1 UJoshuwa wavuka ekuseni kakhulu, basuka eShithimi, bafika eJordani, yena nabo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, balala khona ebusuku bengakaweli.
2 Kwathi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu izinduna zadabula phakathi kwekamu.*
3 Zayala abantu, zathi: “Nxa nibona umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nabapristi bamaLevi bewuthwala, niyakusuka endaweni yenu, niwulandele.
4 Nokho kuyakuba khona ibanga phakathi kwenu nawo, lingangezingalo eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili ngokulinganisa, ningasondeli kuwo, ukuba nazi indlela eniyakuhamba ngayo, ngokuba anidlulanga ngale ndlela phambili.”
5 UJoshuwa wathi kubantu: “Zingcweliseni, ngokuba kusasa uJehova uyakwenza izimangaliso phakathi kwenu.”
6 UJoshuwa wakhuluma kubapristi, wathi: “Phakamisani umphongolo wesivumelwano, niwele phambi kwabantu.” Baphakamisa-ke umphongolo wesivumelwano, bahamba phambi kwabantu.
7 UJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: “Namuhla ngizakuqala ukukukhulisa emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli ukuba bazi ukuthi njengalokho nganginoMose, kanjalo ngiyakuba nawe.
8 Wobayala abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano, uthi: ‘Nxa senifikile onqenqemeni lwamanzi aseJordani, niyakuma ngaseJordani.’ ”
9 UJoshuwa wathi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli: “Sondelani lapha, nizwe amazwi kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.”
10 Wathi uJoshuwa: “Niyakwazi ngalokhu ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uphakathi kwenu nokuthi uyakuxosha nokuxosha phambi kwenu amaKhanani, namaHeti, namaHivi, namaPherizi, namaGirigashi, nama-Amori, namaJebusi.
11 Bhekani, umphongolo wesivumelwano seNkosi yomhlaba wonke uwela iJordani phambi kwenu.
12 Ngalokho zithatheleni manje amadoda ayishumi nambili ezizweni zakwa-Israyeli, indoda ibenye ngesizwe.
13 Kuyakuthi lapho amathe ezinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo kaJehova, iNkosi yomhlaba wonke, eyakuma emanzini aseJordani, amanzi aseJordani anqamuke, amanzi avela ngenhla, eme nqwabanye.”
14 Kwathi lapho abantu besuka ematendeni abo ukuba bawele iJordani, abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano bephambi kwabantu,
15 nalapho abathwala umphongolo sebefikile eJordani, izinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo zicwilile onqenqemeni lwamanzi aseJordani eligcwele phezu kwalo lonke ugu lwalo izinsuku zonke zokuvuna,
16 ayesema amanzi avela ngenhla, afukuka aba nqwabanye kude kakhulu ngase-Adamu, umuzi oseceleni kweSaretani; lawo ewuka eya ngaseLwandle lwase-Araba, uLwandle Lukasawoti, anqamuka impela; abantu base bewela maqondana neJeriko.
17 Abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova bema baqina emhlabathini owomileyo ngaphakathi neJordani, abantu bonke bawela emhlabathini owomileyo, saze sawela iJordani isizwe sonke saphelela.