ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 Ngakho-ke, njengoba mina ngokwami sengichwayisisile konke kusukela ekuqaleni, lami ngikubone kufanele ukuthi ngikulobele umlando oqondileyo, komkhulu ohloniphekayo uTheyofelasi
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 Ngesikhathi sikaHerodi inkosi yaseJudiya kwakulomphristi okwakuthiwa nguZakhariya, owaye ngowesigaba sika-Abhija, umkakhe u-Elizabethi laye wayengowosendo luka-Aroni.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
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, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will 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 will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back 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 will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring 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 now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
In a loud voice she exclaimed, “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 why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
Then 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 with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path 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 lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
