ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Since many have undertaken to compose a history of the things that are fully believed among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
even as they were delivered to us by those who were, from the beginning, eye-witnesses and ministers of the word;
3 Ngakho-ke, njengoba mina ngokwami sengichwayisisile konke kusukela ekuqaleni, lami ngikubone kufanele ukuthi ngikulobele umlando oqondileyo, komkhulu ohloniphekayo uTheyofelasi
it seemed good to me also, having obtained exact information of all things from the very first, to write them in order for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
that you might know the certainty of the things in which you have been instructed.
5 Ngesikhathi sikaHerodi inkosi yaseJudiya kwakulomphristi okwakuthiwa nguZakhariya, owaye ngowesigaba sika-Abhija, umkakhe u-Elizabethi laye wayengowosendo luka-Aroni.
There was, in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest, named Zachariah, of the class of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
It came to pass, while he was officiating as priest before God, in the order of his class, that,
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
And all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi, Zakhariya; umkhuleko wakho usuzwakele. Umkakho u-Elizabethi uzakuzalela indodana kufanele uyinike ibizo elithiwa nguJohane.
But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachariah; for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 ngoba uzakuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi. Kakumelanga anathe iwayini lanini loba yini ebilisiweyo enathwayo, njalo uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela ekuzalweni kwakhe.
For he shall be great before the Lord; and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 Uzahamba phambili kweNkosi ngomoya langamandla ka-Elija, ukuguqulela inhliziyo zaboyise ebantwaneni babo labayiziqholo elwazini lwabalungileyo, ukuqondisa abantu abalungiselelwe iNkosi.”
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient, by the wisdom of the just, in order to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
And Zachariah said to the angel: By what sign shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife is advanced in years.
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
And the angel answered and said to him: I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I am sent to speak to you, and to announce to you this good news.
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
And behold, you shall be dumb and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their proper time.
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
And the people were waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered that he stayed so long in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
But when he came out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them, and remained speechless.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself retired for five months, saying:
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he has looked with regard upon me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
And the angel came into her presence, and said: Hail, graciously accepted: the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
And she was perplexed at his words, and reasoned, what this salutation could mean.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
And behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father;
and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
But Mary said to the angel: How shall this be, since I know not a man?
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
And the angel answered and said to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for which reason, also, that which is begotten, being holy, shall be called the Son of God.
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
And behold, Elizabeth your kinswoman, even she has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren;
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
for nothing shall be impossible with God.
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
And Mary arose in those days, and went with haste into the mountainous country, into a city of Judah;
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
and she came into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe in her womb leaped for joy.
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke with a loud voice, and said: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 Kodwa kungani ngithole umusa ongaka mina, ukuba ngethekelelwe ngunina weNkosi yami?
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
For, behold, when the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
And blessed is she who believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which were spoken to her from the Lord.
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
for he has looked upon the lowly condition of his handmaid. For, behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed;
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
for He that is Mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name:
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
and his mercy is from generation to generation upon those who fear him.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He has done mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in the understanding of their hearts.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent empty away.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He has helped Israel his servant, (as he spoke to our fathers, )
by remembering his mercy to Abraham and to his posterity forever. (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
Now the time for Elizabeth to be delivered had fully come; and she gave birth to a son.
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had showed great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they called him by the name of his father, Zachariah.
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
And his mother answered and said: Not so: but he shall be called John.
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
And they said to her: There is no one among your relatives that is called by this name.
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
And they made signs to his father, to know what he wished him to be called.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: His name is John. And they were all astonished.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these things were talked of everywhere throughout the mountainous country of Judea.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
And all that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, and said: What, then, will this child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people;
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
and he has raised up for us, in the house of David his servant, a horn of salvation,
(as he spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets of ancient times, ) (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
in order to show the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
that he would grant to us, that being delivered from the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
by giving to his people the knowledge of salvation in the remission of their sins,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
through the tender mercies of our God; by which the dawn from on high has visited us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, by guiding our feet in the way of peace.
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
