ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants 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, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 Ngesikhathi sikaHerodi inkosi yaseJudiya kwakulomphristi okwakuthiwa nguZakhariya, owaye ngowesigaba sika-Abhija, umkakhe u-Elizabethi laye wayengowosendo luka-Aroni.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on 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, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
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. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
Many of the people of Israel will be turned 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.”
He will go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news.
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time.”
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before people.”
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. He belonged to the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name 'Jesus.'
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she who was called barren.
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
For nothing will be impossible for God.”
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
Mary said, “See, I am the female servant of the Lord. Let it be for me according to your message.” Then the angel left her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
She raised her voice and said loudly, “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?
Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
For he has looked at the low condition of his female servant. For see, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He has given help to Israel his servant, so as to remember to show mercy
(as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to a son.
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
But his mother answered and said, “No. He will be called John.”
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” They all were astonished at this.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
All who heard them stored them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
“Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to help and he has accomplished redemption for his people.
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago), (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
Yes, and you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths, to prepare people for his coming,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
This will happen because of the tender mercy of our God, because of which the sunrise from on high will come to help us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He will do this to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
