Luke 1
1 Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
Njengoba abanengi sebebeke izandla ukubeka ngendlela efaneleyo ukulandiswa kwezinto eziqiniseke ngokupheleleyo phakathi kwethu,
2 on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
njengalokhu basinika labo ababonayo ngamehlo ekuqaleni njalo bezinceku zelizwi,
3 it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,
kukhanye kukuhle lakimi, sengizihlolisisile zonke izinto kusukela ekuqaleni, ukuthi ngikubhalele ngokulandelana, mhlekazi Teyofilu,
4 that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
ukuze wazi iqiniso ngalezozinto ozifundisiweyo.
5 There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant 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 They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
Njalo babelungile bobabili phambi kukaNkulunkulu, behamba ngayo yonke imilayo lezimiso zeNkosi, bengasoleki.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
Njalo babengelamntwana, ngoba uElizabethi wayeyinyumba, basebeleminyaka eminengi bobabili.
8 Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
Kwasekusithi esenza inkonzo yobupristi phambi kukaNkulunkulu esesimisweni seqembu lakibo,
9 it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
ngomkhuba wenkonzo yobupristi, nguye owadliwa yinkatho yokutshisa impepha esengene ethempelini leNkosi.
10 and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
Njalo ixuku lonke labantu lalikhuleka ngaphandle ngesikhathi sokutshisa impepha.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;
Ingilosi yeNkosi yasibonakala kuye, imi ngakwesokunene selathi lempepha.
12 and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
Kwathi uZakariya eyibona waqhuqha, lokwesaba kwawela phezu kwakhe.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.
Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye: Ungesabi Zakariya; ngoba umkhuleko wakho uzwakele, lomkakho uElizabethi uzakuzalela indodana, njalo uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJohane.
14 Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.
Futhi uzakuba lenjabulo lentokozo, labanengi bazakujabulela ukuzalwa kwakhe.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.
Ngoba uzakuba mkhulu phambi kweNkosi, iwayini kanye lokunathwayo okulamandla kasoze akunathe, futhi uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela esesesiswini sikanina.
16 Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
Labanengi kubantwana bakoIsrayeli uzabaphendulela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo;
17 and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."
njalo yena uzahamba phambi kwayo emoyeni lemandleni kaElija, ukuphendulela inhliziyo zaboyise kubantwana, labangalaleliyo ekuhlakanipheni kwabalungileyo, ukulungiselela iNkosi isizwe esilungisiweyo.
18 "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
UZakariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Ngizakwazi ngani lokhu? Ngoba mina ngilixhegu, lomkami useleminyaka eminengi.
19 "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news.
Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: NginguGabriyeli mina, omayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu; njalo ngithunyiwe ukukhuluma lawe, lokukubikela lezizindaba ezinhle.
20 And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
Njalo khangela, uzakuba yisimungulu njalo wehluleke ukukhuluma, kuze kube lusuku okuzakwenzeka ngalo lezizinto, ngenxa yokuthi ungakholwanga amazwi ami, azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo.
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
Labantu babemlindele uZakariya; bamangala ngokuphuza kwakhe ethempelini.
22 When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.
Kuthe esephuma wehluleka ukukhuluma labo; njalo bazi ukuthi ubone umbono ethempelini; njalo yena wayesebaqhweba, wahlala eyisimungulu.
23 When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
Kwasekusithi seziphelile insuku zokukhonza kwakhe, waya endlini yakhe.
24 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
Kwathi emva kwalezonsuku uElizabethi umkakhe wathatha isisu, wazifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu, esithi:
25 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
Yenze kanje kimi iNkosi ensukwini eyangikhangela ngazo ukususa ihlazo lami phakathi kwabantu.
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
Kwathi ngenyanga yesithupha ingilosi uGabriyeli yathunywa nguNkulunkulu emzini weGalili othiwa yiNazaretha,
27 to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.
entombini eyayigane indoda, ebizo layo lalinguJosefa, eyendlu kaDavida; lebizo lentombi linguMariya.
28 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."
Ingilosi yasingena kuye yathi: Ekuhle, wena othandiweyo! INkosi ilawe, ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana.
29 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
Kwathi eseyibonile wethuswa kakhulu yilizwi layo, wanakana ukuthi yikubingelela okunjani lokhu.
30 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
Ingilosi yasisithi kuye: Ungesabi, Mariya; ngoba uthole uthando kuNkulunkulu.
31 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.
Njalo khangela, uzathatha isisu, uzale indodana, uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJesu.
32 He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;
Yena uzakuba mkhulu, uzabizwa ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke; futhi iNkosi uNkulunkulu izamnika isihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavida,
33 and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end." (aiōn g165)
njalo uzabusa phezu kwendlu kaJakobe kuze kube nininini, langombuso wakhe kawuzukuba lokuphela. (aiōn g165)
34 "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
UMariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Lokhu kungenzeka njani, njengoba ngingazi indoda?
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the 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 see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Njalo khangela, isinini sakho uElizabethi, laye ukhulelwe yindodana ebudaleni bakhe; lale yinyanga yesithupha kuye obekuthiwa uyinyumba.
37 For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
Ngoba kuNkulunkulu kakulalutho oluzakwehlula.
38 "I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.
UMariya wasesithi: Khangela, incekukazi yeNkosi; kakube kimi njengelizwi lakho. Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
39 Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
Ngalezonsuku uMariya wasesukuma waya ezintabeni ngokuphangisa, emzini weJuda,
40 Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
wangena endlini kaZakariya, wabingelela uElizabethi.
41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
Kwasekusithi uElizabethi ezwe ukubingelela kukaMariya, inkonyane yeqa esiswini sakhe; loElizabethi wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele,
42 and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, wathi: Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana, njalo sibusisiwe isithelo sesizalo sakho!
43 But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Kanti kuvela ngaphi lokhu kimi, ukuthi unina weNkosi yami eze kimi?
44 For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.
Ngoba khangela, kuthe ilizwi lokubingelela kwakho lifika endlebeni zami, umntwana weqa esiswini sami ngokuthokoza.
45 And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
Futhi ubusisiwe okholiweyo, ngoba kuzagcwaliseka lezozinto ezakhulunywa kuye yiNkosi.
46 Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
UMariya wasesithi: Umphefumulo wami uyayikhulisa iNkosi,
47 And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
48 Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
ngoba ukhangele ubuphansi bencekukazi yakhe. Ngoba khangela, kusukela khathesi zonke izizukulwana zizakuthi ngibusisiwe.
49 Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
Ngoba yena olamandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele lebizo lakhe,
50 And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
lesihawu sakhe sikusizukulwana ngesizukulwana kulabo abamesabayo.
51 He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
Wenzile amandla ngengalo yakhe; uhlakazile abazigqajayo ekunakaneni kwenhliziyo zabo.
52 He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
Wehlisile iziphathamandla ezihlalweni zobukhosi, kodwa uphakamisile abantukazana.
53 The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
Abalambileyo ubasuthise ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo wabamukisa beze.
54 His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
Umsizile uIsrayeli inceku yakhe, ngokukhumbula isihawu,
55 In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
njengoba watsho kubobaba bethu, kuAbrahama, lenzalweni yakhe kuze kube nininini. (aiōn g165)
56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
UMariya wasehlala laye okungaba zinyanga ezintathu, wasebuyela endlini yakhe.
57 Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;
Isikhathi sikaElizabethi sokuthi abelethe sesiphelele, wasebeletha indodana.
58 and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
Abakhelene laye lezinini zakhe basebesizwa ukuthi iNkosi yenze isihawu sayo saba sikhulu kuye, basebethokoza laye.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesificaminwembili, beza ukuzasoka usane; balubiza ngebizo likayise ngokuthi nguZakariya.
60 His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
Kodwa unina waphendula wathi: Hatshi bo, kodwa luzathiwa nguJohane.
61 "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
Basebesithi kuye: Kakho ezihlotsheni zakho obizwa ngalelibizo.
62 They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
Basebeqhweba uyise, ukuthi angathanda ukuthi lubizwe ngokuthini.
63 So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
Wasecela into yokubhalela, wabhala, esithi: NguJohane ibizo lalo; basebemangala bonke.
64 Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
Njalo wahle wavulwa umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphululwa, wasekhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
65 And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.
Lokwesaba kwehlela phezu kwabo bonke abakhelene labo; njalo kwakhulunywa ngazo zonke lezizinto kulo lonke elezintabeni zeJudiya,
66 All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.
labo bonke abazizwayo bazilondoloza ezinhliziyweni zabo, besithi: Kambe lolusane luzakuba njani? Njalo isandla seNkosi sasilalo.
67 And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
LoZakariya uyise wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele, waprofetha, esithi:
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
Ibusisiwe iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngoba ihambele yasenzela inkululeko isizwe sayo,
69 And has raised up a mighty Deliverer 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 To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
isikhulula ezitheni zethu, lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo;
72 He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
ukwenzela obaba bethu isihawu, lokukhumbula isivumelwano sayo esingcwele,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
isifungo eyasifunga kubaba wethu uAbrahama,
74 To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
ukusinika, ukuthi sesikhululiwe esandleni sezitha zethu, siyikhonze singelakwesaba,
75 In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo zonke izinsuku zempilo yethu.
76 And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
Lawe-ke, sane, uzabizwa ngokuthi ungumprofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambi kobuso beNkosi ukulungisa izindlela zayo;
77 To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
lokunika isizwe sayo ulwazi losindiso ngothethelelo lwezono zabo,
78 Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
ngesihelo sikaNkulunkulu wethu, okuthi ngaso ukusa kwaphezulu kusethekelele,
79 Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."
ukubakhanyisela abahlezi emnyameni lethunzini lokufa, ukuqondisa inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.
80 And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.
Wakhula-ke umntwana omncane, waqina emoyeni, waba sezinkangala kwaze kwaba lusuku lokubonakala kwakhe kuIsrayeli.
