ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3 Ngakho-ke, njengoba mina ngokwami sengichwayisisile konke kusukela ekuqaleni, lami ngikubone kufanele ukuthi ngikulobele umlando oqondileyo, komkhulu ohloniphekayo uTheyofelasi
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 [God friend];
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
5 Ngesikhathi sikaHerodi inkosi yaseJudiya kwakulomphristi okwakuthiwa nguZakhariya, owaye ngowesigaba sika-Abhija, umkakhe u-Elizabethi laye wayengowosendo luka-Aroni.
There was in the days of Herod [Heroic], the king of Judea [Praise], a certain priest named Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], of the priestly division of Abiyah [My father Yah]. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron [Light-bringer], and her name was Elizabeth [My God oath].
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
They were both upright before God, observing all the mitzvot ·instructions· and ordinances of Yahweh blamelessly.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth [My God oath] was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
Now while he served in the priest’s office before God in the order of his priestly division,
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of Yahweh and burn incense (as the Cohen Gadol ·High Priest· on Yom Kippur ·Day of Atonement·. On the 7th month of Ethanim on the 10th day).
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
All the people were outside, praying, at the time of the incense burning,
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
when there appeared to him an angel of MarYah [Master Yahweh], standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
Zacharias [Remembered by Yah] was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi, Zakhariya; umkhuleko wakho usuzwakele. Umkakho u-Elizabethi uzakuzalela indodana kufanele uyinike ibizo elithiwa nguJohane.
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth [My God oath], will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John [Yah is gracious].
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 ngoba uzakuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi. Kakumelanga anathe iwayini lanini loba yini ebilisiweyo enathwayo, njalo uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela ekuzalweni kwakhe.
For he will be great in the sight of MarYah [Master Yahweh], and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with Ruach haKodesh [Spirit of the Holiness], even from his mother’s womb.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
He will turn many of the children of to MarYah [Master Yahweh], their God.
17 Uzahamba phambili kweNkosi ngomoya langamandla ka-Elija, ukuguqulela inhliziyo zaboyise ebantwaneni babo labayiziqholo elwazini lwabalungileyo, ukuqondisa abantu abalungiselelwe iNkosi.”
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah [My God Yah], ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for Adonai.”
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
Zacharias [Remembered by Yah] 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.”
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel [Man of God], who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
The people were waiting for Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
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.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
After these days Elizabeth [My God oath], his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
“Thus has MarYah [Master Yahweh] done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel [Man of God] was sent from God to a city of Galilee [District, Circuit], named Nazareth [Branch, Separated one],
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph [May he add], of David [Beloved]’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary [Rebellion].
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Shalom ·Complete peace·, favored lady! Adonai is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary [Rebellion], for you have found favor with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Yeshua [Salvation].’
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
He will be great, and will be called haBen haElohim Chayim [the Son of the God Living]. MarYah [Master Yahweh] God will give him the throne of his forefather, David [Beloved],
and he will reign over the house of Jacob [Supplanter] forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
Mary [Rebellion] said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
The angel answered her, “The Ruach Kodesh [Holy Spirit] will come on you, and the power of the Elyon [Most High] will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Ben-Elohim ·Son of Elohim God·.
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
Behold, Elizabeth [My God oath], your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
Mary [Rebellion] said, “Behold, the servant of MarYah [Master Yahweh]; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
Mary [Rebellion] arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah [Praised],
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
and entered into the house of Zacharias [Remembered by Yah] and greeted Elizabeth [My God oath].
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
When Elizabeth [My God oath] heard Mary [Rebellion]’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth [My God oath] was filled with Ruach haKodesh [Spirit of the Holiness].
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 Kodwa kungani ngithole umusa ongaka mina, ukuba ngethekelelwe ngunina weNkosi yami?
Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from MarYah [Master Yahweh]!”
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
Mary [Rebellion] said, “My soul magnifies Adonai.
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
And in every generation, he has eleos ·merciful compassion in action· on those who fear him.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He has given help to Israel [God prevails], his servant, that he might remember eleos ·merciful compassion in action·,
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham [Father of a multitude] and his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
Mary [Rebellion] stayed with her about three months, and then teshuvah ·completely returned· to her house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
Now the time that Elizabeth [My God oath] should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that Adonai had magnified his eleos ·merciful compassion in action· towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], after the name of his father.
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John [Yah is gracious].”
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John [Yah is gracious].” They all marveled.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea [Praise].
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of MarYah [Master Yahweh] was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
His father, Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], was filled with Ruach haKodesh [Spirit of the Holiness], and prophesied, saying,
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
“Blessed be MarYah [Master Yahweh], the God of Israel [God prevails], for he has visited and redeemed his people;
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
and has raised up a horn of yishu'ah ·salvation· for us in the house of his servant David [Beloved]
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
yishu'ah ·salvation· from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
to show eleos ·merciful compassion in action· towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties·,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
the covenant oath which he swore to Abraham [Father of a multitude], Avinu ·our Father·,
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Elyon [Most High], for you will go before the face of Yahweh to prepare his ways,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to give knowledge of yishu'ah ·salvation· to his people by the remission of their sins,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
because of the tender eleos ·merciful compassion in action· of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel [God prevails].
