Matthew 25
1 [Jesus continued by saying, “I will tell you something else about the time when I return from] heaven as king [MET]. [What will happen to many people who say that they know me will be] like [what happened to] ten virgins who took their lanterns and went to the place where they would meet a bridegroom [and go to his wedding celebration].
“Kulesosikhathi umbuso wezulu uzakuba njengezintombi ezigcweleyo ezilitshumi ezathatha izibane zazo zaphuma ukuyahlangabeza umyeni.
2 Five of the virgins were foolish and five of them were wise.
Ezinhlanu zazo zaziyiziwula, ezinhlanu zihlakaniphile.
3 The [virgins] who were foolish took their lanterns, but they did not take any [extra olive] oil [for] the lantern.
Eziyiziwula zathatha izibane zazo, kodwa kazithathanga amafutha.
4 But the [virgins] who were wise took oil in their flasks as well as in their lanterns.
Kodwa ezihlakaniphileyo zathwala imbodlela zamafutha kanye lezibane zazo.
5 The bridegroom was delayed, [and it became late at night]. So all the virgins became sleepy and fell asleep.
Umyeni waphuza ukufika zonke zaze zawozela zajunywa yibuthongo.
6 In the middle of the night someone [woke them up by] shouting, ‘Hey! The bridegroom [is arriving]! Go outside and meet him!’
Phakathi kobusuku kwamenyezelwa kwathiwa, ‘Nangu umyeni! Phumani limhlangabeze!’
7 So all the virgins got up and trimmed their lantern wicks [so that they would burn properly].
Zasezivuka zonke izintombi zalumathisa izibane zazo.
8 The foolish virgins said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your [olive] oil, because our lanterns are about to go out!’
Lezo ezaziyiziwula zathi kwezihlakaniphileyo, ‘Ake lisiphe lathi amanye amafutha enu; izibane zethu sezicitsha.’
9 The wise virgins replied, ‘[No, because] there might not be enough oil for our lanterns and for yours. Go to a store and buy some for yourselves!’
Zaphendula ezihlakaniphileyo zathi, ‘Hatshi, kakulamafutha angasanela thina lani. Hambani liye kulabo abathengisa amafutha liyezithengela awenu.’
10 But while [the foolish virgins] were going to buy [some oil], the bridegroom arrived. So the [wise virgins], who were ready, went with the bridegroom to the wedding hall [where the bride was waiting]. Then the door was closed {someone closed the door [of that hall]}.
Kodwa kwathi besayathenga amafutha umyeni wafika. Izintombi ezazizilungiselele zangena laye edilini lomthimba. Umnyango wasuvalwa.
11 Later, the rest of the virgins came [to the hall] and they called [to the bridegroom], ‘Sir, open [the door] for us!’
Ngemva kwesikhathi ezinye lazo zatsho sezifikile. Zathi, ‘Nkosi! Nkosi! Ake usivulele umnyango!’
12 But he said [to them], ‘The truth is that I do not know you, so I [will not open the door for you]!’”
Kodwa waphendula wathi, ‘Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi, kangilazi.’
13 [Then Jesus continued by saying], “So, in order that [this will not happen to you], keep expecting [that I will return], because you do not know when [MTY] [it will be].”
Ngakho lindani ngoba kalilwazi usuku loba ihola.”
14 “[When I return from heaven as king, I will deal with those who say that they have been serving me like] a man who was about to go on a long journey dealt with his servants. He called them together and gave them each some of his wealth [to invest and gain more money for him].
“Njalo unjengendoda eyathatha uhambo, yabiza izinceku zayo yazigcinisa impahla yayo.
15 He gave them money according to their ability [to take care of it]. [For example], he gave one servant 5,000 dollars, he gave another servant 2,000 dollars, and he gave another servant 1,000 dollars. Then he left on his journey.
Oyedwa yamupha amathalenta amahlanu emali, omunye amabili omunye njalo ithalenta elilodwa, ngulowo kusiya ngamandla akhe. Yasisuka ingena uhambo lwayo.
16 The servant who had received 5,000 dollars went immediately and used that money to gain 5,000 dollars more.
Leyondoda eyayiphiwe amathalenta amahlanu yahle yasuka yayayisebenzisa leyomali yazuza amanye amahlanu.
17 Similarly, the servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars gained two [thousand dollars] more.
Yenza njalo laleyo eyayiphiwe amabili, yazuza amanye amabili.
18 But the servant who had received one [thousand dollars] went and dug a hole in the ground and hid the money there [to keep it safe].
Kodwa indoda eyayiphiwe ithalenta elilodwa yasuka yemba igodi emhlabathini yayifihla imali yenkosi yayo.
19 After a long time the servants’ boss returned. He [called them together to] find out what they had done with his money.
Ngemva kwesikhathi eside umnini walezozinceku wabuya wafisa ukwazi ukuthi babehambise njani ngaleyomali.
20 The servant who had received 5,000 dollars brought two [bags, each containing] 5,000 dollars. He said, ‘Boss, you gave me 5,000 dollars to take care of. Look, I have gained 5,000 more!’
Leyondoda eyayiphiwe amathalenta amahlanu yaletha amanye amahlanu. Yathi, ‘Nkosi, wangethemba ngamathalenta amahlanu. Khangela, sengizuze amanye amahlanu.’
21 His boss replied, ‘[You are a very] good and faithful servant! [You have] done [very] well! You have faithfully handled a small [amount of money], so I will put you in charge of a lot of things. Come and be happy with me!’
Umnini wayo waphendula wathi, ‘Wenze kuhle, nceku elungileyo lethembekileyo! Uthembekile ezintweni ezilutshwane; ngizakugcinisa izinto ezinengi. Woza uzojabula kanye lenkosi yakho!’
22 The servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars also came and said, ‘Boss, you gave me 2,000 dollars to take care of. Look, I have gained 2,000 more!’
Indoda eyayilamathalenta amabili layo yeza. Yathi, ‘Nkosi, wangethemba ngamathalenta amabili; khangela, sengizuze amanye amabili.’
23 His boss replied, ‘You are a [very] good and faithful servant! You have done very well! You have faithfully handled a small [amount of money], so I will put you in charge of a lot of things. Come and be happy with me!’
Umniniyo waphendula wathi, ‘Wenze kuhle, nceku elungileyo lethembekileyo! Uthembekile ngezinto ezilutshwane; ngizakugcinisa izinto ezinengi. Woza uzojabula kanye lenkosi yakho!’
24 Then the servant who had received 1,000 dollars came. He said, ‘Boss, I [was afraid of you]. I knew that you are a man who does not do foolish things with his money. [You even] take [from others money] that does not really belong to you, [like a farmer who] harvests [grain from another man’s field] where he did not even plant [the seeds].
Kwasekusiza leyondoda eyayiphiwe ithalenta elilodwa. Yathi, ‘Nkosi, bengikwazi ukuthi uyindoda elukhuni, evuna lapho engahlanyelanga khona njalo ibuthe lapho engazange ihaze khona inhlanyelo.
25 So because I was afraid [of what you would do to me if I did not make a profit from my business], I went out and hid your 1,000 dollars in the ground [to keep it safe]. Here, this is [the money] that belongs to you!’
Yikho ngesaba ngasuka ngayafihla ithalenta lakho emhlabathini. Khangela, nanku okungokwakho.’
26 His boss replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! (You knew that I take [from others money] that does not really belong to me, [like a farmer who] harvests [grain from another man’s field] where I did not even plant [the seeds]!/Did you not know that I [take from others money that does not really belong to me, like a farmer] who harvests [grain from another man’s field] where I did not even plant [the seeds]?) [RHQ]
Inkosi yaphendula yathi, ‘Wena nceku embi lelivila! Utsho ukuthi wazile ukuthi ngivuna lapho engingahlanyelanga khona njalo ngibuthe lapho engingahazanga khona inhlanyelo?
27 So then, you should have put my money [on deposit] in a bank, so that when I returned I would get it back with the interest [it earned]!’
Kube imali yami uyifake ebhanga, ukuze kuthi ekubuyeni kwami ngiyizuze isizele.
28 [Then the boss said to his other servants], ‘Take the 1,000 dollars from him, and give it to [the servant] who has the 10,000 dollars!
Mthatheleni ithalenta lelo liliphe lowo olamathalenta alitshumi.
29 To those who [use well what] they have [received, God] will give more, and they will have plenty. But from those who [do] not [use well what they have received], even what they [already] have will be taken away.
Ngoba lowo olakho uzaphiwa okunye njalo abesesiba lokunengi. Lowo ongelakho, lalokho alakho uzakwemukwa.
30 Furthermore, throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where he will be [with those who are] wailing and gnashing their teeth [because they are in much pain].’”
Manje-ke, iphoseni ngaphandle inceku engelamsebenzi, ebumnyameni lapho okuzakuba khona ukukhala lokugedla kwamazinyo.’”
31 “When I, the one who came from heaven, come again, I will be very radiant and [bring] all my angels with me. Then I will sit as a king on my wonderful throne [to judge people].
“Nxa iNdodana yoMuntu isisiza ngenkazimulo yayo, ikanye lezingilosi zonke, izahlala esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi ilenkazimulo yasezulwini.
32 People from all nations [MTY] will be gathered in front of me {[The angels] will gather in front of me people from all nations}. Then I will separate them, one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from his goats.
Zonke izizwe zizabuthaniswa phambi kwayo, ibe isisahlukanisa abantu omunye komunye njengomelusi esehlukanisa izimvu embuzini.
33 I will put [the righteous people] on my right and [the unrighteous ones on my left, as a] shepherd puts sheep [on one side] and goats [on the other side].
Izabeka izimvu ngasekwesokunene kwayo lembuzi ngakwesokhohlo.
34 Then I will say to those on my right, ‘You people who have been blessed by my Father {whom my Father has blessed}, come! From the time he created the world, he has been preparing to allow you to [receive the blessings that he will give to all those] who let him rule their lives. [Now is the time for] you to receive [those blessings]
Lapho-ke iNkosi izakuthi kulabo abangakwesokunene sayo, ‘Wozani, lina elibusiswe nguBaba; thathani ilifa lenu, umbuso owalungiselwa lina kusukela ekudalweni komhlaba.
35 [They belong to you], because you gave me something to eat when I was hungry. (OR, [They belong to you]. It is as though you gave me something to eat when I was hungry.) You gave me something to drink when I was thirsty. When I was a stranger [in your town], you invited me [to stay] in [your houses].
Ngoba ngangilambile, langinika ulutho oludliwayo, ngangomile langipha okunathwayo, ngangiyisihambi langinxusela endlini,
36 When I needed clothes [MTY], you gave me some. When I was sick, you took care of me. When I was in prison, you came to visit me.’
ngangiswele izembatho langigqokisa, ngangigula langonga, ngangisentolongweni lazongibona.’
37 Then the righteous people will reply, ‘Lord, when were you hungry and we saw you and gave you something to eat? When were you thirsty and we gave you something to drink?
Abalungileyo bazamphendula bathi, ‘Nkosi, sakubona nini ulambile sakupha ukudla na, kumbe womile sakunathisa?
38 When were you a stranger [in our town] and we invited you [to stay] in [our houses]? When did you need clothes and we gave you some?
Sakubona nini uyisihambi sakunxusela endlini na, kumbe uswele izembatho sakugqokisa?
39 When were you sick or in prison and we went to visit you?’ [We do not remember doing any of these things for you].
Sakubona nini ugula kumbe usentolongweni seza sazakubona na?’
40 I will reply, ‘The truth is that whatever you did for any one of your fellow believers, even an unimportant one, [it was as though] you did it for me.’
INkosi izaphendula ithi, ‘Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi loba yini elayenzela loba ngomncinyane kanganani walaba abazalwane bami, lakwenzela mina.’
41 Then I will say to those on my left, ‘You people who have been cursed [by God] {whom God has cursed}, leave me! Go into the eternal fire that God has prepared for (the devil/Satan) and his angels! (aiōnios g166)
INkosi izakuthi kulabo abakwesokhohlo sayo, ‘Xekani kimi lina eliqalekisiweyo liye emlilweni ongapheliyo owalungiselwa uSathane lezingilosi zakhe. (aiōnios g166)
42 [It is right for you to go there], because you did not give me anything to eat when I was hungry. You did not give me anything to drink when I was thirsty.
Ngoba ngangilambile, kalingiphanga lutho lokudla, ngangomile kalingiphanga lutho lokunatha,
43 You did not invite me into [your homes] when I was a stranger [in your town]. You did not give me any clothes when I needed them [MTY]. You did not take care of me when I was sick or in prison.’
ngangiyisihambi kalinginxuselanga endlini, ngangiswele izembatho kalingigqokisanga, ngangigula njalo ngisentolongweni kalizange lingethekelele.’
44 They will answer, ‘Lord, when were you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and we did not help you?’
Labo bazaphendula bathi, ‘Nkosi, sakubona nini ulambile kumbe womile kumbe uyisihambi kumbe ungelazigqoko kumbe ugula noma usentolongweni asaze sakunceda na?’
45 I will reply, ‘The truth is that whenever you did not do anything to help any one of [my people], [even if they were] unimportant people, [it was as though] you did not do anything [to help] me.’
Izaphendula ithi, ‘Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi, loba kuyini elingakwenzelanga oyedwa nje omncinyane kulabo bonke walaba, kalikwenzelanga mina.’
46 Then those people [on my left] will go away to the place where [they] will be punished {[God] will punish them} eternally, but the righteous people will go to where they will live forever [with God].” (aiōnios g166)
Bazasuka baye ekujezisweni kwaphakade, kodwa abalungileyo baye ekuphileni okungapheliyo.” (aiōnios g166)
