Luke 18
1 [Jesus] told [his disciples] a parable to teach them that they always ought to pray confidently and not be discouraged [if God does not immediately answer their prayers].
UJesu wasetshela abafundi bakhe umzekeliso ukubatshengisa ukuthi kumele bakhuleke kokuphela bangadinwa.
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
Wathi, “Kwelinye idolobho kwakulomahluli owayengamesabi uNkulunkulu njalo engakhathaleli muntu.
3 There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Please decide what is just [in the dispute between me and] the man who is opposing me [in court!’]
Kwakukhona umfelokazi kulelodolobho owayehlezi esiza kuye kokuphela emncenga esithi, ‘Akungincede ngalowo engixabana laye.’
4 For a long time the judge refused [to help her]. But later he thought to himself, ‘I do not revere God and I do not care about people,
Okwesikhathi eside umahluli wayesala. Kodwa wacina esithi, ‘Loba ngingamesabi uNkulunkulu njalo ngingakhathali ngomuntu,
5 but this widow keeps bothering me! So I will make sure that she is treated justly. [If I do not do that], she will exhaust me by continually coming to me!’”
kodwa ngenxa yokuthi umfelokazi lo usengijinge kakhulu sengizamlungisela ukuthi angaze abuya anginenge ngoba elokhu engilanda!’”
6 Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
Njalo iNkosi yasisithi, “Likuzwisise lokho okutshiwo ngumahluli ongalunganga.
7 [Similarly], (God will certainly show that [what you] have done has been right!/will God not show that [what you] have done has been right?) [RHQ] He will do this for you whom he has chosen. [He will do this for you] who pray earnestly to him night and day, asking him to [help you]. He may delay [helping you].
Kambe uNkulunkulu kayikubalwela yini abakhethiweyo bakhe, abakhuleka kuye imini lobusuku? Uzabe elokhu ebanina yini?
8 But I tell you, [some day] he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when [I], the one who came from heaven, return to earth, (there may not be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?) [RHQ]”
Ngiyalitshela, uzabalwela, njalo masinyane. Kodwa, nxa iNdodana yoMuntu isifika, izakufumana ukukholwa emhlabeni na?”
9 [Jesus] also told a parable [to warn] people who mistakenly thought that they were doing things that made them acceptable to God. Besides, they also despised other people.
Kulabo ababezethemba ngokulunga kwabo beseyisa abanye, uJesu wakhuluma umzekeliso lo wathi:
10 [He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
“Amadoda amabili aya ethempelini ukuyakhuleka, omunye engumFarisi njalo omunye engumthelisi.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed silently, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men. [Some] extort money [from others]; some treat others unjustly; some commit adultery. [I do not do such things. And I am certainly not] like this tax collector [who cheats people]!
UmFarisi wasukuma wakhuleka ngalokho ayeyikho khona wathi: ‘Nkulunkulu, ngiyakubonga ukuthi kanginjengabanye abantu, izigebenga, izixhwali, izifebe njalo kangifani lomthelisi lo.
12 [Our law says that we(exc) should] (fast/abstain from food) [once a week], [but I do more than that. I] fast twice a week! I give [you] ten percent of all that I earn!’
Ngizila kabili ngeviki njalo nginikela okwetshumi okwenzuzo yami yonke.’
13 But the tax collector stood far [from the other people in the Temple courtyard because he felt very unworthy]. He would not even look up toward heaven. Instead, he beat on his chest [to show that he was sorry for his sin]. He said, ‘God, I am a sinner; be merciful to me [and forgive me]!’”
Kodwa umthelisi wema bucwadlana laye. Wesaba lokukhangela ezulwini kodwa wazehlisa kakhulu wathi, ‘Nkulunkulu, woba lesihawu kimi, ngiyisoni.’
14 [Then Jesus said], “I tell you [(pl)] that as the tax collector went home, the record of his sins was erased {[God] erased the record of his sins}, not that of the Pharisee. [Remember this]: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled {[God] will humble all those who exalt themselves}, but those who humble themselves will be exalted {[he] will exalt those who humble themselves}.”
Ngiyalitshela ukuthi indoda le, hatshi leyana enye, yabuyela ekhaya isilungisiwe phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ngoba lowo oziphakamisayo uzakwehliswa, lozehlisayo uzaphakanyiswa.”
15 [One day when many people were coming to Jesus], they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on [the children and bless them]. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked [those who were bringing those children].
Abantu njalo babeletha abantwana kuJesu ukuthi ababeke izandla. Abafundi bonela ukukubona lokhu babakhuza.
16 But Jesus called the children [to come to him]. He said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are who can experience God ruling [their lives].
Kodwa uJesu wabizela kuye abantwana wathi, “Yekelani abantwana beze kimi, lingabavimbeli ngoba umbuso kaNkulunkulu ungowabanjengalaba.
17 Note this: Those who do not [trust God and] allow him to direct [their lives], as children [do], will not enter the [MET] place where God rules.”
Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, lowo ongayikwemukela umbuso kaNkulunkulu njengomntwana omncane kayikungena kuwo.”
18 A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
Umbusi othile wambuza wathi, “Mfundisi olungileyo, ngingenzani ukuze ngizuze ilifa lokuphila kwaphakade na?” (aiōnios g166)
19 Jesus said to him, “Only God is good! No one [else] is good! (So you(sg) should consider carefully what [you are implying by] calling me good!/[Do you realize that you are implying that I am God by] calling me good?) [RHQ]
UJesu waphendula wathi, “Ungibizelani ngokuthi ngilungile na? Kakho olungileyo ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu kuphela.
20 [But to answer your question], you [(sg)] know the commandments that [God gave Moses. He commanded such things as] ‘do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely [about what you have seen or heard], honor your father and mother.’”
Uyayazi imilayo: ‘Ungafebi, ungabulali muntu, ungebi, ungaphi ubufakazi bamanga, hlonipha uyihlo lonyoko.’”
21 The man said, “I have obeyed all those [commandments] ever since I was young. [So] ([there must be something else I have not done./is that enough]?)”
Wathi umbusi, “Yonke le ngiyigcine kusukela ebutsheni bami.”
22 When Jesus heard [him say] that, he replied to him, “There is one thing that you [(sg)] have not [done] yet. Sell all that you own. Then give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
UJesu esekuzwile lokho wathi kuye, “Usasilele into eyodwa. Thengisa konke olakho uphe abampofu, lapho-ke inotho yakho izakuba sezulwini. Ubusubuya ungilandele.”
23 The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
Wathi esezwe lokhu wadana kakhulu ngoba wayeyindoda eyayinothe kakhulu.
24 Jesus looked at the man [as he left], and said, “It is very difficult for those who are wealthy [to decide] to let God rule [MET] their [lives].
UJesu wamkhangela wathi, “Koba nzima kakhulu ukuthi isinothi singene embusweni kaNkulunkulu!
25 [You would say] that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
Ngempela kulula ukuthi ikamela lingene embotsheni yenalithi kulokuthi umuntu onothileyo awungene umbuso kaNkulunkulu.”
26 [The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either]. So [one of the disciples] who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {[that God] will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”
Labo abakuzwayo lokho babuza bathi, “Ngubani pho ongasindiswa?”
27 But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
UJesu waphendula wathi, “Lokho okungenzekiyo emandleni abantu kuyenzakala kwakaNkulunkulu.”
28 Then Peter said, “[You know that we(exc) have left] everything we had and have become your disciples [RHQ]. [So what about us?] (OR, [So will God accept/save us?]”)
UPhethro wathi kuye, “Sesadela konke esasilakho sakulandela!”
29 He said to them, “Keep this in mind: Those who have left [their] homes, [their] wives, [their] brothers, [their] parents, [their] children, [or any other family members], [to tell others] about how God wants to rule [MET] [people’s lives],
UJesu wathi kubo, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi kakho osetshiye ikhaya loba umfazi kumbe abafowabo loba abazali kumbe abantwana ngenxa yombuso kaNkulunkulu
31 [Jesus] took the twelve [disciples] to a place by themselves and said to them, “Listen carefully! We [(inc)] are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there], everything that has been written by the prophets {that the prophets have written} about [me], the one who came from heaven, will be fulfilled {will occur}.
UJesu wasebizela abalitshumi lambili eceleni wabatshela wathi, “Sesisiya eJerusalema lapho konke okulotshwe ngabaphrofethi ngeNdodana yoMuntu sekusiya gcwaliseka.
32 I will be put into the hands of {[My enemies] will hand me over to} non-Jews. [The non-Jews] will make fun of me and mistreat me and spit on me.
Izanikelwa kwabeZizwe. Bazayihoza, bayithuke, bayikhafulele, bayibhule njalo bayibulale.
33 They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
Ngosuku lwesithathu izavuka.”
34 But [the disciples] did not understand any of those things that [he said]. They were prevented {[Something] prevented them} from understanding the meaning of what [he] was telling [them].
Abafundi kabazange bakuzwisise konke lokhu. Ingcazelo yakho yayifihlakele kubo yikho kabazanga ukuthi wayekhuluma ngani.
35 As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
UJesu esebanga eJerikho kwakulendoda eyisiphofu eyisiceli ihlezi eceleni kwendlela icela.
36 When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
Yathi isizwa kudlula ixuku labantu yabuza ukuthi kuyini okwakusenzakala.
37 They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
Bayitshela bathi, “UJesu waseNazaretha uyedlula khonapha.”
38 He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
Yamemeza yathi, “Jesu, Ndodana kaDavida, ake ungihawukele!”
39 Those who were [walking] at the front [of the crowd] scolded the man [and] told him to be quiet. But he shouted more loudly, “You who are descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
Labo ababehamba phambili bayikhuza bathi kayithule, kodwa yona yasimemeza ngamandla yathi, “Ndodana kaDavida ake ungihawukele!”
40 Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
UJesu wema wathi indoda leyo ilethwe kuye. Isifikile uJesu wayibuza wathi,
41 “What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
“Ufuna ukuthi ngikwenzeleni?” Yaphendula yathi, “Nkosi, ngifuna ukuthi ngibone.”
42 Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
UJesu wathi kuyo, “Kuzuze-ke ukubona; ukukholwa kwakho kukusindisile.”
43 Immediately he was able to see! And he went with [Jesus], praising God. And when all the people who were [going with Jesus] saw it, they also praised God.
Masinyane yahle yabona, yasimlandela uJesu idumisa uNkulunkulu. Kwathi bonke abantu bekubona lokho, labo bamdumisa uNkulunkulu.
