ULukha 3
1 Ngomnyaka wetshumi lanhlanu wokubusa kukaThibheriyasi Khesari ngesikhathi uPhontiyasi Philathu engumbusi eJudiya, uHerodi engumbusi eGalile, umfowabo uFiliphu engumbusi wase-Ithuriya leThrakhonithi, njalo loLisaniya engumbusi wase-Abhilene
In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,
2 ngesikhathi leso u-Anasi loKhayifasi bengabaphristi abakhulu, kwafika ilizwi likaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakhariya esenkangala.
and when Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, a command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, while he was in the wilderness.
3 Wawuhamba wonke umango waseJodani, etshumayela ubhaphathizo lokuphenduka ukuze izono zithethelelwe.
And John went through the whole district of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.
4 Njengoba kulotshiwe encwadini yamazwi ka-Isaya umphrofethi: “Ilizwi lalowo omemezayo enkangala, ‘Lungisani indlela kaThixo, yenzani indlela zakhe ziqonde.
This was in fulfilment of what is said in the writings of the prophet Isaiah – “The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Zonke izigodi zizagcwaliswa, izintaba zonke lamaqaqa kuzakwehliselwa phansi. Izindlela zonke ezimazombe zizaqonda, izindlela ezimakhilikithi zizakuba butshelezi.
Every chasm will be filled, every mountain and hill will be levelled. The winding ways will be straightened, the rough roads made smooth,
6 Abantu bonke bazayibona insindiso kaNkulunkulu.’”
and everyone will see the salvation of God.’”
7 UJohane wathi emaxukwini abantu ababuya ukuzobhaphathizwa nguye, “Lina nzalo yezinyoka! Lilimukiswe ngubani ukuthi libalekele ulaka oluzayo na?
And John said to the crowds that went to be baptized by him, ‘You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
8 Thelani izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka. Njalo lingaqali ukuzitshela ukuthi, ‘Silo-Abhrahama ongubaba wethu.’ Ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi kuwonala amatshe uNkulunkulu angamenzela u-Abhrahama abantwana.
Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves “Abraham is our ancestor,” for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
9 Ihloka selivele selisezimpandeni zezihlahla, njalo zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezilungileyo zizaganyulwa, ziphoselwe emlilweni.”
Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’
10 Abantu bambuza bathi, “Pho kumele senzeni?”
‘What are we to do then?’ the people asked.
11 UJohane waphendula wathi, “Leyondoda elamajazi amabili kayimuphe ongelalo elinye lalowo olokudla kenze njalo.”
‘Let anyone who has two coats,’ answered John, ‘share with the person who has none; and anyone who has food do the same.’
12 Labathelisi labo beza ukuzabhaphathizwa. Babuza bathi, “Mfundisi, kumele senzeni?”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and said to John, ‘Teacher, what are we to do?’
13 Wabatshela wathi, “Lingathelisi ledlulise okufunekayo.”
‘Do not collect more than you have authority to demand,’ John answered.
14 Abanye abebutho bambuza bathi, “Thina-ke senzeni?” Waphendula wathi, “Lingancindezeli ukuthi liphiwe imali njalo lingabeki muntu umlandu wamanga njalo lisuthiseke ngomholo wenu.”
And when some soldiers on active service asked ‘And we – what are we to do?’ he said, ‘Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay.’
15 Abantu babehlezi belindele njalo bonke babezibuza ezinhliziyweni zabo ingabe uJohane wayenguye yini uKhristu.
Then, while the people were in suspense, and were all debating with themselves whether John could be the Christ,
16 UJohane wabaphendula bonke wathi, “Mina ngilibhaphathiza ngamanzi. Kodwa yena olamandla kulami uyeza, akungilingananga ukuthukulula imichilo yamanyathela akhe. Uzalibhaphathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele langomlilo.
John, addressing them all, said, ‘I, indeed, baptize you with water; but there is coming one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to unfasten his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 Isitsha sakhe sokwela sisesandleni sakhe ukuba athanyele isiza sakhe njalo abuthele amabele akhe esiphaleni, kodwa uzatshisa amakhoba ngomlilo ongacitshekiyo.”
His winnowing-fan is in his hand so that he may clear his threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.’
18 Waphinda walaya abantu ngamanye amazwi amanengi njalo watshumayela kubo ivangeli.
And so with many different appeals John told his good news to the people.
19 Kodwa kwathi uJohane esekhuze uHerodi umbusi ngenxa kaHerodiyasi, umkamfowabo, langezinye izinto ezimbi ayezenzile,
But when John rebuked Herod the ruler, for Herodia his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that he had done,
20 uHerodi wakuhlanganisa lokhu konke: Wamvalela uJohane entolongweni.
Herod crowned them all by shutting John up in prison.
21 Kwathi bonke abantu bebhaphathizwa, loJesu laye wabhaphathizwa. Wathi ekhuleka izulu lavuleka
Now after the baptism of all the people, and when Jesus had been baptized and was still praying, the heavens opened,
22 uMoya oNgcwele wehlela kuye elesimo sejuba. Kweza ilizwi livela ezulwini lathi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngawe.”
and the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove, and from the heavens came a voice – ‘You are my dearly loved son; you bring me great joy.’
23 UJesu wayeseleminyaka engaba ngamatshumi amathathu eqalisa umsebenzi wakhe wokutshumayela. Kwakukhunjulwa ukuthi uyindodana kaJosefa, indodana kaHeli,
When beginning his work, Jesus was about thirty years old. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, whose ancestors were – Eli,
24 indodana kaMathathi, indodana kaLevi, indodana kaMeliki, indodana kaJanayi, indodana kaJosefa,
Mattith, Levi, Melchiah, Janna, Joseph,
25 indodana kaMathathiyasi, indodana ka-Amosi, indodana kaNahumi, indodana ka-Esili, indodana kaNagayi,
Mattithiah, Amos, Nahum, Azaliah, Nogah,
26 indodana kaMahathi, indodana kaMathathiyasi, indodana kaSemeyini, indodana kaJoseki, indodana kaJoda,
Mattith, Mattithiah, Shimei, Joseph, Josheh,
27 indodana kaJohanani, indodana kaResa, indodana kaZerubhabheli, indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, indodana kaNeri,
Johanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Salathiel, Neriah,
28 indodana kaMeliki, indodana ka-Adi, indodana kaKhosamu, indodana ka-Elimadami, indodana ka-Eri,
Melchiah, Addi, Cosam, Elmodam, Er,
29 indodana kaJoshuwa, indodana ka-Eliyezeri, indodana kaJorimu, indodana kaMathathi, indodana kaLevi,
Joshua, Eliezer, Joram, Mattith, Levi,
30 indodana kaSimiyoni, indodana kaJuda, indodana kaJosefa, indodana kaJonami, indodana ka-Eliyakhimu,
Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim,
31 indodana kaMeleya, indodana kaMena, indodana kaMathatha, indodana kaNathani, indodana kaDavida,
Meleah, Menan, Mattithiah, Nathan, David,
32 indodana kaJese, indodana ka-Obhedi, indodana kaBhowazi, indodana kaSalimoni, indodana kaNashoni,
Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salah, Nahshon,
33 indodana ka-Aminadabi, indodana kaRamu, indodana kaHezironi, indodana kaPherezi, indodana kaJuda,
Aminadab, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah,
34 indodana kaJakhobe, indodana ka-Isaka, indodana ka-Abhrahama, indodana kaThera, indodana kaNahori,
Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor,
35 indodana kaSerugi, indodana kaRewu, indodana kaPhelegi, indodana ka-Ebha, indodana kaShela,
Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah,
36 indodana kaKhayinani, indodana ka-Ariphazadi, indodana kaShemu, indodana kaNowa, indodana kaLameki,
Kenan, Arpachshad, Shem, Noah, Lamech,
37 indodana kaMethusela, indodana ka-Enoki, indodana kaJaredi, indodana kaMahalaleli, indodana kaKhenani,
Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalalel, Kenan,
38 indodana ka-Enoshi, indodana kaSethi, indodana ka-Adamu, indodana kaNkulunkulu.
Enosh, Seth, son of Adam, and Adam, son of God.
