ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to arrange a narrative of those things which 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 eye-witnesses from the beginning and became 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 accurately traced up all things from the first, to write to thee a connected account, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
that thou mightst know the exact truth with regard to those things in which thou wast 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, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
And they were both righteous in the sight of 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 far advanced in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
And it came to pass, that, while he was serving as priest 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 priesthood the lot fell to him to go into the temple of the Lord and burn the incense.
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
And the whole multitude of the people was praying without at the time of the incense.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right 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 thy prayer was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth 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 wilt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice for 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; and will drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his very birth.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
And many of the sons of Israel will 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 will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, 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, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years.
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to thee, and to tell 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 lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, until the day when these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their season.
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
And the people were looking for Zachariah, and wondering that he remained so long in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
And on coming out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were completed, that he returned to his house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
And after those days his wife Elizabeth 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 her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called 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 virgin's name was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored! the Lord is with thee.
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
And she was troubled at the words, and was considering 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 thou hast found favor with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and hear 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 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 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 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 answering said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee; wherefore the holy one that is 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.
And lo! Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath 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 will be impossible with God.
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
And Mary said, Lo, the handmaid of the Lord! May it be to 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 and went in those days into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah.
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
And she entered 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 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!
and cried 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 came to my ears, the babe leaped in my womb in exultation.
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
And blessed is she who hath believed that there will be an accomplishment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
and my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour;
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
for he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden. For lo! from this time all generations will call me blessed;
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
for the Mighty One hath 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 on them that fear him.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He hath wrought mightily with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the device of their heart.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He hath cast down princes from thrones, and exalted men of low degree.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
The hungry he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He hath given help to Israel his servant, in remembrance of his mercy
toward Abraham and his offspring for ever, as he spoke to our fathers. (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 Elizabeth'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 neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had showed great mercy toward 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 were about to call him Zachariah, after the name of his father.
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
And his mother answering 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 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 named.
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 all marveled.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue was loosed; and he spoke, blessing God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
And fear came on all that dwelt around them; and all these things were talked of throughout the whole of the hill-country of Judaea.
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, saying, What then will this child be? For 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, the God of Israel! for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, —
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets of old, (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,
to accomplish his mercy toward 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
to grant to us, that being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we might worship 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 thou, child, shalt be called a prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go in advance before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in 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 day-spring from on high hath visited us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to give light to those sitting in darkness and 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 manifestation to Israel.
