Jonah 1
1 Izwi likaSimakade lafika kuJona, indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi:
2 “Phuthuma uye emzini omkhulukazi, iNineve, umemezele kuwo ukuthi ububi bawo sebenyuke baze bafika phambi kwami.”
3 Kodwa uJona wasuka, wabaleka phambi kukaSimakade, walibhekisa eTharishishi. Wehlela eJopha, wathola umkhumbi owawuya eTharishishi. Eseyikhokhile imali, wagibela kuwo elibhekise eTharishishi, ukuba suke phambi kukaSimakade.
4 Kepha uSimakade wathumela isishingishane olwandle, kwaba nesiphepho esikhulu kwaze kwangathi umkhumbi uyahlephuka.
5 Amatilosi esaba, kwayilelo nalelo lakhala kunkulunkulu walo. Ayesephonsa olwandle impahla eyayisemkhunjini, ukuze umkhumbi ube lula. UJona wayesehlele egumbini lomkhumbi elingaphansi maphakathi nendawo, elele zwi.
6 Umkhuzi wamatilosi weza kuJona, wathi: “Ungalala kanjani uhuqe ubuthongo kunje? Vuka ubize owakho uNkulunkulu, mhlawumbe angasizwa, singashabalali.”
7 Amatilosi ahlanganisa amakhanda, athi: “Wozani senze unkatho, sibone ukuthi ngubani oyimbangela yalobu bubi obusehlelayo na? Alwenza-ke unkatho, lwadla uJona.”
8 Ayesethi kuye: “Sitshele ukuthi ngubani owenze sehlelwa yile nhlekelele? Wenza msebenzi muni wena? Uvela kuliphi izwe, futhi ungowasiphi isizwe na?”
9 Wathi kuwo: “NgingumHebheru, ngikhonza uSimakade, uNkulunkulu wamazulu, owenze ulwandle nomhlabathi owomileyo.”
10 Athi angezwa lokhu amatilosi esaba kakhulu, ayesethi kuye: “Wenzeni na?” (Ambuza kanjalo ngoba ayazi ukuthi ubalekela uSimakade ngoba wayeke wawaxoxela ngaphambilini.)
11 Ulwandle lwaya ngokuya ludlanga. Amatilosi ambuza athi: “Senzenjani ngawe ukuze ulwandle luthule na?”
12 Waphendula wathi: “Ngiqukuleni, ningiphonse olwandle, khona luzothula, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi yimi oyimbangela yalesi siphepho esinihlaseleyo.”
13 Amatilosi azama ukugwedlela ogwini lolwandle kepha awaphumelelanga; isiphepho samelana nawo, ulwandle lwadlanga kakhulu.
14 Amatilosi akhuleka kuSimakade, athi: “Ungasibhubhisi Simakade, ngenxa yale ndoda. Ungasisoli ngokuthi sibulele umuntu ongenacala; siyazi ukuthi Wena unguSimakade, wenza njengokuthanda kwakho.”
15 Ayesemqukula uJona, amphonsa olwandle; lwase luthula cwaka ulwandle.
16 Amatilosi amesaba kakhulu uSimakade, anikela kuye umhlatshelo, enza nezifungo.
17 USimakade wathumela inhlanzi enkulu ukuba igwinye uJona. UJona wayesesiswini senhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu, nobusuku obuthathu.