaba eziningi, wabulala amakhosi omhlaba; 3 Wadabula waze wafika emikhawulweni yomhlaba, wathumba izizwe eziningi, waze wathula phambi kwakhe umhlaba; lapho waphakanyiswa, nenhliziyo yakhe yaziphakamisa. 4 Wabutha ibutho elinamandla, wabusa phezu kwamazwe, nezizwe, namakhosi afakwa kuye. 5 Ngemva kwalezi zinto wagula, futhi wabona ukuthi uzokufa. 6 Ngakho wabiza izinceku zakhe ezazihloniphekile, ezazikhuliswe kanye naye kwasebusheni bakhe, futhi wababela umbuso wakhe phakathi kwazo esaphila. 7 Ngakho u-Aleksandru wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nambili, wayesefa. 8 Izinceku zakhe zabusa, kwaba yilowo nalowo endaweni yakhe. 9 Futhi emva kokufa kwakhe bonke babeka imiqhele phezu kwabo; enze njalo amadodana abo emva kwabo iminyaka eminingi; ububi banda emhlabeni. 10 Futhi kwaphuma kubo umsuka omubi u-Antiochus osibongo sakhe singu-Epiphanes, indodana ka-Antiyochus inkosi, owayekade eyisithunjwa eRoma, futhi wabusa onyakeni wekhulu namashumi amathathu nesikhombisa wombuso wamaGreki. 11 Ngalezo zinsuku kwaphuma kwa-Israyeli abantu ababi abahunga abaningi, bathi: “Masihambe, senze isivumelwano nezizwe ezisihaqileyo, ngokuba selokhu sasuka kubo saba nosizi olukhulu. 12 Ngakho lo mshini wabajabulisa kakhulu. 13 Kwase kusukuma abathile kubantu, baze baya enkosini eyabanika imvume yokwenza njengezimiso zabezizwe; 14 Bakha indawo yokuvivinya umzimba eJerusalema ngokwesiko labezizwe; 15 Bazenza abangasokile, basishiya isivumelwano esingcwele, bazihlanganisa nabezizwe, bathengiswa ukwenza okubi. 16 Manje lapho umbuso usumisiwe phambi kuka-Antiochus, wacabanga ukubusa phezu kweGibhithe ukuze abe nokubusa kwemibuso emibili. 17 Ngakho wangena eGibhithe enesixuku esikhulu, nezinqola, nezindlovu, nabamahhashi, nemikhumbi emikhulu; 18 Walwa noPhetoleme inkosi yaseGibithe; futhi abaningi balimala baze bafa. 19 Bayithola kanjalo imizi enamandla ezweni laseGibithe, wathatha impango yalo. 20 Futhi emva kokuthi u-Antiochus eseshaye iGibhithe, wabuya futhi ngonyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nantathu, futhi wenyukela ngokumelene no-Israyeli neJerusalema nesixuku esikhulu. 21 Bangena endlini engcwele ngokuzidla, basusa i-altare legolide, nothi lwesibani lokukhanyisa nezitsha zalo zonke; 22 netafula lezinkwa zokubukwa, nezitsha zokuthulula, nezitsha. nemicengezi yegolide, neveli, nomqhele, nezivunulo zegolide ezaziphambi kwethempeli, wakuhlubula konke. 23 Wathatha nesiliva negolide nezitsha eziyigugu, wathatha nengcebo efihliweyo ayitholayo. 24 Esesuse konke, waya ezweni lakubo, wabulala abantu abaningi, wakhuluma ngokuzidla. 25 Ngakho kwaba khona isililo esikhulu kwa-Israyeli ezindaweni zonke lapho bekhona;
26 Kwaze kwakhala izikhulu namalunga, izintombi nezinsizwa zaba buthaka, nobuhle babesifazane bashintsha. 27 Wonke umkhwenyana waphakamisa isililo, nohlezi ekamelweni lomshado edabukile; 28 Izwe lanyakaza kwabakhileyo kulo, nayo yonke indlu kaJakobe yagcwala isiphithiphithi. 29 Kwathi ekupheleni kweminyaka emibili inkosi yathuma umthelisi wayo omkhulu emizini yakwaJuda owafika eJerusalema nesixuku esikhulu; 30 Wakhuluma kubo amazwi okuthula, kepha konke kwakuyinkohliso; 31 Eseyithathile impango yomuzi, wayithungela ngomlilo, wadiliza izindlu nezindonga zawo nxazonke. 32 Kepha abesifazane nabantwana babathumba, bazidla izinkomo. 33 Bakha umuzi kaDavide ngogange olukhulu oluqinile nemibhoshongo enamandla, bawenza ube yinqaba yabo. 34 Babeka khona isizwe esonayo, abantu ababi, baziqinisa kuso. 35 Baligcina ngezikhali nokudla, sebebuthile impango yaseJerusalema, bayibeka lapho, yaba lugibe olunzima; 36 Ngokuba kwakuyindawo yokuqamekela indlu engcwele, nesitha esibi ku-Israyeli. 37 Kanjalo bachitha igazi elingenacala nxazonke zendlu engcwele, bayingcolisa; 38 Kangokuba abakhileyo eJerusalema babaleka ngenxa yabo; labantwana bakhe bamshiya. 39 Indlu yalo engcwele yachithwa njengehlane, imikhosi yalo yaphenduka isililo, namasabatha alo aba yihlazo udumo lwalo lwaba yikudelelwa. 40 Njengoba ubuhle bayo babunjalo, kanjalo nokuhlaziswa kwayo kwanda, nobukhulu bayo baphenduka isililo. 41 Futhi inkosi u-Antiochus walobela umbuso wayo wonke ukuthi bonke babe yisizwe esisodwa. 42 Yilowo nalowo makashiye imithetho yakhe; zonke izizwe zavumelana ngokomthetho wenkosi. 43 Yebo, abaningi babakwa-Israyeli bavumelana nenkolo yakhe, bahlabela izithombe, balingcolisa isabatha. 44 Ngokuba inkosi yayithumele izincwadi ngezithunywa eJerusalema nasemizini yakwaJuda ukuba balandele imithetho yezwe, 45 yenqabela iminikelo yokushiswa, nemihlatshelo, neminikelo yokuphuzwa ethempelini; nokuthi bangcolise amasabatha nezinsuku zemikhosi; 46 ningcolise indlu engcwele nabantu abangcwele; 47 nimise ama-altare, no-Ashera, nezindawo zokukhonzela zezithombe, ninikele ngenyama yengulube nezilwane ezingcolile; 48 ukuze bashiye abantwana babo bengasokile, benze imiphefumulo yabo ibe yisinengiso ngakho konke ukungcola nenhlamba; 49 Ukuze bakhohlwe umthetho, baguqule zonke izahlulelo. 50 Futhi noma ubani owayengafuni ukwenza ngokomyalo wenkosi, wathi, kufanele afe. 51 Ngokunjalo walobela umbuso wakhe wonke, wamisa ababonisi phezu kwabantu bonke, walaya imizi yakoJuda ukuthi ihlabe, imizi ngemizi. 52 Kwasekubuthana kubo abanengi esixukwini, labo bonke ababeyeke umlayo; futhi kanjalo benza ububi ezweni; 53 Futhi waxosha ama-Israyeli ezindaweni ezicashile, ngisho nomaphi lapho ayengabalekela khona ukuze athole usizo. 54 Ngosuku lweshumi nanhlanu lwenyanga kaKaslewu, ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nanhlanu, bamisa isinengiso sencithakalo e-altare, bakha ama-altare ezithombe emizini yakwaJuda nxazonke; 55 Bashisa impepho eminyango yezindlu zabo nasezitaladini.
56 Badabula izincwadi zomthetho abazifumanayo, bazishisa ngomlilo. 57 Futhi noma ubani owayetholakala enanoma iyiphi incwadi yesivumelwano noma ubani ogcinile emthethweni, umyalo wenkosi wawungukuthi kufanele bambulale. 58 Benza kanjalo ngegunya labo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli inyanga nenyanga kubo bonke abafunyanwa emizini. 59 Ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nanhlanu lwenyanga banikela ngomhlatshelo e-altare lezithombe elaliphezu kwealtare likaNkulunkulu. 60 Ngaleso sikhathi ngokomthetho babulala abesifazane abathile ababesokwe abantwana babo. 61 Baphanyeka abantwana ezintanyeni zabo, baphanga izindlu zabo, bababulala labo ababebasokile. 62 Nokho abaningi kwa-Israyeli bazimisela ngokugcwele futhi bazimisela phakathi kwabo ukuba bangadli noma yini engcolile. 63 Ngakho-ke kungcono ukuba bafe, ukuze bangangcoliswa ngokudla, futhi bangangcolisi isivumelwano esingcwele, bafa kanjalo. 64 Futhi kwaba khona ulaka olukhulu kakhulu phezu kukaIsrayeli. ISAHLUKO 2 1 Ngalezo zinsuku kwasuka uMathathiya, indodana kaJohane, kaSimeyoni, umpristi wamadodana kaJowaribi, evela eJerusalema, futhi ehlala eModini. 2 Wayenamadodana ayisihlanu, uJohanani ogama lakhe linguKadisi. 3 uSimoni; okuthiwa uThassi: 4 UJudasi othiwa nguMakhabewu; 5 u-Eleyazare ogama lakhe lingu-Avaran, noJonathani, ogama lakhe lalingu-Aphusi. 6 Lapho ebona inhlamba eyenziwa kwaJuda naseJerusalema. 7 Wathi: “Maye kimi! Ngazalelwani ukuba ngibone lolu sizi lwabantu bami, nomuzi ongcwele, ngihlale khona, lapho unikelwe esandleni sesitha, nendlu engcwele esandleni sabafokazi, na? 8 Ithempeli lalo selinjengomuntu ongenankazimulo. 9 Izitsha zalo ezikhazimulayo ziyiswa ekuthunjweni, abantwana balo babulawa ezitaladini, nezinsizwa zalo ngenkemba yesitha. 10 Yisiphi isizwe esingazange sibe nesabelo embusweni waso futhi sizuze empangweni yaso? 11 Zonke izivunulo zalo zisusiwe; waba yisigqila sowesifazane okhululekileyo. 12 Bhekani, indlu yethu engcwele, ubuhle bethu nodumo lwethu, isichithiwe, nabezizwe bayingcolisile. 13 Ngakho-ke siyakuphila ngani na? 14 UMathathiya namadodana akhe baklebhula izingubo zabo, bembatha indwangu yamasaka, balila kakhulu. 15 Phakathi naleso sikhathi izikhulu zenkosi, ezaziphoqelele abantu ukuba bavukele, zangena emzini waseModini, ukuze zenze imihlatshelo. 16 Kwathi abaningi bakwa-Israyeli befika kubo, uMathathiya lamadodana akhe babuthana. 17 Khona-ke izinceku zenkosi zaphendula zathi kuMathathiya: “Wena ungumbusi nohloniphekile nomkhulu kulo muzi, oqiniswe namadodana nabafowabo; 18 Manje woza kuqala, ugcwalise umyalo wenkosi, njengalokho enzile abezizwe bonke, yebo, namadoda akwaJuda, nabaseleyo eJerusalema; niyakuba njalo wena nendlu yakho esibalweni senkosi. bangane bakho, wena nabantwana bakho niyakudunyiswa ngesiliva nangegolide nangemivuzo eminingi.
19 UMathathiya waphendula wakhuluma ngezwi elikhulu, wathi: “Noma izizwe zonke ezingaphansi kombuso wenkosi ziyilalela, zihlubuke, kube yilowo nalowo enkolweni yoyise, zivume imiyalo yayo; 20 Nokho mina namadodana ami nabafowethu ngiyohamba ngesivumelwano sawokhokho bethu. 21 UNkulunkulu makube kude nathi ukuba sishiye umthetho nezimiso. 22 Ngeke siwalalele amazwi enkosi, ukuba sisuke enkolweni yethu, noma kwesokudla noma kwesokunxele. 23 Manje ngesikhathi eseqedile ukukhuluma la mazwi, kweza omunye wamaJuda emehlweni abo bonke ukuthi anikele ealtare eliseModini, ngokomyalelo wenkosi. 24 UMathathiya ekubona lokho wavutha intshiseko, nezinso zakhe zaqhaqhazela, wayengenakukuyeka ukubonakalisa intukuthelo yakhe njengokwahlulela; 25 Futhi induna yenkosi, eyaphoqelela abantu ukuba banikele, yasibulala ngaleso sikhathi, futhi i-altare yadiliza. 26 Wawenza ngokushisekela umthetho kaNkulunkulu njengalokho uFinehasi enza kuZamri indodana kaSalomu. 27 UMathathiya wamemeza emzini wonke ngezwi elikhulu, wathi: “Yilowo nalowo oshisekela umthetho nogcina isivumelwano, makangilandele. 28 Ngakho yena lamadodana akhe babalekela ezintabeni, batshiya konke ababelakho emzini. 29 Abaningi ababefuna ukulunga nokwahlulela behlela ehlane ukuba bahlale khona; 30 bona, nabantwana babo, nomkabo; nezinkomo zabo; ngoba izinhlupheko zakhula kakhulu phezu kwabo. 31 Kwathi sekubikelwa izinceku zenkosi nebutho laseJerusalema emzini kaDavide ukuthi amadoda athile abephule umyalo wenkosi abehlele endaweni ecashile ehlane; 32 Babaxosha isixuku esikhulu, babafica, bamisa ukulwa nabo, balwa nabo ngosuku lwesabatha. 33 Base bethi kubo: “Lokho enikwenzile kuze kube manje kwanele; phumani, nenze njengesiyalezo senkosi, niyakuphila. 34 Kepha bathi: "Asiyikuphuma, futhi asiyikwenza umyalo wenkosi ukungcolisa usuku lwesabatha." 35 Ngakho babapha impi ngejubane elikhulu. 36 Nokho abaphendulanga, ababajikijeli ngetshe, abazivimbanga izindawo ababecashe kuzo; 37 Kodwa wathi: “Masifele sonke singenacala; 38 Ngakho babavukela empini ngesabatha, bababulala, kanye nawomkabo, nabantwana babo, nezinkomo zabo, kwaze kwafika inani labantu abayinkulungwane. 39 Kwathi uMathathiya labangane bakhe sebekuzwisisa lokhu, babakhalela kakhulu. 40 Futhi omunye wabo wathi komunye: Uma sonke senza njengoba abafowethu benza, futhi singalweli izimpilo zethu kanye nemithetho ngokumelene nabezizwe, manje bayosiphula masinyane emhlabeni. 41 Ngakho bamisa ngalesosikhathi besithi: Loba ngubani ozakuza impi lathi ngesabatha, sizakulwa laye; futhi ngeke sife sonke, njengabafowethu ababulawa ezindaweni ezicashile. 42 Kwase kufika kuye iviyo labase-Asiya, amadoda anamandla akwa-Israyeli, bonke abazinikele ngokuzithandela emthethweni. 43 Futhi bonke labo ababebalekela ukuzingelwa bazihlanganisa nabo, futhi baba yinqaba kubo. 44 Bazihlanganisa, babulala abantu abayizoni ngentukuthelo yabo, nababi ngokufutheka kwabo; 45 UMathathiya nabangane bakhe base bezungeza, badiliza ama-altare; 46 Noma yibaphi abantwana ababafumana ogwini bakwaIsrayeli bengasokile, babebasoka ngamandla.
47 Baxosha abantu abazidlayo, nomsebenzi waphumelela esandleni sabo. 48 Ngakho bawukhulula umthetho esandleni sabezizwe, nasesandleni samakhosi, futhi abasivumelanga isoni ukuba sinqobe. 49 Kwathi sesisondele isikhathi sokuthi uMathathiya afe, wathi emadodaneni akhe: “Khathesi ukuzigqaja lokukhuzwa sekuthole amandla, lesikhathi sokubhujiswa, lolaka lolaka. 50 Ngakho-ke, madodana ami, shisekelani umthetho, ninikele ukuphila kwenu ngenxa yesivumelwano soyihlo. 51 Khumbulani izenzo obaba bethu abazenzayo ngesikhathi sabo; kanjalo niyakwamukela udumo olukhulu negama eliphakade. 52 U-Abrahama akatholwanga ethembekile ekulingweni, kwabalelwa kuye ukuthi kungukulunga na? 53 UJosefa ngesikhathi sokucindezeleka kwakhe wawugcina umyalo, wenziwa inkosi yaseGibhithe. 54 UFiniyasi ubaba wethu ngokushisekela nangokushisekela wazuza isivumelwano sobupristi obuphakade. 55 UJesu waba ngumahluleli kwa-Israyeli ukuze kugcwaliseke izwi. 56 UKalebi ukuze anikeze ubufakazi ngaphambi kokuba ibandla lithole ifa lezwe. 57 UDavida ngokuba lesihawu waba lesihlalo sobukhosi sombuso waphakade. 58 U-Eliya ngenxa yokushisekela nokushisekela umthetho wenyuselwa ezulwini. 59 U-Ananiya, u-Azariya, noMishayeli, ngokukholwa basindiswa emlilweni. 60 UDaniyeli wakhululwa emlonyeni wezingonyama ngenxa yobumsulwa bakhe. 61 Futhi qaphelani kanjalo kuyo yonke iminyaka, ukuthi akekho noyedwa owabeka ithemba lakhe kuye oyonqotshwa. 62 Ungawesabi-ke amazwi omuntu oyisoni, ngokuba udumo lwakhe luyakuba ngumquba nezimpethu. 63 Namuhla uyophakanyiswa futhi kusasa ngeke atholakale, ngoba ubuyele othulini lwakhe, futhi umcabango wakhe ufeziwe. 64 Ngalokho-ke, nina madodana ami, yibani ngamaqhawe futhi nizibonakalise ningamadoda egameni lomthetho; ngoba ngalo lizazuza udumo. 65 Bhekani, ngiyazi ukuthi umfowenu uSimoni ungumluleki; bekani indlebe kuye njalo; 66 UJudas Maccabeus yena unamandla futhi enamandla kusukela ebusheni bakhe; 67 Thathani futhi kini bonke labo abagcina umthetho, futhi niphindisele ukona kwabantu benu. 68 Buyiselani ngokugcwele abezizwe, nigcine imiyalo yomthetho. 69 Wasebabusisa, wabuthelwa koyise. 70 Wafa ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nesithupha; amadodana akhe ammbela emathuneni awoyise eModini; wonke u-Israyeli wamenzela isililo esikhulu. ISAHLUKO 3 1 Kwasekusukuma indodana yakhe uJudasi othiwa uMakhabewu esikhundleni sakhe. 2 Bonke abafowabo bamsiza, kanjalo nabo bonke ababebambelele kuyise, balwa ngokujabula impi yakwaIsrayeli. 3 Ngakho wazuza udumo olukhulu lwabantu bakhe, wafaka isivikelo sesifuba njengomdondoshiya, wabhinca izikhali zakhe zokulwa, wenza izimpi, wavikela impi ngenkemba yakhe.
4 Ngezenzo zakhe wayenjengengonyama, nanjengewundlu lengonyama elibhongela impango yalo. 5 Ngokuba waxosha ababi, wabafuna, washisa abahlupha abantu bakhe. 6 Ngalokho ababi bahlehla ngokumesaba, nabo bonke abenza okubi bathuthumela, ngokuba usindiso luphumelela esandleni sakhe. 7 Wadabukisa amakhosi amaningi, wamthokozisa uJakobe ngezenzo zakhe, nesikhumbuzo sakhe sibusisiwe kuze kube phakade. 8 Wadabula imizi yakwaJuda, echitha abantu abangamhloniphiyo uNkulunkulu, esusa ulaka ku-Israyeli; 9 Kangangoba waba nodumo kuze kube sekugcineni komhlaba, futhi wemukela kuye labo ababelungele ukubhubha. 10 Khona-ke u-Apholonius wabutha abezizwe kanye nebutho elikhulu eSamariya ukuba balwe no-Israyeli. 11 UJuda ekwazi lokho, waphuma ukumhlangabeza, wamshaya, wambulala; abaningi bawa phansi bebulewe, kepha abanye babaleka. 12 Ngakho uJuda wathatha impango yabo, kanye nenkemba ka-Apholoniyu futhi, futhi walwa ngayo yonke impilo yakhe yonke. 13 Manje ngesikhathi uSeroni, inkosana yebutho laseSiriya, ezwa kuthiwa uJuda wayeseqoqele kuye isixuku kanye neqembu labathembekileyo ukuthi baphume naye baye empini; 14 Wathi: "Ngiyakuzitholela igama nodumo embusweni; ngoba mina ngizahamba ngilwe loJudasi labalabo abadelela umlayo wenkosi. 15 Ngakho wamlungiselela ukukhuphuka, futhi kwahamba naye ibutho elinamandla lababi ukuze limsize futhi liphindisele kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli. 16 Esesondele emfuleni waseBetihoroni, uJuda waphuma ukumhlangabeza eneviyo elincane; 17 Kwathi lapho bebona ibutho liza ukubahlangabeza, bathi kuJuda: “Siyokwazi kanjani ukulwa nesixuku esingaka esinamandla kangaka, siyingcosana nje, njengoba sesilungele ukudangala ngokuzila ukudla lonke lolu suku na? 18 UJudasi waphendula wathi: Kakusiyo into enzima ukuthi abanengi bavalelwe ezandleni zabalutshwana; futhi kuNkulunkulu wezulu kukodwa ukukhulula ngesixuku esikhulu noma ngeqembu elincane. 19 Ngokuba ukunqoba kwempi akumi ngobuningi bempi; kodwa amandla avela ezulwini. 20 Beza phezu kwethu ngokuzidla okukhulu nangobubi ukuba basibhubhise thina nawomkethu nabantwana bethu, basithathe; 21 Kodwa silwela izimpilo zethu kanye nemithetho yethu. 22 Ngalokho uJehova uyakubawisa phambi kwethu; nina-ke ningabesabi. 23 Manje kwathi lapho eseqedile ukukhuluma, wagxumela kubo ngokuzumayo, futhi kanjalo uSeroni nebutho lakhe baketulwa phambi kwakhe. 24 Babaxosha kusukela ekwehleni kweBeti Horoni kwaze kwaba sethafeni, lapho kwabulawa khona kubo abantu kungathi abangamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili; abaseleyo babalekela ezweni lamaFilisti. 25 Khona kwaqala ukwesaba kukaJuda nabafowabo, nokwesaba okukhulu kakhulu okwehlela izizwe ezibazungezile; 26 Kwaze kwathi udumo lwakhe lwafika enkosini, izizwe zonke zakhuluma ngezimpi zikaJuda. 27 Manje ngesikhathi inkosi u-Antiyochus izwa lezi zinto, yagcwala ukuthukuthela; ngalokho-ke yathumela futhi yaqoqela ndawonye wonke amabutho ombuso wayo, ngisho ibutho elinamandla kakhulu.
28 Yasivula ingcebo yayo, yanika amasosha akhe umvuzo womnyaka, ewayala ukuba azilungiselele noma nini lapho ewadinga. 29 Nokho, ngesikhathi ebona ukuthi imali yengcebo yakhe yehluleka kanye nokuthi intela ezweni yayincane, ngenxa yokungezwani kanye nesifo esiwumshayabhuqe, ayesilethe ezweni ekususeni imithetho eyayikhona kudala; 30 Wesaba ukuthi wayengeke esakwazi ukuzithwala, futhi angabe esaba nezipho ezinjalo ukuze anikele ngesihle njengakuqala, ngoba wayechichima ngaphezu kwamakhosi ayengaphambi kwakhe. 31 Ngakho, edidekile kakhulu enhliziyweni yakhe, wazimisela ukuya ePheresiya, ukuze athathe khona intela emazweni, abuthe imali eningi. 32 Ngakho washiya uLisiya, isikhulu, omunye wegazi lenkosi, + ukuba aqondise izindaba zenkosi kusukela emfuleni iEwufrathe kuze kube semingceleni yaseGibhithe. 33 Nokukhulisa indodana yakhe u-Antiochus, ize ibuye. 34 Wamnika nenxenye yempi yakhe, nezindlovu, wamyala ngakho konke abethanda ukukwenza, nabahlala kwaJuda naseJerusalema; 35 ukuze athumele impi ngokumelene nabo, ukuze abhubhise futhi asiphule amandla ka-Israyeli, nensali yaseJerusalema, futhi asuse isikhumbuzo sabo kuleyo ndawo; 36 Futhi abeke abafokazi kuzo zonke izindawo zabo, futhi ahlukanise izwe labo ngenkatho. 37 Ngakho inkosi yathatha ingxenye yamabutho ayesele, yasuka e-Antiyokiya, umuzi wayo wobukhosi, ngonyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nesikhombisa; esewele umfula uEwufrathe, wadabula izindawo eziphakemeyo. 38 Khona-ke uLisiya wakhetha uPtolemee indodana kaDorimene, uNikanori noGorgia, amadoda anamandla phakathi kwabangane benkosi. 39 Futhi kanye nabo wathumela abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane emigundatshani nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa ukuba baye ezweni lakwaJuda, futhi balichithe, njengoba nje inkosi yayiyala. 40 Base bephuma ngamandla abo onke, bafika bamisa ngaseEmawuse endaweni eyithafa. 41 Abathengisi bezwe sebezwile udumo lwabo, bathatha isiliva negolide eliningi kanye nezinceku, bafika ekamu ukuthenga abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babe yizigqila; bazihlanganisa nabo. 42 Lapho uJuda nabafowabo bebona ukuthi usizi lwaluyanda nokuthi amabutho akanise emikhawulweni yawo, ngoba babazi ukuthi inkosi yayiyale kanjani ukuba kubhujiswe abantu nokubaqeda; 43 Base bethi omunye komunye: "Masibuyise inhlanhla yabantu bakithi, silwele abantu bakithi nendlu engcwele." 44 Khona-ke inhlangano yabuthana ukuba izilungiselele ukulwa, futhi ukuze bathandaze, futhi bacele umusa nesihawu. 45 IJerusalema laliyize njengehlane, kwakungekho noyedwa kubantwana balo owayengena noma aphume; abezizwe babehlala kuleyondawo; injabulo yasuswa kuJakobe, kwanqamuka umtshingo ngehabhu. 46 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuthana, bafika eMizipa malungana neJerusalema; ngoba eMispa yindawo lapho ababekhuleka khona kudala kwaIsrayeli. 47 Bazila ukudla ngalolo suku, bembatha indwangu yamasaka, bathela umlotha emakhanda abo, baklebhula izingubo zabo; 48 Wavula incwadi yomthetho abezizwe ababefuna kuyo ukudweba umfanekiso wezithombe zabo. 49 Baletha nezingubo zabapristi, nolibo, nokweshumi, bavusa amaNaziri abeseziqedile izinsuku zawo. 50 Basebememeza ngelizwi elikhulu ezulwini, besithi: Sizakwenzani ngalaba, njalo sizabasa ngaphi?
51 Ngokuba indlu yakho engcwele inyathelwe phansi, ingcolisiwe, nabapristi bakho balusizi, bathotshisiwe. 52 Bheka, abezizwe bayasibuthanela ukuba basibhubhise; 53 Sizokwazi kanjani ukumelana nabo, ngaphandle kokuthi wena, O Nkulunkulu, ube usizo lwethu na? 54 Basebebetha amacilongo, bamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu. 55 Emva kwalokho uJuda wabeka izinduna phezu kwabantu, izinduna zezinkulungwane, nezamakhulu, nezamashumi amahlanu, nezamashumi. 56 Kepha abakha izindlu, noma ababegane abafazi, noma ababetshala izivini, noma abesabayo, wabayala ukuba babuyele, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe siqu, ngokomthetho. 57 Ikamu lasuka, lamisa ngaseningizimu kwe-Emawuse. 58 Wathi uJuda: “Hlomani, nibe ngamadoda anamandla, nibone ukuthi nilungele ukusa, ukuze nilwe nalezi zizwe ezibuthene ukulwa nathi ukuba zisibhubhise kanye nendlu yethu engcwele; 59 Ngoba kungcono kithi ukuthi sifele empini, kulokuthi sibuke izinhlupheko zabantu bakithi kanye lendlu yethu engcwele. 60 Nokho, makenze njengoba intando kaNkulunkulu isezulwini. ISAHLUKO 4 1 UGorgia wathatha izinkulungwane eziyisihlanu zemigundatshani, nenkulungwane yabamahhashi abahle kakhulu, wabasusa eminqubeni ebusuku; 2 Ukuze agijimele ikamu lamaJuda, awashaye ngokuzumayo. Amadoda enqaba ayengabaqondisi bakhe. 3 UJuda esekuzwile lokho wasuka yena namaqhawe akanye naye ukuba abulale impi yenkosi e-Emawusi; 4 Amabutho ayesehlakazekile ekamu. 5 Ngalesosikhathi uGorgia wafika ekamu likaJuda ebusuku, engafumani muntu khona, wabafuna ezintabeni, ngokuba wathi: “Laba bantu basibalekela. 6 Kwathi sekusile, uJudasi wabonakala ethafeni elamadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu, lawo ayengangenanga zikhali nankemba engqondweni yawo. 7 Babona ikamu labezizwe ukuthi lalinamandla, lihlotshiswe kahle, lizungezwe abamahhashi; laba babengamachwephesha empi. 8 UJuda wasesithi emadodeni ayelaye: Lingesabi ixuku labo, lingesabi ukuhlasela kwabo. 9 Khumbulani ukuthi okhokho bethu bakhululwa eLwandle Olubomvu, lapho uFaro ebaxotsha ngebutho. 10 Ngakho-ke masikhale ezulwini, uma mhlawumbe uJehova engasihawukela, akhumbule isivumelwano sawobaba, alichithe leli bandla phambi kwethu namuhla; 11 ukuze zonke izizwe zazi ukuthi ukhona okhululayo nosindisa u-Israyeli. 12 Abafokazi baphakamisa amehlo abo, bababona beza ngakubo; 13 Base bephuma ekamu* ukuya empini; kepha ababenoJuda babetha amacilongo abo. 14 Basebehlanganyela impi; + 15 Nokho, bonke ababengasemuva babo babulawa ngenkemba, + ngoba babaxosha kwaze kwaba seGazeri + nasemathafeni asemathafeni ase-Idumiya + nase-Azotu + naseJamniya + kwaze kwabulawa kuwo amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu. 16 Sekwenzekile lokho, uJuda wabuya nebutho lakhe ekubaxosheni. 17 Wathi kubantu: “Ningafisi impango, lokhu kukhona ukulwa phambi kwethu;
18 Futhi uGorgia nebutho lakhe balapha ngakithi entabeni; 19 UJudasi esakhuluma lawo mazwi, kwabonakala ingxenye yabo ibheka entabeni. 20 Sebebonile ukuthi abaJuda babebalekele impi yabo, bashisa amatende; ngokuba umusi owabonwayo wamemezela okwenzekileyo. 21 Kwathi sebekwazi lokho, besaba kakhulu, bebona ibutho likaJuda ethafeni selilungele ukulwa. 22 Babaleka, kwaba yilowo nalowo, baya ezweni lezihambi. 23 UJuda wayesebuya ukuyophanga amatende, lapho athola khona igolide eliningi, nesiliva, nosilika obuluhlaza, nokububende kolwandle, nengcebo enkulu. 24 Emva kwalokho babuyela ekhaya, bahlabelela ihubo lokubonga, bamdumisa uJehova ezulwini, ngokuba muhle, ngokuba umusa wakhe umi phakade. 25 Kanjalo u-Israyeli waba nokukhululwa okukhulu ngalolo suku. 26 Kwasekufika bonke abafokazi ababebalekile, babikela uLisiya okwenzekileyo. 27 Kwathi lapho ekuzwa, wajabha, waphela amandla, ngokuba akwenzekanga lokho abethanda ukukwenza kuIsrayeli, nalokho inkosi eyamyala ngakho akuzange kwenzeke. 28 Ngakho ngomnyaka olandelayo olandelayo uLisiya wabutha amadoda akhethiweyo enyawo azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi ayisithupha labagadi bamabhiza abazinkulungwane ezinhlanu, ukuze abanqobe. 29 Base befika e-Idumiya, bamisa amatende abo eBethsura, uJuda wabahlangabeza enamadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi. 30 Lapho ebona lelo butho elinamandla, wakhuleka wathi: “Ubusisiwe wena Msindisi ka-Israyeli owaqeda ubudlova bendoda enamandla ngesandla sikaDavide inceku yakho, wanikela impi yabafokazi esandleni sikaDavide. uJonathani indodana kaSawule nodibi lwezikhali zakhe; 31 Vala leli butho esandleni sabantu bakho u-Israyeli, bajabhe ngamandla abo nangabamahhashi. 32 Ubenze bangabi nesibindi, wenze ukuba isibindi samandla abo siphele, bathuthumele ekubhujisweni kwabo. 33 Baphonse phansi ngenkemba yabakuthandayo, bonke abalaziyo igama lakho bakudumise ngokubonga. 34 Basebehlanganyela impi; kwabulawa ekamu likaLisiya amadoda angaba yizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu, abulawa ngaphambi kwawo. 35 Manje lapho uLisiya ebona ibutho lakhe libaleka, kanye nobudoda bamasosha kaJuda, nokuthi base bekulungele kanjani ukuphila noma ukufa ngobuqhawe, waya eAntiyokiya, futhi wabuthela ndawonye iviyo lezihambi, futhi wenza impi yakhe yaba nkulu. kunalokho wayehlose ukubuyela eJudiya. 36 UJudasi nabafowabo base bethi: “Bhekani, izitha zethu ziyaphithizela; 37 Ngemva kwalokho ibutho lonke labuthana ndawonye, lenyukela entabeni yaseSiyoni. 38 Lapho bebona indlu engcwele incithakalo, ne-altare lingcolisiwe, namasango eshisiwe, nezihlahlana ezimila emagcekeni njengasehlathini noma kwenye yezintaba, yebo, namakamelo abapristi ebhidlizwa; 39 Baklebhula izingubo zabo, benza isililo esikhulu, bathela umlotha emakhanda abo; 40 Bawa phansi ngobuso, babetha amacilongo, bakhala ngasezulwini. 41 UJuda wamisa amadoda athile ukuba alwe nalabo ababesenqabeni, aze ahlambulule indlu engcwele. 42 Ngakho wakhetha abapristi benkambiso engelasici, ababethokoziswa ngumthetho;
43 owahlanza indlu engcwele, wakhipha amatshe angcolile endaweni engcolile. 44 Kwathi besabuzana ukuthi benzeni ngelathi leminikelo yokutshiswa elalingcolisiwe; 45 Babona kukuhle ukuwudiliza, funa ube yihlazo kubo, ngokuba abezizwe babewungcolisile; ngalokho bawudiliza; 46 bawabeka amatshe entabeni yethempeli endaweni ekahle, kwaze kwafika umprofethi ukuba abonise lokho okufanele kwenziwe ngawo. 47 Basebethatha amatshe apheleleyo njengomthetho, bakha ilathi elitsha njengelokuqala; 48 Wenza indlu engcwele nezinto ezaziphakathi kwethempeli, wangcwelisa amagceke. 49 Benza izitsha ezingcwele ezintsha, bangenisa uthi lwezibani, ne-altare leminikelo yokushiswa, nelempepho, netafula ethempelini. 50 Bashisa impepho phezu kwe-altare, nezibani ezaziphezu kothi lwesibani bazikhanyisa, ukuze zikhanyise ethempelini. 51 Babeka izinkwa etafuleni, bendlala amaveli, baqeda yonke imisebenzi ababeqale ukuyenza. 52 Kwathi ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nanhlanu lwenyanga yesishiyagalolunye, ethiwa yinyanga kaKaslewu, ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nesishiyagalombili, bavuka ekuseni; 53 Banikela ngomhlatshelo ngokomthetho e-altare elisha leminikelo yokushiswa ababeyenzile. 54 Bhekani, ngasiphi isikhathi nangaluphi usuku abezizwe ababelingcolisile, nangalokho langcweliswa ngamahubo, nangezinsimbi, namahabhu, namasimbali. 55 Bonke abantu bawa ngobuso babo, bakhuleka, badumisa uNkulunkulu wezulu obenzele impumelelo enhle. 56 Bakwenza-ke ukwahlukaniselwa kwe-altare izinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili, banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa ngentokozo, banikela ngomhlatshelo wokukhulula nowokudumisa. 57 Bavunulisa ingaphambili lethempeli ngemiqhele yegolide nezihlangu; amasango namakamelo bawavuselela, balengisa iminyango kuwo. 58 Kanjalo kwaba khona intokozo enkulu kakhulu phakathi kwabantu, ngokuba ihlazo labezizwe lisusiwe. 59 UJudasi nabafowabo kanye nebandla lonke lakwa-Israyeli banquma ukuba izinsuku zokunikezelwa kwe-altare zigcinwe ngesikhathi sazo unyaka nonyaka ngezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili, kusukela osukwini lwamashumi amabili nanhlanu lwenyanga kaKaslewu. , ngokujabula nangokujabula. 60 Ngaleso sikhathi bakha intaba yaseSiyoni enezindonga eziphakeme nemibhoshongo eqinile nxazonke, funa abeZizwe beze futhi bayinyathele njengoba benza ngaphambili. 61 Basebemisa lapho ikampa yebutho ukulilinda, basebeqinisa iBethura ukuze liyilondoloze; ukuze abantu bazivikele eIdumiya. ISAHLUKO 5 1 Kwathi izizwe nxazonke sezizwile ukuthi i-altare lakhiwe, nendlu engcwele iye yavuselelwa njengakuqala, kwaba kubi kakhulu kubo. 2 Ngalokho-ke bacabanga ukusibhubhisa isizukulwane sikaJakobe esasiphakathi kwabo, futhi phezu kwalokho baqala ukubulala nokubhubhisa abantu. 3 UJuda walwa nabantwana bakwa-Esawu e-Idumiya eArabati, ngokuba bavimbezela iGayeli; 4 Futhi wakhumbula ukulimala kwabantwana bakwaBean ababe yisihibe nesiphambeko kubantu ngokubaqamekela ezindleleni.
5 Wabavalela emibhoshongweni, wamisa ngakubo, wabaqothula, wayishisa imibhoshongo yaleyo ndawo ngomlilo, nakho konke okukuyo. 6 Ngasemuva wadlulela kubantwana bakwa-Amoni, lapho wafumana khona amandla amakhulu, nabantu abaningi, kanye noThimothewu induna yabo. 7 Ngakho walwa izimpi eziningi nabo, kwaze kwaba yilapho beyaluza phambi kwakhe; wasebatshaya. 8 Kwathi eseyithathile iJazari lemizana yayo, wabuyela eJudiya. 9 Khona-ke abezizwe ababeseGileyadi babuthana ngokumelene nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababesendaweni yabo ukuba bababhubhise; kodwa babalekela enqabeni kaDathema. 10 Base bethumela izincwadi kuJudasi nabafowabo, bethi: “Abezizwe abasihaqileyo basibuthanele ukuba basibhubhise; 11 Futhi sebelungiselela ukuza bathathe inqaba esabalekela kuyo, uThimothewu induna yebutho labo. 12 Woza manje, usikhulule esandleni sabo, ngokuba abaningi bethu babulewe; 13 Yebo, bonke abazalwane bethu ababesezindaweni zikaThobi babulewe, omkabo nabantwana babo bathumba abathunjwa, bamuka nempahla yabo; bachitha khona abantu abangaba yinkulungwane. 14 Kwathi zisafunda lezi zincwadi, bheka, kwafika ezinye izithunywa zivela eGalile, izingubo zazo ziklebhukile, zabika kanjalo. 15 Athi: “AbasePhetolemayi, nabaseTire, nabaseSidoni, neGalile yonke yabezizwe babuthana ngokumelene nathi ukuze basiqothule. 16 Kwathi uJuda nabantu bezwa lawa mazwi, kwabuthana isixuku esikhulu ukuba sibuze ukuthi bangabenzelani abafowabo ababesebunzimeni, babashaya. 17 UJuda wasesithi kuSimoni umfowabo: Zikhethele amadoda, uhambe ukhulule abafowenu abaseGalili; 18 Ngakho washiya uJosefa indodana kaZakariya no-Azariya izinduna zabantu kanye nensali yebutho laseJudiya ukuba baligcine. 19 Wabayala ngokuthi: “Lawula laba bantu, nibone ukuthi ningalwi nabezizwe kuze kube yisikhathi esibuya ngaso. 20 USimoni waphiwa amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu ukuba aye eGalile, nakuJuda amadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili ezweni laseGalayadi. 21 Khona uSimoni waya eGalile, lapho alwa khona izimpi eziningi nabezizwe, kangangokuthi abezizwe bashukunyiswa nguye. 22 Wabaxosha kwaze kwaba sesangweni lasePhetolemayi; kwabulawa ezizweni kungathi amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu, athatha impango yawo. 23 Futhi labo ababeseGalile nase-Aribhati, kanye nawomkabo, nabantwana babo, futhi konke ababenakho, wabathatha kanye naye, futhi wabayisa eJudiya ngentokozo enkulu. 24 UJuda Makabe nomfowabo uJonathani bawela iJordani, bahamba uhambo lwezinsuku ezintathu ehlane; 25 Bahlangana khona namaNabati, abeza kubo ngokuthula, abatshela konke okwehlele abafowabo ezweni laseGileyadi; 26 nokuthi abaningi babo babevalelwe eBosora, naseBosori, nase-Alema, naseKasphori, naseMaked, naseKarnayimi; yonke le mizi inamandla, mikhulu; 27 Futhi babevalelwe kuyo yonke eminye imizi yezwe laseGileyadi, nokuthi kusasa babemise ukuletha impi yabo ngokumelene nezinqaba, futhi bayithathe, futhi bayibhubhise bonke ngalusuku lunye. 28 Khona-ke uJuda nebutho lakhe baphenduka ngokuzumayo ngendlela yasehlane baya eBhosora; esewunqobile umuzi,
wababulala bonke abesilisa ngosiko lwenkemba, wathatha yonke impango yabo, wawushisa umuzi ngomlilo. 29 Wasuka lapho ebusuku, wahamba waze wafika enqabeni. 30 Kwasekusithi ekuseni baphakamisa amehlo abo, khangelake, abantu abanengi bethwele izikhwelo lezinye izikhali zokulwa ukuze bathathe inqaba, ngoba babahlasela. 31 Kwathi uJuda ebona ukuthi impi isiqalile, nokukhala komuzi kwenyukela ezulwini, namacilongo nezwi elikhulu; 32 Wathi ebuthweni lakhe: Lilwele abafowenu namuhla. 33 Ngakho waphuma ngemva kwabo ngezigaba ezintathu, babetha amacilongo, bakhala ngokukhuleka. 34 Khona-ke ibutho likaThimothewu, likwazi ukuthi nguMakhabewu, lambalekela; kwaze kwabulawa kubo ngalolo suku kungathi abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili. 35 Esekwenzile lokho, uJuda waphambukela eMispa; ngemva kokulishaya wathatha, wabulala abesilisa kulo, wathatha impango yalo, wayishisa ngomlilo. 36 Wasuka lapho, wathumba iKasifoni, neMagedi, neBosori, neminye imizi yasezweni laseGiliyadi. 37 Ngemva kwalezi zinto uThimothewu wabuthela elinye ibutho futhi likanisa ngokumelene neRafoni ngaphesheya komfula. 38 Ngakho uJuda wathuma amadoda ukuba ahlole ibutho; 39 Uqashile nama-Arabiya ukuba awasize, agxumeke amatende awo ngaphesheya komfula, alungele ukuza ukulwa nawe. Kulokhu uJudasi wahamba ukubahlangabeza. 40 UThimothewu wayesethi ezinduneni zebutho lakhe: “Nxa uJuda nebutho lakhe sebesondele emfuleni, uma ewela kuqala kithina, ngeke sibe namandla ukumelana naye; ngokuba uyakusehlula ngamandla; 41 Kodwa uma esaba, emisa amatende phesheya komfula, siyakuwela siye kuye, simnqobe. 42 UJuda esesondele emfudlaneni wamisa ababhali babantu ngasemfudlaneni, wabayala ngokuthi: "Makungasali muntu ekamu, kepha mabeze bonke ekulweni." 43 Wayesedlulela kubo kuqala, nabo bonke abantu bemlandela; 44 Kodwa bawuthatha umuzi, balitshisa ithempeli labo bonke ababekulo. Wanqotshwa kanjalo-ke iKarnayimi, futhi babengasakwazi ukuma phambi kukaJuda. 45 Khona-ke uJuda wabutha wonke ama-Israyeli ayesezweni laseGileyadi, kusukela komncane kuze kufike komkhulu, ngisho nabafazi babo, nabantwana babo, nempahla yabo, ibutho elikhulu kakhulu, ukuze bafike ezweni laseKhanani. eJudiya. 46 Sebefike e-Efroni, (lona laliwumuzi omkhulu endleleni ababefanele ukuhamba ngayo, ubiyelwe kahle kakhulu) babengenakuchezuka kuwo, noma ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo, kodwa kwakumelwe badlule phakathi kwentaba. yona. 47 Abasemzini babavalela ngaphandle, bavala amasango ngamatshe. 48 UJuda wasethuma kubo ngokuthula, esithi: Asidabule elizweni lenu siye elizweni lakithi, njalo kakho ozalilimaza; sizodabula ngezinyawo kuphela, kepha abavumanga ukumvulela. 49 Ngakho uJudasi walaya ukuthi kumemezelwe kulo lonke ibutho lokuthi yilowo nalowo agxumeke itende lakhe endaweni lapho ekhona. 50 Amasosha amisa, ahlasela umuzi lonke lolo suku nabo bonke lobo busuku, kwaze kwaba sekugcineni umuzi unikelwa esandleni sakhe. 51 Base bebulala abesilisa bonke ngosiko lwenkemba, bawuchitha umuzi, bathatha impango yawo, badabula umuzi phezu kwababuleweyo.
52 Emva kwalokho bawela iJordani baya ethafeni elikhulu eliphambi kweBetsani. 53 UJudasi wasebuthanisa labo ababeza ngemva, wakhuthaza ixuku lonke laze lafika elizweni leJudiya. 54 Base benyukela entabeni yaseSiyoni ngokuthokoza nentokozo, lapho banikela khona iminikelo yokushiswa, ngokuba akubulawanga noyedwa kubo, baze babuya ngokuthula. 55 Kwathi ngesikhathi uJudasi loJonathani besezweni leGalili, loSimoni umfowabo eGalili phambi kwePetolemayi; 56 UJosefa indodana kaZakariya no-Azariya, izinduna zamabutho amabutho, bezwa ngamaqhawe nezimpi ababezenzile. 57 Ngakho bathi: "Asizenzele igama futhi, sihambe silwe nezizwe ezisihaqileyo." 58 Sebeyalile ibutho lebutho elalinabo, baqonda eJamniya. 59 Khona-ke uGorgia namadoda akhe baphuma emzini ukuze balwe nabo. 60 Kwasekusithi uJosefa loAzarasi babaleka, baxotshwa kwaze kwaba semngceleni weJudiya, kwabulawa ngalolosuku kubantwana bakoIsrayeli kungathi amadoda azinkulungwane ezimbili. 61 Ngakho kwaba khona ukugumbuqelwa okukhulu phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ngenxa yokuthi abazange bamlalele uJuda nabafowabo, kodwa babecabanga ukwenza isenzo esithile sobuqhawe. 62 Futhi laba abaphumanga enzalweni yalabo u-Israyeli akhululwa ngesandla sabo. 63 Nokho lowo muntu uJuda nabafowabo babedume kakhulu emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli nakubo bonke abezizwe, nomaphi lapho igama labo lezwakala khona. 64 Kangangoba abantu babuthana kubo ngokuhalalisa. 65 Ngasemuva uJuda waphuma nabafowabo, balwa nabantwana bakwa-Esawu ezweni elingaseningizimu, lapho anqoba khona iHebroni nemizana yalo, wayidiliza inqaba yalo, washisa imibhoshongo yalo nxazonke. 66 Wasuka lapho waya ezweni lamaFilisti, wadabula iSamariya. 67 Ngaleso sikhathi abapristi abathile, befuna ukubonisa ubuqhawe babo, babulawa empini, ngenxa yokuthi baphuma ukulwa bengaqondile. 68 UJuda wayesephendukela e-Azotu ezweni lamaFilisti, wadiliza ama-altare abo, washisa izithombe zabo ezibaziweyo ngomlilo, waphanga imizi yabo, wabuyela ezweni lakwaJuda. ISAHLUKO 6 1 Ngaleso sikhathi inkosi u-Antiyoku isidabula izindawo eziphakemeyo yezwa kuthiwa i-Elimayi ezweni lasePheresiya lalidume kakhulu ngengcebo, nesiliva, negolide; 2 nokuthi kwakukhona kulo ithempeli elinothile kakhulu, okwakukhona kulo izimbozo zegolide, nezivikelo zesifuba nezihlangu, u-Alekzandro indodana kaFiliphu, inkosi yaseMakedoniya, owabusa kuqala phakathi kwamaGreki, akushiya lapho. 3 Ngalokho weza wafuna ukuwuthumba umuzi, nokuwuphanga; kepha akabanga namandla, ngokuba babexwayisiwe abomuzi. 4 Wamvukela ekulweni, wabaleka, wamuka lapho ngokudabuka okukhulu, wabuyela eBabele. 5 Futhi kwafika omunye owamlethela umbiko ePheresiya, ukuthi amabutho ayehlasele izwe laseJudiya ayebalekile. 6 LoLisiya, owaphuma kuqala ngamandla amakhulu, waxoshwa kumaJuda; nokuthi baqiniswa ngezikhali, namandla, nenqwaba yempango, ababeyitholile emabuthweni, ababewachithile;
7 nokuthi babedilizile isinengiso abesimisile e-altare eJerusalema, bezungeza indlu engcwele ngezindonga eziphakeme njengakuqala, nomuzi wakhe iBeti-sura. 8 Lapho inkosi izwa lawa mazwi, yamangala futhi yanyakaziswa kakhulu; 9 Wahlala khona izinsuku eziningi, ngokuba usizi lwakhe lwaluya lukhula, walandisa ukuthi useyakufa. 10 Ngakho wabiza bonke abangane bakhe, wathi kubo: Ubuthongo buphelile emehlweni ami, futhi inhliziyo yami iphelelwa yikukhathazeka okukhulu. 11 Ngasengicabanga enhliziyweni yami ukuthi: Ngingene phakathi kosizi luni, futhi yeka uzamcolo wosizi engikuwo manje! ngokuba bengichichima, ngithandeka ngamandla ami. 12 Kepha manje ngiyakhumbula ububi engabenza eJerusalema, nokuthi ngathatha zonke izitsha zegolide nezesiliva ezazikuyo, ngazithumela ukuba zichithe abakhileyo eJudiya kungabi nasizathu. 13 Ngakho ngiyabona ukuthi ngenxa yalesi sizathu lezi zinkathazo zingehlele, futhi bheka, ngifa ngokudabuka okukhulu ezweni labezizwe. 14 Wasebiza uFiliphu, omunye wabangane bakhe, ambeka umbusi phezu kwawo wonke umbuso wakhe, 15 Futhi yamnika umqhele, nejazi lakhe, kanye nendandatho yayo, ukuze akhulise indodana yakhe u-Antiyochus, futhi ayondle ukuze ibe ngumbuso. 16 Ngakho inkosi uAntiochus yafela lapho ngomnyaka wekhulu lamatshumi amane lesificamunwemunye. 17 Manje ngesikhathi uLisiya azi ukuthi inkosi isifile, wamisa u-Antiyochus indodana yakhe, ayeyikhulise isencane, ukuthi abuse esikhundleni sakhe, futhi igama layo wayiqamba ngokuthi u-Eupatori. 18 Ngaleso sikhathi ababesembhoshongweni bavalela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli nxazonke zendlu engcwele, babefuna njalo ukulimaza kwabo nokuqiniswa kwabezizwe. 19 Ngakho uJudasi, efuna ukubabhubhisa, wabizela ndawonye abantu bonke ukuba babavimbezele. 20 Base bebuthana, babavimbezela ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisihlanu, wenza iduli lokudutshulwa phezu kwabo, nezinye izinsimbi. 21 Kepha kwaphuma abathile kwabavinjezelweyo, abahlanganyela nabo abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu; 22 Basebesiya enkosini, bathi: Koze kube nini ungagwebi, uphindisele abafowethu? 23 Besizimisele ukumkhonza uyihlo, nokwenza njengoba ebethanda thina, nokulalela imiyalo yakhe; 24 Ngalokho-ke abesizwe sakithi bavimbezela umbhoshongo, bahlukanisiwe nathi; 25 Futhi abelulelanga isandla sabo kithi kuphela, kodwa futhi nasemingceleni yabo. 26 Bheka, namuhla bavimbezela umbhoshongo waseJerusalema ukuba uwuthathe; 27 Ngakho-ke uma ungabavimbi ngokushesha, bayokwenza izinto ezinkulu kunalezi, futhi ngeke ukwazi ukuzibusa. 28 Manje lapho inkosi ikuzwa lokhu, yathukuthela, futhi yaqoqela ndawonye bonke abangane bayo, nezinduna zempi yayo, nalabo ababephethe amahhashi. 29 Kweza kuye nakweminye imibuso, naseziqhingini zolwandle, amaviyo aqashwayo. 30 Ngakho inani lebutho lakhe laliyimigundatshani eyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu, nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili, nezindlovu ezingamashumi amathathu nambili eziqeqeshelwe ukulwa. 31 Laba badabula i-Idumiya, bamisa ngaseBethsura, abayishaya izinsuku eziningi, benza izinqola zempi; kepha abeBethsura baphuma, babashisa ngomlilo, balwa ngokunamandla.
32 Kulokhu uJuda wasuka embhoshongweni, wamisa eBatsakariya malungana nekamu lenkosi. 33 Inkosi yasivuka ekuseni kakhulu kanye lebutho layo laya eBhathizakhariya, lapho amabutho ayo azilungisela impi, abetha amacilongo. 34 Futhi ukuze bavuse izindlovu ukuba zilwe, bazibonisa igazi lamagilebhisi nelamajikijolo. 35 Bahlukanisa izilo phakathi kwamabutho, nasezindlovu zonke babeka amadoda ayinkulungwane ahlome amabhantshi ensimbi, nezigqoko zethusi emakhanda abo; futhi ngaphandle kwalokhu, ngoba zonke izilwane kwamiswa abamahhashi abangamakhulu amahlanu kusukela best. 36 Lawa ayemi ngomumo ngazo zonke izikhathi; 37 Phezu kwezilwane kwakukhona imibhoshongo eqinile yokhuni, eyasibekela zonke, ibhincelwe amaqhinga; kwakukhona phezu kwazo zonke amadoda anamandla angamashumi amathathu nambili, alwa nazo ngaphandle kwamaNdiya ayebusa. yena. 38 Kepha insali yabagibeli bamahhashi, yabamisa ngalapha nangalapha ezingxenyeni ezimbili zebandla, ibanika izibonakaliso zokuthi benzeni, beboshiwe phakathi kwezinhlu. 39 Kwathi ilanga likhanya phezu kwezihlangu zegolide lezethusi, izintaba zabenyezela ngakho, zikhanya njengezibane zomlilo. 40 Ngakho ingxenye yebutho lenkosi ihlakazekile ezintabeni eziphakemeyo, futhi ingxenye ezigodini ngaphansi, bahamba ngokuphepha nangokuhlelekile. 41 Ngalokho bonke abezwa umsindo wesixuku sabo, nokuhamba kwesixuku, nokugedla kwezikhali, ngokuba impi yayinkulu kakhulu, inamandla. 42 UJuda nebutho lakhe basondela, bangena ekulweni, kwabulawa ebuthweni lenkosi amadoda angamakhulu ayisithupha. 43 U-Eleyazare ogama lakhe linguSavarani, ebona ukuthi esinye sezilo, esihlome izikhali zobukhosi sasiphakeme kunazo zonke ezinye, wathi inkosi iphezu kwakhe; 44 uzibeke engozini, ukuze akhulule abantu bakhe, azitholele igama eliphakade; 45 Ngakho wagijimela kuye ngesibindi phakathi kwempi, ebulala ngakwesokunene nangakwesokhohlo, baze bahlukana kuye nhlangothi zombili. 46 Esekwenzile lokho, wanyonyobela indlovu, wayigwaza, yambulala; indlovu yawela phezu kwakhe, wafela khona. 47 Kepha abanye abaJuda bebona amandla enkosi nobudlova bebutho layo baphenduka. 48 Ibutho lenkosi lase likhuphukela eJerusalema ukubahlangabeza, inkosi yamisa amatende ayo ngaseJudiya nasentabeni yaseSiyoni. 49 Kepha wenza ukuthula nabaseBethsura, ngokuba baphuma emzini, lokhu babengenakudla lapho kokuvinjezelwa, kungumnyaka wokuphumula ezweni. 50 Inkosi yasithatha iBethsura, yabeka ikampa yokulilinda. 51 Indlu engcwele wayivimbezela izinsuku eziningi, wabeka khona izikhali nezinsimbi zokujikijela umlilo namatshe nezinqamu zokuphonsa imicibisholo nezindwayimane. 52 Ngalokho-ke nabo benza izinjini ngokumelene nezinjini zabo, futhi balwa nazo isikhathi eside. 53 Nokho ekugcineni, izitsha zabo zazingenamphako, (ngokuba kwakungunyaka wesikhombisa, futhi labo eJudiya ababekhululiwe kwabezizwe babeyidlile insalela yesiqongo;) 54 Kwasekusele abayingcosana endaweni engcwele, ngoba indlala yabehlula, basebedinga ukuzihlakaza, ngulowo lalowo aye endaweni yakhe. 55 Ngalesosikhathi uLisiya wezwa kuthiwa uFiliphu, lowo uAntiochus inkosi esaphila wayemmisile ukukhulisa indodana yakhe uAntiochus, ukuze ibe yinkosi;
56 Wabuya evela ePheresiya naseMediya, kanye nebutho lenkosi elalihamba naye, futhi wafuna ukumthathela umthetho wezindaba. 57 Wasengena ngokuphangisa, wathi enkosini lezinduna zebutho lexuku: Sibola insuku ngensuku, lokudla kwethu kuncinyane, lendawo esiyivimbezelayo iqinile, lezindaba zombuso. lala phezu kwethu: 58 Ngakho-ke masibe ngabangane balaba bantu, senze ukuthula nabo kanye nesizwe sabo sonke; 59 wenze isivumelwano nabo ukuthi bayakuphila ngemithetho yabo njengakuqala, ngokuba bacunule, benze zonke lezi zinto, ngokuba siyichithile imithetho yabo. 60 Inkosi nezikhulu bavuma; ngalokho yathumela kubo ukwenza ukuthula; futhi bakwamukela. 61 Inkosi nezikhulu zabafungisa, base bephuma enqabeni. 62 Inkosi yasingena entabeni yeZiyoni; kodwa lapho ebona ukuqina kwendawo, waphula isifungo ayesenzile, wayala ukuba kudilizwe ugange nxazonke. 63 Ngemva kwalokho wamuka ngejubane elikhulu, wabuyela e-Antiyokiya, lapho athola khona uFiliphu engumphathi womuzi, walwa naye, wawuthumba umuzi. ISAHLUKO 7 1 Ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisihlanu nanye uDemetriyu indodana kaSeluku wasuka eRoma, wenyukela nabantu abayingcosana emzini ongasogwini lolwandle, wabusa khona. 2 Kwathi lapho engena endlini yoyisemkhulu, kwaba njalo ukuthi amabutho akhe athatha u-Antiochus noLisiya ukubaletha kuye. 3 Ngakho, ekwazi, wathi: Mangingaboni ubuso babo. 4 Ngakho ibutho lakhe lababulala. Kwathi uDemetriyu esehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso wakhe. 5 Kweza kuye bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababi nabangamesabi uNkulunkulu, beno-Alkimu, owayethanda ukuba ngumpristi omkhulu, induna yabo; 6 Base bemangalela abantu enkosini, bathi: “UJuda nabafowabo bababulele bonke abangane bakho, basixosha ezweni lakithi. 7 Ngakho-ke thuma umuntu othile omethembayo, ahambe, abone ukuthi kungakanani ukuceka kwakhe akwenzile phakathi kwethu nasezweni lenkosi, abajezise kanye nabo bonke ababasizayo. 8 Inkosi yayisikhetha uBakidesi, umngane wenkosi, owayebusa ngaphesheya kukazamcolo, wayengumuntu omkhulu embusweni nothembekile enkosini, 9 Futhi yena wamthuma kanye nalowo u-Alkimu omubi, amenza umphristi omkhulu, futhi wayala ukuthi aphindisele kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli. 10 Base bemuka, bafika ezweni laseJudiya ngamandla amakhulu, lapho bathumela khona izithunywa kuJuda nabafowabo ngamazwi okuthula ngenkohliso. 11 Kodwa kabanakanga amazwi abo; ngoba babona ukuthi beze ngamandla amakhulu. 12 Khona-ke kwabuthana ku-Alkimu noBakide iqembu lababhali, ukuze lifune ubulungisa. 13 Ama-Asiya ayengabokuqala phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli abafuna ukuthula kubo. 14 Ngoba bathi: Umpristi wenzalo kaAroni ufikile lebutho, njalo kayikusona; 15 Wasekhuluma kubo ngokuthula, wafunga kubo, esithi: Kasiyikuthwala okubi kini loba abangane benu. 16 Bakholwa nguye, nokho wathatha kubo amadoda angamashumi ayisithupha, wawabulala ngalusuku lunye, njengamazwi awalobayo;
17 Inyama yabangcwele bakho bayichithile, negazi labo balichithile nxazonke zeJerusalema, akwabakho obembela. 18 Ngakho ukwesaba nokwesaba kwehlela phezu kwabantu bonke, abathi: “Akukho iqiniso nokulunga kubo; ngoba basephulile isivumelwano lesifungo abasenzayo. 19 Emva kwalokho wasusa uBakide eJerusalema, wamisa amatende akhe eBezeti, lapho athumela khona, wathatha abaningi kubantu ababemshiyile, nabanye kubantu, wababulala, wabaphonsa egodini elikhulu. umgodi. 20 Wayesenikela izwe ku-Alkimu, wamshiyela amandla okumsiza; ngakho uBakide waya enkosini. 21 Kodwa u-Alkimu walwela ubuphristi obukhulu. 22 Kwase kusondela kuye bonke abahlupha abantu, abathi sebelinike izwe lakwaJuda esandleni sabo, benza okubi kakhulu kwa-Israyeli. 23 Kwathi uJuda ebona ububi bonke u-Alkimu neqembu lakhe ababenzile phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli naphezu kwabezizwe, 24 Waphuma waya kuzo zonke izifunda zaseJudiya ezizingelezeleyo, waphindisela kwabahlubukayo kuye, ukuze bangabe besalokotha baphumele ezweni. 25 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ngesikhathi u-Alkimu ebona ukuthi uJuda kanye neqembu lakhe base bephumelele, futhi bazi ukuthi wayengenakukwazi ukumelana nebutho labo, waphinde waya enkosini, futhi wakhuluma konke okubi kunabo bonke ayengakwenza. 26 Inkosi yasithuma uNikanori, omunye wezikhulu zayo ezihloniphekayo, indoda enzondo ebulalayo kuIsrayeli, ngomlayo wokubhubhisa abantu. 27 Wayesefika uNikonori eJerusalema enebutho elikhulu; wathumela kuJudasi nabafowabo ngamazwi amnandi, wathi: 28 Makungabikho ukulwa phakathi kwami nawe; Ngizoza namadoda ambalwa, ukuze ngikubone ngokuthula. 29 Ngakho wafika kuJudasi, babingelelana ngokuthula. Nokho izitha zazizilungiselele ukuthatha uJudasi ngobudlova. 30 Lokho okwakwaziwa nguJudasi, ukuthi weza kuye ngenkohliso, wamesaba kakhulu, kabe esabubona ubuso bakhe. 31 UNikanori laye, ebona ukuthi icebo lakhe selifezekile, waphuma ukuyakulwa loJudasi ngaseKhafarsalama. 32 Lapho kwabulawa khona ohlangothini lukaNikanori amadoda angaba yizinkulungwane ezinhlanu, futhi abanye babalekela emzini kaDavide. 33 Ngemva kwalokho uNikonori wakhuphukela eNtabeni yaseSiyoni, futhi kwaphuma endlini engcwele abanye babapristi nabanye bamalunga abantu ukuze bamkhulekele ngokuthula futhi bambonise umhlatshelo wokushiswa owanikelwa inkosi. 34 Kodwa wabahleka usulu, wabahleka, wabathuka, wakhuluma ngokuzidla; 35 Wafunga ngolaka lwakhe, wathi: “Ngaphandle kokuthi uJuda nebutho lakhe benganikelwa esandleni sami, uma ngibuya ngokulondeka, ngiyoyishisa le ndlu,” futhi ngalokho waphuma ethukuthele kakhulu. 36 Abapristi bangena, bema phambi kwe-altare nethempeli, bekhala, bathi: 37 Wena, Jehova, wakhetha le ndlu ukuba ibizwe ngegama lakho, ibe yindlu yokukhuleka nokunxusa yabantu bakho; 38 Ziphindiseleni kulo muntu nakulo ibutho lakhe, bawe ngenkemba; 39 UNikanori waphuma eJerusalema, wamisa amatende akhe eBeti Horoni, lapho impi evela e-Aramu yamhlangabeza khona. 40 Kepha uJuda wamisa e-Adasa namadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu, wakhuleka khona, wathi:
41 O Jehova, lapho ababethunywe enkosini yase-Asiriya behlambalaza, ingelosi yakho yaphuma yabulala abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisishiyagalombili nanhlanu kubo. 42 Ngokunjalo chitha lelibutho phambi kwethu lamuhla, ukuze abaseleyo bazi ukuthi ukhulume ngokuchapha ngendlu yakho engcwele, lamahlulele njengobubi bakhe. 43 Ngosuku lweshumi nantathu lwenyanga ka-Adari amabutho aqala ukulwa; 44 Manje lapho ibutho likaNikanori libona ukuthi ubulewe, lalahla izikhali zalo, labaleka. 45 Base bebaxosha, ibanga losuku, besuka e-Adasa, baze bafika eGazera, behlaba umkhosi emva kwabo benamacilongo abo. 46 Basebephuma emizini yonke yeJudiya ezizingelezeleyo, bazivalela; baze baphendukela ababebaxosha, babulawa bonke ngenkemba, akwasala noyedwa kubo. 47 Ngasemuva bathatha impango nempango, bachitha ikhanda likaNikanori nesandla sakhe sokunene ayelule ngokuziqhenya, bakuthatha, bakulengisa ngaseJerusalema. 48 Ngenxa yalokho abantu bathokoza kakhulu, balugcina lolosuku lwentokozo enkulu. 49 Base bemisa ukugcina lolu suku iminyaka ngeminyaka, ngolweshumi nantathu luka-Adari. 50 Ngakho izwe lakwaJuda lazola isikhashana. ISAHLUKO 8 1 Manje uJuda wayezwile ngamaRoma ukuthi ayengamadoda anamandla namaqhawe, futhi ayethanda ukwamukela bonke abazihlanganisa nawo, futhi enze isivumelwano sobudlelwane nabo bonke abeza kubo; 2 Futhi nokuthi babengamadoda anamandla amakhulu. Watshelwa futhi ngezimpi zabo nangezenzo zabo ezinhle ababezenzile kwabaseGalathiya, nokuthi babanqoba kanjani, babathela ngentela; 3 Futhi nalokho ababekwenzile ezweni laseSpaniya, ngokuzuza ezimayini zesiliva negolide ezazilapho; 4 Futhi nokuthi ngomgomo wabo nangokubekezela babeyinqobile yonke indawo, nakuba yayikude kakhulu nabo; namakhosi abafikela wona evela emikhawulweni yomhlaba, aze abadungadulisa, abachitha kakhulu, abaseleyo babathela intela iminyaka ngeminyaka. 5 Phezu kwalokhu, ukuthi baxabana njani loFiliphu loPersewu inkosi yamaKiti, kanye labanye abazigqajayo bemelana labo, babanqoba; 6 Yeka ukuthi no-Antiochus, inkosi enkulu yase-Asiya, owafika ukulwa nabo empini, enezindlovu eziyikhulu namashumi amabili, nabamahhashi, nezinqola, nempi enkulu kakhulu, wadunyazwa yibo; 7 nokuthi bambamba kanjani ephila, benza isivumelwano sokuthi yena nababusa emva kwakhe bayakukhokha intela enkulu, bakhiphe abathumbi, nalokho okwakuvunyelwene ngakho; 8 nezwe laseNdiya, nelaseMediya, nelaseLidiya, nelamazwe amahle kakhulu, abalithatha kuye, balinika inkosi u-Ewumene. 9 Futhi ukuthi amaGreki ayezimisele kanjani ukuza azobabhubhisa; 10 Futhi ukuthi, bekwazi lokho bathumela kubo induna ethile, futhi yalwa nabo yabulala abaningi babo, futhi yathumba omkabo nabantwana babo, yabaphanga, yathatha amazwe abo, futhi yadiliza amandla abo. wawabamba, wawaletha ukuba abe yizinceku zawo kuze kube namuhla; 11 Watshelwa ngaphandle kwalokho ukuthi babhubhisa kanjani futhi bayiyisa ngaphansi kokubusa kwayo yonke
eminye imibuso neziqhingi ezamelana nayo nganoma yisiphi isikhathi; 12 Kodwa kanye nabangane babo nalabo ababethembele kubo bagcina uthando, nokuthi babenqobe imibuso ekude naseduze, kangangokuthi bonke abezwa igama labo babesaba. 13 Futhi ukuthi, labo ababeyobasiza embusweni, labo bayabusa; futhi labo ababefuna futhi, babasusa, ekugcineni baphakanyiswa kakhulu. 14 Nokho akukho noyedwa kubo owayembethe umqhele noma owembethe okububende ukuze akhazinyuliswe ngakho; 15 Futhi ukuthi babezenzele indlu yesine, lapho amadoda angamakhulu amathathu namashumi amabili ahlala khona emhlanganweni nsuku zonke, ecebisana nabantu njalo, ukuze amiswe kahle. 16 Futhi nokuthi banikela umbuso wabo endodeni eyodwa minyaka yonke, eyayibusa lonke izwe labo, nokuthi bonke babemlalela lowo, futhi kwakungekho mhawu namona phakathi kwabo. 17 Ngemva kokunaka lezi zinto, uJuda wakhetha uEwupolemu kaJohane ka-Akose noJasoni indodana kaEleyazare, wabathumela eRoma ukuze benze isivumelwano sobudlelwane+ futhi benze isivumelwano nabo. 18 nokubanxusa ukuba balisuse kubo ijoka; ngokuba babona ukuthi umbuso wamaGreki wamcindezela u-Israyeli ngobugqila. 19 Ngakho baya eRoma, okwakuwuhambo olude kakhulu, bafika endlini yezikhulu, bakhuluma khona, basho. 20 UJudas Makcabeus kanye labafowabo kanye labantu bamaJuda basithumile kini ukuze senze isivumelwano lokuthula lani, ukuze sibhaliswe njengabangane benu labangane benu. 21 Ngakho leyo ndaba yabajabulisa amaRoma. 22 Nansi ikhophi yencwadi amalungu ebandla abuye ayiloba ezibhebheni zethusi, yathunyelwa eJerusalema ukuba kube khona ngazo isikhumbuzo sokuthula nobudlelwane; 23 Impumelelo kayibe kumaRoma, nakubantu bamaJuda, olwandle nasemhlabeni kuze kube phakade; inkemba nesitha makube kude nabo; 24 Uma kuqala ukulwa namaRoma nanoma yiliphi lamaqembu awo embusweni wawo wonke, 25 Abantu bamaJuda bazabasiza ngesikhathi esimisiweyo ngayo yonke inhliziyo yabo; 26 Futhi abayikunikela lutho kulabo abalwa nabo, noma babasize ngokudla, izikhali, imali, noma imikhumbi, njengoba kubonakala kukuhle kumaRoma; kodwa bayogcina izivumelwano zabo ngaphandle kokuthatha lutho ngakho. 27 Kanjalo futhi, uma kuqala ukulwa phezu kwesizwe samaJuda, amaRoma ayakusisiza ngenhliziyo yonke, ngokwesikhathi esimisiweyo; 28 Futhi abayikunikwa ukudla labo abahlanganyela nabo, noma izikhali, noma imali, noma imikhumbi, njengoba kubonakala kukuhle kumaRoma; kodwa bayogcina izivumelwano zabo, futhi ngaphandle kwenkohliso. 29 Ngokwalezi zihloko ingabe amaRoma enza isivumelwano nabantu bamaJuda. 30 Nokho uma emva kwalokhu iqembu elilodwa noma elinye lizocabanga ukuhlangana ukuze linezele noma linciphise noma yini, lingakwenza ngokuthanda kwalo, futhi noma yini abayoyengeza noma abayoyisusa kuyoqinisekiswa. 31 Maqondana nobubi uDemetriyu abenzayo kumaJuda, simbhalele sithi: ‘Ulenzeleni ijoka lakho laba nzima phezu kwabangane bethu, uhlanganise nabaJuda na? 32 Ngakho uma besakhononda ngawe, siyakubenzela ubulungisa, silwe nawe ngolwandle nasemhlabeni.
ISAHLUKO 9 1 Futhi lapho uDemetriyu ezwa ukuthi uNikanori nebutho lakhe babulewe empini, wathumela uBhakide no-Alkimu ngokwesibili ezweni laseJudiya, kanye nabo impi eyikhulu yebutho lakhe. 2 Baphuma ngendlela eholela eGiligala, bamisa amatende abo phambi kweMasaloti ese-Aribela, sebelinqobile, babulala abantu abaningi. 3 Ngenyanga yokuqala yonyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisihlanu nambili bamisa phambi kweJerusalema; 4 Basuka lapho, baya eBereya, benemigundatshani eyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane ezimbili. 5 UJuda wayesegxumeke amatende akhe e-Eleyasa, enamadoda akhethiweyo ayizinkulungwane ezintathu; 6 Kwathi ebona ixuku lebutho elikhulu kangaka, besaba kakhulu; abaningi baphuma empini, abaze bahlala kubo kuphela abantu abangamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili. 7 Kwathi uJudasi ebona ukuthi ibutho lakhe liyahlehla lokuthi impi imcindezela, wakhathazeka kakhulu engqondweni yakhe, wakhathazeka kakhulu, ngoba wayengelasikhathi sokubabutha. 8 Nokho wathi kwabaseleyo: “Masisuke, sikhuphuke, silwe nezitha zethu, mhlawumbe singase sikwazi ukulwa nazo. 9 Kodwa bamcindezela, bathi: “Asinakukwazi naphakade; 10 Wayesethi uJuda: "Makube kude nami ukuba ngenze lokhu, ngibabalekele; uma isikhathi sethu sesifikile, masife njengabantu ngenxa yabafowethu, singangcolisi udumo lwethu." 11 Lase liphuma ibutho likaBakide ematendeni alo, lema malungana nabo, abamahhashi balo behlukene kabili, abasawuli balo nabacibishelayo behamba phambi kwekamu, nabahamba phambili bonke babengamadoda anamandla. 12 UBakide yena wayesophikweni lokunene; ibutho lasondela ezinhlangothini zombili, labetha amacilongo. 13 Nabo abasohlangothini lukaJuda babetha amacilongo abo, kwaze kwazamazama umhlaba ngomsindo wamabutho, impi yaqhubeka kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwahlwa. 14 Kwathi uJudasi esebonile ukuthi uBakide lamandla ebutho lakhe bangakwesokunene, wathatha wonke amaqhawe alamandla. 15 owahlephula iphiko lokunene, wabaxosha kwaze kwaba sentabeni yase-Azotu. 16 Kodwa abophiko lwesokhohlo bathi bebona ukuthi abangakwesokunene bayayaluza, bamlandela uJuda nababe naye ezithendeni kabuhlungu ngemuva. 17 Kwaba khona impi enzima, kwaze kwabulawa abaningi ezinhlangothini zombili. 18 UJudasi laye wabulawa, insali yabaleka. 19 Khona-ke uJonathani noSimoni bathatha uJuda umfowabo, futhi bamngcwaba ethuneni laboyise eModini. 20 Bamkhalela, u-Israyeli wonke wamenzela isililo esikhulu, wamlilela izinsuku eziningi, wathi: 21 Yeka ukuwa kwendoda eyiqhawe eyakhulula u-Israyeli! 22 Ngokuqondene nezinye izinto ngoJuda, nezimpi zakhe, nezenzo zodumo azenzayo, nobukhulu bakhe, azibhalwanga, ngokuba zaziziningi kakhulu. 23 Manje emva kokufa kukaJuda ababi baqala ukukhipha amakhanda abo kuzo zonke izifunda zakwa-Israyeli, futhi kwavuka bonke abenza ububi. 24 Ngalezo zinsuku kwaba khona indlala enkulu kakhulu, okwathi ngayo izwe lahlubuka, lahamba nabo. 25 Khona-ke uBakide wakhetha amadoda amabi, wawenza amakhosi ezwe. 26 Base bebuza, badinga abangane bakaJuda, babayisa kuBakide, owaphindisela kubo, wabaphatha kabi.
27 Kanjalo kwaba khona usizi olukhulu kwa-Israyeli, olungazange lube njengalo kusukela esikhathini umprofethi angabonakali phakathi kwabo. 28 Ngakho bonke abangane bakaJuda babuthana, bathi kuJonathani: 29 Selokhu umfowenu uJudasi afa, asinamuntu onjengaye ongaphuma ayokulwa nezitha zethu, noBakidesi, nabesizwe sakithi esimelene nathi. 30 Ngakho manje sesikukhethile namuhla ukuba ube yisikhulu nenduna yethu esikhundleni sakhe, ukuze ulwe izimpi zethu. 31 UJonathani wathatha umbuso phezu kwakhe ngaleso sikhathi, wasuka esikhundleni sikaJuda umfowabo. 32 Kodwa lapho uBakide ekwazi ngakho, wafuna ukumbulala 33 UJonathani, noSimoni umfowabo, nabo bonke ababe naye sebekwazi lokho, babalekela ehlane laseThekowa, bamisa amatende abo ngasemanzini echibi lase-Asfari. 34 Kwathi uBakide esezwile, wasondela eJordani lebutho lakhe lonke ngosuku lwesabatha. 35 UJonathani wayesethume umfowabo uJohane, induna yabantu, ukuba akhulekele abangane bakhe, amaNabati, ukuba bahambe nabo imithwalo yabo, yayiminingi. 36 Kodwa amadodana kaJambri aphuma eMedaba, athatha uJohane lakho konke ayelakho, bahamba laye. 37 Ngemva kwalokhu kwafika izwi kuJonathani noSimoni umfowabo, ukuthi abantwana bakwaJambri benza umshado omkhulu, futhi baletha umakoti wakwaNadabhatha ngesixuku esikhulu, njengendodakazi yesinye sezikhulu ezinkulu zaseKhanani. 38 Ngakho bakhumbula uJohane umfowabo, bakhuphuka bacasha ngaphansi kwesitha sentaba. 39 Lapho baphakamisa amehlo abo, babona, khangela-ke, kwakukhona isiphithiphithi lempahla enkulu; 40 UJonathani nababe naye babavukela besuka endaweni ababeqamekele kuyo, babaceka kangangokuthi abaningi bawa bafa, abaseleyo babalekela entabeni, bathatha konke. impango yabo. 41 Kanjalo umshado waphenduka isililo, nomsindo wehubo labo laba isililo. 42 Ngakho sebephindisele ngokupheleleyo igazi lomfowabo, babuyela enkangala yeJordani. 43 Kwathi uBakide ekuzwa lokho, wafika ngosuku lwesabatha ngasemfuleni iJordani enamandla amakhulu. 44 UJonathani wayesethi eqenjini lakhe: “Masikhuphuke manje, silwele ukuphila kwethu, ngokuba akusekho kithi namuhla njengakuqala; 45 Ngokuba bhekani, impi iphambi kwethu nangasemva kwethu, namanzi aseJordani ngalapha nangalapha, ixhaphozi nezinkuni, akukho ndawo esingaphambukela kuyo. 46 Ngakho-ke khala manje ezulwini, ukuze ukhululwe esandleni sezitha zenu. 47 Basebehlanganyela impi, uJonathani welula isandla sakhe ukuze abulale uBakidesi, kodwa wahlehla kuye. 48 UJonathani nababe naye bagxumela eJordani, babhukuda ngaphesheya kosebe, kepha abawelanga iJordani kubo. 49 Ngakho kwabulawa ngasohlangothini lukaBakide ngalolosuku amadoda angaba yinkulungwane. 50 Ngasemuva uBakide wabuyela eJerusalema, walungisa imizi enamandla yaseJudiya; inqaba yaseJeriko, naseEmawuse, naseBeti Horoni, naseBethele, naseThaminatha, nasePharathoni, naseThafoni, lezi waziqinisa ngezindonga eziphakemeyo, namasango, nemigoqo. 51 Wamisa kuzo izikaniso zamabutho ukuba benze okubi kwa-Israyeli. 52 Wawuqinisa umuzi waseBethsura, neGazera, nombhoshongo, wabeka amabutho kuwo, wanikela ngokudla.
53 Ngaphezu kwalokho wathumba amadodana ezikhulu zezwe, wawabeka embhoshongweni waseJerusalema ukuba agcinwe. 54 Futhi ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisihlanu nantathu, ngenyanga yesibili, u-Alkimu wayala ukuba udonga lwegceke elingaphakathi lendlu engcwele lubhidlizwe; wadiliza nemisebenzi yabaprofethi 55 Kwathi lapho eqala ukudiliza, nangaleso sikhathi u-Alkimu washaywa, futhi ingqondo yakhe yavinjelwa, ngoba umlomo wakhe wawuvaliwe, futhi wayebanjwe yisigoga, kangangokuthi wayengabe esakwazi ukukhuluma lutho, futhi akazange akhiphe umyalo mayelana. indlu yakhe. 56 Ngakho u-Alkimu wafa ngaleso sikhathi ngokuhlushwa okukhulu. 57 Kwathi uBakide ebona ukuthi u-Alkimu ufile, wabuyela enkosini; 58 Khona-ke bonke abantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu benza isigungu, bathi: “Bheka, uJonathani neqembu lakhe bahlezi ngokukhululeka, futhi bahlala belondekile; 59 Ngakho bahamba bacebisana laye. 60 Wayesesuka, weza nebutho elikhulu, wathumela izincwadi ngasese kubalandeli bakhe eJudiya ukuba babambe uJonathani nababe naye; kepha babengenakukwazi, ngokuba icebo labo lalisaziwa kubo. 61 Base bethatha kubantu bezwe ababengabenzi bobubi, abantu kungathi abangamashumi amahlanu, bababulala. 62 Ngemva kwalokho oJonathani loSimoni lalabo ababelaye basuka baya eBhethi-bhasi esenkangala, balungisa okwakubolile kulo, baliqinisa. 63 UBakide esekwazi lokho, wabutha ibutho lakhe lonke, wathumela kwabaseJudiya. 64 Wasehamba wavimbezela iBeti-Basi; futhi balwa nayo isikhathi eside futhi benza izinjini zempi. 65 Kepha uJonathani washiya umfowabo uSimoni emzini, waphuma yena waya emaphandleni, waphuma enenani elithile. 66 Wabulala u-Odonarike nabafowabo, nabantwana bakwaFasironi etendeni labo. 67 Kwathi eseqalile ukubatshaya, wenyuka lebutho lakhe, uSimoni leqembu lakhe baphuma emzini, batshisa izinjini zokulwa; 68 Base belwa noBakidesi, owayecunukile kubo, bamhlupha kakhulu, ngokuba isiluleko sakhe nemihelo yakhe kwaba yize. 69 Ngalokho-ke wabathukuthelela kakhulu abantu ababi ababemcebisa ukuthi eze ezweni, kangangoba wabulala abaningi babo, futhi ehlose ukubuyela ezweni lakubo. 70 UJonathani esekwazi, wathuma izithunywa kuye ukuze enze ukuthula naye, abakhulule iziboshwa. 71 Wakwamukela lokho, wakwenza njengokusho kwakhe, wafunga kuye ukuthi akasoze amlimaza zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe. 72 Kwathi esebuyisele kuye izibotshwa ayezithumbile kudala elizweni leJudiya, wabuyela elizweni lakibo, kabe esangena emikhawulweni yabo. 73 Yanqamuka ke inkemba ku-Israyeli; uJonathani wahlala eMakimasi, waqala ukubusa abantu; futhi wabhubhisa abantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli. ISAHLUKO 10 1 Ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha u-Aleksandru indodana ka-Antiochus othiwa u-Epiphanes, wakhuphuka wathatha uPhetolemayi, ngokuba abantu babemamukele, abusa ngakho khona; 2 Kwathi inkosi uDemetriyu ikuzwa lokho, yabutha impi enkulu kakhulu, yaphuma ukulwa nayo.
3 UDemetriyu wathumela izincwadi kuJonathani ngamazwi othando, waze wamkhulisa. 4 Ngokuba wathi: “Masenze ukuthula naye kuqala, ngaphambi kokuba ahlangane no-Aleksandru amelane nathi; 5 Uma kungenjalo, uyokhumbula bonke ububi esibenze ngokumelene naye, futhi ngokumelene abafowabo kanye nabantu bakhe. 6 Ngakho wamnika igunya lokuqoqa impi, futhi enze izikhali, ukuze amsize ekulweni, futhi wayala ukuba abathunjwa ababesembhoshongweni bakhululwe kuye. 7 UJonathani wayesefika eJerusalema, wafunda izincwadi ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu nezabo ababesembhoshongweni; 8 Besaba kakhulu, bezwa ukuthi inkosi imnike igunya lokubutha impi. 9 Base benikela abathunjwa babo kuJonathani, wabanikela kubazali babo. 10 UJonathani wenza lokhu, wahlala eJerusalema, waqala ukwakha nokulungisa umuzi. 11 Wayala abenzi bomsebenzi ukuba bakhe izingange nentaba yaseSiyoni nxazonke ngamatshe ayizikwele abe yizivikelo; benze njalo. 12 Abafokazi ababesezinqabeni ezazakhayo uBakide babaleka; 13 Kwaze kwathi wonke umuntu wasuka endaweni yakhe, waya elizweni lakibo. 14 Kuphela eBethsura kwasala abathile kwabashiya umthetho nemiyalo, ngokuba kwakuyindawo yabo yokuphephela. 15 Kwathi inkosi u-Aleksandru isizwile izithembiso uDemetriyu azithumele kuJonathani, nalapho itshelwa ngezimpi nangezenzo ezinhle ababezenzile yena nabafowabo, nangobuhlungu ababebubekezelele; 16 Wathi: "Singamfumana yini omunye onjalo na?" manje-ke sizomenza umngane wethu futhi sibe yinhlangano. 17 Wabhala incwadi, wayithumela kuye ngokwala mazwi, wathi: 18 Inkosi u-Aleksandru kuJonathani umfowabo ithi: 19 Sizwile ngawe, ukuthi uyindoda enamandla amakhulu, nofanele ukuba ngumngane wethu; 20 Ngakho-ke namuhla siyakumisa ukuba ube ngumpristi omkhulu wesizwe sakini, ubizwe ngokuthi ungumngane wenkosi; wathumela kuye ingubo ebubende nomqhele wegolide; 21 Kwathi ngenyanga yesikhombisa ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha, ngomkhosi wamadokodo, uJonathani wembatha ingubo engcwele, wabutha amabutho, walungisa izikhali eziningi. 22 Kwathi uDemetriyu ekuzwile wadabuka kakhulu, wathi: 23 Senzeni, ukuthi u-Alekzandro usevimbele ukuba senze ubuhlobo nabaJuda ukuba aziqinise na? 24 Futhi ngizobabhalela amazwi enkuthazo, futhi ngibathembise izithunzi nezipho, ukuze ngithole usizo lwabo. 25 Ngakho wathumela kubo ukuthi: UDemetriyu inkosi ebantwini bamaJuda uyakhonza; 26 Nakuba nizigcinile izivumelwano nathi, futhi naqhubeka ebunganini bethu, ningahlangani nezitha zethu, sikuzwile lokhu, futhi siyajabula. 27 Ngakho-ke qhubekani nithembekile kithi, futhi sizonibuyisela kahle ngezinto enisenzela zona. 28 Futhi uyoninika ukuzivikela okuningi, futhi aninike nemivuzo. 29 Manje ngiyanikhulula, futhi ngenxa yenu ngikhulula abaJuda bonke ezithelweni, nasemikhubeni kasawoti, nasezinteleni zemiqhele, 30 Futhi kulokho okungokwami ukwamukela ingxenye yesithathu noma imbewu, nengxenye yesithelo sezihlahla, ngiyakukhulula kusukela kulolu suku kuqhubeke, ukuze
zingathathwa ezweni lakwaJuda, noma zithathwe. yemibuso emithathu eyenezelwa kukho evela ezweni laseSamariya nelaseGalile, kusukela namuhla kuze kube phakade. 31 IJerusalema nayo mayibe ngcwele futhi ikhululeke, kanye nemingcele yayo, kusukela kokweshumi kanye nentela. 32 Ngokuqondene nombhoshongo oseJerusalema, nginikeza igunya phezu kwawo, futhi nginikeza umpristi omkhulu ukuba amise kuwo labo abathanda ukuwugcina. 33 Futhi ngabakhulula bonke abaJuda ababethunjiwe bephuma ezweni lakwaJuda bayiswa kunoma iyiphi ingxenye yombuso wami, futhi ngithanda ukuba zonke izikhonzi zami zikhokhe intela yezinkomo zabo. 34 Futhi ngithanda ukuthi yonke imikhosi, namasabatha, nokuthwasa kwenyanga, nezinsuku ezimisiweyo, nezinsuku ezintathu ngaphambi komkhosi, nezinsuku ezintathu emva komkhosi kube ngukukhululeka nokukhululeka kuwo wonke amaJuda asembusweni wami. 35 Futhi akukho muntu oyoba negunya lokugxambukela noma lokunukubeza noma yimuphi wabo kunoma iyiphi indaba. 36 Futhi ngiyakubalwa phakathi kwebutho lenkosi amadoda angaba yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu kumaJuda, okufanele akhokhelwe ngokwawo wonke amabutho enkosi. 37 Abanye babo bayakubekwa ezinqabeni zenkosi, okukhona kubo abanye abayakubekwa phezu kwezindaba zombuso ezithembekile; ngithanda ukuba ababonisi babo nababusi babo babe ngabo ngokwabo, futhi baphile ngemva kwalokho. imithetho yabo, njengoba nje inkosi eyalile ezweni lakwaJuda. 38 Ngokuphathelene nemibuso emithathu eyenezelwe eJudiya evela ezweni laseSamariya, mabahlanganiswe neJudiya, ukuze kuthiwe bangaphansi komunye, futhi baboshwe njengabangaphansi kwegunya elinye ngaphandle kwelompristi omkhulu. 39 Ngokuqondene noPhetolemayi+ nezwe eliqondene nalo, ngikunika+ indawo engcwele yaseJerusalema njengesipho+ ngezindleko ezifanele zendlu engcwele. 40 Futhi ngikhipha minyaka yonke amashekeli ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nanhlanu esiliva ekubalweni kwenkosi ezindaweni ezikhona. 41 Futhi konke okuchichimayo izikhulu ezingakukhokhinga njengakuqala, kusukela manje kuyakunikelwa emsebenzini wethempeli. 42 Futhi ngaphandle kwalokhu, amashekeli ayizinkulungwane ezinhlanu esiliva ababewathatha ezintweni zethempeli ekubaleni iminyaka ngeminyaka, lezo zinto ziyakukhululwa, ngokuba ziqondene nabapristi abakhonzayo. 43 Futhi noma yibaphi ababalekela ethempelini eJerusalema, noma abaphakathi kwenkululeko yalo, benecala enkosini, noma nganoma iyiphi enye indaba, mabakhululeke, kanye nakho konke abanakho embusweni wami. 44 Ngokuba izindleko zokwakhiwa nokulungiswa kwemisebenzi yendlu engcwele ziyakubalwa enkosini. 45 Yebo, futhi ukwakhiwa kwezindonga zaseJerusalema, kanye nokuqiniswa kwayo nxazonke, izindleko ziyokhishwa ezindabeni zenkosi, kanjalo nezokwakha izindonga zaseJudiya. 46 UJonathani nabantu bezwa lawa mazwi, kabavumanga, abawemukelanga, ngokuba bakhumbula ububi obukhulu abenzile kwa-Israyeli; ngoba wayebahluphe kakhulu. 47 Kodwa u-Aleksandru bajabula ngo-Alekzandro, ngokuba uyena owabancenga ukuba kube nokuthula kweqiniso kubo, futhi babebambisana naye ngaso sonke isikhathi. 48 Khona inkosi uAleksandru yabutha amabutho amakhulu, yamisa malungana noDemetriyu.
49 Kwathi ngemva kokuba lawo makhosi amabili esehlangene empini, ibutho likaDemetriyu labaleka, kodwa u-Aleksandro wamlandela, wawanqoba. 50 Waqhubeka nokulwa kanzima kwaze kwashona ilanga; ngalolo suku wabulawa uDemetriyu. 51 Ngemva kwalokho u-Aleksandru wathumela amanxusa kuPhetolemee inkosi yaseGibhithe nomyalezo othi: 52 Njengoba ngiphinde ngabuyela embusweni wami, futhi ngihlezi esihlalweni sokhokho bami, futhi ngithole ukubusa, futhi ngigumbuqele uDemetriyu, futhi ngabuyisela izwe lakithi; 53 Ngoba ngemva kokulwa laye, yena lebutho lakhe badungeka ngathi, saze sahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso wakhe. 54 Ngakho-ke masenze isivumelwano sobudlelwano, unginike indodakazi yakho ibe ngumkakho, mina ngibe ngumkhwenyana wakho, ngikunike nobabili wena naye njengokufanele isithunzi sakho. 55 Inkosi uPhetolemeya yasiphendula yathi: Kalubusiswe usuku owabuyela ngalo elizweni laboyihlo, wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi babo. 56 Khathesi-ke ngizakwenza kuwe njengokuloba kwakho: Ngakho ngihlangabeze ePetolemayi, ukuze sibonane; ngoba ngiyakuthathela indodakazi yami njengesifiso sakho. 57 Ngakho uPhetoleme waphuma eGibhithe kanye nendodakazi yakhe uKleyoopatra, futhi bafika ePhetolemayi ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha nambili. 58 Lapho inkosi u-Aleksandru yahlangana naye, yamnika indodakazi yakhe uKleopatra, futhi yagubha umshado wayo ePhetolemayi ngenkazimulo enkulu, njengoba kunjalo ngendlela yamakhosi. 59 Manje inkosi u-Aleksandru yayibhalele uJonathani, ukuthi eze azomhlangabeza. 60 Khona-ke waya ePhetolemayi ngokuhloniphekile, lapho ahlangana khona namakhosi amabili, wawanika wona nabangane bawo isiliva negolide nezipho eziningi, futhi wathola umusa emehlweni awo. 61 Ngaleso sikhathi abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababi, abantu ababi, babuthanela kuye ukuba bambeke icala, kepha inkosi ayibalalelanga. 62 Ngaphezu kwalokho, inkosi yayala ukuba akhumule izingubo zakhe, amembathiswe okububende; 63 Wamhlalisa yedwa, wathi ezikhulwini zakhe: Hambani naye niye phakathi komuzi, nimemezele ukuba kungabi namuntu omsolayo nganoma iyiphi indaba, futhi kungabikho muntu omhluphayo nganoma yisiphi isizathu. . 64 Kwathi abamangaleli bakhe bebona ukuthi uyatuseka njengokumenyezelwa, nokuthi embethe ezibubende, babaleka bonke. 65 Ngakho inkosi yamhlonipha, yamloba phakathi kwabangane bakhe abakhulu, yamenza umbusi, nomhlanganyeli embusweni wakhe. 66 Ngemva kwalokho uJonathani wabuyela eJerusalema ngokuthula lenjabulo. 67 Phezu kwalokho ku; UDemetriyu indodana kaDemetriyu ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha nanhlanu waphuma eKrethe, waya ezweni lawoyise. 68 Kwathi inkosi u-Aleksandru isizwa lokho, yadabuka, yabuyela e-Antiyokiya. 69 UDemetriyu wamisa u-Apolloniyu umbusi waseKelosiriya, wabutha impi enkulu, wamisa eJamniya, wathumela kuJonathani umpristi omkhulu, wathi: 70 Wena wedwa uziphakamisile ngokumelene nathi, futhi ngihlekwa usulu ngenxa yakho, futhi ngihlanjalazwa; futhi kungani ugabisa amandla akho ngokumelene nathi ezintabeni?
71 Ngakho-ke, uma wethemba amandla akho, yehlela kithi ethafeni, sihlole indaba khona kanye; ngokuba ngakimi amandla emizi. 72 Buza futhi ufunde ukuthi ngingubani, kanye nabanye abathatha ingxenye yethu, futhi bayokutshela ukuthi unyawo lwakho alukwazi ukubaleka ezweni labo. 73 Ngalokho-ke manje awuyikukwazi ukumelana nabamahhashi kanye negunya elingaka ethafeni, lapho kungekho itshe noma insengetsha, nandawo yokubalekela. 74 Kwathi uJonathani ezwa lamazwi ka-Apholoniyu, wathinteka enhliziyweni yakhe, futhi wakhetha amadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi waphuma eJerusalema, lapho uSimoni umfowabo amhlangabeza khona ukuze amsize. 75 Wamisa amatende akhe ngaseJopha; abaseJopha bamvalela ngaphandle komuzi, ngokuba u-Apholoniyu wayenebutho lapho. 76 UJonathani wawuvimbezela, abantu bomuzi bamngenisa ngokwesaba; uJonathani wayinqoba iJopha. 77 Kwathi lapho u-Apholoniyu ekuzwa lokho, wathatha izinkweli zamahhashi eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu, nebutho elikhulu labahamba ngezinyawo, waya e-Azotu njengomuntu ohambayo, futhi ngalokho wamdonsela ethafeni. ngoba wayenexuku elikhulu labagadi bamabhiza ayethembele kubo. 78 UJonathani wamlandela, waya e-Azotu, lapho amabutho ahlangana khona. 79 Manje u-Apollonius wayeshiye abagibeli bamahhashi abayinkulungwane beqamekele. 80 UJonathani wazi ukuthi kukhona abaqamekele emva kwakhe; + ngoba base bezungeza ibutho lakhe + baphonsa abantu ngemicibisholo kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwahlwa. 81 Kepha abantu bema, njengalokho uJonathani ebayalile, akhathala amahhashi ezitha. 82 USimoni wasekhupha ibutho lakhe, wabamisa phezu kwabagadi bamabhiza, ngoba abagadi bamabhiza base bephelile, basebedudana nguye, babaleka. 83 Abamahhashi nabo, behlakazekile endle, babalekela eAzotu, futhi bangena eBethdagoni, ithempeli lesithombe sabo, ukuze baphephe. 84 UJonathani washisa i-Azotu nemizi nxazonke zayo, wathatha impango yayo; ithempeli likaDagoni kanye nalabo ababebalekele kulo, walishisa ngomlilo. 85 Ngakho kwashiswa futhi kwabulawa ngenkemba cishe amadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili. 86 UJonathani wasuka lapho, wamisa impi malungana neAshikeloni, lapho abantu bomuzi baphuma khona, bamhlangabeza ngokugabadela okukhulu. 87 Emva kwalokho uJonathani nebutho lakhe babuyela eJerusalema benempango. 88 Manje ngesikhathi inkosi u-Alexander izwa lezi zinto, yamhlonipha kakhulu uJonathani. 89 Wamthumelela ihawu legolide, njengalokhu elifanele ukunikwa abegazi lenkosi; ISAHLUKO 11 1 Inkosi yaseGibithe yabutha impi enkulu engangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle nemikhumbi eminingi, yadabula ngenkohliso ukuze ithathe umbuso ka-Aleksandru, iwuhlanganise kowakhe. 2 Ngemva kwalokho wathatha uhambo lwakhe lokuya eSpaniya ngokuthula, kwathi abasemzini bamvulela bamhlangabeza; 3 Manje njengoba uPhetoleme engena emadolobheni, wabeka kuyo ngayinye ibutho lamasosha ukuba alilinde. 4 Lapho esondela e-Azotu bambonisa ithempeli likaDagoni elalishisiwe, ne-Azotu namadlelo alo ayebhuqiwe, nezidumbu
ezazilahlwe ngaphandle kanye nalokho ayekushisile empini; ngoba babezenze izinqwaba endleleni lapho ayezodlula khona. 5 Bayitshela inkosi konke uJonathani ayekwenzile ukuba ibe necala kuyo, kepha inkosi yathula. 6 UJonathani wahlangana nenkosi ngokuziqhenya okukhulu eJopha, lapho babingelelana, balala. 7 Ngasemuva uJonathani wahamba nenkosi emfuleni othiwa i-Elewutherusi, wabuyela eJerusalema. 8 Ngakho-ke inkosi uPtolemeya isizuze ukubusa kwemizi engasolwandle kwaze kwaba seSelukiya ngasogwini lolwandle, yaceba amacebo amabi ngo-Aleksandru. 9 Yathuma amanxusa enkosini uDemetriyu, yathi: “Woza, senze isivumelwano phakathi kwethu, futhi ngiyakukunika indodakazi yami u-Alekzandro anayo, ubuse embusweni kayihlo; 10 Ngokuba ngiyazisola ngokuthi ngimnike indodakazi yami, ngokuba ubefuna ukungibulala. 11 Wamnyundela kanjalo, ngokuba wayefisa umbuso wakhe. 12 Ngakho wathatha indodakazi yakhe kuye, wayinika uDemetriyu, wamshiya u-Aleksandru, ukuze kwaziwe ukuzonda kwabo. 13 Khona-ke uPtoleme wangena e-Antiyokiya, lapho ebeka imiqhele emibili ekhanda lakhe, umqhele wase-Asiya nowaseGibhithe. 14 Ngaleso sikhathi kwakukhona inkosi u-Alexander eKhilikhiya, ngoba ababehlala kulezo zingxenye babemhlubukile. 15 Kodwa u-Aleksandru ekuzwa lokho, weza ukulwa naye; lapho inkosi uPtoleme yakhipha impi yayo, yamhlangabeza enamandla amakhulu, yambalekela. 16 Ngakho u-Aleksandru wabalekela e-Arabhiya ukuze avikelwe; kepha inkosi uPtoleme yaphakanyiswa; 17 Ngoba uZabidiyeli umArabhiya wasusa ikhanda likaAleksandru, walithumela ePtoleme. 18 Inkosi uPhetolemeya yafa ngosuku lwesithathu olulandelayo, futhi labo ababesezinqabeni babulawa omunye nomunye. 19 Ngale ndlela uDemetriyu wabusa ngonyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha nesikhombisa. 20 Ngaleso sikhathi uJonathani wabutha abaseJudiya ukuba bathathe umbhoshongo owawuseJerusalema, wenza izinjini eziningi zempi ngokumelene nawo. 21 Kwasekufika abantu abangamhloniphiyo ababezonda abantu bakubo, baya enkosini, bayitshela ukuthi uJonathani uvimbezele umbhoshongo; 22 Ekuzwa lokho wathukuthela, wahle wasuka, wafika ePhetolemayi, walobela uJonathani ukuthi angavimbezeli umbhoshongo, kepha afike akhulume naye ePhetolemayi ngokuphangisa okukhulu. 23 Nokho uJonathani, esizwa lokho, wayala ukuba kuqhutshekwe ukuvinjezelwa, wakhetha amadoda amalunga akwa-Israyeli nabapristi, wazifaka engozini; 24 Wathatha isiliva negolide nezingubo nezinye izipho futhi waya ePhetolemayi enkosini, lapho athola khona umusa emehlweni ayo. 25 Lanxa abantu abathile abangamesabi uNkulunkulu bemmangalela. 26 Kepha inkosi yamncenga njengalokho benza ngaphambili abokuqala, yamphakamisa emehlweni abo bonke abangane bakhe; 27 bamqinisa ebupristini obukhulu nakukho konke ubukhosi ayenakho ngaphambili, wambeka waba mkhulu phakathi kwabangane bakhe abakhulu. 28 UJonathani wacela enkosini ukuthi ikhulule iJudiya ekuthelisweni, njengemibuso emithathu, kanye nezwe
laseSamariya; wamthembisa amatalenta angamakhulu amathathu. 29 Inkosi yasivuma, yalobela uJonathani izincwadi ngazo zonke lezi zinto. 30 Inkosi uDemetriyu kuJonathani umfowabo, nasesizweni sabaJuda, iyakhonza; 31 Sinithumelela lapha ikhophi yencwadi esayibhalela umzala wethu uLathenes mayelana nani, ukuze niyibone. 32 Inkosi uDemetriyusi kuyise uLastenesi uyakhonza. 33 Sizimisele ukwenza okuhle kubantu bamaJuda, abangabangane bethu, futhi sigcine izivumelwano nathi, ngenxa yentando yabo enhle ngathi. 34 Ngakho-ke sibanikeze imingcele yeJudiya, imibuso emithathu yase-Apherema, neLida, neRamathem, eyenezelwe eJudiya ivela ezweni laseSamariya, nakho konke okuqondene nabo, kubo bonke abanikela imihlatshelo eJerusalema; esikhundleni senkokhelo eyayitholwa yinkosi iminyaka ngeminyaka ngaphambili ezithelweni zomhlaba nasemithini. 35 Ngokuqondene nezinye izinto zethu, okweshumi namasiko akithi, kanye nemigodi kasawoti, nentela yomqhele okufanele thina siyikhiphe kukho konke ukuze sibasize. 36 Futhi akukho lutho lwakho oluyohoxiswa kusukela kulesi sikhathi kuze kube phakade. 37 Ngalokho bheka, wenze ikhophi yalezi zinto, uyinike uJonathani, uhlale entabeni engcwele endaweni ekhazimulayo. 38 Emva kwalokho inkosi uDemetriyu isibonile ukuthi izwe lizolile phambi kwayo nokuthi akukho kumelana nayo, yaxosha yonke impi yayo, kwaba yilowo nalowo endaweni yakubo, ngaphandle kwamaviyo athile abezizwe eyayiwabuthile. ngakho zonke izixuku zawoyise zamzonda. 39 Kwakukhona-ke uTrifoni owayengoka-Aleksandru ngaphambili, owathi ibutho lonke lalikhonona ngoDemetriyu, waya kuSimaleki umArabiya owawondla u-Antiyoku indodana ka-Aleksandru; 40 Futhi bamcindezela kakhulu ukuba bamnikele lo Antiochus osemusha, ukuze abuse esikhundleni sikayise; wamtshela ngakho konke uDemetriyu ayekwenzile, nokuthi amadoda akhe empi ayenobutha naye, futhi wahlala lapho isikhathi eside. isizini. 41 Ngaleso sikhathi uJonathani wathumela enkosini uDemetriyu ukuba ikhiphe abasembhoshongweni eJerusalema kanye nalabo ababesezinnqabeni, ngoba balwa no-Israyeli. 42 UDemetriyu wayesethumela kuJonathani, ethi: "Angiyikukwenza lokhu wena nabantu bakho kuphela, kepha ngiyakukudumisa nokukukhazimulisa wena nesizwe sakho, uma ithuba livela." 43 Ngakho-ke uyakwenza kahle uma ungithuma amadoda ukuba angisize; ngoba wonke amandla ami aphelile kimi. 44 Ngalokho uJonathani wamthuma e-Antiyokiya amadoda anamandla ayizinkulungwane ezintathu; 45 Kepha abemzini babuthana phakathi komuzi, baba ngamadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili, befuna ukuyibulala inkosi. 46 Inkosi yabalekela egcekeni, kepha abantu bomuzi bagcina izintuba zomuzi, baqala ukulwa. 47 Inkosi yayisibiza abaJuda, abeza kuye masinyane, bahlakazeka emzini ngalolo suku, babulala abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu. 48 Bawuthungela ngomlilo umuzi, bazuza impango eningi ngalolo suku, bayikhulula inkosi. 49 Kwathi abasemzini bebona ukuthi abaJuda bawuthathile umuzi njengokuthanda kwabo, isibindi sabo saphela; basebekhuleka enkosini, bamemeza besithi: 50 Siphe ukuthula, futhi amaJuda mawayeke ukusihlasela kanye nedolobha.
51 Ngalokho balahla izikhali zabo, benza ukuthula; + futhi amaJuda ayedunyiswa emehlweni enkosi + nasemehlweni abo bonke ababesembusweni wayo; babuyela eJerusalema benempango eningi. 52 Ngakho inkosi uDemetriyu yahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso wayo, futhi izwe lazola phambi kwayo. 53 Nokho wakhohlisa kukho konke akukhulumayo, wazehlukanisa noJonathani, akambuyiselanga njengokwesihle abemukele ngakho kuye, kepha wamkhathaza kakhulu. 54 Emva kwalokhu wabuya uTrifoni, kanye naye nomntwana omncane u-Antiochus, owabusa, futhi wathweswa umqhele. 55 Kwabuthana kuye onke amadoda empi, uDemetriyu ayewaxoshile, alwa noDemetriyu, wafulathela, wabaleka. 56 UTrifoni wathatha izindlovu, wayinqoba i-Antiyokiya. 57 Ngaleso sikhathi u-Antiochus osemusha wabhalela uJonathani, ethi: “Ngiyakumisa esikhundleni sobupristi obukhulu, ngikubeke umbusi phezu kwemibuso emine, futhi ube omunye wabangane benkosi. 58 Ngalokho wamthumelela izitsha zegolide ukuba aphakelwe kuzo, wamnikeza imvume yokunatha igolide, nesembatho esiyibubende, nesembatho segolide. 59 USimoni umfowabo wambeka waba yinduna endaweni ethiwa Ikhwelo laseTire kuze kube semikhawulweni yaseGibithe. 60 UJonathani wayesephuma, wadabula imizi ngaphesheya kwamanzi, onke amabutho ase-Aramu abuthana kuye ukumsiza; 61 Wasuka lapho waya eGaza, kepha abaseGaza bamvalela ngaphandle; ngalokho wawuvimbezela, washisa amadlelo awo ngomlilo, wawaphanga. 62 Ngasemuva lapho abaseGaza bekhuleka kuJonathani, wenza ukuthula nabo, wathumba amadodana ezinhloko zabo, wabathuma eJerusalema, wadabula izwe waya eDamaseku. 63 UJonathani esezwile ukuthi izikhulu zikaDemetriyu sezifikile eKadesi eseGalile, zinamandla amakhulu, zihlose ukumkhipha kulelo zwe. 64 Wasuka wabahlangabeza, watshiya uSimoni umfowabo emaphandleni. 65 USimoni wamisa ngaseBethsura, walwa nalo isikhathi eside, walivala; 66 Kodwa bafisa ukuba nokuthula naye, wabanika khona, base bebakhipha lapho, bawuthumba umuzi, babeka ibutho lamabutho kuwo. 67 UJonathani nebutho lakhe bamisa ngasemanzini aseGenesari, lapho basuka khona ekuseni kakhulu, bafika esigodini saseNasori. 68 Bheka, isixuku sabafokazi sabahlangabeza ethafeni, bamqamekela ezintabeni, beza malungana naye. 69 Kwathi lapho abaqamekeli besuka ezindaweni zabo bahlanganyela empini, bonke abangabakaJonathani babaleka; 70 kangangokuthi akusalanga noyedwa kubo, ngaphandle kukaMathathiya indodana ka-Abisalomu noJuda indodana kaKhafi, izinduna zebutho. 71 UJonathani wayeseklebhula izingubo zakhe, wathela inhlabathi ekhanda lakhe, wakhuleka. 72 Ngemva kwalokho waphindela empini, wabaxotsha, ngakho babaleka. 73 Lapho abantu bakhe ababebalekile bekubona lokhu, baphindela kuye, futhi kanye naye babaxosha baze bafika eKadesi, ngisho nasematendeni abo, futhi bamisa lapho. 74 Kwabulawa-ke kwabezizwe ngalolo suku kungathi amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu; uJonathani wabuyela eJerusalema.
ISAHLUKO 12 1 Kwathi uJonathani ebona ukuthi isikhathi simkhonza, wakhetha amadoda athile, wawathumela eRoma, ukuze aqinise futhi avuselele ubungane ababenabo nabo. 2 Wathumela nezincwadi kwabaseLakedemoni nakwezinye izindawo, ngenjongo efanayo. 3 Ngakho baya eRoma, bangena endlini yamaJuda, bathi: “Umpristi omkhulu uJonathani nabantu bamaJuda basithumile kini, ukuze nivuselele ubuhlobo enabo nabo, nesivumelwano phakathi kwenu. , njengasesikhathini sangaphambili. 4 Ngemva kwalokho amaRoma abanika izincwadi eziya kubabusi bazo zonke izindawo ukuba babangenise ngokuthula ezweni laseJudiya. 5 Nansi ikhophi yezincwadi uJonathani azilobela amaLakedemoni: 6 UJonathani umpristi omkhulu, namalunga esizwe, nabapristi, nabanye bamaJuda, kubafowabo baseLakedemoni, bayakhonza; 7 Kwake kwathunyelwa izincwadi ku-Onia umpristi omkhulu zivela kuDariyu owayebusa phakathi kwenu ngaleso sikhathi, zisho ukuthi ningabazalwane bethu, njengokuba ikhophi yalo isho ngokucacile. 8 Ngaleso sikhathi u-Onias waliphatha kahle inxusa elalithunywe, futhi wamukela izincwadi, lapho kwenziwa khona isimemezelo ngesivumelwano nobungane. 9 Ngakho lathi kasidingi lutho lwalokhu, ukuthi siphethe izincwadi ezingcwele ezandleni zethu, ukuze asiduduze; 10 Nokho ngizamile ukuthuma kini ukuze kwenziwe kabusha ubuzalwane nobuhlobo, funa sibe ngabafokazi kini ngokuphelele; 11 Ngakho-ke siyanikhumbula ngezikhathi zonke, emadilini ethu nangezinye izinsuku ezifanele, ngemihlatshelo esiyinikelayo nasemithandazweni yethu, njengokuba kunengqondo, nangokufanele thina ukucabanga ngabazalwane bethu; 12 Futhi siyajabula ngodumo lwakho. 13 Thina-ke siye saba lezinhlupheko ezinkulu lezimpi nxazonke, njengoba amakhosi asihanqileyo elwa lathi. 14 Kepha asiyikubahlupha nina, nakwabanye abahlanganyeli bethu nabangane bethu kulezi zimpi; 15 Ngokuba sinosizo oluvela ezulwini olusisizayo, njengalokhu sikhululiwe ezitheni zethu, nezitha zethu zithotshisiwe. 16 Ngenxa yalokho sakhetha uNumeniyu indodana kaAntiyoku no-Antiphatheri indodana kaJasoni, sabathumela kumaRoma, ukuze bavuselele uthando esasinalo nabo, nesivumelwano sokuqala. 17 Sabalaya futhi ukuthi beze kini, babingelele, balethe izincwadi zethu mayelana lokuvuselelwa kobuzalwane bethu. 18 Ngakho-ke nizokwenza kahle ngokusiphendula ngakho. 19 Futhi lena yikhophi yezincwadi u-Oniares azithumelayo. 20 u-Areyu inkosi yamaLakedoniya ku-Oniya umpristi omkhulu, uyabingelela. 21 Kutholakala embhalweni ukuthi amaLakedemoni lamaJuda bayizelamani, lokuthi bangabohlanga lukaAbrahama; 22 Ngakho-ke, njengoba lokhu sesikwazile, niyobe nenza kahle ngokusibhalela ngokuphumelela kwenu. 23 Siyanilobela futhi ukuthi izinkomo zenu nempahla yenu ingeyethu, neyethu ingeyenu; ngalokho siyayala amanxusa ethu ukuba akubikele kanje. 24 UJonathani esezwile ukuthi izikhulu zikaDemebhiyu zazize ukulwa naye zinempi enkulu kunangaphambili; 25 Wasuka eJerusalema, wahlangana nabo ezweni laseAmathi, ngokuba akabanikanga kuphumula ukuba bangene ezweni lakhe.
26 Wathuma izinhloli ematendeni abo, zabuye zeza, zamtshela ukuthi zazimisiwe ukuba zize phezu kwabo ngesikhathi sasebusuku. 27 Kwathi selishonile ilanga, uJonathani wayala amadoda akhe ukuba alinde, ahlome, alungele ukulwa ubusuku bonke; 28 Kepha izitha sezizwile ukuthi uJonathani nabantu bakhe balungele ukulwa, zesaba, zathuthumela ezinhliziyweni zazo, zokhela umlilo ekamu. 29 Kepha uJonathani nebandla lakhe abakwazanga kwaze kwasa, ngokuba babona izibani zivutha. 30 UJonathani wabaxosha, kepha akabaficanga, ngokuba bawela umfula i-Elewutherusi. 31 Ngakho uJonathani waphendukela kuma-Arabhiya ayebizwa ngokuthi amaZabadiya, wawabulala, wathatha impango yawo. 32 Wasuka lapho, wafika eDamaseku, walidabula izwe lonke; 33 USimoni laye waphuma, wadabula ilizwe waya e-Askeloni, lezinqaba eziseduze, lapho aphambukela khona eJopha, walinqoba. 34 Ngoba wayezwile ukuthi bazanikela inqaba kwabathatha isabelo sikaDemetriyu; ngalokho wabeka ikampa yokuligcina. 35 Ngemva kwalokho uJonathani wabuyela ekhaya, wabiza amalunga abantu, wabonisana nawo ngokwakha izinqaba eJudiya. 36 Wakhuphula izingange zaseJerusalema, wamisa intaba enkulu phakathi kombhoshongo nomuzi, ukuba uwuhlukanise nomuzi, ukuze ube wodwa ukuba bangathengisi, bangathengi kuwo. 37 Ngemva kwalokho babuthana ukuze bakhe umuzi, njengoba udonga olwalubheke emfuleni ngasempumalanga lwaluwile, futhi balungisa lokho okwakuthiwa iKhafenatha. 38 USimoni naye wamisa i-Adida eSephela, wayiqinisa ngamasango nemigoqo. 39 Manje uTrifoni wazama ukuthatha umbuso wase-Asiya, futhi abulale u-Antiochus inkosi, ukuze abeke umqhele ekhanda lakhe. 40 Nokho wayesaba ukuthi uJonathani wayengeke amvumele futhi alwe naye; ngalokho wafuna indlela yokumbamba uJonathani ukuba ambulale. Wasuka, wafika eBetsani. 41 UJonathani waphuma ukumhlangabeza enezinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane ababekhethelwe ukulwa, bafika eBetsani. 42 Manje lapho uTrifoni ebona uJonathani eza nebutho elikhulu kangaka, akabange esalokotha eselulele isandla sakhe kuye; 43 Kodwa wamemukela ngodumo, wamtusa kubo bonke abangane bakhe, wamnika izipho, walaya amabutho akhe ukuthi amlalele njengalokhu ezilalela yena. 44 Wathi kuJonathani: "Ubehliseleni laba bantu ekuhluphekeni okungaka, lokhu kungekho mpi phakathi kwethu na?" 45 Ngakho-ke babuyisele manje ekhaya, ukhethe amadoda ambalwa ukuba akukhonze, futhi uhambe nami ePetolemayi, + ngoba ngizokunika yona, + nezinye izinqaba nezinqaba, nabo bonke abanegunya. mina-ke, ngiyakubuya, ngimuke, ngokuba lokhu kuyisizathu sokufika kwami. 46 Ngakho uJonathani wamkholwa wenza njengokutsho kwakhe kuye, walimukisa ibutho lakhe, laya elizweni leJudiya. 47 Wasala laye amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu kuphela, athuma kuwo izinkulungwane ezimbili eGalili, lenkulungwane ezahamba laye. 48 Kwathi nje lapho uJonathani engena ePhetolemayi, abasePhetolemayi bavala amasango bamthatha, futhi bonke ababehamba naye bababulala ngenkemba.
49 Khona-ke uTrifoni wathumela ibutho lemigundatshani nabamahhashi eGalile nasethafeni elikhulu ukuba lichithe lonke ibandla likaJonathani. 50 Kepha sebekwazi ukuthi uJonathani nababe naye bathathiwe, babulawa, bakhuthazana; futhi basondela ndawonye, zilungiselele ukulwa. 51 Ngakho-ke labo ababalandela, bebona ukuthi base bekulungele ukulwela izimpilo zabo, baphinde babuyela emuva. 52 Base befika ezweni lakwaJuda ngokuthula bonke, bakhalela khona uJonathani nababe naye, besaba kakhulu; ngakho wonke u-Israyeli wenza isililo esikhulu. 53 Ngaleso sikhathi zonke izizwe ezazizungezile zafuna ukubabhubhisa, ngokuba zazithi: “Abananduna namuntu ongabasiza; ngalokho masilwe nabo, sisuse isikhumbuzo sabo kubantu. ISAHLUKO 13 1 Kwathi uSimoni esezwile ukuthi iTrifoni ubuthe ibutho elikhulu ukuba lihlasele ilizwe leJudiya, balichithe, 2 Ebona ukuthi abantu bethuthumela nokwesaba okukhulu, wakhuphukela eJerusalema, wabutha abantu; 3 Wabakhuthaza, ethi: “Nina ngokwenu niyakwazi lokho okukhulu mina, nabafowethu, nendlu kababa, esiye sakwenza ngemithetho nendlu engcwele, futhi izimpi nezinkathazo esizibonile. 4 Ngenxa yalokho bonke abafowethu babulawa ngenxa kaIsrayeli, futhi mina ngisele ngedwa. 5 Ngakho kakube khatshana lami ukuthi ngiyeke ukuphila kwami loba yisiphi isikhathi sokuhlupheka, ngoba kangingcono kulabafowethu. 6 Ngiyakuphindisela isizwe sami, nendlu engcwele, nabafazi bethu, nabantwana bethu, ngokuba zonke izizwe zibuthene ukusibhubhisa ngobubi obukhulu. 7 Kwathi nje lapho abantu bezwa la mazwi, umoya wabo wavuseleleka. 8 Baphendula ngezwi elikhulu, bathi: "Wena uyakuba ngumholi wethu esikhundleni sikaJuda noJonathani umfowenu." 9 Yilwa wena izimpi zethu, futhi noma yini, osiyala ngayo, sizoyenza. 10 Wayesebutha onke amadoda empi, washesha ukuqeda izingange zaseJerusalema, waliqinisa nxazonke. 11 Wathuma uJonathani indodana ka-Abisalomu kanye naye enamandla amakhulu eJopha, wabaxosha ababekulo abasala khona. 12 Ngakho uTrifoni wasuka ePhetolemawu ngamandla amakhulu ukuze ahlasele ilizwe laseJudiya, loJonathani wayelaye elugcinweni. 13 Kodwa uSimoni wagxumeka amathente akhe e-Adida maqondana lethafa. 14 Kwathi uTrifoni esazi ukuthi uSimoni uvukile esikhundleni sikaJonathani umfowabo, esefuna ukulwa naye, wathuma izithunywa kuye, wathi: 15 Thina sinoJonathani umfowenu eboshiwe, kungenxa yemali engcebweni yenkosi mayelana nomsebenzi ayewuphathisiwe. 16 Ngakho khathesi thumela amatalenta ayikhulu esiliva, lamadodana akhe amabili abe yizithunjwa, ukuze kuthi lapho esekhululekile angasihlubuki, sizamkhulula. 17 Ngakho uSimoni, ebona ukuthi bakhuluma kuye ngobuqili, wathumela imali labantwana, hlezi azitholele inzondo enkulu ebantwini. 18 Ngubani obengasho ukuthi: ‘Ngokuba ngingamthumanga imali nabantwana, uJonathani ufile.
19 Wayesebathuma abantwana namatalenta ayikhulu; kepha uTrifoni waqamba amanga, akamvumelanga uJonathani ukuba ahambe. 20 Emva kwalokho kwafika uTrifoni ukuba ahlasele izwe, alichithe, azungeza ngendlela eholela e-Adora; kepha uSimoni nebutho lakhe bamsukela ezindaweni zonke, lapho eya khona. 21 Ababesembhoshongweni bathuma izithunywa eTrifoni ukuba asheshise ukuza kubo ehlane, abathumele umphako. 22 Ngalokho uTrifoni walungisela bonke abamahhashi bakhe ukuba beze ngalobo busuku, kepha kwawa iqhwa elikhulu kakhulu, elingafikanga ngalo. Wamuka ke, waya ezweni laseGiliyadi. 23 Esesondele eBaskama wambulala uJonathani, wembelwa khona. 24 Ngemva kwalokho uTrifoni wabuya waya ezweni lakubo. 25 USimoni wayesethuma, wathatha amathambo kaJonathani umfowabo, wawambela eModini, emzini wawoyise. 26 Wonke u-Israyeli wamenzela isililo esikhulu, wamkhalela izinsuku eziningi. 27 USimoni laye wakha itshe phezu kwethuna likayise labafowabo, waliphakamisela phezulu ukuze libonwe, lalilamatshe aqoshiweyo ngemva langaphambili. 28 Wasemisa amaphiramidi ayisikhombisa, elinye kwelinye, eloyise, nonina, nabafowabo abane. 29 Kuwo wenza amasu ahlakaniphileyo, abeka phezu kwawo izinsika ezinkulu, naphezu kwezinsika zonke izikhali zazo wazenza zibe yisikhumbuzo saphakade, nangemikhumbi yezikhali eqoshiwe ukuba ibonakale kubo bonke abahamba olwandle. . 30 Leli yithuna alenza eModini, lisasekhona kuze kube namuhla. 31 Manje uTrifoni wenza ngenkohliso enkosini esencane uAntiochus, futhi wambulala. 32 Futhi wabusa esikhundleni sakhe, futhi wazibeka inkosi yase-Asiya, futhi waletha inhlekelele enkulu phezu kwezwe. 33 USimoni wakha izinqaba zaseJudiya, wazibiyela ngemibhoshongo emide, nezindonga ezinkulu, namasango, nemigoqo, wabeka ukudla kuzo. 34 USimoni wakhetha amadoda, wathumela enkosini uDemetriyu, ukuze akhulule izwe, ngokuba konke akwenzayo uTrifoni kwakuwukuphanga. 35 Inkosi uDemetriyu yamphendula yabhala ukuthi: 36 Inkosi uDemetriyu kuSimoni umpristi omkhulu, umngane wamakhosi, namalunga nesizwe sabaJuda, uyakhonza; 37 Umqhele wegolide nejazi elibomvu enilithumele kithi, samukelisiwe, futhi sesilungele ukwenza ukuthula okuqinile kini, yebo, nokubhalela izikhonzi zethu, ukuqinisa ukungavikeleki esikunikeze. 38 Futhi noma yiziphi izivumelwano esizenzile nani ziyokuma; lezinqaba enizakhileyo zizakuba ngokwenu. 39 Ngokuqondene nanoma yibuphi ububi noma iphutha elenziwe kuze kube namuhla, siyakuthethelela, kanye nentela yomqhele eninayo kithi; futhi uma kukhona enye intela ekhokhwa eJerusalema, ngeke isakhokhwa. 40 Bhekani, abafaneleka phakathi kwenu ukuba babe segcekeni lethu, mababhaliswe, kube nokuthula phakathi kwethu. 41 Kanjalo ijoka labezizwe lasuswa ku-Israyeli ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa. 42 Khona-ke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli baqala ukubhala ezincwadini zabo nasezivumelwaneni zabo: Ngomnyaka wokuqala kaSimoni umpristi omkhulu, umbusi nomholi wabaJuda. 43 Ngalezonsuku uSimoni wamisa inkamba maqondana leGaza, wayivimbezela inhlangothi zonke; wenza nenqola
yempi, wayimisa ngasemzini, wabhidliza umbhoshongo othile, wawuthatha. 44 Abasenjinini bagxumela emzini; kwase kuba khona isiyaluyalu esikhulu emzini. 45 Kangangoba abantu bomuzi baklebhula izingubo zabo, futhi bagibela odongeni kanye nabafazi nabantwana babo, futhi bamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, benxusa uSimoni ukuba abanike ukuthula. 46 Bathi: "Ungasenzeli njengobubi bethu, kodwa ngokomusa wakho." 47 Ngakho uSimoni wabathobisa, akabe esalwa nabo, kodwa wabakhiphela ngaphandle komuzi, wahlambulula izindlu okwakukhona kuzo izithombe, wangena kuzo ngokuhlabelela nangokubonga. 48 Yebo, wakhipha konke ukungcola kuyo, wabeka lapho abagcina umthetho, wawenza waqina kunakuqala, wazakhela khona indawo yokuhlala. 49 Nabo abombhoshongo waseJerusalema bacindezelwa ukuba baphume, bangene emaphandleni, bathenge, bathengise; ngalokho babesekuhluphekeni okukhulu ngenxa yokuswela ukudla, kwafa isixuku esikhulu kubo. ngendlala. 50 Basebememeza kuSimoni, bemncenga ukuthi ahlale labo; esebakhiphile lapho, wahlambulula umbhoshongo ekungcoleni. 51 Yangena kuyo ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nantathu lwenyanga yesibili ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa nanye ngokubonga, namagatsha esundu, namahabhu, namasimbali, nezingubhu, nezihlabelelo, nezihlabelelo; wabhujiswa isitha esikhulu kwa-Israyeli. 52 Wamisa futhi ukuthi lolo suku lugcinwe iminyaka yonke ngokujabula. Intaba yethempeli eyayingasembhoshongweni wayenza yaba namandla kunayo, futhi wahlala lapho yena neqembu lakhe. 53 Kwathi uSimoni ebona ukuthi uJohane indodana yakhe uyindoda eliqhawe, wambeka umkhokheli wamabutho wonke; wahlala eGazera. ISAHLUKO 14 1Ngomnyaka wekhulu lamatshumi ayisithupha lambili inkosi uDemetriyu wabutha amabutho akhe, waya eMediya ukumsiza ekulweni leTrifoni. 2 Kwathi u-Arsakesi, inkosi yasePheresiya naseMediya, ezwa ukuthi uDemetriyu usengenile emingceleni yakhe, wathumela enye yezikhulu zakhe ukuba imbambe ephila. 3 eyahamba yatshaya ibutho likaDemetriyu, yamthatha, yamyisa e-Arsace, afakwa esitokisini sakhe. 4 Kepha izwe laseJudiya lalinokuthula izinsuku zonke zikaSimoni; ngokuba wayefuna okuhle esizweni sakhe kanjalo, kangangokuthi igunya lakhe nodumo lwakhe lwabajabulisa ngaso sonke isikhathi. 5 Njengoba wayenodumo kuzo zonke izenzo zakhe, ngakho kulokhu, waze wathatha iJopha yaba yitheku, wangenisa iziqhingi zolwandle, 6 Wakhulisa imingcele yesizwe sakhe, wabuyisa izwe; 7 Wabutha isixuku esikhulu sabathunjwa, wabusa eGazeri, naseBethsura, nombhoshongo, akhipha kuwo konke ukungcola, akwabakho omelana naye. 8 Basebelima umhlabathi wabo ngokuthula, umhlabathi wathela izithelo zawo, lezihlahla zeganga izithelo zazo. 9 Amaxhegu ayehlezi emigwaqweni yonke, ekhulumisana ngokuhle, lamajaha embethe okodumo lokulwa. 10 Walungiselela imizi ukudla, wabeka kuyo zonke izinhlobo zezikhali, ukuze igama lakhe elihloniphekayo laduma kuze kube sekupheleni kwezwe.
11 Wenza ukuthula ezweni, u-Israyeli wajabula ngokujabula okukhulu; 12 Ngokuba babehlezi, kube yilowo nalowo phansi komvini wakhe naphansi komkhiwane wakhe, kungekho obethusa; 13 Akwasalanga muntu ezweni ukuba alwe nabo; yebo, amakhosi achithwa ngalezo zinsuku. 14 Wabaqinisa bonke abantu bakhe ababethotshisiwe; futhi wonke owayezonda umthetho nomuntu omubi wamthatha. 15 Wayenza yaba yinhle indlu engcwele, wandisa izitsha zethempeli. 16 Lapho kuzwakala eRoma naseSparta ukuthi uJonathani ufile, badabuka kakhulu. 17 Kodwa kwathi sebezwile ukuthi umfowabo uSimoni usebekwe umphristi omkhulu esikhundleni sakhe, ebusa amaphandleni lemizi yawo. 18 Balobela kuye ezibhebheni zethusi ukuze kuvuselelwe ubuhlobo nesivumelwano ababesenze noJuda noJonathani abafowabo. 19 Lemibhalo eyafundwa phambi kwebandla laseJerusalema. 20 Futhi lena ikhophi yezincwadi ezathunyelwa abakwaLakedemoni; Ababusi baseLakemoniya kanye nomuzi, kuSimoni umpristi omkhulu, namalunga, nabapristi, nensali yabantu bamaJuda, abazalwane bethu, bayakhonza; 21 Amanxusa ayethunyelwe kubantu bakithi asifakazela ngenkazimulo nodumo lwakho; 22 Futhi bazibhala ngale ndlela izinto ababezikhuluma emkhandlwini wabantu; UNumeniyu indodana ka-Antiochus, no-Antipatheri indodana kaJasoni, amanxusa abaJuda, beza kithi ukuze bavuselele ubuhlobo ababenabo nathi. 23 Futhi kwaba kuhle kubantu ukwamukela amadoda ngodumo, nokufaka ikhophi yezithunywa zabo ezincwadini zomphakathi, ukuze abantu baseLakedemoni babe nesikhumbuzo sayo; phezu kwalokho silobele ikhophi yako kuSimoni umpristi omkhulu. . 24 Ngemva kwalokhu uSimoni wathumela uNumeniyu eRoma ephethe isihlangu esikhulu segolide esinesisindo samaphawundi ayinkulungwane ukuze aqinise isivumelwano nabo. 25 Kwathi amaxuku ekuzwa athi: Sizakubonga bani kuSimoni lamadodana akhe? 26 Ngokuba yena nabafowabo nendlu kayise baqinise uIsrayeli, baxosha kubo ekulweni nezitha zabo, baqinisa ukukhululeka kwabo. 27 Base beloba ezibhebheni zethusi abazibeka phezu kwezinsika entabeni yaseSiyoni; Ngosuku lweshumi nesishiyagalombili lwenyanga kaEluli, ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa nambili, kungumnyaka wesithathu kaSimoni umpristi omkhulu, 28 ESarameli satshelwa ngalezi zinto ebandleni elikhulu labapristi, nabantu, nababusi besizwe, namalunga ezwe. 29 Njengoba kaningi kwaba khona izimpi ezweni, lapho kugcinelwa khona indlu yabo engcwele nomthetho, uSimoni indodana kaMathathiya wozalo lukaJaribi kanye nabafowabo, bazifaka engozini, bemelana nezitha. esizweni sakubo isizwe sabo benza udumo olukhulu; 30 (Ngokuba emva kwalokho uJonathani esebuthele ndawonye isizwe sakubo, waba ngumpristi wabo omkhulu, wenezelwa kubantu bakubo; 31 Izitha zabo zalungiselela ukungena elizweni labo ukuze balichithe, babeke izandla phezu kwendlu engcwele; 32 Ngalesosikhathi uSimoni wasukuma walwela isizwe sakibo, wasebenzisa impahla yakhe enengi, wahlomisa amaqhawe esizwe sakubo, wawanika iholo; 33 nemizi yaseJudiya yaqinisa, kanye neBethsura, engasemngceleni weJudiya, lapho izikhali zezitha zazikhona ngaphambili; kodwa wamisa ibutho lamaJuda lapho.
34 Futhi waliqinisa iJopha eliphezu kolwandle, neGazera elisemngceleni we-Azotu, lapho izitha zazihlala khona ngaphambili, kodwa wabeka amaJuda lapho, futhi wawahlomisa ngakho konke okwakufanele akhokhelwe. 35 Ngakho abantu bahlabelela izenzo zikaSimoni, lenkazimulo enkulu ayecabanga ukuletha isizwe sakubo, bamenza umbusi wabo nompristi omkhulu, ngokuba wayenze zonke lezi zinto, nangokulunga nokukholwa ayekugcinele isizwe sakubo; futhi ngalokho wafuna ngazo zonke izindlela ukuphakamisa abantu bakhe. 36 Ngoba ngesikhathi sakhe izinto zaphumelela esandleni sakhe, baze bathumba abezizwe elizweni labo, lalabo ababesemzini kaDavida eJerusalema, ababezenzele umbhoshongo, abaphuma kuwo, bangcolisa. endaweni engcwele, wenza okubi kakhulu endaweni engcwele; 37 Kodwa wafaka amaJuda khona. wawuqinisa ukuze kuphephe izwe nomuzi, wamisa izingange zaseJerusalema. 38 Naye uDemetriyu inkosi wammisa ebupristini obukhulu njengalezo zinto; 39 Wasemenza omunye wabangane bakhe, wamhlonipha kakhulu. 40 Ngokuba wayezwile ukuthi amaRoma ayebize amaJuda ngokuthi ngabangane bawo nezinhlangano nabazalwane; nokuthi babewamukele ngenhlonipho amanxusa kaSimoni; 41 Futhi ukuthi amaJuda nabapristi babethokozile ukuthi uSimoni abe ngumbusi wabo nompristi omkhulu kuze kube phakade, kuze kuvele umprofethi othembekileyo; 42 Futhi ukuba abe yinduna yabo, aphathe indlu engcwele, ukubabeka phezu kwemisebenzi yabo, naphezu kwezwe, naphezu kwezikhali, naphezu kwezinqaba, ukuze, ngithi, aphathe izikhali. indawo engcwele; 43 ngaphandle kwalokhu ukuba ilalelwe yilowo nalowo, nokuthi yonke imibhalo yezwe yenziwe egameni lakhe, embathiswe okububende, agqoke igolide; 44 Futhi kakuvunyelwa muntu ebantwini loba umphristi ukuthi aphule loba yiyiphi yalezi zinto, kumbe aphikise amazwi akhe, kumbe abuthe umhlangano elizweni ngaphandle kwakhe, kumbe ukwembathisa okububende, loba ukufaka ibhande lelineni. igolide; 45 Futhi noma ngubani owenza okuhlukile, noma owephula noma iyiphi yalezi zinto, kufanele ajeziswe. 46 Kanjalo kwathanda ukuba abantu bonke benze kuSimoni, nokwenza njengoba kwakushiwo. 47 USimoni wasekwamukela, futhi wayekuthokozela ukuba ngumpristi omkhulu, nenduna, nombusi wabaJuda nabaphristi, futhi abavikele bonke. 48 Base beyala ukuba lo mbhalo ufakwe ezibhebheni zethusi, zimiswe phakathi komjikelezo wendlu engcwele endaweni evelele; 49 Futhi ukuze amakhophi ayo abekwe endaweni yokugcina imali, ukuze uSimoni namadodana akhe bawathole. ISAHLUKO 15 1 U-Antiochus indodana kaDemetriyu inkosi wathumela izincwadi ziseziqhingini zolwandle kuSimoni umpristi nombusi wabaJuda nakubo bonke abantu; 2 Okuqukethwe yilokhu: Inkosi u-Antiochus kuSimoni umpristi omkhulu nombusi wesizwe sakubo, nakubantu bamaJuda, ngiyabingelela. 3 Ngenxa yokuthi abantu abathile abayizinkathazo bewuqhwage umbuso wokhokho bethu, futhi injongo yami kuwukuphinda ngiwuphonsele inselelo, ukuze ngiwubuyisele esimweni esidala, futhi ngalokho ngiqoqele ndawonye inqwaba yamasosha angaphandle, futhi ngalungisa imikhumbi impi;
4 Futhi okusho ukuthi ngidabula izwe, ukuze ngiphindisele kwabayichithayo, benze imizi eminingi embusweni ibe yincithakalo; 5 Ngalokho ngiyakuqinisa kuwe yonke iminikelo amakhosi aphambi kwami akunike yona, nanoma yiziphi izipho ezingaphandle kwawo. 6 Ngiyakuvumela futhi ukuba uguqule imali yezwe lakini ngesitembu sakho. 7 Ngokuqondene neJerusalema nendlu engcwele+ mabakhululeke; zonke izikhali ozenzileyo, nezinqaba ozakhileyo, ozigcine esandleni sakho, mazihlale kuwe. 8 Uma kukhona, noma kukhona, ngenkosi, mawuthethelelwe kusukela kulesi sikhathi kuze kube phakade. 9 Phezu kwalokho, uma sesiwutholile umbuso wethu, sizokudumisa wena, nesizwe sakho, nethempeli lakho, ngenhlonipho enkulu, ukuze udumo lwakho lwaziwe emhlabeni wonke. 10 Ngonyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa nane uAntiochus waya ezweni lawokhokho bakhe: ngaleso sikhathi wonke amabutho abuthana kuye, kangangokuthi kwasala abambalwa noTrifoni. 11 Ngakho, exoshwa inkosi u-Antiochus, wabalekela eDora, engaselwandle. 12 Ngokuba wabona ukuthi izinhlupheko zamehlela kanyekanye, nokuthi amabutho akhe amshiyile. 13 Khona-ke u-Antiochus wamisa ngokumelene noDora, enamadoda empi ayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili, nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili. 14 Esewuzungeza umuzi, wahlanganisa imikhumbi eduze nomuzi ngasogwini lolwandle, wawunyakazisa umuzi nangasolwandle, akavumelanga muntu ukuphuma noma ukungena. 15 Ngaleso sikhathi kwafika uNumeniyu neqembu lakhe bevela eRoma, benezincwadi eziya emakhosini namazwe; okwakulotshwe kuyo lezizinto. 16 uLukiyu, inxusa lamaRoma, enkosini uPhetolemeya, ngiyabingelela. 17 Kwafika kithi amanxusa abaJuda, abangane bethu nezinhlangano zethu, ukuze kuvuselelwe ubuhlobo nesivumelwano esidala, zithunywe kuSimoni umpristi omkhulu nasesizweni samaJuda; 18 Baletha nesihlangu segolide esingamaphawundi ayinkulungwane. 19 Ngakho-ke sakubona kukuhle ukubhalela amakhosi namazwe, ukuthi angawenzi okubi, noma alwe nawo, amadolobha awo, noma amazwe, futhi angasizi izitha zawo ngokumelene nawo. 20 Kwaba kuhle nakithi ukwamukela isihlangu sabo. 21 Ngakho-ke uma kukhona abantu abawumshayabhuqe ababalekele kini besuka ezweni lakubo, banikele kuSimoni umpristi omkhulu, ukuze abajezise ngokomthetho wabo. 22 Nalezo zinto wazilobela uDemetriyu inkosi, no-Athalu, noAriarathesi, no-Arsakesi, 23 nakuwo wonke amazwe, nakuSamsame, nakuLakedemoni, nakuDelusi, naseMindu, naseSikoni, naseKariya, naseSamo, nasePhamfiliya, naseLisiya, naseHalikarnassus, naseRodu, naseAradu, naseKose, naseSide. , ne-Aradu, neGortyna, neKinidu, neKhupro, neKhurene. 24 Ikhophi yalo bayibhalela uSimoni umpristi omkhulu. 25 Ngakho u-Antiochus inkosi wamisa ikamu ngokumelene noDora ngosuku lwesibili, emshaya njalo, futhi wenza izinjini, ngakho wavala uTrifoni, ukuze angakwazi ukuphuma noma ukungena.
26 Ngalesosikhathi uSimoni wathuma kuye amadoda azinkulungwane ezimbili akhethiweyo ukuthi amsize; nesiliva, negolide, nezikhali eziningi. 27 Nokho akazange azamukele, kodwa wazephula zonke izivumelwano ayezenzile naye ngaphambili, futhi waba yinqaba kuye. 28 Wathuma u-Athenobiyu, omunye wabangane bakhe, ukuba akhulume naye, athi: “Nigodlile iJopha neGazera; nombhoshongo oseJerusalema, eyimizi yombuso wami. 29 Imingcele yalo niyichithile, nenze okubi okukhulu ezweni, futhi nithole ukubusa ezindaweni eziningi embusweni wami. 30 Ngakho-ke khululani imizi eniyithathile, nentela yezindawo enazuza kuzo umbuso ngaphandle kwemingcele yaseJudiya. 31 Uma kungenjalo, nginikeni amatalenta angamakhulu ayisihlanu esiliva; nangobubi enibenzileyo, nentela yemizi amanye amatalenta angamakhulu ayisihlanu; uma kungenjalo, siyakuza, silwe nani. 32 Ngakho u-Athenobius umngane wenkosi wafika eJerusalema, futhi lapho ebona inkazimulo kaSimoni, nekhabethe legolide nesiliva, nokukhonza kwakhe okukhulu, wamangala, futhi wamtshela umlayezo wenkosi. 33 USimoni waphendula, wathi kuye: “Asithathanga izwe labanye abantu, asiphathanga okungeyabanye, kodwa ifa lawobaba, izitha zethu ezalidla ngokungeyikho isikhathi esithile. 34 Ngakho-ke sesinethuba, sibambe ifa lawobaba. 35 Futhi njengoba ufuna iJopha neGazera, nakuba benza ububi obukhulu kubantu bezwe lakithi, nokho sizokunika amathalenta ayikhulu ngenxa yabo. Kulokhu u-Athenobius akamphendulanga ngazwi; 36 Kodwa wabuyela enkosini ethukuthele, wayibikela ngalezi zinkulumo, nenkazimulo kaSimoni, nakho konke eyayikubonile; ngalokho inkosi yathukuthela kakhulu. 37 Ngaleso sikhathi wabaleka eTrifoni ngomkhumbi, waya eOrthosiya. 38 Inkosi yasibeka uKendebewu induna yasogwini lolwandle, yamnika ibutho labahamba ngenyawo labagadi bamabhiza; 39 wamlaya ukuthi asuse ibutho lakhe eJudiya; futhi wamyala ukuba akhe iKedroni, futhi aqinise amasango, futhi alwe nabantu; kepha inkosi yona yamxosha uTrifoni. 40 Ngakho uKendebeus wafika eJamnia waqala ukuchukuluza abantu futhi wahlasela iJudiya, futhi wathumba abantu, futhi wababulala. 41 Eseyakhile iKedrou, wamisa khona abamahhashi, nesixuku sabahamba ngezinyawo, ukuze baphume bahambe ezindleleni zakwaJuda, njengalokho inkosi yayimyalile. ISAHLUKO 16 1 Kwasekukhuphuka uJohane waseGazera, wabikela uyise uSimoni lokho akwenzileyo uKendebewu. 2 Ngakho-ke uSimoni wabiza amadodana akhe amabili amadala, uJuda noJohane, futhi wathi kubo: Mina, nabafowethu, nendlu kababa, kusukela ebusheni bami kuze kube yilolu suku silwa nezitha zika-Israyeli; futhi izinto ziphumelele kahle kakhulu ezandleni zethu, kangangokuthi simkhulule u-Israyeli izikhathi eziningi. 3 Kodwa manje sengimdala, futhi nina, ngomusa kaNkulunkulu, nineminyaka eyanele: yibani esikhundleni sami nomfowethu, futhi nihambe nilwele isizwe sethu, futhi usizo oluvela ezulwini lube nani. 4 Ngakho wakhetha ngaphandle kwezwe amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili empi kanye nabamahhashi, aphuma ayokulwa noCendebeus, futhi aphumula ngalobo busuku eModin.
5 Lapho bevuka ekuseni, bengena ethafeni, bheka, ibutho elikhulu labahamba ngezinyawo nabamahhashi libafikela, kepha kwakukhona isifufula samanzi phakathi kwabo. 6 Ngakho yena nabantu bakhe bamisa malungana nabo; lapho ebona ukuthi abantu bayesaba ukuwela umfula, wawela yena kuqala, futhi amadoda ambonayo adlula emva kwakhe. 7 Esekwenzile lokho wahlukanisa abantu bakhe, wamisa abamahhashi phakathi kwabahamba ngezinyawo, ngokuba abamahhashi bezitha babebaningi kakhulu. 8 Base bebetha amacilongo angcwele, uKendebeus nebutho lakhe babaleka, kwaze kwabulawa abaningi kubo, nabaseleyo bangena enqabeni. 9 Ngalesosikhathi uJudasi umfowabo kaJohane walinyazwa; kepha uJohane wabalandela, waze wafika eKedron, eyayakhiwe nguKendebeus. 10 Babalekela emibhoshongweni yase-Azotu; ngalokho walishisa ngomlilo, kwaze kwabulawa kubo abantu kungathi izinkulungwane ezimbili. Emva kwalokho wabuyela ezweni laseJudiya ngokuthula. 11 Ethafeni laseJeriko uPtolemewu indodana ka-Abubu waba yinduna, enesiliva negolide eliningi; 12 Ngoba wayengumkhwenyana wompristi omkhulu. 13 Ngakho inhliziyo yakhe yazikhukhumeza, wacabanga ukuzithathela ilizwe, wasecebisana ngobuqili ngoSimoni lamadodana akhe ukuthi ababhubhise. 14 USimoni wayehambela imizi yasemaphandleni, enakekela ukuhleleka kwayo; ngaleso sikhathi wehlela eJeriko namadodana akhe, oMathathiya noJuda, ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa nesikhombisa, ngenyanga yeshumi nanye, ethiwa iSabati. 15 Lapho indodana ka-Abubus yabemukela ngenkohliso endaweni encane ebizwa ngokuthi iDokhusi, eyayakhileyo, yabenzela idili elikhulu, nokho yayibathukuse lapho. 16 Kwathi uSimoni lamadodana akhe sebedakwe kakhulu, uPtolemeya labantu bakhe basukuma, bathatha izikhali zabo, bafika kuSimoni endaweni yedili, bambulala, lamadodana akhe amabili lenceku zakhe. 17 Ngalokho wenza ukukhohlisa okukhulu, wabuyisela okubi ngokuhle. 18 Khona-ke uPtoleme wabhala lezi zinto, wathumela enkosini ukuba ithumele kuye ibutho ukuba liyisize, futhi yayizomnikeza izwe nemizi. 19 Wathuma nabanye eGazera ukuba babulale uJohane; 20 Wabathuma abanye ukuba bathathe iJerusalema nentaba yethempeli. 21 Omunye wayegijimele eGazeri, wabikela uJohane ukuthi uyise nabafowabo babulewe, wathi, uPhetoleme uthume ukuba akubulale nawe. 22 Ekuzwa lokho wamangala kakhulu; ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi babedinga ukumehlukanisa. 23 Ngokuqondene nezinye izindaba zikaJohane, nezimpi zakhe, nemisebenzi emihle ayenzayo, nokwakhiwa kwezindonga azenzayo, nezenzo zakhe, 24 Bheka, lezi zilotshiwe ezincwadini zemilando yobupristi bakhe, kusukela ngesikhathi enziwa umpristi omkhulu emva kukayise.