1 Ngengomso uYoshuwa namaSirayeli ephela bavuka xa kumpondo zankomo, banduluka eShitim, baya kuma phezu kweJordan lo gama balinde ukuwela.
2 Emva kweentsuku ezintathu iinduna zajikeleza esikhululweni,
3 ziyalela abantu zisithi: “Xa nibona ityesi yomnqophiso *kaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu kunye nababingeleli abangabaLevi abayithweleyo, ze niphakame, niphume, nilandele.
4 Kaloku niza kuhamba ngendlela eningazange niyihambe ngaphambili; kuya kufuneka ke nilandele ababingeleli. Kodwa kufuneka ningasondeli kwityesi yomnqophiso. Ze kubekho umgama omalunga nekhilomitha enye phakathi kwayo nani.”
5 UYoshuwa ke wathi ebantwini: “Zihlambululeni, kuba ngomso uNdikhoyo uza kwenza imimangaliso phakathi kwenu.”
6 Waza wabhekisa kubabingeleli wathi: “Thwalani ityesi yomnqophiso niwele, baze abantu balandele.” Benjenjalo ke ababingeleli.
7 Wathi uNdikhoyo kuYoshuwa: “Into endiza kuyenza namhlanje iya kukwenza utsho uhlonipheke kumaSirayeli, aqonde ukuba ndinawe nanjengoMosis.
8 Yithi kubabingeleli abathwele ityesi yomnqophiso ze bathi bakufika emlanjeni iJordan, bangene beme enyeleni.”
9 UYoshuwa wabiza amaSirayeli wathi: “Sondelani nize kuva amazwi athethwe nguNdikhoyo uThixo wenu.
10 Noqonda ngale nto ukuba uThixo ophilayo ukho phakathi kwenu: nguye oya kuwaswantsulisa amaKanana, amaHeti, amaHivi, amaPerezi namaGirgashi, ama-Amori kunye namaJebhusi.
11 Niyabona, ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, iNkosi yehlabathi liphela, yiyo enandulelayo ukuwela iJordan.
12 Khethani ishumi elinambini lamadoda kwizizwe zakwaSirayeli, ibe nye kwisizwe ngasinye.
13 Bakuthi cakatha emanzini ababingeleli abathwele ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, iNkosi yehlabathi liphela, umlambo iJordan uya kuma, ahlanganiselane ndawonye amanzi avela ngentla.”
14-15 Yayilixesha lokuvuna, umlambo uzele, uphuphuma.Ukunduluka kwamaSirayeli ukuya kuwela iJordan, ababingeleli babewakhokele, bethwele ityesi yomnqophiso. Kuthe nje ukuba bathi cakatha emlanjeni,
16 ema amanzi avela ngentla, ahlanganiselana ada aya kutsho eAdam, idolophu emelene neZaretan. Amanzi ahlayo ukusinga kuLwandle oluFileyo anqamka, baza ke abantu bawelela kufuphi neJeriko.
17 Lo gama abantu bakwaSirayeli bawelayo behamba kumhlaba owomileyo, ababingeleli ababethwele ityesi yomnqophiso babemi zinzi kumhlaba owomileyo apho esizikithini somlambo iJordan, bada bawela baphelela abantu.