Imisebenzi 7
1 Ngakho umphristi omkhulu wasembuza wathi, “Ukumangalelwa konke lokhu kuliqiniso na?”
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2 Kulokhu waphendula wathi: “Bafowethu labobaba ake lingilalele! UNkulunkulu wenkazimulo waziveza kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama esahlala eMesophothamiya, engakahlali eHarani.
And he said, "Brethren and fathers, hearken, ---The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3 UNkulunkulu wathi, ‘Tshiya ilizwe lakini labantu bakini uye elizweni engizakutshengisa lona.’
and said to him, Depart from thy native country and from thy kindred, and come into the country which I shall shew thee.
4 Ngakho wasuka elizweni lamaKhaladiya wayahlala eHarani. Ngemva kokufa kukayise, uNkulunkulu wamletha kuleli ilizwe lapho eselihlala khona manje.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father died, He removed him into this land in which ye now dwell:
5 Kamuphanga lifa lapha loba nje isiqintshana somhlabathi. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wamthembisa ukuthi yena lezizukulwane zakhe ngemva kwakhe babezalizuza ilizwe lelo libe ngelabo, loba nje ngalesosikhathi u-Abhrahama wayengelamntwana.
though He gave him no inheritance in it, no not the breadth of a foot; but He promised to give it to him for a possession, even to his seed after him; though he had then no child."
6 UNkulunkulu wakhuluma laye kanje: ‘Izizukulwane zakho zizakuba ngabezizweni elizweni elingayisilo lazo okweminyaka engamakhulu amane, njalo zizagqilazwa, zihlukuluzwe.
And God spake thus unto him, "that his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and they shall in slave and abuse them four hundred years:"
7 Ngizasijezisa lesosizwe esibagqilazayo,’ kusitsho uNkulunkulu, ‘emva kwalokho bazaphuma kulelolizwe bangikhonze kuyonale indawo.’
and God said, "I will judge the nation, to which they shall be in slavery; and afterwards they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place."
8 Wasenika u-Abhrahama isivumelwano sokusoka. U-Abhrahama waba nguyise ka-Isaka, wamsoka ngemva kwensuku eziyisificaminwembili ezelwe. Ngemva kwalokho u-Isaka waba nguyise kaJakhobe, uJakhobe yena waba nguyise wabokhokho abalitshumi lambili.
And He gave him the covenant of circumcision: and he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.
9 Ngenxa yokuthi okhokho babalomhawu ngoJosefa, bamthengisela eGibhithe njengesigqili. Kodwa uNkulunkulu waba laye
And the patriarchs, envying him, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 wamephula kuzozonke inhlupho zakhe. Wanika uJosefa inhlakanipho, wamenza wathandwa nguFaro, inkosi yaseGibhithe. Yona yasimenza umbusi eGibhithe lakuso sonke isigodlo sakhe.
and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he appointed him governor over Egypt, and over all his houshold.
11 Indlala yasihlasela lonke elaseGibhithe leleKhenani, kwaba lobunzima obukhulu ngoba okhokho bethu bakuswela ukudla.
And there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our fathers could not find sustenance.
12 UJakhobe esezwile ukuthi amabele ayekhona eGibhithe, wathuma okhokho bethu ekuhambeni kwabo kwakuqala.
But Jacob hearing that there was corn in Egypt, sent out our fathers first:
13 Sebesiya khona okwesibili, uJosefa wabatshela abanewabo ukuthi wayengubani, njalo uFaro waziswa ngabakibo kaJosefa.
and at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known to Pharaoh.
14 Ngemva kwalokho uJosefa wasebiza uyise uJakhobe ukuthi eze labendlu yakhe bonke, kungabantu abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa lanhlanu sebebonke.
Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob, and all his kindred, even seventy-five souls.
15 Ngakho uJakhobe wasesehlela kweleGibhithe lapho afela khona yena kanye labokhokho bethu.
So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died there, he and our fathers:
16 Izidumbu zabo zabuyiswa eShekhemu zabekwa ethuneni elathengwa ngu-Abhrahama emadodaneni kaHamori eShekhemu ngemali ethile.
and were carried to Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre which he had bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
17 Kwathi isikhathi sesisondele esokuthi uNkulunkulu agcwalise isithembiso sakhe ku-Abhrahama, inani labantu bakithi eGibhithe landa ngamandla.
But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt.
18 Kwasekusiba ‘lenye inkosi eyayingazi lutho ngoJosefa yaba ngumbusi eGibhithe.’
Till another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This king formed crafty schemes against our nation,
19 Yaba lesihluku ebantwini bakithi, yancindezela okhokho bethu ngokubabamba ngamandla ukuthi balahlele khatshana insane zabo ezisanda kuzalwa ukuthi zife.
and oppressed our fathers, causing their children to be exposed, that their race might be extinguished.
20 Ngalesosikhathi uMosi wazalwa, njalo engasumntwana makhaza. Okwezinyanga ezintathu wondliwa endlini kayise.
In which time Moses was born, who was exceeding beautiful, and he was nourished up in his father's house three months: and when he was exposed,
21 Kwathi esebekwe phandle, indodakazi kaFaro yamthatha yamkhulisa njengomntanayo.
Pharaoh's daughter took him up and nourished him for her own son.
22 UMosi wafundiswa kuyo yonke inhlakanipho yamaGibhithe, eligagu lokukhuluma lokwenza.
And Moses was trained up in all the wisdom of the Egyptians: and he was mighty in words, and in deeds.
23 Kwathi uMosi eseleminyaka engamatshumi amane obudala, wacabanga ukuya kwethekelela abantu bakibo, abako-Israyeli.
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 Wabona omunye wabo ehlukuluzwa ngumGibhithe, ngakho wayamlamulela, wenanisa ngokubulala umGibhithe lowo.
And seeing one of them injured he defended him, and smiting the Egyptian he avenged him that was wronged.
25 UMosi wakhumbula ukuthi abantu bakibo babezakunanzelela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayemsebenzisa ukuthi abakhulule, kodwa kabakunanzelelanga.
Now he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would give them deliverance by his hand: but they understood not.
26 Ngosuku olulandelayo uMosi wawela phezu kwabako-Israyeli ababili ababesilwa. Wazama ukubalamula ngokuthi, ‘Madoda, liyizinini; kungani lihlukuluzana kangaka na?’
And the next day he came to them, as they were two of them fighting, and would have persuaded them to agree, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren, why do ye injure one another?
27 Kodwa leyondoda eyayihlukuluza eyinye, yamfuqela eceleni uMosi yathi, ‘Ngubani okwenze umbusi lomahluli phezu kwethu?
But he, that injured his neighbor, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Ufuna ukungibulala njengomGibhithe ombuleleyo izolo?’
Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?
29 UMosi wathi ekuzwa lokho wabalekela eMidiyani, lapho ahlala khona njengesizwe, wazala khona amadodana amabili.
Upon this Moses fled, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.
30 Sekwedlule iminyaka engamatshumi amane, ingilosi yavela kuMosi iselangabini lesixuku esibhebhayo enkangala eduze kweNtaba iSinayi.
And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina, an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Wathi ekubona lokhu wamangala kakhulu ngalowombono. Wathi uyasondela ukuthi abonisise, wezwa ilizwi likaThixo lisithi:
Now Moses, when he saw it, was amazed at the sight; and as he came near to observe it, there was a voice of the Lord to him,
32 ‘NginguNkulunkulu waboyihlo, uNkulunkulu ka-Abhrahama, lo-Isaka loJakhobe.’ UMosi wathuthumela ngokwesaba wehluleka ukukhangela.
saying, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;" but Moses trembling durst not look on.
33 INkosi yasisithi kuye, ‘Khupha amanyathela akho, ngoba indawo omi kuyo ingumhlabathi ongcwele.
And the Lord said to him, "Take off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place on which thou standest is holy ground.
34 Ngempela sengikubonile ukuhlukuluzeka kwabantu bami eGibhithe. Sengikuzwile ukububula kwabo, ngakho sengibuyile phansi lapha ukuzebakhulula. Manje-ke zwana, ngizakubuyisela eGibhithe.’
I have seen the oppression of my people that are in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. Therefore come now, and I will send thee into Egypt."
35 Nguye kanye uMosi lo ababemalile ngamazwi athi, ‘Ngubani okwenze umbusi lomahluli na?’ Wathunyelwa ukuba ngumbusi lomkhululi nguNkulunkulu mathupha, ngengilosi eyabonakala kuye isesixukwini.
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? did God send, by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush, to be their ruler and deliverer.
36 Wabakhokhela baphuma elizweni laseGibhithe, wenza izimanga lemimangaliso eGibhithe lasolwandle olubomvu kanye lasenkangala okweminyaka engamatshumi amane enkangala.
And he brought them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the red sea, and in the wilderness, forty years.
37 Nguye lo uMosi owatshela abako-Israyeli wathi, ‘UNkulunkulu wenu uzalivusela umphrofethi phakathi kwabafowenu njengami.’
---This is that Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear."
38 Wayephakathi kwebandla enkangala, elabokhokho bethu njalo elayo ingilosi eyakhuluma kuye eNtabeni yaseSinayi; njalo wemukela amazwi okuphila ukuthi awedlulisele kithi.
This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel that spake to him on mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and who received the oracles of life to give unto us.
39 Kodwa okhokho bethu bala ukumlalela. Bamala, kwathi ezinhliziyweni zabo babuyela eGibhithe.
To whom our fathers would not be subject, but renounced him, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt,
40 Batshela u-Aroni bathi, ‘Yenza onkulunkulu abazasikhokhela. UMosi lo owasikhupha eGibhithe asisakwazi ukuthi usedliwe yini!’
saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as to this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days,
41 Yiso lesosikhathi abenza ngaso isithombe esasilesimo sethole. Baletha imihlatshelo kulo, benza umkhosi wokuthakazelela lokho okwenziwa yizandla zabo.
and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wabafulathela, wabakhalala ukuba bakhonze ilanga, inyanga lezinkanyezi. Lokhu kuvumelana lalokho okulotshiweyo encwadini yabaphrofethi ukuthi: ‘Wena ndlu ka-Israyeli, langilethela na imihlatshelo leminikelo ngeminyaka engamatshumi amane enkangala?
Then God turned away, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets, "O house of Israel, did ye offer to me your victims and sacrifices, for the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Hatshi, lathwala isikhonzelo sikaMoleki lenkanyezi kankulunkulu wenu uRefani, izithombe elazenzayo ukuthi lizikhonze. Ngakho-ke, ngizalixotshela ekuthunjweni’ ngale kweBhabhiloni.
yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them by: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon."
44 Okhokho bethu babelalo ithabanikeli lobufakazi enkangala. Lalenziwe njengokuqondiswa kukaMosi nguNkulunkulu elandela isimo ayesibonile.
The tabernacle of witness was among our fathers in the wilderness, as He, that spake unto Moses, ordered him to make it according to the model which he had seen in the mount:
45 Sebelamukele ithala okhokho bethu bengaphansi kukaJoshuwa beza lalo ekuthumbeni kwabo izizwe. Lahlala elizweni kwaze kwaba yisikhathi sikaDavida,
and which our fathers receiving, they with Joshua, brought into the territory of the nations, whom God drove out from before the face of our fathers, till the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God,
46 owathandwa nguNkulunkulu, wacela ukuthi alungisele uNkulunkulu kaJakhobe indawo yokuhlala.
and was desirous to provide an habitation for the God of Jacob.
47 Kodwa kwaba nguSolomoni owamakhelayo leyondlu.
But Solomon built Him an house.
48 Lanxa kunjalo, oPhezukonke kahlali ezindlini ezakhiwe ngabantu. Njengoba esitsho umphrofethi ukuthi:
Though the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as the prophet saith,
49 ‘Izulu liyisihlalo sami sobukhosi, lomhlaba uyisenabelo sami. Lizangakhela ndlu bani? kutsho iNkosi. Kambe izaba ngaphi indawo yami yokuphumula na?
"Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what house will ye build for me, saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?
50 Izinto zonke lezi kazenziwanga yisandla sami na?’
hath not my hand made all these things?" ---
51 Lina ziqholo zabantu, abanhliziyo lezindlebe ezingasokanga! Lifuze oyihlo: Lihlezi lijamelene loMoya oNgcwele!
Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Kambe kwake kwabakhona umphrofethi oyihlo abangazange bamhlukuluze na? Baze bababulala lalabo abaphrofetha ngokuza koLungileyo. Khathesi selimnikele lambulala,
Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and slew those who prophesied concerning the coming of that righteous One, of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers;
53 lina eseliwemukele umthetho oweza ngezingilosi kodwa kaliwulandelanga.”
who received the law by the ministration of angels, and yet have not kept it.
54 Amalunga eSanihedrini esekuzwile lokhu azonda, afuthelana, amgedlela amazinyo.
And when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and gnashed their teeth at him.
55 Kodwa uStefane egcwele uMoya oNgcwele wakhangela ezulwini wabona inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu loJesu emi esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu.
But he being full of the holy Spirit looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God:
56 Wathi, “Khangelani, ngibona izulu livuliwe leNdodana yoMuntu imi esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu.”
and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.
57 Besizwa lokhu bagcika indlebe zabo, baklabalala, bamdumela
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 bamhudulela phandle kwedolobho, bamkhanda ngamatshe. Ofakazi babeka izigqoko zabo phambi kwejaha elalithiwa nguSawuli.
and cast him out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul.
59 Kwathi belokhu bemkhanda uStefane wakhuleka wathi, “Nkosi Jesu, yamukela umoya wami.”
And they stoned Stephen calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 Wathi vutshalala ngamadolo phansi wamemeza wathi, “Nkosi, ungababekeli mlandu ngalesisono.” Kuthe esetsho lokho, walala.
And bending his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep.
