ULukha 15
1 Kwasekusondela kuye bonke abathelisi lezoni, ukumuzwa.
THEN drew nigh unto him all the tax-farmers and the sinners to hear him.
2 AbaFarisi lababhali basebesola besithi: Lo wemukela izoni, adle lazo.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertains sinners, and eateth with them.
3 Wasebatshela lumfanekiso, esithi:
Then spake he unto them this parable, saying,
4 Nguwuphi umuntu kini ongathi elezimvu ezilikhulu, abeselahlekelwa ngenye yazo, ongazitshiyi ezingamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye egangeni, alandele elahlekileyo, aze ayithole?
What man is there of you, possessing an hundred sheep, though he lose but one of them, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 Njalo athi eseyitholile ayetshate ethokoza.
and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 Esefikile ekhaya, abizele ndawonye abangane labomakhelwane, esithi kubo: Thokozani lami, ngoba ngithole imvu yami ebilahlekile.
And coming home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Congratulate me; for I have found that sheep of mine which was lost.
7 Ngithi kini: Ngokunjalo kuzakuba khona intokozo ezulwini ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo, kulabalungileyo abangamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye, abangasweli ukuphenduka.
I tell you, that just so will there be joy in heaven over one repentant sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who hold not their need of repentance.
8 Loba nguwuphi umfazi othi elenhlamvu zesiliva ezilitshumi, uba elahlekelwa luhlamvu olulodwa lwesiliva, angalumathisi isibane, athanyele indlu, adingisise aze aluthole?
Or what woman having ten pieces of silver coin, if she lose one of them, doth she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and make diligent search until she find it?
9 Njalo nxa eselutholile ubizela ndawonye abangane labomakhelwane, athi: Thokozani lami, ngoba sengilutholile uhlamvu lwesiliva ebengilahlekelwe yilo.
And having found it, she calleth her female friends and neighbours together, saying, Congratulate me; for I have found the silver piece I had lost.
10 Ngokunjalo, ngithi kini, ikhona intokozo phambi kwezingilosi zikaNkulunkulu ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo.
Even so, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God, over one repentant sinner.
11 Wasesithi: Umuntu othile wayelamadodana amabili;
Then he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 encinyane yawo yasisithi kuyise: Baba, nginika isabelo sempahla esiqondene lami. Wasewehlukanisela impahla.
and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of substance which falls to my share. And he divided with them his fortune.
13 Njalo kungelansuku ezinengi emva kwalokhu indodana encinyane yabutha konke yasuka yahamba yaya elizweni elikhatshana, njalo lapho yachitha khona impahla yayo, iphila okobuhlanya.
And not many days after, the younger son, collecting his all, travelled into a far distant country, and there dissipated his substance in a life of debauchery.
14 Yathi isichithile konke, kwavela indlala enkulu kulelolizwe, yona yasiqala ukuswela.
But when he had spent all, there came a terrible famine in that region; and he began to know want.
15 Yasisuka yazihlanganisa lesinye sezakhamizi zalelolizwe; njalo sayithuma emasimini aso ukuze yeluse izingulube.
And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 Yasifisa ukugcwalisa isisu sayo ngamakhasi ingulube eziwadlayo; njalo kwakungelamuntu oyinika ulutho.
And he eagerly longed to fill his belly with the charob berries which the swine did eat: and no person gave him a morsel.
17 Kwathi ingqondo yayo isibuyile yathi: Zingaki izisebenzi zikababa eziqhatshiweyo ezilezinkwa ezinengi kakhulu, kanti mina ngiyafa yindlala;
Then coming to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father abound with loaves of bread, and I am pining away with famine!
18 ngizasukuma ngiye kubaba, ngithi kuye: Baba, ngonile ezulwini, laphambi kwakho;
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 njalo kangisafanelanga ukubizwa ngithiwe ngiyindodana yakho; ngenza ngibe njengomunye wezisebenzi zakho eziqhatshiweyo.
and I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hirelings.
20 Yasisukuma yaya kuyise. Kodwa kuthe isesekhatshana, uyise wayibona, waba lesihelo, wagijima wawela entanyeni yayo, wayanga.
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet at a considerable distance, his father discovered him, and was moved with compassion, and running, fell on his neck, and kissed him again and again.
21 Indodana yasisithi kuye: Baba, ngonile ezulwini laphambi kwakho, futhi kangisafanelanga ukubizwa ngokuthi ngiyindodana yakho.
Then said the son unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 Kodwa uyise wathi ezincekwini zakhe: Khuphani lilethe isembatho esihle kakhulu liyigqokise, lifake indandatho esandleni sayo, lamanyathela enyaweni zayo;
But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and clothe him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet:
23 lilethe ithole elinonisiweyo lilihlabe, njalo sidle sithokoze;
and bring hither the stall-fed steer, and kill it; and let us eat, and be joyous.
24 ngoba indodana yami le ibifile, isibuye yaphila; ibilahlekile, itholiwe; basebeqala ukuthokoza.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And they began to be joyous.
25 Kodwa indodana yakhe endala yayisensimini; yathi isiza isondela endlini, yezwa ukuhlabelela lokusina.
Now his elder brother had been in the field: and when coming home he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and the chorus.
26 Yasibizela kuyo omunye wezinceku, yabuza ukuthi zitshoni lezizinto.
And calling one of the servants, he inquired what these things meant.
27 Yasisithi kuyo: Umfowenu ufikile; loyihlo uhlabile ithole elinonisiweyo, ngoba ememukele ephila.
And he said, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed for him the stall-fed steer, because he hath received him in health.
28 Kodwa yathukuthela, ayizange ifune ukungena; ngakho uyise waphuma wayincenga.
Then he was in great wrath, and would not enter the doors: therefore his father came out, and entreated him.
29 Kodwa yaphendula yathi kuyise: Khangela, iminyaka engaka ngikusebenzela, kangizange ngeqe umlayo wakho, kodwa kawuzange unginike lazinyane lembuzi, ukuze ngijabule kanye labangane bami.
But he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years I am serving thee, and never have transgressed thy command: yet to me thou hast never once given a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 Kodwa kuthe isifikile lindodana yakho eyachitha impahla yakho lezifebe, wayihlabela ithole elinonisiweyo.
but no sooner is this son of thine come, who hath devoured thy substance with whores, than thou hast killed for him the stall-fed steer.
31 Wasesithi kuyo: Ndodana, wena uhlezi ulami, futhi konke okungokwami kungokwakho.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all my possessions are thine.
32 Kodwa bekufanele ukujabula lokuthokoza; ngoba umfowenu lo owayefile, usebuye waphila; wayelahlekile, utholiwe.
But it was right that we should rejoice, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
