Matthew 21
1 As [we] approached Jerusalem, we came near Bethphage [village], near Olive [Tree] Hill. Jesus said to two [of his] disciples, “Go to the village just ahead of us. As soon as you enter [it], you will see a donkey and her foal that are {someone has} tied [up]. Untie them and bring them [here] to me.
Bathi sebesondela eJerusalema, bafika eBhethifage eNtabeni yama-Oliva, uJesu wathuma abafundi ababili,
wathi kubo, “Yanini emzini ophambi kwenu, khonapho lizabona inkonyane kababhemi lobabhemi ebotshelwe khonapho. Libakhulule libuye labo kimi.
3 If anyone says anything to you [about your doing that], tell [him], ‘The Lord needs them.’ He will [then allow you to] lead them away.”
Nxa kungaba lozalibuza, limtshele ukuthi iNkosi yiyo ebafunayo, uzahle abayekele bahambe masinyane.”
4 When all this happened, what was written by a prophet {what a prophet wrote about} was fulfilled {happened}. The prophet wrote, “Tell the people who live in Jerusalem [SYN], ‘Look! Your king is coming to you! He will come humbly. He [will show that he is humble, because he will be] riding on a colt, the offspring of a donkey.’”
Lokhu kwenzeka ukuze kugcwaliseke okwakhulunywa ngomphrofethi ukuthi:
“Tshela iNdodakazi yaseZiyoni ukuthi, ‘Khangela, inkosi yakho iyeza kuwe, imnene igade ubabhemi, iphezu kwenkonyane, inkonyane kababhemi.’”
6 So the [two] disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do.
Abafundi bahamba benza njengokulaywa kwabo nguJesu.
7 They brought the donkey and its colt [to Jesus]. They placed their cloaks on them [to make something for him to sit on]. Then Jesus [mounted the colt] and sat on the cloaks.
Baletha inkonyane kababhemi lobabhemi, bendlala amajazi abo phezu kwabobabhemi ukuze uJesu ahlale phezu kwawo.
8 Then a large crowd spread [some of] their clothing on the road, and other [people] cut off branches from [palm] trees and spread them on the road. [They did those things to decorate the road in order to honor Jesus].
Ixuku elikhulu lendlala amajazi alo endleleni, kukanti abanye bephula ingatsha ezihlahleni bazendlala endleleni.
9 The crowds that walked in front of him and those who walked behind him were shouting things like, “Praise the [Messiah], the descendant of [King] David!” “May the Lord [God] bless [this one] who comes as [God’s] representative and with [God’s] authority [MTY].” “Praise God, who is in the highest [heaven]!”
Amaxuku ayehamba phambi kwakhe lalawo ayelandela amemeza athi, “Hosana kuyo iNdodana kaDavida!” “Ubusisiwe lowo obuya ngebizo likaThixo!” “Hosana ezulwini eliphezulu!”
10 As Jesus entered Jerusalem, a crowd of people [MTY] from all [over the city] became excited and were saying, “Why [are they honoring] this man [like that]?”
Kwathi uJesu esengenile eJerusalema, umuzi wonke wanyakazela, abantu babuzana bathi, “Kanti ngubani lo?”
11 The crowd [that was already following him] said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!”
Amaxuku aphendula athi, “Lo nguJesu, umphrofethi waseNazaretha eGalile.”
12 Then Jesus went into the Temple [courtyard] and chased out all of those who were buying and selling things there. He also overturned the tables of those who were giving [Temple tax money in exchange for Roman] coins, and he overturned the seats of those who were selling pigeons [for sacrifices].
UJesu wangena egumeni lethempeli wabaxotsha bonke ababethenga lababethengisa khona. Wagenqula amatafula alabo ababentshintshela abanye izimali lezihlalo zabathengisa amajuba.
13 Then he said to them, “It is {([Jeremiah/A prophet]) has} written [in the Scriptures that God said], ‘[I want] my house to be called a place where [people] pray’, but you bandits have made it [MET] your hideout!”
Wathi kubo, “Kulotshiwe ukuthi, ‘Indlu yami izabizwa ngokuthi yindlu yokukhuleka,’kodwa lina seliyenza ‘ubhalu lwabaphangi.’”
14 After that, [many] blind [people] and lame [people] came to Jesus in the temple [in order that he would heal them], and he healed them.
Iziphofu labaqhugezelayo beza kuye ethempelini wabasilisa.
15 The high priests and the men who taught the people the [Jewish] laws saw the wonderful deeds that Jesus did. [They also saw and] heard the children shouting in the Temple, “We praise the [Messiah], the descendant of [King] David!” The religious leaders were indignant [because they did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah].
Kodwa kwathi abaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho bebona izimanga ayezenza labantwana bememeza egumeni lethempeli besithi, “Hosana kuyo iNdodana kaDavida,” banengeka.
16 [They thought that Jesus should not be allowing the children to say that], so they asked him, “[How can you tolerate] this [RHQ]? Do you hear what these [children] are shouting?” Then Jesus said to them, “Yes, I [hear them, but] if you [remembered what] you have read [in the Scriptures about children praising me, you would know that God is pleased] [RHQ] [with them]. [The psalmist] wrote, [saying to God], ‘You have taught infants and other children to praise you perfectly.’”
Bambuza bathi, “Uyabezwa nje abantwana laba ukuthi bathini?” Waphendula uJesu wathi, “Yebo, kalikaze lifunde ukuthi, ‘Ezindebeni zabantwana lensane wena Nkosi uyimisile indumiso’?”
17 Then Jesus left the city. We [disciples] went [with him] to Bethany [town], and we slept there [that night].
Wasebatshiya waphuma edolobheni waya eBhethani lapho alala khona.
18 Early [the next morning], when we were returning to the city, [Jesus] was hungry.
Ekuseni kakhulu esebuyela edolobheni wezwa eselambile.
19 He saw a fig tree near the road. [So he went over to it to pick some figs to eat]. But when he got close, he saw that there were no [figs on the tree]. There were only leaves on it. So [to illustrate how God would punish the nation of Israel], he said to the fig tree, “May you never again produce figs!” As a result, the fig tree withered that night. (aiōn g165)
Wabona isihlahla somkhiwa eceleni kwendlela, waqambukela kuso kodwa wathola kungelalutho kuso ngaphandle kwamahlamvu nje. Wasesithi kuso, “Ungaphindi uthele izithelo lanini!” Khonapho nje isihlahla sahle sabuna. (aiōn g165)
20 [The next day] when we disciples saw [what had happened to the tree], we marveled, and we said [to Jesus], “(It is astonishing that the fig tree withered so quickly!/How is it that the fig tree dried up so quickly?)” [RHQ]
Abafundi bathi bekubona lokhu bamangala kakhulu. Babuza bathi, “Kwenzeke kanjani ukuthi isihlahla somkhiwa sibune masinyane kangaka?”
21 Jesus said to us, “Think about this: If you believe [that God has power to do what you ask him to] and you do not doubt [that], you will be able to do [things like what I have] done to this fig tree. You will even be able to do [marvelous deeds like] saying to a nearby hill, ‘Uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea’, and it will happen!
UJesu waphendula wathi, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ngithi nxa lilokukholwa njalo lingathandabuzi, kalisoze lenze okwenziwe kulesi isihlahla somkhiwa kuphela kodwa njalo lingathi kule intaba, ‘Suka, uziphosele olwandle,’ lakanye kuzenzeka.
22 In addition [to that], whenever you ask [God for something] when you pray [to him, if you] believe [that he will give it to you], you will receive [it from him].”
Nxa likholwa, lizaphiwa loba yini eliyicelayo ngomkhuleko.”
23 After that, Jesus went into the Temple [courtyard]. While he was teaching [the people], the chief priests and the elders of the Jewish Council approached him. They asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who authorized you to do what you did [here yesterday] [DOU]?”
UJesu wangena ethempelini, kwathi elokhu efundisa abaphristi abakhulu labadala babantu beza kuye. Bambuza bathi, “Izinto lezi uzenza ngawaphi amandla na? Ngubani okunike amandla la?”
24 Jesus said to them, “I also will ask you a question, and if you answer me, I will tell you who authorized me to do these things.
UJesu waphendula wathi, “Lami ngizalibuza umbuzo owodwa. Lingangiphendula, ngizalitshela ukuthi ngizenza ngawaphi amandla lezizinto.
25 Where did John [the Baptizer] get [his authority to] baptize [those who came to him]? [Did he get it] from God or from people? [MTY/EUP]” The chief priests and elders debated among themselves [about what they should answer]. [They said to each other], “If we say, ‘[It was] [MTY/EUP] from God’, he will say to us, ‘Then (you should have believed his [message]!/why did you not believe [John’s message]?) [RHQ]’
Ubhaphathizo lukaJohane lwavela ngaphi na? Lwavela ezulwini loba ebantwini na?” Bangunguna bodwa ngalokho bathi, “Nxa singathi, ‘Lwavela ezulwini,’ uzakuthi, ‘Pho kungani lingazange limkholwe na?’
26 If we say, ‘It was from people’, we are afraid that the crowd [will react violently], because all [the people] believe that John was a prophet [sent by God].”
Kodwa singathi, ‘Lwavela ebantwini,’ sesaba abantu ngoba bonke uJohane bamthatha njengomphrofethi.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know [where John got his authority].” Then he said to them, “[Because you did not answer my question], I will not tell you who authorized me to do the things I did [here yesterday].”
Ngakho bamphendula uJesu bathi, “Kasikwazi.” Ngakho wasesithi, “Lami kangiyikulitshela ukuthi izinto lezi ngizenza ngamandla bani.”
28 [Then Jesus said to the chief priests and elders], “Tell me [RHQ] what you think [about what I am about to tell you]. There was a man who had two sons. He went to his older son and said, ‘My son, go and work in my vineyard today!’
“Likhumbulani kambe? Kwakulendoda eyayilamadodana amabili. Yaya kweyokuqala yathi, ‘Ndodana, lamuhla hamba uyesebenza esivinini.’
29 But the son said [to his father], ‘I do not want to [go and work in your vineyard today]!’ But later he changed his mind, and he went to the vineyard [and worked].
Yaphendula yathi, ‘Kangisoze ngiye mina,’ kodwa yaphinde yazisola yahamba.
30 Then the father approached his younger son and said what he had said to his older son. That son said, ‘Sir, I will [go and work in the vineyard today.’] But he did not go there.
Uyise wasesiya kwenye indodana watsho okufanayo. Yaphendula yathi, ‘Ngizahamba, baba,’ kodwa kayihambanga.
31 So which of the man’s two sons did what their father desired?” They answered, “The older son.” Jesus [explained to them what that parable meant] by saying, “Think about this: [It is more likely that other people, including] tax collectors and prostitutes, [whom you think are very sinful], will enter where God rules, than it is that you [Jewish leaders] will enter.
Yiphi phakathi kwawo womabili eyenza lokho okwakufunwa nguyise na?” Baphendula bathi, “Ngeyakuqala.” UJesu wathi kubo, “Ngilitshela iqiniso ngithi abathelisi lezifebe bazangena embusweni kaNkulunkulu kuqala kulani.
32 I [say this to you] because, even though John [the Baptizer] explained to you how to live righteously, you did not believe his message. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed his [message, and they turned away from their sinful behavior]. In contrast, you, even though you saw what they did, refused to turn away from your sinful behavior, and you did not believe [John’s message].”
Ngoba uJohane weza kini ukuzalitshengisa indlela yokulunga kodwa kalimkholwanga ikanti abathelisi lezifebe bamkholwa. Kwathi lokuba selikubonile konke lokhu kalimkholwanga.”
33 “Listen to another parable [that I will tell you]. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He built a fence around it. He dug a hole in the ground [inside the fence]. He placed [in the hole] a stone tank to [collect the juice that would be] pressed out of the grapes. He also built a tower [inside that fence that someone would sit in to guard that vineyard]. He arranged for some men [to care for] the vineyard [and to give him some of the grapes in return]. Then he went away to another country.
“Zwanini omunye umzekeliso: Kwakukhona umnini wesiqinti owahlanyela isivini. Wasihonqolozela ngomduli, wagebha isikhamelo sewayini phakathi, wasesakha isilindo. Waseqhatshisa isivini leso kubalimi wasuka wathatha uhambo.
34 When it was time to harvest the grapes, the landowner sent some of his servants to the men who were taking care of the vineyard to get his share of the grapes [that the vineyard had produced].
Kuthe sekufika isikhathi sokuvuna wathuma izinceku zakhe kulabobalimi ukuyathatha izithelo.
35 But the renters seized the servants. They beat one of them, they killed another one, and [killed] another one of them [by throwing] stones at him.
Abalimi bazibamba izinceku zakhe; eyinye bayitshaya, eyinye bayibulala kwathi eyesithathu bayikhanda ngamatshe.
36 [So the landowner] sent more servants than [he had sent] the first [time]. The renters treated those servants the same way that [they had treated the other servants].
Wasethuma ezinye izinceku kubo, ezinengi kulezakuqala, njalo abalimi baziphatha ngendlela efanayo.
37 Later, [knowing this], [the landowner] sent his son to [the renters to get his share of the grapes]. When he sent him, he said [to himself], ‘They will certainly respect my son [and give him some of the grapes].’
Ekucineni wasethumela indodana yakhe kubo. Wathi, ‘Bazayihlonipha indodana yami.’
38 But when the renters saw his son [arriving], they said to each other, ‘This is the man who will inherit [this vineyard]! Let’s kill him and divide the property [among ourselves].’
Kodwa kwathi abalimi beyibona indodana batshelana bathi, ‘Lo yindlalifa. Wozani simbulale sithathe ilifa lakhe.’
39 So they grabbed him, dragged him outside the vineyard, and killed him.
Ngakho bamdumela bamphosela ngaphandle kwesivini bambulala.
40 [Now I ask you], when the landowner returns to his vineyard, what [do you think] he will do to those renters?”
Ngakho-ke nxa umninisivini esesiza uzabathini abalimi labo na?”
41 [The chief priests and elders] replied, “He will thoroughly destroy those wicked [renters]! Then he will rent the vineyard to others. They will give him [his share of] the grapes when they are ripe.”
Baphendula bathi, “Uzababonisa into yamehlo, abeseqhatshisa isivini sakhe kwabanye abalimi abazamnika ingxenye yakhe yezithelo ngesikhathi sokuvuna.”
42 Jesus said to them, “[That is right, so you need to think carefully about these words which] you have read [RHQ] in the Scriptures: The builders rejected a certain stone. [But others put] that same stone [in its proper place, and it] has become the most important stone [of the] building [MET]. The Lord has done this, and we marvel as we look at it.
UJesu wathi kubo, “Kalibalanga yini emibhalweni ukuthi: ‘Ilitshe elalahlwa ngabakhi seliyilona ilitshe lensika; iNkosi ikwenzile lokhu, njalo kuyamangalisa emehlweni ethu?’
43 So, [because you reject me], I am going to tell you this: God will no longer let you [Jews] be the people over whom he rules. Instead, he will let [non-Jews] be the people over whom he rules, and they will do [IDM] what he asks them to do.
Ngakho ngiyalitshela ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu lizawuthathelwa uphiwe abantu abazathela izithelo zawo.
44 [The important stone in the building represents me, the Messiah, and those who reject me are like people who fall on this stone]. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken into pieces {This cornerstone will break into pieces anyone who falls on it}, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
Lowo ozawela phezu kwalelilitshe uzavadlaka kodwa lowo elizawela phezu kwakhe uzafihlizwa.”
45 When the chief priests and the [elders who were] Pharisees heard this parable, they realized that he was accusing them [because they did not believe that he was the Messiah].
Kwathi abaphristi abakhulu labaFarisi besizwa imizekeliso kaJesu, bakwazi ukuthi wayekhuluma ngabo.
46 They wanted to seize him, but [they did not do so] because they were afraid of what the crowds [would do if they did that], because [the crowds] considered that Jesus was a prophet.
Badinga indlela yokumbopha kodwa besaba ixuku labantu ngoba abantu bambona njengomphrofethi.
