< Luke 1 >

1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
Njengoba abanengi sebebeke izandla ukubeka ngendlela efaneleyo ukulandiswa kwezinto eziqiniseke ngokupheleleyo phakathi kwethu,
2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
njengalokhu basinika labo ababonayo ngamehlo ekuqaleni njalo bezinceku zelizwi,
3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
kukhanye kukuhle lakimi, sengizihlolisisile zonke izinto kusukela ekuqaleni, ukuthi ngikubhalele ngokulandelana, mhlekazi Teyofilu,
4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
ukuze wazi iqiniso ngalezozinto ozifundisiweyo.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Ensukwini zikaHerodi inkosi yeJudiya kwakukhona umpristi othile othiwa nguZakariya, oweqembu likaAbhiya; lomkakhe wayevela kumadodakazi kaAroni, lebizo lakhe linguElizabethi.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
Njalo babelungile bobabili phambi kukaNkulunkulu, behamba ngayo yonke imilayo lezimiso zeNkosi, bengasoleki.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
Njalo babengelamntwana, ngoba uElizabethi wayeyinyumba, basebeleminyaka eminengi bobabili.
8 Now it happened, while he was performing the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
Kwasekusithi esenza inkonzo yobupristi phambi kukaNkulunkulu esesimisweni seqembu lakibo,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
ngomkhuba wenkonzo yobupristi, nguye owadliwa yinkatho yokutshisa impepha esengene ethempelini leNkosi.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
Njalo ixuku lonke labantu lalikhuleka ngaphandle ngesikhathi sokutshisa impepha.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Ingilosi yeNkosi yasibonakala kuye, imi ngakwesokunene selathi lempepha.
12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
Kwathi uZakariya eyibona waqhuqha, lokwesaba kwawela phezu kwakhe.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.
Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye: Ungesabi Zakariya; ngoba umkhuleko wakho uzwakele, lomkakho uElizabethi uzakuzalela indodana, njalo uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJohane.
14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
Futhi uzakuba lenjabulo lentokozo, labanengi bazakujabulela ukuzalwa kwakhe.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
Ngoba uzakuba mkhulu phambi kweNkosi, iwayini kanye lokunathwayo okulamandla kasoze akunathe, futhi uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela esesesiswini sikanina.
16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
Labanengi kubantwana bakoIsrayeli uzabaphendulela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo;
17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
njalo yena uzahamba phambi kwayo emoyeni lemandleni kaElija, ukuphendulela inhliziyo zaboyise kubantwana, labangalaleliyo ekuhlakanipheni kwabalungileyo, ukulungiselela iNkosi isizwe esilungisiweyo.
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
UZakariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Ngizakwazi ngani lokhu? Ngoba mina ngilixhegu, lomkami useleminyaka eminengi.
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: NginguGabriyeli mina, omayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu; njalo ngithunyiwe ukukhuluma lawe, lokukubikela lezizindaba ezinhle.
20 And look, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
Njalo khangela, uzakuba yisimungulu njalo wehluleke ukukhuluma, kuze kube lusuku okuzakwenzeka ngalo lezizinto, ngenxa yokuthi ungakholwanga amazwi ami, azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo.
21 The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering why he was delayed in the temple.
Labantu babemlindele uZakariya; bamangala ngokuphuza kwakhe ethempelini.
22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
Kuthe esephuma wehluleka ukukhuluma labo; njalo bazi ukuthi ubone umbono ethempelini; njalo yena wayesebaqhweba, wahlala eyisimungulu.
23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
Kwasekusithi seziphelile insuku zokukhonza kwakhe, waya endlini yakhe.
24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
Kwathi emva kwalezonsuku uElizabethi umkakhe wathatha isisu, wazifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu, esithi:
25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my disgrace among people."
Yenze kanje kimi iNkosi ensukwini eyangikhangela ngazo ukususa ihlazo lami phakathi kwabantu.
26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Kwathi ngenyanga yesithupha ingilosi uGabriyeli yathunywa nguNkulunkulu emzini weGalili othiwa yiNazaretha,
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
entombini eyayigane indoda, ebizo layo lalinguJosefa, eyendlu kaDavida; lebizo lentombi linguMariya.
28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you."
Ingilosi yasingena kuye yathi: Ekuhle, wena othandiweyo! INkosi ilawe, ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana.
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
Kwathi eseyibonile wethuswa kakhulu yilizwi layo, wanakana ukuthi yikubingelela okunjani lokhu.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Ingilosi yasisithi kuye: Ungesabi, Mariya; ngoba uthole uthando kuNkulunkulu.
31 And look, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
Njalo khangela, uzathatha isisu, uzale indodana, uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJesu.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
Yena uzakuba mkhulu, uzabizwa ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke; futhi iNkosi uNkulunkulu izamnika isihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavida,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom." (aiōn g165)
njalo uzabusa phezu kwendlu kaJakobe kuze kube nininini, langombuso wakhe kawuzukuba lokuphela. (aiōn g165)
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
UMariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Lokhu kungenzeka njani, njengoba ngingazi indoda?
35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born will be called the Son of God.
Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: UMoya oNgcwele uzakuza phezu kwakho, lamandla oPhezukonke azakwembesa; ngakho lalokhu okungcwele okuzazalwa nguwe kuzakuthiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
36 And look, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Njalo khangela, isinini sakho uElizabethi, laye ukhulelwe yindodana ebudaleni bakhe; lale yinyanga yesithupha kuye obekuthiwa uyinyumba.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
Ngoba kuNkulunkulu kakulalutho oluzakwehlula.
38 And Mary said, "See, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
UMariya wasesithi: Khangela, incekukazi yeNkosi; kakube kimi njengelizwi lakho. Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
Ngalezonsuku uMariya wasesukuma waya ezintabeni ngokuphangisa, emzini weJuda,
40 and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
wangena endlini kaZakariya, wabingelela uElizabethi.
41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Kwasekusithi uElizabethi ezwe ukubingelela kukaMariya, inkonyane yeqa esiswini sakhe; loElizabethi wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele,
42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, wathi: Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana, njalo sibusisiwe isithelo sesizalo sakho!
43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Kanti kuvela ngaphi lokhu kimi, ukuthi unina weNkosi yami eze kimi?
44 For look, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
Ngoba khangela, kuthe ilizwi lokubingelela kwakho lifika endlebeni zami, umntwana weqa esiswini sami ngokuthokoza.
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord."
Futhi ubusisiwe okholiweyo, ngoba kuzagcwaliseka lezozinto ezakhulunywa kuye yiNkosi.
46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
UMariya wasesithi: Umphefumulo wami uyayikhulisa iNkosi,
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant girl. For look, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
ngoba ukhangele ubuphansi bencekukazi yakhe. Ngoba khangela, kusukela khathesi zonke izizukulwana zizakuthi ngibusisiwe.
49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Ngoba yena olamandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele lebizo lakhe,
50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
lesihawu sakhe sikusizukulwana ngesizukulwana kulabo abamesabayo.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Wenzile amandla ngengalo yakhe; uhlakazile abazigqajayo ekunakaneni kwenhliziyo zabo.
52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
Wehlisile iziphathamandla ezihlalweni zobukhosi, kodwa uphakamisile abantukazana.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
Abalambileyo ubasuthise ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo wabamukisa beze.
54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
Umsizile uIsrayeli inceku yakhe, ngokukhumbula isihawu,
55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever." (aiōn g165)
njengoba watsho kubobaba bethu, kuAbrahama, lenzalweni yakhe kuze kube nininini. (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
UMariya wasehlala laye okungaba zinyanga ezintathu, wasebuyela endlini yakhe.
57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
Isikhathi sikaElizabethi sokuthi abelethe sesiphelele, wasebeletha indodana.
58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
Abakhelene laye lezinini zakhe basebesizwa ukuthi iNkosi yenze isihawu sayo saba sikhulu kuye, basebethokoza laye.
59 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of the father.
Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesificaminwembili, beza ukuzasoka usane; balubiza ngebizo likayise ngokuthi nguZakariya.
60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
Kodwa unina waphendula wathi: Hatshi bo, kodwa luzathiwa nguJohane.
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
Basebesithi kuye: Kakho ezihlotsheni zakho obizwa ngalelibizo.
62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
Basebeqhweba uyise, ukuthi angathanda ukuthi lubizwe ngokuthini.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.
Wasecela into yokubhalela, wabhala, esithi: NguJohane ibizo lalo; basebemangala bonke.
64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Njalo wahle wavulwa umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphululwa, wasekhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
Lokwesaba kwehlela phezu kwabo bonke abakhelene labo; njalo kwakhulunywa ngazo zonke lezizinto kulo lonke elezintabeni zeJudiya,
66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
labo bonke abazizwayo bazilondoloza ezinhliziyweni zabo, besithi: Kambe lolusane luzakuba njani? Njalo isandla seNkosi sasilalo.
67 His father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
LoZakariya uyise wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele, waprofetha, esithi:
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
Ibusisiwe iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngoba ihambele yasenzela inkululeko isizwe sayo,
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
yasivusela uphondo losindiso endlini kaDavida inceku yayo,
70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), (aiōn g165)
njengalokho yakhuluma ngomlomo wabaprofethi bayo abangcwele kusukela ekuqaleni komhlaba, (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
isikhulula ezitheni zethu, lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo;
72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
ukwenzela obaba bethu isihawu, lokukhumbula isivumelwano sayo esingcwele,
73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
isifungo eyasifunga kubaba wethu uAbrahama,
74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
ukusinika, ukuthi sesikhululiwe esandleni sezitha zethu, siyikhonze singelakwesaba,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo zonke izinsuku zempilo yethu.
76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his ways,
Lawe-ke, sane, uzabizwa ngokuthi ungumprofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambi kobuso beNkosi ukulungisa izindlela zayo;
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins,
lokunika isizwe sayo ulwazi losindiso ngothethelelo lwezono zabo,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
ngesihelo sikaNkulunkulu wethu, okuthi ngaso ukusa kwaphezulu kusethekelele,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
ukubakhanyisela abahlezi emnyameni lethunzini lokufa, ukuqondisa inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.
80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Wakhula-ke umntwana omncane, waqina emoyeni, waba sezinkangala kwaze kwaba lusuku lokubonakala kwakhe kuIsrayeli.

< Luke 1 >