Izenzo ZikaPawulu
NoThecla
ISAHLUKO1
1LaphouPawuluekhuphukelae-Ikoniyu,ngemva kokubalekakwakhee-Antiyokiya,uDemanoHermogene babaabanganebakhe,ababegcweleubuzenzisingaleso sikhathi.
2KodwauPawuluwayebhekaubuhlebukaNkulunkulu kuphela,akabalimazanga,kodwawabathandakakhulu.
3Ngakho-kewazamaukwenzakubekuhlekubo,zonke iziprofethonezimfundisozikaKristu,kanyenomklamo weVangelileNdodanakaNkulunkuluethandekayo, ebafundisangokwaziuKristu,njengobakwembulwekuye 4Indodaethileegamalayolingu-Onesiforu,yezwaukuthi uPawuluufikilee-Ikoniyu,yaphumangokushesha ukuyomhlangabeza,kanyenomkakheuLectra, namadodanaakheuSimmianoZeno,ukuyommemela endliniyabo.
5NgobauThithuwayebachazeleubuntubukaPawulu, bengakamaziubusonobuso,kodwabejwayelenenobuntu bakhe.
6BahambangomgwaqowenkosibayaeListra,bemalapho bemlindele,beqhathanisabonkeabadlulayo,naleyo ncazelouThithuayebanikeyona.
7Ekugcinenibabonaindodaiza(okunguPawulu), emfushane,enempandla(nomaegundiwe)ekhanda, amathangaagobile,imilenzeemihle,enamehlo angenalutho;enekhalaeligobile;egcweleumusa;ngoba ngezinyeizikhathiwayebonakalanjengomuntu,ngezinye izikhathiwayenobusobengelosi.UPawuluwabonauOnesiforu,wajabula
8U-Onesiforuwathi:“Sawubona,ncekukaNkulunkulu obusisiweyo.”UPawuluwaphendulawathi:“Umusa kaNkulunkulumawubenawenomndeniwakho”
9KodwauDemosnoHermogenesbabanomona,futhi, ngaphansikokubonakaliswakwenkoloenkulu,uDemas wathi,FuthiasizonayiniizincekuzikaNkulunkulu obusisiweyo?Kunganiungasibingelelanga?
10U-Onesiforuwaphendulawathi:“Ngobaangizange ngiboneizithelozokulungakini;nomakunjalo,uma ninjalo,niyokwamukelwanasendliniyami”
11UPawuluwangenaendlinika-Onesiforu,kwabakhona injabuloenkuluemndeniningenxayalokho;baqhubeka nokuthandaza,behlephulaisinkwa,bezwauPawulu eshumayelaizwilikaNkulunkulungokuzithiba nangokuvukakwabafileyo,ngalendlela:
12Babusisiweabahlanzekileenhliziyweni;ngoba bayobonauNkulunkulu.
13Babusisiweabagcinainyamayaboingangcolisiwe (nomaihlanzekile);ngobabayobayithempeli likaNkulunkulu.
14Babusisiweabathobekile(nomaabamsulwa);ngoba uNkulunkuluuzozivezakubo
15Babusisiwelaboabashiyaizinjabulozabozezwe;ngoba bayokwamukelwanguNkulunkulu
16Babusisiweabanabafazinjengokungathiabanabo, ngokubabayakwenziwaizingelosizikaNkulunkulu.
17BabusisiwelaboabathuthumelangezwilikaNkulunkulu; ngobabayoduduzeka
18Babusisiwelaboabagcinaubhapathizolwabo luhlanzekile;ngobabayotholaukuthulanoBaba, neNdodana,noMoyaoNgcwele
19Babusisiwelaboabaphishekelaukuhlakanipha(noma imfundiso)kukaJesuKristu;ngobabayobizwangokuthi amadodanaoPhezukonke
20BabusisiwelaboabagcinaimiyalelokaJesuKristu; ngobabayohlalaekukhanyeniokuphakade
21Babusisiwelabo,ngenxayothandolukaKristuabashiya inkazimuloyezwe;ngokubabayokwahlulelaizingelosi, futhibabekwengakwesokunenesikaKristu,futhingeke babhekanenobuhlungubokwahlulelwakokugcina 22Babusisiweimizimbanemiphefumuloyezintombi; ngobabayamukelekakuNkulunkulu,futhingeke balahlekelweumvuzowobuntombibabo;ngobaizwi likaYise(wasezulwini)lizosebenzaekusindiswenikwabo ngosukulweNdodanayakhe,futhibayojabulela ukuphumulakuzekubephakade
ISAHLUKO2
1KwathiuPawulueshumayelalentshumayeloebandleni elalisendlinika-Onesiforu,intombiethileegamalayo linguThekla(igamalikaninalalinguTheyokliya, eyayithembisenenendodaegamalayolinguThamiri) yayihleziefasitelenielithileendliniyayo
2Lapho,ngefasitelaendliniuPawuluayekuyo,wayezwa izintshumayelozikaPawuluubusukuneminimayelana noNkulunkulu,mayelananothando,mayelananokholo kuKristu,kanyenomthandazo;
3Futhiwayengekeaphumeefasiteleni,kwazekwaba yilaphongenjabuloenkuluethobekeezimfundisweni zokholo.
4Ekugcineni,laphoebonaabesifazaneabaningi nezintombibengenakuPawulu,wafisakakhuluukuthi angacatshangwaefanelekileukuvelaphambikwakhe,futhi ezweizwilikaKristu;ngobawayengakamboniuPawulu, kodwawayezweizintshumayelozakhekuphela,futhi lokhokuphela.
5Kodwalaphoengafuniukuphoqwaukubaaphume ngefasitela,uninawathumelakuThamiri,owafika ngenjabuloenkulu,enethembalokumshadamanje.Ngakho wathikuTheoclia:“UphiuTheklawami?”
6UTheocliawaphendulawathi,Thamyris,nginokuthile okungavamilekakhuluengifunaukukutshelakona;ngoba uThecla,isikhathiesiyizinsukuezintathu,ngekeasuke efasiteleni,hhayinjeekudleninomaekuphuzeni,kodwa uzimiselekakhuluukuzwaizinkulumozobuciko nezikhohlisayozomuntuothilewesinyeisizwe, kangangokuthingiyamhloniphakakhuluThamyris, kangangokuthiowesifazaneosemushaonesizothasakhe, uzovumaukunqotshwakangaka
7NgobalowomuntuuphazamisewonkeumuziwaseIkoniyu,ngishoneTheklayakho,phakathikwabanye, Bonkeabesifazanenezinsizwabathuthelekakuyeukuze
bamukeleimfundisoyakhe;yena,ngaphandlekwabo bonkeabanye,ubatshelaukuthikukhonauNkulunkulu oyedwakuphela,okunguyeyedwaokufaneleakhonzwe, nokuthikufanelesiphilengobumsulwa.
8Naphezukwalokhu,indodakaziyamiuThecla, njengolwembulwesicabucabuoluboshelweefasiteleni, idonswayizinkulumozikaPawulu,futhiizilalela ngentshisekoenkulu,nangenjabuloenkulu;ngakho-ke, ngokulalelalokhoakushoyo,intombiiyayengwaManje-ke hambauyokhulumanayo,ngobaisithembisenenawe
9NgakhouThamyriswahamba,wambingelela,eqaphela ukuthiangammangazi,wathi,Thecla,mkami,kungani uhlalakulesisimosokudabuka?Yimiphiimibono engavamileevezwakuwe?PhendukelakuThamyris, uzizweunamahloni
10Uninanayewakhulumakuyengendlelaefanayo,wathi: “Mntanami,kunganiuhlaleudangelekangaka,futhi njengomuntuomangele,ungaphenduli?”
11Basebekhalakakhulu,Thamiriya,ukuthiulahlekelwe ngumkakhe;Theoclia,ukuthiulahlekelweyindodakazi yakhe;kanyenezincekukazi,ukuthibalahlekelwe yinkosikaziyabo;futhikwabanokulilaokukhulu emndenini
12KodwazonkelezizintoazizangezimthinteuThekla kangangokuthiwamenzawaphendukelakubo,wabanaka; ngobawayesaqaphelaizinkulumozikaPawulu
13Khona-keuThamiriwagijimelaemgwaqweni ukuyobonaukuthibangobaniabangenakuPawulu, baphumakuye;wabonaamadodaamabiliephikisana kakhulu,wathikuwo;
14Madoda,ninanilapha?Futhingubanilowomuntu ongaphakathikwenu,okhohlisaizingqondozamadoda, kokubiliizinsizwanezintombi,ebancengaukuthi bangashadi,kodwabaqhubekebenjalo?
15Ngithembisaukuninikaimalieningi,umaninganginika indabaefanelengaye;ngobangingumuntuoyinhlokokulo muzi.
16UDemasinoHermogenebaphendulabathi:“Asikwazi ukushoukuthiungubaningempela;kodwalokhusikwazi, ukuthiuphucaizinsizwaomkazo,nezintombiamadodaazo, ngokufundisaukuthi,Akukhouvukooluzayo,ngaphandle kokubaniqhubekenimsulwa,futhiningangcolisiinyama yenu.”
ISAHLUKO3
1UThamiriwathi,“Wozanamisiyeendliniyami, niziphumuze.”Ngakhobayaedilinielihlekakhulu,lapho kwakukhonakhonaiwayinieliningi,nokudlaokumnandi kakhulu
2Balethwaetafulenielalibekwekahle,futhiuThamyris wabenzabaphuzakakhulu,ngenxayothandoayenalo ngoTheclakanyenesifisosakhesokumshada
3UThamyriswathi,Ngifisasengathiungangitshelaukuthi ziyiniizimfundisozaloPawulu,ukuzengiziqonde;ngoba angikhathazekikakhulungoThecla,njengobaejabulela izinkulumozalowomuntuengingamazi,kangangokuthi ngisengoziniyokulahlekelwangumkamiengimfunayo
4BasebephendulabobabiliuDemasinoHermogenes,bathi: “MakalethwephambikombusiuCastellius,njengomuntu ozamaukuthonyaabantuukubabangeneenkolwenientsha
yamaKristu,futhiyena,ngokomyalokaKesari,uzombulala, ngaleyondlelauzotholaumkakho;
5Ngesikhathiesifanayosizomfundisaukuthiuvuko akhulumangaloselufikilekakade,futhiluhlanganisaukuba kwethunabantwana;nokuthisavukafuthi,laphosesifikile ekwaziniuNkulunkulu
6UThamyrisetholalokhukubo,wagcwalaintukuthelo evuthayo:
7Wavukaekusenikakhuluwayaendlinika-Onesiforu, eholwayizinduna,nomgciniwejele,nesixukuesikhulu sabantuabanezinduku,wathikuPawulu:“UPawulu ungithumile”
8Udukisileumuziwase-Ikoniyu,kanyenabanyeoThekla, ongithembiseumshado,ukuzeangangishadiNgakho-ke hambanathiuyekumbusiuCastellius
9Isixukusonkesamemezasathi,“Susalomkhohlisi (umthakathi),ngobauphambukiseizingqondozabafazi bethu,futhibonkeabantubayamlalela”
ISAHLUKO4
1UThamyrisemiphambikwesihlalosokwahlulela sombusi,wakhulumangezwielikhulungalendlela elandelayo
2Ombusi,angaziukuthilomuntuuvelaphi;kodwa ufundisaukuthiumshadoawuvunyelweNgakho-kemyale ukubaashophambikwakhoukuthikunganiememezela izimfundisoezinjalo.
3Ngesikhathiesholokhu,uDemanoHermogenes (bahlebelauThamyris,)bathi;YishoukuthiungumKristu, futhiuzobulawamanje.
4Kodwaumbusiwakhulumakakhulu,wabizauPawulu, wathi:“Ungubaniwena?Ufundisani?”Kubonakala sengathibakumangalelangamacalaamakhulu.
5UPawuluwabeesekhulumangezwielikhulu,ethi: “Njengobamanjengibizelweukubangilandise,mbusi, ngezimfundisozami,ngiyakulangazelelaukulalela.”
6UkuthiuNkulunkulu,onguNkulunkuluwempindiselo, futhiongadingiluthongaphandlekokusindiswa kwezidalwazakhe,ungithumileukubangibasindiseebubini babonasekonakalenikwabo,kuzozonkeizinjabulo (zesono),nasekufeni;futhingibancengeukubabangabe besona.
7Ngenxayalokhu,uNkulunkuluwathumelaiNdodana yakheuJesuKristu,engiyishumayelayo,futhiengifundisa abantuukubababekeithembalabonjengalowomuntu owayenesihawuesikhuluezwenielikhohlisiwe,ukuze lingalahlwa,mbusi,kodwalibenokholo,ukwesaba uNkulunkulu,ulwazilwenkolo,nothandolweqiniso
8Ngakho-keumangifundisakuphelalokhoengikutholile ngokwembulwaokuvelakuNkulunkulu,liphiicalalami?
9Umbusiesezwilelokhu,wayalaukubauPawuluaboshwe, afakweetilongweni,azeabenesikhathisokumlalela ngokugcwele
10Kodwaebusuku,uTheclawakhumulaamaciciakhe, wawanikaisihluthulelosejele,ababesebemvulela iminyango,bamvumelaukubaangene; 11Kwathilaphoenikaumgciniwejeleisiphosengilazi yesiliva,wavunyelwaukungenaekamelweniuPawulu ayekulo;wahlalaphansiezinyawenizakhe,wezwakuye izintoezinkuluzikaNkulunkulu
12NjengobaayebonaukuthiuPawuluakesabi ukuhlupheka,kodwaukuthingosizolukaNkulunkulu wayeziphathangesibindi,ukhololwakhelwakhulakakhulu kangangokuthiwamangaizibophozakhe.
ISAHLUKO5
1EkugcineniuTheclawaphuthelwa,umndenikanye noThamyrisbamfunakuzozonkeizitaladi,sengathi ulahlekile,kodwaomunyewezincekuezikanyenomgcini wendluwabatshelaukuthiuphumileebusuku
2Basebehlolaumlindiwesango,wabatshelaukuthi wayeyeejelekumuntuongaziwa.
3Ngakho-kebahambangokwesiqondisosakhe,bamthola lapho;kwathilaphobephuma,baqoqaisixuku,bahamba batshelaumbusikonkeokwenzekile.
4WayalaukubauPawulualethwephambikwesihlalo sakhesokwahlulela
5NgalesosikhathiuTheklawayelelephansiejele, endaweniefanayolaphouPawuluayehlezikhonaukuze amfundise;laphoumbusiwayalaukubaalethwephambi kwesihlalosakhesokwahlulela;owambizawamukela ngenjabulo,wahamba
6LaphouPawuluelethwalapho,isixukusamemeza ngamandlaamakhulu,sithi,“Ungumthakathi,makafe.”
7Kodwaumbusiwalalelangenjabuloizinkulumo zikaPawulungemisebenziengcwelekaKristu;kwathi ngemvakokubaikhanselalibize,wabizauThekla,wathi kuye:“KunganiungashadinoThamyris,ngokomthetho wama-Ikoni?”
8Wema,amehloakheebhekeuPawulu;futhietholaukuthi akaphenduli,uTheoclia,unina,wamemeza,wathi,Isidalwa esingalungilemasishiswe;masishiswephakathi kwenkundlayemidlalo,ngenxayokwenqabauThamyris, ukuzebonkeabesifazanebafundekuyeukugwema imikhubaenjalo
9Umbusiwakhathazekakakhulu,wayalaukubauPawulu ashaywengempamaaphumeemzini,neTheklalishiswe
10Ngakhoumbusiwasukuma,wangenangokushesha enkundleniyemidlalo;bonkeabantubaphumaukuyobona lesisenzakaloesibi
11KodwauThecla,njengewundluehlanelibhekayonke indawoukuzeliboneumalusiwalo,wabhekanxazonke efunauPawulu;
12Kwathiebukaisixuku,wabonaiNkosiuJesuefana noPawulu,wathienhliziyweniyakhe:“UPawuluuze ukuzongibonangisesimweniesinzima”Wamgqolozela; kodwawakhuphukelaezulwinimasinyane,yenaembhekile.
13Khona-keizinsizwanezintombizalethaizinkuni notshanibokushisaiThecla;okwathi,laphoilethwainqunu esigxotsheni,yancengaumbusiizinyembezi, ngokumangalaibonaubukhulubobuhlebayo.
14Kwathisebehleleizinkuni,abantubamyalaukuba ahambephezukwazo;lokhowakwenza,okokuqalawenza uphawulwesiphambano
15Abantubasebeshisainqwaba;nakubailangabi lalilikhulukakhulu,alizangelimthinte,ngobauNkulunkulu wamzwelaububele,wabangelaukuqhumaokukhulu emhlabeniphansi,kanyenefuelivelaphezuluukuba lithululeimvulaenkulunesichotho;
16Kangangobangenxayokuqhekekakomhlaba,abaningi kakhulubabesengozinienkulu,kantiabanyebabulawa, umlilowacinywa,futhiuTheclawasinda
ISAHLUKO6
1PhakathinalesosikhathiuPawulu,kanyeno-Onesiforu, umkakhenabantwana,babezilaukudlaemhumeniothile, owawusendleleniesukae-IkoniyueyaeDaphne
2Kwathisebezilileukudlaizinsukueziningana,abantwana bathikuPawulu:“Baba,silambile,asinayoimali yokuthengaisinkwa;ngokubau-Onesiforuwayeshiye yonkeimpahlayakheukuzealandeleuPawulunomndeni wakhe”
1.Ukungenaemingceleniyesihogo.
2UCharonebhongwenilakhe
3UMinotaurubhongalaphokusondelaimiphefumulo elahliwe.
4Imiphefumuloephazamisekilengenxayomoyaongcolile wemimoyaemibi
5.I-Cerberusidlaimiphefumuloyabantuabadlaukudla okunempilo
6Abahahayonabaphambukilebagwetshelweukuthwala imithwalo.
7UmonanolakabaphonswaeStyx
8Umbhoshongonodongalomuziomubi
9.Kulomselekukhonalaboabonilekomakhelwanebabo; amaCentaurabadubulangemicibisholo
10Laboabonilebonangokwabobahlushwalapha yiHarpies.
11ImvulayomlilokulaboabonilekuNkulunkulu
12UmphefumulowombusiuGerionuphonswaemlilweni
13.Abantuabakhohlakelenabakhohlakeleebusheni abashaywangamademoni
14Igebeelinobuthilaphoabantuabathophayobengena khona.
15Ichibilomliloemabhodwenilaphokuphonswakhona amaSimoniac
16.Abathakathinababhuli,ubusobabobubhekeemuva.
17Ibhodlelalembizaebilayolabaphangi,amasela, nabakhohlisi
18.Umzenzisiobethelweesiphambanweni.
19Abelulekiabakhohlisayobaphonsekaemgodini ovuthayo
20.Kubantuabahlambalazayo:umuntuuphetheikhanda lakhengesandla
21.Abaphanginezinyeizigebenguezihlushwayi-centaur ehlomengezinyoka
22Izazize-Alchemykanyenabaqaphibezisuluzochoko 23Umthomboweqhwa,wabakhaphelinabangabongiyo 24.IPlutophakathikweqhwaeliqothulaabalahliwe. 25UmuziongcwelewaseJerusalema
3UPawuluwakhumulainguboyakhe,wathikumfana: “Hamba,mntwana,uyothengaisinkwa,usilethelapha” 4Kodwangesikhathiumfanaethengaisinkwa,wabona umakhelwanewakheuTheclafuthiwamangala,wathikuye: Thecla,uyaphi?
5Waphendulawathi,“NgilandelauPawulu,njengoba ngisindisweelangabini”
6Umfanawathi,“Ngizakuyisakuye,ngobaukhathazekile kakhulungenxayenu,futhiubelokhuethandazafuthiezila ukudlakulezizinsukueziyisithupha”
7LaphouTheklaefikaemhumeni,watholauPawulueguqe ngamadoloethandazaethi:“Babaongcwele,NkosiJesu Kristu,yenzaukubaumliloungamthintiuThekla;kodwa yibaumsiziwakhe,ngobauyincekuyakho”
8UTheclaemingemuvakwakhe,wamemezangalamazwi alandelayo:NkosiEnguMbusi,Mdaliwezulunomhlaba, BabaweNdodanayakhoethandekayonengcwele, ngiyakudumisangokuthiungivikeleemlilweni,ukuze ngiphindengiboneuPawulu
9UPawuluwasukuma,kwathiembona,wathi: “Nkulunkulu,ohlolainhliziyo,BabaweNkosiyamiuJesu Kristu,ngiyakudumisangokuthiuwuphendulile umthandazowami.”
10Kwabakhonauthandoolukhuluphakathikwabo emhumeni;uPawulu,no-Onesiforu,nabobonkeababenabo bagcwalainjabulo.
11Babenezinkwaezinhlanu,amakhambinamanzi,futhi babeduduzanangokuzindlangemisebenziengcwele kaKristu.
12UTheklawathikuPawulu:“Umauthanda, ngizokulandelanomauyaphi”
13Waphendulawathikuye:“Abantumanjesebethanda kakhuluubufebe,futhinjengobaumuhle,ngiyesabaukuthi ungahlangabezananesilingoesikhulukunesokuqala,futhi ungamelaninaso,kodwaunqotshweyiso.”
14UTheclawaphendulawathi,“Nginikeuphawu lukaKristukuphela,futhiakukhosilingoesizongithinta”
15UPawuluwaphendulawathi:“Thekla,linda ngokubekezela,khonauyakwamukeliswaisipho sikaKristu”
ISAHLUKO7
1UPawuluwayesembuyiselau-Onesiforunomndeni wakheekhayalabo;wathathaiThekla,wayae-Antiyokiya; 2Kwathinjelaphobefikaemzini,indodaethileyaseSiriya, egamalayolingu-Aleksandru,umantshi,emzini, eyayisebenzeleidolobhaimisebenzieminingingesikhathi sakhesokubaumantshi,yambonauTheklayamthanda, yazamangeziphoeziningiezicebileukuzeiheheuPawulu.
3KodwauPawuluwathikuye:“Angimaziowesifazane okhulumangaye,futhiakayenaowami”
4Kodwayena,njengobaayengumuntuonamandla amakhulue-Antiyokiya,wambambaemgwaqweni wamanga;uTheklaakavumanga,kodwawabhekauPawulu nxazonke,wamemezangezwielikhuluelibuhlungu,wathi: “Ungangiphoqi,minangingumfokazi;ungangiphoqi,mina ngiyincekukaNkulunkulu;ngingomunyewabantu abavelelebase-Ikoniyu,futhingaphoqelekaukuba ngiphumekulowomuzingobangangingekengishade noThamyris”
5Wabeesebambau-Aleksandru,waklebhulainguboyakhe, wasusaumqhelewakheekhandalakhe,wamenza wabonakalaeyisiwulaphambikwabantubonke.
6Kodwau-Alexander,ngokwengxenyenjengoba ayemthanda,futhingokwengxenyeenamahloningalokho okwakwenziwe,wamyisakumbusi,futhilaphoevuma lokhoakwenzile,’wamgwebaukubaaphonswephakathi kwezilwane
ISAHLUKO8
1Laphoabantubebona,bathi:Izigweboezikhishwekulo muziazilungile.KodwauTheclawafisaumusawombusi, ukuzeubumsulwabakhebungahlaselwa,kodwabugcinwe azeaphonsweezilwaneni
2Umbusiwabeesebuza,“Ubaniozomnakekela?”lapho umfelokaziothileocebilekakhulu,ogamalakhe linguTrifina,indodakaziyakheeyayisandakushona,wafisa ukubaayinakekele;waqalaukuyiphathaendliniyakhe njengendodakaziyakhe
3Ekugcinenikwafikausuku,laphoizilwanezazizolethwa khonaukuzezibonwe;uTheclawalethwaenkundleni yemidlalo,wafakwaemgodinilaphokwakukhonakhona ingonyamayensikazienolakakakhulu,phambi kwezibukelieziningi.
4UTrifina,ngaphandlekokumangala,wahambanoThecla, futhiibhubesikazilakhothaizinyawozikaTheclaIsiqu esibhalwephansiesichazaubugebengubakhe,sasithi, UkuhlambalazaKhona-keowesifazanewamemezawathi, ONkulunkulu,izahlulelozalomuziazilungile
5Ngemvakokubaizilwanesezibonisiwe,uTrifina wathathauTheclawayanayeekhaya,balala;bheka, indodakazikaTrifina,owayesefile,yabonakalakunina, yathi:Mama,vumelaintombi,uThecla,ibizwenguwe njengendodakaziyakhoesikhundlenisami;futhimfisele ukuthiangithandazele,ukuzengiguqulelweesimweni senjabulo.
6LaphouTrifina,ngomoyaodabukisayo,wathi, IndodakaziyamiuFalconillaivelekimi,yangiyalaukuba ngikwamukeleekamelwenilayo;ngakho-kengifisa,Thecla, ukuthiuthandazeleindodakaziyami,ukuzeiguqulweibe sesimwenisenjabulo,futhiibenokuphilaokuphakade
7LaphouTheclaezwalokhu,wathandazaeNkosini ngokushesha,wathi:ONkosiNkulunkuluwezulu nomhlaba,JesuKristu,wenaNdodanayoPhezukonke, yenzaukubaindodakaziyakheuFalconillaiphilephakade. UTrifinaezwalokhuwabubulafuthi,wathi:Oizahlulelo ezingalungile!Oububiobungenangqondo!ukuthiisidalwa esinjalokufanele(siphinde)siphonsweezilwaneni!
8Ngakusasa,ekuphumenikokusa,u-Alexanderweza endlinikaTrifina,wathi:Umbusinabantubalindile;lethani isigebengu.
9KodwauTrifinawagijimelakuyengamandlaamakhulu, wesaba,wabalekaUTrifinawayengomunyewomndeni wasebukhosini;wavezausizilwakhe,wathi:“Maye! Nginenkingaendliniyami,futhiakekhoozongisiza,noma ngenxayokulahlekelwayindodakaziyami,nomangenxa yokungakwazikwamiukusindisauTheklaKodwamanje, NkosiNkulunkulu,yibangumsiziwencekuyakhouThekla” 10Ngesikhathiesamatasakanjalo,umbusiwathumela esinyesezikhuluzakheukubasiyolandauThecla.UTrifina wambambangesandla,wahambanaye,wathi:Ngiye noFalconillaethunenilakhe,futhimanjekumelengiye noTheclaezilwaneni
11LaphouTheclaezwalokhu,wakhalawathandaza,wathi: ONkosiNkulunkulu,engimenzeisibindinesiphephelo sami,vuzauTrifinangobubelebakhekimi,nokugcina ubumsulwabami
12Phezukwalokhukwabanomsindoomkhulueamphitheatre;izilwanezabhonga,futhiabantubamemeza bathi,Lethaniisigebengu
13Kodwaowesifazanewamemezawathi:“Mawuhlupheke wonkeumuzingenxayalezizigebengu;futhiusiyalesonke, mbusi,ukubasijeziswengendlelaefanayoOisahlulelo esingalungile!Oumbonoononya!
14Abanyebathi,“Makubhujisweumuziwonkengenxa yalesisenzoesibiSibulalesonke,mbusiOumbono onesihluku!Oisahluleloesingalungile”
ISAHLUKO9
1UTheclawasuswaesandlenisikaTrifina,wakhunyulwa izingubozakhe,waboshwangebhande,waphonswa endawenieyayimiselweukulwanezilwane;amabhubesi namabhereakhululwaphezukwakhe
2Kodwaingonyamayensikazi,eyayinolakakakhulu, yagijimelaeThecla,yawaphansiezinyawenizayo,lapho isixukusabesifazanesamemezakhona
3Ibherelensikazilagijimakakhululayakulo;kodwa ibhubesilensikazilahlangananebhere,lalidwengulalaba yizicucu
4Ingonyamaeyayivameukugwinyaabantu,eyayingekaAlexander,yagijimayayakuyo;kodwaingonyama yahlangananengonyama,babulalana
5Khona-keabesifazanebabekhathazekilekakhulu,ngoba ibhubesikazi,elalisizeuThecla,laselifile.
6Ngemvakwalokhobakhiphaezinyeizilwanezasendle eziningi;kodwauTheclawemaizandlazakhezelulelwe ezulwini,wathandaza;kwathieseqedileukuthandaza, waphenduka,wabonaumgodiwamanzi,wathi:“Manje sekuyisikhathiesifanelesokubangibhapathizwe”
7Ngakhowaziphonsaemanzini,wathi,“Ngegamalakho, NkosiyamiJesuKristu,ngibhapathiziwenamuhla” Abesifazanenabantubebonalokhu,bamemezabathi, “Ungaziphonseliemanzini.”Futhiumbusingokwakhe wamemeza,ecabangaukuthiizinhlanzi(amatholeolwandle) zazifananokugwinyaubuhleobungaka”
8Naphezukwakhokonkelokhu,uTheclawaziphonsa emanzini,egamenileNkosiyethuuJesuKristu
9Kodwaizinhlanzi(amatholeolwandle),laphozibona ukukhanyanomlilo,zabulawa,zabhukudazafaphezu kwamanzi,kwathiifulomlilolazungezaiThekla, kangangokuthinjengobaizilwanezazingenakumsondela, nabantuabazangebaboneubunqunubakhe.
10Kodwabaphendukelakuyeezinyeizilwanezasendle; bakhalakakhulungazo;ezinyezazozazisakazekangespikenard,ezinyenge-cassia,ezinyenge-amomus(uhlobo lwe-spikenard,nomautshanibaseJerusalema,nomailadies-rose)ezinyengamafutha;kangangokuthiinani lamafuthalalikhulu,ngokulingananenanilabantu;futhi phezukwalokhuzonkeizilwanezalalasengathizilele ubuthongoobukhulu,futhiazizangezithinteiThekla 11U-AlexanderwathikuMbusi:“Nginezinkunziezimbi kakhulu;akesimbophekuzo”Umbusi,ngokukhathazeka, waphendulawathi:“Ungenzanomayinioyibonaifanele”
12BasebefakaintambookhalwenilukaThecla,eyambopha nezinyawozakhe,bayibophangayoezinkabini,ezazifaka izinsimbiezishisayoezithwenizazozangasese,ukuze njengobazihlushwakakhulu,zimhudulengamandla uThecla,azeambulale
13Ngakho-keizinkunzizadabula,zenzaumsindo owesabekayo;kodwailangabielalizungezeiThecla,lashisa izintamboezaziboshelweemalungeniezinkunzi,futhi
wemaphakathinesiteji,engenandabasengathi wayengaboshwanga.
14KodwaphakathinalesosikhathiuTrifina,owayehlezi kwelinyelamabhentshi,waqulekawafa;okwabangela ukukhathazekaokukhuluedolobhenilonke.
15U-Alexanderngokwakhewesaba,wacelaumbusi,wathi: Ngiyakuncenga,ngihawukeleminanomuzi,ukhululelona wesifazaneolwenezilwane;funaminanawenomuzi wonkesibhujiswe
16NgobaumauKesariengabanolwazingalokho okwedlulemanje,ngokuqinisekileuzowubhubhisaumuzi ngokushesha,ngobauTrifina,umuntuwozalo lwasebukhosini,noyisihlobosakhe,ufileesihlalwenisakhe.
17NgemvakwalokhoumbusiwabizauTheklaphakathi kwezilwane,wathikuye:“Ungubaniwena?”Futhiunjani, ukuthiakukhoneyodwayezilwaneezokuthinta?”
18UTheclawaphendulawathikuye:“Ngiyinceku kaNkulunkuluophilayo;futhingokuqondenenesimosami, ngikholwakuJesuKristuiNdodanayakhe,uNkulunkulu athokozangayo;futhingenxayalesosizathuasikho nesisodwasezilwaneesakwaziukungithinta”
19Nguyeyedwaoyindlelaeyaensindisweniyaphakade, futhiuyisisekelosokuphilaokuphakadeUyisiphephelo kulaboabasosizini;uyisivikelokwabahluphekile,ithemba nesivikelokulaboabangenathemba;futhi,ngezwielilodwa, bonkelaboabangakholwakuye,ngekebaphile,kodwa bahluphekeukufaokuphakade
20Kwathiumahluleliezwalezizinto,walayaukuthi kulethweizembathozakhe,wathikuyegqokaizembatho zakho
21UTheclawaphendulawathi:Kwangathilowo Nkulunkuluowangigqokisangesikhathingihambaze phakathikwezilwane,ngosukulokwahlulelaangembathisa umphefumulowakhongenguboyensindiso.Wabe esethathaizingubozakhe,wazigqoka;futhingokushesha umbusiwakhiphaumyalongalamazwi:Ngikukhulula kuweTheclaincekukaNkulunkulu.
22Abesifazanebamemezangezwielikhulu,badumisa uNkulunkulunganhliziyonye,bathi:“Kukhona uNkulunkuluoyedwa,uNkulunkuluwaseThekla; uNkulunkuluoyedwaowakhululaiThekla”
23Amazwiaboayezwakalakakhulukangangokuthiwonke umuziwabonakalasengathiuyanyakaziswa;noTrifina ngokwakhewezwaizindabaezinhle,wavukafuthi, wagijimanesixukuukuyohlangabezauThekla;wamgona, wathi:Manjesengiyakholwaukuthikuzobakhonauvuko lwabafileyo;manjesengiyaqinisekaukuthiindodakazi yamiiyaphila.Wozanamiekhaya,ndodakaziyamiThekla, futhingizokubuyiselakonkeenginakho
24NgakhouTheclawahambanoTrifina,wahlalakhona izinsukuezimbalwa,emfundisaizwileNkosi,okwathi laphoizintombieziningizaphenduka;kwabakhona injabuloenkuluemndeninikaTrifina
25KodwauTheklawayefisaukubonauPawulu,wabuza, wathumelayonkeindawoukuyomfuna;kwathiekugcineni watshelwaukuthiuseMira,eLikiya,wathathaizinsizwa nezintombieziningikanyenaye;wabhincaibhande, wagqokanjengomuntuwesilisa,wayakuyeeMira,eLikiya, watholauPawulueshumayelaizwilikaNkulunkulu;wema eduzekwakhephakathikwesixuku.
ISAHLUKO10
1KodwakwakumangalisakakhuluuPawululaphoembona yenanabantuababenaye;ngobawayecabangaukuthi kukhonaicalaelishaelalizovelakubo;
2LaphouTheklaebona,wathikuye:“Ngibhapathiziwe, Pawulu;ngobalowookusizayoekushumayeleni,ungisizile ekubhapathizeni.”
3UPawuluwamthatha,wamyisaendlinikaHermesi; uTheklawamlandisauPawulungakhokonkeokwamehlela e-Antiyokiya,uPawuluwamangalakakhulu,bonkeabezwa baqiniswaokholweni,bathandazelainjabulokaTrifina
4UTheklawasukuma,wathikuPawulu:“Ngiyae-Ikoniyu.”
UPawuluwathikuye:“Hamba,ufundiseizwileNkosi”
5KodwauTrifinawayethumeleimalieningikuPawulu, kanyenezinguboezandlenizikaThecla,ukuzekusizwe abampofu
6NgakhouTheklawayae-Ikoniyu,wafikaendlinikaOnesiforu,wawaphansilaphouPawuluayehlezikhona, washumayela,wahlanganisaizinyembezinemithandazo yakhe,wadumisauNkulunkulungalamazwialandelayo: 7ONkosiNkulunkuluwalendlu,laphongakhanyiswa khonanguwekuqala;OJesu,ndodanakaNkulunkulu ophilayo,owayengumsiziwamiphambikombusi,umsizi wamiemlilweni,nomsiziwamiphakathikwezilwane; wenawedwaunguNkulunkulukuzekubephakade naphakadeAmen
8UTheclamanje(ekubuyenikwakhe)watholauThamyris efile,kodwauninaesaphilaNgakhowabizaunina,wathi kuye:Theoclia,mama,kungenzekayiniukuthiukholelwe ukuthikukhonaiNkosieyodwakuphelauNkulunkulu, ohlalaemazulwini?Umaufisaingceboenkulu, uNkulunkuluuzokunikayonangami;umaufuna indodakaziyakhofuthi,nangumina.
9Lezinezinyeizintoeziningiazimelelakunina,(ezama) ukumkholisa(ngombonowakhe)KodwauninauTheoclia akazangeazinikeudumoezintweniezashiwoumfel’ ukholouThecla
10NgakhouTheklaebonaukuthiukhulumangeze, wasayinaumzimbawakhewonkengesiphambano, waphumaendliniwayakuDaphine;kwathilaphoefika lapho,wayaemhumeni,laphoatholakhonauPawulunoOnesiforu,wawaphansi,wakhalaphambikukaNkulunkulu.
11Esesukilelapho,wayaeSelukiya,wakhanyisela abaningingoKristu
12Futhiifuelikhanyayolamholaohambwenilwakhe.
13EsefikileeSelukiyawayaendaweniengaphandle komuzi,cisheibangaelingamakhilomithaambalwa,esaba izakhamuzi,ngobazazikhonzaizithombe
14Waholelwa(yifu)entabeniebizwangokuthiiCalamon, nomaiRodeonWahlalalaphoiminyakaeminingi,wadlula ezilingwenieziningiezibuhlunguzikadeveli,azithwala ngendlelaefanele,ngosizoayelutholekuKristu
15Ekugcineniabesifazaneabathileabathandekayobezwa ngentombiuThecla,bayakuye,bafundiswayiyoamazwi kaNkulunkulu,futhiabaningibabobashiyalelizwe, baphilaimpiloyobumonashinayo.
16Ngaleyondlelakwasakazekaumbikoomuhlekuyo yonkeindawoyaseThecla,futhiwenzaizindlelaeziningana zokwelapha(eziyisimangaliso),kangangokuthiwonke umuzinezindawoeziseduzebalethaabagulayokuleyo ntaba,futhingaphambikokubabafikeemnyango
womhume,baphulukiswangokusheshakunomayisiphi isifoababenaso.
17Omoyaabangcolileyobakhishwa,benzaumsindo; bonkebamukelaabagulayobabobephilile,badumisa uNkulunkulu,owanikaintombiuTheklaamandlaanjalo; 18KangangobaodokotelabaseSelukiya babengasabalulekile,futhibalahlekelwayiyoyonkeinzuzo yomsebenziwabo,ngobaakekhoowayebanaka; okwabenzabagcwalaumona,baqalaukucebaizindlela abangazisebenzisangalencekukaKristu
ISAHLUKO11
1UDeveliwabeesebacebisakabi;kwathingosukuoluthile bahlanganaukuzebabonisane,baxoxakanje:Intombi ingumpristikazikankulunkulukaziomkhuluuDiyana,futhi nomayiniayicelayokuye,uyayinikwa,ngobaiyintombi, ngakho-keithandwayibobonkeonkulunkulu
2Manje-kemasithengeabanyeabantuabangosomaqhinga, besekuthingemvakokubadakisangokwanele,sibanike imalieningi,sibayaleukubabahambebayolalanalentombi, sibathembiseumvuzoomkhuluumabekwenzalokho.
3(Ngobabavumelanangokuthiumabekwazi ukumhlambalaza,onkulunkulungekebesamnaka, noDiyanangekeaphulukiseabagulayongenxayakhe.)
4Baqhubekangokuvumelananalesisinqumo,futhi amadodaayaentabeni,futhienolakanjengezingonyama ayaemhumeni,engqongqozaemnyango.
5Umfel’ukholoongcweleuThecla,ethembele kuNkulunkuluayekholelwakuye,wavulaumnyango, nakubaayesetshelwekusengaphambilingecebolabo,wathi kubo:“Madodaasemasha,nibhekenenani?”
6Baphendulabathi:“Ukhonayiniumuntulapha,ogama lakhelinguThekla?”Wathi:“Nifunanikuye?”Bathi: “Sifunaukulalanaye”
7UTheclaobusisiwewaphendulawathi:Nakuba ngingugogoohluphekile,ngiyisigqilaseNkosiyamiuJesu Kristu;futhinomauneceboelibingami,ngekeukwazi ukulifezaBaphendulabathi:Akunakwenzekakodwa kumelwesikwaziukwenzanganilokhoesikucabangayo.
8Kwathibesasholokhu,bambambangamandlaamakhulu, bafunaukumdlwengulaKhona-keyenangobumnene (obukhulu)wathikubo:“Bashabekezelani,nibone inkazimuloyeNkosi”
9Kwathibesamphethe,wabhekaphezuluezulwiniwathi; ONkulunkuluohloniphekile,ongafaniswanaye;ozenza ukhazimulaphezukwezithazakho;owangikhulula emlilweni,futhionganginikelangakuThamyris, onganginikelangaku-Alexander;owangikhulula ezilwanenizasendle;owangigcinaemanziniajulile;obe ngumsiziwamiyonkeindawo,futhiwakhazimulisaigama lakhokimi;
10Manjengikhululeezandlenizalababantuababi nabangenangqondo,ungabavumeliukubabadelele ubumsulwabamiengibugcineleudumolwakhokuzekube manje;ngobangiyakuthandafuthingiyakulangazelela, futhingiyakukhonza,Baba,Ndodana,noMoyaoNgcwele, kuzekubephakadeAmen
11Kwasekufikaizwilivelaezulwini,lithi:“Ungesabi, Thecla,ncekuyamiethembekileyo,ngokubanginawe. Bheka,uboneindawoevulekelewena;laphokuyakuba
khonaindawoyakhoyokuhlalayaphakade;laphouzothola khonaumbonoomuhle.”
12UTheclaobusisiweebuka,wabonaidwalalivuleka ngezingaelikhulukangangokuthiumuntuangangenakulo; wenzanjengobaayeyaliwe,wabalekangesibindieqenjini elibi,wangenaedwaleni,elavalekangokushesha, kangangokuthikwakungekhomfantuobonakalayolapho lavulekakhona.
13Amadodaemaemangelengokuphelelengesimangaliso esimangalisayokangaka,futhiayengenawoamandla okubophaincekukaNkulunkulu;kodwakuphela,ebambe isihenqosayo,nomaijazilayo,ayisiphulaingxenyeyayo; 14FuthingishonalokhokwakungemvumekaNkulunkulu, ukuzekuqinisekisweukhololwaboabazobonalendawo ehloniphekile,futhibadluliseleizibusisokulabo abazolandela,abazokholwaeNkosiniyethuuJesuKristu ngenhliziyoehlanzekile
15Wahluphekakanjalolowomfeliwokholowokuqala nomphostolikaNkulunkulu,nentombi,uThecla;owavelaeIkoniyueneminyakaeyishuminesishiyagalombiliubudala; kamuva,ngokwengxenyeohambweninasekuhambeni, futhingokwengxenyeempilweniyezindelaemhumeni, waphilaiminyakaengamashumiayisikhombisanambili; kangangokuthiwayeneminyakaengamashumi ayisishiyagalolunyeubudalalaphoiNkosiimthatha.
16Kanjaloukuphelakokuphilakwakhe 17Usukuolugcinwalungcweleukuzelukhunjulwe, lungomhlazingama-24kuMandulo,ukuzekudunyiswe uBaba,neNdodana,noMoyaoNgcwele,manjenaphakade Amen