ULukha 3
1 Ngomnyaka wetshumi lanhlanu wokubusa kukaThibheriyasi Khesari ngesikhathi uPhontiyasi Philathu engumbusi eJudiya, uHerodi engumbusi eGalile, umfowabo uFiliphu engumbusi wase-Ithuriya leThrakhonithi, njalo loLisaniya engumbusi wase-Abhilene
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar [Ruler], Pontius Pilate [Armed with javelin] being governor of Judea [Praise], and Herod [Heroic] being tetrarch (one of four co-emperors) of Galilee [District, Circuit], and his brother Philip [Loves horses] tetrarch (one of four co-emperors) of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch (one of four co-emperors) of Abilene,
2 ngesikhathi leso u-Anasi loKhayifasi bengabaphristi abakhulu, kwafika ilizwi likaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakhariya esenkangala.
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas [Rock that hollows itself out], ha D'var Elohim · the Word of God· came to John [Yah is gracious], the son of Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], in the wilderness.
3 Wawuhamba wonke umango waseJodani, etshumayela ubhaphathizo lokuphenduka ukuze izono zithethelelwe.
He came into all the region around the Jordan [Descender], preaching the baptism of teshuvah ·complete repentance· for remission of sins.
4 Njengoba kulotshiwe encwadini yamazwi ka-Isaya umphrofethi: “Ilizwi lalowo omemezayo enkangala, ‘Lungisani indlela kaThixo, yenzani indlela zakhe ziqonde.
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah [Salvation of Yah] the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of MarYah [Master Yahweh]. Make his paths straight.
5 Zonke izigodi zizagcwaliswa, izintaba zonke lamaqaqa kuzakwehliselwa phansi. Izindlela zonke ezimazombe zizaqonda, izindlela ezimakhilikithi zizakuba butshelezi.
Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth.
6 Abantu bonke bazayibona insindiso kaNkulunkulu.’”
Then all humanity will see God’s method of deliverance.’”
7 UJohane wathi emaxukwini abantu ababuya ukuzobhaphathizwa nguye, “Lina nzalo yezinyoka! Lilimukiswe ngubani ukuthi libalekele ulaka oluzayo na?
He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Thelani izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka. Njalo lingaqali ukuzitshela ukuthi, ‘Silo-Abhrahama ongubaba wethu.’ Ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi kuwonala amatshe uNkulunkulu angamenzela u-Abhrahama abantwana.
Therefore produce fruits worthy of teshuvah ·complete repentance·, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham [Father of a multitude] Avinu ·our Father·;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham [Father of a multitude] from these stones!
9 Ihloka selivele selisezimpandeni zezihlahla, njalo zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezilungileyo zizaganyulwa, ziphoselwe emlilweni.”
Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.”
10 Abantu bambuza bathi, “Pho kumele senzeni?”
The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”
11 UJohane waphendula wathi, “Leyondoda elamajazi amabili kayimuphe ongelalo elinye lalowo olokudla kenze njalo.”
He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Labathelisi labo beza ukuzabhaphathizwa. Babuza bathi, “Mfundisi, kumele senzeni?”
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
13 Wabatshela wathi, “Lingathelisi ledlulise okufunekayo.”
He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
14 Abanye abebutho bambuza bathi, “Thina-ke senzeni?” Waphendula wathi, “Lingancindezeli ukuthi liphiwe imali njalo lingabeki muntu umlandu wamanga njalo lisuthiseke ngomholo wenu.”
Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
15 Abantu babehlezi belindele njalo bonke babezibuza ezinhliziyweni zabo ingabe uJohane wayenguye yini uKhristu.
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John [Yah is gracious], whether perhaps he was the Messiah [Anointed one],
16 UJohane wabaphendula bonke wathi, “Mina ngilibhaphathiza ngamanzi. Kodwa yena olamandla kulami uyeza, akungilingananga ukuthukulula imichilo yamanyathela akhe. Uzalibhaphathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele langomlilo.
John [Yah is gracious] answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in Ruach haKodesh [Spirit of the Holiness] and fire,
17 Isitsha sakhe sokwela sisesandleni sakhe ukuba athanyele isiza sakhe njalo abuthele amabele akhe esiphaleni, kodwa uzatshisa amakhoba ngomlilo ongacitshekiyo.”
whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18 Waphinda walaya abantu ngamanye amazwi amanengi njalo watshumayela kubo ivangeli.
Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people,
19 Kodwa kwathi uJohane esekhuze uHerodi umbusi ngenxa kaHerodiyasi, umkamfowabo, langezinye izinto ezimbi ayezenzile,
but Herod [Heroic] the tetrarch (one of four co-emperors), being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod [Heroic] had done,
20 uHerodi wakuhlanganisa lokhu konke: Wamvalela uJohane entolongweni.
added this also to them all, that he shut up John [Yah is gracious] in prison.
21 Kwathi bonke abantu bebhaphathizwa, loJesu laye wabhaphathizwa. Wathi ekhuleka izulu lavuleka
Now when all the people were baptized, Yeshua [Salvation] also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened,
22 uMoya oNgcwele wehlela kuye elesimo sejuba. Kweza ilizwi livela ezulwini lathi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngawe.”
and Ruach haKodesh [Spirit of the Holiness] descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my agapetos ·beloved, esteemed· Son. In you I am well pleased.”
23 UJesu wayeseleminyaka engaba ngamatshumi amathathu eqalisa umsebenzi wakhe wokutshumayela. Kwakukhunjulwa ukuthi uyindodana kaJosefa, indodana kaHeli,
Yeshua [Salvation] himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph [May he add], the son of Heli,
24 indodana kaMathathi, indodana kaLevi, indodana kaMeliki, indodana kaJanayi, indodana kaJosefa,
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi [United with], the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph [May he add],
25 indodana kaMathathiyasi, indodana ka-Amosi, indodana kaNahumi, indodana ka-Esili, indodana kaNagayi,
the son of Mattathias [Gift of Yah], the son of Amos [Burden bearor], the son of Nahum [Comforter], the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 indodana kaMahathi, indodana kaMathathiyasi, indodana kaSemeyini, indodana kaJoseki, indodana kaJoda,
the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias [Gift of Yah], the son of Semein, the son of Joseph [May he add], the son of Judah [Praised],
27 indodana kaJohanani, indodana kaResa, indodana kaZerubhabheli, indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, indodana kaNeri,
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 indodana kaMeliki, indodana ka-Adi, indodana kaKhosamu, indodana ka-Elimadami, indodana ka-Eri,
the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29 indodana kaJoshuwa, indodana ka-Eliyezeri, indodana kaJorimu, indodana kaMathathi, indodana kaLevi,
the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi [United with],
30 indodana kaSimiyoni, indodana kaJuda, indodana kaJosefa, indodana kaJonami, indodana ka-Eliyakhimu,
the son of Simeon [Hearing], the son of Judah [Praised], the son of Joseph [May he add], the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31 indodana kaMeleya, indodana kaMena, indodana kaMathatha, indodana kaNathani, indodana kaDavida,
the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David [Beloved],
32 indodana kaJese, indodana ka-Obhedi, indodana kaBhowazi, indodana kaSalimoni, indodana kaNashoni,
the son of Jesse [My husband], the son of Obed, the son of Boaz [In majesty, in strength], the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33 indodana ka-Aminadabi, indodana kaRamu, indodana kaHezironi, indodana kaPherezi, indodana kaJuda,
the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram [Elevated], the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah [Praised],
34 indodana kaJakhobe, indodana ka-Isaka, indodana ka-Abhrahama, indodana kaThera, indodana kaNahori,
the son of Jacob [Supplanter], the son of Isaac [Laughter], the son of Abraham [Father of a multitude], the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 indodana kaSerugi, indodana kaRewu, indodana kaPhelegi, indodana ka-Ebha, indodana kaShela,
the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 indodana kaKhayinani, indodana ka-Ariphazadi, indodana kaShemu, indodana kaNowa, indodana kaLameki,
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem [Name], the son of Noah [Rest], the son of Lamech,
37 indodana kaMethusela, indodana ka-Enoki, indodana kaJaredi, indodana kaMahalaleli, indodana kaKhenani,
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
38 indodana ka-Enoshi, indodana kaSethi, indodana ka-Adamu, indodana kaNkulunkulu.
the son of Enos, the son of Seth [Appointed], the son of Adam [Human, Red earth], the son of God.
