Luke 1
1 Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us, —
Njengoba abanengi sebebeke izandla ukubeka ngendlela efaneleyo ukulandiswa kwezinto eziqiniseke ngokupheleleyo phakathi kwethu,
2 according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us,
njengalokhu basinika labo ababonayo ngamehlo ekuqaleni njalo bezinceku zelizwi,
3 it seemed good, even to me, having closely traced from the outset all things accurately, to write unto thee, in order, most excellent Theophilus:
kukhanye kukuhle lakimi, sengizihlolisisile zonke izinto kusukela ekuqaleni, ukuthi ngikubhalele ngokulandelana, mhlekazi Teyofilu,
4 that, as touching the matters which thou hadst been taught by word of mouth, thou mightest obtain full knowledge, of the certainty.
ukuze wazi iqiniso ngalezozinto ozifundisiweyo.
5 It came to pass, in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, that there was a certain priest, by name Zachariah, of the daily course of Abia; and that he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and, her name, was Elizabeth.
Ensukwini zikaHerodi inkosi yeJudiya kwakukhona umpristi othile othiwa nguZakariya, oweqembu likaAbhiya; lomkakhe wayevela kumadodakazi kaAroni, lebizo lakhe linguElizabethi.
6 Now they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous appointments of the Lord, blameless;
Njalo babelungile bobabili phambi kukaNkulunkulu, behamba ngayo yonke imilayo lezimiso zeNkosi, bengasoleki.
7 and they had no child, inasmuch as Elizabeth was barren, and, both, had become, advanced in their days.
Njalo babengelamntwana, ngoba uElizabethi wayeyinyumba, basebeleminyaka eminengi bobabili.
8 But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course, before God,
Kwasekusithi esenza inkonzo yobupristi phambi kukaNkulunkulu esesimisweni seqembu lakibo,
9 according to the custom of his priesthood, it fell to his lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of the Lord;
ngomkhuba wenkonzo yobupristi, nguye owadliwa yinkatho yokutshisa impepha esengene ethempelini leNkosi.
10 and, all the throng of the people, was praying outside, at the hour of the incense offering.
Njalo ixuku lonke labantu lalikhuleka ngaphandle ngesikhathi sokutshisa impepha.
11 And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense;
Ingilosi yeNkosi yasibonakala kuye, imi ngakwesokunene selathi lempepha.
12 and Zachariah was troubled when he beheld, and, fear, fell upon him.
Kwathi uZakariya eyibona waqhuqha, lokwesaba kwawela phezu kwakhe.
13 But the messenger said unto him—Do not fear, Zachariah! Inasmuch as thy supplication hath been hearkened to, —and, thy wife Elizabeth, shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name, John;
Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye: Ungesabi Zakariya; ngoba umkhuleko wakho uzwakele, lomkakho uElizabethi uzakuzalela indodana, njalo uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJohane.
14 And there shall be joy to thee and exulting, and, many, over his birth, shall rejoice;
Futhi uzakuba lenjabulo lentokozo, labanengi bazakujabulela ukuzalwa kwakhe.
15 For he shall be great before the Lord, and, wine and strong drink, in nowise may he drink, and, with Holy Spirit, shall he be filled, already, from his mother’s womb;
Ngoba uzakuba mkhulu phambi kweNkosi, iwayini kanye lokunathwayo okulamandla kasoze akunathe, futhi uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela esesesiswini sikanina.
16 And, many of the Sons of Israel, shall he turn towards the Lord their God;
Labanengi kubantwana bakoIsrayeli uzabaphendulela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo;
17 And, he, shall go before him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, —To turn the hearts of fathers unto children, and the unyielding, into the prudence of the righteous, and to prepare, for the Lord, a people made ready.
njalo yena uzahamba phambi kwayo emoyeni lemandleni kaElija, ukuphendulela inhliziyo zaboyise kubantwana, labangalaleliyo ekuhlakanipheni kwabalungileyo, ukulungiselela iNkosi isizwe esilungisiweyo.
18 And Zachariah said unto the messenger—Whereby, shall I know this? for, I, am, aged, and, my wife, advanced in her days.
UZakariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Ngizakwazi ngani lokhu? Ngoba mina ngilixhegu, lomkami useleminyaka eminengi.
19 And the messenger, answering, said unto him—I, am Gabriel, —he that standeth near before God; and have been sent forth to speak unto thee, and to deliver the joyful message unto thee, as touching these things.
Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: NginguGabriyeli mina, omayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu; njalo ngithunyiwe ukukhuluma lawe, lokukubikela lezizindaba ezinhle.
20 And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak until the day when these things shall come to pass; because thou didst not believe in my words, —the which shall be fulfilled for their season.
Njalo khangela, uzakuba yisimungulu njalo wehluleke ukukhuluma, kuze kube lusuku okuzakwenzeka ngalo lezizinto, ngenxa yokuthi ungakholwanga amazwi ami, azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo.
21 And the people were expecting Zachariah, and began to marvel that he should tarry in the Temple;
Labantu babemlindele uZakariya; bamangala ngokuphuza kwakhe ethempelini.
22 and when he came forth he was not able to speak unto them, and they perceived that, a vision, he had seen in the Temple, —and, he, continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.
Kuthe esephuma wehluleka ukukhuluma labo; njalo bazi ukuthi ubone umbono ethempelini; njalo yena wayesebaqhweba, wahlala eyisimungulu.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his public ministration were fulfilled, that he departed unto his house.
Kwasekusithi seziphelile insuku zokukhonza kwakhe, waya endlini yakhe.
24 And, after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she disguised herself five months, saying—
Kwathi emva kwalezonsuku uElizabethi umkakhe wathatha isisu, wazifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu, esithi:
25 Thus, for me, hath the Lord wrought, —in the days in which he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.
Yenze kanje kimi iNkosi ensukwini eyangikhangela ngazo ukususa ihlazo lami phakathi kwabantu.
26 Now, in the sixth month, was the messenger Gabriel sent forth from God, into a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, —
Kwathi ngenyanga yesithupha ingilosi uGabriyeli yathunywa nguNkulunkulu emzini weGalili othiwa yiNazaretha,
27 unto a virgin, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and, the name of the virgin, was, Mary;
entombini eyayigane indoda, ebizo layo lalinguJosefa, eyendlu kaDavida; lebizo lentombi linguMariya.
28 and entering in unto her, he said—Joy to thee, favoured one! The Lord, be with thee!
Ingilosi yasingena kuye yathi: Ekuhle, wena othandiweyo! INkosi ilawe, ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana.
29 And, she, at the word, was greatly troubled, and began to deliberate, of what kind, this salutation, might be.
Kwathi eseyibonile wethuswa kakhulu yilizwi layo, wanakana ukuthi yikubingelela okunjani lokhu.
30 And the messenger said unto her—Do not fear, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God, —
Ingilosi yasisithi kuye: Ungesabi, Mariya; ngoba uthole uthando kuNkulunkulu.
31 And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, Jesus:
Njalo khangela, uzathatha isisu, uzale indodana, uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJesu.
32 the same, shall be great, and, Son of the Most High, shall be called, and the Lord God, will give unto him, the throne of David his father, —
Yena uzakuba mkhulu, uzabizwa ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke; futhi iNkosi uNkulunkulu izamnika isihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavida,
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob, unto the ages, and, of his kingdom, there shall be, no end. (aiōn g165)
njalo uzabusa phezu kwendlu kaJakobe kuze kube nininini, langombuso wakhe kawuzukuba lokuphela. (aiōn g165)
34 But Mary said unto the messenger—How, shall this thing be, seeing that, a man, I know not?
UMariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Lokhu kungenzeka njani, njengoba ngingazi indoda?
35 And answering, the messenger said unto her—The Holy Spirit, shall come upon thee, and, the power of the Most High, shall overshadow thee; wherefore, even that which is to be born, Holy, shall be called, Son of God.
Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: UMoya oNgcwele uzakuza phezu kwakho, lamandla oPhezukonke azakwembesa; ngakho lalokhu okungcwele okuzazalwa nguwe kuzakuthiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
36 And lo! Elizabeth thy kinswoman, even she, hath conceived a son in, her old-age; —and, this month, is, the sixth, to her, the so-called barren one;
Njalo khangela, isinini sakho uElizabethi, laye ukhulelwe yindodana ebudaleni bakhe; lale yinyanga yesithupha kuye obekuthiwa uyinyumba.
37 Because no declaration from God, shall be void of power.
Ngoba kuNkulunkulu kakulalutho oluzakwehlula.
38 And Mary said—Lo! the handmaid of the Lord! Might it come to pass unto me, according to thy declaration. And the messenger departed from her.
UMariya wasesithi: Khangela, incekukazi yeNkosi; kakube kimi njengelizwi lakho. Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
39 And Mary, arising, in these days, journeyed into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, —
Ngalezonsuku uMariya wasesukuma waya ezintabeni ngokuphangisa, emzini weJuda,
40 and entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
wangena endlini kaZakariya, wabingelela uElizabethi.
41 And it came to pass that, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit, —
Kwasekusithi uElizabethi ezwe ukubingelela kukaMariya, inkonyane yeqa esiswini sakhe; loElizabethi wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele,
42 and lifted up her voice with loud exclamation, and said—Blessed, art thou among women, and, blessed, is the fruit of thy womb;
wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, wathi: Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana, njalo sibusisiwe isithelo sesizalo sakho!
43 And, whence, to me is, this, That the mother of my Lord should come, unto me?
Kanti kuvela ngaphi lokhu kimi, ukuthi unina weNkosi yami eze kimi?
44 For lo! as the sound of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe in my womb, leapt in exultation.
Ngoba khangela, kuthe ilizwi lokubingelela kwakho lifika endlebeni zami, umntwana weqa esiswini sami ngokuthokoza.
45 And, happy, is she who hath believed, that there shall be a perfecting of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!
Futhi ubusisiwe okholiweyo, ngoba kuzagcwaliseka lezozinto ezakhulunywa kuye yiNkosi.
46 And Mary said—My soul doth magnify the Lord,
UMariya wasesithi: Umphefumulo wami uyayikhulisa iNkosi,
47 And my spirit hath exulted upon God my saviour;
lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
48 Because he hath looked upon the humbling of his handmaid; for lo! from the present time, all the generations, will pronounce me happy.
ngoba ukhangele ubuphansi bencekukazi yakhe. Ngoba khangela, kusukela khathesi zonke izizukulwana zizakuthi ngibusisiwe.
49 Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and, holy, is his name;
Ngoba yena olamandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele lebizo lakhe,
50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations, to them who revere him;
lesihawu sakhe sikusizukulwana ngesizukulwana kulabo abamesabayo.
51 He hath wrought strength with his arm, He hath scattered men arrogant in the intention of their heart;
Wenzile amandla ngengalo yakhe; uhlakazile abazigqajayo ekunakaneni kwenhliziyo zabo.
52 He hath deposed potentates from thrones, and uplifted the lowly;
Wehlisile iziphathamandla ezihlalweni zobukhosi, kodwa uphakamisile abantukazana.
53 The hungry, hath he filled with good things, and, the wealthy, hath he sent empty away;
Abalambileyo ubasuthise ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo wabamukisa beze.
54 He hath laid hold of Israel his servant, to be mindful of mercies:
Umsizile uIsrayeli inceku yakhe, ngokukhumbula isihawu,
55 According as he spake unto our fathers, —To Abraham, and to his seed, —Unto times age-abiding. (aiōn g165)
njengoba watsho kubobaba bethu, kuAbrahama, lenzalweni yakhe kuze kube nininini. (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.
UMariya wasehlala laye okungaba zinyanga ezintathu, wasebuyela endlini yakhe.
57 And, to Elizabeth, was the time fulfilled, that she should be bringing forth, —and she gave birth to a son.
Isikhathi sikaElizabethi sokuthi abelethe sesiphelele, wasebeletha indodana.
58 And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they were rejoicing with her.
Abakhelene laye lezinini zakhe basebesizwa ukuthi iNkosi yenze isihawu sayo saba sikhulu kuye, basebethokoza laye.
59 And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and were calling it, after the name of its father, Zachariah.
Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesificaminwembili, beza ukuzasoka usane; balubiza ngebizo likayise ngokuthi nguZakariya.
60 And his mother, answering, said—Nay! but he shall be called, John.
Kodwa unina waphendula wathi: Hatshi bo, kodwa luzathiwa nguJohane.
61 And they said unto her—There is, no one from among thy kindred, who is called by this name!
Basebesithi kuye: Kakho ezihlotsheni zakho obizwa ngalelibizo.
62 And they began making signs unto his father, as to what he might be wishing it to be called.
Basebeqhweba uyise, ukuthi angathanda ukuthi lubizwe ngokuthini.
63 And, asking for a small tablet, he wrote, saying—John, is his name! and they marvelled all.
Wasecela into yokubhalela, wabhala, esithi: NguJohane ibizo lalo; basebemangala bonke.
64 And his mouth was opened instantly, and his tongue [loosed], and he began to speak, blessing, God.
Njalo wahle wavulwa umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphululwa, wasekhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
65 And fear came upon all the neighbours themselves; and, throughout all the hill-country of Judaea, were all these matters being much talked of;
Lokwesaba kwehlela phezu kwabo bonke abakhelene labo; njalo kwakhulunywa ngazo zonke lezizinto kulo lonke elezintabeni zeJudiya,
66 and all who heard laid [them] up in their hearts, saying—What then shall his child be? for, even the hand of the Lord, was with him.
labo bonke abazizwayo bazilondoloza ezinhliziyweni zabo, besithi: Kambe lolusane luzakuba njani? Njalo isandla seNkosi sasilalo.
67 And, Zachariah his father, was filled with Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: —
LoZakariya uyise wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele, waprofetha, esithi:
68 Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
Ibusisiwe iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngoba ihambele yasenzela inkululeko isizwe sayo,
69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant:
yasivusela uphondo losindiso endlini kaDavida inceku yayo,
njengalokho yakhuluma ngomlomo wabaprofethi bayo abangcwele kusukela ekuqaleni komhlaba, (aiōn g165)
71 Of salvation from among our foes, and out of the hand of all them that hate us:
isikhulula ezitheni zethu, lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo;
72 To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant, —
ukwenzela obaba bethu isihawu, lokukhumbula isivumelwano sayo esingcwele,
73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us,
isifungo eyasifunga kubaba wethu uAbrahama,
74 without fear, from the hand of enemies rescued, to be rendering divine service unto him,
ukusinika, ukuthi sesikhululiwe esandleni sezitha zethu, siyikhonze singelakwesaba,
75 in lovingkindness and righteousness before him, all our days.
ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo zonke izinsuku zempilo yethu.
76 And, even thou, child, prophet of the Most High, shalt be called, —for thou shall march on before the Lord, to prepare his ways,
Lawe-ke, sane, uzabizwa ngokuthi ungumprofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambi kobuso beNkosi ukulungisa izindlela zayo;
77 Giving a knowledge of salvation unto his people, by a remission of their sins.
lokunika isizwe sayo ulwazi losindiso ngothethelelo lwezono zabo,
78 Because of the yearning compassion of the mercy of our God, wherein shall visit us a day-dawn from on high, —
ngesihelo sikaNkulunkulu wethu, okuthi ngaso ukusa kwaphezulu kusethekelele,
79 To shine on them who, in the darkness and shade of death, are sitting, to guide our feet into a way of peace.
ukubakhanyisela abahlezi emnyameni lethunzini lokufa, ukuqondisa inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.
80 And, the child, went on growing, and being strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts, until the day he was pointed out unto Israel.
Wakhula-ke umntwana omncane, waqina emoyeni, waba sezinkangala kwaze kwaba lusuku lokubonakala kwakhe kuIsrayeli.
