ULukha 15
1 Kwasekusondela kuye bonke abathelisi lezoni, ukumuzwa.
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners in order to hear him.
2 AbaFarisi lababhali basebesola besithi: Lo wemukela izoni, adle lazo.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
3 Wasebatshela lumfanekiso, esithi:
And he spoke this parable unto them, saying,
4 Nguwuphi umuntu kini ongathi elezimvu ezilikhulu, abeselahlekelwa ngenye yazo, ongazitshiyi ezingamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye egangeni, alandele elahlekileyo, aze ayithole?
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 Njalo athi eseyitholile ayetshate ethokoza.
And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 Esefikile ekhaya, abizele ndawonye abangane labomakhelwane, esithi kubo: Thokozani lami, ngoba ngithole imvu yami ebilahlekile.
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 Ngithi kini: Ngokunjalo kuzakuba khona intokozo ezulwini ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo, kulabalungileyo abangamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye, abangasweli ukuphenduka.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Loba nguwuphi umfazi othi elenhlamvu zesiliva ezilitshumi, uba elahlekelwa luhlamvu olulodwa lwesiliva, angalumathisi isibane, athanyele indlu, adingisise aze aluthole?
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 Njalo nxa eselutholile ubizela ndawonye abangane labomakhelwane, athi: Thokozani lami, ngoba sengilutholile uhlamvu lwesiliva ebengilahlekelwe yilo.
And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Ngokunjalo, ngithi kini, ikhona intokozo phambi kwezingilosi zikaNkulunkulu ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.
11 Wasesithi: Umuntu othile wayelamadodana amabili;
And 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 goods that falls to me. And he divided unto them his living.
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 gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 Yathi isichithile konke, kwavela indlala enkulu kulelolizwe, yona yasiqala ukuswela.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in lack.
15 Yasisuka yazihlanganisa lesinye sezakhamizi zalelolizwe; njalo sayithuma emasimini aso ukuze yeluse izingulube.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen 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 would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 Kwathi ingqondo yayo isibuyile yathi: Zingaki izisebenzi zikababa eziqhatshiweyo ezilezinkwa ezinengi kakhulu, kanti mina ngiyafa yindlala;
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
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 you,
19 njalo kangisafanelanga ukubizwa ngithiwe ngiyindodana yakho; ngenza ngibe njengomunye wezisebenzi zakho eziqhatshiweyo.
And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.
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 a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 Indodana yasisithi kuye: Baba, ngonile ezulwini laphambi kwakho, futhi kangisafanelanga ukubizwa ngokuthi ngiyindodana yakho.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your 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 forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 lilethe ithole elinonisiweyo lilihlabe, njalo sidle sithokoze;
And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 ngoba indodana yami le ibifile, isibuye yaphila; ibilahlekile, itholiwe; basebeqala ukuthokoza.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Kodwa indodana yakhe endala yayisensimini; yathi isiza isondela endlini, yezwa ukuhlabelela lokusina.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 Yasibizela kuyo omunye wezinceku, yabuza ukuthi zitshoni lezizinto.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 Yasisithi kuyo: Umfowenu ufikile; loyihlo uhlabile ithole elinonisiweyo, ngoba ememukele ephila.
And he said unto him, Your brother has come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.
28 Kodwa yathukuthela, ayizange ifune ukungena; ngakho uyise waphuma wayincenga.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and implored him.
29 Kodwa yaphendula yathi kuyise: Khangela, iminyaka engaka ngikusebenzela, kangizange ngeqe umlayo wakho, kodwa kawuzange unginike lazinyane lembuzi, ukuze ngijabule kanye labangane bami.
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve you, neither transgressed I at any time your commandment: and yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 Kodwa kuthe isifikile lindodana yakho eyachitha impahla yakho lezifebe, wayihlabela ithole elinonisiweyo.
But as soon as this your son was come, which has devoured your living with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted calf.
31 Wasesithi kuyo: Ndodana, wena uhlezi ulami, futhi konke okungokwami kungokwakho.
And he said unto him, Son, you are ever with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 Kodwa bekufanele ukujabula lokuthokoza; ngoba umfowenu lo owayefile, usebuye waphila; wayelahlekile, utholiwe.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
