ULukha 12
1 Kusenjalo sezibuthene izigidi zexuku, baze banyathelana, waqala ukukhuluma labafundi bakhe kuqala: Lina xwayani imvubelo yabaFarisi, eyikuzenzisa.
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 Njalo kakukho okumbomboziweyo, okungayikwembulwa, lokufihliweyo, okungayikwaziwa.
There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known.
3 Ngakho loba yini eliyikhuluma emnyameni izazwakala ekukhanyeni; lelikukhulume endlebeni ezindlini zensitha kuzamenyezelwa phezu kwezindlu.
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 Njalo ngithi kini bangane bami: Lingabesabi ababulala umzimba, njalo emva kwalokho bengelakho ukwenza olunye ulutho.
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 elifanele ukumesaba: Mesabeni lowo othi esebulele abe lamandla okuphosela esihogweni; yebo, ngithi kini: Mesabeni yena. (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 Kazithengiswa yini intaka ezinhlanu ngendibilitshi ezimbili? Kakukhohlakali lanye yazo phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them has escaped God’s notice.
7 Kanti lenwele zekhanda lenu zibaliwe zonke. Ngakho lingesabi; liyazedlula 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 Njalo ngithi kini: Wonke loba ngubani ongivuma phambi kwabantu, iNdodana yomuntu layo izamvuma phambi kwengilosi zikaNkulunkulu;
Everyone, I tell you, who publicly acknowledges me, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God’s angels;
9 kodwa ongiphika phambi kwabantu uzaphikwa phambi kwengilosi zikaNkulunkulu.
but the person who publicly disowns me will be altogether disowned before God’s angels.
10 Laye wonke okhuluma ilizwi elimelana leNdodana yomuntu, uzathethelelwa; kodwa lowo ohlambaza uMoya oNgcwele kayikuthethelelwa.
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 Njalo nxa belisa emasinagogeni lakubabusi leziphathamandla, lingakhathazeki ukuthi lizaphendula njani kumbe liphenduleni, kumbe lizakhulumani;
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 ngalelohola izinto elifanele ukuzikhuluma.
for the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say.’
13 Futhi omunye wexuku wathi kuye: Mfundisi, akutshele umfowethu abelane lami ilifa.
‘Teacher,’ a man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘tell my brother to share the property with me.’
14 Kodwa wathi kuye: Ndoda, ngubani ongimise ukuthi ngibe ngumahluleli loba umehlukanisi phezu kwenu?
But Jesus said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?’
15 Wasesithi kubo: Nanzelelani liqaphele ubuhwaba, ngoba impilo yomuntu kayikho ebunengini bezinto alazo.
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 umfanekiso, esithi: Insimu yomuntu othile onothileyo yathela kakhulu;
Then Jesus told them this parable – ‘There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile;
17 wasenakana ngaphakathi kwakhe, esithi: Ngizakwenza njani, ngoba kangilandawo lapho engingabuthela khona izithelo zami?
and he began to ask himself “What will I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?
18 Wasesithi: Ngizakwenza lokhu; ngizadiliza iziphala zami, ngakhe ezinkulu, ngibuthele khona izilimo zami zonke lempahla yami,
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 besengisithi kumphefumulo wami: Mphefumulo, ulempahla ezinengi ezibekelwe iminyaka eminengi; phumula, 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: Siphukuphuku, ngalobubusuku umphefumulo wakho uzabizwa kuwe; pho izinto ozilungisileyo zizakuba ngezikabani?
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 Kunjalo-ke kozibekela 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 Wasesithi kubafundi bakhe: Ngakho ngithi kini: Lingakhathaleli impilo yenu, ukuthi lizakudlani; loba umzimba, ukuthi lizakwembathani.
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 yedlula ukudla, lomzimba isembatho.
For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes.
24 Qaphelisisani amawabayi, ukuthi kawahlanyeli, njalo kawavuni, kawalasiphala loba isilulu, kanti uNkulunkulu uyawondla; lina lizedlula kangakanani inyoni?
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 Njalo nguwuphi kini ongathi ngokuphiseka engezelele ingalo ibenye ebudeni bakhe?
But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong your life a moment?
26 Ngakho nxa lingelamandla okwenza into encinyane, liphisekelani ngokunye?
And, if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things?
27 Qaphelisani imiduze ukuthi ikhula njani; kayitshikatshiki, kayiphothi, kodwa ngithi kini: LoSolomoni ebucwazicwazini bakhe bonke wayengembathiswanga njengomunye wayo.
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 Njalo uba uNkulunkulu esembathisa ngokunjalo utshani obukhona lamuhla egangeni, kuthi kusasa buphoswa eziko, uzalembathisa ngokukhulu kangakanani, lina abokholo oluncinyane?
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 Lani-ke lingadingi elizakudla lelizakunatha; njalo lingakhathazeki.
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 konke lokhu izizwe zomhlaba ziyakudinga; kodwa uYihlo uyazi ukuthi liyaziswela lezizinto.
These are the things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 Kodwa dingani umbuso kaNkulunkulu, njalo zonke lezizinto zizakwengezelelwa kini.
No, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added for you.
32 Lingesabi, mhlambi omncinyane; ngoba kuyikuthanda kukaYihlo ukulinika umbuso.
So do not be afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 Thengisani impahla zenu liphe izipho. Lizenzele imixhaka engagugiyo, impahla eligugu engapheliyo emazulwini, lapho okungasondeli isela khona, lenundu engoni 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 okukhona impahla yenu eligugu, izakuba khona lapho lenhliziyo yenu.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
35 Inkalo zenu kazihlale zibotshiwe, lezibane zenu zibhebha;
Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight;
36 lani libe njengabantu abalindele inkosi yabo, lapho izabuya ivela emtshadweni, ukuze, nxa ifika iqoqoda, bahle bayivulele.
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 Zibusisiwe lezozinceku, okuzakuthi inkosi nxa ifika izifice zilindile; ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Izabhinca, izihlalise ekudleni, isondele izisebenzele.
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 Njalo nxa ifika ngomlindo wesibili, kumbe ifika ngomlindo wesithathu, futhi izifice zinjalo, zibusisiwe lezozinceku.
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 yazini lokhu, ukuthi uba umninindlu ebelazi ihola isela elizafika ngalo, ubezalinda, futhi ubengayikuvuma ukuthi indlu yakhe ifohlelwe.
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 Ngakho lani-ke hlalani lilungile; ngoba ngehola elingalicabangeliyo iNdodana yomuntu izafika.
You must also prepare, for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come.’
41 UPetro wasesithi kuye: Nkosi, uwutshela thina lumfanekiso, kumbe labo bonke yini?
‘Master,’ said Peter, ‘are you telling this parable with reference to us or to everyone?’
42 INkosi yasisithi: Pho ngubani umphathi wezinceku othembekileyo lohlakaniphileyo, inkosi ezambeka phezu kwabendlu yayo, ukuze abanike isabelo sabo 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 Ibusisiwe leyonceku, okuzakuthi inkosi yayo nxa ifika iyifice isenza njalo.
Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, will find doing this.
44 Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Izayibeka phezu kwakho konke elakho.
His master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property.
45 Kodwa nxa leyonceku isithi enhliziyweni yayo: Inkosi yami iphuzile ukubuya; njalo ibisiqala ukutshaya izinceku lezincekukazi, lokudla lokunatha lokudakwa,
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 izafika ngosuku engayilindele ngalo, langehola engalaziyo; izayiquma phakathi, izanika isabelo sayo lalabo abangathembekanga.
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 Laleyonceku ebisazi intando yenkosi yayo, kodwa ingalungiselanga njalo ingenzanga ngokwentando yayo, izatshaywa imivimvinya eminengi.
The servant who knows his master’s wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes;
48 Kodwa leyo ebingayazi, yenza okufanele ukutshaywa, izatshaywa imivimvinya emilutshwana. Laye wonke ophiwe okunengi, kuzadingwa okunengi kuye; lalowo ophathiswe okunengi, kuzabizwa kuye okungaphezulu.
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 Ngize ukuphosela umlilo emhlabeni, futhi kuyini engikufisayo nxa usubasiwe?
I came to cast fire on the earth; and what more can I wish, if it is already kindled?
50 Kodwa ngilobhabhathizo engizabhabhathizwa ngalo, futhi ngicindezelwe kangakanani luze lupheleliswe.
There is a baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over!
51 Licabanga ukuthi ngize ukunika ukuthula emhlabeni yini? Hatshi bo, ngithi kini, kodwa kulalokhu ukwehlukana.
Do you think that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but to cause division.
52 Ngoba kusukela khathesi abahlanu endlini yinye bazakwehlukana, abathathu bamelane lababili, lababili bamelane 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 amelane lendodana, lendodana imelane loyise; unina amelane lendodakazi, lendodakazi imelane lonina; uninazala amelane lomalokazana wakhe, lomalokazana amelane 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 Wasesithi lemaxukwini: Nxa libona iyezi lisukuma entshonalanga, lihle lithi: Izulu liyabuya; futhi kube njalo.
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 Njalo nxa libona umoya weningizimu uphephetha, lithi: Lizatshisa; besekusenzakala.
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 ukuhlola umumo wesibhakabhaka lowomhlaba; kodwa lesisikhathi kungani lingasihloli?
Hypocrites! You know how to judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time?
57 Pho, kungani ukuthi lingahluleli lani lina uqobo lwenu okulungileyo?
Why don’t you yourselves decide what is right?
58 Ngoba nxa usiya lomangalelene laye kumantshi, endleleni yenza ubungcono ukuthi ukhululwe kuye; hlezi akudonsele kumahluleli, lomahluleli akunikele epholiseni, lepholisa likuphosele 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 Ngithi kuwe, kawusoze waphuma khona, uze ubhadale lenhlamvu encane yemali yokucina.
You will not, I tell you, come out until you have paid the very last cent.’
