ULukha 12
1 Ngalesosikhathi sekubuthene ixuku lezinkulungwane zabantu, sebenyathelana, uJesu waqala ukukhuluma kubafundi bakhe esithi, “Qaphelani imvubelo yabaFarisi, iyikuzenzisa.
Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod on one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them, ‘Be on your guard against the leaven – that is, the hypocrisy – of the Pharisees.
2 Kakukho okufihliweyo okungayi kuvezwa obala, lokufihliweyo okungayikwaziwa.
There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known.
3 Lokho okukhulume emnyameni kuzazwakala emini lithe bha, lalokho obukunyenyezela endlebeni ezindlini zangaphakathi kuzamenyezelwa phezu kophahla lwezindlu.
So all that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, within closed doors, will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 Ngiyalitshela bangane, lingabesabi labo ababulala umzimba kungabikhona okunye abangakwenza ngemva kwalokho.
To you who are my friends I say, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that can do no more.
5 Kodwa ngizalitshengisa lowo okumele limesabe: Mesabeni lowo, othi esebulele umzimba, abe lamandla okuwuphosela esihogweni. Yebo, ngithi mesabeni. (Geenna g1067)
I will show you of whom you should be afraid. Be afraid of him who, after killing you, has the power to fling you into Gehenna. Yes, I say, be afraid of him. (Geenna g1067)
6 Intaka ezinhlanu kazithengiswa ngendibilitshi ezimbili na? Kodwa kayikho lanye yazo uNkulunkulu ayilibalayo.
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them has escaped God’s notice.
7 Ngempela, inwele zekhanda lakho zibaliwe. Lingesabi; lina liligugu ukwedlula intaka ezinengi.
No, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Ngiyalitshela, lowo ongivuma phambi kwabantu, iNdodana yoMuntu layo izamvuma phambi kwezingilosi zikaNkulunkulu.
Everyone, I tell you, who publicly acknowledges me, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God’s angels;
9 Kodwa lowo ongiphikayo phambi kwabantu uzaphikwa phambi kwezingilosi zikaNkulunkulu.
but the person who publicly disowns me will be altogether disowned before God’s angels.
10 Njalo wonke umuntu okhuluma okubi ngeNdodana yoMuntu uzathethelelwa kodwa lowo ohlambaza uMoya oNgcwele akayikuthethelelwa.
Everyone who will say anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but for the person who slanders the Holy Spirit there will be no forgiveness.
11 Nxa limiswa phambi kwamasinagogu, phambi kwababusi labaphathi, lingazihluphi ngokuthi lizazivikela lisithini kumbe ukuthi lizakuthini,
Whenever they take you before the synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defence will be, or what you will say;
12 ngoba uMoya oNgcwele uzalifundisa ngalesosikhathi lokho elifanele likutsho.”
for the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say.’
13 Omunye emphakathini wathi kuye, “Mfundisi, tshela umfowethu ukuthi angabele ilifa lami.”
‘Teacher,’ a man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘tell my brother to share the property with me.’
14 UJesu waphendula wathi, “Ndoda, ngibekwe ngubani ukuba ngumahluleli kumbe umlamuli wenu?”
But Jesus said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?’
15 Wasesithi kubo, “Qaphelani! Limukani inhlobo zonke zobuhaga; isiqokoqela sempilo yomuntu kasikho ebunengini benotho yakhe.”
And then he added, ‘Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of their prosperity a person’s true life does not depend on what they have.’
16 Wasebatshela umzekeliso wathi, “Insimu yenye indoda eyayinothile yaba lenala eyesabekayo.
Then Jesus told them this parable – ‘There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile;
17 Yasinakana yathi, ‘Kambe ngenzeni? Angilandawo yokubeka amabele ami.’
and he began to ask himself “What will I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?
18 Yasisithi, ‘Nanku engizakwenza. Ngizazidiliza iziphala zami ngakhe ezinkulu kulalezi, besengithela khona wonke amabele ami kanye lezinye impahla zami.
This is what I will do,” he said; “I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them;
19 Ngizazitshela ngithi, “Usulezinto ezinengi ezinhle njalo ezizakwanela iminyaka eminengi. Kholisa impilo, udle, unathe uthokoze.”’
and I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”
20 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathi kuye, ‘Wena siwula ndini! Ngalobubusuku impilo yakho izathathwa. Pho ngubani ozazuza lokhu obusuzilungisele khona na?’
But God said to the man “Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared – who will have it?”
21 Yikho lokhu okuzakwenzeka kulowo ozibekela inotho kodwa enganothanga kuNkulunkulu.”
So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God.’
22 UJesu wasesithi kubafundi bakhe: “Ngakho ngilitshela ukuthi lingakhathazeki ngokuphila kwenu, ukuthi lizakudlani kumbe ngomzimba wenu, ukuthi lizagqokani.
And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here – what you can get to eat; or about your body – what you can get to wear.
23 Impilo iyakudlula ukudla, lomzimba uyazedlula izembatho.
For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes.
24 Khumbulani amawabayi, kawahlanyeli, kawavuni, kawalaso isiphala kodwa uNkulunkulu uyawapha ukudla. Manje lina liqakatheke okwedlula izinyoni!
Think of the ravens – they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn; and yet God feeds them! And how much more precious are you than birds!
25 Ngubani kini othi ngokukhathazeka angezelele ihola elilodwa empilweni yakhe na?
But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong your life a moment?
26 Njengoba lingeke liyenze linto encinyane kangaka, lizihluphelani na ngokunengi?
And, if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things?
27 Ake libone ukuthi amaluba eganga akhula njani. Kawasebenzi njalo aweluki. Kodwa ngilitshela ukuthi laye uSolomoni ekucwebezeleni kwakhe kazange acece njengawo.
Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendour was not robed like one of these.
28 Nxa uNkulunkulu ececisa kanjalo utshani beganga, obukhona namuhla, kusasa sebuphoselwa emlilweni, kambe uzalicecisa kanganani na, lina bokukholwa okuncinyane!
If, even in the field, God so clothes the grass which is living today and tomorrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith!
29 Lingazihluphi ezinhliziyweni zenu ngokuthi lizakudlani kumbe lizanathani; lingakhathazeki ngalokho.
And you – do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver.
30 Ngoba umhlaba wabezizwe uxotshana lezinto ezinjalo, ikanti uYihlo uyazi ukuthi liyazidinga.
These are the things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 Kodwa funani umbuso wakhe, zonke lezizinto lizaziphiwa lazo.
No, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added for you.
32 Lingesabi, mhlambi omncane, ngoba uYihlo uthandile ukulipha umbuso.
So do not be afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 Thengisani impahla yenu liphe abampofu. Zidingeleni izikhwama ezingagugiyo, inotho ezulwini engayikuphela, lapho okungasondeli khona isela loba impehlane engabhubhisi khona.
‘Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out – an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin.
34 Ngoba lapho okulenotho yakho khona, inhliziyo yakho layo ilapho.”
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
35 “Gqokani lilindele inkonzo lezibane zenu zihlale zibhebha
Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight;
36 njengamadoda elindele inkosi yawo ukuba ibuye edilini lomthimba ukuze kuthi nxa ifika iqoqoda aphange ayivulele umnyango.
and be like servants who are waiting for their Master’s return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once.
37 Kuzakuba kuhle kulezozinceku inkosi yazo ezazifica zilindile nxa ifika. Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi yona izagqokela ukubaphakela, bona bahlale etafuleni, yona ibaphakele.
Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and have them take their places at the table, and will come and serve them.
38 Kuzakuba kuhle kulezozinceku inkosi yazo ezazifica zilindile loba ingabe ifika ngomlindo wesibili loba owesithathu ebusuku.
Whether it is late at night, or in the early morning that he comes, if he finds all as it should be, then happy are they.
39 Kodwa zwisisani lokhu: Aluba umninindlu ubesazi ukuthi isela lizafika ngasiphi isikhathi ubengasoze ayekele indlu yakhe igqekezwe.
This you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into.
40 Lani hlalani lilindile ngoba iNdodana yoMuntu izafika ngesikhathi elingayilindelanga ngaso.”
You must also prepare, for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come.’
41 UPhethro wabuza wathi, “Nkosi, umzekeliso lo uwuqondise kithi kumbe ebantwini bonke na?”
‘Master,’ said Peter, ‘are you telling this parable with reference to us or to everyone?’
42 INkosi yaphendula yathi, “Ngubani kambe ongumphathi othembekileyo, ohlakaniphileyo, othi inkosi yakhe imbeke ukukhangela izisebenzi zayo ukuba aziphe isabelo sazo sokudla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo?
‘Who, then,’ replied the Master, ‘is that trustworthy steward, the careful man, who will be placed by his master over his establishment, to give them their rations at the proper time?
43 Kuzakuba kuhle kuleyo nceku inkosi ezayifica isenza njalo ekuphendukeni kwayo.
Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, will find doing this.
44 Ngilitshela iqiniso, izakumbeka ukuthi aphathe yonke impahla yayo.
His master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property.
45 Kodwa cabanga nxa inceku ingazitshela ithi, ‘Inkosi yami isiphuzile ukubuya,’ ibisiqalisa ukutshaya ezinye izisebenzi zesilisa lezesifazane, ibisisidla, inatha idakwe.
But should that servant say to himself “My master is a long time coming,” and begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46 Inkosi yaleyonceku izabuya ngosuku engacatshangelwa khona langesikhathi inceku engasaziyo. Izayiqumaquma iyiphe indawo phakathi kwabangakholwayo.
that servant’s master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy.
47 Leyonceku ethi ikwazi okufunwa yinkosi yayo kodwa ingalindi kumbe ingalungisi lokho inkosi yayo ekufunayo izatshaywa okuzwayo.
The servant who knows his master’s wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes;
48 Kodwa lowo ongaziyo njalo owenza izinto eziholela ekubhujisweni uzatshaywa mbijana. Kulowo ophiwe okunengi, kuzafuneka okunengi kuye; lakulowo ogciniswe okunengi, kuzafuneka okunengi kulalokho.”
while one who does not know his master’s wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded.
49 “Ngilande ukuzalumathisa umlilo emhlabeni, ngize ngifise ukuthi ngabe uvele usungunguma!
I came to cast fire on the earth; and what more can I wish, if it is already kindled?
50 Kodwa ngiseselobhaphathizo okusamele ngilungene, kodwa ngikhathazekile kakhulu kuze kugcwaliseke lokho!
There is a baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over!
51 Licabanga ukuthi ngalanda ukuletha ukuthula emhlabeni na? Hatshi, zwanini, ngalanda ukuzehlukanisa.
Do you think that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but to cause division.
52 Kusukela manje bazakuthi bebahlanu emulini behlukane, abathathu bexabana lababili, lababili bexabana labathathu.
For from this time, if there are five people in a house, they will be divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 Bazakwehlukana, uyise axabane lendodana, indodana ixabane loyise, unina lendodakazi, indodakazi ixabane lonina, uninazala axabane lomalukazana, umalukazana loninazala.”
Father will be opposed to son and son to father, mother to daughter and daughter to mother, mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.’
54 Wathi exukwini labantu: “Lithi lingabona iyezi liqhamuka entshonalanga liphange lithi, ‘Izulu lizakuna,’ lakanye line.
And to the people Jesus said, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once “There is a storm coming,” and come it does.
55 Kuthi kungavunguza umoya weningizimu lithi, ‘Kuzatshisa,’ lakanye kube njalo.
And when you see that the wind is in the south, you say “It will be burning hot,” and so it proves.
56 Bazenzisi! Liyakwazi ukuchaza izibonakaliso zomhlaba lezomkhathi. Kungani pho lingakwazi ukuchaza isikhathi lesi esikuso na?
Hypocrites! You know how to judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time?
57 Kungani kanti lingaziboneli lina ngokwenu okuyikho okulungileyo na?
Why don’t you yourselves decide what is right?
58 Nxa uhamba lalowo okumangalelayo lisiya kumahluleli, zama ngamandla ukuthi liqedelane lisesendleleni, funa akudonsele kumahluleli, lomahluleli abesekudlulisela enxuseni lona inxusa likuthele entolongweni.
When, for instance, you are going with your opponent before a magistrate, on your way to the court do your best to be quit of him; otherwise he might drag you before the judge, then the judge will hand you over to the bailiff of the court, and the bailiff throw you into prison.
59 Ngiyakutshela, kawusoze uphume uze uhlawule kanye lohlamvana lokucina lwemali.”
You will not, I tell you, come out until you have paid the very last cent.’
