ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Since, indeed, many have attempted to set in order a narrative of the things that have been completed among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
just as they have been handed on to those of us who from the beginning saw the same and were ministers of the word,
3 Ngakho-ke, njengoba mina ngokwami sengichwayisisile konke kusukela ekuqaleni, lami ngikubone kufanele ukuthi ngikulobele umlando oqondileyo, komkhulu ohloniphekayo uTheyofelasi
so it seemed good to me also, having diligently followed everything from the beginning, to write to you, in an orderly manner, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
so that you might know the truthfulness of those words by which you have been instructed.
5 Ngesikhathi sikaHerodi inkosi yaseJudiya kwakulomphristi okwakuthiwa nguZakhariya, owaye ngowesigaba sika-Abhija, umkakhe u-Elizabethi laye wayengowosendo luka-Aroni.
There was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the section of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
Now they were both just before God, progressing in all of the commandments and the justifications of the Lord without blame.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell so that he would offer incense, entering into the temple of the Lord.
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him.
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi, Zakhariya; umkhuleko wakho usuzwakele. Umkakho u-Elizabethi uzakuzalela indodana kufanele uyinike ibizo elithiwa nguJohane.
But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son to you. And you shall call his name John.
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity.
15 ngoba uzakuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi. Kakumelanga anathe iwayini lanini loba yini ebilisiweyo enathwayo, njalo uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela ekuzalweni kwakhe.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 Uzahamba phambili kweNkosi ngomoya langamandla ka-Elija, ukuguqulela inhliziyo zaboyise ebantwaneni babo labayiziqholo elwazini lwabalungileyo, ukuqondisa abantu abalungiselelwe iNkosi.”
And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people.”
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
And Zechariah said to the Angel: “How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
And in response, the Angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these things to you.
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day on which these things shall be, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
Then, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, but he remained mute.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying:
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
“For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men.”
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.
And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. And his kingdom shall have no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
For no word will be impossible with God.”
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 Kodwa kungani ngithole umusa ongaka mina, ukuba ngethekelelwe ngunina weNkosi yami?
And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior.
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah.
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.”
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he prophesied, saying:
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For he has visited and has wrought the redemption of his people.
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant,
just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets, who are from ages past: (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
to accomplish mercy with our fathers, and to call to mind his holy testament,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
the oath, which he swore to Abraham, our father, that he would grant to us,
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
so that, having been freed from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
in holiness and in justice before him, throughout all our days.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the face of the Lord: to prepare his ways,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
through the heart of the mercy of our God, by which, descending from on high, he has visited us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to illuminate those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to direct our feet in the way of peace.”
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
