ULukha 2
1 Ngalezonsuku uKhesari Agastasi wakhupha isimemezelo sokuthi abantu babalwe kulolonke ilizwe lombuso wamaRoma.
About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.
2 (Lokhu kwakuyikubalwa kwabantu kokuqala okwenzakala uKhwirinu engumbusi wase-Asiriya.)
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
3 Wonke umuntu waya edolobheni lakibo wayabhalisa.
And everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4 UJosefa laye wahamba esuka edolobheni leNazaretha eseGalile waya eJudiya, eBhethilehema idolobho likaDavida, ngoba wayengowendlu losendo lukaDavida.
Among others Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judea – because he belonged to the family and house of David –
5 Waya khona ukuyabhalisa eloMariya, owayesethembise ukwendela kuye, esekhulelwe.
to be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.
6 Bathi bekhonale safika isikhathi sokubelethwa komntwana,
While they were there her time came,
7 wazibula ngendodana. Wayigoqela ngamalembu, wayilalisa emkolweni wokudlela izifuyo ngoba babengelandawo endlini yezihambi.
and she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him around and laid him in a manger.
8 Kwakulabelusi ababehlala emlageni eduze kwalapho, belinda imihlambi yabo yezimvu ebusuku.
In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
9 Ingilosi yeNkosi yabonakala kubo, inkazimulo yeNkosi yakhanya ibazingelezile, ngakho besaba kakhulu.
when an angel of the Lord suddenly stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were seized with fear.
10 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kubo, “Lingesabi. Ngizolitshela izindaba ezinhle ezizaletha intokozo enkulu ebantwini bonke.
“Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.
11 Lamuhla lizalelwe uMsindisi emzini kaDavida; unguKhristu iNkosi.
This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord.
12 Lokhu kuzakuba yisibonakaliso kini: Lizathola umntwana egoqelwe ngamalembu elele emkolweni.”
And this will be the sign for you. You will find the infant swathed, and lying in a manger.”
13 Masinyane kwaqhamuka ixuku lebandla lasezulwini lengilosi lidumisa uNkulunkulu lisithi,
Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing –
14 “Udumo kuNkulunkulu emazulwini aphezulu, lokuthula emhlabeni kulabo abathole umusa kuye.”
“glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 Kwathi izingilosi sezibatshiyile zabuyela ezulwini, abelusi bakhulumisana bathi, “Kasihambeni siye eBhethilehema siyobona into le esiyenzakele, iNkosi esisitshele ngayo.”
Now, when the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, of which the Lord has told us.”
16 Bahle basuka ngokuphangisa, bafica uMariya loJosefa losane olwalulele emkolweni wokudlela izifuyo.
So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger;
17 Bathi sebembonile umntwana, batshela abanengi ngalokho ababekutshelwe mayelana lomntwana lo,
and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
18 kwathi bonke abalizwayo bamangaliswa yilokho abakuzwa ngabelusi.
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
19 Kodwa uMariya wazenza igugu zonke lezizinto wazishicilela enhliziyweni yakhe.
while Mary treasured in her heart all that they said, and thought about it often.
20 Abelusi babuyela, bedumisa njalo bebabaza uNkulunkulu ngezinto zonke ababezizwile njalo bazibona, zaba yikho kanye ababekutsheliwe.
And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen. It had all happened as they had been told.
21 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili, sekuyisikhathi sokuthi asokwe, wethiwa ibizo elithi nguJesu, ibizo ayelithiwe yingilosi engakabunjwa esiswini.
Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus – the name given him by the angel before his conception.
22 Kwathi lapho sesiphelile isikhathi sabo sokuhlanjululwa ngokomthetho kaMosi, uJosefa loMariya bamusa eJerusalema ukuyamnikela eNkosini
When the period of purification of mother and child, required by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 (njengokulotshiweyo eMthethweni weNkosi ukuthi, “Lonke izibulo lesilisa kumele linikelwe eNkosini”),
in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,
24 njalo kwenziwe umhlatshelo kulandelwa lokho okutshiwo nguMthetho weNkosi othi: “amajuba amabili loba inkwilimba ezisesezincane ezimbili.”
and also to offer the sacrifice required by the Law of the Lord – a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.
25 Kwakukhona eJerusalema indoda eyayithiwa nguSimiyoni, yayilungile njalo ikholwa. Yayilindele ukududuzwa kuka-Israyeli, njalo uMoya oNgcwele wawuphezu kwayo.
There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of Israel’s consulation, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
26 Kwakwambuliwe kuye nguMoya oNgcwele ukuthi wayengayikufa engakaboni uKhristu weNkosi.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 Waholwa nguMoya wangena emagumeni ethempeli. Kwathi abazali sebemlethile umntwana uJesu ukumenzela lokho okwakufunwa ngumkhuba woMthetho,
Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law,
28 uSimiyoni wamgona ngezingalo zakhe wadumisa uNkulunkulu esithi:
Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 “Thixo, Nkosi, njengoba wavele wathembisa, manje-ke iyekele ihambe ngokuthula inceku yakho.
“Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, according to your word, in peace,
30 Ngoba amehlo ami aseyibonile insindiso yakho,
for my eyes have seen the salvation
31 oyilungisileyo phambi kwezizwe zonke,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations –
32 ukukhanya kokwambulela abeZizwe lokwenkazimulo yabantu bakho bako-Israyeli.”
a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.”
33 Oyise lonina womntwana bamangala kakhulu ngalokho okwakukhulunywa ngaye.
While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,
34 USimiyoni wasebabusisa, wathi kuMariya unina: “Umntwana lo umiselwe ukuwa lokuvuka kwabanengi ko-Israyeli, lokuba yisibonakaliso esizagconwa,
Simeon gave them his blessing, and said to Mary, the child’s mother, “This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against –
35 ukwenzela ukuthi imicabango yabanengi ivele obala. Njalo inkemba izawugwaza umphefumulo wakho lawe.”
Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart – and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
36 Kwakukhona njalo umphrofethikazi, u-Ana, indodakazi kaFanuweli, owesizwana sika-Asheri. Wayesemdala kakhulu: wayephile lomkakhe okweminyaka eyisikhombisa ngemva kokwenda kwakhe,
There was also a prophet named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage,
37 wasesiba ngumfelokazi waze waba leminyaka engamatshumi ayisificaminwembili lane. Kazange lanini asuke ethempelini kodwa wayekhonza ubusuku lemini, ezila njalo ekhuleka.
and then a widow, until she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.
38 Wabuya kubo ngalesosikhathi wabonga kuNkulunkulu, wakhuluma ngomntwana kubo bonke ababelindele ukuhlengwa kweJerusalema.
At that moment she came up, and began publicly to thank God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem.
39 Kwathi lapho uJosefa loMariya sebekwenzile konke okwakufuneka ngoMthetho weNkosi babuyela eGalile, edolobheni lakibo elaseNazaretha.
When the child’s parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40 Umntwana wakhula, waqina; wagcwala inhlakanipho, njalo umusa kaNkulunkulu waba phezu kwakhe.
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him.
41 Iminyaka yonke abazali bakhe baya eJerusalema belanda uMkhosi wePhasika.
Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.
42 Kwathi eseleminyaka elitshumi lambili baya emkhosini njengenjayelo.
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 Kwathi uMkhosi usuphelile, abazali bakhe sebebuyela ekhaya, umfana uJesu wasala eJerusalema, kodwa bona belibele.
and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.
44 Bazihambela ilanga lonke bona becabanga ukuthi ukhona edwendweni lwabo. Basebeqalisa ukumdinga phakathi kwezihlobo zabo labangane.
Thinking that he was with their fellow travelers, they went one day’s journey before searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances;
45 Bathi sebemswele babuyela eJerusalema bayamdinga.
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 Ngemva kwensuku ezintathu bamfumana emagumeni ethempeli ehlezi phakathi kwabafundisi elalele njalo ebabuza imibuzo.
It was not until the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.
47 Wonke umuntu owamuzwayo wamangala ngokuzwisisa kwakhe kanye lempendulo zakhe.
All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers.
48 Abazali bakhe bathi bembona bamangala kakhulu. Unina wathi kuye, “Ndodana, kungani usinqinekisa kangaka? Uyihlo lami besesikhathazekile sikudinga.”
His parents were amazed when they saw him, and his mother said to him, “My child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
49 Yena wabuza wathi, “Belivele lingidingelani kanti? Belingazi yini ukuthi bekumele ngibe sendlini kaBaba?”
“What made you search for me?” he answered. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 Kodwa kabazwisisanga lokho ayekutsho kubo.
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 Wasehamba labo eNazaretha wahlala ebalalela. Kodwa unina wazenza igugu zonke lezi izinto enhliziyweni yakhe.
However he went down with them to Nazareth, and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart.
52 UJesu wakhula ngenhlakanipho, langomzimba langokuthandwa nguNkulunkulu labantu.
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people.
