ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, 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 had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast 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 Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
And 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 that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
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 the whole 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 unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, 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 unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
And thou shalt 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 in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
And many of the children 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 to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on 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 unto 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 espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt 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 Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing 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 unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
For no word spoken by God shall be void of power.
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy 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 into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy 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, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
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 unto her, There is none of thy kindred 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, how he would have him called.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, 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 sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
