ULukha 23
1 Ibandla lonke laseliphakama lamqhuba lamusa kuPhilathu.
The whole council rose and took him to Pilate.
2 Basebemethesa icala besithi, “Indoda le siyifice ixhwalisa isizwe sakithi. Iphikisana lokuthela imithelo kuKhesari njalo izenza uKhristu, inkosi.”
There they started to accuse him. “We found this man deceiving our nation, telling people not to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming he is Messiah, a king,” they said.
3 Ngakho uPhilathu wasembuza uJesu wathi, “Uyinkosi yamaJuda na?” “Kunjengoba usitsho,” waphendula uJesu.
“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked him. “So you say,” replied Jesus.
4 UPhilathu wasebikela abaphristi abakhulu kanye lexuku labantu wathi, “Kangiboni lutho lokwethesa umuntu lo icala.”
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I don't find this man guilty of any crime.”
5 Kodwa bagcizelela bathi, “Udunga abantu kulolonke elaseJudiya ngemfundiso yakhe. Waqalisa eGalile, usehambe wonke umango waze wazafika lapha.”
But they insisted, saying, “He is inciting rebellion all over Judea with his teachings, from Galilee to right here in Jerusalem.”
6 Esezwe lokhu uPhilathu wabuza ingabe indoda leyo yayingumGalile na.
When he heard this, Pilate asked, “Is this man a Galilean?”
7 Esezwile ukuthi uJesu wayengaphansi kombuso kaHerodi wamthumela kuHerodi owayeseJerusalema ngalesosikhathi.
When he discovered that Jesus came under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was also in Jerusalem at the time.
8 UHerodi wathi embona uJesu wathaba kakhulu ngoba wayevele etshisekela ukumbona. Ethathela kulokho ayekuzwile ngaye, wayelindele ukumbona esenza omunye umangaliso.
Herod was very pleased to see Jesus since he had wanted to meet him for a long time. He had heard about Jesus and was hoping to see him perform a miracle.
9 Wamjinga ngemibuzo, kodwa uJesu akaze amphendula.
He asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not answer him at all.
10 Abaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho labo babemi khonapho bemangalela ngokuthukuthela.
The chief priests and religious teachers stood there, angrily accusing him.
11 UHerodi lamabutho akhe basebemchothoza njalo bamhoza. Bamgqokisa isigqoko esihle, basebembuyisela kuPhilathu.
Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him. Then they placed a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
12 Ngalelolanga uHerodi loPhilathu babangabangane kodwa mandulo kwalokhu babeyizitha.
From that day on Herod and Pilate were friends—before that they had been enemies.
13 UPhilathu wabizela ndawonye abaphristi abakhulu lababusi kanye labantu
Pilate called together the chief priests, rulers, and the people,
14 wathi kubo, “Lingilethele umuntu obekhuthaza abantu ukwenza umvukela. Sengimhlolile phambi kwenu, kodwa kangifumananga lutho kulokhu elimangalela khona.
and told them, “You brought this man before me, accusing him of inciting the people to rebellion. I've carefully examined him in your presence, and do not find him guilty of the charges you have brought against him.
15 LoHerodi kafumananga lutho, ngoba usemphendukisile kithi; njengoba libona, kenzanga lutho olufanele ukuthi abulawe.
Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. He has done nothing that demands he should be put to death.
16 Ngakho ngizamjezisa nje besengimkhulula.” [
So I will have him flogged and then release him.”
17 Kwakumele akhulule isibotshwa esisodwa esiyabe sikhethwe ngabantu mhla wedili.]
18 Bamemeza ngalizwi linye bathi, “Msusele khatshana umuntu lo! Sikhululele uBharabhasi!”
But they all shouted together, “Kill this man, and release Barabbas to us.”
19 (UBharabhasi wayephoselwe entolongweni ngenxa yokuvusa isiphithiphithi edolobheni langenxa yokubulala.)
(Barabbas had been put in prison for taking part in a rebellion in the city, and for murder.)
20 Kwathi ngoba efuna ukumkhulula uJesu, uPhilathu waphinda wathi kabake bacabange njalo.
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, so spoke to them again.
21 Kodwa baqhubeka bememeza besithi, “Mbethele! Mbethele!”
But they kept on shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 Waphinda wakhuluma labo okwesithathu wathi, “Ngani na? Umuntu lo wenze cala bani? Angiboni lutho kuye olungafanela isigwebo sokuthi abulawe. Ngakho-ke, ngizakuthi kajeziswe besengimkhulula.”
Pilate asked them for the third time, “But why? What crime has he committed? I don't find any reason for executing him. So I will have him flogged and then release him.”
23 Kodwa baklabalala beqinisa ukuba kabethelwe, lakanye ukugcizelela kwabo kwaphumelela.
But they continued insisting with loud shouts, demanding that he be crucified. Their shouting succeeded,
24 Ngakho uPhilathu wasemisa ukwemukela izifiso zabo.
and Pilate gave the sentence they demanded.
25 Wayikhulula indoda leyo eyayiphoselwe entolongweni ngenxa yesiphithiphithi lokubulala, eyiyo abayicelayo, wanikela uJesu kubo ukuthi benze intando yabo.
He released the man imprisoned for rebellion and murder, but he sent Jesus to be put to death in accordance with their demands.
26 Bathi sebemqhuba babamba uSimoni waseKhureni owayesuka emaphandleni, bamethesa isiphambano bathi kasithwale ngemva kukaJesu.
As the soldiers led him away, they seized a man called Simon of Cyrene, who had come in from the countryside. They put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 Walandelwa ngabantu abanengi kakhulu, kanye labesifazane ababemkhalela bebubula.
A large crowd followed him, along with women who were mourning and lamenting him.
28 UJesu wanyemukula wathi kubo, “Madodakazi aseJerusalema, lingangikhaleli; zikhaleleni lina kanye labantwabenu.
Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me. Weep for yourselves and your children.
29 Ngoba sizafika isikhathi lapho elizakuthi, ‘Babusisiwe abafazi abazinyumba, lezibeletho ezingazange zithwale kanye lamabele angazange amunyise!’
For the time is coming when they'll say, ‘Happy are those who are childless, and those who never had babies, and those who never nursed them.’
30 Lapho-ke ‘bazakuthi ezintabeni, “Sembeseni!” Lakuwo amaqaqa bathi, “Welani phezu kwethu!”’
They'll say to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’
31 Ngoba nxa abantu bezenza lezizinto lapho isihlahla simanzi, kuzakwenzakalani pho nxa sesomile?”
For if they do this to wood that is green, what will happen when it's dried out?”
32 Amanye amadoda amabili, onke ayeyizigebenga, lawo aqhutshwa kanye laye esiyabulawa.
They also took two others who were criminals to be executed with him.
33 Bathi sebefike endaweni ethiwa luKhakhayi bambethela esiphambanweni kanye lezigebenga lezo, omunye ngakwesokunene kwakhe, omunye ngakwesokhohlo.
When they reached the place called the Skull they crucified him together with the criminals, one on his right, and the other on his left.
34 UJesu wathi, “Baba, baxolele, ngoba kabakwazi abakwenzayo.” Njalo basebesabelana izigqoko zakhe ngokutshaya inkatho.
Jesus said, “Father, please forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing.” They divided up his clothes by throwing dice for them.
35 Abantu bema bakhangela, ababusi bona bamklolodela. Bathi, “Wasindisa abanye, laye kazisindise nxa enguKhristu kaNkulunkulu, oKhethiweyo.”
The people stood and watched and the leaders sneered at Jesus. “He saved others, let him save himself, if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One,” they said.
36 Amabutho lawo eza amklolodela. Amnika iwayini elimunyu
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up to him and offering him wine vinegar, saying,
37 athi, “Nxa uyinkosi yamaJuda, zisindise.”
“If you're the King of the Jews, then save yourself.”
38 Kwakulombhalo wokwazisa ngaphezulu kwakhe owawusithi: Lo yiNkosi yamaJuda.
Above Jesus was a sign on which it was written, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 Omunye wezigebenga owayelenga khonapho wamthuka wathi, “Kanti kayisuwe uKhristu? Zisindise wena kanye lathi!”
One of the criminals hanging there joined in the insults against Jesus. “Aren't you the Messiah?” he asked. “Then save yourself—and us too!”
40 Kodwa esinye isigebenga samkhuza sathi, “Kawumesabi na uNkulunkulu, njengoba ulesigwebo sinye laye.
But the other criminal disagreed and argued with him, “Don't you fear God even when you're suffering the same punishment?” he asked.
41 Thina sijeziswa ngokusifaneleyo ngoba sizuza lokho okufanele izenzo zethu. Kodwa umuntu lo kenzanga lutho olungalunganga.”
“For us the sentence is right since we're being punished for what we did, but this man didn't do anything wrong.”
42 Wasesithi, “Jesu, ungikhumbule nxa ungafika embusweni wakho.”
Then he said, “Jesus, please remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 UJesu wamphendula wathi, “Ngiyakutshela iqiniso ngithi, lamuhla uzakuba lami epharadise.”
Jesus replied, “I promise you today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 Kwasekuyisikhathi esingaba lihola lesithupha, ubumnyama bembesa lonke ilizwe kwaze kwaba lihola lesificamunwemunye,
By this time it was around noon and darkness fell over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
45 ngoba ilanga lema ukukhanya. Ikhetheni lethempeli ladabuka kabili.
The sun's light was shut out, and the Temple veil was torn in two.
46 UJesu wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu wathi, “Baba, ezandleni zakho nginikela umphefumulo wami.” Esekutshilo lokhu waphefumula okokucina.
Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, I place myself in your hands.” Having said this he breathed his last.
47 Induna yekhulu isibonile okwenzakeleyo yadumisa uNkulunkulu yathi, “Ngeqiniso lo ubeyindoda elungileyo.”
When the centurion saw what had happened he praised God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”
48 Kwathi bonke abantu ababebuthene ukuzabona isiga lesi sebebonile okwakwenzakele, bababuhlungu, babalosizi, babuyela emizini yabo.
When all the crowds that had come to watch saw what happened they went home beating their chests in grief.
49 Kodwa bonke ababemazi, kanye labesifazane abamlandela besuka laye eGalile, bema bucwala babukela okwakusenzakala.
But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who'd followed him from Galilee, watched from a distance.
50 Kwakukhona indoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, elilunga loMphakathi, eyindoda elungileyo njalo eqondileyo,
There was a man called Joseph who was good and honest. He was a member of the council,
51 owayengakuvumanga lokho abakuqumayo labakwenzayo. Yena wayevela edolobheni lakoJuda okwakuthiwa yi-Arimathiya, njalo wayelindele umbuso kaNkulunkulu.
but he hadn't agreed with its decisions and actions. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
52 Waya kuPhilathu wayacela isidumbu sikaJesu.
Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.
53 Wasesethula wasigoqela ngelembu lelineni, wasibeka ethuneni elaligujwe edwaleni lingakaze lilale muntu.
Once he'd taken it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth. He laid Jesus in an unused tomb cut into the rock.
54 Kwakulusuku lokuLungiselela, iSabatha selizaqalisa.
It was preparation day and the Sabbath would soon begin.
55 Abesifazane ababebuye loJesu esuka eGalile bamlandela uJosefa balibona ithuna lokuthi isidumbu sakhe salaliswa njani kulo.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee had followed Joseph and had seen the tomb where Jesus' body had been laid.
56 Basebebuyela ekhaya bayalungisa amagcobo lamakha. Kodwa baphumula ngeSabatha bethobela umlayo.
They returned home and prepared spices and ointments. But on the Sabbath they rested, observing the commandment.
