Matthew 17
1 A week after Jesus [said that], he took Peter, James, and John, the [younger] brother of James, and led them up a high mountain where they were away from other people.
Lemva kwensuku eziyisithupha uJesu wathatha uPetro loJakobe loJohane umfowabo, wasekhwela labo entabeni ende bebodwa.
2 [While they were there, the three disciples] saw that Jesus’ appearance was changed. His face shone like the sun, and his clothing [shone and] became as brilliant as light.
Waseguqulwa isimo phambi kwabo, njalo ubuso bakhe bakhanya njengelanga, lezembatho zakhe zaba mhlophe njengokukhanya.
3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah, [who were important prophets many years ago], appeared and started talking with him.
Futhi khangela, kwasekubonakala kubo uMozisi loElija, bekhuluma laye.
4 Peter [saw them and] said to Jesus, “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here! If you want [me to], I will make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
UPetro wasephendula wathi kuJesu: Nkosi, kuhle ukuthi sibe lapha. Uba uthanda, asakhe lapha amadumba amathathu, elinye ngelakho, lelinye ngelikaMozisi, lelinye ngelikaElija.
5 While Peter was speaking, a bright cloud [appeared and] covered them. [They heard God] speaking [about Jesus from] inside the cloud. He said [to them], “This is my Son. I love him. He pleases me very much. [So] you must listen to him!”
Kwathi esakhuluma, khangela, iyezi elikhanyayo labasibekela; futhi khangela, ilizwi laphuma eyezini, lisithi: Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engithokoza ngayo; zwanini yona.
6 When the three disciples heard [God speaking], they were terrified. [As a result], they fell prostrate on the ground.
Sebezwile abafundi, bawa phansi ngobuso babo, besaba kakhulu.
7 But Jesus went to them and touched them [and] said [to them], “Stand up! Do not be afraid any more!”
Kodwa uJesu weza wabathinta wathi: Sukumani lingesabi.
8 And when they looked up [MTY], they saw that Jesus was the only one [who was still there].
Sebephakamisile amehlo abo, kababonanga muntu, ngaphandle kukaJesu yedwa.
9 When they were walking down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you saw [on the mountain top] until [God has caused me], the one who has come from heaven, to become alive again after I die.”
Sebesehla entabeni, uJesu wabalaya, wathi: Lingatsheli muntu lowombono, ize ivuke kwabafileyo iNdodana yomuntu.
10 [Those three disciples had just seen Elijah and he did not do anything to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah], so they asked Jesus, “If [what you say is true], why do the men who teach the [Jewish] laws say that it is necessary for Elijah to come [back to earth] before [the Messiah comes]?”
Abafundi bakhe basebembuza bathi: Pho batsholoni ababhali ukuthi uElija ufanele ukufika kuqala?
11 Jesus answered [them], “It is true that [God promised that] Elijah would come to prepare many [HYP] [people for the Messiah’s coming].
UJesu wasephendula wathi kubo: UElija uzafika kuqala isibili, uzabuyisela zonke izinto;
12 But note this: Elijah’s [representative] has already come, [and our leaders have seen him], but they did not recognize him [as the one who would come before the Messiah]. Instead, they treated him [badly], just like they desired. And those same rulers will soon treat [me], the one who came from heaven, in the same manner.”
kodwa ngitsho kini ukuthi uElija sewafika, kodwa kabamazanga, kodwa benza kuye konke ababekuthanda; ngokunjalo leNdodana yomuntu izahlutshwa yibo.
13 Then the three disciples understood that [when he was talking about Elijah], he was referring to John the Baptizer.
Abafundi basebeqedisisa ukuthi wakhuluma labo ngoJohane uMbhabhathizi.
14 When [Jesus and the three disciples] returned to the [rest of us disciples] and to the crowd [that had gathered], a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
Kwathi sebefikile exukwini, kweza kuye umuntu waguqa phambi kwakhe wathi:
15 He said [to him], “Sir/Lord, have mercy on my son and [heal him]! He has epilepsy and suffers very much. [Because of this illness], he has fallen in the fire and in the water many times.
Nkosi, akuhawukele indodana yami, ngoba ilesithuthwane iyahlupheka kakhulu; ngoba iwele kanengi emlilweni, futhi kanengi emanzini.
16 I brought him to your disciples [in order that they might heal him], but they were not able to heal him.”
Njalo ngiyilethe kubafundi bakho, kodwa bebengelakho ukuyisilisa.
17 Jesus responded [by saying to everyone who had gathered there], “[You who have seen how I help people] do not believe [that you can do anything! Your minds] are distorted! How long do I have to be with you [before you] are [able to do what I do] [RHQ]? How long [do] I have to endure your [not believing] [RHQ]? Bring the boy here to me!”
UJesu wasephendula wathi: O sizukulwana esingelakholo lesonakeleyo, koze kube nini ngilani? Koze kube nini ngilibekezelela? Mletheni kimi lapha.
18 When [they brought the boy to Jesus], Jesus rebuked the demon [that was causing the epilepsy]. [As a result], the demon came out of the boy, and right then the boy was healed.
UJesu waselikhuza, idimoni laseliphuma kuyo, umntwana wasesila kusukela kulelohola.
19 [Later, some of us] disciples approached Jesus. We asked him privately, “Why were we [(exc)] not able to expel the demon?”
Abafundi basebesiza kuJesu bebodwa bathi: Kungani thina sehlulekile ukulikhupha?
20 He answered us, “It is because you did not believe very much [in God’s power]. Think about this: Mustard seeds [are very small, but in this area they grow and produce large] [MET] [plants]. [Similarly], if your faith grows until you truly believe [that God will do what you ask him to], you will be able to do anything [LIT]! You [could even] say to this hill, ‘Move from here to there!’ and it would go [where you told it to go].”
UJesu wasesithi kubo: Kungenxa yokungakholwa kwenu. Ngoba ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Aluba lilokholo olunjengohlamvu lwemasitedi, lizakuthi kulintaba: Suka lapha uye laphaya; njalo izasuka; futhi kaliyikwehlulwa lutho.
Kodwa loluhlobo kaluphumi ngaphandle kwangomkhuleko langokuzila ukudla.
22 When [we disciples] had gathered together in Galilee [district], Jesus said to us, “[I], the one who came from heaven, will soon be handed over {[Someone] will soon hand me, the one who came from heaven, over} to the authorities [SYN].
Besahlezi eGalili, uJesu wathi kubo: INdodana yomuntu isizanikelwa ezandleni zabantu,
23 They will kill me. But [God] will cause me to become alive again on the third day [after I am killed].” [When we heard that], we became very sad.
njalo bazayibulala, kodwa ngosuku lwesithathu izavuswa. Basebedabuka kakhulu.
24 When we came to Capernaum [city], the men who collect taxes [for the Temple approached Peter and said to him], “Your teacher pays the [Temple tax], does he not?”
Kwathi sebefikile eKapenawume, abemukela umthelo beza kuPetro bathi: Umfundisi wenu katheli yini?
25 He answered [them], “Yes, [he does pay it].” When we came into the house [where Jesus was saying], [before Peter began to talk about paying taxes], Jesus said [to him], “Simon, from whom do you think rulers collect revenue or taxes? [Do they collect taxes] from the citizens of their own [country], or from citizens of countries [they have conquered]?”
Wathi: Yebo. Esengenile endlini, uJesu wamandulela wathi: Ucabangani, Simoni? Amakhosi omhlaba emukela kubani imfanelo kumbe imithelo? Kumadodana abo yini, kumbe kwabezizwe?
26 Peter answered [him], “From [citizens of] other [countries].” Then Jesus said to him, “So citizens of their own [country] do not need to [pay taxes].
UPetro wathi kuye: Kwabezizwe. UJesu wathi kuye: Ngakho-ke amadodana akhululekile.
27 But [even though the Temple is mine, pay the tax for us so that the Temple tax collectors will not become angry with us. In order to get the money to pay it], go to the lake. Cast your [fish line and] hook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a silver coin [that is worth enough to pay the tax] for you and me. Take that coin and give [it] to the Temple tax collectors.”
Kodwa-ke ukuze singabakhubekisi, hamba uye elwandle uphose ingwegwe, uthathe inhlanzi ezaphuma kuqala; kuzakuthi usuvule umlomo wayo uzathola imali; uyithathe ubanike ibe ngeyami leyakho.
