7 Abobaba abonako abasekho, nje-ke thina sibhesele icala labo.
Kodwana baphendula bathi: “Emanyeni iinceku zakho gade zibabafo abalitjhumi nambili, amadodana wendoda yinye ehlala enarheni yeKanana. Ubuphetjhani gadesi nje busele nobaba, kanti omunye akasekho.”
UJakopo uyisabo wathi kibo: “Ningemuke abantwabami. UJosefa akasekho, uSimiyoni naye uthethwe. Gadesi sele nifuna ukungithathela uBhenjamini! Maye mina, iphasi lingijikele!”
Alo, kubayini ungacoleli isiphambeko sami, ususe isono sami na? Qala, sele ngizaziyela kwamhlaba, uzangifuna kodwana ngizabe ngingasekho.”
Ilihlo elingiqalileko alisazongibona; amehlwakho azangifuna angasangifumani.
Ungazikhothameli izintwezo, ungazilotjhi ngombana mina Somnini nginguZimakho. NginguZimu onesikhwele owehlisela isibetho sezono zaboyise phezu kwabantwababo besizukulwana sesithathu nesesine salabo abangenzi intandwami.
Somnini, siyabuvuma ubukhohlakali bethu kanye necala labobaba: Ngambala, sonile kuwe.
Uzakuthi kibo, ‘USomnini wathi: Kungombana aboyihlo bangidela, badlhemadlhema ngemva kwabosingazimu, babalotjha bebabakhothamela. Iye, bangidela, azange balonde umthethwami.
Kodwana nakungini-ke khona nithuwelele kunaboyihlo. Qalani, omunye nomunye wenu ukhamba ngokukhunyalala kwehliziyo embi ngaphandle kokungilalela.
Nakhu okutjhiwo nguSomnini: “Ilizwi lizwakele eRama, isililo nokurhahlawula okulisizi. URarheli ulilela abantwabakhe, akafuni ukutjhiriywa ngabo ngombana abasekho.”
“Emihleni leyo abantu angeze basathi, ‘Abobaba bagome amadiribe angakavuthwa, nje-ke amazinyo wabantwana ayatjhelela.’
Wena uzokuthwala umphumela wokuziphatha kwakho ngameswe neenkghabhudlho zakho.’ Kutjho uSomnini.
“Vane nitjho ukuthini lokha nanidzubhula isagesi ngenarha yakwa-Israyeli, nisithi, “ ‘Abobaba bagome amadiribe angakavuthwa, nje-ke amazinyo wabantwana ayatjhelela’?
“Kwenzekani-ke ngaboyihlomkhulu nabaphorofidi babo bamanga?
‘USomnini ubuthaka ekusilingekeni, uzele ukwethembeka, ulibalela imilandu nemitjhapho, kodwana akazumlisa onomlandu. Wehlisela isibetho sezono zaboyise phezu kwabantwababo besizukulwana sesithathu nesesine.’